Suddenly as if waking up from a long daydream, I've realized we were then riding a cab en route a city that was foreign to us-the city of
Bangkok.
After a month of preparation, 30 minutes of being held at PH immigration (minors traveling without adult companion) 3.5hrs of being airborne and an hour of being billeted at Suvarnabhumi
(pronounced [sùwannápʰūːm]) airport, Low and Behold! My friends and I were abruptly nearing the destination. It was all clear skies, long long and wide road, and the three brave teens (that's us) were too half awake to be excited, 20 minutes after...we're lost in Khao San in search for
Greenhouse Hotel. When we've finally found the said hotel, right exactly after alighting off the taxi, we were stunted in awe for everybody seemed to be half way round the world gathered in
Khao San Road. Most were Westerners, and we looked like dwarves lost in the middle of nowhere where everybody carries a humungous backpack, while we were sporting suitcases in wheels.
My thesis professor advised us to bring a lot of one dollar bills since we would need that a lot for tipping, which we didn't need at all so I just had my loose dollars exchanged to TBT.
Each of us brought 250 USD for cash, we were so naive we've calculated the amount would suffice our six days stay in Bangkok.
Day 1 to Remember @ Green House BKK
THE STAIRS WERE STIFF, ME AND MY FRIENDS WERE ALL IN SWEAT AFTER CLIMBING. FIRST ATTEMPT TO OPEN OUR HOTEL ROOM DOOR WITH THE KEY,...THE KEY BROKE IN TWO PIECES. WE ASKED FOR ANOTHER KEY AND IT BROKE AGAIN. IT WAS SUCH A FUNNY MOMENT, WE'RE ALL SO TIRED ALL WE WANTED WAS TO REST BUT WE CANNOT GET INSIDE THE ROOM, ON OUR THIRD ATTEMPT WE'VE FINALLY OPENED THE DOOR WITHOUT BREAKING THE KEY. THE HOUSEKEEPING STAFF DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH BUT THEY WERE ALL SO NICE. SPECIALLY THE FRONT DESK LADY WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH WELL. SHE'S VERY ACCOMMODATING AND READILY INFORMED US THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM PHILIPPINES CONFIRMING IF 3 GIRLS HAD ARRIVED. AN INTERNET SHOP COULD BE FOUND INSIDE THE HOTEL, SO FAR I THINK IT WAS THE CHEAPEST NET SHOP IN KHAO SAN. WE'VE HAD A SOUNDFUL AND COMFORTABLE SLEEP AND THE ROOM WAS COMPLETE WITH BASIC AMENITIES.
BEFORE I FORGET, DURING THE NIGHTS THE FACADE (DELANTERA) OF THE HOTEL LOBBY TURNS INTO A SORT OF RESTO LIVE BAR. EVERTHING SEEMED TO BE A HAPPY CROWD. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ALL SO TIRED WE'VE DECIDED TO JUST TAKE A REST. STAYING HERE WAS A FUN THING TO REMEMBER. HOPE TO BE BACK AGAIN.
Tuk-tuk
This is it, our first morning in Bangkok, we got up late, lazy as we are... now we were in a hurry 'cos we were scheduled for a package tour that turned out to be so expensive, we've spent almost half our budget just on it.
I don't know where this was...But lemme first introduce our tourdriver Mr. Kindhearted-Pink-Cabby-Driver, he's a Thai and he always bears that cute signature Thai smile. He took us first to
Floating Market outside Bangkok, far far away from the city, in turn we need to pay him large amount. It was later on we've learned that there are other sorta channels or station of Floating Market. Since there are plenty of competing tour operators, each trip is different. Some include a trip to the Snake Museum, others stop at various cottage industries (silk, painting, carving, etc). That was a bait, but, anyways and nevertheless... renting the pink cab for the whole day was worth it and he was such a nice tour guide. He brought us to lots of enthralling temples I have lost count of. Plus he did treat us to a sumptuous lunch, our first lunch in Bangkok in a restaurant near the riverside. Thanks to him I'll never ever forget Pattaley-fried rice seasoned with lots of spices and seafoods plus the cucumber. Not only was the taste excellent, but so was the price.
Patta-ley
Pink Cab
Thais are the smilingest people in the world
I so love this, mango and sticky rice for 60 baht only...
This was outside the Golden Palace...we were waiting in a long queu under the heat of the sun.
Giant Swing
Lumpini Park
a family-run Filipino restaurant in Bangkok’s Pratunam area
The biggest supermarket in Bangkok
Bangkok Street Foods
Food stalls on the streets of Bangkok can look a little intimidating to foreigners, but they provide convenient, delicious and cheap meals to the locals. Wherever you go in the city, these food stalls are plentiful and very often you will find a high concentration of them in particularly busy areas. Some street vendors operate in groups, often in local markets, which means you can go to the same place every night and have a different choice of meal. Some even open around the clock.
Bangkok Night Life
Bangkok's nightlife has a reputation for being wild and rowdy. But at the same time it's relaxed, safe, enjoyable and great fun! Rapidly establishing itself as Asia's capital of cool, Bangkok's diverse nightlife scene features everything from excellent live music and good jazz clubs to ultra cool bars, trendy clubs and great restaurants - and go far beyond its once-upon-a-time sleazy and naughty image.
We did not fly to Bangkok for fun, it was mainly for our thesis that's why we've personally chosen Khao San as the main place to stay and as suggested by our Professor. Basically, accommodation price in Khao San is very reasonable, but other touristy things are quite expensive. I suggest if you are on a leisurely vacation and wanting to stay on a more quite place, there are ubiquitous and cheap accommodations in Pratunam area. Different nationalities are easy to find in Khao San, perfect for our stratified sampling method. So during the nights when everyone was up to nighttime fun, we do our surveys.
@ Greenhouse Hotel
Greenhouse was a pleasant and a cheap place to stay. The staff were friendly, especially the Front Desk Officer named- I actually forgot her name. All I remember was that I gave her a white toblerone, a small token for her hospitable kindness. She's got a heartwarming smile, she got the three of us became fond of her. Moving on, we did not feel very much at ease at Greenhouse, 'cos our room was at the 4th level and being a backpackers place there was no elevator, we have to patiently climb the stiffed stairs we always end up soaking in sweat. Consequently, we've decided to find another place to stay.
Much cheaper than our previous hotel and the rooms and the beds were bigger.
SCAMS IN BANGKOK
A Thai SHEMAN suspiciously followed us on our way to Golden Mount, befriended us, tourguided us and eventually took all our money, my friend's sony and my mobile phone... It was way too long a story to tell. Good thing I was carrying a large shoulder bag, I've got our two cams with me and some of our money.
It was not until he run that our brain seemed to clear and the enormity of what occurred dawned on us.
Lesson learned: DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
My friend
Lhuvz, and behind her was the horrible Thai Sheman scumbag wearing stripes of red and white.
And since we've come all the way to Bangkok not just to do our surveys and gather information. But be robbed in the middle of the fun and excitement , be lost in stance in front of strangers and come storming at the police station that we've even interviewed the Bangkok Police Officers instead of them putting the questions on how we got robbed. We deserve the Best in Thesis Gold Medal. :)
“All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson
