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Published: January 22nd 2012
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Authors' Lounge @Oriental Hotel
The cab driver said it should be pronounced "Orienten". And he corrected us , not too gently . In fact he looked so frustrated that we kept giving him the "wrong" directions. A trip to Bangkok is always made more pleasurable with a visit to Oriental Hotel by the banks of the lovely Chao Phraya River. I have not stayed in this hotel even for a night, but I have definitely visited it , dined in it, enjoyed quite a few high teas many times in the past. There are 2 spots in this hotel which I so love. The Authors' Lounge in the Authors' Wing, the original part of this century-old hotel. And the Riverside Terrace.
But it has been years since my last visit. And I do remember being driven there by my friend in the past. This time around, we hailed a cab and asked to be taken to Oriental Hotel. The taxi driver asked us many times, and each time felt frustrated failing to understand exactly where we want to be brought. When we showed him a city map and pointed to Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he exclaimed "Orienten, naaaah Oriental Oriental"! And so, it was Orienten for us from now on. Authors' Lounge
The white rattan furniture is as Asian as can be. The white and green motif goes so Authors' Lounge @Oriental Hotel
White rattan furniture, blooms and plants all around. Be prepared to get transported in time. well with the plants and flowers adorning the corners of this lounge. At the time we visited, they couldn't serve high tea in the lounge as they were preparing the lounge for some affair. Not to be denied the chance, we asked permission to just look around the lounge before claiming our seats at the Riverside Terrace. In fact , we did more than that. Armed with our cams, we took many shots of the Lounge, the Trophy Room and the Library. We also browsed through the many old photographs hanging on the white walls of the Authors' Lounge.
Imagine the likes of Joseph Conrad and Barbara Cartland crossing the white expanse of this lounge. Surrounded by old photographs, many of the royal family, one is gently transported back in time. I never grew tired looking at those old photographs. This is most certainly a destination every traveler visiting Bangkok should visit at least once. Even if you don't take your afternoon tea here, just go! And do bring your camera and "get busy'. Of course, the Trophy Room and the Library will tempt you to linger and waste an entire afternoon there. But that View From the Riverside Terrace
Nice to spend a lazy afternoon here, just sipping your drink or chatting the time away with friends. is another story.
Riverside Terrace
After the Lounge, relax and chill at the Riverside Terrace. It is open air here but the big fans and misters render the place quite comfortable on a lazy afternoon by the lovely Chao Phraya River. The hotel has lovely barges to take visitors to the other bank of the river. But on this hot day, we were simply tempted to sit it out and view the boats and barges passing by while sipping our Thai-jito and iced teas.
After all, you can only do so many temples in Bangkok. And you can only do so many shopping malls too before you drop dead, or broke. So why not a lazy afternoon here in ORIENTEN?
You may also want to check out our dining adventures in Bangkok. Just click on this link . Or you may also want to check out what's new in Bangkok .
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anonymous
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Great photos
If we get back to Bangkok we will have to go check out that hotel.