A Little Look at Shenzhen

On to the next city!

There are so many places in the world to discover! I know it's not possible to see them all, but my list keeps growing the more I travel. China is one of those countries where my list of cities to see keeps expanding.

My trip to Shenzhen (just less than an hour north of Hong Kong) was very brief, but still a great look into more of what China offers. After Shanghai and Hong Kong, Shenzhen is the third busiest port in China. It's booming economy is so evident in all structures and modern buildings.

Here's a little 360 look from our hotel of Shenzhen. This is just a very small area, compared to the whole of the city.

Place your cursor above "Notes" on the last picture, as there is a little caption.

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Lord Jim's at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok

For a very special occasion dinner, my family and I dined at Lord Jim's in the Mandarin Oriental. It is the hotel's seafood restaurant. The indoor setting is pleasant and filled with seafood, both live and ready to be cooked, as you enter.

I love the slow pacing of special occasion restaurants. You get to enjoy your food at your own pace and enjoy your company throughout the meal. It's also great with the chef provides extra treats, like an amuse bouche and palate cleanser. It makes for a more enjoyable and special night.

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Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

Salathip at the Shangri-la Bangkok Hotel

Taking a quick boat ride across the Chao Phraya River, my parents and I ventured to the Shangri-la Hotel. After walking around the hotel grounds, we saw the beautiful setting of their Thai restaurant, Salathip. It's nicely set with both indoor and outdoor dining. It was another great dinner and meal in Bangkok. It always seems like all our Thai meals are so memorable and delicious.

The dishes, especially, the appetizer are all so fun to look at and eat. Eating is not just about sustenance, but about enjoying life and what's given to us.

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Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

Thiptara at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok

Whenever I travel I really enjoy eating at our hotel's restaurant, especially if they have a restaurant with their local cuisine. These hotel restaurants (while a bit pricey) are so authentic and with a most beautiful setting. So, really, the price becomes worth it because of the whole experience.

The Thiptara restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok is one of our favorite Thai restaurants. The setting is by the river with an all outdoor setting. The menu has a great variety for everyone to be satisfied. It's always a great experience eating here.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about some of the pictures.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

The Oriental Thai Cooking School

For my family, any trip to Thailand must include at least one day of a cooking class. I was so excited to go back to Bangkok with my parents. After looking through the various menus, we decided to go back to The Oriental Thai Cooking School in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

My first experience last year was so enjoyable. I learned so much more about Thai cuisine. And by learning so much more, it made me enjoy the cuisine even more! In fact, after last year's trip Thai cuisine became one of my favorite cuisines (probably right after Japanese and Spanish).

This year's cooking class was just as enjoyable! And actually because of the lessons it made Thai cuisine more approachable and easier to make at home. All the recipes we learned were comfort dishes and really easy to make. I can't wait to try these recipes soon!

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about some of the pictures.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.