Hansaah Guesthouse

25/02/2017

Today, last day in business for Hansaah. We're closing tomorrow. For good.
We spent 10 beautiful years in Thailand. A great experience. And many great encounters ;-)
In April the building will be rented.
Pom and I go back to France mid March. A new life begins ;-)

10/11/2016

Thai Railways have announced the purchase of 115 brand new carriages for the lines connecting Bangkok to Chiang mai, Ubon, Nong Khai and Hat Yay. The new equipments have been purchased from Chinese Company CNR Co Ltd. The design of the sleeping cars (1rst and 2nd class) and restaurant carriages are inspired by aviation. Dont expect to see these trains before 2017 (dec?) as tracks need to be upgraded to be able to support these new carriages.
Those who enjoy travelling "vintage" can still enjoy the bumpy ride ;-)

02/11/2016

Prime Minister announced yesterday the reopening of the Grand Palace to tourists. Entrance is through Wiset Chai Si gate (north wall). Visiting Hours: 08:30AM to 3:00PM. Dark attire recommended.

15/10/2016

On October 13, 2016, Thailand’s revered monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away at Siriraj Hospital at the age of 88
The depth of sorrow felt by Thai people and their friends is immense.
A year of mourning has been declared until the funeral ceremony.
For 1 month, people will wear black as a sign of mourning. In Bangkok, these crowds in black are really impressive.
The celebrations and festivals are all suspended. The websites (including Google. Th) are in black and white. Same for the press.
Bars, discotheques and other karaokes are closed until further notice.
All (visitors included) are called to dress accordingly (Black or dark, shoulders and legs covered) and adopt a modest attitude as a sign of respect for the deceased Monarch.
We grieve with the Thai people.

23/09/2016

Thailand ...green!
Not for traffic congestion of course. We beat records.
But here you can still find small shops where, for 1 or 2 Euros, you get your old TV, the vacuum cleaner or the toaster repaired.
We don't throw, we fix !
But these shops will disappear: new equipments are designed to not be repairable...

Thaïlande écolo !
Pas pour les embouteillages bien sur. On bat des records.
Mais ici on trouve encore de petites boutiques où, pour 1 ou 2 Euros, on vous répare la vieille télé, l'aspirateur ou le grille-pain. On ne jette pas, on répare !
Ce genre de boutiques va néanmoins disparaître : les nouveaux matériels sont conçus pour ne pas être réparables ...

17/09/2016

You sometimes see Thai people with powder all over the face...
It's not at all a local trend.... rather a way to be more comfortable in the heat and humidity.
The powder is talcum with camphor (refreshing) that they apply on their body (and sometimes face!) in order to feel fresher.
Just a puff of wind and you feel better already.
The brand is "Snake Brand" and the product "prickly heat powder" (available in all 7/11s)
We also quite like the old fashioned square metal box ..
A real souvenir to bring back from Thailand ;-)

08/09/2016

Everybody loves the street vendors of Bangkok thanks to who you can eat (often beautifuly) at any time of the day.
You get a surprise when you buy fruits from them .
You also often get a smallbag containing a pink powder ... which is in fact a mixture sugar+salt+chili in which you dip the fruits.
Thai people consider the more tastes you get the better it is.
Salty sweet spicy.... fruits in Thailand are toned up (and we love it ;-)

01/09/2016

400 !
Hansaah opened 5 and 1/2 years ago and has registered today its 400th review in the nowadays almighty Tripadvisor.com
Here are Jac & Pom's marks ;-) : Excellent 273 / very good: 109 / average 12 / poor 5 / horrible: 1.... given by the now famous Philippe who smoked in his room and did not accept it when we asked him (firmly) to change room !! He also tried to publish 2 more nasty "horrible" comments under different pseudos !!... we sometimes have to deal with psychos who feel like belonging to the league of the ayatollah of the web ;-(
Hansaah appears (today, it's changing every day) in rank 10 out of 548 guesthouses in Bangkok.
We are also proud of being also well mentioned in french Guide du Routard as well as in Lonely Planet.
So many anecdotes, so many nice encounters during these 6 years.
What a nice job we have !!

Ranked #7 of 531 Bed and Breakfasts in Bangkok. Been here too? Add it to your map!

31/08/2016

So typical !!
3rd class trains allow you to travel all around Thailand and to discover the countryside at low pace.
They stop at avery small stations and run at an extravagant 40/50 km /h in average. Equipment is basic : plastic seats and fan only.
You cannot book in advance : you buy the ticket for a few Bahts just before departure (Thai people get on 3rd class trains for free !!)Thank to them, manyfarmers can go to the city to sell their products in the city.
Many sellers get on board and propose food or snacks they have prepared.
We recommand 3rd class train to go to Ayutthaya (better return by bus, unless you really have a lot of time ;-)

24/08/2016

Pokemon no Go !
Pokemon Go just arrived in Thailand and the government is already registering a rise in car accidents.
From monday Bangkok police department has stoped and fined several car and motorbike (!) drivers for hunting Pokemons while driving (even it's not obvious, using a mobile phone while driving is against the law in Thailand ;-)
Some pedestrians have been stoped also ...for walking on the street (no fine though)
It's Thailand ....this has been done very in a friendly way

22/08/2016

Olympics - Thailand gets 6 medals (just like Belgium ! )
Gold: 2 Silver: 2 Bronze: 2 (for 56 athletes competing)
Thais are excellent in .... weightlifting (women and lightweights) and Taekwondo too. There were big hopes on the golfers. But they did not make it to the podium
When they come back, the medalits are gods who have fought for national pride.

17/08/2016

Not even thai !!
Its most famous of thai street food, Pat Thai (Pad ผัด= fried / Thai ไทย : thai) is not even thai !!
Cause Thailand has got 3 main gastronomies
1) thai food (or royal cuisine) from central Thailand which you eat with spoon and fork and is served with white rice. Most famous dishes : red, green, yellow curries, chicken cashew nuts, satay sticks ...
2) Isaan food (from the NE region next to Laos). They eat on sticky rice (using their hands). Larb salad and som tam papaya salad are the most famous Isaan dishes
3) chinese food (as about 7% of thai people are from chinese descent). Eaten with chopsticks... Noodle soups, raviolis, duck in gravy are common chinese food you can find on the street
Pat Thai are noodles fried on a pan .... it's chinese. Nothing thai except for the chili they add in it ;-) To be eaten with chopsticks !