Booked the Manohra Dining Cruise for the Round 2 timing (7pm to 9pm) to cruise along Chao Phraya River while enjoying the set menu. It'll be my first time sight-seeing by boat in Bangkok!
Reservation was through GHA Discovery website as the pricing there (฿2,749.47 inclusive of tax) was more attractive than direct booking with the hotel.
Confirmation was via subsequent email and payment was made within the specific time frame prior to the activity. The activity was confirmed within a week of the payment.
Reminder email was received on the day prior to the activity and one is strongly encouraged to 'check-in' at the Manohra Cruise Lounge at Anantara Pier 30 minutes before the cruise.
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| Manohra Cruise Lounge at Anantara Pier |
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| pre-boarding canapes and welcome drink at Manohra Cruise Lounge |
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| canapes: Thai fish cake (back) and crispy seabass (front) |
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| tea (unsweetened) |
Guest would be handed over a postcard that also acted as the boarding 'ticket' and names of staff whom would be attending to the assigned table (your table). Basically, the table number assigned at the lounge is also the same table number onboard.
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| boarding 'ticket' |
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| bar at Manohra Cruise Lounge |
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| welcome dance |
Guests were treated to a short welcome dance while waiting for boarding time. After which, staff would announce boarding has commenced and guests were ushered to the boat.
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| Loy River Song |
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| time to board |
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| seated |
Oh, I just realized that my table is out in the open while some were at the inner deck where it is sheltered. It was also kind of windy and I asked the staff what would happen if it starts to rain. She said the weather forecast indicated that there would not be raining that evening.
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| view of Anantara Riverside Bangkok from the boat |
Not gonna lie, but as soon as the boat departed from the pier, I had a sudden thought, "What if I get seasick?"
The wind was picking up and the tablecloth fluttered for quite a bit and it knocked the menu over. Hahaha, but then, life is full of what ifs, doesn't it? Let's enjoy the here and now.
Sights
Asiatique The Riverfront
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| passing by Asiatique |
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| zoomed in view |
Icon Siam
Holy Rosary Church
Wat Arun
This was one of the two most popular spot to take photos. Staff would proactively go round and offer their help to take photos for the guests.
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| close up view |
Wat Pho Pier
Grand Palace
Rama VIII Bridge
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| closer view |
This was also a popular spot for the photo taking.
Dinner Set Menu
Drinks
Soft drinks, juices and coffee/tea are included in the package.
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| Pepsi |
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| orange juice |
Amuse Bouche
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| LOHN POO หลนปู |
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| crab meat, charcoal choux, coconut cream, salmon roe and betel leave |
Finished the choux in one bite then discovered that there's this 'glue' like substance that stuck the choux to the betel leave. I asked the staff if one is supposed to eat the betel leaf together with the choux and she nodded. Oops, seemed like my neighboring table also didn't know.
Appetizer
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| GOONG SORN KLIN กุ้งซ่อนกลิ่น |
The prawn flesh was firm and the pomelo salad underneath the almond tuille was not spicy. Then I realised, perhaps the staff had mistaken my off-handed remarks for the food not to be too spicy was taken that seriously? True enough, when the staff came over to check on the food, he asked if the dish was not too spicy. I answered truthfully that it wasn't even a tiny bit spicy...
When Paint came to collect the plate, she asked if I don't like the prawn head? I was confused for a second and realized, that the prawn head was meant to be eaten as there's some stuffed paste in it. Oops, ok I had a taste of it before she collected the plate.
Soup
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| TOM KHA KAI TORN ต้มข่าไก่ตอน |
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| chicken roulade |
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| shimeji and ceylon spinach |
The galangal coconut broth dish was the best thus far. Served warm and with a hint of spice. First time seeing ceylon spinach and it had a nice crunch.
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| pressed on the dried chili to get more heat |
Main Surf
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| KHAO SOY PLA COD ข้าวซอยปลาค็อด |
This dish was creative as it takes the flavours of khao soi and merged it with a modern presentation. However, the weakest link was the cod. The texture was surprisingly unlike cod as it was rough whereas cod is usually smooth and buttery. This had none of those texture.
Main Turf
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| KHAO MOK NUAE YANG ข้าวหมกเนื้อย่าง |
This second main dish was Thai wagyu beef striploin from Korat. The Surin jasmine rice with turmeric was packed densely and flavoured beautifully with the Phetchabun tamarind jus/sauce which had a hint of spice.
The beef itself was firm and chewy. I liked the cucumber relish but left the carrots untouched as it was hard to bite.
Dessert
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| MANGO STICKY RICE ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง |
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| coconut ice-cream |
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| sweet |
The dessert was lovely, although the sticky rice had grown cold from the strong winds onboard.
Petit Four
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| TRADITIONAL THAI DESSERTS ขนมไทยโบราณ |
I had deja vu when the petit four was presented. Haha, that's because I had quite a bit of those at the resort. My favourite was the one with coconut cream.
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| returning to Anantara Pier |
Manohra Cruise
Address: 257/1-3 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Road, Samrae Bangkok 10600, Thailand
First round: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Check-in at 530PM
Second round: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Check-in at 630PM
Third round: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Check-in at 730PM
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