3D2N at Amazing Bangkok, Thailand

First and foremost, this is a super late blog about my travel experience in Bangkok. I traveled there together with my friend last Nov 2013. Yes, I know it's already July 2014, but let's just say the writer in me was not yet born that time. (Excuses of a lazy girl like me)

Nonetheless, I would still love to tell my experience together with my friend in this amazing country.

Back then last November, I was spending my last few days at Singapore before I moved back here at Philippines. So our route is SIN-BKK-SIN. I did all the research since I am less busy version of OFW (My friend is a workaholic freak). I swear she shouldn't read this! We flew in via Jetstar.

We arrived Bangkok by almost 10 am. Since we are very adventurous, we decided to commute and find our way to our hotel. We are supposed to be staying at Swissotel Nai Lert Park. The nearest train station would be Chitlom.

Before going to Bangkok, I downloaded their train station map which I think would be very helpful during our whole stay.

By following the train station map, we rode the airport train and alight at the Phaya Thai station (N2) which we need to transfer to green line. After that, we rode another train going to the direction of central where we will alight at Chitlom station (E1).

The Swissotel was not easily located from Chitlom station. With the help of few locals, we managed to find our way to the hotel for 10-15 mins walk. Tired and thirsty, we rested for awhile upon entering the hotel lobby. We were welcomed right away. However, the room for us was not yet available the moment we came. This is understandable because check in time is 2:00 pm. So we decided to take our photos around the hotel.  

 After half an hour, we went back to the front desk and check whether the room is available. Luckily, room was already available. And when we open the door, welcoming note and a few welcoming chocolates and fruits were on our table. (perks of being a hotelier and words of hospitality from my boss). We just rested for awhile for our 1st day was just about to start.

After a few minutes or so we just freshen up and made ourselves ready for the day's activities.
We rode the free shuttle bus going to Siam. Good thing because as I planned it, we were going to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum which is in Siam. Since we were really hungry and knowingly our budget will be spent mostly on shopping, we both have tried to be thrifty when it comes to our choices. So instead of eating on fast foods/ restos we opt to eat like how the locals eat. Right across the Siam Discovery there is a numerous eateries where you choose your food Carinderia style. It saved us a lot of money but still we enjoyed our food.

At 2:30 we started our tour at the museum. For your reference, we paid our ticket online so to save few bucks (regular price is 800 baht vs online price of 640) plus we get if I still remember 150 baht off the picture taken inside [we decided to print the pic we had with Pres. Obama.=)]

Posing with my Honey Beckham. :-P

Look who got the same legs. 

Ugh! Wolverine!!

My Friend with Gaga

Indeed, it was fun to include this on our tour but for those who have no idea like me on Thai celebrity stars, this maybe a boring activity. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our 2-hr here. As many would say, the Madame Tussaud in US is the real bomb.

So now our next stop for the day is the Amphawa floating market. Floating Markets are the traditional way for goods to be sold by boat. We opted to go in here as I have read the reviews it is the less touristy version of the floating market. 

So from BTS Siam, alight at Victory Monument (N3), 3 stops later from Siam.Travelling to Amphawa is easy by mini van from Victory Monument. If you are coming from the BTS Skytrain follow signs to Century mall. On the ground floor, just go to the right side of the mall facing the road of BTS skytrain. If I'm not mistaken, its just outside near the Dunkin Donuts store. If you see this alley of white mini vans you are in th right path. Since the writing on the signages are in Thai, you need  to tell the ladies there you need to go to Amphawa. Our experience was not so good here because we waited for an hour and the lady just keep on telling 'coming coming' so I got pissed off because our sched was ruined. But as expected, if you are doing everything on your own during trips like this. this was inevitable. 

But after almost an hour and a half we finally reached the Amphawa province. It's past 6 in the evening when we reached the place.

We just sat on one of the benches and a little boy handed over right away a menu. It's quite pricey but we are very hungry so we decided to order. They have no more rice meal option so we just go for a grilled squid and a crab salad. And one of the boat offers a milk tea which is the best milk tea I have ever had. We actually did not finish the salad because it's too raw for us though it's crispness is there. 

After dinner, we just have a look along the riverbanks and checked the stores. We bought some goodies good as souvenirs. We rushed back since there is nothing else to see since some stores along the sides of river were already closed. We headed back to hotel.

And that's how our 1st day ended.

Day 2
Woke up and freshen up before we headed for our breakfast.

We eat our heavy breakfast since it's gonna be a long day. Our itinerary for today were the Temple tours including the Royal Grand Palace and the last was the shopping. Initially, I planned to have the cabaret show in the evening but since we were drop dead during the shopping at their largest shopping destination, we decided to just rest our feet at the evening.

This was what is written on my itinerary:

Visit the GRAND PALACE and TEMPLE OF EMERALD BUDDHA AND WAT PHO(Reclining Buddha)

Opening Hours:  Daily from 08.30 hrs - 15.30 hrs. Admission Fee: Free of charge for Thais and 550 baht for foreigners (including Vimanmek Mansion). 

Chao Praya Express Boat

How to Get There : Take the Silom Line and get off at Saphan Taksin Station (or S6 Station) and go out through Exit No. 2. Then, take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Ta Chang Pier (No.9). A 5-10 minute walk will bring you to the entrance gate of the Grand Palace.

Inside the Royal Grand Palace

The Reclining Buddha

Inside this temple is where the statue of Emerald Buddha resides

After alighting the boat the grand palace will be noticeable, for us, we just followed the flow of people and maybe instinct? haha!! We reach the place and since leggings are not allowed inside, I need to borrow their polo shirt and used it on top of my tank top and my scarf served as my skirt. The Emerald Buddha is inside the Royal Grand Palace. We payed for 550 baht to get inside. 

After exploring the area, we went outside the compund of Grand palace and walk back to the entrance, Wat Pho or the Reclining Buddha can be found on the left side of the Grand Palace. Just turn left from the main gate, then turn left again at Thai Wang Alley. It's just across the road so you'll never get lost. 

There is another entrance fee for the Wat Pho if I can still remember during our visit it cost us 100 baht. 

After exploring the temple we walked around for awhile and since we were still full from our heavy breakfast, we decided not to eat lunch here and have it instead at Chatuchak later that day. After exploring the area and bought some good souvenirs, we headed back to the boat back to the city proper. 

These are the other temples seen along the river.

 From Saphan Taksin Station again we alight the train going to Siam station. We just transfer another line going to Mo Chit station. Alight at Mo chit station  and take exit no. 1 and follow the crowd until you see rows of canvas stalls selling clothes.

We had our lunch in one of these stalls near the area. I had Pad Thai

The Chatuchak Market is the largest shopping destination in Bangkok. As I researched about the place, it has more or less 4,000 stores selling different goods ranging from foods, clothes, home furniture and even these cute little dogs. We almost maximize our time here until evening when some stores where about to close while others were just starting to bring out their goods. We just shop mostly for pasalubong and mostly for our selves.

And for that reason that my planned Cabaret show for the night was cancelled because of two reasons: a.) We were really tired from a lot of walking done for the day; b.) We have no more money left on our once fat wallet. HAHAHAHHH!!!

And so we just decided to buy some food and brought it back to hotel. And that's how our second day was ended.

Day 3

Our last day was just mostly done exploring the hotel/resort area. We went for a splash on the pool early in the morning. After enjoying the pool, we took a bath and hurried our way to the breakfast before it closes. We just took some pictures around the area. I musts say the location of Swissotel Nai Lert Park kept its tranquility even it is situated in the city.

Since we still have ample time, we decided to go to MBK mall and see what the mall has to offer. We also tried the tuk-tuk,  their famous version of our tricycle.

We immediately went back to arrange our luggages before our check-out time.

Here are the few pictures on our last day at Bangkok:

Camwhoring

Inside our hotel

Tuk-tuk

Suvarnabhumi Airport

This is how our squeezy 3 days to Bangkok went through. Hope it will serve as your basis on your next travel plan.. Till our next adventure!

Ciao!