"Turn your days into nights, as the city illuminates in the dusk. Vibrant lights and positive beats invite each ardent soul in this festive glory. Bangkok will surely leave your jaw-dropping!".
Anyone could get lost in Suvarnabhumi Airport. The terminal bagged 7th place as one of the largest in the world and I can personally attest to that. It is definitely a huge airstrip!
First day began on the day of our arrival. From the airport all the way to where the road leads to one of the famous floating market in Thailand, it took us approximately 3 hours due to Friday traffic jam. Hooray to Mr. Adisak, our service tour driver for his impeccable driving skills and Toni's compelling voice.
Now upon our timely arrival at the port where we hired a motorized boat for 3,000 Thai Baht good for 2 hours, we braved through the muddy waters leading to neighboring fashion and souvenir stalls situated one after the other. You may easily buy any item you may fancy as long as you know how to bargain, as these are priced only just for tourists. At the end of the river awaits Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where every served dish is fresh and tasty. Their Tom Yum, Chicken Pad Thai, Mango Sticky Rice and Naicha are their bestsellers, so you better try those! Penny-wise, 1,000 Thai Baht goes a long way, so bring your huge appetite and give in to the goodness of their delectable specialties. On our way back to the port, it suddenly rained. The boat operator advised us to stay in the market for a few minutes while waiting for the rain to stop. A small fashion and souvenir shop where mostly Thai apparels are sold at a very reasonable price. Knitted shorts priced at 350 Thai Baht, whereas good quality scarves ranging from 300 Thai Baht and up. It was around 3 in the afternoon when we went back to the embarkation point.
We headed back to the city. It was sure a long ride! It took us 4-5 hours due to weather and traffic conditions. There was nothing left to see during that time but instead visit some popular malls around the metro. Dropped off at the nearest Bangkok MRT Station to speed-up our journey heading towards Siam Center where it is conveniently located adjacent to Siam Paragon. We also went down to memory lane where Sanrio Hello Kitty House is located at Siam Square One. You will find nostalgia inside this picturesque little cafe where our all-time favorite character is currently housed in the heart of Bangkok. I just love its interior and the colorful vibe it depicts!
Along Soi Cowboy, you will be mesmerized by a multitude of ladyboys alluring tourists especially men to have a look inside each bar. The truth is, I can't even distinguish the real deal! Thailand definitely has some of the best cosmetic MDs in the world! We went out for a clean fun, ordered refreshing Naicha drinks at 7-11 and some chicken crispers from a hawker food stall nearby and took some pictures outside the vibrant street of Soi 23. Half-hour well spent and we decided to move, headed towards Patpong. Further down the road, fetish and girlie bars are located in this lively part of Bangkok mixed with rows of fashion and souvenir stalls along the avenue where I bought a jumpsuit and a matching blouse and skirt all for 1,500 Thai Baht. We ended the night at Khaosan Road, where we had a full body massage right on the street for only 220 Thai Baht, while being entertained by some party goers drinking and dancing at a bar from afar.
That night, we stayed in a Triple Sharing Room at The Pillows Hostel for only 1,150 Thai Baht. A wise decision indeed, as The Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phrakaew) is just a few blocks away. Please do wear some conservative clothing when entering the Temple as you can be barred from entering the grounds. We just used our scarves as skirts to gain entry! On our way to the second temple (Wat Pho), we stopped by an ice cream peddler selling Thai Coconut Ice Cream for only 50 Thai Baht! It was indeed refreshing made for this weather.
Approaching Wat Pho, 100 Thai Baht entrance fee was collected per head inclusive of one bottle of water. In this temple, several robes were offered to each guests wanting to enter the Buddhist Temple. You must take off your shoes as well upon entering the hall! Of course, we cannot pass the chance to visit the Reclining Buddha in order to bring good luck and for our wishes to come true as the natives say. Be sure to keep a 20 Baht note in exchange of a small cup full of coins to cover all the 108 wishing pots.
We had a sumptuous and affordable feast but we took an auto rickshaw or a tuk-tuk ride in order to take us at the Tha Tien Pier. Food stalls are situated one after the other. We're supposed to visit the Grand Palace but due to limited time, as it's our last day, we decided to skip this part, en route to Jim Thompson's House. I've learned he's an American Entrepreneur who built his own silk company during the 50's era. Now before heading back to freshen up a bit for our final night out, we went to MBK and bought several gifts for our families back home. Thai Tea worth 100 Thai Baht is the best! I also had some spicy tamarind candies for the same price. We also breezed in Terminal 21 Shopping Center wherein each floor are poles apart. Famous landmarks across the globe combined in a solitary framework!
Hang Over 2 sure did make Lebua Tower Sky Bar much popular as ever! Arrived at the hotel before 10 PM and looked our very best to gain access as they implement a strict dress code. The view from the top of the Sky Bar was worth the trip. There you will be enthralled with Bangkok's vibrant lights across the metropolis. Before midnight ends our BKK Tour, we went to Maggie Choo's Bar located at the lower level of Novotel. It was a mystical magical night for us, as the bar theme suggests. Cheers to our 1st voyage! We'll definitely see other places together in the coming years. Credits to my best friends, Annabelle and Toni - my Bangkok resident ally who painstakingly explored and steered our way in every corner of the city.
