Usnisa Sukhsvasti is a society reporter at the Bangkok Post newspaper who has interviewed or had lunch with everyone who is anyone in Bangkok and travelled the world extensively.

Where do you live and why?

I live off Sukhumvit Road in Klong Toey. It’s a commercial and residential area and everything is on your doorstep, including the BTS (Skytrain) and MRT (underground).

What advice would you give a tourist? Any must dos?

The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, if nothing else. A great day trip is to buy a day pass on the Chao Praya River Express and hop on and off at any of the great riverside locations, such as Chinatown or the Temple of the Dawn. And try lots of the local food, don’t just play safe and eat at the hotel.

What advice would you give a visiting businessperson?

Using the BTS and MRT is the only way to make sure you will get to meetings on time, so a hotel with easy access to these systems would be best.

What and where have been your most memorable meals?

There was a Thai/Indian dinner at Face Bar (29 Sukhumvit Soi 38, Klong Toey, Tel: 713 6048, website: www. facebars.com) and an afternoon tea at Agalico (English tearoom, 20 Sukhumvit Soi 51, Tel: 662 5857, Open daily 10am-6pm, reservations essential, no sign). Of course, there was a buffet lunch at Lord Jim’s in the Oriental Hotel. You can’t go wrong at any of these places for food and ambience.

Where would you take a client to wow them?

The Normandie at the Oriental. That never fails to impress.

What do you miss about Bangkok when you’re away?

The food. My first request on arriving home from an overseas trip is a huge bowl of noodles from a roadside stall.