Never been to Bangkok before, although Malaysia is a neighbour country of it. Been hearing friends talking about their trip there, how nice it is, how friendly the people, how delicious the TomYam, how cheap the clothes...etc etc...
Finally, me and hubby decided to have a trip there during the Labour day holiday. We spent around 4 days there.
Day 1-1st May 2008
We took 12.30pm flight from Shenzhen International Airport and reached Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport around 2.40pm local time (Bangkok's time is 1 hour later than China). Then, we took the Airport Express bus to the Guest House which we will be staying at the Banglumpoo Area. After a short break in the room, we decided to head to Chinatown for dinner. We took the Express Boat (one of the popular transport in Bangkok) from Phra Arthit Pier to Ratchawongse Pier near Chinatown.
By the time we reached Chinatown, all the shops and stalls had closed or are closing down. Never known that they actually stop business in the evening, we have no choice but the take a taxi and headed to Patpong night market. We had our dinner in a nice restaurant there. After the dinner and some shopping, we went back for an early night and planning for next day's activity.
Finally, me and hubby decided to have a trip there during the Labour day holiday. We spent around 4 days there.
Day 1-1st May 2008
We took 12.30pm flight from Shenzhen International Airport and reached Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport around 2.40pm local time (Bangkok's time is 1 hour later than China). Then, we took the Airport Express bus to the Guest House which we will be staying at the Banglumpoo Area. After a short break in the room, we decided to head to Chinatown for dinner. We took the Express Boat (one of the popular transport in Bangkok) from Phra Arthit Pier to Ratchawongse Pier near Chinatown.
By the time we reached Chinatown, all the shops and stalls had closed or are closing down. Never known that they actually stop business in the evening, we have no choice but the take a taxi and headed to Patpong night market. We had our dinner in a nice restaurant there. After the dinner and some shopping, we went back for an early night and planning for next day's activity.
Day 2-2nd May 2008
Since we are staying at Banglumpoo Area, a lot of tourist attractions are within walking distance. Therefore, we planned to visit those famous "Wat" (temple in Thais) nearby.
After the breakfast, we headed directly to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow, a must see attraction in Bangkok. It was a sunny day and the weather is really hot! Hence, make walking a hardwork, even only a short distance at the time of 9.00am in the morning. By the time we reached, we were all wet.
At the entrance of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow, there are soldiers checking on visitor's appearance. Visitors have to dress formal instead of casual. They are very particular on this. Women have to wear knee-length skirt or pants with shoes. Those who wear sandals have to wear long-skirt or long-pants and men have to wear trousers, short-pants is not allowed. Besides, blouse and shirt cannot be sleeveless. Visitors would not be allowed to go in if they are in the wrong dress code. But, they are nice enough to have a management office at the entrance which will rent out whatever you need with no cost. Deposit will be returned upon returning the cloths after visiting. A really "sweet" service.
The compound of Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow is quite huge and we spent our whole morning inside taking lots of photos. The buildings are very beautiful and unique. Around noon, we found out both our video camera and digital camera is out of battery. Without camera, it would be very prosy and we are unable to capture the places we went. Besides, we are going to have a cruise dinner that night. Therefore, we have no choice but to cancel our plan visiting other nearby "Wats" and go back to the guest house to charge the batteries. A lesson of not charging battery before used!
We spent our afternoon shopping at Khaosan Road nearby while letting the battery to be charged. Khaosan Road is a place crowded with backpackers, all kinds of stalls, shops and restaurants. We can see lots of foreigner spending their day sitting in the restaurant with beers, chit- chatting or doing nothing but merely looking at passerby. Its kind of enjoyment for them.
That evening, we have our dinner on a cruise along Chao Phraya River. It was an interesting experience with beautiful scenery of the river at night and traditonal performance on the cruise. After the dinner, we headed to the SumLum night market, for shopping again. It is a really good place for shopping, you can get anything you want in the market. We bought quite a few T-shirts with cheap price.
Day 3-3rd May 2008
We have went to Ayutthaya, an ancient city which was declared as a "World Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO. It is about 1 hour journey from Bangkok city center. The private car we booked from TAT office came to fetch us at 9.00am in the morning. The driver named "Simon" is quite friendly. He has brought us to quite a few famous "Wat" in Ayutthaya, and also the Royal Summer Palace in Bangpa-In. Inside the palace, there are various type of buildings such as traditional Thai style, Chinese style, European style and etc inside the palace compound. It seems like the Thais King is gathering different styles of building from the world in his palace compound.
Unlike in Bangkok, most of the temples in Ayutthaya has been ruined by Burmese during the war. Since most restoration are done after decades, they already unable to present their original look. However, from those temples we have visited, we can feel that Thailand's government has putting great efforts in maintaining these precious historical scenes. All of them are well taken care, no matter the compound is big or small.
Originally, we planned to spent the whole day at Ayutthaya, we thought visiting those temples will took lots of time and temples there are countless. Until we were there, we found although the compound of each temple is quite huge, but we were unable to spent long time at each place due to the extremely hot sun. Besides, they are more or less the same, not worthy to spend lots of time and ticket at each and every of them. We could just take some pictures outside. Hence, without noticed, we have finished visit 6 most popular temples in that half day. The driver suggested we could ended the trip because remaining places are not worth to visit. Since both of us is exhausted, we agreed to end the trip and go back for rest. Our day trip become a half day tour. Me and hubby actually feel a little regret for hiring the private car because later we found out by joining small group tour, we also get to visit those same places with cheaper price.
That night, again, we went to SumLum night market to continue our shopping because we will be leaving the next day evening.
Day 4-4th May 2008
It was a Sunday, we have planned to visit the famous Chatuchak Weekend market in the morning. Since we are leaving Bangkok in the evening, we have packed our luggage the night before, so that we could be out in the morning and simply check out the room in the afternoon when we back, without rushing.
We found Chatuchak another good place for shopping. Things there are much more cheaper compared to other places. But its quite fuggy since the shops are in long small alleys especially during sunny day. Again, we ended up buying a lot of things.
We back to the guest house on time and check out the room at 12noon. Then, we left our luggages in the guest house and go to Khaosan Road for lunch. Besides, we also have to bought a backpack because we have no enough space to pack the things we bought from Chatuchak.
We left Bangkok with lots of booty. What our friends said is true, its really a nice place to visit where the people are friendly, things and foods are cheap and affordable. Besides, we found out taking taxi is the best and cheap way to go any places you want as long you make sure they are on meter. As for the "tuk tuk", its cute and interesting, but to ride, unless you are good in bargaining with the driver. Else, its only nice for try, once. Me and hubby are hoping to be back again.
Since we are staying at Banglumpoo Area, a lot of tourist attractions are within walking distance. Therefore, we planned to visit those famous "Wat" (temple in Thais) nearby.
After the breakfast, we headed directly to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow, a must see attraction in Bangkok. It was a sunny day and the weather is really hot! Hence, make walking a hardwork, even only a short distance at the time of 9.00am in the morning. By the time we reached, we were all wet.
At the entrance of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow, there are soldiers checking on visitor's appearance. Visitors have to dress formal instead of casual. They are very particular on this. Women have to wear knee-length skirt or pants with shoes. Those who wear sandals have to wear long-skirt or long-pants and men have to wear trousers, short-pants is not allowed. Besides, blouse and shirt cannot be sleeveless. Visitors would not be allowed to go in if they are in the wrong dress code. But, they are nice enough to have a management office at the entrance which will rent out whatever you need with no cost. Deposit will be returned upon returning the cloths after visiting. A really "sweet" service.
The compound of Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow is quite huge and we spent our whole morning inside taking lots of photos. The buildings are very beautiful and unique. Around noon, we found out both our video camera and digital camera is out of battery. Without camera, it would be very prosy and we are unable to capture the places we went. Besides, we are going to have a cruise dinner that night. Therefore, we have no choice but to cancel our plan visiting other nearby "Wats" and go back to the guest house to charge the batteries. A lesson of not charging battery before used!
We spent our afternoon shopping at Khaosan Road nearby while letting the battery to be charged. Khaosan Road is a place crowded with backpackers, all kinds of stalls, shops and restaurants. We can see lots of foreigner spending their day sitting in the restaurant with beers, chit- chatting or doing nothing but merely looking at passerby. Its kind of enjoyment for them.
That evening, we have our dinner on a cruise along Chao Phraya River. It was an interesting experience with beautiful scenery of the river at night and traditonal performance on the cruise. After the dinner, we headed to the SumLum night market, for shopping again. It is a really good place for shopping, you can get anything you want in the market. We bought quite a few T-shirts with cheap price.
Day 3-3rd May 2008
We have went to Ayutthaya, an ancient city which was declared as a "World Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO. It is about 1 hour journey from Bangkok city center. The private car we booked from TAT office came to fetch us at 9.00am in the morning. The driver named "Simon" is quite friendly. He has brought us to quite a few famous "Wat" in Ayutthaya, and also the Royal Summer Palace in Bangpa-In. Inside the palace, there are various type of buildings such as traditional Thai style, Chinese style, European style and etc inside the palace compound. It seems like the Thais King is gathering different styles of building from the world in his palace compound.
Unlike in Bangkok, most of the temples in Ayutthaya has been ruined by Burmese during the war. Since most restoration are done after decades, they already unable to present their original look. However, from those temples we have visited, we can feel that Thailand's government has putting great efforts in maintaining these precious historical scenes. All of them are well taken care, no matter the compound is big or small.
Originally, we planned to spent the whole day at Ayutthaya, we thought visiting those temples will took lots of time and temples there are countless. Until we were there, we found although the compound of each temple is quite huge, but we were unable to spent long time at each place due to the extremely hot sun. Besides, they are more or less the same, not worthy to spend lots of time and ticket at each and every of them. We could just take some pictures outside. Hence, without noticed, we have finished visit 6 most popular temples in that half day. The driver suggested we could ended the trip because remaining places are not worth to visit. Since both of us is exhausted, we agreed to end the trip and go back for rest. Our day trip become a half day tour. Me and hubby actually feel a little regret for hiring the private car because later we found out by joining small group tour, we also get to visit those same places with cheaper price.
That night, again, we went to SumLum night market to continue our shopping because we will be leaving the next day evening.
Day 4-4th May 2008
It was a Sunday, we have planned to visit the famous Chatuchak Weekend market in the morning. Since we are leaving Bangkok in the evening, we have packed our luggage the night before, so that we could be out in the morning and simply check out the room in the afternoon when we back, without rushing.
We found Chatuchak another good place for shopping. Things there are much more cheaper compared to other places. But its quite fuggy since the shops are in long small alleys especially during sunny day. Again, we ended up buying a lot of things.
We back to the guest house on time and check out the room at 12noon. Then, we left our luggages in the guest house and go to Khaosan Road for lunch. Besides, we also have to bought a backpack because we have no enough space to pack the things we bought from Chatuchak.
We left Bangkok with lots of booty. What our friends said is true, its really a nice place to visit where the people are friendly, things and foods are cheap and affordable. Besides, we found out taking taxi is the best and cheap way to go any places you want as long you make sure they are on meter. As for the "tuk tuk", its cute and interesting, but to ride, unless you are good in bargaining with the driver. Else, its only nice for try, once. Me and hubby are hoping to be back again.
3 comments:
dear dear ah...so hv u started planning for our bangkok trip? ^^
no need to plan...but my "boss" have to agree that i can go...u know,he is my 'bank' mar...hehehhe...
still hv to fix a date ma...hv you sent your request to your "boss" for approval?...let me know the approval status soonest possible k...hehe=P
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