Bangkok 26-27 November 2006

26 November 2006, Sunday

• Woke up at 5am - called for a taxi at 5.30am - duration was approx. 40 minutes from CCK to Changi Airport Terminal 1 - $35!
• Took the 7.15am JetStar flight to Bangkok. Though it was a budget carrier, we had allocated seats.
• Reached Suvarnabhumi Airport at 8.30am (Bangkok time).
• Took a metered, striking-pink taxi to Chatuchak - about 320 THB (inclusive of 60 THB toll charges). We took the taxi from Level 4 Departure Hall, not Level 1 Arrival Hall. Read from a forum that you do not have to pay a certain tax if you grab a taxi from Level 4. Ignore taxi drivers who wave to you and demand that you take his car. Just smile and signal "No". Flag your own metered taxi!
• Spent about 5 hours (9am - 2pm) exploring Chatuchak. Most sales people were unwilling to give discounts. Maybe I did not know how to bargain, but really, I got quite tired trying to push for lower prices. One wanted me to buy 6 tees before she would reduce 190 THB per tee to 150 THB per tee. I walked away, expecting her to call me back, but she didn't. Greeting and thanking in Thai didn't make me more "discountable"!
• Took a taxi to Indra Regent Hotel - about 100 THB - for checking in. Changed the room when I got a double bed because I opted for 2 single beds. When we got the new room, the beds were very hard! I was too tired to change rooms again - anyway, it was only for 1 night - so we hecked it.
• Took a taxi to MBK - about 60 THB. It was about 4pm already. Went to Siam Square for T-shirt-buying-spree - lovely place! Siam Square = Bugis Market.
• Walked back to MBK. Had only enough time to explore the 3rd floor - clothes, clothes, clothes. In the meantime, Patrick went for a foot massage (300THB) and facial (700THB).
• It was 9pm when we ate dinner at MK Restaurant. A hot-plate kind of restaurant, but not worth it at all.
• Took a taxi back to the hotel.

A day's shopping could fit into 1 luggage...

27 November 2006, Monday

• Bad night with Patrick snoring, loud as thunder.
• Woke up at 8+am, had buffet breakfast and checked out at 9+am.
• Took a taxi to MBK again. Reached there at 10am opening time.
• Spent the whole day in MBK. Patrick did a foot massage again.
• Left MBK at about 5.15pm.
• Reached Suvarnabhumi Airport at about 6.15pm (about 310 THB inclusive of 70 THB toll charges).
• TigerAirways was not a great way to end the trip - kiasu Singaporeans were cheonging to be the first few into the plane to get the front seats so that they could disembark earlier, get past custom faster and get home sooner.
• Reached Changi Airport at about 11.30pm.
• Taxi back to CCK - $31.50.

Indra Regent Hotel Room View 12th Storey

Interesting point 1: Thais don't wear glasses - Maybe I did not look hard, but I do not remember seeing a single Thai in specs!

Interesting point 2: Thai Chinese girls are generally pretty.

Interesting point 3: You feel much safer in Thailand than in its neighbour below.

1 night, twin room = $85

Air tickets = $444

Shopping + food + transport = $718

Total = $1247