Bangkok (Last Day)

Woke up rather early as we have to gather 9 am at the lobby for transport to the airport. The last day is almost non-existent as we are taking the 11.30 am flight back to Singapore.

We did not have time for breakfast at the hotel and had breakfast at a high class thai restaurant in the airport. Spent some time browsing through the duty free shops before boarding the plane.

There are really quite a lot of movies (over 20 titles) we can watch on Cathay Pacific planes. A picture of Changi Bay minutes before landing.

All of us collected our luggage and headed to buy duty free stuff at the airport. I consulted my father on the liquor he wants and i bought XO Hennessy grande champagne and Martell Cordon Bleu with the help of Jimmy as he need not buy any hard liquor. Helped Stephen get a perfume from Hugo Boss as well.

Went to cck to change back the rest of my thai baht to sgd and found out that the rate is very low for amounts less than S$100.

Looks like it will be some time before i go overseas the next time.

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Bangkok (Day 3)

Saturday, Jim and Gs heard drawers opening and closing repeatedly in the opposite room. These occurances should be considered normal for Asia Hotel which has rumours of ghost hauntings.

We woke up at around 8 am and headed to Chatuchak weekend market after our breakfast. Each of us bought an unlimited train ride for 1 day for only 90 baht. We then took the BTS to Chatuchak station and walked a short distance to the gigantic market. There are really a lot of shops inside and we split into 2 groups for more effective shopping. The shops seem to be endless and we were walking along rows and rows of shops. We spent most of our time in the clothing section and did not go over to the furniture, books and pets section. The weather was super hot as usual and inside the buildings were rather stuffy as well.

Bought several t-shirts and slippers at rather cheap prices. We got rather sick of shopping there and left after 3-4 hours.

Some photos at Chatuchak weekend market

We passed by Chatuchak Monument on the way to the BTS station and took some pictures as well.

On top of the BTS station, we can see from the number of cars that many people like to go Chatuchak market for the huge variety of goods available there and their economical price tags.

A picture of the train station.

We headed back to our hotel rooms to unload the things we just bought and headed to Chit Lom for lunch. Decided on Burger King as we wanted to eat something cheaper to save up for a more expensive dinner. Spent some time later at a few high class shopping centres nearby before heading over to Pratunam. We walked for around 15 minutes from World Trade Center to Pratunam Complex. There wasn't a lot of shops there and we crossed the road to Pratunam Market.

It was another big pasa malam and we browsed through the shops hoping to see anything nice to buy. We did not buy anything since we have bought most of what we wanted in Chatuchak. Clarence was not feeling too well as Jim accompanied him back to the hotel to rest. Derrick, Gs and I walked back to World Trade Center and walked along Skybridge to go to the shopping belt near Siam Station.

There were a lot of people there and we shopped until our legs were really tired. Went back our hotel so that we can meet up with Clarence and Jim for dinner. We decided on a nearby Thai restaurant as it is more convenient for all of us. The dishes are rather cheap but the servings are not a lot.

The three of us took BTS to Sala Daeng Station that is nearest to Pat Pong night market. Took several photos while waiting for Terence and Peiying to arrive.

There were quite a lot of stalls selling fake branded handbags and wallets. I was "forced" to purchase a fake Gucci bag after harassment from an aunty who kept pulling my hands after i asked the price.

We walked over to Silom and ended up at Silom Village, a food and beverages area, which we thought was another night market. Took cabs to Yaowarat again as it was the only area with the most shops or stalls open. Had seafood supper for our last good meal before leaving Bangkok the next day.

A really tiring day for all of us.

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Bangkok (Day 2)

Friday, woke up at 7 am as the half day city tour starts at 8 am. Took a picture of the cityscape from our hotel.

Had our breakfast buffet before embarking on our city tour which comprises of trip to the imitation floating market, a temple and a gem factory. We reached Chao Phraya River in 45 mins time and boarded a ferry which several tour guides introducing the history of Bangkok, the river and the monuments along the river.

Our first stop is the floating market and there were several vendors on small boats selling thai souvenirs to us. We were then brought to a place near a temple where there were a lot of catfish. Bread were also sold to us to feed the catfishes. There were really a lot of fish and they were fighting to grab every piece of bread.

A picture of a nice temple we passed by along the river.

We then headed to a famous temple and were free to roam the area for 45 minutes. Our tour guide gave us an introduction of the various kings that once ruled Thailand as well. We did not enter the temple as there is an entrance fee of 100 baht. Took several photos outside the temple.

Some of us bought coconuts as the weather is really very hot. A group photo facing Chao Phraya River.

After leaving the temple, we alighted at a jetty and headed to a gem factory via minibus. No one is not allowed to take photos inside the factory which is rather small. It is connected to the jewellery shop selling a lot of assorted jewellery. Derrick bought a pearl necklace for his friend and we left after admiring the gemstones and jewellery. This concludes the end of the half day city tour.

We requested going Mah Boon Kong, a big shopping centre selling many clothes, electronics and food. Had lunch there at the big food court which requires people to purchase their food using vouchers that can be bought at a counter. I ordered 2 dishes and 1 drink for only 100 baht.

After our lunch, we started our shopping spree from the top level all the way down to the 2nd level. There were a lot of shops selling clothes in the upper levels and electronics at the lower levels. The average price of a t-shirt there cost 180 baht ($7.50). We had dessert at Swensons and 3 scoops of ice cream costs only 59 baht! We left after spending hours there and headed to the small shopping centre beside it that looks like bugis village.

Next up is Siam Discovery Center and Siam Center, a new shopping centre, and there are many shops that are not opened yet. We then went to the other side of the road with many shops and spent some time browsing through the numerous shops before heading back to Asia Hotel as the driver is picking us up at 6 pm for our traditional Thai massage. A woman greeted us and brought us to a massage palour near our hotel. We were then brought to the area upstairs and changed to an attire like pajamas. We spent 2 hours in there while the women massaged, kneaded, pressed and cracked several joints in our body. Almost fell asleep during the session as we all woke up very early today. The fee was 400 baht per pax and we each gave a tip of 100 baht to them. Actually i didn't have much feelings or satisfaction afterward but most of my friends complimented the massage.

We headed to Suan Lum Night Bazaar after that and had dinner at the huge dining area which some people performing songs on the stage. Soccer was also shown on the huge projection screen which is a rather weird combination of songs, soccer and food. There are a lot of stalls and we ordered 2 huge pizzas and 2 plates of "guo tie".

We then shopped at the night bazaar and it is really quite big (at least 5 times the size of a big pasa malam in Singapore). Bought 2 packs of aromatic incense sticks for my sister and a few tees. There were several shops selling creatively designed furniture and accessories, and the shops selling clothing generally have a more alternative taste.

We toured most of the bazaar before heading back to the hotel. I had a severe stomachache on the way back to the hotel and i guess i might have drunk contaminated water. Luckily i brought diarrhoea pills and the pain was over within an hour.

Going to Chatuchak weekend market the next day!

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Bangkok (1st Day)

Thursday, woke up rather early to meet my jc friends at the airport. All of us have arrived except for Derrick who was still having his breakfast. Since we cannot collect our boarding passes yet, we had our lunch at the staff canteen at Terminal 2.

Collected our boarding passes after Derrick arrived at 12.30 pm. Guess what, the economy class seats are mostly taken up and they provided 2 business class tickets for 2 people. Terence and his gf took the 2 business class seats while the 5 of us settled for economy class. Took a picture at the waiting area.

Above the clouds after take-off

A view of the rather delicious airline food with Haagen Dazs ice cream (courtesy of Cathay Pacific)

After we touched down at Bangkok, a tour guide brought us to Asia Hotel where we had booked 3 rooms. Jim unfortunately sprained his ankle when he entered the minibus. There was quite a bad traffic jam en route to the hotel and i took several pictures along the way.

After we settled and unpacked some of our stuff at our allocated rooms, we took the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) to Chit Lom station as Jimmy wanted to bring us to a Japanese Restaurant near World Trade Centre for dinner. A view of the cityscape from the BTS.

We arrived at the shopping centre after a few stops and saw several shopping centres in the area.

Having dinner at the Japanese restaurant.

The meal was not very expensive compared to Singapore (each person paid around $10). Walked around the shopping centre and Jim bought a pair of ankle guards for only 60 baht ($2.50). We then headed back to the hotel at 7 pm as the tour guide was waiting for us to bring us to the infamous Thai Girl show (some people call it the Tiger show). The ticket was 600 baht per pax and the tour guide arranged transport to a club/bar. The show is actually illegal in Thailand but the clubs paid the police money so that the infamous show can continue operating (info from tour guide). We were brought into a club with loud music and there were quite a lot of caucasians inside. The venue was not as big as i expected and there were a number of people smoking inside.

No pictures are allowed to be taken inside and using of handphones are prohibited as well. I shall avoid mentioning the R(21) content and skip to the next part of our tour. The show lasted for around 1 hour and we requested going to Yaowarat for supper instead of going back to the hotel. Walked along Bangkok's chinatown which many roadside stalls and we decided to eat bird nest at a chinese restaurant. The lowest grade bird nest soup costs 200 baht and all of us ordered it except Derrick who got a premium grade coconut bird nest soup.

Headed back to our hotel in cabs and the taxi fare is only 50 baht (cheaper than Malaysia cabs). Got to wake up at 7 am the next day for the half day city tour.

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