Day 2, Thu
Chong Nonsi Skywalk is real
After our hotel breakfast, we took the BTS to Chong Nonsi station. Walked along the sheltered pedestrian bridge, and we were greeted by an impressive view of the huge Skywalk with clear blue skies and skyscrapers in the background. Even in this CBD area, you couldn’t escape the ads on buildings.
This might just be a normal bridge connecting the Sathorn-Silom CBD district, with over 10,000 people using it daily, but it was iconic for me because it had been featured in multiple Thai dramas.
So it felt surreal seeing it in real life when you have been seeing it in reel life.
The Skywalk also extends to a beautiful modern Canal Park where visitors can relax, hang out, and take aesthetic photos too.
Gongdid Design
Thai label Gongdid Design, which translates to “weaving machine” in Thai, is known for its basic yet elegant pleated designs. The pieces were definitely beautiful, and it flows and swings if you turn. At the same time, the material hides your flaws, is stretchy and breathable.
I was tempted to get some pieces. Maybe when I have more confidence in wearing pleats!
The store also has a cafe and photo booth spread across three levels. The store is located inside an “empty” alley, and we almost couldn’t find it amongst the stretch of restaurants, bars, and galleries.
One moment, lemme take a shelf-ie @ Neilson Hays Library
We both fell in love the moment we entered Neilson Hays Library. Founded in 1869, it is Bangkok’s longest-running, privately funded library housed in a neoclassical building. Entry is free, but you pay a small fee should you spend time reading the books. Apparently, it owns the largest English-language book selection in Bangkok, with a variety of genres1. The decor, the ambience, and the range of English books was serving. There was even a cute little book drop at the front gate.
The journey to this enchanting library was equally cool. Navigating the quiet Silom area without many traffic lights meant crossing streets bravely. I also loved how pavements were constructed around trees instead of uprooting them, even when it was right in the middle.
The library hosts various activities and gatherings, from seminars to weddings and exhibitions. I discovered it because it was a filming location for a GMMTV series (and increasingly in other series after that), making it an Enchante moment for my fangirl heart.
Take a ‘Batam ferry’ @ Siphaya Pier N3
We had a funny moment when trying to catch the sunset boat ride at Sathorn Pier, but life had other plans. Heavy traffic meant no rides wanted to take us there, but this driver accepted the request. However, he suddenly changed the route and suggested we head to Siphaya Pier instead. He even covered the boat fee.
It was yet another random alley of the day, trust. So we just walked straight till we saw the signs and the pier. For just 6 baht (about 25 cents), we enjoyed a comfy, air-conditioned boat ride (that looked like the ferry Batam from Singapore) to ICONSIAM and caught a glimpse of the sunset.
ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM was the most crowded mall on this trip. The 10-storey mall had loads of international and local brands, restaurants, entertainment, and even an indoor ‘floating’ market. It’s a shopping haven with both high-end and affordable items. Despite the crowd, it’s spacious enough to not feel cramped.
After dinner, get some fresh air by the river and enjoy the ICONIC Multimedia Water Feature at 7pm and 8pm daily. It combines lights, music and water effects, and it’s super entertaining for all ages. (Hong Kong‘s A Symphony of Lights should take notes!) There are usually pop-up stores at ICONSIAM park too.
We took the tourist boat from ICONSIAM to Sathorn Pier for 8 baht per person. The boat was packed, so we stood for the 10-minute ride. It was fun seeing the bridge up close, various piers, and the bright lights of Asiatique from afar.
Uminsummer 