My First Out of the Country Backpacking Experience Bangkok, Thailand (Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2013)10/30/2013 Bangkok: The City of AngelsBangkok certainly lives up to its reputation as a travel hot spot in Southeast Asia. The 'City of Angels' has funky markets, upmarket malls, a riverside full of surprises, a vibrant nightlife scene, many fabulous sights and attractions that reflect its unique heritage, and much, much more… Say goodbye to traffic jams – thanks to the city's modern skytrain and underground systems that cover a large area. Or explore the riverside area by a long-tail speedboat or river taxi. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, Bangkok bursts with exciting opportunities. PREPARING FOR THE TRIP! My airfare for this trip was really a not-so cheap one. It was March then when I decided I should try backpacking abroad. The first place that came into my mind was Bangkok. Obviously, the exchange rate of Phil. Peso to Thai Baht is almost the same so I wouldn't mind my budget that much. Secondly, I was inspired by a movie that happened in BKK, I will not mention the title of it anymore. Though the tickets were booked many months before ( a total of P4700), I just started the planning of my itinerary 3 weeks before the trip, and I swear, it really gave lots of stress. Sleepless nights, two pimples and colds and cough. I downloaded lots of bangkok guides and maps too for me to be able to familiarize the place, of course, I am a first-timer in that country so I shouldn't act dumb there or else.... tsk tsk! My flight was really Clark to BKK and vice versa. Luckily, it was cancelled and was changed to Manila to BKK and vice versa.
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GREEN HOUSE HOTEL Hotel Name:Green House Hostel Address:84, Thanon Rambuttri ,Talad YodArea / City / Country:Khaosan / Grand Palace/Bangkok/ThailandArrival Date:October 30, 2013 Departure Date:October 31, 2013 No. of Nights:1 No. of Rooms:1 Max Occupancy:1 Breakfast:Not IncludedRoom Type:Single with Fan Share Bathroom Special Notes:All special requests are subject to availability upon arrival .Promotion:!Limited Time Offer. Rate includes 50% discount! Total Charge to Credit CardUSD 7.89 Reviews: |
| EVE'S GUESTHOUSE Hotel Name:Eve's GuesthouseAddress:14/1-2 Suriwong Rd, Si Phraya, Bang RakArea / City / Country:Silom / Sathorn/Bangkok/ThailandArrival Date:October 31, 2013 Departure Date:November 1, 2013 No. of Nights:1 No. of Rooms:1 Max Occupancy:1 Breakfast:Not Included Room Type:Single Fan Share Bathroom Special Notes:All special requests are subject to availability upon arrival. Total Charge to Credit CardPHP 554.99 (USD 12.86) Reviews: |
NASA VEGAS HOTEL Hotel Name:Nasa Vegas HotelAddress:44 Sukhumvit 71-Ramkhamhaeng Road, Suanluang (Airport Link - Ramkhamhaeng Station) Area / City / ountry:Ratchadaphisek/Bangkok/ThailandArrival Date:November 1, 2013 Departure Date:November 2, 2013 No. of Nights:1No. of Rooms:1Max Occupancy:2 Breakfast:Not Included Room Type:JuniorSpecial Notes:All special requests are subject to availability upon arrival. Promotion:!Limited Time Offer. Rate includes 50% discount! Total Charge to Credit CardPHP 617.72 (USD 14.33) Reviews: | |
WHAT DID I DO AND VISIT IN BKK???
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS/FOOD/THINGS TO DO
1st day
After visiting and staying at my friend's place (and a sort of tour guide as well), we headed to Khaosan road. From Suthisan station (MRT) we rode the train and get off at Silom station. From MRT, we hopped to BTS Sala Daeng station, ride a train again and went to Saphan Taksin station. We were supposed to ride an express boat via Chao Phraya river to get to Khao san rd. Unfortunately, my tour guide was not that comfortable since it's his first time too to ride a boat. Finally, we decided to just hire a taxi going to Khao san, it's also near the hostel where I booked for my 1st night. We rested for an hour after arriving the hostel and prepared for our tour.
KHAO SAN ROAD
Walking is fun! Why don't you walk around and visit Khaosan Rd., Democracy Monument, Giant swing and the nearby temple?
You just need two healthy feet and an eager mind!
Do not forget to grab a copy of the tourist map or the map application in your android phone for you to be guided!
Walking is fun! Why don't you walk around and visit Khaosan Rd., Democracy Monument, Giant swing and the nearby temple?
You just need two healthy feet and an eager mind!
Do not forget to grab a copy of the tourist map or the map application in your android phone for you to be guided!
Follow the map, and you will reach the DEMOCRACY MONUMENT
GIANT SWING is just very near from the monument. Just keep on moving and follow the map.
And just across the swing, you may enter and visit this temple.
WAT SUTHATTHEPWARARAM
Since we kept on walking, we decided to have a snack after visiting the temple. We ordered these milk products on the street.
And for dinner, we tried the street foods on the street.
2nd day
I really planned to wake up early so I can reach my next destination early too. I need to be back at the hostel before 12 noon or else I won't be able to get the 500 baht deposit. To start the day, I ordered for the cheapest breakfast in the green house restaurant. Brewed coffee and two toasted bread with two different spreads were served. The good thing is, there was a 10% discount for the customers of the hostel. I saved 9 baht!
By following the map, I headed to the first land mark before reaching the grand palace. If you are not fond of walking, do not do this or else you'll regret it for the rest of your life (kidding aside). Be ready to sweat and get tired if you're gonna do this too. It's gonna be a long journey! Determination and presence of mind is needed for you to reach grand palace by just walking.
By following the map, I headed to the first land mark before reaching the grand palace. If you are not fond of walking, do not do this or else you'll regret it for the rest of your life (kidding aside). Be ready to sweat and get tired if you're gonna do this too. It's gonna be a long journey! Determination and presence of mind is needed for you to reach grand palace by just walking.
SANAM LUANG PARK
GRAND PALACE
CHAO PHRAYA RIVER TOUR VIA EXPRESS BOAT (slight only)
After checking out, I need to go to my next destination, SILOM. I found a convenient and practical way for me to get there from Khaosan road. Since I am staying in Rambuttri Road, just very near Khaosan, there is a near pier from that area. I can ride an express boat to get to the Sathorn pier. From the pier, I will go to the Saphan Taksin BTS station, use train and go to Sala Daeng station where my hostel in Silom is located.
I followed the map, here are your landmarks for you to reach pier 13.
I followed the map, here are your landmarks for you to reach pier 13.
Cruising and enjoying the view! :-)
After checking in the hotel, I just rested for a while and ate lunch. I should not waste my time, so after 2 hours, I now ready for my next destination. I'm gonna visit SIAM! :-)
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS VIA BTS AND SIAM CENTER TOUR
Dinner at Siam Paragon's Foodcourt
Siam Paragon's food court uses reloadable card. You need to purchase it anywhere in the foodcourt. As you buy food, they will just swipe your card, no cash accepted. Be reminded also that there's no free water here, no water fountain.
NIGHTLIFE AT SILOM
Since I was in SILOM, they said that this is the place for nightlife and party. I am not really interested with that, so I just chose to roam around the area.
3rd day
I wasn't able to sleep well because my room was so hot. On the third day, I checked the map. I was looking for some place to go before checking out and hop to my next place and hotel. Good thing, there are two spots near my hotel in Silom, I just need to walk for few minutes.
LUMPINI PARK
Nothing so special! Or maybe I did not see the whole place. It was too hot during that day, Nov. 1, 2013. I just took a picture of the monument, walked a little and decided to go to my next destination.
SNAKE FARM
What a good way to end my stay in Silom. At first you won't really appreciate the place because it is just normal. But, the main highlight of this tourist spot is hidden inside the building. Real life venom extraction from venomous snake. It is very educational.
Entrance fee: 200 Baht
Landmark: Near Silom and a Thai hospital
Entrance fee: 200 Baht
Landmark: Near Silom and a Thai hospital
BAIYOKE SKYHOTEL
This is what you call a MUST-SEE in BKK! I had so much fun here with matching free drink. Be ready to see BKK from the 84th floor.
Entrance fee: 300 Baht
Landmark: Near Ratchaprarop station (Airport rail link)
Entrance fee: 300 Baht
Landmark: Near Ratchaprarop station (Airport rail link)
4th day
On my way to Dusit zoo, it was such a very tiring experience.... I do not know how many kilometers I covered just to reach it. Anyway, here's the beautiful scenery when I was trying to discover where the H_LL Dusit zoo is!
From Nasa Vegas Hotel I rode ARL to Phaya Thai station. From there, I planned to hire a taxi that will bring me there. Unfortunately, the drivers said (of the two taxi that I hailed) that they don't like and they don't know it. I jumped into conclusion that maybe it is just near. So using my map and determination, I started walking. It was a wrong decision, that made me so tired. So if I were you, ride a taxi!
From Nasa Vegas Hotel I rode ARL to Phaya Thai station. From there, I planned to hire a taxi that will bring me there. Unfortunately, the drivers said (of the two taxi that I hailed) that they don't like and they don't know it. I jumped into conclusion that maybe it is just near. So using my map and determination, I started walking. It was a wrong decision, that made me so tired. So if I were you, ride a taxi!
DUSIT ZOO
After exploring Dusit zoo, you will ask yourself what happened to Manila zoo?????
Entrance fee: 100 baht
Entrance fee: 100 baht
Main attraction: GIRAFFE
QUEEN SIRIKIT PARK
This park is nice, but there's really lots of people there!
Landmark: Mo Chit station (BTS)
CHATUCHAK MARKET
I must say, it is just like Divisoria in the Philippines in a CLEANER way. I didn't buy too much.
TIPS :
1. BE CAREFUL IN CROSSING THE STREETS AND USING THE ESCALATOR, THEY KEEP LEFT!
2. GET A COPY OF TOURIST MAP.
3. BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLACE AND BE STREET WISE FOR YOU TO SAVE MONEY AND AVOID RIDING TAXI.
4. BTS SKY TRAIN USES CARD, LIKE THE MRT AND LRT IN THE PHILIPPINES. HOWEVER, YOU CAN HAVE IT THROUGH CARD MACHINE AND IT ONLY ACCEPTS COINS.
5. MRT IS AN UNDERGROUND TRAIN. IT USES TOKEN. THE TOKEN MACHINE CAN ACCEPT COINS AND PAPER BILL. WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO USE IT, YOU WILL JUST SCAN THE TOKEN TO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR (IS THAT HOW YOU CALL IT) THEN WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION, THAT IS THE TIME THAT YOU WILL INSERT IT.
6. AIRPORT RAIL LINK IS LIKE MRT, IT ALSO USES TOKENS AND ACCEPTS ANY KIND OF BILL. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THIS, ONE IS THE ARL EXPRESS WHICH BRINGS YOU DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT BUT FOR A HIGHER FARE, 150 BAHT. THE OTHER ONE IS ARL CITY LINE, THAT STOPS AT EACH STATION.
1. BE CAREFUL IN CROSSING THE STREETS AND USING THE ESCALATOR, THEY KEEP LEFT!
2. GET A COPY OF TOURIST MAP.
3. BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLACE AND BE STREET WISE FOR YOU TO SAVE MONEY AND AVOID RIDING TAXI.
4. BTS SKY TRAIN USES CARD, LIKE THE MRT AND LRT IN THE PHILIPPINES. HOWEVER, YOU CAN HAVE IT THROUGH CARD MACHINE AND IT ONLY ACCEPTS COINS.
5. MRT IS AN UNDERGROUND TRAIN. IT USES TOKEN. THE TOKEN MACHINE CAN ACCEPT COINS AND PAPER BILL. WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO USE IT, YOU WILL JUST SCAN THE TOKEN TO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR (IS THAT HOW YOU CALL IT) THEN WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION, THAT IS THE TIME THAT YOU WILL INSERT IT.
6. AIRPORT RAIL LINK IS LIKE MRT, IT ALSO USES TOKENS AND ACCEPTS ANY KIND OF BILL. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THIS, ONE IS THE ARL EXPRESS WHICH BRINGS YOU DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT BUT FOR A HIGHER FARE, 150 BAHT. THE OTHER ONE IS ARL CITY LINE, THAT STOPS AT EACH STATION.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Oct. 30, 2013)
11:30 Arrival at the airport
12:00AM-12:00NN Stay at my friend's house
3:00PM Checked in at Green R Hotel
4:00PM Khao san rd. tour
8:00PM DInner
10:00 ETD
Day 2 (Oct. 31, 2013)
6:00AM Breakfast
7:00AM Grand Palace tour
12:00NN Chao Phraya river express
1:00PM Check in at Eve's Guest House
4:00PM Siam tour
8:00PM Dinner at Siam Paragon
10:00PM Silom tour/Patpong
11:00 ETD
Day 3 (Nov. 1, 2013)
9:00 Lumpini park
10:00 Snake Farm
12:00 Check out
2:00PM Check in at Nasa Vegas Hotel
4:00PM Baiyoke hotel
8:00PM Pratunam market
11:00PM Rest/ETD
Day 4 (Nov. 2, 2013)
12:00NN Check out
2:00PM Dusit Zoo
5:00PM Chatuchak market
7:00PM Dinner at Siam Paragon
8:00PM Thai massage
10:00PM Airport
12:00AM Flight back to MLA
Day 5 (Nov. 3, 2013)
4:00AM Arrival at NAIA
8:00AM Baclaran church
10:00 Home sweet home!
Day 1 (Oct. 30, 2013)
11:30 Arrival at the airport
12:00AM-12:00NN Stay at my friend's house
3:00PM Checked in at Green R Hotel
4:00PM Khao san rd. tour
8:00PM DInner
10:00 ETD
Day 2 (Oct. 31, 2013)
6:00AM Breakfast
7:00AM Grand Palace tour
12:00NN Chao Phraya river express
1:00PM Check in at Eve's Guest House
4:00PM Siam tour
8:00PM Dinner at Siam Paragon
10:00PM Silom tour/Patpong
11:00 ETD
Day 3 (Nov. 1, 2013)
9:00 Lumpini park
10:00 Snake Farm
12:00 Check out
2:00PM Check in at Nasa Vegas Hotel
4:00PM Baiyoke hotel
8:00PM Pratunam market
11:00PM Rest/ETD
Day 4 (Nov. 2, 2013)
12:00NN Check out
2:00PM Dusit Zoo
5:00PM Chatuchak market
7:00PM Dinner at Siam Paragon
8:00PM Thai massage
10:00PM Airport
12:00AM Flight back to MLA
Day 5 (Nov. 3, 2013)
4:00AM Arrival at NAIA
8:00AM Baclaran church
10:00 Home sweet home!
EXPENSES
Day 1
Taxi 200
Travel tax 1620
Terminal fee 550
Snack 115
Total P2485
Taxi 200
MRT 28
BTS 24
Taxi 100
Snack 50
Dinner 100
Yakult 24
Medicine 44
Yakult 24
Total 594 Baht
Day 2
Breakfast 81
Entrance Grand Palace 500
Juice 20
Coke 38
Band aid/strepsil 75
Boat fare 40
BTS 28
Lunch 90
BTS (Siam) 28
BTS (Monument) 25
BTS (Siam) 25
Dinner 150
BTS (Sala daeng) 28
Milk tea 35
Water and Milk 34
Total 1197 Baht
Day 3
Entrance at Snake Farm 200
Lunch 75
Milk tea 35
BTS 41
ARL 16
Snack 65
ARL 22
Entrance at Baiyoke 300
Souvenir 150
Shopping 300
Dinner 125
Drinks 77
Snack 30
BTS 18
ARL 25
Internet 20
Total 1499 Baht
Day 4
ARL 33
Entrance at Dusit zoo 100
Snack 60
Taxi 80
BTS 40
Drink 15
Shopping 1170
BTS 25
ARL 38
Snack 50
Massage 400
ARL 35
Dinner 130
Food 160
Total 2336 Baht
TOTAL
in Peso P2485
in Baht 5626 Baht x 1.27 (SM baht exchange) = P7145
Pocket money P9630
Airfare P4700
Accommodations P2000
TOTAL EXPENSES: P16,330
Day 1
Taxi 200
Travel tax 1620
Terminal fee 550
Snack 115
Total P2485
Taxi 200
MRT 28
BTS 24
Taxi 100
Snack 50
Dinner 100
Yakult 24
Medicine 44
Yakult 24
Total 594 Baht
Day 2
Breakfast 81
Entrance Grand Palace 500
Juice 20
Coke 38
Band aid/strepsil 75
Boat fare 40
BTS 28
Lunch 90
BTS (Siam) 28
BTS (Monument) 25
BTS (Siam) 25
Dinner 150
BTS (Sala daeng) 28
Milk tea 35
Water and Milk 34
Total 1197 Baht
Day 3
Entrance at Snake Farm 200
Lunch 75
Milk tea 35
BTS 41
ARL 16
Snack 65
ARL 22
Entrance at Baiyoke 300
Souvenir 150
Shopping 300
Dinner 125
Drinks 77
Snack 30
BTS 18
ARL 25
Internet 20
Total 1499 Baht
Day 4
ARL 33
Entrance at Dusit zoo 100
Snack 60
Taxi 80
BTS 40
Drink 15
Shopping 1170
BTS 25
ARL 38
Snack 50
Massage 400
ARL 35
Dinner 130
Food 160
Total 2336 Baht
TOTAL
in Peso P2485
in Baht 5626 Baht x 1.27 (SM baht exchange) = P7145
Pocket money P9630
Airfare P4700
Accommodations P2000
TOTAL EXPENSES: P16,330
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