Daily TribuneFrom the food halls in the malls and night market restaurants, street hawkers to Michelin-starred fare, the city never fails to delight the palate with its diverse culinary offerings and all at relatively affordable prices.
Pokemon Go Trainers from around the world gather for a commemorative photo.
Just beyond the malls, Siam Square Soi 7 is a bustling pedestrian zone with many hip shops and restaurants catering to the university crowd.
After a long day of travel, checking in at Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong is a fun experience as the front office also serves as the hotel’s bar.
Moxy Bangkok’s lofted lounge area is a communal space for playing games, and hanging out among artwork that depict Bangkok’s landmarks and culture.
Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong’s unique Loft Rooms provides a comfy and thoughtful space to relax and unwind after exploring Bangkok.
Dining out in Bangkok is always a treat with many famous local and international food outlets to choose from.
A re-imagination of Thai Milk Tea. Pang Cha serves the iconic drink as a show-stopping shaved ice concoction.
It’s been nine years since I first set foot in Bangkok. Back then, I was on a guided tour together with some media friends, and suffice it to say, it was an excursion that sparked a bit of curiosity in me as to why many fall in love with the city. A few weeks ago, I returned to the “City of Angels” to explore its many malls and parks, and of all things, to play Pokémon Go, which was having a city-wide City Safari event across Bangkok.
Much like a Taylor Swift concert, but with virtual environments overlayed onto the real world through a smartphone, the Pokémon Go City Safari brought Pokémon trainers from around the world to Bangkok to catch Pokémon that are unique for the event. Players wearing Pikachu visors filled the hallways of Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Center Malls, and the surrounding areas, catching Pokémon while enjoying Bangkok’s shopping district.
Aside from Pokémon Go gameplay, there was a Pokémon MEGA Festival at the Jewel Hall of Siam Paragon Mall. The event featured various Pokémon video games, merchandise, Pokémon fashion, and its famous Pokémon Trading Card Game, a Pokémon collector’s treat.
Not everything was about the malls and shopping; however, as Pokemon Go City Safari featured a virtual stamp rally that took players to various areas around Bangkok that are not usually on every tourist’s radar, like Benchakitti Park and the more famous Chatuchak Park. The former was where I discovered that Bangkok’s parks host various wildlife within them, including snakes and meter-long monitor lizards.
Every trainer needs to eat, and Bangkok has a reputation for having an exciting food scene. From the food halls in the malls and night market restaurants, street hawkers to Michelin-starred fare, the city never fails to delight the palate with its diverse culinary offerings and all at relatively affordable prices.
Exploring the urban sprawl of Bangkok on a virtual safari may sound like a daunting task, but its transport network is good enough to make moving from different areas easy. Of course, the address of one’s hotel also helps, and for this trip, I stayed at the Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, located just across Centralworld Mall and connected to the area’s famous R Walk.
The first Moxy Hotel in Thailand, and the largest in Asia-Pacific, the chic 504-room hotel is a vibrant address to access Bangkok’s most happening shopping district. With hip house beats and unconventional spaces, a member of the Marriott Hotel Group, Moxy Bangkok brings the energy and fun of Bangkok to its guests. I especially loved the Instagram-worthy lofted social space featuring art inspired by local Thai paintings and Bangkok city scenes. There are also tabletop games like pool, foosball, and air hockey for guests to enjoy.
Designed for fun with smart and thoughtful details, the rooms of Moxy Bangkok are ideal for the urban adventurers who enjoy no-frills stays combined with top-notch comfort and hospitality.
While the size of Moxy’s Queen rooms may be a bit cozy, it does not feel cramped nor small thanks to its open layout and peg walls for hanging clothes, luggage rack, and folded-chair.
Groups of friends can also try their unique Moxy Loft, which features a twin bed, a queen bed, and a lofted twin bed, perfect for families or friends of up to four.
Playful, crazy, delicious, and fun, a trip to Bangkok is one for the books. One step closer to completing my virtual Pokémon collection, and another step to appreciating the City of Angels even more.
