BANGKOK  – I always knew about it but never saw it; had no clue how amazing it was or what I was actually missing.  The Royal Barges National Museum, located along the banks of the Chao Phraya, ranks right up there with the magnificent Wat Praew Kaew.  A bit of a trek but, once you find it, you’ll be [...]

  BANGKOK – It was once known as the first western-style mega mall in Bangkok but nowadays MBK’s claim to fame is the rather unfortunate nickname “ground zero for all things pirated.”  Like Bangkok’s infamous Chatuchak market, I have a love-hate relationship with MBK – the swarm of families decked out in the latest knock-offs is enough to scare the [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I think the actual name of this place is The Light Restaurant and Bar, but no one I know calls it that – to us, it’s just “The Light”.   This is one of my recommended bars for folks finding themselves in Shoreditch or The City (which is nearby) looking for a good spot to [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – Borough Market is London’s oldest food market and, hands down, my absolute favorite part of London.  It’s called a “foodie’s paradise” because of its abundance of fresh and prepared food stalls, but wine, beer and merchandise are also on offer here.  This was always my go-to spot to pick up my paella ingredients, as [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON - I always experience neighborhood envy in Spitalfields, and have pledged that I will someday reside on Folgate Street.  The atmosphere created by the juxtaposition of the area’s inescapable history, the nearby bustle of the City of London and the energetic buzz of the cafes and pubs is all rather irresistible. Spitalfields is an East End neighborhood [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I absolutely adore whiling away a morning at the Tate Modern.  And I do mean morning – this is the best time to go to avoid the crowds, largely comprised during the week of tourists and school groups. I won’t make any attempt to discuss the merits of the collection – I would just [...]

  BANGKOK – Love, love, LOVE the Metropolitan Bangkok’s Met rooms:  super spacious and modern, with soothing earth tones; big comfy beds (and lovely sheets to go with), huge bathrooms (shower, tub and silky smooth robes) and a full-on entertainment system (to watch all those pirated discs you ‘didn’t buy’).  The rest of the hotel – service, pool (which annoyingly, [...]

  BANGKOK – Need to feel worked, relaxed and refreshed?  Then call Silom Massage and ask for John.  His three hour Traditional Thai Massage session (anything less and you’ll want more) will renew your faith in this hugely over-exploited practice.  John, a Myanmar national, speaks little English but knows the body like all therapists should (and most don’t).  Usually one [...]

  BANGKOK – Excellent service and NONE of that colonial attitude one gets at its so over rated sister motel in Hong Kong or at other so called ‘top’ establishments in Bangkok make this one of our favorite hotels in Bangkok.  Whether you’re checking-in; tanning by the pool; boozing at their Bamboo Bar; getting done at the spa; or being [...]

BANGKOK – Chatuchak…the infamous weekend market.  Okay, not really a fave; actually a love-hate relationship.  For me, Chatuchak (or JJ as the locals call it) is one gigantic assault on the senses – the crowds, the chaos, the odors, the heat and the endless aisles of anything and everything.  But JJ is also about shopping and to a large extent [...]