I write random musings to keep me sane and my intelligence intact: bangkok

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This is another entry of my Thailand Trip. Click HERE for the other one - which was all about our trip to Pattaya.

Last month (September 2014), me, my boyfriend Mark, and a bunch of our friends went to Thailand. We were able to visit two cities namely Bangkok and Pattaya. So I'm done writing all about Pattaya. This entry is all about our stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. As far as I could remember, I have always wanted to visit Bangkok because it is a known source of Women's clothing that is being vastly sold on the internet. As a confessed shopaholic and clothes addict, to visit this place is definitely on top of my MUST DO LIST. You will not believe how excited I was when I was able to book a ticket a year earlier. I didn't mind the long wait. It was all WORTH IT!

Anyway, as I mentioned in my previous post, Mark and I arrived a day late. Our friends were already able to tour a bit of Bangkok before we arrived. We landed in Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airport is a bit far from the city proper. If I could remember correctly, it was around an hour's drive from the Airport down to Sukhumvit area, where our apartment, Tonson Residences, was located.

Me and my fascination for Walkalators. Haha!


Hello Suvarnabhumi (SU-WA-NA-PUM) International Airport

Mark and I were able to shoot a quick VLOG upon touchdown...

Before leaving the airport, Mark and I looked for DTAC at the Arrival Area to buy Thailand's tourist Sim Card. We chose the one that costs 299 Baht. Inclusions are 1.5 GB of Internet Data (which was primarily the reason why we wanted to buy a sim card) and Unlimited Local Calls just to name a few. It was only good for 7 days since it is, after all, a sim that caters tourists. The sim card was very useful because we were able to get in touch with family back home (via Viber) and I was also able to call my friend who works in Bangkok.

Photo not mine. But this was like the sim that we bought. This is what it looked like.

So after purchasing a sim card, we went down to grab a taxi to head down to Sukhumvit. Mark and I didn't have Baht in small notes. So we decided to buy water first at the mini food court down the taxi waiting area. I bought two bottles of water for 10 Baht each. So I was able to have my One Thousand Baht changed into small bills. Yeay!

Mark and I arrived in Bangkok a few minutes before midnight. So the taxi was our only option to get to the city proper of Bangkok. If we arrived earlier, we could have taken the City Link Train to the city (would have only cost us below 100 Baht each). But that was not the case since we booked a later flight from Manila. Anyway, getting a taxi at the basement area of the airport is highly recommended. The taxis are monitored by airport personnel. We went to the booth and told them exactly where we wanted to go. They gave us a slip and it indicated a 50 Baht surcharge that will be paid together with the total fare plus toll fees.

We were lucky coz the driver that was assigned to us was able to converse in English. During the trip to the city from the airport, we passed by two tolls. The driver paid 25 Baht and 75 Baht on the tolls. This was added to the total fare that we paid when we got to Tonson Residences. (I remember paying 400 Baht in total, which also included a fair tip for the driver). I read in forums on the internet that it is a common practice in Thailand to give tips to the drivers, considering that they work so hard and earn only little.

When we got to Tonson Residences (which was a bit hard to locate, by the way. Good thing the neighbors were kind enough to point us in the right direction. Plus, google map was a big help), Mark and I spared no time and slept immediately after freshening up. We had a very long day since we traveled all the way from Davao City to Manila and Manila to Bangkok. Poof!

I loved Tonson Residences. The apartment we stayed was a three-bedroom apartment and it was clean and tidy. Rooms were fairly big and the living room was spacious. It also had a kitchen and had a kettle, plates, spoons and forks for the tenants to use. Bathrooms had clean towels and also provided soap and shampoo. It was a nice serviced apartment. Too bad Mark and I were only able to enjoy it for a couple of hours since we had to leave early the next day to go to Pattaya.

Here's a quick preview of Tonson Residences.

After our Pattaya Trip, we returned to Bangkok around 6 in the evening the following day. Highlight of my Bangkok trip was SHOPPING. Click HERE for my blog entry solely dedicated to my shopping haul in Bangkok.

Checked on Bucket List: RIDE A TUKTUK IN THAILAND

It quite similar to the Tricycles we have in the Philippines but the passengers stay at the back of the driver. Mark and I were able to shoot a quick VLOG during the tuktuk trip from Pratunam to Sukhumvit area

The name of the ride was derived from the sound that the vehicle makes "tuk tuk tuk tuktuktuktuk....". We hailed a Tuktuk outside the hotel and we told the driver that we wanted to go to Benjakiti Park located in Sukhumvit area. The driver quoted 100 Baht. It was a bit high for me so I just said No. Then the driver said "Okay, 50 Baht. But I take you to one shop". Now I read somewhere online that Tuktuk drivers have a knack for taking tourists to jewelry shops in exchange for some money or gas coupons and what not. That's why the driver quoted a much cheaper price if we agreed to go to the shop because although we were going to pay less, he was still going to get something out of it from the shop owners. I declined and just agreed with 100 Baht. I was paying for the experience anyway.

That ride was something! We told the driver to take us to Benjakiti park, right? Well, he took us to Benjasiri Park instead because he was not familiar with Benjakiti Park. Even after telling him all the landmarks near Benjakiti park, he still did not get it. Well, Benjasiri Park was okay. Though we really wanted to go to Benjakiti Park. We'll just save that for our next trip to Bangkok. Another reason to return to Bangkok. Haha!

Me and the Pigeons at Benjasiri Park.

Bangkok traffic tends to get very heavy. Mark and I decided to take the train from the city to the Airport. And it was cheap! It only cost us 45 Baht each from Ratchaparop Station to the Airport. The ride took us around 30 to 40 minutes since it made several stops along the way to other stations to pick up other passengers. It wasn't the fastest option to get to the airport but we weren't in a hurry anyway. The ride was comfortable too and there was no hassle on our part.

Although Mark and I weren't able to do a lot of touristy stuff compared to our friends who arrived a day earlier, we still had fun. Definitely going back soon. And I promise to do more touristy stuff aside from Shopping. I know Bangkok has more to offer than just shopping.

Some tips that I would like to share with you...

It's better to take the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) or MRT of Bangkok to get to places rather than taking the Tuktuk. It's okay to try it once in a while but if you're in a hurry and you wanna beat the Bangkok traffic, BTS or MRT is the way to go. And it is much cheaper too. Sometimes, taking the taxi is cheaper than riding a tuktuk. You just have to weigh your options.

This is where you purchase the ticket for the BTS. It helps if you have coins on hand.

A guide for the different stations where the BTS stops to unload/get passengers.

Going to and from the airport, it is economical if you take the train rather than taking the taxi. This is if you are travelling solo. But if you are not the only one (like if there are 2 to 4 of you), taking the taxi is a better option. Though some taxis charge extra for big luggages. It is good if you pack light. If you are in a group of five or more (most taxis can only accommodate 4 people), then renting a van to pick you up from the airport is a good option. Depending on the location, some vans that can accommodate at most 10 people, can charge from 700 Baht to 1500 Baht, one way. This is also advisable for those who arrive at almost or later than midnight. It would be nice to have somebody hold a small illustration board with your name on it at the Arrival area after a long flight. The one Mark and I took from Pratunam to Airport only cost us 45 Baht each. Great deal, eh?

Food in the Suvarnabhumi Airport before the departure area is quite expensive. If I remember correctly, they have Burger King (where we ate) and Dairy Queen. They also have this pizza and pasta place (I forgot the name though). If you are really hungry and still have time to spare before your flight back home, try going down to the basement slash taxi area. The food and drinks they sell are way cheaper. Though you have to buy coupons in order to purchase at the stalls there and the unused coupons can be reimbursed - full amount. You can also buy something to take away there and to bring with you to the departure area.

Always bring smaller denominations of Baht. This is not only applicable when traveling to Thailand but when you travel anywhere. But specifically in Thailand, some vendors don't have enough change especially when you pay in bigger notes. Tendency is that you just give them more than what you need to pay for by them giving less change. Big no no! Have your money changed somewhere or buy something at 7-Eleven or any establishment.

Pack light! Since Bangkok is known to be a shopping destination (since clothing is really cheap), some pack only a few pieces of clothing and shop there for the rest of the clothes to wear. Well, I guess this is okay if you don't mind wearing not so clean clothes. There's no guarantee that these clothes were washed after it was sourced out from factories. If this is your option, I suggest bringing two or three sachets of detergent and wash your newly bought clothes and hang them somewhere in your hotel (some hotels provide an area to hang laundry for no extra charge). Do this early in the morning. And the clothes will be dry when you get back in the late afternoon or evening. You'll have new clothes to wear the next day.

Shopping tip. If you plan on shopping a lot, especially in Pratunam, you can bring a stroller rather than a tote that can get heavy as you put more and more items along the way and can make the shoulders sore. I have seen women doing this while I was shopping there. Just be careful while dragging your trolley since Pratunam tends to be a bit crowded, especially during weekends.

XOXO,

AVI

... and I am back!

Finally had time to sit down and write after a while. I have been so busy for the past couple of weeks. Especially after our recent trip to THAILAND. You won't believe the amount of work that was waiting for me on my desk. Hahahaha... *laughs*

Anyway, last month, me, Mark (my boyfriend) and a couple of our friends went to Thailand. For the five days that we were there, our itinerary included two cities - Bangkok (the capital) and Pattaya. This entry will be all about Pattaya. Since that was basically the first city we explored when we first arrived in Thailand (though we entered thru Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport).

We arrived in Bangkok minutes before Midnight (Thai Time) so we spent one night in Tonson Residences (great place by the way) where some of our friends also spent the night (Mark and I arrived a day later than our friends). We rented this one big three-bedroom apartment. It was kind of sad since we only spent a few hours in that place. But we had to leave early the next day to go to Pattaya.

We rented a van that could accommodate 10 people. Since there were 12 of us, we rented two vans. And might I add that we had the best driver ever and his name is BOBBY. More about him later.

This is Bobby's van. How cute is it! It even says I'm BOBBY at the front. So we never had trouble finding the van. Haha!


You know you're in Thailand when you see Ronald Mcdonald doing the famous Thai pose.

The travel time from Pattaya to Bangkok took less than one and a half hours. I read on some forums on the internet that when public transportation is used to go to Pattaya, it usually takes around 2 to 3 hours - depending on the traffic condition. Renting a van, especially if in a group, would be the best option in going to places outside of Bangkok. And we were lucky because traffic wasn't that bad at all during our road trip.

THE SANCTUARY OF TRUTH

We had plenty of time to spare before checking in at our hotel in Pattaya. So we decided to visit the Sanctuary of Truth first. Entrance to this beautiful place costs 500 Baht per person. But since there were plenty of us (a total of 12), our Driver, Bobby, managed to get a group discount and got the tickets for 400 Baht each instead. Yeay!

To know more about The Sanctuary of Truth, you can check out the link above. But here's a short background about the attraction - it is a temple built by wood and until now, construction is not yet finished. While we were there, we had to wear hard hats since construction was still ongoing. Nevertheless, it was a marvelous structure - something Pattaya is definitely proud of.

Check out our Malongs (long cloths) - since the girls and I were wearing shorts, we had to RENT these malongs to show lesser skin. We rented them for 250 baht each and they gave the whole amount back upon return of the malong.

Outside the Temple - all boys represent!

Ann and I posing with this wooden statue outside the temple.

Hard hats please! Don't want those wooden debris to possibly knock us down.

Hello Mr. Photobomber sir!

Inside the temple.

Aside from the pictures, Mark and I made a VLOG about our visit in the Sanctuary of Truth. Check this out

ROYAL CLIFF HOTEL

After visiting the Sanctuary of Truth, it was already past 2 in the afternoon so it meant that we could check in at our hotel already. We stayed at the Royal Cliff Hotel Pattaya. Bobby, our driver, said that it was the number one hotel in Pattaya. It is a 5-star hotel located on the upper area of the city overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Rooms were neat and clean. There was a welcome fruit basket waiting for us at the mini living room. Too bad I did not take a picture of our room. But I was able to take these.

Welcome drinks at the hotel - Pomelo juice. YumYum!

Late lunch at the restaurant. Now for the 5-star hotel, the food served at their restaurant is not that expensive. I ordered this Chicken with fried rice meal for only 180 Baht. (around 252 Pesos). Oh and it's delicious too. They do, however, have an additional service charge but it's not that big so it's okay.

place to chill by the poolside

After eating our late lunch, Mark and I decided to check out the Pattaya Beach and shop for some souvenirs to bring back home. We also paid a visit to the world-known Walking Street in Pattaya.

Excuse the face.

Okay, to be honest, I did not find the beach in Pattaya that attractive. I still prefer the beach in Boracay in the Philippines. However, we were able to shop for some souvenirs that was located opposite the beach side. T-shirt for 250 Baht, 10 Keychains for 100 Baht, two mini notebooks for 50 Baht and a little wooden Elephant for 50 Baht. No pics. Boo.

Walking Street, Pattaya. Has Burger King, BonChon and Mcdonalds just to name a few. At night time, this area transforms into a place where people drink and party the night away.

Now back to the hotel...

So I was able to take this one photo of our room - Banban putting on some make-up on Ann and getting ready for their night out in the town.

Outside the hotel. They have these big sofas with mini tables ideal for lovers on dates.

We just had to have this picture right at the entrance of the hotel.

And a tip: Before around 9 in the evening, the mini bakeshop at the hotel sells all their desserts at 50 percent off! I got all four mini donuts for only 35 Baht instead of 70 Baht. I also remember buying a Plain Croissant for 10 Baht instead of 20 Baht. Not bad for a 5-star hotel.

Oh, and Pattaya was memorable for all of us because one of our friends, Glenn, finally proposed to his long time girlfriend Banban that same night. And we were all there to witness it. =)

Grabbed from Banban's FB account. Congratulations Guys =D (Photo by Kenneth)

Breakfast at the Royal Cliff was enjoyable. There were a lot of choices. From various pastries to delicious exotic viands and fruit juices. Mark and I were the early birds. The restaurant opens at 6:30 in the morning for their breakfast but we were allowed to eat around 6:15. Our key cards were checked before entering the restaurant to make sure that we were really guests of the hotel. For non-guests, the breakfast costs around 700 plus Baht per person.

mmmmmmm... BACON

Props only. I'm allergic to eggs, by the way. This is Mark's plate. haha


Perfect breakfast view as well with the perfect companion <3

After breakfast, we went back to the room. Ann and Banban were still sleeping since they came back late from their night out. So I had to be extra careful not to wake them up. I changed into a swimming ensemble and Mark and I headed down to the poolside.

Lovin' the view at the infinity poolside

It was a beautiful day to just dip and relax. Weather was just close to perfection.

I honestly don't know what these circles are for. But I think they are for Jacuzzis. Hahahaha.

After dipping in the pool, we checked out the private beach of the hotel. It was located at the back of the hotel and we had to take an elevator down just to go there.

My futile attempt to do a yoga pose.

Check out was at 12 noon. Before leaving, I just had to take a picture of the view outside our room.

Bye Royal Cliff, until next time =)

Group Shot. Complete =)

NONG NOOCH TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

Before heading back to Bangkok, we went to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden which was located around 30 minutes from the hotel.

When we entered the place, we saw plants shaped into different animals. Sadly, wasn't able to take pics of the plants since I was inside the van.

Close encounter with the sleeping tiger. Nice kitty =D

Mouth watering mixed fresh fruit

Panorama View of the Garden

spot me and Mark.

Aside from the Garden, Nong Nooch also has a Cultural and an Elephant Show. We had fun watching both shows.

Entrance to the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden was normally for 500 Baht. But Bobby was able to get it for 400 each for us. Great deal! We went back to Bangkok after enjoying a few hours at the Tropical Garden.

To sum up this post, I would just like to compliment our Driver, BOBBY. We wouldn't have fully enjoyed our Pattaya trip if it weren't for him. He was a tourist guide and driver in one! And he spoke excellent English too. So there was no language barrier. I'll definitely contact him when we go back to Thailand.

Thanks Bobby =D

We definitely had a blast in Pattaya. I'll definitely go back there soon. Kapunka, Pattaya =D

xoxo,

AVI

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TRAVEL VLOG: THAILAND 2014 - PATTAYA AND BANGKOK

OOTD: Harem Pants Back2Back

OOTD: Black and White and Red Combination

Our trip to Bangkok, Thailand (2014)

Shopping Haul from Pratunam, Bangkok

Pattaya, Thailand 2014

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This has got to be one of the coolest malls I have ever been to. Each floor has a themed city like San Francisco, London and others.