Was offered sponsorship to attend a symposium on infant nutrition in Bangkok last week (3-5 July, 2025).
Symposium on nutrition (focusing on formula milk) usually not my "cup of tea". But this being a very short trip, to a not to far away place (Bangkok), I agreed to attend the trip.
Took morning SQ flight at 9.30am from Changi Airport - the flight arrived at Bangkok Airport about 2 hours later. Met some familiar faces in the airport. Took transfer transport to Intercontinental Hotel. Since check in time was after 2pm earliest, we went our separate way to explore the vicinity.
The hotel is conveniently located in the busy city area - surrounded by various shopping centres (City World, Big C), with the famous Erawan 4 faced-Buddha just round the corner (within 2-3min walking distance from hotel); I explored 4 faced-Buddha, City World (got lost there), Big C shopping centre... Then returned to the hotel - checked in at 2pm, and took a break there... Pick up at 6pm for dinner at Blue Elephant (the food was quite good, with a good variety of local delights, presented in fusion fashion).
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| 四面佛 |
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| the funfair in front of Central World |
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| Big C |
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| Central World, and the "iconic traffic snarl" in Bangkok |
The next day, I attended all the lectures for the symposium - learning some new concepts along the way.
Breakfast and lunch all catered by the hotel.
The day symposium ended by 4.50pm, took a quick break before departing at 5.45pm for dinner at a restaurant facing the Temple of Dawn (Watt Arun). The food was so-so, but the view was fantastic.
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| View along the street, not too far from the restaurant |
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| Tuk-tuk ride |
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| view from the rooftop of the restaurant of Chao Phraya River |
By the time we reached our hotel, it was almost 9.30pm - retired early for the night.
3rd Day was also the last day. We had free and easy day till 4.30pm (our flight departed at 8.10pm).
After breakfast, I walked to nearby Lumphini Park - it is just a typical exercise park (akin to that of Botanical Garden) - many people, both young and old, exercise there. There was also hawker stalls right in front of one of the entrance to the park.
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| The street food just outside one of the entrances to Lumphini Park |
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| Lumphini Park |
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| A monument at another entrance |
Then I walked to another Buddhist temple nearby - Hualamphong Temple. This is a typical Buddhist temple, nothing too extraordinary.
Then I walked to (belief it or not) a Hindu temple (Sri Maha Mariamman Temple @ Wat Khaek).
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| Who would believe that I actually visited a Hindu temple in Bangkok! |
Just before reaching the temple, I saw a long line of people queueing in front of a bakery shop - as the saying goes - this must mean the buns/bakery there must be good; so after visiting the temple, I took a queue ticket to buy some random buns from the store (queue number 81, while it was serving queue number 61 at that time)...
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| The stall |
My next destination is Talat Noi (street art) -nothing to shout out for...
Then I took one hour to walk back to my hotel - stopping for lunch in one of the food stall along the way.
The whole morning walking routine covered 22k steps - my left ankle was aching by the time I reached my hotel.
Went for a quick 1-hour body massage at at massage parlour nearby - then went back to my hotel for quick shower, and checked out at 2pm. After that, I went for another 1 hour foot massage from 2.30-3.30pm. Our airport transfer sent us off to the airport around 4.30pm (in case of traffic jam along the way to airport).
View from my room...
我向来不喜欢参加与我主修专科没有关联的研讨会。这次却破例出席了在曼谷举办的已儿童营养为主题的研讨会。整个行程来回3天；研讨会是在第二天举行。第一与第三天是自由活动时间。
