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(I’m really, truly, sorry… this is probably no fun to read at all… I promise that we’ll keep these things shorter and more timely in the future)
Well, we’ve been on the road for about three weeks now, so it’s probably about time to start the blog that we promised…
This first post will be kind of a re-cap, most likely culled from random emails and journal entries, if we’ve made any…
Our flight over was pretty uneventful; lots of movie watching and reading (I think I hit the madness point at about hour twelve out of 17 or so)…
The Bangkok airport is probably the largest monument to air travel I’ve ever seen. It’s really massive, and it has to be since it’s the cheapest airport out of the surrounding nations and everyone (really, everyone) starts their Southeast Asia travels here, even if they have no interest in Thailand at all.
Bangkok as hub is even more apparent when you hit the main travelers’ area of Banglamphu, which is where the somewhat legendary Khao San road is located. Courtney and I have met others who really enjoyed their time on Khao San, but everytime we set foot there we almost immediately turned around (such as right after we were situated in our hotel on the first night, having arrived late in the evening and decided that the best way to really up the surreality would be to head towards the neon mecca for drink, drugs, and tourists). (more…)
Transportation
Here’s a map with the wedding locations:
View Wedding locations in a larger map
For most people coming in from out of town, I would recommend renting a car (I found the best prices @ Thrifty).
For public transportation to the wedding, please refer to the directions in the schedule.
Here’s a list of Portland Area taxis and a unique designated-driver service called RideOn:
Broadway cab – (503) 227-1234
Radio Cab – (503) 227-1212
Green Cab (shuttle vans as well) – (503) 234-1414
Ride-On Designated Driver Service – If you get too
impaired to drive call RideOn. A designated driver
will be dropped off at your location and happily
drive you home in your own car for $15.
Fridays and Saturdays, 11pm – 3am.
Violetta in Director’s Park
Violetta, in the newly unveiled director’s park, isn’t quite a restaurant… I’m not sure what to call it… They have great burgers, fries (try the Oregonzola fries) salads, etc. but you order inside and can eat inside or out in the park (which isn’t quite a park either)… It’s almost the like the park and restaurant are combined into one. Also, they don’t “fry” their fries, they “air-bake” them, though you could have fooled me (this is just one of many healthy & environmental steps the place has taken).
You can even drink your beer outside… It’s the one place to get a beer in the sun downtown that isn’t Rock Bottom Brewery…
Located at SW 9th & Taylor St. in Downtown…
Produce Row
One of the best patios in town (and the inside is kinda swank too) after their big redecoration. Great selection of beer and wine, good food… and did I mention the patio is pretty awesome? Oh, and reuben sliders.
Go for the happy hour(s): mon-sat 4-7pm; mon-sun 11pm-2am (food only)
204 SE Oak St. Portland, Oregon, 97214
Pad Thai Kitchen
We love this place and not just because we live three blocks from it.
Perhaps the best Thai food in town, though there’s so much Thai food in Portland it’s hard to say (go on, just TRY to find a Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown or 82nd). The service is friendly and super quick, with great prices to boot.
Get the pumpkin curry.
2309 Southeast Belmont Street, Portland, OR 97214
Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am – 3 pm/ 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm – 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm – 10 pm
Prost & North Mississippi Carts
Prost: a “real” authentically-inauthentic German pub. Seriously though, with all of the beer in Portland, it’s nice to take a break from the newbies and have some good-ole German Pilsner… and other beers, but I can’t pronounce most of them. Awesome brat- and curry-wurst.
The surrounding cart pod contains a good mish-mash, but their hours are kinda crazy. Try Nuevo Mexico if you get a chance…
Pok Pok
This place is AWESOME. Real fricking thai-street-food inspired cuisine. No way you’ll ever forget a meal here.
There is probably always a wait, but they recently opened up the Whiskey Soda Lounge across the street, where you can get cocktails and appetizers while waiting for your table.
Washington Park Attractions: Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo and Hoyt Arboretum
There’s a lot or Portland attractions right in this one area in the West Hills.
I’ll just include their links here:
Lan Su Chinese Garden
We have actually never been here, but from all the pictures and recommendations we don’t know why. It looks like an little oasis in the city (and it IS in the city, it’s right in the middle of Old Town/Chinatown and downtown), and it also looks like it kicks the crap out of all the the other gardens in town. Just check out the site below.
239 Northwest Everett Street,
Portland, OR
Los Goriditos/Apex
Los Gorditos is one of the best taquerias in town, friendly to meat lovers and vegetarians alike (they even have separate menus). We highly recommend the soyrizo.
You can take your food next door to Apex, the bar with huge outdoor bier-garden style tables and the beer menu is displayed on a huge TV above the bar.
Note: both of these place only take CA$H.
1212 Southeast Division Street
Portland, OR 97202