Grand Palace is really grand!!! We're like the king and queen!! Our first day of sightseeing landed us at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). The historic place is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand and a must-go place when you go Bangkok. For all those of you who like "kim kim", it's really a golden place! We were almost cheated by an official-looking man who told us the place was closed for a ceremony and he offered to get a tuk-tuk for us to go other places, but then, we had already done some research and know the tricks of these people! :) After the visit of the impressive Grand Palace and Temple, we had a shiok one hour bone-cracking traditional thai massage at Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) & nice dinner at Chinatown opposite the famous 林真香.
Children don't worry, Jie jie's head has not dropped! yeah!! Finally reached Dreamworld after an hour's journey on the super old type "choo choo train" (12THB for 2 one-way) + taxi ride (80THB). So much cheaper than if take taxi directly from Bangkok (~ 500THB one-way). It's a fun-filled and wet day at the Giant House, Haunted Mansion, Super Splash, exciting rides and the water rides etc. And yes, one of the pictures here was really taken while we were upside down! Dreamworld is definitely the place to bring the kids to! Erika: "We were both like kids runnning ard and posing for pictures.. :) I bet all the kids will like this place! But too bad, we only took a few rides, cos i'm scared.. *sob sob*"At night we went to the Siam Ocean World at Siam Paragon shopping centre (basement level), which we feel is not really recommended. 850 THB per pax is considered expensive and we could have do away with the 250 THB 4-D show which is quite disappointing. The tuk-tuk shown here is a common transport mean during our days here, and remember to bargain hard cos there's no lack of other drivers willing to lower their fare.
our 3rd day at BKK and we've only started shopping now. We paid a visit to Erawan Shrine, the famous 4-face buddha before starting our day. Took the BTS (MRT) to the famous Chatuchak weekend market which really sells everything and anything, including doggies so cute! Can't imagine that we actually walked for more than 7 hours of non-stop shopping action! Life's really shiok.. Walked till legs tired, den stopped over at the foot massage service and did a 30min foot and shoulder massage.. AND continue our shopping spree. Russell: "really very comforting that i fell asleep. hehe" In the evening we tried to catch some Thai boxing action but had to give it a miss as it's too expensive (1000 THB is the cheapest category). Thankfully, Suan Lum night bazaar was just beside the stadium and we stumbled into an open-air "food court" with live concert to recharge ourselves before another round of night shopping. haha.. Oh ya, accidentally snapped a pic of "li beh" (二舅) as identified by Ignatius.. Wat's he doing in Bangkok???
Whoooaaa!!! We're on top of the world!!!! See the amazing view of Bangkok from the 84th storey of Baiyoke Sky Hotel.. oh ya, 200 thb per person.. U'll get to go up to the top, storey 84, a 360 degree rotating platform and can enjoy the complimentary cocktail and popcorn at the bar. Saw many signatures on the rooftop there so we signed our big names too. Haha. This is how we started our day before shopping at Pratunam, Platinum Mall and Chatuchak Market again! shopping shopping and more shopping!!! At night we had seafood at Som Boon restaurant then "sightseeing and shopping" at Patpong the world famous red-light district of BKK. And really loved the way we ended the day - a 90mins aromatherapy body massage (850 THB) at Healthland Spa which ensures we immediately fall asleep upon reaching hotel room.. Zzzzzz......
Woke up really early 6am in the morning to catch a 2-hour bus (87THB) to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The Bus Terminal offers express buses to many places including Phuket and Krabi. Every where is jamming like crazy and we gotta sat through the whole taxi journey for near to an hour to the bus terminal. Think the driver took us on a longer detour and ended up paying 300THB for cab. We took 2 one-hour rides around the river and canals. First one was a motor boat (300thb each) which took us past the busy markets and the houses of the villagers, and the 2nd one was a paddle-type of boat (100thb) where we got to have more hands-on experience, and handling the boat uncle's 11yr old 60kg pet python! Russell: "My first time holding a snake! Not as bad as i thought :)"
luckily we read some online review before going to bangkok, so we more or less know how much to pay for the boat service at the floating market. Heng ar.. we are not being "koh tok" by the residents there. :) All thanks to the review!! gotta walk into the village for the paddle one (though we met this private operate halfway walking into the village). Erika: "Here's a secret.. actually i was a bit frightened intially.. i scared the sampan boat will capsize cos russell kor kor is sitting next to me!! OoooOopppsss.... shhhhhh" By the time we took bus back to BKK already close to 4pm and we went to visit the Giant Swing temple and to get some pictures at another boxing stadium nearby as we forgot to take photos the other day outside Lumpini Stadium. Surprise surprise, we were given a free tour inside the stadium by one of the staff as the matches have not started yet. got more than we intended to :) :)
the last night was spent at this great restaurant where 四舅 brought us to. Lots of entertainment with singing, magic show, break-dancing etc. Even got the singers and all the staffs singing Happy Birthday song for someone celebrating there. Really makes the birthday boy/girl feels like a star with all the attention! total dinner only about SGD$80+ (huh? so cheap!) must go again next time!
so sad.. It’s the last day!! We gonna go back to reality and work in our yucky place.. Oops… wat a word to use.. Hehehehe. But look at our harvest!! We went bangkok with 2 bags and return with like 5 or 6 bags.. :) shall we organise another trip someday?? Erika: "P.S: one thing i regretted is that i did not buy the Naraya bag!!!!!!!! arghhh...."
it's definitely a fun trip.. Food is nice and cheap esp those from the road side. Gosh.. Bubble tea for 10 thb.. bird's nest with ginko nuts at 200 thb.. siew mai x9 for 30, shark's fin 150, mango glutinous rice 40, fishball noodles 20, wanton mee 40, roadside ice-tea 10.. muahaha.. Where can u find in Singapore. Hahaa.. And many more not yet featured here!
Here comes the real feast.. Come to Bangkok do what? Eat and shop, eat and shop! The same breakfast every morning in hotel (though we only ate hotel breakfast thrice), dinner at Chinatown, the not to be missed Fuji Jap Restaurant only costing 850 THB total, Thai lunch at Chatuchak, Pad Thai at Suan Lum, fried curry crab and the never-ever-lao-hong calamarie at Som Boon seafood. Erika: "Look at russell's face!! The greedy and glutton look, with eyes staring at the food!!" And not forgetting the dinner by 四舅consisting of tom-yum goong, glass noodles with baked prawns, fried chicken & German sausages. Haha.. Anyone drooling already??
Bangkok is a place of cheap and good food, shopping, and historical feel. We also tried the different kinda public transport, ranging from BTS to those super "lok kok" type of non air-con "choo choo train" which goes "glong glong glong" Erika: "Guess wat.. its so old to the extent that the seat could not even take my weight.. i spoiled the seat.. *oops*".. Shopping is something not to be missed.. we bought lotsa clothes for 100 thb.. super cheap..
And real friendly people in the Land of Smiles, got a free ride to bus stop (we were lost where to take bus) when the railway train was delayed coming back from Dreamworld. Really glad we never cancel the trip cos of the political situation as we didn't even feel anything wrong there.. Spent abt 6 full days here but still feel that's not enough, still so many places never explore. We will definitely be looking to continue our Thailand exploits in the near future!
~~~posted by Russell & Erika~~~
