Din & Tonics

In keeping with the Siam City Hotel’s reputation for showcasing world-class talent, we are proud to welcome back Harvard’s very own Din & Tonics, or Dins. This signature all-male a cappella singing group is known around the world for its rich tradition of musical and performance excellence. With a repertoire centred on American jazz standards of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, these 13 Harvard gentlemen – who perform in white tie, tails, and lime green socks – have garnered a large following thanks to their impeccable musicality, snappy choreography and hilarious antics.

 Since 1979 the Dins have been delighting audiences by combining the traditional with the unexpected; consistently adding original, humorous, engaging choreography to perform a cappella “with a twist”. The Dins have performed at Fenway Park, recorded an album in the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, appeared in the Hollywood flick ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ and on Good Morning America, entertained former U.S. president Bill Clinton and even wowed the socks off Ella Fitzgerald, who said: “Gentlemen... not only were you entertaining and witty, but I was very impressed by your vocal skills and musicianship”.

Embarking on their eleventh world tour, Bangkok is just one of the many cities the Dins will visit in 2010. Others are Reykjavik, London, Luxembourg, Saarbrucken, Strasbourg, Berlin, Ljubljana, Cyprus, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sydney and San Francisco.

Strictly limited tickets are on sale at the Siam City Hotel for performances on Saturday July 31 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday August 1 at 2:00 p.m. To make a booking or enquiry, please call (0) 2247-0123, ext. 1912, 1944.

Plearn Wan

According to its website, Plearn Wan is ... “Center of joy and happiness ... stop the past in order to tell the various tales of Hua Hin in the past ... toward present”. In truth, it’s a giant wooden box stuffed full of people and shops. The design is said to reflect the not-so-distant past; looking and feeling decidedly retro. The slogan of almost everything at Plearn Wan is “as in the past”. Meaning you can eat, dress, shop and hang-out, as if it was fifty years ago.

You can browse an old skool pharmacy, record shop, general store, toy emporium, photography studio and more. Many souvenirs of the edible and collectable variety are available. There are also a couple of cafes where you can sit and relax with a coffee whilst reflecting on days gone by...

Highly popular with the local tourists due to the cutesy shops and numerous photo opportunities, it really is quite fun walking around the shops, snapping away and deciding which yummy desserts to try. There is also a mini theme park (with Ferris wheel) and even a hotel for those who want to brave the noise and stay the night.

I am told that in the day, the look and feel of Plearn Wan is quite different from the night and that it is excruciatingly packed. My Thai friends and I certainly had a pleasant time roaming the "streets" of Plearn Wan, experiencing a little bit of "old" Thailand and stuffing our bellies along the way. If you come to Hua Hin this slice of the past is well worth a visit for an hour.

 Getting there: it’s located on the main highway running into Hua Hin, about 5km before you hit the city proper. The drive from Bangkok is about 2-2.5 hours depending on traffic.

Times: open daily 11am – 12am.

Price: free entry, snacks around Bht 20-100

Together We Can Grand Sale

On the weekend of June 19/20 the Siam City Hotel ran a food and beverage booth at the "Together We Can Grand Sale" on Soi Rangnam (located behind the hotel).

Our booth was a rave success, we sold over 600 burgers, 300 crepes, 200 mocktails and 100 cookie boxes!

 A big thanks to everybody who stopped by to show their support. This truly was a "Love Thailand, Love Siam" moment!

See you all again next time :)