Bangkok, Day One (18th April)

When it comes to going abroad, one of the most common fears travellers face is a delayed flight. A delay can mean arriving late at your destination, missing a connecting flight, or having to forgo pre-arranged plans. So when my travelling companions from the Nandaka Vihara Meditation Society—including the Chief Abbot, Bhante Dhammasubho—and I received news that our Firefly flight from Penang to Bangkok had been rescheduled from 9.45 a.m. to 2.45 p.m., it was met with dismay. As it turned out, there was an additional delay, and we only took off at 4.29 p.m.

That said, our arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport went surprisingly smoothly. Immigration clearance was swift and efficient. Within minutes, we had passed through the counters, collected our luggage and stepped outside to meet our Bangkok contact. Notably, there was a special lane reserved for arriving monks, allowing them to bypass the general throng of tourist arrivals—a clear reflection of the high regard in which Buddhist monks are held in Thai society.

Sukhumvit 24 is an upscale area in Bangkok, offering a mix of convenient access to shopping and dining, a relaxed atmosphere and close proximity to green spaces. We stayed at the Ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 24, a colourful and contemporary hotel under the global AccorHotels chain. The hotel shares its building with Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 24, which also belongs to AccorHotels. Ibis Styles occupies the lower half of the building while Mercure takes up the upper floors. Although the two hotels have separate receptions and lobby areas, they share the same lifts and a common restaurant on the eighth floor.

That restaurant—whose name escapes me now—was where we had our daily breakfast, and what a joy it was to eat there. The breakfast spread was impressively wide and varied, catering to both Western and Asian tastes. There were eggs made to order, sausages, fresh fruits, yoghurts, cereals, as well as Thai staples like fried rice, noodles and warm congee with all the trimmings. There was even a mini salad bar and a small selection of pastries and cakes for those with a sweet tooth. The coffee machines brewed a decent cup, and there were fresh juices to start the morning off right.

All dishes were clearly labelled, and there was a small sign propped up in the restaurant informing guests of the amount of food wasted the previous day—a subtle but effective reminder to take only what one could eat. A thoughtful touch, meant to encourage mindfulness and reduce unnecessary waste.

The dining area itself was bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the surrounding cityscape. It was a delightful way to begin each day—good food, a relaxed environment, attentive and very polite staff and the simple pleasure of exploring something new on your plate. Breakfast at Ibis Styles felt more like a proper dining experience than just a quick bite before heading out.

Left to right: myself, Saw See, Sew Kee, Moh Ven, Tussin, Soon Beng,
Richard, Teng, Soon Beng's mother and sister, Kooi Lan

Our Bangkok contact, Tussin Buachaun—who, for reasons still unclear to me, was referred to as “Johan” by one of my travel companions—most graciously hosted us to a distinguished fine dining experience at Baan Khanitha Thai Cuisine (บ้านขนิษฐา ไทย คิวซีน) on Sukhumvit 23. Several months ago Tussin had visited the Nandaka Vihara as a kappiya for a visiting Thai monk. Today, we learnt that he is a successful businessman who runs a software development company in the heart of Bangkok, providing financial stock-broking solutions to clients. At the Baan Khanitha, we were led to their VIP1 private dining room on the first floor, a large enough long table to seat up to 12 people comfortably.

This award-winning restaurant is one of Bangkok’s most iconic culinary landmarks, known for serving authentic Thai cuisine in a charming, traditional Thai atmosphere. The interiors of Baan Khanitha are richly decorated with Thai antiques, intricate wood carvings, silk cushions and soft lighting that exude a warm, graceful atmosphere. Even before the food arrives, the setting alone told me that I was in for something special.

Baan Khanitha has long been popular among locals, expatriates and tourists seeking an upscale Thai dining experience that doesn't compromise on authenticity. The restaurant prides itself on using premium ingredients—many of them organic and locally sourced—and the menu stays true to classic Thai flavours while presenting the dishes in beautifully refined ways.

Every dish we tried bore out this philosophy. Meticulously crafted, the courses struck that perfect balance between aromatic herbs, bold spices and vibrant colours. Each plate a work of culinary art, both visually and on the palate. We were genuinely delighted, greeting every course with appreciative oohs and ahhs. It was a food photographer’s dream come true—every dish practically demanded to be captured before we dug in.

And then came dessert. Three varieties were served, each more exquisite than the last. There were delicate Thai sweets with coconut and pandan, a chilled mango sticky rice with just the right balance of sweetness and creaminess, and a third one—warm and yet so delicate, I can only describe it as edible elegance.

Beyond treating us to a Thai fine dining experience, Tussin proved to be a wonderfully generous host throughout our five days in Bangkok. He arranged for our entire group to travel in comfort, putting at our disposal a spacious Toyota HiAce Commuter that handled Bangkok’s traffic with ease and seated the ten of us comfortably. Meanwhile, Bhante Dhammasubho was chauffeured in style, in a white Porsche Panamera 4, no less.

Click here to read Day Two

Click here to read Day Three

Click here to read Day Four

#IbisStyles #Sukhumvit24 #BaanKhanitha #Sukhumvit23 #Bangkok #firefly