Nov 28 2024

Gems Gallery Int’l

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198/23-24 Rama 6 Road, Phayathai
Bangkok 10400, Thailand

… more pix vid on Google Maps

We started by watching a short video, about 8 minutes long, giving an overview of Thailand’s place in the world of gem stone. Neat, clean display, and staff is helpful, not pushy, at least the lady who follows me around and only steps forward when I have a question, thank you.


Nov 28 2024

T-Pochana restaurant 黄炎泉餐室( 海鲜)


78, 12-16 Ratchaprarop Rd, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi,
Bangkok 10400, Thailand

… more pix n video on Google Maps.

Will return for food.

During a Thursday lunch hour, we’re the second table there.

The decor and menu books show their 60 plus years in business. The seafood tanks are indoor, most of them are empty except the crabs. The wine cabinet is dusty, and totally devoured of any trace of wine.

I picked a crab (as if I know which one is good or better than the rest) and have it done in pepper. Very yummy but the skinny legs, which are my favorite, are hard to eat because most of the meat are hardened by the burn. If you like to pick a crab clean, don’t choose this method.

I’ve to ask for seafood forks.

The oval shaped clams are tender and clean.

The salt baked grouper is meaty.

All of them are fresh and yummy.

Bathroom and the small hallway have no a/c.


Nov 28 2024

Peak Shabu @


Pannarai Hotel 9 Floor 99/8 Ratchaprarop Rd, Makkasan, Ratchathewi,
Bangkok 10400, Thailand

… more pix n video on Google Maps

Will return.

Roof top hot pot, on top of Pannarai Hotel, entrance is in the garage.

Spacious. Good service. Good food.

The space between tables is very large. When we arrived, a small group German tourists was there, debating if to stay but ultimately against it, leaving us the only diners there.

Shabu-shabu is Japanese name for hotpot, a meal where you dip your food into the boiling pot on the table yourself, piece by piece. The ingredients are (in general, it varies by region …) thin sliced meat, seafood, veggies, tofu, taro, and anything you desire.

Although Japan had invaded China twice in the near past, 1894 and 1937, she was a vassal state of China during the Tang Dynasty, and tributary as late as Qing dynasty. They might have invented the term ‘shabu’ in 20th century but the cooking method is ancient in China, where we call it hotpot.

I’ve hot pot almost weekly at home. The heart and soul of hotpot is the boiling base soup and the sauces on the side, such as soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, scallion, etc., you mix it yourself to your liking.

This restaurant serves side dishes, which in my view is unnecessary but maybe a thing the locals enjoy. They offer a la cart or buffet, which we chose.

Due to communication and darkness, I picked four side dishes (the middle age staff encouraged me to pick more…) but I only ate edamame, which is really good. The sliced meats are good, and the vegetables are fresh. Their sauces are not to my taste – I generally don’t like Thai cuisine due to its sweetness. But the boiling soups are flavorful and salty enough that I don’t really need the dipping sauce. Overall, I enjoyed it.