Located in the new wing of the hotel, this was the Premier Club Room, spacious and clean.

Since we are staying at the premier club room, we have the options to dine either at the club lounge or at the Café Mosaic for breakfast. We opted for the later because they have more choices. It was overall a nice stay.

Due to time constraints, it was the first time that I combine some store-bought food items in my Christmas menu. This was one of them - Honey Roasted Chicken.  

Vanilla Bundt Cake with Mixed Berries - my joy was over the top when this cake turned out just right. The texture was moist and decadent, just what I had hoped for.  

Visiting a theme park is not your best agenda in Bangkok. However, since we're travelling with kids their interest was put on priority. We visited two of the most popular family attractions - Dream World and SIAM Ocean World while on vacation there. Dream World is located in Thanyaburi District, about an hour and a half ride from Bangkok. Considering Bangkok's weather, it was very hot when we went. Hence, we only spent three hours there since the heat is already killing us. We only tried a few rides as most didn't look interesting enough. Generally, the theme park was not a hit to my kids. If you've been to Disneyland or Universal Studios, this is nowhere near these two exciting places. But since there's really limited things to do for kids in Bangkok, this is one of the few options to consider if you're looking for one.

 

Siam Ocean World on the other hand, was a different story compared to Dream World. This is a must visit place for family. It's relatively small compared to other Ocean Worlds or Under Water Worlds in Asia, but the overall concept was well executed. I don't know why, but there's something in this place that I really liked. It feels so homey. I even liked it more than Hong Kong's version.

 

Glass bottom boat ride to see the marine species up close. 

A big aquarium showcasing real big sea creatures

I love this soup! Whenever I visit Bangkok, I always made sure that I have a taste of this satisfying broth. The combination of all the components in the dish blend perfectly well - ground pork, soft tofu, vegetables and fresh herbs. You couldn't ask for anything more!  

The vegetable dishes in Thailand are also worth to be had. I like it that it's always served saucy type.

 Seafood steamboat. So fresh and clean in taste! Definitely a good starter of a meal.

 Fried Fish Cakes with a number of dipping sauce to choose from. So addictive!



 Soft Shell Crab in a salad. So tasty!

 Fried Prawn Cake - another must have! It's a very good starter or side dish.

Thai Green Curry - another signature Thai dish worth remembering. The melange of flavours from coconut milk and fresh herbs lingers through your palate.

 

But it was the indoor pool that my kids enjoyed the most. It has a very relaxing ambiance specially since it's located at a high level, you're treated with a good view too.

So, I'm starting this year with a post on our recent stay at Sheraton Pattaya Resort. Pattaya is a popular beach resort situated in the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. It's roughly 2 hours or more away from Bangkok. We went there last December 2012, just a few days prior to Christmas. The weather was sunny and it's just perfect to roam around. We arrived in the afternoon and we were welcomed by a very beautiful sunset. Unlike Thailand's other popular beaches, Pattaya has very limited choices in terms of good accommodation. Among the few secluded ones, we opted for Sheraton. If there's one thing that the place boasts off, it's definitely its serene ambiance and the relaxing view. Unfortunately, even the scenic beauty of the resort cannot hide it's already run down facilities. It's sad, but the Sheraton Pattaya evidently needs a facelift and renovation. They need to replace some old stuffs inside the resort.
 

Having said that though, the staff's service are truly commendable. We experienced Thai hospitality at its best.