Bangkok: Perspective and Experiences of The Unsophisticated (Day 2)

2nd Day, Nov 3

GRAND PALACE

The second day of our tour was more of a cultural experience in a sense. Our first stop was Grand Palace. From our hotel, 

We alight at Sala Daeng and travel by boat

We then alight to Ta Chang pier. The boat costs us roughly about 15 Baht. From the pier we just need to cross the road and walk all the way straight and there it was, no mistaking it, the great Grand Palace. Grand Palace is a complex of buildings situated at the heart of Bangkok. It is the most visited as well. I read some brochures there and found out that for 150 years, Grand Palace is the home of Thai Royals. The entrance fee is 500 Baht (if I remember it correctly)

 Royal Reception Halls

A strict dress code applies in Grand Palace and some places are not allowed to take pictures. 

The place was interesting because there was so much history in it and it somewhat introduce you to how Thai live their lives. If it weren't super hot in there I would've stayed a little longer.

Next stop was

WAT PHO

Head back towards the pier and turn all the way left. There's nothing much to see in Wat Pho aside from the famous Reclining Buddha. It was a good sight though! It was HUGE!!! The entrance fee costs us 100 Baht (I'm sure of it!) Fair deal. 

After a quick rest, we went to Wat Arun

WAT ARUN

From Wat Pho, cross the road and take a boat for 3 Baht across the river. Wat Arun is such an exciting place for me! I was able to enjoy the place even though I'm sweating, hardcore sweat! At the entrance, you can rent these traditional dress and take photos. Cool!

We saw the temple and I immediately spotted the people taking the stairs, except they looked like climbing. I realise that the stair is steep, too steep that you might as well do rock climbing. And if that didn't scare you enough, it was narrow too! half of my foot I think. 

 It was beautiful up there though! It was scary, really really scary but it was fun and the sight is just inspiring! It's poetic. 

 We stayed up there for a time being. Appreciating the view it made me think how simple it is there compare here in Singapore.After the climb, the real challenge begun. Going down is twice as scary as going up! I can't even look at it! The pictures just won't justify what it feels like climbing those stairs.

Asiatique

After a long day at the temples we took boat going to Asiatique. The place is for.. guess what? Shopping! A night market sort of place but a more classy set up. If I had known about this place I wouldn't spend much in JJ Market. The variety of things here is just awesome!

 And the foods there is heavenly!

 Feeling christmassy at Asiatique. The music and the lights are amazing!

I bought those bag for 200 baht each, that's s$8! And I bought 10 pieces of shirt for my husband for S$20! The selection of clothes is better in Asiatique than JJ Market and Platinum Mall. The price is slightly cheaper too!

Those two places we've been to on this day is a perfect combination.

Notice how long it took me to write the second day of this Bangkok trip. How busy life can be?

xoxo

Bangkok: Perspective and Experiences of The Unsophisticated (Day 1)

Welcome to the Land of Smiles! 


Bangkok have this laid-back impression that it makes you feel like you're allowed and you can afford to be lazy, and so we did.

Now, I don't not mind sharing our supposed itinerary for this trip but that will be a total waste of time since we found out soon enough that there's no way we can follow the itinerary we prepared earlier. So let me help you plan yours by letting you know how our the actual trip went. Let us start with small details.

BUDGET! BUDGET! BUDGET! Unless you are earning $20k a month, you won't be needing a budget plan but since you're probably making time to do some research.. Well, here it goes.

Budget for 4D3N

Our total spending is about S$600
We (me and 3 friends) booked our hotel and flight with Expedia which costs us about S$276.00/pax check this out! ->>>>Cheap Flights and Hotel 
GroupOn Floating Market Deal S$50 for two pax
S$300 for COH.

There's always a girl-scout in all of us, and hey! nothing's wrong with that. Although I enjoy getting lost time and again, I personally don't like wasting time (and money) to some trivial things I should have known from the start. Normally, we tend to oversee small things that actually come in handy.

What you'll be needing

1. Map 
2. Bangkok Metro Map and Bangkok BTS Fare (Free from Android Play Store) 
3. Umbrella and sunblock (you're welcome)
4. This article http://www.bangkokscams.com/top-10-scams-in-bangkok/
5. Background check on places you want to visit.

1st Day, Nov 2

10am We arrive @ Suvarnabhumi Airport

The airport is descent, clean and the service provided to us is awesome! Not all people do gave us a warm smile, but a close call to perfection. 

Going to our hotel is not happy story. I don't even want to remember it because the weather is horribly and hot! But I say there's fun in getting lost in a foreign country, hard to see it at first but try not to focus on the weather and you'll be just fine. 

Going to Centre Point Hotel

The easiest way from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok is by Mass Transit and If you're carrying a light bag I suggest take the public transportation and forget about the taxi all through out your trip. I'm happy my friend won't give in on me whenever I whine about the weather and suggest taking taxi instead. 

The glorious apps I've mentioned earlier is the key to a hassle-free train-hop. Centre Point Hotel is 10 mins walk from Ratchathewi Station.

Early check-in at 12nn to Center Point Hotel, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand  -->Map

We got lucky since the staff were really nice to allowed us to do so.They asked for 500 Baht per pax for deposit. 

Right after we settled in, we head out to JJ Market for our very first shopping schedule. I wasn't too much into shopping because I rarely care about what I wear. Bangkok is a different story though, when everything is that cheap and subject to further bargaining? People do change. 

Chatuchak Weekend Market, จังหวัด กรุงเทพมหานคร Thailand Map

Going to Chatuchak Market

Tuktuk will cost you about 150 Baht. But we took MRT going there because we got pissed by tuk tuk drivers who kept on insisting that they will bring us to a "shop" before heading out to our destination. That's a scam of course. 

The trip costs us 37 Baht per pax.

Hello weekend market!

 I was thinking about wet market when I saw the place. And by instinct reached for my bag and put it in front of me just to be safe.
But as we walk around, I realised that Thailand is safe place. As of 2013, the crime rate and over all safety situation is relatively low and only those non-confrontational crimes of opportunity, such as pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and credit card fraud, occur with frequency but I was never a victim nor my friends.  But just to be safe, be attentive and always watch out for each other when you're travelling with friends. As Singapore said "Low crimes doesn't mean no crime" 

 The place is huge! And half a day is not enough for us to go around. I can't believe on how cheap these things are! You can practically change your whole closet with S$300! Luckily I was able to resist to spend all my dollars there.

After hours of walking. We had a taste of Bangkok and this is my favorite part. Easily the most important part of the trip.

The famous pineapple fried rice. I used to eat this at Kopitiam almost everyday and I was disappointed that Kopitiam's tastes better. I have to give it to them for the presentation though. 

On street foods

What a sight! I know, makes me want to go back to Bangkok right now!

To end the day, we stayed at our hotel for a quick swim and sauna. The pool was great! It was very relaxing and it feels like we owned it! 

Our sauna moments is private but the place is equally awesome!

xoxo