Street Smart Sukhumvit Dedicated to Sukhumvit, Bangkok's longest road! Here you'll find unique LOCAL knowledge not available in your typical, tired guidebooks PLUS pics, reviews, link and events - all about Sukhumvit! Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 13 0 62 4246

Articles from Street Smart Sukhumvit

Winter 2007-10-24 14:26:35 I fell in love with Winter the first time I came. I mean, who wouldn't? There's the al fresco seating area (puffy, gigantic bean bags spread out over a huge grass-covered lawn), plus the romantic mood (flickering candle lights, stars above your head) and let's not forget the cute waiters who are all very polite and friendly and considerate enough to offer lemongrass oil mosquito repellent to those unfortunates with blood sweet enough to attract the pesky insects (like ME har har).  Many people complain that its location is inaccessible, being deeeeep inside Sukhumvit 49, but (looking at the positive side) I think this makes it even more special because when you're spread out on one of those bean bags, staring at the twinkling stars and savoring the smell the grass, you won't feel like you're actually smack dab in the middle of polluted, smoky Sukhumvit. And I swear EVERYBODY looks MUCH better in candlelight~!!  Let's not also forget that Winter is accom ...

A Conversation With A TAXI Driver (PART 5) 2007-10-22 23:40:00 It was a dark and stormy night.   Nah, just kidding (got your attention though, didn’t I~~ heh heh~). OK, no more joking around.   Let’s try again, shall we?   The night was actually just a bit cloudy, and this time my TAXI driver was a man in his mid-forties, with golden skin and curly hair.   I noticed that he was observing me on his mirror, and he asked, “Mai chai khon thai roo?” (You’re not Thai, are you?), and I said no.   He began asking me the typical questions that all TAXI drivers seem to have learned in “TAXI driver school” (click HERE if you really wanna know what the specific questions are), until he came to the “jackpot question”:   “Mii faen khon thai mai?” (You got a Thai boyfriend?)   I said no I don’t, and he asked, “Why not?”   I (only JOKINGLY) answered, “Because Thai men like women TOO MUCH~!! They have too many kiks~!!!”   ...

Pleasure Factory 2007-10-22 13:52:59 "Pleasure Factory" was not pleasurable AT ALL~!!  I'd watched its trailer with much interest before its arrival here and entered the movie theater (in Emporium, of coz - where else) with very high expectations. After all, "Pleasure Factory" is directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Thailand's much-acclaimed director who made "Last Life in Universe", "Monrak Transistor" and "Ploy".   "Pleasure Factory" is about Singapore's notorious red-light district, Geylang, where prostitution is tightly controlled (but legal) and pleasure of any kind can be bought with cold hard cash.  Sounds inviting, doesn't it?  The first thing that annoyed me about the movie was the fact that it was dubbed in Thai, with English subtitles. The movie was originally shot in Mandarin and English (both commonly spoken in Singapore), so I was severely disappointed when I found out that instead of hearing Singapore's multiculturalism, I was forced to listen to the typical (lame-o) Thai dubbin... ...

Pet Passion on Sukhumvit~!! 2007-10-21 12:19:21 Doggone it~!! Emporium has gone to the dogs (and cats and rabbits too)~!! Pets are usually not welcomed in the hi-so department mall, but this week was "Pet Passion Week"~!! Pet owners (and animal lovers) REJOICE~!! Not only could customers play around with the very adorable critters, they were also treated to a fashion show and showcase of posh pet products~!! Homeless puppies and kittens were also available for adoption... and with those innocent pleading eyes, WHO COULD POSSIBLY SAY "NO"~~?! streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com sukhumvitbangkokthailand ...

A Sukhumvit LOVE AFFAIR 2007-10-17 16:58:00 In case it’s not yet OBVIOUS, I LOVE SUKHUMVIT VEWWY VEWWY MUCH.   My WELCOME message on this site already gives a peek as to why I have an especially soft (and warm) spot in my heart for this particular road in Bangkok: “you can find ANYTHING on Sukhumvit, from shopping to spirituality to sex…”   But that’s just a small slice of Super Sukhumvit~!!   Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit, how do I love thee~?? Here, let me count the ways:   A little background about me – I didn’t originally settle in Sukhumvit. Nope, when my family moved to Bangkok in 1988, we lived on Petchburi Road (which runs parallel to Sukhumvit) at first.   Petchburi Road was alright, I guess, but there was something about Sukhumvit which always pulled me towards it ... maybe it was S/A, alias “Sukhumvit Angel”?! (read about this Sukhumvit supernatural being HERE).   Plus, I had many friends who were living in Sukhumvit, and Sukhumvit seemed to have all the FUN places to hang out, ... ...

Shahrazad 2007-10-13 15:10:07 Next time you’re in Sukhumvit late at night and starving, just pop into Nana (Sukhumvit 3), where the neon lights stay bright long into the wee hours of the morning. For those of you who haven’t been there, the Nana area is sometimes called “Little Arabia” due to its high Middle Eastern population (as well as South Asian and African). Here’s a pic of Nana at night: http://streetsmartsukhumvit.multiply.com/photos/photo/3/13 I’ve heard about Shahrazad Egyptian Restaurant a few times before, so this time I decided to try it out myself. Shahrazad (which is actually the name of the Persian Queen who was the storyteller of “A Thousand And One Nights”) is tucked within Sukhumvit 3/1 (also accessible through Sukhumvit 5). I was pleasantly surprised to see that its waitresses were dressed in matching ‘hijab’ (loose pants, a long-sleeved dress and head covering). At first I felt a bit uncomfortable because I noticed that ALL the cus ...

Sukhumvit's Veggies Delight 2007-10-13 07:24:46 In accordance with the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it's VEGGIES' TIME~!!! Many Thais are refraining from eating meat during this Vegetarian Festival to pay homage to Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. A walk around Sukhumvit revealed that many street food vendors have changed their menus, offering an array of vegetarian dishes (called "jae" in Thai). It's easy to recognize which stalls are selling veggies dishes: just look for bright yellow banners with red writings~!! (Even typical bakeries are also jumping on the bandwagon and selling veggies-inspired breads and buns; and so are supermarkets). Hardcore carnivores might not think much about these vegetarian dishes, but once you've tried some of 'em, you'll find out that they're actually MIGHTY TASTY~!! After all, Thai food ALWAYS tastes good~!! CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL PIC FOR A BIGGER VIEW. sukhumvit bangkok thailand ...

Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit - PART 3 2007-10-12 15:57:00 I came face-to-face with Kali, the fierce Hindu Goddess of Destruction in Sukhumvit 24/1~!! Scary, isn't she? This is Kali in her typical pose: eyes red with rage, tongue lolling out, stepping on her husband (Shiva). Notice that she has four arms: she holds a bloody sword in one hand, a severed head (of a demon) in the other, a club in another, and (covered by the yellow flowers offering), a cup which collects the blood from the cut-off head. She is naked except for a "skirt" made of human arms and a "necklace" of human heads (GASP~!!). I was quite surprised that here her skin color is actually cream; because she is usually depicted with black skin (symbolizing the total absence of color - since she is the Destroyer). Despite her fearsome form, Kali can actually be a kind goddess, a sort of Mother Nature to all beings. But still... you wouldn't piss off a Mother like HER, riiiight~~?!?! Anyway, so what's an icon of Kali doing in Thailand, where almost all are... ...

Beccofino's Buffet Lunch Set 2007-10-09 16:42:31 It's easy to be intimidated by Beccofino. First you got the Italian sounding moniker. Then there's the art deco external façade, dim lighting and the fact that it's situated in Thonglo, Sukhumvit's hippest and chicest soi. And oh my~ it's actually got an authentic, meaty Italian chef named Angelo Rottoli~!! But don't be discouraged. You can still experience Beccofino's "hi-so" food, service and ambience if you go for its Buffet Lunch Set~!! For 350 baht++, you can stuff your face silly from noon 'til 2:30 pm with pasta, cold cuts, seafood, salads, breads, soup and yes, even dessert PLUS coffee or tea~!! Since this is an all-you-can-eat deal, here's the best ATTACK PLAN: Start with the warm breads first. You can enjoy all of 'em either with or without butter. If you're a bread fiend, you can even ask for more~!! Next, proceed to the buffet table for your appetizers (pictured). Try a little bit of everything - different kinds of ham, finger food, cheeses, seafood (shrimp ...

"Green Music" Makes Me See RED~!! 2007-10-08 16:36:00 I consider myself a reasonable human being. I leave other people's business alone. I avoid violence at all costs. And I swear I don't even stare at farang men walking around with skimpily-dressed ladies on the street~!! BUT BUT BUT... My patience is running thin with this so-called "Green Music" that's being sold on BTS stations (the pic on the left is of one of the booths, taken at the Asoke BTS station)~!!! As a frequent BTS rider, my ears have grown extremely allergic to the tunes of this "Green Music"~!! I understand that they're trying to SELL MUSIC, but do they really have to blast THE SAME (crappy, irritating) INSTRUMENTAL TUNES aaaaaaall the friggin' time~?! But OK... since I am a reasonable person, I thought hey, I should at least give it a chance and  learn more about it... So fine, I actually managed to close my ears to the musical assault and get one of them pamphlets... And what more did I learn, beside the fact that this "Green Music" is "ki ...

Korean Binge on Sukhumvit~!! 2007-10-06 14:41:00 If you're a fan of K-pop or Korean TV dramas, you GOTTA check out this store: * Korean Star in Sukhumvit 24 * Owned by a Korean expat, this cutesy shop sells replicas of accessories worn by Korean stars (singers and movie stars). Fancy sporting Rain's belt? Your ears are itchin' to wear one of Song Hye-Gyo's earrings in "Full House"? Then pop your K-lovin' behind into this store~!! Of course, if you still crave even MORE K-stuff, Korean Star also offers endless fan paraphernalia such as pencil cases, pillows, cups, etc. emblazoned with pictures of your beloved K-star(s). Also for sale are kitschy Korean souvenirs like traditional fans, money pouches and wallets (the owner claimed everything is imported from the Land of the Morning Calm). The staff in Korean Star really know how to pamper their customers... There is a special nook in the store where I could sit down and relax and was even served tea, too~!!  It's surprising how a little ego-stroking can work won... ... Korean

Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit - PART 2 2007-10-04 15:46:00 It's Christmas already~?! But it's only October... (scratches head...).     ******************************************************************* A  bookstore named "BOOK", found in a Sukhumvit 24 sub-soi. It's kinda like having a dress shop named "DRESS" or a hospital named "HOSPITAL" ha ha ha~~  Actually, the red Chinese characters on the right side spell "old books", so you see, this is a secondhand bookstore. If you look at the picture on the right, you'll see that another sign saying "BOOK" is taped on the glass... So this store's name must be "BOOK", then~?? I just thought that since books are creative things made by highly creative people, a bookstore should at least have a somewhat creative-sounding name... But oh well, why not... Might as well. At least it's plain, simple and to the point~!! ******************************************************************* Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (* rubs chin *). Would it be false advertisement if the... ...

Brush With Fame on Sukhumvit 2007-10-03 16:41:00 Oh my~~~ I bumped into notorious Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday~!! I was coming out from a condo deep inside Sukhumvit 24 when I spotted him. "Khun Chuwit~!!" I greeted him. "Do you remember me? I interviewed you during the general election campaign before~!!" He searched my face for a while and said, "Yes, yes I remember you... You're from the newspaper, right?" I swear I could feel my grin spread from ear-to-ear (should I be flattered he remembered me~?!). "Yes, I came with my editor to see you, the big farang guy~!!" "You still a journalist?" he asked. "Oh no, I quit already," I said. (And I swear as soon as I said this, he seemed to relax more ha ha ha - I wonder whyyyyy). "What do you do now?" he asked. "I just opened a language school in Thonglo," I said. "You got a name card?" he asked. (I internally kicked my own ass in my mind~!!) "Erm, no... My school just newly opened... I haven't gotten a chance to make any name cards..." He took out his wallet and gave me his name ... ...

Professional Beggar on Sukhumvit~!! 2007-10-01 10:41:00 I was walking in front of Emporium today when I spotted this guy~!! Now, I think I've seen him several times before, usually on the bridge that connects the BTS Chidlom station and Central Chidlom (always with the same yellow sign)... And NO, I never gave even a satang to him. I came up to him and asked the guy, "You're the guy from Central Chidlom, right?" and he said, "Well, yea... I've been there..." Apparently, he has moved to greener pastures and is now perched in front of Emporium... Or perhaps because his gullible victims in the previous spot(s) are no longer so gullible~?! He claims that he has lost all his money and therefore he has to resort to begging so that he can get enough $$$ and go back to his home country. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I call him a "professional beggar" because he really is that. Even if there are one or two people who have recognized his ploy (like ME), I'm pretty sure that he can still sponge off some bahts from other peo... ...

Weird (And Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit 2007-09-26 09:25:00 Since Sukhumvit is so (AHEM) "colorful" and "unique", it's inevitable that weird/nonsense/inexplicable stuff would eventually be found in its many corners. Here goes~~~!!! So what's so weird about a spa called "Thonglo"? Well, Thonglo is the name of Sukhumvit 55, BUT this spa is in Sukhumvit 26 (?!?!). ******************************************************************* Bicycling in Bangkok?! Do these people have a death wish?! First, there's the pollution, of course... which consists of airborne particles and smoky grey car/taxi/bus exhaust, both which are carcinogenic. Then there's the merciless weather: sometimes blazing hot, sometimes pouring cats and dogs, always steamy and humid before the rain. And let's not forget that it's such a piece of cake to pass a driver's test in Bangkok, meaning: most drivers on the street don't know JACK. Do you really want to "cruise" so close to the Grim Reaper himself?! A-yi-yi... First I dismissed this group as a "bunch of clueless fa ...