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, and it is not too far away from Singapore (Bangkok), I took up the offer.
Took a morning SQ flight at 9.30am from Changi Airport - the flight arrived at Bangkok Airport about 2 hours later. Met some familiar faces (who were attending the same symposium) in the airport. Took transfer transport to Intercontinental Hotel. Since check-in time was after 2pm the earliest, we went our separate way to explore the vicinity.
The hotel is conveniently located in the busy city district - surrounded by various shopping centres (City World, Big C etc), 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... Picked 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/carnival 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 (an achievement by itself, as I saw some attendees left mid-day) - learning some new concepts along the way.
Breakfast and lunch all catered by the hotel.
The 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 of the journey. It's free and easy for all till 4.30pm (pick up time at hotel lobby, our flight departed at 8.10pm).
After breakfast, I walked about 20min to Lumphini Park nearby - it is just a typical exercise park (akin to that of Botanical Garden) - many people, both young and old, exercised 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 a 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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| Fancy visiting a Hindu temple in Bangkok! |
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| Typical garlands for prayers @ Hindu temples |
Just before reaching the temple, I saw a long line of people queueing in front of a bakery shop - as the saying goes - this means 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) -a favourite for youngsters, to take insta photos, but 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。
以往的产商津贴的研讨会，都会包含一些余兴节目， 如当地半日游等；这次却不然。很多时候都是自由活动，连第一天与最后一天的午餐也没有包办。
曼谷是一个朝气勃勃，喧闹的城市。行人熙熙攘攘，热闹非凡。感觉上比新加坡的乌节路更繁华热闹。高耸的购物中心，分别竖立在马路两旁，它那豪华的装饰，令人眼花缭乱。
