Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Bangkok is a modern city that suits every traveler's taste. The city is divided into several districts namely Siam Square, Sukhumbit, Silom, Rattanakosin, Khao San Road, Yaowarat and Phahurat, Dusit, Thonburi, Partunam, Phahonyothin, Rachadaphisek, Ramkhamhaeng and Lat Krabang. Each districts has it's own character so travelers may opt to choose where to stay depending on their purpose of visit.
Arrival in Thailand: Suvarnabhumi (soo-wanna-poom) Airport
From Manila, Philippines I arrived in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand pass 12 AM. Suvarnabhumi Airport is big and you need a lengthy walk before you can reach the immigration sections. I did not make any arrangements for my "first night" in Thailand so I plan to just roam inside the airport until the Airport Rail Link opens at 6 AM that will bring me to Bangkok downtown. The airport has free wifi connection up to one hour, duty free shops, restaurants, currency exchange, Airport Rail Link which I like a lot and many other airport facilities. When I passed the immigration, I saw many travelers even with young children sleeping on the floor just using sleeping bag while other travelers are sleeping on the bench. I sent Facebook message to Ms. Reign, a teacher in Pattaya,Thailand and we are from the same village in the Philippines that I safely landed and she advised me to find my spot where I can sleep because it's safe to sleep in the airport and even some locals just go to airport to sleep. When I found "my spot" on a long bench in the corner and near the security post I secured my passport, cellphone and wallet in the middle of my backpack and set the alarm of my cellphone at 5 AM.
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| SupeRich money changer |
I woke up few minutes before my alarm rings. I slept for about 2.5 hours. I checked my backpack which also became my instant pillow and went to find money changer because I also woke up hungry. I follow other passengers/travelers and I found my self at the basement where money changers and Airport Link are located. Among other money changers the SupeRich money changer has a long queue so I also choose to exchange my money there. After exchanging money I had sandwich in Subway restaurant while waiting for the first train going to downtown to arrive.
I bought a token ticket for 40 Baht going to Phaya Thai station, the last station of the Airport Rail Link and the nearest station to my hotel. I think Phaya Thai is located in Khaosan District. Travel time is about 30 mins and I enjoyed watching people getting on/off the train and watching the scenery. Thais are still mourning for the death of their king when I went there so most of them are still wearing black clothes and every station has an altar in honor of their beloved king.
From Phaya Thai station I ride a taxi going to my hotel for 50 Baht. The taxi driver doesn't speak English so I just show him the address and the location map of the hotel. My original plan is just to drop off my backpack at the hotel and roam around the city but unexpectedly I had dysmenorrhea (I know bad timing) so I asked the receptionist of the Prince Palace Hotel if I can early check-in (standard check-in is 12 PM) but they said there's no available room. I took pain reliever and I just stayed at lounging area where I eventually fell asleep while watching people come and go.
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| Pad Thai |
Prince Palace Hotel
After lunch, I went back to hotel and asked the reception again if there's already a vacant room. I checked-in and I was escorted to adjacent tower where my room is located. Below the Prince Palace Hotel is the Bobae Market where wholesale cheap clothes and many other things are sold.
I had a one bed room suite and it's huge for a solo traveler like me and I almost regretted during the night that I booked a huge room. The room is already old but it's clean and the bed is also super huge good for 4 persons. What I like most is the hotel swimming pool.
Temple Sight Seeing: Wat Pho and Wat Arun
After I freshen up I hailed a taxi going to Grand Palace but few meters away from the hotel the taxi has stop from running on the middle of the street. I was on guard because I heard there are lots of taxi scams in Bangkok. I think he tried to fix it for about 15 minutes while the meter is running but he gave up and he tried to explain to me in broken English that I need to transfer a taxi and he didn't ask me to pay for the fair so I think the problem is real.
When I get off from the taxi a motorbike rider asked me where I am going and when I told him that I'm going to Grand Palace he said he can take me there but I politely decline but he insisted and he said it's free. I don't know how to let him go away and good thing my taxi driver noticed I was uncomfortable talking with the motorbike rider so he helped me find another taxi. My new taxi driver fairly speaks English so I got some tips from him and pointed out some city landmarks and government buildings while we were on the way. My taxi fare was 99 Baht.
Wat Pho
Entrance fee at the Grand Palace is 500 Baht but I had second thought of going there because closing time is 3:30 PM and it was already 2:30 PM and 500 Baht is expensive for one hour tour for me. So I decided to just go to Wat Pho.
Wat Pho is best known as Temple of the Reclining Buddha and also a home to a thousand or more Buddha images.
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| The feet of the reclining Buddha under rehabilitation |
PICTURE
Entrance fee is 100 Baht with free bottled water. Don't throw your ticket just yet because you need to show your ticket to claim your free water at the exit gate. I had one funny story about claiming the free water. When I saw a woman distributing the bottled water I thought she is really one of the staffs of the temple so I approached her and I quee next to other tourists. When it was my turn, I show her my ticket and she gave me a weird look and to my surprise she gave the last bottle she was holding to the man at the back. I was ready to tell her that I was first in line so she should have given me the last bottle when suddenly I realized that she is a tour guide of number of Chinese tourists and she claimed the water from the water station on behalf of her clients.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun is also called as "The Temple of the Dawn". My taxi driver said that it's best to visit there on sun down.
From Wat Pho, I asked directions from the locals, mostly side walk vendors where the boat station going to Wat Arun is located. The boat station is near so I just walk and I followed the other tourists which I thought are also going there.
Boat transfer is only 4 Baht each way while the entrance fee is 50 Baht.
The artworks in Wat Arun are truly exquisite. It's very impressive how dedicated the artists were to complete such amazing artwork and hand craftsmanship.
Even with the massive tourists, the serenity of the temple is preserved. It's nice to walk around the garden, admire the temple artworks, talk to local vendors and watch other people. Be sure to wear proper clothes (no sleeveless and shorts), comfy footwear and sunscreen.
On top of the temple there's a place you can watch the sunset but during my visit it was under renovation. Even with the scaffolding, nevertheless, it's still a must visit.
It was already pass 6 PM when I decided to leave Wat Arun and return to my hotel to freshen up. There are taxis on standby near the boat station and I asked them if any of them can take me to my hotel. One of the taxi drivers said he will take me for 300 Baht. It surprised me because going there costs me 99 Baht only with the use of the meter and he refused when I told him that we should turn on the meter. I approached a tuktuk driver and asked how much is the ride going to my hotel and he said 350 Baht. Oh my God! It's more expensive. So I decided to go on the side road to get a taxi but unfortunately all taxis that passed by are not available. It was getting dark already and as a solo female traveler in foreign country not to mention my first solo international trip I was a bit nervous to stay out night so I asked another taxi driver on standby if he can take me to my hotel but of course I negotiated the price with him since taxi drivers wanted a fixed price instead of using their regular meter. From 300 Baht to 150 Baht. Yeah right I was very proud of my self.
Burger dinner
At night I planned to go to Kao San Road, a backpackers haven but I couldn't find a taxi outside of the hotel and it didn't cross my mind to ask any hotel staff to help me get a taxi. I decided to just stay in the hotel instead. While having dinner (how I wish I was eating authentic Thai cuisine), I remember a saying that "If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together. I think it applies to me at that very moment :)
On the next day, while waiting for Ms. Reign after breakfast I had a quick swim at the resort's pool. When Ms. Reign arrived I check-out and she said she will bring me to Pratunum District. Instead of taking a taxi we walked to Bobae Market Pier and ride a boat going to Pratunam. Just like any other river in other big cities, the river is dirty but the city's Express Boat services is highly effective in commuting around the city to avoid the terrible traffic.
Boat picture
Pratunam District
Pratunam is a shopping district in Bangkok. Many great finds like clothes, shoes, bags, jewelries, accessories, luggage, and many more are sold cheaply. Bazaar stores and fashion shopping malls are everywhere. If you love shopping in an air condition place where you can get bargain prices and haggle, this is the place for you.
It was already lunch time when we arrived in Pratunam so we had lunch first at the food court of Metro Fashion Mall before we checkout some fashion stores. I had only less than 48 hours in Bangkok so the next time I will visit the city it would be a shopping spree and I will make sure to buy airplane baggage allowance.
Don Mueang Airport
I had a flight to catch bound to Siem Reap, Cambodia in the evening in Don Mueang Airport so after window shopping we rode a train from Ratchathewi train station going to Phaya Thai where Ms. Reign will ride a connecting train going to Pattaya where she lives. At Phaya Thai we we said our goodbyes and then I rode a train going to Mochit station for 34 Baht. There's no direct train going to Don Mueang Airport so from Mochit station I rode a bus going to Don Mueang Airport for 30 Baht. The buses are numbered so make sure to ride a correct bus or better ask the driver if the bus is going to Don Mueang Airport.
While waiting for my flight I had rice omelet for dinner for 214 Baht, the cheapest rice meal I got in the airport that turns out to be sooo good. What a good taste to bid Bangkok not goodbye but see you later :)
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