Bangkok Jems: Welcome to Bangkok Jems!

Bangkok or Krung Thep or Krung Thep (กรุงเทพ) Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit (กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยามหาดิลก ภพนพรัตน์ ราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์ มหาสถาน อมรพิมาน อวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะ วิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์).

This is the city I live in. The City of Angels or The Venice of the East.
Bangkok is an amazing city. I love living here. This blog was born from a simple facebook status update. Jokingly refering to my 1, 856,349 reason as to why I love Bangkok, I thought, why not share all the reasons I love this enticingly beautiful city with friends and people around the world?

Many people have said to me that they favour the islands to spending time in Bangkok. Understandable. The Islands or Chiang Mai is my first thought for any holiday or long weekend. But why the disdain for Bangkok? I realised that Bangkok, for a tourist passing through, can be somewhat inaccessible. I am in the fortunate position of living here. Bangkok, for me, is about or hopping off the BTS or Subway to navigate the unyeilding pathways to experience back sois and hidden treasures. It is about sharing tidbits of information with friends as to the funky and decorative places to eat. Bangkok is full of surprises. It is full of little 'gems'.

Facebook Status Update
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 1:57pm
Reason 1,856,349 for loving Bangkok: the infinite array of high quality places to eat (be it a street vendor or restaurant). My new favourite: the cutest french cafe calle cafe tartine in ruam rudee. The french onion soup is amazing!!

Cafe Tartine. Soi Ruamrudee at the Athenee Residence. 65 Wireless Road. BTS Pleonchit. Lumpini, Pathumwan. Bangkok 10330.

02-1685464

My favourite new cafe in the centre of town. If you hop off Phloen Chit BTS you will see the Novotel Hotel on the left hand side of the road as you face Siam. Exit here and walk down Soi Ruamrudee. You will see on your right hand side after Novotel, a group of restaurants. The first, Ad Makers, then Cafe Tartine and then Hyde and Seek.

Cafe Tartine is now my treat after training BJJ on a Saturday morning/afternoon. The food is fresh and delicicious. I recommend the french onion soup!!

I wholeheartedly recommend the french onion soup!

The atmosphere is so laid back. As you enter, you smell the warm aroma of garlic and you can watch the chefs at work in the kitchen. You feel as thought you are in someone's actual kitchen, it is that homely! Alternatively, they have seating outside (and yes, they provide you with a fan!) where you can rest amongst the water features and people watch! I sat for 2.5 hours reading my book and enjoying their food/coffee.