The last time I was in Bangkok was over 15 years ago. The striking impression I had of the city is the sights of temples, red light districts and the traffic jams.
Day 1 (10 March)
The drive from airport to the hotel (which is located in Old Bangkok City) was surprisingly smooth. No traffic jam at all. It cost 350 baht +75 Baht (toll).
First stop - the giant swing. It was apparently used for ancient religious ceremony. The swings had been dismantled, only the supporting frame remains.
Departed from Changi airport at 7am, which meant we woke up quite early in the morning (in fact at 3am). Took a Grab taxi, checked in, and took early breakfast (5am) in the SATS airport lounge.
Arrived on time in Bangkok, called a Grab taxi, arrived at Chern Hostel by 9.30 am, deposited our luggages with the concierge, and off we went for our walking tour.
Just opposite the swing is an impressive temple Wat Suthat, which is undergoing some renovation. The wall mural and the large Buddha statue was amazing.
Next stop, the Grand Palace. It was crowded with tourists (mostly from China); hardly had space for photo takings.
Walked to AMA restaurant which is located between Wat Pho and ferry terminal to Wat Arun. The food at AMA was not bad.
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| emm, the facial expression doesn't look appetizing |
Walked across the street (from the restaurant) to visit Wat Pho.
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| reclining Buddha |
After Wat Pho, we walked to a ferry terminal nearby (< 5 minutes), and took a short ferry ride across Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun.
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| Jetty to Wat Arun |
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| Inside the ferry |
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| shop houses @ Jetty |
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| drinking the smoothies, after visiting Wat Arun |
We were very exhausted after visiting Wat Arun. Brief stop for a drink at the jetty. The coconut smoothie was delicious!
Walked another 20 odd minutes to our hotel... Checked into our room and napped for 3 hours.
The air condition in our room was not cold at all. The room was rather stuffy. We were moved to another room, and rested there till evening.
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| sunset as we walked out from our hotel to Chinatown |
We walked for 25 min to Chinatown. Took our dinner at a hawker stall by alley. Ordered BBQ cheese lobster, fried prawns, Tom Yam seafood, and vegetables. Hmmm.. Delicious!
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| BIG lobster |
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| waiting for our food |
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| Chinatown at night |
Stroll along the street of Chinatown took some desserts before walking back to our hotel
Day 2 (11 March)
All of us were exhausted from yesterday. Slept till 8 am. Left our hotel around 9.30am.
Went to visit the Golden Mountain Temple. Apparently the temple was built above the ruins of earlier temples, which had piled up and created a small mound where the current temple sits.
Superb view of the city from the open top of the temple.
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| entrance to the Golden Mount Temple |
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| View from the steps leading to the temple |
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| 360' view of the city from the top |
Stopped for breakfast at s small shop house opposite the temple Then, walked a short distance to a pier (Panfa Leelard Pier) nearby, to catch the river boat to the buzzling touristy shopping district downtown.
Interesting boat ride, with view of the local houses lining both sides of the riverbank. We meant to stop at the Hua Chang Piee near Siam center, but somehow ended up at Pratu Nam Pier near Big C supercenter (where the famed Erawa Shrine is located).
Bought some soy source, rice, titbits and luggage from the shopping mall.
Wanted to visit Ehrawa shrine next, but was mistakenly guided by GPS to Siam Paragon instead. Stopped at food Hall @ Siam Paragon for lunch.
Prayed at Erawa Shrine. Since CJ was not feeling well (Sorethoat and running nose), we decided to return to our hotel earlier.
Rested in our hotel till evening. Then walked to a famous padthai restaurant (Thipsamai Pad Thai) nearby for dinner. Had seen long queue in front of the restaurant for the past 2 nights, without knowing what exactly people were waiting for.
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| cooking outside the restaurant |
Well, the padthai was indeed delicious. The orange juice is a must... Don't be misled by the simple looking bottle and packaging, it is fresh and juicy.
We bought some local pancakes at the adjacent stall... Strong coconut flavour, superb.
Day 3 (12 March)
Since CJ was down with flu, we decided to let him stay back in the hotel.
We went to explore a local market/hawker centre (Nang Leong Market) nearby in the morning. Took our breakfast there, and bought some to the hotel for CJ.
It caters mainly for locals. No obvious tourists, except the two of us perhaps.
Then, my wife and I went out to explore the city on our own.
Walked 10 minutes to the Pafna Pier, took the river boat to Hua Chang Pier. Walked a short distance to MBK shopping center.
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| The connecting walkway in front of Siam Discovery and MBK |
My wife bought some exercise attires for herself.
After that we walked for half an hour or so to Chinatown. Stopped along the way to buy exercise shorts for CK/CJ and I.
It was a hot and tiring walk. We chanced upon a shop selling 清汤，stopped for refreshments /recharging.
In Chinatown we bought 猪杂汤，猪脚for dinner
Went for a short stroll to a market nearby before heading back to our hostel (the stalls were closing by 6pm).
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| along Chinatown street |
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| Sampeng Market @ Chinatown, most of the stalls are close/closing |
Reached hotel by 7pm, took our dinner and retired early for the day.
Day 4 (13 March)
Made an impromptu travel change... Visiting "Umbrella Market" at Maeklong.
Woke up early by 6am. Departed from hotel at 7.05am via Grab taxi, reached Wangwian Yai train station at 7.30am Since we wanted to eat breakfast and explored the surroundings of train station first, we bought the ticket for train departing at 8.35 am.
The train from Wangwian Yai to Mahachai took slightly over 1 hour.
The train was quite old. No air-conditioning,, plastic seats, with fans swirling from the ceiling (some not working). It costs only 10 bahts per person.
Scenaries enroute to Banleam train station.
We had to walk a short distance to pier nearby to catch a ferry across the river; akin to transit to another coach (train) departing from Banleam train station to Meaklong (another 1 hour ride, 10 bahts).
Scenery enroute from Banleam to Maeklong Train Station.
It was a chaotic scene when the train reach the market just before Maeklong train station. Throngs of tourists were lining on the pavement, barely steps away from the train, snapping pictures of the train,and waiving at us (passengers on the train).
We walked along the rail track, with hawkers lining up their goods on both sides,and curtains hang above us, shading us from the sweltering sun.
When the train sounded its horn about 15 min later, the rail track was promptly cleared of potential obstacles (carts of goods were rolled backwards, behind demarcated red lines on the cloor; curtains were hauled in from both sides, as if parting seas). As the train moved ahead, we happily snapped videos /photos of the entire changes with our handphone
We had our lunch at Maeklong, and took a minivan (90bahts each) back to Mo Chit @ Bangkok. The minivan was rather cramped and stuffy (the air conditioning system was only blowing out cool (not cold) air).
Walked around JJMalk @ Mo Chit. Bought Muay Thai pants for CK. My wife bought some clothes there as well.
Wanted to explore the nearby weekend market. Instead, chance upon stalls selling decorative fishes (bags and bags of them).
Also saw the colourful and living prawns!
Took Grab back to hotel. Had dinner at nearby eateries.
Took a stroll to Khao San Rd night market which has pubs and nightlife... Catering for youngsters and Caucasians.
Retired early for the night.
Day 5 (14 March)
Last day in Bangkok.
Walked to Chinatown for brunch.
Day 4 (13 March)
Made an impromptu travel change... Visiting "Umbrella Market" at Maeklong.
Woke up early by 6am. Departed from hotel at 7.05am via Grab taxi, reached Wangwian Yai train station at 7.30am Since we wanted to eat breakfast and explored the surroundings of train station first, we bought the ticket for train departing at 8.35 am.
The train from Wangwian Yai to Mahachai took slightly over 1 hour.
The train was quite old. No air-conditioning,, plastic seats, with fans swirling from the ceiling (some not working). It costs only 10 bahts per person.
Scenaries enroute to Banleam train station.
We had to walk a short distance to pier nearby to catch a ferry across the river; akin to transit to another coach (train) departing from Banleam train station to Meaklong (another 1 hour ride, 10 bahts).
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| train to Maeklong |
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| Banleam train station |
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| Jetty to Banleam train station |
Scenery enroute from Banleam to Maeklong Train Station.
It was a chaotic scene when the train reach the market just before Maeklong train station. Throngs of tourists were lining on the pavement, barely steps away from the train, snapping pictures of the train,and waiving at us (passengers on the train).
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| our train "cutting through" the market |
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| view from our train |
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| Tourists, tourists every where |
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| stopped at train station |
We walked along the rail track, with hawkers lining up their goods on both sides,and curtains hang above us, shading us from the sweltering sun.
When the train sounded its horn about 15 min later, the rail track was promptly cleared of potential obstacles (carts of goods were rolled backwards, behind demarcated red lines on the cloor; curtains were hauled in from both sides, as if parting seas). As the train moved ahead, we happily snapped videos /photos of the entire changes with our handphone
We had our lunch at Maeklong, and took a minivan (90bahts each) back to Mo Chit @ Bangkok. The minivan was rather cramped and stuffy (the air conditioning system was only blowing out cool (not cold) air).
Walked around JJMalk @ Mo Chit. Bought Muay Thai pants for CK. My wife bought some clothes there as well.
Wanted to explore the nearby weekend market. Instead, chance upon stalls selling decorative fishes (bags and bags of them).
Also saw the colourful and living prawns!
Took Grab back to hotel. Had dinner at nearby eateries.
Took a stroll to Khao San Rd night market which has pubs and nightlife... Catering for youngsters and Caucasians.
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| Khao san road |
Retired early for the night.
Day 5 (14 March)
Last day in Bangkok.
Walked to Chinatown for brunch.
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| Chinatown street market |
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| Golden temple @ Chinatown |
Then returned to hotel for check out. Deposited our luggages at the hotel. Took river boat ride to Pratunam Pier. Walked to Pratunam Market a few blocks away. The market was crowded with tourists and locals. It sells a lot of clothes, T shirts, pants - at very cheap price. It was rather hot/stuffy, and literally bumping into one another as we negotiated the narrow alleys.
Walked to the Platinum Fashion Mall (air-conditioned!) across the road, rested in the food court there (ordered some drinks and food).
Left the place by 2pm, and reached our hotel by 2.50pm. Left for airport around 3pm+. It took one hour for us to reach the airport....
Finally reached Changi Airport by9.35pm, but took almost one hour to wait for bus to pick us up from tarmac somewhere in Terminal 4, to go to terminal 2.
After thoughts:
Bangkok is a buzzling city. The shopping districts and main tourist attactions are crowded. The traffics are not so "jammed" as I thought.
Unless you are a avid /diehard shopping addict or want to venture out of Bangkok to adjacent towns, I think 2-3 days in Bangkok should be more than enough.
Left the place by 2pm, and reached our hotel by 2.50pm. Left for airport around 3pm+. It took one hour for us to reach the airport....
Finally reached Changi Airport by9.35pm, but took almost one hour to wait for bus to pick us up from tarmac somewhere in Terminal 4, to go to terminal 2.
After thoughts:
Bangkok is a buzzling city. The shopping districts and main tourist attactions are crowded. The traffics are not so "jammed" as I thought.
Unless you are a avid /diehard shopping addict or want to venture out of Bangkok to adjacent towns, I think 2-3 days in Bangkok should be more than enough.
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