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By Marie Moon
It has been a very hectic week. In a city like Bangkok, there is
so much for a journalist to do and see and experience. The heat
has been oppressive for the past few days and my whirlwind tour
of the city has left my body aching and my mind numb. Thank goodness,
I am checking into the InterContinental Bangkok hotel for my last
night in the big smoke! The Skytrain is busy today and as I flail
around for balance against a glass partition, I cannot wait to arrive
and indulge in some luxurious five-star comfort.
The hotel is ideally located adjacent to the Chit Lom BTS station,
making it one of the city’s most accessible properties and
as I limp along the connecting pathway I am counting down the steps
to the door. A doorman catches sight of my plight and leaving his
door unattended, he races over to take the weight of my heavy suitcase
with a cheery “sawasdee krap” and a beaming smile. The
foyer doors open with a welcome blast of cool air that fogs up my
glasses and as the misty lenses clear, I am confronted by a cavernous
lobby, supported by statuesque pillars adorned with mother-of-pearl
inlay in intricate designs. The buff polished floor reflects the
light from a three-tiered chandelier, diffusing a warm glow about
the lobby.
Registered and ready for a nice long bath, I blindly follow the
bellhop up to the 30th floor and my sanctuary for the next 24 hours.
The deluxe room is spacious, quiet and clean and after a quick inspection
of the bathroom, I double-take at the view ahead. The city skyline
from this aspect is uninterrupted across the World Trade Centre
and the busy intersection of Silom, out over the Chao Phraya River
and beyond. The room has adequate furnishings yet there is no sense
of clutter; a king-sized bed, small bedside tables, a television
unit and a telephone desk are the only items that are not built
into the 45sq.m of this room. The wardrobes, safe and storage spaces,
as well as the mini-bar and tea and coffee making facilities are
incorporated and compacted into slim-line wall units, adding to
the orderliness of the room.
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Alone now and partially unpacked, I prepare for that bath. The
room is relaxing and uncomplicated and with MTV for company, I dance
my way through to a hot tub, frothing with lavender bubbles.
Suitably refreshed, I head out of the hotel to explore the locale.
I have to meet the PR Director for a tour of the hotel in an hour,
so I am hoping to find something of interest in the vicinity. The
friendly doorman appears at my side just in the knick of time, yet
again and I find I am rich with choices. In just a short walk I
can go to Lumpini Park, the World Trade Centre, Gaysorn Plaza and
the Narayana Phand handicraft Pavillion, but I opt to merely cross
the street and take in some culture. The famous Erawan Shrine decorates
a corner of this large and hectic intersection, gathering dozens
of colourful offerings of flowers, fruit and Fanta each day. Smoky
wisps of incense lay a silky dust on the elephant-heads of Erawan,
as prayers are spoken and Buddhist beliefs are practised by local
elders, push-cart market vendors, office workers on lunch breaks,
even clerks out running errands will stop to pay respect to this
deity. He is impressive, but I had better get back to meet Khun
Nanthirat Prasertzup for that tour.
The 37 storeys of the InterContinental house 242 deluxe rooms just
like mine and 33 business suites with 67 sq.m. The four Executive
and Ambassador suites offer over 70 sq.m. and the Diplomatic suite
is twice as large, but the Royal Suite is truly grand. The hotel
receives Royalty with some regularity and thus needs a suite with
enough opulence to impress Kings and Queens. All suites are finished
with a bit more pizzazz than the deluxe rooms, featuring silk panelling,
teak detailing on the ceilings and doors, more ornate furniture
and the views are equally engaging.
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Throughout this tour I am constantly impressed with the spaciousness
of the rooms, not only those assigned for accommodations, but the
conference and convention facilities as well. The InterContinental
has made a name for itself through its comprehensive meetings and
convention organization that offers professionalism and unparalleled
versatility. Groups sized from 10 to 2,000 may be accommodated to
virtually any specifications in meeting rooms that feature the most
advanced audio-visual systems such as centrally controlled computer-enhanced
displays, monitor and projection systems. Unique to the hotel is
the fact that all convention organizers are given a separate convention
centre office with the staff and facilities to meet all minute by
minute requirements before, during and after the event. A significant
proportion of the companies that choose the InterContinental for
their meetings and conventions do so because of the location of
the hotel, so vitally central in this metropolis.
Our tour ascends to the top floors, assigned to health, fitness
and well being. One of the highlights for guests, the Royal Health
Spa is located on the 36th floor. This luxurious day spa offers
not only one of Bangkok’s best views but also a series of excellent
therapies which draw on ancient techniques mapped out during the
Ayutthaya period of Thai history. The spa menu includes a number
of massage types, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, effusion showers,
detoxification procedures, facial therapies and hair and beauty
treatments. The Fitness Centre conducts aerobics classes and strength
training for guests who have energy to burn and with four-metre,
non-reflective windows, it provides a panoramic view of the city.
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The free form swimming pool on the 37th floor of the tower is connected
to the Health Spa by an internal staircase. The subtle earth tones
accenting the spa metamorphose as you ascend the staircase, becoming
bold and striking. A new function room featuring Arabian interior
design resides in the right corner of the rooftop offering a very
colourful and private venue with a difference for special events.
The entire pool area is small but quite charming; life-size statues
of Buddhist angels laze around the pool under the shade of mature
frangipani trees. Kinnaree and Kinnon spurt water at each other
in the deep end while Nang Nguark mermaids and Naga the serpent
bask in the sun. I make a mental note to return to the pool, not
because I feel like swimming, the hotel air-conditioning is quite
brisk, it is the pleasantness of the pool area that will draw me
back for at the height of 37 storeys the air feels cleaner and the
view is exceptional. At night, I imagine it would be spectacular.
Khun Nanthirat and I conclude with a late lunch in the Summer Palace.
The Chinese cuisine served here is reported to be excellent and
today is no exception. Over hot and sour soup, fried rice with snowfish
and a plate of sea scallops sautéed in X.O chilli sauce,
Khun Nanthirat made pleasant conversation about the hotel which
has recently been re-branded. The hotel formerly known as Le Royal
Meridien Bangkok was built to ease the demand on the neighbouring
Le Meridien President Hotel, particularly on the meeting and convention
side of business and with state-of-the-art facilities, clients have
been delighted with the relocation. The hotel presents a number
of dining options; Espresso serves a generous buffet of Eastern
and Western food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Shin Daikoku creates
exotic Japanese delights and the Summer Palace is open for lunch
and dinner. The Tower Lounge is a good place for high tea every
afternoon or evening cocktails accompanied by live music and two
cafes, La Confiserie and Pick me up Bakery & Café serve
delectable breads, cakes and pastries prepared by the hotel’s
French pastry chef.
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After we had eaten our fill, Khun Nanthirat bid me a nice stay
and a cheery farewell; it is Friday afternoon and she has a lot
to do. Comparing my current animation with that of only a few hours
ago, I feel great and attribute this to the distinct atmosphere
of simplicity around the hotel. The staff makes every effort so
that guests need make none and, of a city hotel, this is a fine
quality. I have a night and a day to enjoy this environment and
that is exactly what I intend to do. I make a morning appointment
for the Spa and head up to my room. I sprawl on the bed with a sigh
of content, gaze through the window at the world outside and chuckle
at my own good fortune. Maybe I will stay in tonight, order room
service and let the city manage without me while I lap up the InterContinental
Bangkok lifestyle.
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