Been thinking of posting my Bangkok trip since last week, but I was too busy planning for my next trip to Japan. I don't have any plan at all! It seem everything is so expensive. But yeah, it's the trip I have been waiting for since last year. Can't wait :)
Every wrong decision in Bangkok, is the right decision, and there are lesson learnt from the trip that I would probably not repeat.
It was a plan since probably 2 years back to visit Bangkok and experience all the fuss people are talking about. A day before my departure, it was announced Martial Law in Thailand and to make thing worst, it was in the middle of a coup. That means, curfew at 10pm, train stop at 9pm, shop closes at 7pm & so on so forth. There goes my plan to enjoy Bangkok's night life.
Anyhow, the situation was not a worst as what were reported in the news.
Back to the trip. It was Fairuz, Roslin & me. All 3 of us booked different flights but stayed in the same hostel. It was a nice hostel, affordable, clean and most importantly, good location. The hostel was located very near to MBK shopping mall, 5 mins walk I would say and right in front of the hostel was National Stadium station.
I departed from Kuala Lumpur at around 4pm and arrived in Bangkok around 5pm local time. Took a bus from the Don Muang Airport (paid THB 30), stopped at Mo Chit station and took BTS towards city centre and then to the hostel (another THB 42). I was at first planned to take taxi due to the so called Martial Law, but when I arrived, I decided to have an adventure using the buses. It was an easy peasy ride I would say. Should I have taken the taxi, I would have paid THB 500. Whosshhh, I have saved a lot. I reached the hostel almost 8pm. Fairuz arrived earlier than me and we then went to MBK to have our dinner.
Life goes on in Bangkok despite the coup.
After having our breakfast at BKK Bagel Bakery, our main objective was to visit Bangkok's famous temples. The easiest way to visit the temples is via Chao Phraya river boat. You can purchase a one day pass at THB 150 or per trip is THB 15. Basically if you are planning to only visit a place or two, please DO NOT purchase the 1 day pass. It was such a waste.
Chao Phraya Tourist Boat
Our first stop, or I would say our only stop, was The Grand Palace. The entrance fee is THB 500, together with Wat Phra Kaeo entrance. Wat Phra Kaeo located in the compound of the Grand Palace.
Wat Phra Kaeo
As at every religious site, please dress appropriately.
The Ordination Hall or Ubosot, houses Emerald Buddha.
After the visit, and as Fairuz wasn't feeling well, we decided to go to Siam Paragon to have our lunch & some shopping spree, right after, we headed back to our hostel. Siam Paragon is the best shopping mall in Bangkok. I loved it! I spent most of my $ here.
Anyway, I decided to continue my river cruise tour on my own as I have paid the 1 day pass. It was 2 mins to 6pm when I reach Wat Arun. I feel quite disappointed really, but luckily, we headed back there the day after.
Wat Arun at sunset
As it was almost dark, I decided to go back. But I was slightly lost on my way back via the boat cruise. Luckily the conductor spotted I kept on checking my map and asked me where I'm heading. Well, I'm lucky she show me the right direction. If not, only God knows where the boat will take me. It was a good experience though.
I arrived at the hostel almost 9pm and prior to that Fairuz have informed me upfront about the coup and curfew at 10pm. Due to that, I only have snack as my dinner. Roslin came during the curfew at about 11pm.
On the next day, we started our day having breakfast at MBK's McDonald. We can't find anywhere else that opened earlier. After our breakfast, we decided to visit Wat Arun and Wat Pho. This time around, we only paid THB 15 + THB 6 to & fro Wat Arun and then continue with Wat Pho. My Rayban Aviator sunglass (which is new) was a victim when I accidentally scratched it. Damn it.
Wat Arun stairs
Wat Pho - Reclining Buddha. It's huge!
Army was everywhere. He was nice enough to have us taking pictures of him :)
We went to again to MBK to have our lunch and back to hostel for a little rest before heading to Amphawa Floating Market. We purchased the tour from Groupon at about RM 87. It was a bargain. But the driver was late for 30mins!
Our dinner was grilled prawns & crab. It was soooo yummy! seriously. I even feel like going back to Bangkok just to eat this thing. The drive to Amphawa took us almost an hour. I loves the small kinda artistic shops with lots of cute things. I didn't buy anything though. We then took the river cruise to watch fireflies. Dang. Not really recommended for me. I think the mosquitos were more than fireflies. We headed back to our hostel right after the boat ride ended.
On saturday morning, Roslin & me decided to find somewhere to have our breakfast. We went Chit Lom station and start from there towards Langsuan. I did't know at first that we were at Langsuan. I read about Crepes & Co the night before and it's the "where to" for brekkie in Bangkok. We just strolled along the road when I noticed it was written Langsuan in one of the hotel. The I found it! Crepes & Co. I was solo glad but unfortunately, it open only at 9am. We then took our breakfast somewhere else.
We went to Chatuchak Market after breakfast and was join by Fairuz. Chatuchak is the most famous weekend market in Bangkok. I don't really enjoy it as it was too hot and I was too sweaty. But hey, you can get a pretty good bargain here. We only spent half day here and went to Siam Paragon for lunch and another shopping spree. Roslin & me then headed to a massage centre to have Thai massage. Paid only THB 270. It felt so good!
Chatuchak Weekend Market
On Sunday, we decided to have our breakfast at Crepes & Co. We were told by the waiter that during weekend, if no reservation, we won't get a seat. Thank God for the coup, it was not a full house that day. We managed to secure a table. We then went to Platinum Mall which I'm not a fan off. I have a horrid experience having a manicure here. It was a disaster that I need to redo my manicure when we were back at MBK. After lunch, we went back to Siam Paragom to buy the Ked's shoes that me & Roslin has been eyeing on before she went back to KL.
I continued with my plan to Hard Rock cafe to purchase my so-called hard rock t-shirt collection and then to Tesco to find the coconut oil my colleague was asking me to buy. But I can't find it! It was around 7pm when I was back at the hostel.
On my last day, I decided to have a tour around the hostel area, mainly the art centre and MBK to purchase some souvenirs to bring back home. Went to the airport at around 11am from the hostel. Checked my luggage, had my lunch and around 6pm, arrived in KLIA2.
Lesson learnt from the trip; it's really important whom you travel with.
