Sadeck Berrabah:

A Wow Experience in Bangkok

This was my first time attending Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance & Music, an annual event that began in 1999. After all these years, I finally joined the audience—and what an introduction! It was exciting to have an international performance like this right here in Bangkok, without having to travel abroad to see it. About the festival

I went to see Sadeck Berrabah’s Murmuration Level 2, a modern, creative performance with just one show in the festival programme and a full house. What amazed me was how synchronised the dancers were. Their hand and arm movements came together with such precision, creating shifting patterns that made the group appear to move as one.

Sadeck also brought the audience into the experience, guiding us through a simple routine to show how hand gestures could be synchronised. Being part of it added another dimension to watching the dancers on stage.

For me, the wow came from both the performance and the realisation that experiences like this are available in my own city. Sometimes, discovering something new doesn’t require travelling very far at all.

Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed, so I couldn’t capture the performance to share here. But it was truly a memorable experience. If you’d like a glimpse of Sadeck’s work, you can find more on YouTube—though seeing it live was something special.

Discovering More of Bangkok

Recently, I had a chance to join “Rak Nakhara: The Path of Rattanakosin” (รากนครา มรรคาแห่งรัตนโกสินทร์), which took me into places I had never visited before, even though I have passed through this part of Bangkok countless times. The event is hosted by Fine Arts Department during August 12 – September 20, 2026.

My first stop was the Red Building, Thaworawatthu, where I discovered the library and a beautiful collection of Buddhist scripture cabinets.

I then continued to the Fine Arts Department, where I visited the Silpa Bhirasri Museum and learned more about the man regarded as the father of modern art in Thailand. My last stop was the Master Sculpture Hall, where I was fascinated to see master models and prototypes created for many statues and sculptures that we recognise today.

What impressed me most was how carefully the Fine Arts Department preserves these works and cultural treasures of Thailand.

It was a wonderful reminder that even in a part of Bangkok I pass so often, there are still places waiting for me to discover.

Hiroshi Nagai: Pop Art of the ’80s Comes to Bangkok

My first encounter with Hiroshi Nagai’s art goes back to the 1980s, although at the time I didn’t really know who the artist was. It was the album cover of September Wind by Japanese jazz musician Naoya Matsuoka that first caught my attention — that striking blue, the swimming pool, and the bold colours that somehow captured the feeling of the era.

Over the years, I came across more of Nagai’s work and gradually began to recognise his unmistakable style. Deep blue pools, palm trees, clear skies and colourful architecture — often without a single person in sight. His images became closely associated with Japan’s City Pop culture of the 1980s, yet much of their inspiration came from the California landscapes and architecture he encountered during a road trip across the United States in 1973.

So seeing Hiroshi Nagai: Summer Dreaming, his first solo exhibition in Thailand, was particularly interesting for me. It was also my first opportunity to see a good collection of his work together rather than simply encountering individual images and album covers.

Looking at them again after all these years, the colours still feel just as bold and distinctive. For me, they are also a small visual journey back to the 1980s — beginning with that blue album cover I first noticed many years ago.

ISAO Bangkok: The Story Behind My Favourite Maki Rolls

When you are in Bangkok and have time to try something beyond Thai food, try ISAO. ISAO on Sukhumvit 31 has been one of my favourite sushi restaurants in Bangkok for years. There are plenty of choices on the menu, but somehow I keep coming back to the same two dishes every time: Jackie and Crunchy.

ISAO is not really about traditional Japanese sushi. Its style is more creative and playful, with an interesting connection to Chicago that goes back to before the restaurant opened in Bangkok.

From Chicago to Bangkok

The story started in Chicago, where Isao-san opened Green Tea Japanese Restaurant. The experience and some of the creative sushi ideas from Chicago eventually made their way to Bangkok when ISAO opened.

One dish in particular came with a very clever story — Jackie.

How Jackie Got Its Name

According to the story shared by ISAO-san, the owner, when the restaurant in Chicago first opened, a family came in with their five-year-old daughter. Her name was Jackie.

Jackie didn’t like raw fish, but she loved shrimp. Isao-san created a special sushi roll for her using shrimp, making something the little girl could enjoy. He named the new creation Jackie, after her.

Years later, the Jackie Roll made its way from Chicago to Bangkok and became one of ISAO’s signature maki roll dishes.

Today, it is probably one of the restaurant’s most recognisable creations. With shrimp tempura, avocado and shrimp wrapped around the outside, it arrives shaped almost like a little caterpillar. The presentation may be playful, but it is the combination of shrimp, texture and sauce that keeps it on my regular order.

And Then There Is Crunchy

My other must-order is Crunchy.

It is quite different from Jackie, with spicy salmon inside and a crispy exterior, finished with sauce. Jackie is softer and shrimp-focused, while Crunchy gives you that richer, crispy texture. For me, the two simply work well together — which is probably why I rarely order one without the other.

I have been coming back to ISAO for years, and despite having a whole menu in front of me, my order doesn’t change very much.

Jackie and Crunchy.

Sometimes a favourite restaurant isn’t about continually trying something new. It is about returning to the dishes you already know you want — and in the case of Jackie, discovering that there is also a little story behind what is on the plate. Here is how crunchy is made. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcFbBQMgDKa/?igsh=a3piNnR0YzJxMnM0&igsi=a3piNnR0YzJxMnM0

Discovering Wat Pho’s Underground Museum

I’ve visited Wat Pho many times over the years, but on recently on my walking tour with a historian, I discovered something completely new — the recently opened underground museum located beneath the Sangha residence. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, yet it adds another layer of history to one of Bangkok’s most famous temples.

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What I Found Inside

Instead of grand halls filled with statues, the museum showcases artifacts uncovered during restoration and preserved by the temple. I was fascinated by the collection of ancient ceramics, porcelain, gifts presented to former abbots, and everyday objects that tell the story of Wat Pho through different periods.

One item that especially caught my attention was a facial wash bowl dating back to the reign of King Rama V. Seeing these historical objects up close gave me a deeper appreciation of the people who once lived, worshipped, and cared for this royal temple.

The museum isn’t large, but it’s thoughtfully presented and offers a quieter experience away from the crowds visiting the Reclining Buddha. If you enjoy history and want to discover a side of Wat Pho that many visitors overlook, it’s well worth taking the time to explore before leaving the temple grounds.

Big Buddha along small canal

Wat Paknam: Take the Slower Route

Most people visit Wat Paknam to see the magnificent Giant Buddha and the beautiful emerald-glass pagoda. It’s one of Bangkok’s most impressive temples, but I think the journey there can be just as rewarding as the destination.

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Instead of driving directly through the narrow streets leading to the temple, I recommend starting at Khlong Bang Luang. Spend some time at one of the canal-side cafés before hopping on a boat. Cruising along the canals offers a glimpse into a quieter side of Bangkok, where traditional wooden houses, old communities, and everyday life still unfold along the water. (lovethailand.org⁠)

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If you have more time, make it a canal-hopping journey. Several historic temples line Khlong Bang Luang, many with histories stretching back to the early Rattanakosin period. You can stop along the way to explore these lesser-known temples before continuing on to Wat Paknam. (lovethailand.org⁠)

For me, this is one of the best ways to experience Bangkok. Rather than simply visiting another temple, you also get to discover the city’s historic waterways, where life has revolved around the canals for centuries. Sometimes, taking the slower route makes the destination even more memorable.

Sadeck Berrabah:

A Wow Experience in Bangkok

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Discovering More of Bangkok

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Hiroshi Nagai: Pop Art of the ’80s Comes to Bangkok

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ISAO Bangkok: The Story Behind My Favourite Maki Rolls

From Chicago to Bangkok

How Jackie Got Its Name

And Then There Is Crunchy

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Discovering Wat Pho’s Underground Museum

What I Found Inside

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Big Buddha along small canal

Wat Paknam: Take the Slower Route

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Always amazing…. everyday every time …

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A Wow Experience in Bangkok

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From Chicago to Bangkok

How Jackie Got Its Name

And Then There Is Crunchy

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What I Found Inside

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Wat Paknam: Take the Slower Route

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