I Blog My Travel: July 2014

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. It has always been called 'The Land of smile' for people always smiles and their happy-go-lucky personality. It is 883.93 miles away from Singapore and it takes 2 hr 16 mins flight between Singapore and Bangkok. Thailand is 1hr behind Singapore.

Soon after we booked our flights and hotel in May, military coup took over Thailand and curfews were set. My family members started panicking and started to pay attention about Thailand's affair.
I was worried that I couldn't even able to step into Bangkok on my first attempt.
Luckily, as months passed by, the curfews have lifted. We are on our holiday as scheduled!

DAY 1: Sawadeekap Bangkok!

Our flight was 8.25am. We met at Singapore Changi Airport T2 at 7.00am to check in.
Before boarding, we took a selfie group photo!

Will I fall in love with Bangkok after this trip?

Landing safely on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Taking a few shots in the airport

After clearing immigration, we headed out to buy our SIM card in the airport, so that we can communicate and get connected in Bangkok. The telcom counters were full with tourists queuing to buy the SIM card. I bought Happy prepaid SIM card at 299 Bht by dtac. After all of us bought our SIM card and happily, we proceeded to take taxi to our hotel.

We have to go down by the escalator to leve 1 and look for this taxi counter to get our taxi. We just have to queue at the counter and tell the staff your destination, they will write an invoice with the price and the address in Thai for the cabbie. There wasn't much people queuing actually cos there were a lot of taxis around waiting.
We took a large cab for 750 Baht and a small cab for 450 Baht to GLOW Pratunam Hotel.

It took us about 20 mins to reach our hotel and traffic jams along the way, I was exhausted as I did not have enough sleep due to early flight. My head was splitting. I just hope it will get better.
GLOW Pratunam by Zinc is located above Shibuya 19 shopping mall. The hotel lobby is at Level 7. Thus, we need to take two elevators to access to our room.

I chose this hotel because my parents and sister stayed in this hotel for their last year BKK trip. This is a new hotel located in Pratunam and their flooring is not carpet, so it's pretty clean to walk in the room barefooted. The best of all, the hotel rate of GLOW hotel is not high. Only S$107/room/night including daily breakfast. We booked the hotel through Agoda. agoda.com

The hotel staff will be stationed at level 1 lift lobby to assist their guests with their luggage.

919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai Rajdhevi, Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand 10400

We were given welcome drinks upon checked in. Our hotel rooms were not ready yet, the friendly staff suggested us to have our lunch and shop around while they unload our luggage once our rooms are ready.

Welcome drinks were given upon checked in

The hotel reception

Hotel swimming pool

The hotel lobby lounge

We moved out from hotel after all members have gathered. We started exploring the hotel surroundings and proceed to have our lunch.

Where to have lunch? Of course it's gotta be SaebX2 Wanton Mee! How can we missed SaebX2 where it is just next to GLOW hotel! As it was our first visit for most of us, we were very excited to try this most recommended by bloggers' wanton mee. Most of the patrons are Singaporean/Malaysians. I wonder how and when this Wanton noodle craze started.

Queuing for the famous wanton mee

The cool chef with shades

The soup wanton mee

The dry wanton mee

The braised chicken is also a must try!

A bowl of noodle costs about S$2. The portion is also $2. Lol! We ordered a bowl of dry noodle each, a bowl of soup noodle to try and 2 plates of braised chicken to share. As we were all hungry after the journey, we clean up all our bowls in minutes. The noodles has strong deep fried pork lard fragrance. The soup noodle is a bit blend, chilli has to be added to increase the taste. The braised chicken meat were tender. I highly recommended this dish.

After lunch, we went shopping around Baiyoke Gallery. It is like Bugis street and I can say that there's nothing interesting to shop for me. Thai fashion are too pastel and their tops are short. Morever, the sizes of their apparels are so tiny. I can't fit in any of them, I just walked aimlessly in the street. It was very crowded with the locals and tourists. Almost all the shops are selling at wholesale price only if you buy at least three pieces, and some sellers refuses reduce their prices. However, some sales items price can be as low as 100 Bht. So, my suggestion is, just walk and look around will do, unless you really love that item very much.

The clothes in BKK are too small for me to fit in. I was very happy when I found a pair of shorts that fits me in City Complex Pratunam. This complex looks aged and there are many shops in the complex selling clothes of all ages.

City Complex Pratunam

Unexpectedly, found a shop selling larger sized pants. The shop is run by a Chinese family, good for us to communicate in mandarin. However the owner refused to reduce the price even if we buy more pairs. The owner explained that in BKK, larger size clothes are usually more expensive. I bought a pair of shorts for 250Bht (S$10)

How could I missed to take photo with Mr Ronald McDonald's Bangkok?

After a round of shopping, and our rooms were ready, we decided to head back to have a massage at Relax Massage & Spa in our hotel, since we still have time before we set out to Asiatique.

My aunt and me took foot + head, neck & shoulder massage for 400 Bht each, while my two unlces took aromatherapy oil massage for 1,400 Bht.

Well, my Uncles claimed that the massage wasn't that great. To me, it's better to take Thai massage instead of oil massage. Come on, it's Thailand! You should try Thai massage rite? If you want oil or aromatherapy, Indonesia is the best! True enough, they tried Thai massage on their last day and they are happy with it. See!

After a great massage, we went back to our hotel room to unpack our luggage and get ready our stuff to set off to Asiatique.

A quick photo shots of the hotel room. Nice & clean

Double bed room has a bigger space with a couch. You can sit on the floor and pack your luggage.

Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique was originally a pier where a lot of the teak wood trade took place. It was later revamped and opened in May 2012, Inviting not only tourists but also the Thais. Asiatique the Riverfront is the most high-class night market, which has shopping, dining and entertainment. It opens 5pm to midnight everyday.

To get to Asiatique, we took the BTS to Sephan Taksin station and walk to the ferry terminal to get a free ferry with 15 mins interval, starting from 4.30pm and the last ferry leaves Asiatique prier is 11.30pm.

Say Cheeese! We are in the ferry taxi to Asiatique!

Our Ferry reached Asiatique pier

As soon as we reached Asiatique, we walked around to search for dinner place to avoid dinner crowd later. We chose a tze char stall in the food centre.

Thai Sprite

Stir fried Kailan

Roast pork

Thai Green Curry

Fried Oyster

Sweet & Sour spring roll

Thai fried rice

Fried Pat Thai

Grilled Squid

Thung Hoon Salad

The food were nice but they were all way too salty! We learnt to request for less salty when we place the order.
The sky turned dark after our dinner. We walked around taking pictures. As this was my first visit, I was very excited to see around and snap a lot of photos.

Cabdid shot with the statue

Iconic Ferris wheel

Shops in Asiatiue

Tarco wrap

Selfie before Calypso Show

We roamed around Aisatique while the rest go for the Calypso show. As usual, I'll snap photos whenever I saw unique things.

While we were walking around, we saw Naraya. I went to search for the bags my freinds requested. We were lucky because Naraya was having Sale from Jun-Aug 2014. 15% off all items.

As we walked out from Naraya, we spotted Mango Tango next to it. I only know there is one outlet in Siam Square Soi 5 with long queue and didn't know that there is an outket here. Since we are fated to spot the outlet, we must go in and have a try!

Mango Tango Asiatique, Warehouse 1

Night view of Asiatique

We left Asiatique after our dessert, leaving the four still watching Calypso show as we were too tired. We wanted to try taking Tuk Tuk back as most of us haven't try before. We bargained the price with the Tuk Tuk driver from 300Bht to 250Bht, it's actually still expensive, but we were too tired to bargain anymore and it was still within our budget, so four of us hopped on to Tuk Tuk. It was really thrilling experience taking Tuk Tuk. Lucky it was night time and not so hot, if not we will be 'chao tar' in the car!

My thought: Asiatique is a worth of visit, taking pictures for first timer like me. As you rarely have such a place in Singapore. But, not for shoppers who expect great bargains. They are selling unique and handicraft stuff that you know that it's not gonna be cheap.

DAY 2: Chatuchak Chiong Ahhhhh!

Rise and Shine, we woke up in the morning, washed up and had our breakfast in hotel. The hotel breakfast is simple American breakfast in buffet style. Some of the dishes are tastey and made me go for second round. But, my daily energy boost is still my All Time Favourite Salad! Although the salad bar is very small and less variety, I still feel happy to have a bowl of salad every morning!

The fish porridge is nice

After breakfast, we went back to our room to get ready by wearing sun screen, cap and light to 'Chiong' Chatuchak. But, looking out of the window, the sky was a bit dark. We hope that it will not rain in Chatuchak...

All ready to 'Chiong' Chatuchak!

Dark Sky....

Good Morning, Mr Ronald McDonald's

Po Bee.. Po Bee... Don't Rain

We took two cabs to Chatuchak, because the BTS station is too far from our hotel and we wanted to save our walkings at Chatuchak. There are stalls setting up outside Chartuchak.

Hand drawn T-Shirts.

Bag Section

Mexican Food Bistro

Unfortunately, it started to drizzle on and off. We have to walk under the seltered section, and walk out when the rain stopped.

We stopped by randomly to buy drinks and kebabs continue shopping while eating. Mum bought roast pork from one of the stall. I wanted to buy some food when we passed by the food section, but it was raining and I did not want my food to be drenched... So, I missed it. Next time I will sure go to the food section buy the food there.

Have a drink for reboost

What a wet day at Chatuchak

Roast Pork

We split by two teams to shop Chatuchak, and our meeting point is the clock tower, because Chatuchak is too big. We almost couldn't find the clock tower when it's time to meet.
My mum's team left to next location first as they were already tired to walk anymore.
Luckily everyone bought a SIM card, communications make more easy.

Chatuchak Clock Tower

When we reached the clock tower, we realised that this is also everyone's meeting point.

Union Mall

We changed our itinerary last minute. Our initial plan was to take BTS to Victory Monument for shopping, movie, massage and Pla Thong Mookata. But, after my sister who went to Pla Thong Mookata a week ago, feedback to us that the hygiene condition is quite bad. Considering most of our members are folks, whoes stomach might not be able to make it, we changed to Union Mall.
We took a cab to Union Mall from Chatuchak and rain started to fall. When we reached Union Mall, my parents and uncles were already seated at UCC Coffee Shop and ordered their food.
We settled down and ordered our food too.

While we were half way through our meal, it was raining cats and dogs outside. Luckily we left have Chatuchak, if not we will be caught in the rain!

After our lunch, we continued shopping at Union Mall.

I bought a top and a pair of shorts.

Yippie! These were the stuff I bought for today!

Dinner at Siam Seafood Restaurant

We saw the temporary tze char stall below our hotel on our first night. We decided to try it tonight. After our last dining experience, we requested the food to be cooked less salty. The boss of this stall is really good at selling, recommending us all sorts of seafood. He said that the cockles were very fresh. He specially picked every morning. The fish is very tastey, coconut drink is very nice. Okay, In the end, we really ordered all the dishes he recommended. We really live like a king there.. lol!

Coconut drink

Lala

Cockles

Sambal Kangkong

Morning Glory

Tom Yum Soup

Fried Fish

Pineapple rice

The boss and my aunt

At the end of our meal, he even recommended mango sticky rice as dessert. We were too full, so we ordered a plate to share. The mango was sweet and the sticky rice was nice.

Mango Sticky rice

A Night At Siam

After dinner, we decided to take a walk at Siam. We walked to Ratchathewi BTS station and take BTS to Siam Station.

Siam Paragon

Siam Center

My mum and aunt went to supermarket at Siam Paragon to shop until the mall closed. So, we shopped at the night market outside Siam. The night market wasn't big, it's on a stretch of street. We returned to hotel after we finished shopping.

Day 3: CENTRAL WORLD, SIAM PARAGON, MBK

Good Morning! There's steam corn in the breakfast menu. I took two pieces! As usual, I will eat my favourite salad first.

After energised breakfast, we started to move out to our shopping itinerary.

I was wearing the pair of shorts bought from Union Mall Yesterday

We walked to Central World. We have to pass by this huge bridge with large canal below beside Platinum Mall. Big C Supermarket is just opposite Central World.

Wow! The bus is super old

Big C Supermarket

CENTRAL WORLD SHOPPING MALL

Central World is walking distance from GLOW hotel, we usually walk to Central World.
We walked from GLOW => Central World => Siam Paragon => MBK.

Four Faces Buddha in front of Central World

Ice skating Rink in Central World Shopping Mall

Cinema

We stopped by and have dessert at 'After You' cafe at level 7 after we shopped with our mums at Supermarket while the guys when praying at Four Faced Buddha.
We ordered their signature Shibuya ice cream toast and Ferrero ice cream toast.

Central World Shopping Mall, Level 7

After You Menu

The cakes looks delicious!

Shibuya ice cream toast

Ferrero ice cream toast

Cappuccino

We continued shopping around after desserts.

Secret Garden cafe is also one of the popular cafe among the travel bloggers.

Secret Garden Cafe

MK GOLD RESTAURANT AT SIAM PARAGON

We walked from Central World to Siam Paragon. Siam Paragon was more crowded than Central World. It is like Orchard Road in Singapore.
For lunch, we ate in MK Gold, the must try restaurant in BKK. MK is a steamboat restaurant, Singapore has an outlet at 313 Somerset basement, but it's cheaper to eat at BKK, you can find MK at almost every mall.

MK Gold at Siam Paragon, Level G

Must try Roast Duck

The famous roast duck

We were super full after our steamboat meal, we hardly can walk after that. We are leaving Siam Paragon to MBK. We must buy Krispy Kreme back to eat! The price is 1/2 of in Singapore, so this is a Must Buy!

MBK SHOPPING MALL

At this time, it was raining outside, we have to walk to MBK through Siam Square. Siam Square is a small alley with shops lined up at both sides. It looks like Ximenting in Taiwan.

After long walking, we finally reached MBK. We must take photos of MBK Mall building before we went in.

To my disappointment, the interior is aged and looks like BB Mall in KL. A lot of shops selling souvenirs are so quiet and it is not easy to bargain here. Mum comes here only for the tidbits.

See what tidbits I saw in here!!!

Fried Maggots!!!

NIGHT MARKETS

After we left MBK back to our hotel to wash up and took a rest, we headed out to shop at nearby night market. We passed by a stall selling 'Bak Gua', we stood there discussing whether can we bring the 'Bak Gua' back. In the end, Aunt bought packet 'Bak Gua' back.

As we walked along Arnoma hotel near the end of the street, we saw this little stall selling cute pouches. The owner of the stall is a young lady, she offered hand sewed name on the bags for 250 Bht each. I chose 2 bags for Sheryl & Ivy's daughter. But, we have to wait for 20 minutes to collect our bags. So, we crossed over to the street in front of Central World to shop.

The two uncles were tired already, they requested to take a rest. We sat at one of the stall and have a drink. Aunt saw a mobile Roti Prata selling nearby, she went to buy one egg prata and a banana prata.

Thai roti prata looks really different from Singapore roti prata. It was cut by pieces and condensed milk is added to the roti prata.

After the supper, we walked back to our hotel, but we saw night market opposite street at Palladium World Shopping Mall atrium. We climbed the overhead bridge and take a look.

We saw a stall selling leather unique pouches in different sizes and patterns. They also provide customised name taggings.

I bought some key holders. I have been looking for these all these days, I finally found it here. But it's not cheap 10 for 480 Bht. Later I found out that Chatuchak selling 10 for 300 bht, near Mo Chit BTS. It's just that we took cab and alighted in front of the entrance of Chatuchak, that's why I missed it.

DAY 4: LAST DAY IN BKK

Good Morning! Today will be our last day in BKK, our flight was 8.05pm, leaving for airport from hotel at 5pm. So, we have a whole afternoon to have our last minute shopping.

We went back to pack our luggage and check out our hotel after breakfast. The hotel will help us to keep our luggage before we leave for airport.

I have been seeing people buying this wrap at the road side stall, I wonder what is it and I got a chance to snap a picture of the stall while aunt was shopping at nearby stall.

We shopped back in City Complex to help my sister to buy another pair of shorts that I bought on the first day.

I bought another two pairs of jeans shorts here. My aunt bought a pairs too, we managed to bargained the price from 250 Bht to 200 Bht each.

I bought another three pants at this shop.

Next, we headed opposite to Platinum Mall. There are many many shops in Platinum mall. There were many people as well. The price of the stuff were not cheap as well. We only managed to shoped two level, before we met up and go for lunch.

YAYORI JAPANESE RESTAURANT @ CENTRAL WORLD

I have to buy another Naraya bag requested by my friend, so we have to walk to Central World and take lunch there. We wanted to eat at CoCo Ichibanya curry rice, but aunt saw this Japanese restaurant selling most of their set meals at below 200 Bht. We had spent all our money and has not much left now, we decided to give it a try.

This restaurant is also recommended by my sister who is working in BKK.