Victory Monument and Import Red Wine

Ibis Hotel, using expensive Wifi, with expensive wine.

So we have checked in to the Ibis Hotel. Neighborhood is a little far from Everything, but its a $35 baht cab (just over $1) ride to the BTS skytrain. We bought BTS passes today, 30days and 20 rides for 450baht, or about $14. The hotel itself is really nice, especially for the price. We were looking for a hotel with Internet, and we found this one on asia rooms. After getting the Lonely Planet Thailand Book, where it is also mentioned, favorably, we looked up the website and they had a special rate of 1000 baht. There is an additional charge of 17% for taxes, and wifi was an additional 450 baht per 24 hours. So, before Internet, the charge was $106CAD for 3 nights. Breakfast for two is 150baht, or 300 baht total, which is about what we have been paying, and should be good. The restaurant here was packed when we got in, its rumored to be good. Basically, it is your usual 3star hotel. It is a member of the Accor Hotel group, who is famous for seriously luxurious hotels. Not bad, We have 22 channels on satellite, in Japanese, Thai, Cantonese, English, German and French. 3 movie channels with old favorites with Steve Martin, a Refrigerator and Kettle (Quickly becoming My two favorite things) a King size bed, aircon, and a very clean bathroom. We are in Rom 422. Completely adequate and comfortable, I am sure it will do us just fine.

We have learned that with hotels in Bangkok, Wotif and AsiaRooms have incredible deals sometimes, and others, the Hotels website has an attractive promotion. Best to check both. Also, Since deciding to forgo the serviced apartment for Hotels and Guesthouses, we are going to look for a promotional price, and take that hotel. It looks like there is a decent hotel in chinatown, with Internet and a pool, that is having a promotional price on Wotif next week, so we will likely be staying there. Balancing out nice hotels with inexpensive guesthouses, like Buri, can work out.
We actually just got back from Tops Market at Victory Monument. We purchased the following. One bottle of wine from Argentina, One large bottle of TsingTao beer, 2 bottles of Green Tea, 3 assorted cans of soda, one apple, two oranges, 5 yoghurt's, One box of Jasmine Tea, 5 packets of Ramen noodle, One bag of Dehydrated Mango. Earlier we purchased a 5L jug of water, One ¼ of a watermelon with stick and ¼ of a pineapple with stick (from street vendor) and a delicious snack of sesame coated cashews ( the vendor was coating them in front of us, in a wok on the street – lured us in with the smell which is similar to croissants baking). All of this cost well under $800 baht. Ok truth be told, the wine was the most expense part at 500 baht.So that means, minus wine, our mini bar setup cost around $10.

Victory Monument was beautiful by night. The pedestrian walkway goes almost 360 degrees around the monument. It is nice to see. We visited the nearby malls this afternoon, Centre and Fashion Mall. Both fleamarket in vibe, and not really worth the visit. We had a cheap lunch of fried rice and Kimchi, nothing special at all. Full of Klatoey (Lady Boys) and girls doing their hair with curling irons in each shop. It was too late to hit the weekend market, but we have done tonnes of shopping anyways. Hopefully, when we leave this place in 2 days, we will have done a tonne of work, and be ready to visit some Wats (temples) and Tourist spots.