So basically we decided to go backpacker mode and brought minimal clothing, as our flight was at 8.20am on the 28th (Thursday) and by the time of arrival, we figured it would not be check-in time at the hotel, so we came prepared.
We arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport around 10.30am, just after a downpour. The sun was shining, and we were so excited to get off the cramped seats of the Airbus.
Suvarnabhumi is huge!The plan was to disembark the aircraft, go straight for immigration, get our head around Bangkok's map with it's tongue twisting names with a cup of coffee then head towards the airport-bangkok city express rail link, but when we got there, an airport police told us the train was not in service.Dang! So plan A (budget-time saving) is out, plan B (cut throat-time wasting) had to be used. We went to the lower ground floor (i think) and came across the 'public-meter' taxi counters and enquired on a cab to Pratunam (a district about an hour from the airport) where we would look (and eventually shop) around the market. They quoted us 450 baht, which is around RM45! Since we didn't have a choice we took it anyway.
There's a meter, but they don't use it!
Suvarnabhumi Airport on the way out
One of the many shops selling clothing
We got stuck in a jam on a highway for about 45 minutes, as it was lunch hour.Or maybe it was just everyday traffic in Bangkok, we couldn't be sure, as the driver was the quiet type and we weren't sure if he spoke any English.
One of the many shops selling clothingPratunam area is similar to our Jalan Tar, but most of the shops are inside alleys, so if you're planning to go here, you will need to be a bit adventurous. We walked blindly into Soi (street in Thai) and Thanon (Road) around the area for about 3 hours, then sat at a Dunkin Donuts for a quick drink as it was HOT.
We then decided to go to Siam Center/Paragon, but was stopped by a friendly middle aged man, whom introduced himself as an off duty policeman from a suburb.We were skeptical as usual, but as we talked, he appeared to be an honest man, gave us tips on where to shop (though he was a bit over sometimes) and where to go. I asked him where we could find fake goods (watches and handbags) and he recommended Achana (i'm not sure if it's a district or a name of a shop) and called Tuk-Tuk for us. He then told the driver to take us to Achana for 20 baht, wait for us there, then take us to Siam Paragon.
Mat rempit on 3 wheels!We were very nervous on riding a Tuk-Tuk, plus the notion of getting on a 3 wheeler taxi known for it's world famous hell-bent driving and going to a place we didn't even know existed added to the anxiety. A cousin who recently got back from Bangkok told me the Tuk-Tuk drivers are like mat rempit on 3 wheels, and boy, they really were! Tuk-tuk's are LOUD, not very safe (airbags not included) but really fun to ride. You just have to put your lives in the hands of a stranger and pray to god they don't overturn.
The colourful Taxis in Bangkok
Siam Paragon - similar to our Gardens/Pavillion mallsAfter awhile, we were really tired and it was almost 2pm, so we headed towards the Siam BTS station and board a train towards Silom, where our hotel is located.
A one way ticket costs 20 baht from Siam BTS station to Chong Nonsi (hotel BTS)Bangkok's BTS, MRT is very efficient, so no worries there. Their BTS is also bigger than KL's LRT and ERL and the rail map is also in English, so it's quite easy to get around. You can buy day, week or month passes too. Just make sure you know the exact name of the stop, because the names can be quite confusing (thankfully i have the Mrs who is an excellent GPS! hehe)
Our hotel, i-Residence Silom is about 10 minute ride from Siam BTS station and about 20 metres from the Silom station, which was fantastic. We were lucky though, as when we booked the hotel we didn't realise it was so close to a BTS station.In fact, we didn't even know where it was!
Our room : small but it's got everything you need (flat screen Tv too!)
Click to view larger version
The famous halal food in Bangkok is a yellow coloured rice with grilled chicken and soup. The rice is unlike our pulut, its normal rice only yellow. The Mrs tried that and i had a butter chicken with white rice at a halal stall @ MBK shopping centre food court. We paid almost rm40 for the food and drinks, and it wasn't worth it. The food court uses coupons, so if you'd like, there's a counter that exchanges baht for coupons, and you'll get a cash refund if you have any balance.
The only eatery we found worth mentioning (with high praises) is Mak Yah's at Thanon Petchburi. The area is basically a dead town, with old shops mostly closed and run-down. We saw beggars and homeless people here and there after stopping at Rachathewi BTS Station, about 15-20 minutes from Siam station. You will need to be extra careful when you get there with belongings. Email me if you need directions.
Anyway, Mak Yah's is a comfortable in a homely sort of way, with delicious Thai/Malay food. It's air conditioned (which was great, by the time we got there we were exhausted) and the owners speaks Malay and friendly too. When we walked in, there were other Malaysians as well as locals. The waiter (as we later found out after trying our best to describe/ask about the dishes) also speaks Malay..haha!
Closed shops leading towards Mak Yah's
Sambal belacan
excellent tomyam
Ikan 3 rasa
Our hotel, i-Residence Silom is about 10 minute ride from Siam BTS station and about 20 metres from the Silom station, which was fantastic. We were lucky though, as when we booked the hotel we didn't realise it was so close to a BTS station.In fact, we didn't even know where it was!
Our room : small but it's got everything you need (flat screen Tv too!)Click to view larger version
The hotel was suprisingly good.The staff was friendly, it has a free internet room (you can use internet in-room but at a rate), it has a roof top pool (we didn't get a chance to see it), hot water, coffee tea amenities etc. There are a few eateries downstairs - a doughnut shop, an home made ice cream parlour and a 7-eleven.
Doughnut shop
Doughnut shopFood guide
Halal food is hard to find in Bangkok. Wherever you walk, there will be stalls selling grilled pork on a stick and stuff like that. I googled and found this website for halal food restaurants in Bangkok. You can find Halal eateries anywhere in the world there. Even if the shop sells halal food, it's expensive and doesn't taste that good.
Halal food is hard to find in Bangkok. Wherever you walk, there will be stalls selling grilled pork on a stick and stuff like that. I googled and found this website for halal food restaurants in Bangkok. You can find Halal eateries anywhere in the world there. Even if the shop sells halal food, it's expensive and doesn't taste that good.
The famous halal food in Bangkok is a yellow coloured rice with grilled chicken and soup. The rice is unlike our pulut, its normal rice only yellow. The Mrs tried that and i had a butter chicken with white rice at a halal stall @ MBK shopping centre food court. We paid almost rm40 for the food and drinks, and it wasn't worth it. The food court uses coupons, so if you'd like, there's a counter that exchanges baht for coupons, and you'll get a cash refund if you have any balance.
The only eatery we found worth mentioning (with high praises) is Mak Yah's at Thanon Petchburi. The area is basically a dead town, with old shops mostly closed and run-down. We saw beggars and homeless people here and there after stopping at Rachathewi BTS Station, about 15-20 minutes from Siam station. You will need to be extra careful when you get there with belongings. Email me if you need directions.
Anyway, Mak Yah's is a comfortable in a homely sort of way, with delicious Thai/Malay food. It's air conditioned (which was great, by the time we got there we were exhausted) and the owners speaks Malay and friendly too. When we walked in, there were other Malaysians as well as locals. The waiter (as we later found out after trying our best to describe/ask about the dishes) also speaks Malay..haha!
Closed shops leading towards Mak Yah's
Sambal belacan
excellent tomyam
Ikan 3 rasaOn our last night in Bangkok, we decided to splurge for dinner. We took a boat cruise dinner that goes up the Chao Phraya river for about 2 hours. Package includes hotel transfer to and from the jetty. The trip to the jetty took us about half and hour.
Boat was huge!
The boat we took could easily accommodate around 100 or more people, more like a huge yacht. It had a live filipino band, buffet tables for the lower and upper floors, a dance floor, a kitchen, a big entrance doors etc.The guide/driver will gave us stickers to put on our shirts and tickets with our table number on it. The only downside was the food was mediocre and the Filipino singer kept mumbling the lyrics to the songs she was singing to.They give you free flow of plain water, peanuts and potato crisps but put aside the cocktail drink though, i think it was alcoholic! Oh well, at least we got to see Bangkok at night! We prefer this instead of going to Patpong or other seedy districts.
Here's what we saw during the cruise :
See that red/pink cocktail?Skip it!
Hungry?Be prepared to queue!
Besides Wats (Temples), there are also many 5 star hotels along the Chao Phraya river such Hilton, Shangri La, Sheraton and Thai based boutique hotels.
Last Day
On our last day, we checked out early from the hotel around 7am, left our luggage at the lobby and made our way to Chatukchak/Jatukjak weekend market by BTS. The market is located at the far north side of Central Bangkok and at the end of the BTS line. From the station, we walked about 10 minutes to get to the market. It has a few entrances, from outside we couldn't even tell it had a HUGE market in it. When we walked in, stalls were already open.
Chatuchak market is open only on weekends, is divided into multiple sections that is almost impossible to find your way around the stalls. Inside its cramped and hot. So make sure you've got a map in hand (you can get 1 at the airport) that has the market's map in it.On the contrary you can get one at the visitor's centre at the market, though it is a little hard to find.
The outer part of the market
Inside one of the alleys
Boat was huge!The boat we took could easily accommodate around 100 or more people, more like a huge yacht. It had a live filipino band, buffet tables for the lower and upper floors, a dance floor, a kitchen, a big entrance doors etc.The guide/driver will gave us stickers to put on our shirts and tickets with our table number on it. The only downside was the food was mediocre and the Filipino singer kept mumbling the lyrics to the songs she was singing to.They give you free flow of plain water, peanuts and potato crisps but put aside the cocktail drink though, i think it was alcoholic! Oh well, at least we got to see Bangkok at night! We prefer this instead of going to Patpong or other seedy districts.
Here's what we saw during the cruise :
See that red/pink cocktail?Skip it!
Hungry?Be prepared to queue!
Besides Wats (Temples), there are also many 5 star hotels along the Chao Phraya river such Hilton, Shangri La, Sheraton and Thai based boutique hotels.Last Day
On our last day, we checked out early from the hotel around 7am, left our luggage at the lobby and made our way to Chatukchak/Jatukjak weekend market by BTS. The market is located at the far north side of Central Bangkok and at the end of the BTS line. From the station, we walked about 10 minutes to get to the market. It has a few entrances, from outside we couldn't even tell it had a HUGE market in it. When we walked in, stalls were already open.
Chatuchak market is open only on weekends, is divided into multiple sections that is almost impossible to find your way around the stalls. Inside its cramped and hot. So make sure you've got a map in hand (you can get 1 at the airport) that has the market's map in it.On the contrary you can get one at the visitor's centre at the market, though it is a little hard to find.
The outer part of the market
Inside one of the alleysTry Get-in Coffee stall in the clothing section of the market. We came across the stall and stopped for something cool to drink, we ordered Ice chocolate and toasted bread with butter and sugar topping. The iced chocolate was DELICIOUS and cost only 20 baht.
Dee-licious creamy chocolatey iced chocolate
Mobile phone prepaid promoters
Dee-licious creamy chocolatey iced chocolate
Mobile phone prepaid promotersAfter Chatuchak market romp, we headed back towards the BTS station for our hotel to take our luggage and took an early taxi to the airport. Cost us 500 baht. We slept all the way to the airport as we were really tired from the walking. We then made early check-in of our luggage and took a few more photos at the airport before going to the immigration/passport control counter.
Once inside we had lunch at Burger King (fish) and walked around some more to pass the time. The airport is (again) huge, as we later found out, as we realized we had walked from one end to another, peeking inside designer and duty free shops.
Once inside we had lunch at Burger King (fish) and walked around some more to pass the time. The airport is (again) huge, as we later found out, as we realized we had walked from one end to another, peeking inside designer and duty free shops.
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