Gateway Mall @ Ekamai BTS Station: Food Street food court Prices (in description/blog)

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/ru7CyxLuD3U

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru7CyxLuD3U&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
We decided to take the BTS over to the Ekamai station and have some food at the Food Street food court. Its funny, when I first came to Thailand and people mentioned, “We are going to get some lunch at the ‘food court’ in the mall”, i thought, “Oh… you poor people… You must just be in a hurry and can’t take the time to head out and find some decent food, eh?”
** I STAND CORRECTED**
In fact, my experience with Food Courts (as we refer to them in the US, at least) in most of South East Asia has been quite favorable. In some of the Central malls (e.g. Central Festival…) the food courts have some excellent offerings. And they are hardly the cheapest solution (from a Thai perspective) BUT when spending my “California money”, its still a great deal. The quality has always been Good to Very Good.
On this day, I wasn’t really hungry so actually just had some “street food” on the way into the mall. Just off the walkway from the BTS into Gateway, there were clothing and food tents/stalls. I had some sausage balls for 20 Baht ($0.61) and a spiced rice ball for 10 Baht ($0.30)
Gracie, being the big spender (and always hungrier than I) got a meal at Food Street of omelet and rice with a big bowl of mushroom soup for 55 THB for the meal = $1.67
We also shared 2 EST-Lights (…basically 2 diet Pepsi’s) for 19 Baht each ($1.16 total)
— the whole “lunch” cost $3.74 for both of us —
Now, are *all* our meals that ridiculously expensive? NO. I would say, most of our “street food” outings are actually more expensive… by about 2 to 3 times. For example, the Pork w/ Basil over rice with a fried egg that I like at a local evening ‘food court stall’ we go to just down the street from our Noble Remix condo, is 70 THB ($2.13) Gracie has gotten the same with shrimp for 90 THB ($2.74)
So, “dinner” for us end up being $4.87
We have a word for the cost of this in California… FREE!

*BEN-JA-KITTI* Park (part 3) -LIVE- Bangkok Thailand: EPIC FAIL in pronunciation!!

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/4WVIvgOxb8g

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WVIvgOxb8g&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
I pronounced the name of this park Wrong probably 14 times during this video. At first I was bummed that no one was watching live… THEN I realized what time it was back in California… ah hah! – middle of the night?.. Yep!
BUT, upon exiting the park I realized that I completely pronounced the name wrong – each and every time. BUT, if you can get past that, hopefully the video highlights some of the not-so-common beauty of Bangkok.
Here’s some info on the park:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjakitti_Park

I highly recommend you have a look!
Thanks for watching.
..stay tuned.

Benjakitti Park, Bangkok Thailand (PART 2)

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/ZaOvqVIlrDA

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOvqVIlrDA&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
This video is about Benjakitti Park (Part 2 of 3):

We take the BTS Skytrain to Asok station. Then an easy walk to Benjakitti Park (and YES, I am sadly, fully aware that I pronounce the park incorrectly… its NOT, “Benjakki”… its BENJAKITTI – hopefully you can ignore my ignorance and enjoy the scenery and discussion abut the part and the beauty of this place.

**some more info on Benjakitti Park:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjakitti_Park

Its truly one of the gems of Bangkok. I think the more I discover about Bangkok, the more I like it.
I still believe I am in tourist mode with a slight transition into part-time resident… VERY part time. But, I still feel like Gracie and I live a little bit closer to ‘locals’ on the “tourism continuum” :–)

Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for watching.
…stay tuned for more!

Benjakitti Park (part 1) Bangkok Thailand

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/DavWkohSoas

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DavWkohSoas&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
We use AirBnB almost exclusively when we travel. Its truly my top recommendation ( http://www.airbnb.com/c/mikes107 )

Here is the link to our condo complex at NOBLE REMIX:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5688556

As mentioned in this and other videos it is Super Convenient as it has a covered walkway directly from the BTS Thong Lo station. If you know anything about Bangkok, or southeast Asia in general, it rains. And, when its rains… Yep, you guessed it – it POURS! It had to walk (run?) about 50 feet.. in a suit.. and got drenched. Then, I was in a hotel conference room with air conditioning. As you might guess, this is certainly imperfect. For the most part the clothes dry out fairly quickly but its still annoying if you are going somewhere, other than back home and don’t have the option of taking Off your wet clothes and having dry towels near by. Ha!

Here is some Noble Remix condo info: http://www.noblehome.com/condominium/remix2/en/home

NEXT: We take the BTS Skytrain to Asok station. Then an easy walk to Benjakitti Park (and YES, I am sadly, fully aware that I pronounce the park incorrectly… its NOT, “Benjakki”… its BENJAKITTI – hopefully you can ignore my ignorance and enjoy the scenery and discussion abut the part and the beauty of this place.

**some more info on Benjakitti Park:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjakitti_Park

Its truly one of the gems of Bangkok. I think the more I discover about Bangkok, the more I like it.
I still believe I am in tourist mode with a slight transition into part-time resident… VERY part time. But, I still feel like Gracie and I live a little bit closer to ‘locals’ on the “tourism continuum” :–)

Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for watching.
…stay tuned for more!

Evening Thai Food Court: Som Tom (Papaya Salad) Pok Pok

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/0mlRuCNcEKM

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mlRuCNcEKM&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
Just down the street (Sukhumvit) from our condo is a great little spot with little metal tables and plastic chairs and about 10 food stalls. I stopped and got some Som Tam a.k.a. Papaya Salad or “Pok Pok”. “Pok Pok” because that is the sound that big stick/mallet makes when it is pounded into the clay bowl. This Som Tam was 40 Baht or about $1.25, we also got some Basil Pork with rice and a fried egg ($2.13) as well as some Mango & sticky rice ($1.22) and some BBQ chicken on a stick ($0.61 x 2). … Just a quick check-in and then a 10 minute walk back to the condo and life is good!

Post Massage Thai Cable Clean up

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/avLF6ayjCBw

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avLF6ayjCBw&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
Just a quick check-in as Gracie and I are walking back from our $15.23 (including tip) hour long massage. I just had to stop and shoot some quick video of this Cable Clean-Up happening along Sukhumvit in Bangkok. If you have never been here, there is no way a photo of me saying, “Yeh, there are a LOT of wires strung aerially along the poles in Thailand… You just cannot picture it if you have not seen it.
BUT, it looks like this is a major step toward some beautification of the infrastructure here in the land of smiles.

Very Cool Thailand! Chop mak mak!!

Thanks for watching. Tell your friends.

LIVE THE DREAM,
~mikes

Meeting an Entrepreneur at a Coffee Shop in Bangkok, Thailand

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/3Y4i2IlSjT8

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4i2IlSjT8&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING

Thru a series of emails and introductions I’m grateful to a great guy from a very innovative company DRVR (“Driver”) http://www.DRVR.co
David Henderson has provided me with a boat-load of information from his own experiences as an Entrepreneur with a successful Startup! I encourage you to read more about him https://www.linkedin.com/in/dchenderson1/
and his company at there website http://www.drvr.co

This video is me just sharing and update and some thoughts as I begin my ‘research meetings and interviews’ of various successful Entrepreneurs David has introduced me to.
On this morning, I will be meeting with a DAVID SHELTERS.
https://www.worldsummitawards.org/person/david-shelters/

David S, has been in Bangkok for over 10 years, as a true pioneer and walking encyclopedia of knowledge as it relates to the Startup Ecosystem.
David Shelters on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmshelters/

David Shelters on Amazon

After a quick BTS ride from ThongLo to Ekamai, I spent about the next 3+ hours learning a great deal about the different types of Startups Bangkok is host to.

…stay tuned for more information on what I find.

{ **URLS corrected 30 Nov 2017 }

Happy Thaisgiving from the Land Of Smiles.

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/YofF5pfHCsM

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YofF5pfHCsM&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
This one is a bit out of order but I thought the location was actually fairly irrelevant.
…stay tuned for more videos of our experience at The Hotspring Beach Resort and Spa — its a great place to *completely* relax!
Indeed there are probably 1000’s of videos that will get uploaded/published on YoutTube today (i.e. US Thanksgiving Day) around the topic of being thankful… being grateful. I was honored to be able to speak with my Mum and Dad this morning; discussing how wonderful life is and all the gifts that we have amidst some imperfections along the way.
This now marks the 4th US Thanksgiving week I’ve been in Thailand and over the last 20 years, I’ve probably spent T’givings outside the US. Back around the years of 1999-2003 when the only “foreign travel” I did was getting the Land Rover and driving down to my place in the northern Baja part of Mexico: San Felipe. There were some great meals had down there. Some alone, some with friends. Either way, basking in the daily warm glow of the clear sky and sun, followed by staring up at the “billions and billions of stars” that dot the evening sky in an area about 99% free from any city’s light pollution.

I thought I’d take a few minutes to reflect on a few blessings that I gratefully easily identify and acknowledge within seconds.
Life is truly a gift. One I do NOT plan on returning or trading in. I heard a long time ago from a co-worker “This is Not a dress-rehearsal”. TOTALLY AGREE!

I started this channel to account my travels and experiences in Thailand. Since then its expanded to my travels in South East Asia: Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines.. and gratefully still includes a lot of Thailand.
Its a magical place for a number of reasons. It offers many things for many people.
I hope wherever you are watching this video or reading this Blog post, you are safe, happy, grateful and thankful. If not… no worries – its not a requirement. I haven’t always been Living the Dream. My belief and experience is that ALL the Awesome you want IS available. If you want it. Go get it!

Live the Dream! …cuz if you’re not, you’re doing it wrong!

Happy Thaisgiving.
thanks for watching….

Chaysiri Massage in BKK check-in/shout out: #YelpMikes

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/tt5moR3JLT4

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt5moR3JLT4&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
Since there really is no “Yelp” in Thailand, I just wanted to do a quick check-in and mention a little massage place about 50 meters North from Sukhumvit on Soi Thong Lor… just down the Soi from the Thong Lo BTS station.
I do this mainly because most of the ‘advertising’ of these little shops is done via word-of-mouth. While Yelp, Craigslist, Google ratings, etc DO exist and are used in Thailand – its not as extensive as in the US.

Google’s ratings that you will see when you are looing up places on Google Maps is getting used a lot more. When I was recently at a Angel/VC Investment pitch presentation the guys from GoWabi.com presented.
https://www.gowabi.com/en

They are focused on the Health and Beauty vertical. Massage shops are certainly one of those offerings as are “waxing” places. GoWabi app offers coupons as well as lookups of places using geo-location so that is helpful – especially if it’s your first time in Bangkok. So, just a quick check-in and shout-out for but CHAYSIRI Massage as well as the GoWabi app: http://www.GoWabi.com
Thanks for watching.
…stay tuned

streaming from The Hotspring Beach Resort & Spa, Phang Nga, Thailand

Check out the latest video: https://youtu.be/rUZcTFC-VJY

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZcTFC-VJY&w=480&h=270]

sponsored by AMAZING
One of my fondest memories as a young kid was in the middle of the summer in New England, when it would Hot (say, over 90 degrees) and Humid (say, over 80%) and there would be an afternoon shower. All of us kids in the neighborhood who were inside… or wherever, really, would run out in the street in the warm rain. We’d splash around in the puddles, run from house to house, find puddles that would form from low spots in peoples’ lawns – almost making a mud pit – and have an AMAZING time!
As I’m sitting here under a little gazebo of sorts at our bungalow here at the resort:
The Hotspring Beach Resort & Spa:
( http://www.thehotspringbeach.com/ )
I thought I’d put up a quick video. I’m sure its lousy quality as we are lucky if we get 3G here in Paradise :–)

Anyway, I just wanted to wish y’all a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m so grateful to be alive One More Day and hope that wherever you are watching this you are safe and happy.. and I hope you Are LIVING THE DREAM!!! …cuz if you’re not, you’re doing it wrong!

…stay tuned for more videos from the Land of Smiles.
All the best,
~mikes