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Bangkok is full of surprises. Down a dingy alley, you might find a little museum of royal barges or incredible street art. Or high above a shopping centre, you discover a rooftop restaurant offering fine-dining Spanish food. There’s nothing normal about Bangkok – to the point where normal is surprising and surprising is normality. 

That’s what makes this city so enticing, exciting and fascinating.

But one of the more unexpected experiences to have in Bangkok is at the top of a reasonably normal looking office block in the centre of Lumphini – a district of the city better known for its embassies, high-end shopping and its historic, eponymous park.

It’s also not far from our hotel, which is great!

Here, across the top three floors and roof of One City Centre (OCC), is Akara Sky Hanuman.

Akara Sky Hanuman

Dinner and a Show. And a View. And a Geography Lesson

Akara Sky Hanuman is a roaming multi-sensory experience that showcases everything about Thailand, from its regional foods to its mythological history to traditional dance and costumes to artistic interpretational experiences of Thai festivals.

In other words, Akara Sky Hanuman is Thailand in a high-rise nutshell.

Once your ticket has been issued and you’re in the elevator going up to the 61st floor, you can take as long as you want and explore the 10 different zones in any order you want – though it makes sense to start at the rooftop bar!

Here’s how we did it.

Book your Akara Sky Hanuman tickets here.

Sky Observation Deck for Sunset (if you’re lucky)

Arriving at about 6pm, we went straight to the top floor and the rooftop bar, our fingers crossed for a clear sky.

This is the Observation Deck where you can enjoy panoramic views across Bangkok over the curves of the Chao Phraya River as it curls an oxbow around Khung Bang Kachao – the famed Lungs of Bangkok.

Sadly, the grey skies stop any chance of a decent sunset this evening, but on a clear day, this would be spectacular.

Hanuman Cinema and Dinner

This is the restaurant here and it’s quite something. Above, is the Immersive Dome where an impressive projection of the story of Hanuman – the national myth of a monkey warrior in Ramakien and part of Thailand’s cultural makeup.

At our table, we’re served a selection of canapés that represent the different food styles of the four major regions of Thailand: Northern, Isan, Central and Southern. Each ‘plate’ is a bowl in the shape of each region, so were essentially eating from a map of Thailand.

Our choice of mains is based on which region we’d like to eat from and the tableware is indicative of that region.

I chose Central Region – the old royal capital Ayutthaya. The food is comes in bowls that look like royal pagodas, gold-painted and on a gold tray. 

Reflecting the food of the region, I have tom kha, a coconut and galangal soup with mushrooms, lemongrass and makrut lime, Thai fish cakes served with sweet chilli sauce, crispy fried hard-boiled eggs in sweet tamarind, a classic green curry with chicken, coconut milk and Thai eggplant, and – my favourite – prawn choo chee curry.

Christina goes for the Isan region. With influences from Laos, the food from this northeastern region is particularly good. In her bowls, made to look like the bamboo and earthenware pots reminiscent of the area, is a feast:

Tom saeb a spicy, sour Isan pork soup with fresh herbs, gai yang charcoal-grilled marinated chicken with a spicy dipping sauce, the famous som tum green papaya salad and of course sticky rice.

Check out the other options here.

Virtual Sky Lantern Installation

After dinner, we climb stairs (no mean feat after such a meal!) to the Virtual Sky Lantern light installation. Made to represent the Yi Peng lantern festival of northern Thailand, the hundreds of glass lamps hanging from the mirrored ceiling change colour as you walk between them on mirrored floors.

It’s an ethereal experience, but as you get to the edge of the room, you realise you can see the whole city stretching out below you through the windows. It’s amazing.

Hanuman Sky Bar and Cultural Hanuman Dance

Back up on the rooftop, the bar here is now open and the DJ is hitting the beats. The city lights twinkle in the dark night while we wait for a special performance. 

Below the grinning teeth of the giant Hanuman head above the bar, dancers perform a traditional dance telling the tale of the White Monkey Warrior.

Siam Societies Bar for Dessert

Before we leave, we have unfinished business with our dinner to take care of. Dessert is served in the lavish heritage of Siam Societies. This bar, decorated to resemble the era of King Rama V, has the perfect blend of Thai royalty and colonial British decor of the 19th century.

We sit down to our dessert of the day in couches upholstered in Jim Thompson silk and relish the final act of this remarkable experience.

What – or Who – is Hanuman?

The Ramakien is Thailand’s greatest epic. It is to Thailand what Beowulf is to Britain or the Shahnameh is to Persia; it’s an ancient story that tells of great battles and victories, heroes, kings and civilisations.

Hanuman is a central figure. A white monkey warrior with supernatural powers and a keen military mind, he helps a prince rescue his abducted wife from the evil clutches of a demon king. 

As one of the epic’s most colourful characters, you can find Hanuman images all over Thailand including many of the country’s temples.

Like any experience, the telling of Akara Sky Hanuman will never be as good as experiencing it for yourself. Words indeed fall short of this immersive evening, so we highly recommend going here yourself and enjoying the journey in person.

Book your Akara Sky Hanuman tickets here.

We visited Akara Sky Hanuman as media guests of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

More For You On Bangkok & Thailand

We love travelling to Thailand and have plenty of stories, travel guides and itineraries for you to enjoy.

Here are some of our favourites:

More Stories & Guides to SE Asia

The post The Ultimate Thai Experience – 276m above Bangkok appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Hua Hin has a long history as a seaside retreat for Thailand’s royal family, which could be the reason it doesn’t have the same frenetic feel that other beach towns have gained that dot the Thai coast.

With its easy-going seaside vibes, local markets and upscale resorts, Hua Hin has a lot to offer visitors looking for a bit of low-key luxury on the Bay of Thailand.

We’ve had a long love affair with Hua Hin. Friends have got married here, others have even moved here, and we’ve had a couple of trips here independently too. 

Being only a couple of hours’ drive southwest from Bangkok, this is an achievable beach destination that’s not the full-on party scene that jostles a lot of other places on the bay. 

Check out our video walkthrough of this beautiful resort here:

Where To Stay In Hua Hin – Veranda Resort and Villas Cha Am

As you’d expect, there are plenty of hotel and resort options in Hua Hin that run the gamut in terms of price and quality. 

But sitting in the sweet spot of the cost and luxury Venn diagram, Veranda Resort and Villas is the easiest decision you’ll have while you’re organising your Hua Hin holiday.

The resort is split into two ‘zones’; the main resort, which has the majority of rooms including beachfront options, and the Luxury Pool Villa Zone. Set back from the main resort and with its own pool and gym, this area has some of the most luxurious accommodations, each with its own private pool.

Our Pool King Suite with Private Pool

Set within the Luxury Pool Villa Zone, the moment you walk into this room, you’re struck by the luxury touches, the styling and the uniqueness of the room’s layout.

From the sleek black stripe of the tiled floor to the enormous deep-fill stone bathtub in the bathroom, which must take up at least a quarter of the 84ms of the room’s footprint by the way, this is a beautiful room.

Driftwood ornaments and coral-esque art adorn the walls, plump crocheted cushions add softness to the reading nook, and the balcony has views out to the ocean over the resort’s rooftops.

But it’s the balcony that holds the real winning card to this room.

Accessible from the balcony and also – somewhat mysteriously – through the glass sliding door/window of the bathroom is our private infinity pool.

If there’s one luxury I think I value over all others when it comes to resort living, I put a private pool right up there. 

And having a pool high up on a balcony – essentially your own private rooftop pool – is literally and figuratively next level.

Other Facilities at Veranda Resort

Across the road in the main part of the resort, there’s plenty to see and do. 

In the middle of the beautiful, open-air lobby and lounge, a fountain is the source of a stream that runs all the way through the grounds, past the breakfast area on the right, down to the main pool, which in turn looks out over the beach and the Bay of Thailand.

Veranda’s Cafe and Spa

On the left of the stream and its ponds is the The Glass Room Espresso Bar. This quiet, low-lit space is full of the rich aromas of freshly ground coffee. It’s a great spot to relax with a book and a well-made macchiato. 

Outside in the trees, squirrels scamper in the trees.

Perfect for those occasional rainy days or moments when you just want some time to yourself, this is where you can come, borrow a book and sit back.

On the far side of the cafe, through an impressive burnished bronze door, is Veranda Spa. 

Offering a full range of treatments, massages and facials, the spa also has facilities for couples massages, milk baths, body scrubs and steams.

ISEA Beach Bar & Restaurant

With perfect views from its deck leading directly to the softs sands of Cha Am Beach, ISEA Beach Bar and Restaurant offers a nice range of dining options – both western and local, but we were treated to the restaurant’s signature meal.

The Set Dinner comes as a five-tiffin tower in a fun riff on the lunchboxes locals take to work and to school.

Each tiffin has a sample of different local specialties, starting with crispy spicy squid, then red curry with crab and cha kram leaves, then stir-fried tiger prawns with chilli, below that a tiffin for steamed rice and finally mango sticky rice for dessert.

It’s a great way to experience many local flavours in one meal (without having to share!), and the food is superbly cooked and presented.

Beyond the Resort

Of course, guests are not restricted to the resort, and in fact, Veranda encourages visitors to check out the neighbouring venues. 

Nong Nat’s Beach Bar

To the left of the resort, right on the beach, is Nong Nat’s Beach Bar. This little local set up is so cute; just chairs and tables on the sand. Drop by for a sunset beer or a bite to eat. They also do massages if you’d prefer an al fresco treatment to a spa experience.

We love places like this and it’s good to see them living in harmony next to luxury resorts like Veranda.

Horse Rides on the Beach

If you want to experience riding a horse along the beach as the quiet waters of the bay lap on the sand, this is also possible here. A local operator offers 15-minute rides for about 300 baht, and the horses look well-kept and in good condition.

Visit Hua Hin Town

Veranda Resort is not in central Hua Hin, but up the road just outside another area called Cha Am. It’s about a 25-minute drive south to town and about 300 baht for a taxi, which could be why Veranda is better-priced than other resorts closer to town.

Hua Hin is well-developed, and has plenty of bars and restaurants, shopping malls and an excellent night market. Running along several streets, the night market has a lively energy, selling local food, touristy toot and interesting handicraft. Christina also picked up a lovely raffia handbag there.

Further afield, there’s so much to see around this part of Thailand. There’s even a winery or two tucked away in the hills above Hua Hin. 

But the best part of it is knowing you’re coming home to a beautiful room and the sparkling, warm waters of your own private pool.

We stayed at Veranda Resort & Villas as media guests of Tourism Authority of Thailand, but our opinions and experiences remain our own.

There’s Always a Bit More!

If you enjoyed this story, check out our Visit Thailand page here!

We have a lot more reviews of hotels in Thailand. If you’d like to see more on places to stay in Thailand, click here!

You should also take a look at our YouTube playlist on Thailand here!

The post Where To Stay On Thailand’s Royal Coast appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

September is always a busy, fun month for us, but this year might just put the rest in the shade. A lot of it has to do with the sheer number of birthdays there are in September, but it also sees the last shreds of winter fall away.

And this month, we’ve got all of that as well as wine explorations, posh dinners, relos visiting and even an overseas flop-and-drop holiday – something Christina and I rarely get to do.

Here’s to month nine!

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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Family in town

With the vast majority of my family living in the northern hemisphere, I always get pretty excited when I hear one of the clan is in town. 

So when I got a text from my cousin Ian saying he was in Sydney and wanted to catch up, I was thrilled. It turns out he’s here for the Sydney Marathon, which takes place every year at the end of August.

This afternoon, we’re catching up for a beer and a feed. He casually mentions that he has to see his girlfriend off at the airport first. Why isn’t he flying with her all the way back to the UK? Simple. It turns out they moved to Darwin about 18 months ago! 

I’ve had family in the country this whole time and I never knew about it!

Ian and I haven’t seen each other in almost 20 years, but it doesn’t take long to catch up on things. As it turns out, we still get on pretty well! 

By the way, he did quite well on his marathon: 3hrs 1min. He’s upset he didn’t get across the line in under three hours, but as one of my very wise friends pointed out to him, he should’ve run a bit faster!

A Fine Wine Fest at Woolloomooloo 

Today, I’m at the Ovolo in Woolloomooloo looking out over Garden Island and Sydney’s beautiful harbour. But I’m not here for the views nor for military recon. Today is a special trade tasting of the House of Fine Wines’ impressive portfolio.

Filling an entire event room, row upon row of tables are laid out with wines from all the different producers under the one banner. 

There are plenty of household names here including Bollinger Champagne House, McWilliams, Tahbilk and Villa Maria, but there are also some very interesting smaller producers too.

I’m here with my fabulous friend Amy, who’s agreed to keep me company (and out of as much trouble as possible) while Christina’s busy with other appointments. 

We try as many of the wines around the room as we can, with some real standouts at Sanguine Estate’s excellent medium-bodied reds, Chalk Hill’s crisp Chardonnay and Dreissigacker Winery’s profound range of Rieslings. 

We also really enjoy the wine and the fun company of Soul Growers, who make superb wines from grapes sourced from across the Barossa.

We also hear from Andrew Calabria, the Sales & Marketing Director of Calabria Family Wine Group, which recently brought the House of Fine Wine’s portfolio into the fold. 

Andrew shares some fascinating insights with us about the industry and about Calabria Family Wines too.

“What data is telling us right now is white wines, lighter style reds are definitely working,” Andrew tells us. “Pinot Noir is still hugely successful in terms of reds, where we can see some of the heavier, old-fashioned Australian reds are definitely coming off.”

He also has something to say about younger people and disagrees with the assumption that they’re not drinking as much as older generations:

“I think the wine world does a really poor job in the way we talk to consumers… I don’t agree with this whole ‘younger people aren’t drinking wine’. I think younger people are just intimidated by wine.”

He has a point. 20-year-olds with less wine knowledge feel uncomfortable when “a guy comes over with a little badge wearing a suite and he’s talking about soil and wine-making.”

Calabria Family Wines are aiming to break down those barriers while still bringing high-quality wine to the initiated. 

Wine And Art with Yalumba at Sydney Contemporary

This afternoon, we’re at the Carriageworks for the annual Sydney Contemporary. Known as Australia’s premier art fair, this showcase of contemporary and modern art houses stalls for over 100 galleries and more than 500 artists is the perfect place for art lovers and collectors.

It’s so interesting to see so much art of all different styles in one place from both budding and established artists. It’s also amazing people-watching here. I have to admit, some of the art is a bit over my head. ‘Orange Monochrome’ by John Nixon doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s felt on cardboard on wood and is 10.4cm x 10.2cm x 4.7cm.

I wish I could tell you more.

But it’s not just the art we’re here for; as one of the primary sponsors of Sydney Contemporary, Yalumba Wine Family is the house pour at the bar here.

The winery is supporting emerging artists through Sydney Contemporary’s Futures sector, where they have transformed the labels of Yalumba’s Signature Cabernet and Shiraz magnums. These wines are available to purchase as collector items and money goes towards supporting the artist and their work.

As we enjoy a glass or two of Yalumba, we’re guided around some of the galleries and their art by the esteemed Oliver Watts. An awarded artist himself – as well as an art historian and curator – Oliver has incredible depth of knowledge and perspective around the works that we see here today. We’re very lucky to have had his company.

Birthday Week For Jeanette

Christina’s mum’s birthday is in early September, so we’re taking her out to catch up with some friends. First off, some of her oldest friends have come to have lunch with her in St Ives. It’s been so long since I’ve seen these lovely ladies, so it’s much of a treat for me as it is Jeanette!

Ana, Jacqui – who lives in Queensland now – and Mara have been friends with Jeanette for decades. It’s great to see them all together again.

We also have lunch with one of Jeanette’s newer friends, but ironically probably the oldest. Norma is incredibly impressive, especially at the age of 103! We’ve brought round a bite to eat, but she’s already laid the table and has put out tea and biscuits for us.

We also go back to Christina’s sister’s place so she can give Jeanette a quick haircut. Mary was a hairdresser in a former life and still does her mum’s hair every now and again.

Mixed feelings about Mr Wong’s

This evening, Christina and I are out for dinner at Mr Wong’s to celebrate our 26th year of being together! Quite the milestone.

We haven’t been to Mr Wong’s in ages, but the food is still as good as ever it was. However, we end up feeling a bit rushed, which isn’t what you really want when you’re paying quite a bit of money for a meal. We’ve barely finished ordering when the dishes start arriving.

We leave feeling full, but also a bit like we’ve just hurried through a mid-week office lunch rather than the romantic meal we were hoping for.

Wine For Curry

This evening, we’re in North Strathfield at Abhi’s Indian Restaurant for a very interesting prospect; we’re checking out a new wine that’s soon to come on the market that’s been specially crafted to pair with Indian food.

This is Sari Wines and is part of the genius of Fourth Wave Wines, who are known for their clever concepts around wine understanding.

I’m usually more of a beer drinker when it comes to curry, but these wines are actually perfect with the food – carefully chosen varietals that go with different styles of curry, spice and richness.

The core Sari wines are Blanc de Noir sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Viognier, Pinot Noir and GSM.

The menu tonight, brought to us by the amazing catering of the Modern Desi Co, works so well with the wines, which in turn work perfectly with the food.

The spread is incredible, with 10 different dishes showing the best of the wine pairings. We start with bubbles and work our way through the bottles and the menu!

Click this drop-down to see more about the wines and the food they were paired with:

The Road South

Christina and I are hitting the road today. It feels like ages since our last road trip, so we’re excited with this one; we’re driving down to the Mornington Peninsula for a wedding!

We get as far as the town of Yass before needing a stop. We find the town’s main street clad in the most beautiful cherry blossoms. If it weren’t for the classic Aussie colonial architecture, we could be amongst the sakura of Japan.

We pop into Clementine Bakery for a couple of tasty pies, but the sausage roll we also pick up is the absolute stand-out here.

How’s The Serenity

We decide not to do the drive down to the Mornington in one go and Christina finds a real gem to stop off at.

This is the town of Bonnie Doon, put on the map and into legend by the classic film The Castle. The pub here – the Bonnie Doon Hotel – is actually wonderful and we’re right on time for happy hour: $4 middies!

We stick around until it’s time for dinner then smash one of the house burgers each. Excellent food, beautiful surroundings and friendly locals – it doesn’t get much better!

The motel attached to the Bonnie Doon Hotel is just as excellent – especially for the price. Usually, the basic standard for old-school motels is it’s clean and you don’t feel like you’re about to get murdered.

These guys have done way better than that.

The place has recently been decorated, the bed is new and very comfortable, the bathroom has been very thoughtfully renovated and all in all, this is a great place to spend the night. There’s even a pool!

Since we’re in Bonnie Doon, it’d be rude not to go and check out the holiday house in The Castle. Yes, it’s real, yes, it’s here and yes, you can even rent it out! There are some amazing callbacks to the movie.

Two lances hanging in the window, a punchbag in the tree and even a kennel for Coco in the garden.

Sure enough, how’s the serenity!

From Bonnie Doon, it’s only a couple of hours further to the Mornington Peninsula. We’re too early to check into our AirBnB, so Christina finds us a lunch spot. This is the very enjoyable Moon Dog Brewery, right on the beach at Frankston.

We grab a tasting paddle each and find a spot in the sun on the deck of the brewery’s beach club veranda. The brews are very serviceable and the burgers really hit the spot.

Wedding Bells in the Mornington

Ding dong! It’s wedding time! We’re very excited to see our wonderful friend Jess say her vows and at such a beautiful venue. This is Dromana Estate winery, a stunning spot on the peninsula and the perfect place for such a celebration.

We’ve known Jess and her hilarious bridesmaids for a million years – since she was 17 in fact. It’s so good to see her so happy.

After the formalities, which hit all the targets, it’s inside for dinner. Food and wine flow freely, and speeches and dancing take up the rest of our bandwidth leaving our hearts, souls and stomachs very full indeed.

Congratulations to Jess and Pete. It was an honour to share your special day with you.

While we’re here, Christina and I decide to explore the seaside of the Mornington a bit. This really is a beautiful part of Australia.

The last time we were here was for a wedding in 2020 – just before Covid hit – and we checked out a few Mornington Peninsula wineries. Before that, Christina used to come here all the time with her family, but that was when she was little. It’s a long way to come from Sydney, but very much worth it.

One More Stop Before Home

We end up hitting the road later than we were hoping, so we decide not to push it too much and stop somewhere for the night.

The sun just about sets as we pull into our parking spot at a random motel in Albury, just over the NSW border. Funnily enough, the last time we were here was for a wedding as well, but that was just this March and we had already checked out the food options.

I had a feeling the Indian Tandoori Restaurant on the town’s main street was good. It’s pleasing to be proven right!

There’s Something About Mary (it’s her birthday)

Today is my lovely sister-in-law Mary’s 60th birthday! I still can’t quite get my head around the idea – especially considering how good she looks – but there you go.

We’re with her to celebrate this evening at the beautiful Bathers’ Pavilion at Balmoral for dinner. The food and service is just outstanding.

Christina and I share a chicken parfait to start, she goes for the slow-cooked lamb ragu pasta and I have the mussels in a creamy white wine sauce, but the food aside, it’s an evening to remember.

Happy birthday, Mary!

Birthday Fun in Fiji

Welcome to Fiji! I haven’t been back here in 25 years! And back then, I certainly wasn’t staying in digs like this.

We’re at the Waitui Beach Club – the adults-only side of Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island. It takes quite a long time for us to check in – mostly because reception has to go through all the things that come with our room. Free minibar that’s restocked every day, breakfast on the beach, happy hour every hour from 11am to 5pm… it’s pretty lush.

We make it to the beach in time to enjoy the 5pm drinks and snacks just as the sun dips into the sea. What a welcome!

For this trip, there are six of us: Christina and myself, her sister and birthday girl Mary, our brother-in-law David, and their friends Leanne (who Mary has known since kindergarten) and Leanne’s husband Murray, who they’ve all known since high school!

It’s a very merry gathering and we spend most of our time here lounging by the pool, swimming in the pool or drinking.

It’s the first time Christina and I have tried this kind of holiday. I think if we were here alone, we’d be out and about every day, but because of the excellent company (and all the free drinks!), we’re happy to stick by the pool.

SUP, Spa Treatments & Fine-Dining

Of course, there’s always something to do here. Christina discovers that, as well as all the complimentary F&B package, we have access to the hotel’s standup paddle boards and kayaks.

Meanwhile, I catch up with my mate Frenchie, who happens to be on holiday here at the same time just next door in the Hilton.

You might remember Frenchie from his excellent write-up on the Three Capes in Tasmania that he did for us.

The food here at the Sofitel has been amazing. Perfect little macchiato, superb, sumptuous dinners at the many restaurants at the resort (this was my squid ink house-made linguini with flambe seafood and a lobster sauce) or fresh coconuts on demand.

In fact, the coconut here is a breakfast option – where you can have it topped up with local rum!

Christina and I also get a cheeky treatment in at the Sofitel Spa. The amazing Tropical Trio is 90 minutes of bliss starting with a half-hour top-to-tail sugar scrub, a 30-minute back massage and then a 30-minute refresher facial treatment.

This also comes with a plate of petit fours and a glass of bubbly at the end. We both leave the spa feeling like our bodies have been swapped for jelly. Thank you, Shoma and Matilda for making us feel so relaxed.

It’s definitely worth booking at the adults-only section though. No matter how much you love kids, this little corner of peace is luxury – especially if you compare it to the craziness of the general population!

The Sofitel Fiji is also in the process of expanding with the brand new Vatu Talei complex opening at the end of 2027.

Beyond the Sofitel

We do escape the wonderful confines of the resort eventually – though we miss the comfort and happy hours immediately!

Christina and Mary once lived in Fiji when their dad worked here back in the ’80s. We head to the town of Lautoka, where the family lived, to see if we can find their old house. Leanne also visited Mary, so she has memories of this place too.

Initially, we can’t find the house and give up, instead heading into town to explore the markets, which Mary and Leanne remember well. Christina was just a baby then.

Lautoka Markets are amazing. Enormous and full of all kinds of unusual fruit and veg. Everything is so fresh and enormous here – that’s ginger Christina’s holding up!

We walk around the town a bit more, and then by a stroke of good luck, we find someone who remembers the house and points us in the direction of Coral Sea Drive. Back in the van, we head over to the suburb of Simla and there it is!

We also head to Mary’s old school and have a look around. She says nothing much has changed – it must be quite the experience to trip down memory lane like that.

We also head south to Natandola and to the Intercontinental. Murray, who’s been to Fiji about a thousand times, has stayed here and knows it as the best beach in the area. The water is so clear and so blue, it’s almost hard to look at.

You can buy day passes at the Intercon for about FD$130 per person, which gives you access to the facilities and also can be used for your food and drinks bill at the end of the day.

Christina, Mary and I enjoy some time by the pool, while David, Murray and Leanne go exploring – ending up on a three-hour hike through mangroves, rocks and caves, mistake a banded sea krait for a rope and getting stung by something. It’s an epic effort, bearing in mind none of them has any shoes on, no one’s got even a T-shirt and they didn’t take any water.

Murray very impressively orders two beers as soon as he’s back, the first of which disappears like he tipped it!

All too soon, we’re having our last dinner. The staff at the Sofitel Fiji Waitui Beach Club have made this trip so much more memorable for us and deserve all the praise.

We’re back in the minivan heading for the airport amidst the busy Nadi traffic of smoky bumbling cars and trucks overloaded with sugar cane.

We come in to land just as the sun is setting not only on Sydney but on our holiday as well.

Happy birthday once again, Mary. We hope you had as good a time as we all did!

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

There’s Always a Bit More!

If you enjoyed this Flavour of The Month, here are the last few previous months you can catch up on!

The post Wine & Art, Wine & Curry, Wine & Wine, and a Chill-Out in Fiji appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Western Australia holds a special place in my heart. It was the first place my feet touched Aussie soil and was the beginning of a trip around this great land that changed almost everything in my life.

It was also here that I had my first wine-tasting experience.

Far from the coach-load of backpackers rumbling up the highway, my latest trip to the Swan Valley was with a small group of (fairly) discerning friends, somehow packed into a maxi-taxi with questionable driving skills.

Unfolding from the car’s confines, we ventured out into the Swan Valley’s sweeping vines.

What is the Swan Valley Wine Region Famous For?

Probably the closest wine region to a major Australian city, Swan Valley offers amazing convenience to the travelling wine-lover who’s short of time.

With its (comparatively) low latitude, Swan Valley is warmer than the other major regions like Margaret River or the enormous Great Southern, and is also further north than the Hunter Valley in NSW.

This makes ideal growing conditions for bigger-bodied, ‘juicy’ wines like Shiraz, but also wines known for their medium body and drier finish like Grenache. 

But we’re here for the Swan Valley’s real jewel in the crown: Chenin Blanc.

Often mistaken for much more expensive and exclusive iterations from Burgundy and alike, the Chenin Blancs of Swan Valley are crisp, fresh and zingy, but with lots of texture and are fruit-forward.

Chenin Blanc From 3 Swan Valley Wineries

Mandoon Estate

Low key and friendly, Mandoon‘s cellar door has a huge dining space as part of its cellar door and is also home to a great little brewery and beer garden.

Mandoon’s Wild Bunch Chenin Blanc is a Swan Valley classic with pear drops and melon on the nose, juicy lemon-lime citrus and mineral notes on the palate, and long, balanced finish. 

There’s a lovely structure and sherbet acidity to the wine suggesting good cellaring potential too. 

Sandalford Wines

Probably the most established and definitely the most commercial winery in the Swan Valley, Sandalford’s cellar door is a slick machine, and even has a full merch and interiors shop as part of the experience.

The wines are good though and the service at the tasting bar is affable and fun. Some of the vines at Sandalford are the oldest in WA. And if you don’t know why old vines are important, you should check out our story on old vines here!

Sandalford’s 1840 Chenin Blanc is an excellent food wine. Put this with a good cheese or charcuterie board — or a pile of prawns or oysters — and you’re winning.

Much better slightly warmer, this wine needs to be out of the fridge at least 20 minutes before you  open it. Do that and you’ll be rewarded with peaches and pears on the nose, and a tingly acidity, lemon curd and overripe pears on the palate. 

This wine doesn’t have quite as much texture or weight as Mandoon’s Wild Bunch, but is still very enjoyable.

Corymbia Vineyards

Full disclosure, I didn’t try this in the Swan Valley, but in the excellent Nacara Bar and Cellar in Balmain, where it’s a steal at $17 a glass.

Beautifully layered with velvety texture underlined with a firm acid minerality, Corymbia‘s Rocket’s Vineyard Chenin Blanc is pretty special. Crisp pear and light citrus backs up against a long luscious finish edged with savoury salinity.

Mitch from Nacara told us that, in a blind tasting, this wine was mistaken as one of the top Chenin Blancs from Burgundy and considered among the best in the world at a recent European wine judging.

Not bad for an unassuming family-run winery in the Upper Swan that only makes around 1,000 cases a year.

More wine of the month stories

We have written a lot of these Wine of the Month stories over the years. You can catch up on them here!

Beyond just wine, we also have all kinds of things like restaurant reviews, bar reviews, recipes, cocktail books… you should have a look for yourself!

Check out our latest wine stories

As well as regular Wine of the Month features, we have other wine and winery reviews we know you’ll love. Here are some of our latest stories.

Wine of the Month – Swan Valley Chenin Blanc

When you think if West Australian wine, thoughts usually go straight for the beautiful, big-bodied Cabernets of Margaret River. But just twenty minutes from Perth’s Harbourside streets, the Swan Valley wine region is running its own race. Western Australia holds a special place in my heart. It was the first…

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From budget-friendly bottles to premium drops, these outstanding new releases from three Australian wineries show just how far local wine has evolved. For something as ancient as wine, I’m always surprised how modern-day wineries can create new lines of their product. These wines are still distinctly their brand and style,…

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Another Pinnacle For The Wines Of Orange, NSW

In a town like Orange, NSW, it’s hard to make wine that stands out when standards are already so high. But this winery on the eastern slopes of Mt Canobolas has managed to do just that once again with its latest premium range. I cast my mind back to late…

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Is Australian Wine Really All That Good?

There are hundreds of wine competitions around the world, but the Decanter World Wine Awards is the pinnacle. So when five Aussie wines take home the bragging rights of Best In Show, can we say that Australian wine is the best in the world? Living in Australia, we’re in a…

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Bangkok is one of the most visited cities globally and often ranks in the top three in the world for its number of luxury hotels, so why is it always a struggle to pick accommodation in Bangkok?

If ever there were a better example of the paradox of choice!

However, our recent stay in the Oriental Residence, right in the heart of Lumphini, seems to have solved this particular conundrum.

Check out our video walkthrough of the Oriental Residence here:

Located in the embassy and diplomatic district of Lumphini, a stone’s throw from Bangkok’s biggest public park and a host of shopping and restaurant options, this all-suite five-star hotel offers not only a central location, but also a wonderful level of comfort and luxury to your stay.

First Impressions

As our car pulls up to the Oriental Residence — yes, the name’s a little awkward and I’m not that comfortable with it either — we’re struck by how hidden the front of this fairly substantial building is.

As much as innocuous minivans have replaced the ostentation of stretched limos, this kind of secreted compound entrance seems to be much more the fashion these days. The idea of low-key luxury is very much in.

But once inside the confines of the main gate, the fountain, the grand stone and glass frontage and the two permanent doormen let you know you’ve arrived. In fact, it feels a little like the entrance to an embassy, which works considering the hotel’s location.

Next door is the enormous, sprawling US embassy, on the other side is the Embassy of Ireland, across the street are the NZ, South Africa, Italy, UAE and Ukraine embassies too, and tucked away behind the Oriental Residence is the Netherlands’ ambassador’s house.

Inside the hotel, the lobby is fairly simple though clearly high end. Panelled walls and lofted ceilings propped up by enormous pillars, lead you to reception. Instead of a big long imposing desk, check in happens at a low table. Intimate, friendly, personal.

The Room

The 145 residences – as in ‘rooms’ – at the Oriental Residence are spread out between junior, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. We’re in a junior suite, which is kind of like a regular room rather than having a separate bedroom and lounge like a conventional suite, but quite a bit bigger.

Even at this entry-level room type, there’s still plenty of luxurious touches. 

Aside from the generous bed, classical fittings and lots of power outlet options at the bedside, the room also has a long sofa and ottoman coffee table, which acts as the lounge area.

There’s also a dining table big enough for two. The table’s set with some lovely dainties: a trio of petit fours and a plentiful fruit bowl.

Off to one side is the kitchen, fitted with everything you’d expect in a self-contained apartment-suite. There’s a stovetop, convection microwave, coffee machine, and Smeg brand toaster and kettle. 

There’s a well-stocked bar fridge and minibar, and lots of complimentary bottles of water.

Initially, I’m confused why the cutlery drawer only has spoons of different sizes, until Christina realises the knives and forks are part of the dining room table setting.

The bathroom is impressive. Through the cloakroom/walk-in wardrobe, clad in warm travertine, the the bathroom houses a good-sized shower and a bath deep enough to completely submerge — an issue I often have with baths.

Amenities are from luxury Bangkok wellness, skincare and fragrance brand Panpuri.

Breakfast

Served in the hotel’s restaurant Cafe Claire, breakfast at the Oriental Residence is a replete affair featuring an enormous buffet that takes up one entire side of the room and even spills out into the anteroom. 

As well as all kinds of fruit and make-your-own salad options, and Thai and European hot options, there’s also wealth of baked goods to choose from. There are several types of croissant including the curious ‘flat croissants’ that are crusted in large-crystal sugar or even dipped in chocolate.

As well as the buffet, there are a la carte options too like cooked breakfasts, eggs Benedict and a host of SE Asian choices; tom yum soup, har gaw dumplings, babimbap.

Christina tries the dumplings, but they’re sadly not the best. My beetroot salmon toast, however, is excellent. Served on one of the flat croissants (though this one’s not sweet), is beetroot-marinated salmon, spinach and house-pickled vegetables on a cream cheese base. It’s truly excellent.

Around the room are some amusing quotes about food, though one that catches our eye leaves us feeling a little bemused: “A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch.” 

Well played, James Beard. You’ve put me off my croissant!

Rooftop Pool and Bar

Up on the fourth floor rooftop (the building carries on for another 28 levels) is the pool and Play Deck Bar. This open-air bar and pool look out over the city with views down to the Dutch Ambassador’s gardens below and Lumphini Park further off.

Come up here for a dip, drink or bar-style snacks between 10am and 8pm.

Oriental Bar & Executive Lounge 

For guests staying in Prestige Club Rooms, there’s complimentary access to the Executive Lounge on level two. 

This luxurious lounge is open all day until 6.30pm and has afternoon tea between 1pm-3pm. But at 4.30, you can enjoy complimentary cocktails and a delicious selection of canapés. There are all sorts of snacks you can have here, but the best of them is easily the Chalomjai camembert-style cheese made locally by Hungry Wolf Artisan Foods So creamy! So tasty!

Up here is also the Oriental Bar, a slick evening venue with a few elevated food offerings and well-made cocktails.

We stayed at the Oriental Residence as media guests of Tourism Authority of Thailand, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

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As the Northern Hemisphere cooks in the long tail of its endless summer, down here in Sydney it feels like the winter’s nearly over.

August can be one of those months that catches you out with surprisingly cool temps before things pick up at the start of spring. 

Thankfully, we’ve had plenty of things on – including a trip to the tropics – to keep us warm or at least distracted. 

From outstanding dinners with friends flexing their Chardonnay collections to my incredible trip to Solomon Islands to Christina starting a new pursuit in high-diving to both of us hanging out at the Thai ambassador’s house, here’s a flavour of the month of August.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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Sydney Brewery in Disguise

This afternoon is the last day to see the transformation of our local brewhouse – Sydney Brewery no less – into a famous if fictitious beer hall. 

For the filming of the latest season of Colin From Accounts, Sydney Brewery’s Rozelle venue has become Echo Park Brewery with all the livery and branding, and also a very decent beer the brewers have created just for the show.

It’s amazing to see how set designers and stylists have managed to change so much of the space so it fits with the show’s aesthetic. I’m looking forward to seeing the results on screen soon.

And if you haven’t watched Colin From Accounts yet, give it a go. It’s funny, heart-warming and well-acted by a great Aussie cast including Harriet Dyer, Patrick Brammall and Helen Thomson. 

Thomson was also in the Last Anniversary, which was filmed in the beautiful Simpson Cottage in Bundeena we visited and reviewed recently.

Chardonnay avec Gourmet

This evening, we’re at our excellent friends Michael and Louise’s house for dinner. A while ago, I mentioned the new ultra-premium range that Scarborough Wine Co in the Hunter Valley have created called Keepers of the Flame (you can read more about that here). 

It turns out that the Scarboroughs make Michael and Louise’s favourite Chardonnay. In fact they’ve got a whole rack of the Yellow Label at home. This inspired a Chardonnay evening where these guys, who are tremendous chefs, matched food with some of the best Chardies we’ve had – including the bottle of Keepers of the Flame we’ve brought round.

We eat superbly and drink far too long into the night with some amazing wines from all over the world. What wonderful, generous, fun friends we’re so lucky to have.

Christina Takes A Dive

Check out Christina’s form! Born from the deep desire to be able to leap head first from the top deck of a yacht, Christina has wanted to learn to dive properly for years.

Thankfully, her friend Rex has similar ambitions and has found the one place in the whole of Sydney that does springboard diving lessons – at Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

So now, as well as working towards her Second Dan jujitsu black belt, Christina is finding out the best way to hurl herself from great heights into a body of water. Good on ya, Chris.

Solo to the Solomons

This afternoon, I’m setting off (without Christina!) on a journey to a place that not many people have been to; to a country that, up until 100 years ago, still practised head hunting; to a nation that uses strings of shaped seashell fragments as currency.

I’m on my way to Solomon Islands to become a Solo Boy!

It’s a fun term locals use to talk about themselves when they’re having fun. I try betel nut and spit blood, I wreck dive from the beach, I learn some Pijin and I get stuck into SB, the local brewery’s high-strength beer that locals refer to as ‘Sunday Bike’. 

Drink too many SBs on a Friday and you wonder how you got home on Sunday. It must have been on the Sunday Bike!

I think I’ve earned the Solo Boy title.

Located just south of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, and north of Vanuatu, the Solomons is only a three-hour flight from Brisbane, but even its capital city Honiara feels like a world away.

This beautiful exotic archipelago of almost 1,000 islands and six distinct provinces is so rich in culture. 

It’s a Pacific melting pot of Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian ethnicities that settled here around 30,000 years ago, and a history shaped by colonialism, Christian missionaries and WWII.

I’m travelling as part of a media trip by Tourism Solomons with the magnificent all-star PR Spike Parker-Brown, eminent travel writers John Borthwick and Eleanor Hughes, and the delightful Cheryl Patterson founder of diving and adventure travel company Deep Blue Adventures.

Our journey takes us around the capital, then to the Central Province where perfect beaches and majestic wrecks line the shores of tropical islands that freckle the immaculate waters. We travel to Malaita Province, the most populous region, to find sacred waterfalls, try local food and learn more about the culture here.

Solomon Islands has its own panpipe music, which is very different to the Andean style. Though if you ask a local, they’ll tell you they prefer a bit of Reggae!

Malaita is also where Solomon Islands’ shell money culture originated, and we’re here for the annual Busu Shell Money Festival. This two-day celebration is full of dances, parades and speeches – they even set up a live demonstration of how shell money is made (there are between five to eight arduous stages) for us. 

Other than our group, there’s another random travel journo, a Spanish backpacker and a Dutch anthropologist at the festival. Everyone else is local. It’s a great honour to be here, but also an incredible experience to see a festival that’s been organised for locals, not tourists.

Back in Honiara, we explore more of Guadalcanal and its involvement in WWII. There are some harrowing stories of battles between the Japanese and American armies for this isolated spot in the ocean.

We finish the trip with a look at Pagoda Hill and a tunnel system the Japanese dug.

It’s been such an interesting journey seeing ancient cultures, modern-day impacts and a place that fewer than 30,000 people a year get to see.

What a pleasure, an honour and an experience to see the Solomons – somewhere so real, so unique and so friendly, and a place where tourism hasn’t yet ruined the object of its affection.

Wines for the Win

Back in Sydney, it’s nice to be home with Christina again. To celebrate, we decide to enjoy a glass of wine or two.

We kick off with the Single Vineyard Chardonnay from Marnong Estate in Victoria. It’s a beautiful, medium-bodied wine full of citrus and a soft creamy texture. That gunflint, struck match aroma just before you drink is one of my favourite things about a well-made Chardonnay.

We also dip our toe into the Terra Pinot Noir from McWilliams Wines, which – although it’s billed as their new table wine at RRP $19.00, drinks like a much more expensive bottle.

It has all the trappings of a modern Pinot: juicy strawberries and cherries, light oak and assiduously structured tannins, and shows not all Aussie reds have to be grippy, jammy beef bombs. 

Check out our full write-up on these new ranges – the Single Vineyard and Terra from Marnong and McWilliams – here.

Thailand’s biggest Festival in Sydney

Christina and I are off a special event today at the Consul-General for Thailand’s grand house in Mosman.

We’re here to hear about the plans for the upcoming Thailand Grand Festival 2026 in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour 19-20 September. 

It’s been four years since the last Grand Festival happened and that was in Belmore Park. You have to go back to 2019 since it’s been at Tumbalong, so this is a pretty big deal. In fact, this year is set to be the biggest Thai festival in Australia!

Check out the full festival programme here.

The event today is a taster of what’s going to be at this year’s festival, including traditional dancing, a fashion parade and a Muay Thai demonstration. There is also food of course, provided today by 2 Sisters Kitchen and Chat Thai, but there will be so many more outlets during the festival proper from the streets of Thai Town. 

By the way, Sydney is now home to the second largest Thai Town outside Thailand in the world, just behind LA.

We hear from the Consul-General Mr. Naruchai Ninnad himself, who tells us this festival is a “celebration of the relationship between Thailand and Australia” and the “75th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between the two countries.”

With the theme of ‘Creative Life, Creative Heartbeat’, Mr Ninnad also instructs us “don’t just come to the festival, get involved.”

This taster suggests there’ll be plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. Cultural performances, art and craft, wellness, tourism and family-friendly activities promise plenty of things to ‘get involved’ in. There will also be some amazing prizes, including flights to Thailand, up for grabs.

The Thailand Grand Festival 2026 runs on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour and admission is free.

The End

What bitter-sweet celebrations today. This is the end-of-season party for my football team. We really thought we were in with a chance of winning the league this year, but sadly, with a loss in the semi-finals against our old enemies Enfield, we fell at the last hurdle before silverware.

I don’t have any photos of the party itself (probably just as well!), so here’s a shot from one of the last games of the season. The pitch is a bit of a mess, but this has to be the most amazing place to play football anywhere. This is Birchgrove Oval on the Balmain Peninsula.

So, until next March, we hang up our boots and dream of what could have been.

At least the beer’s cold.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Flavour Of The Month of August 2026. Here’s to plenty more where that came from!

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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For something as ancient as wine, I’m always surprised how modern-day wineries can create new lines of their product. These wines are still distinctly their brand and style, but at the same time new, interesting, diverse and innovated. 

But far from reinventing the wheel, these iterations advance how we as consumers enjoy wine all the time; creating new notions of a known thing. 

A great example of this is how Australian reds have gone from being all guts and grunt to fresh, medium bodied, nuanced wine that’s focused on structure, layers of flavour and texture, and to be paired with more than just steak.

We’ve come across three Aussie wineries recently that have released new lines – either completely new to their portfolio or new vintages – that illustrate this advancement really well and at different price points.

McWilliams Terra Range

One of the old guard of Australian wine, McWilliams is a six-generation winery with a massive selection of wine categories and styles.

Expanding the selection still further, McWilliams’ new Terra range shows that wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. 

Perfect entertaining wines, the new Terra series launched in 2026 and is designed to be a more approachable, contemporary style of wine. It comes in four varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes+

McWilliams Terra Chardonnay

Ripe white peach, honeydew melon and lemon characters, complemented by subtle almond notes.

Refreshing notes of white nectarine and citrus lead the palate, layered with a gentle creamy texture and a whisper of French oak. The finish is long and soft, driven by bright acidity and lingering fruit characters.

McWilliams Terra Pinot Noir

Lifted aromas of strawberry and red cherry, complemented by subtle hints of earthy notes. A medium-bodied wine showcasing vibrant fruit characters, beautifully balanced by subtle oak and crisp varietal tannins.

Lightly oaked, with a small portion matured in contact with French oak, it delivers a smooth tannin finish and generous fruit length.

I really should also mention the McWilliams’ Hanwood Estate Grand Old Tawny. McWilliams was always better known for its fortifieds than its other wines and there’s a reason. 

This 10-year-old tawny shows all the complexity and depth of having spent a minimum of 10 years in small oak casks.

Its fragrant and fresh with oak complexity displaying notes of nuts, pecan pie and raisin chocolate with a hint of chocolate. The palate shows obvious aged wood complexing flavours with raisins and toffee notes.

McWilliams Terra series wines retail at RRP $19.00 each.

Hanwood Estate Grand Old Tawny 10 Years: RRP $28.00

Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Range

Although Marnong’s history goes back to the 1840s, the land was used for grazing livestock rather than growing grapes. Wine didn’t happen here until 2016 when Sicilian property developer Dino Strano saw the potential of the land and began what he thought would be a hobby farm. 

Located in Sunbury, one of Victoria’s oldest wine regions, Marnong now has three tiers to its selection: the Estate Range, the Single Vineyard Range and the ultra-premium Reserve Range.

2026 sees the mid-range Single Vineyard series grow with wines like the debut of the Heart Pinot Noir ($43.00 RRP), made with grapes grown in the central block at Marnong. This is a deeper, richer Pinot than its counterpart the Weatherstone Pinot Noir, also taking its first bow in the Single Vineyard range.

The Single Vineyard Sangiovese ($37.00 RRP) fits into that perfect space we talked about earlier of being medium-bodied, food-driven and full of structure, texture and aromatic notes.

As for Marnong’s Single Vineyard Chardonnay ($43.00 RRP), this elite modern Aussie Chardy is bright yet full. Medium-bodied with a crisp pear and apple palate, a flinty oaty nose and a creamy texture.

Tasting Notes+

Marnong Single Vineyard Heart Pinot Noir

A rich and opulent single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the most central block of the estate – concentrated, structured and built for the cellar.

Concentrated black cherry and black plum aromas with mineral nuance and subtle spice. On the palate are dark fruits, graphite and mineral depth with an opulent, mouth-filling texture.

Marnong Single Vineyard Sangiovese

A medium-bodied and vibrant Sangiovese true to its Italian roots. Lifted aromas of bay leaf and cherry aromatics with subtle floral notes.

The palate has a cherry and red plum fruit profile with fresh acidity and fine, grippy varietal tannin with a lively, savoury finish.

Marnong Single Vineyard Chardonnay

A medium-bodied Chardonnay crafted in a modern Australian style, balancing bright citrus fruit with creamy texture and complex savoury nuance.

Complex aromas of gunflint, brine, oatmeal and spicy aromatics, and a crisp pear and apple palate.

The Single Vineyard range is available direct from Marnong’s website or their cellar door.  

And if you’re into bubbles, you should also check out Marnong’s Reserve Blanc de Blanc ($80.00 RRP), which we talked about here.

Marnong has accommodation on site too. Check out their beautiful villas and homestead, perfect for a romantic break in wine country, or for a big get-together for family or friends.

For a spot of indulgence, Marnong’s La Vètta is a Hatted restaurant offering Italian fine dining. For more relaxed family-friendly options, there are also Cucina 2064 and Caffe Vista here too.

Ross Hill’s Pinnacle Range

From our friends at Ross Hill Wines in Orange, NSW, the new release of their latest premium wine range is showing signs of something really special. 

Ross Hill’s Pinnacle series has always been worth a go – grapes are carefully selected and treated with immense care and attention, and Ross Hill’s head winemaker Chris Jessop has a long storied career in Australia and NZ – but this release is looking like one of the best.

The seven-varietal range includes a Cabernet Franc from 2024, and a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay – both from 2025. These two years were near-perfect vintages for reds and whites respectively, and it shows in these wines.

The Pinnacle range retails between $35.00 RRP to $50.00 RRP, making this one of the most affordable premium wine ranges around.

The release of the 2026 Pinnacle wines coincides with Ross Hill’s 10 year anniversary of becoming a 100% carbon neutral winery and vineyard.

You can read more about these wines and about Ross Hill Winery in full review here.

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Bangkok is nothing if it’s not a city of choices. There’s an endless list of places to go, things to do and see, food to eat, culture to absorb and embrace. So what would you do if you only had one day here?

Of course, that’s an impossible question.

A simple ‘go here then here’ itinerary to cover everything just isn’t possible for a single day in Bangkok, so we came up with a solution: we cheated!

We’ve broken the day into sections with multiple options in each section. You pick one (or two) from each section to make up your day.

Roll the dice and choose your own adventure!

Breakfast

Generally speaking, we’ve found the best breakfasts to be in the hotel. Hit the egg station or make the most of the delicious fried rice and chilli vinegar sauce that most hotels have. 

Otherwise, venture into the morning sun and see what you can find.

Morning

Morning is the best time to explore Bangkok. By midday, the heat will have really kicked in and getting around is much less enjoyable. If you’re thinking of visiting temples, this is also the best time of day to do it.

Talat Noi

With a long history dating back to the fall of Ayutthya, Talat Noi went from being a busy river port enclave to an area of trade and industry (its name means ‘little market’) to its current arty iteration.

The narrow streets and alleys that thread through Talat Noi are full of interesting indie stores, cafes and workshops. Walls are outdoor galleries for street art and murals, and heritage architecture adds a quaint patina to this popular spot.

Chinatown

Not far from Talat Noi, Yaowarat Road bends and curves through Chinatown, a vast strip of fascinating markets, shops and hawker stalls. 

At night, the road narrows for foot traffic coming for the food scene, but during the day, it’s worth looking out for the interesting little alleys off Yaowarat.

Song Wat

Running alongside the Chao Phraya River close to Chinatown, the trendy neighbourhood of Song Wat has lots of things to see and do.

From interesting little covered markets and vintage shops selling trinkets, handicraft and clothes to local cafes and bakeries offering artisanal foods and coffee, Song Wat is a popular, busy part of the city.

It’s worth getting there soon though. The riverside designer mall is already seeing international brands co-opting the area that started as a space for small independent designers. It’s a bit like Newtown before all the big brands came in — Adidas has already got a foothold there — so get there before it all changes.

All three of these options are quite close to each other, so if you’re quick, you might be able to do all of them before lunch.

Lunch

Of course, there are almost unlimited options for lunch in Bangkok, but here are a few places we’ve been to recently that really hit the spot.

Naam 1608

Just round the corner from Song Wat and Talat Noi, Naam 1608 is a charming riverside restaurant in an old timber house. It serves traditional Thai dishes with a touch of modern flair.

Hidden Bangkok Bistro

On the banks of one of Bangkok’s many canals, Hidden Bangkok Bistro is three-storey timber cafe restaurant right under the nose of the biggest Buddha statue in the city, which peers over from the temple across the canal. 

Owner Ohm Chansuwan has not only brought what was once a derelict building back to life, but has injected a new energy into the whole area. 

You can combine lunch with a canal boat trip that ends at the big Buddha and mores at the deck of the restaurant. The boat tour costs THB1,500 and takes up to 6 people. 

DM Hidden Bangkok Bistro on Instagram here to arrange it.

Afternoon

You don’t really want to be traipsing around the city during the hottest part of the day. Instead, how about a massage?

Kliniq Thai Massage, Centralworld 

For a classic, straightforward massage without any confusion or concerns, a spa in a shopping centre is your best bet.

Staff at Kliniq are well-trained, professional and friendly, and there a plenty of massage options that can be tailored to your preferences. 

Chetawan Traditional Massage School

This is the top massage school in Thailand that teaches traditional and therapeutic massage in several campuses. We went to the Tha-tien Riverside Branch (here’s the map location pin).

Because the therapists are final-year students, the costs are usually lower, but the massages are amazing. I had the 60-minute head massage and it changed my life!

Bradbury Massage

One of the strangest experiences we’ve had (and probably the worst massage to be honest!), but a lot of fun, this place pronounces itself as the ‘world’s noisiest massage’ and it’s probably got a point. 

Rather than being a relaxing, peaceful experience, this massage takes place in a large room with a DJ pumping out music, a dance platform and pole in the middle and crazy light projections on the walls and ceiling. 

You’re encouraged to wear crazy sunglasses, play with the comedy rubber chicken on your seat, and get up and dance in the middle of your massage. It’s insane. 

Jim Thompson House

If massage isn’t your thing, the Jim Thompson House Museum is very interesting. Made in honour of the ex-CIA spy that brought the Thai silk trade back to life, the museum tracks Thompson’s life in what was his home.

It’s full of objects and stories from his life, and shows how his philanthropic work in Thailand helped so many. You can read our full review of the museum here.

Dinner

As with lunch, there are so many choices in Bangkok for your evening meal. Here’s a range of options.

Thipsamai Padthai Pratoopee

Famous for its pad thai, Thipsamai has almost legend status in Bangkok. Starting as a street hawker stall in the 1930s and later a proper restaurant in the same spot, Thipsamai is one of the oldest surviving pad thai institutions. 

It regularly wins Michelin recognition as the best pad thai in Thailand and offers a number of different iterations of the national dish.

Rongsi Pochana Lansuan

Inside the luxury lifestyle mall Velaa Sindhorn Village, Rongsi Pochana is an upscale Thai-Chinese restaurant offering some beautifully crafted traditional comfort food with a focus on seafood.

Their steamed crab and coconut curry paste claypot dish that comes in one of the strangest serving pots we’ve ever seen is a must.

Cabbages and Condoms

For something a little bit out there, Cabbages and Condoms is a brilliant concept started by Mechai Viravaidya, whose name is now local slang for condoms. 

Mechai has worked in family planning, for the Thai government and now the not-for-profit Population and Community Development Association, for over 50 years, championing the cause of safe sex.

His efforts became even more important with the rise of HIV and AIDS in the ’80s, and his work educating people on birth control has helped stabilise population growth in the country.

Importantly, the food here is as worthy as the cause. Go for the whole seabass, pork satay, kai hor bai teoy, and sweet and sour chicken and cashew.

Uno Mas at Centara Grand

Normally, when we’re in Thailand, Christina and I rarely seek out food other than Thai cuisine. It’s almost the whole point of being here!

But Uno Mas, which specialises in traditional Spanish fare, is something really special. Every dish is crafted to perfection, using authentic Spanish ingredients, brought in from the old country, and cooked using traditional techniques honed by a state-of-the-art kitchen.

The resulting modern take on old-school Spanish food is as delicious as it is indulgent. Plus you’re at the top of the Centara Grand with incredible views out over the city.

You can read our full review of Uno Mas here.

Akara Sky Hanuman

For a truly immersive dinner experience, you’ve got to check out this out. Over several levels at the top of the One City Centre building, Akara Sky Hanuman Cinema has a lot going on.

The rooftop bar not only gives you incredible views over the city and a selection of lovely cocktails, it hosts traditional Thai dancing performances in front of its impressive demon head entrance.

Down from here, the restaurant offers one of the most unique platings we’ve seen. With entrees from four regions of Thailand served on a map of Thailand, your mains are also based on which of the four regions you choose: southern, northern, central or Isan (northeast).

Not only does the food reflect the region, but the dishes it comes in does too.

While you eat, the ceiling of the restaurant tells stories of Thailand’s history and myths with projections and music.

Downstairs again is a sensory room filled with glass lamps and mirrors that you walk through. The lights change colour and the mirrors give a hypnotic ethereal effect. Through the windows, the city  lights below flicker and sparkle. 

On another floor, you can enjoy your dessert in the beautiful lounge bar Siam Societies. The whole thing is quite the event.

Evening

Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium

Possibly the best evening we’ve had in Bangkok was fight night at the Rajadamnern Stadium. This is where Muay Thai, Thailand’s national martial art, was first codified and recognised.

A live Thai band plays throughout the bouts, you learn about the history and traditions of Muay Thai and there’s even a light show projection between fights that explains things more. You can also buy food and drinks from vendors as they walk round the stadium.

It’s a brilliant night out. Get as close to ringside as you can for the best experience. 

Book your muay thai tickets here.

Likhit Kai Yang

If you want dinner nearby, there is a restaurant behind the stadium that has been serving its famous charcoal grilled chicken for 70 years.

Ironically, the chicken’s actually not that good, but the crispy flounder and the som tam papaya salad are very tasty.

Late-night cocktails

There are plenty of rooftop bars in Bangkok that are a lot of fun to enjoy the steamy Bangkok evening.

Red Sky Centara Grand

This was the first Bangkok rooftop bar we ever went to and it still stands up.

Banyan Tree Moon Bar 

This iconic bar is a bit expensive but is very cool and has magnificent views across the city.

Sky Beach on King Power Mahanakhon tower

Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar (in the city’s once tallest building), Sky Beach stands over 300 metres above the streets.

Check out more of our Bangkok rooftop bar recommendations here.

BKK Social Club

Part of the Four Seasons Chao Phraya River, BBK Social isn’t a rooftop bar, but is incredibly cool. It holds the title for the best bar in Thailand. Check out our review here.

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Wow! What a crazy month July has turned out to be this year. Just when we were settling in for what we thought was going to be a fairly steady 2026, the second half of the year sets a new pace. In a good way.

Let’s hope things carry on like this! 

We’re talking lots of fun birthday parties, some amazing sport, international travel and plenty of catch-ups with friends in cool venues new and old. Here’s our wrap on July 2026!

Hope you enjoy this Flavour of the Month.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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Christina catches up with the ladies!

This afternoon, Christina is out with some old family friends. It’s the first time these lovely ladies have all been together for years; some of them have moved interstate and life in general tends to get in the way of everyone’s best intentions.

They’ve come to the Belrose Hotel for a bite to eat, but honestly, the food is secondary to just being together again.

Catch-ups, parties and dinners used to be a regular occurrence back in the day when Christina was growing up. It’s lovely to see them all together, but it’s also a bit sad as not everyone’s around anymore. A reminder to all of us to make the most of time we have with our closest friends.

State of Origin & Sydney Brewery Rozelle

Along with this whole month being dominated by the incredible Fifa World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA, it’s also the decider for the 2026 State of Origin rugby league tournament between New South Wales and Queensland. 

We’re at Sydney Brewery with our mate Brett and some of Christina’s crazy jujitsu friends to watch the game. The brewery has what we think is the biggest indoor pub TV screen (not projection screen btw) in the country.

Amazingly, NSW boys manage to win this game and take home the trophy, even though the game’s at QLD’s home ground – a veritable fortress. It’s a thriller of a game.

Futsal legends score a Curry Night

I’ve been playing for the same Futsal team since 2005. These guys are like family. Every now and again, we have a week off, and we grab the opportunity to head out for a curry somewhere in Sydney.

Tonight is one such night and we’ve made our way to The Spice Room, an Indian restaurant tucked away on the perimeter of Circular Quay. The best thing about booking a big group here is there’s really only one big table and it’s right in front of the kitchen. It’s fascinating to watch the chefs at work. You can even see them pushing naan bread onto the edge of the tandoor from here.

We’re Off To Thailand!

Christina and I are so excited about this trip to Thailand. It’s great to be back – especially after last year’s fascinating cultural and historical journey to the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass and the Death Railway on Anzac Day.

This trip is set to be a little lighter on WWII, though no less culturally enticing. 

We start off with three nights in Bangkok where we get up to all kinds of things. From canalboat rides and lunch by the giant gold Buddha to Muay Thai tournaments to the world’s noisiest massage!

Us with our excellent travel companions Jules Park from @amazingsydneylife and Rachel Davey from @veryhungrynomads. Also our lovely host Nang from Tourism Authority of Thailand and our amazing guide Nam from Absolutely Fantastic Holidays.

From Bangkok, we head south to the beautiful coastline of Hua Hin, which lies on the west coast of the Bay of Thailand.

On the way south, we visit an amazing temple in a cave and the famous Maeklong Railway Market before ensconcing ourselves in a beautiful hotel room with its own private pool! 

In Hua Hin, we explore the gamut: from nature trails and boat excursions in the national park to local eateries and night market to shiny shopping centres and sumptuous resort dinners.

We somehow manage to do all of this with the World Cup in full flow. The time difference in Thailand to the USA is even more crushing than in Sydney, but we and our travel chum Nang (who is love with Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham) get up for the games. 

Thankfully, our itinerary is very forgiving each morning!

Now we’ve whetted your appetite, we’ll be talking a lot more about this trip over the next few weeks, so keep your eye out.

Fenwick balmain – the perfect girls’ catchup

Christina is out to dinner with her friends this evening. Affectionately self-labelled ‘The WAGs’, this glamorous cohort are the Wives And Girlfriends of a group of lads that don’t deserve them! 

Tonight, the WAGs are at the Fenwick next to the Balmain East ferry wharf looking out over the harbour to Sydney’s famous bridge. This beautiful location often has excellent specials in the winter, and these ladies are taking full advantage. 

If you’re looking for a romantic dinner venue (or somewhere for a superb catch-up dinner with friends), check out the Fenwick – especially when they’re running this 50% offer on their meals!

surprise 60th in manly

Tonight is a very special celebration: we’re in Manly for our friend Leanne’s surprise sixtieth birthday party! Leanne is Christina’s sister’s oldest friend – she’s more like a part of the family – and it’s an honour to be able to celebrate this milestone with her.

We’re in the private room of the Manly Skiff Club, which hangs over the water and look out over the harbour. It’s a lovely venue – one befitting our wonderful friend. Happy birthday, Leanne!

Tempting Balmain

This afternoon, we’re trying to convince our friend Vesna to move to Balmain from Melbourne. This is Christina’s dream assignment; she loves playing tour guide in her hometown, but even more so if that includes some evangelical work to turn someone from Victoria to live in the Inner West!

We show her some of our favourite highlights, including the beautifully renovated Dry Dock Hotel and our latest favourite wine and cocktail bar Nacara Bar & Cellar. 

Vesna seems pretty impressed. I think we might have just about done enough to bring her to the dark side!

Double 60th Celebrations!

Following on from our friend Leanne’s 60th, we have another one to celebrate tonight – in fact, it’s a double! 

Our lovely friends Ciaran – from my 11-a-side football team – and his wife Bridget are both hitting the 6-0 this month and they’ve booked the beautiful old sandstone room upstairs of the London Hotel in Balmain.

It’s a proper Irish shindig that goes on till the wee hours amidst some excellent speeches, lots of photos from back in the day and of course plenty of beer! 

Congratulations Bridget and Ciaran!

Christina and Mara

Today, Christina is hanging out with one of our favourite people. Mara has been a friend of Christina’s family since the 1960s. Her wonderful husband Riccardo, who sadly passed in 2022, was best friends with Christina’s father. The two were inseparable. 

Christina and Mara spend all morning and most of the afternoon together at the beach, a pot of lunch at Coogee Pavillion and then a bit of shopping. 

This is what life’s really about, isn’t it.

World-beating Wines

We love writing about wine – especially when the wine’s this good! 

Earlier this month, we wrote about Pewsey Vale’s Estate Riesling and Dalrymple Wines’ Pipers River Pinot Noir – part of the impressive Hill-Smith Family Estate. You can read the full story here, but basically these two wines were picked as the best in the world in this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, a competition often referred to as the ‘Olympics of Wine’.

Out over over 14,000 wines, these two – along with three other Aussie wines – were awarded Best In Show after rigorous multiple blind tastings by a hoard of professional judges.

This month also saw us review a new collection of top end wines from Orange, NSW. We love Orange, and the wine that comes from the elevated slopes of Mt Canobolas are always exceptional.

We’re big fans of Ross Hill Wines anyway, so when we had the opportunity to try some of their latest premium Pinnacle series, there wasn’t much that could slow us down!

You can see our full review of these three wines here, but don’t expect any bad news in this story. The Chardonnay is clean and refined, the Sauvignon Blanc is lively and grown up, and the Cabernet Franc is bold yet restrained and dreadfully moreish!

Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup

With the Fifa World Cup and all its glories, heartbreaks and controversies finally over, it’s time for friendlies before the professional football season starts again. 

Excitingly, our team Chelsea is in town for the Sydney Super Cup and we get tickets for their first game against Western Sydney Wanderers at the magnificent Accor Stadium. 

We score seats in the Chelsea end behind the goal only a few rows from the front. It’s a surprisingly thrilling game (Western Sydney haven’t been in the best form recently). With Chelsea fielding their reserve and youth players for the first 60 minutes, Wanderers put a huge amount of pressure on the newly-appointed Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso.

In fact, apart from Chelsea’s early goal, Western Sydney either lead or hold a draw until the 80th minute! Only a hat trick from superstar striker Joao Pedro brought the final score to a stunning 6-4 victory for the Blues in the end. 

I don’t think anyone was expecting a 10-goal game – especially not like this!

We get the VIP treatment for Chelsea v Spurs

How about this to finish off the month?! Not only do we get to see my beloved Chelsea FC play once, but we’ve managed to score tickets to the final game of the series, and it’s the big one: Chelsea vs their old rivals, fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur.

And even better than that, our good friends at Accor have set us up with tickets to the ALL Accor Members’ Suite on level 3! Not only do you get pristine views of the game, you also get very well taken care of. 

Delicious food and drinks are all laid on – in fact the wine list even has the award-winning Pewsey Vale Riesling we’ve just told you about!

In terms of food, there’s a lush grazing platter to pick from, roast beef tenderloin, duck fat potatoes, salads and sourdough. At half time, there are steak and ale party pies and chicken schnitzel sliders as well!

This is an experience that’s available to ALL Accor members. It’s free to join the programme (click here to get started) and you can redeem points from stays at Accor hotels on experiences like this one!

As far as the game goes, I’d rather not talk about it. The score was 1-1 until the very last minute when Richarlison scored Spurs’ winner with almost the last kick of the game. It looks like this is going to be an interesting season for the Premiership. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Flavour of the Month of July! 

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

The post Big birthdays, big sport and a winter getaway to Thailand appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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I cast my mind back to late 2024. Christina and I are at the relaunch dinner for NSW Wine Month – an amazing celebration of wine from New South Wales – which has returned phoenix-like after years in hiatus.

Next to us at the table is an unassuming, somewhat rugged, somewhat laconic man who seems to want to keep himself to himself. A country gentleman.

As the wines are poured to accompany the excellent food, we comment on how good the Chardonnay is. Our waiter offers the label for us to take a picture.

The man beside us smiles. Just ever so slightly.

The wine is Ross Hill Winery’s Eastern View Chardonnay from Orange NSW. The man: James Robson – co-owner and vigneron of Ross Hill.

This is his wine.

Ice firmly shattered and allegiance lines clearly laid, we’re soon deep in conversation with James who, once out of his shell, is quite the raconteur.

With all the superb food and exemplary wine, this was always going to be a great party. But with James as our dinner companion (sorry-not-sorry for hogging him!), this is an evening to remember.

Fast forward about nine months, and Christina and I are in Orange, NSW. We’re here for Christmas in July at the Oriana Motel (outstanding by the way), but we decide to book a tour of Ross Hill’s cellar door while we’re here.

It’s just up the road.

As luck would have it, James is running the tour this morning. It’s great to see him again and to learn more about his wines in situ.

You can book your own tour of Ross Hill Winery here.

Ross Hill Winery, Orange NSW

Ross Hill is one of the founding vineyards of Orange’s now flourishing wine scene. For years, It’s been crafting wonderful iterations of varietals that have put Orange on the map.

High altitude, cool evenings and rich sumptuous soils make for incredible Chardonnays, Pinots and Cabernets, as well as a host of other wines. But as we chat to James, two recent years in particular seem to be standing out:

With near-perfect conditions, 2024 has been marked as a Classic Vintage for the region – especially for reds. As for the following year, 2025, this is looking ideal for white wines.

So if you’re in the market for wines from Orange, hop on this particular bandwagon vintage!

Ross Hill Wines’ Pinnacle Series

As we’ve said, Ross Hill makes a lot of excellent wine, but at the top is their aptly named Pinnacle Series. These are the winery’s premium wines, hand-crafted and made from selected parcels of fruit.

This latest release is made up of seven varieties – the reds coming from the brilliant 2024 vintage and the whites from 2025. If you’re not sure why this is important, you haven’t read the previous section!

Here are our thoughts on three from the range:

Pinnacle Series Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (RRP $35.00)

We’re not huge fans of the typical tropical fruit bomb Sauv Blanc, which is why this one is such a hit.

More towards a Sancerre than a passionfruit classic, this wine has plenty of texture from lees and oak-barrel fermenting. Focus is on citrus, creamy mouthfeel and mineral finish.

Pinnacle Series Chardonnay 2025 (RRP $40.00)

Orange produces some of the best Chardonnay in Australia and this one doesn’t disappoint.

This is a modern, cool-climate Chardy. Far from being a butter barrel (which isn’t something we hate either btw), this Chardonnay is fruit-led, subtle on the oak, and focused on citrus acidity, stone fruit and a wonderful creamy texture that provides a long finish.

Pinnacle Series Cabernet Franc 2024 (RRP $50.00)

Somewhere between Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of flavour profile, body and structure, Cab Franc is growing in popularity in Australia.

This is an excellent example of the variety, showing plenty of fragrant herbal aromatics, redcurrant and fresh cherry notes on the palate, and a refined tannin structure within a medium body. There’s oak here too, but it’s restrained and doesn’t interrupt the fruit. Lovely stuff.

This release of Ross Hill’s Pinnacle Series is a double celebration for the winery as 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of them being Carbon Neutral; an impressive feat.

Ross Hill’s Full Premium Range

The full Pinnacle Series selection for this release consists of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

There’s also a Pinnacle Series Blanc de Blancs (we do love a Blanc de Blancs!), and let’s not forget the uber-elite Eastern View Chardonnay and vaunted Bordeaux-blend award-winner The Griffin.

The core Pinnacle Series wines range retails between $35 to $50 and the last two are $95 each, making this one of – if not the – most affordable premium hand-crafted wine selections on the market.

Buy Ross Hill Wines’ Pinnacle Series direct from the winery here or via their beautiful cellar door in Orange.

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