This entry is long overdue hehehe – I should be more discipline with myself in updating this blog.
Connie and I got back from Bangkok almost 2 weeks ago. It’s not our first trip (this is the place that we consistently return to since we first came in 2004) so no more temple visiting, city tour, elephant ride, floating market, tiger show, gems factory, etc.
We reached Bangkok on Wed, 29 April at about 12.30pm with empty baggage. We took a cab from the departure hall on level 4 to our hotel. You can save about THB200 (RM20) by not purchasing a coupon at the arrival hall. Not sure if it’s the economic downturn, the political uncertainty or the swine flu, but we could feel that there were less people everywhere. Even the traffic was smooth.
As the trip was purely for shopping, we therefore based ourselves in Pratunam; an area well known for its wholesale market. The town won’t amaze you; however everything is ridiculously cheap here!! We checked into Khurana Inn; a budget hotel run by an Indian Muslim. For those on budget, you will simply love the hotel because your shopping experience starts right outside the hotel door. And for me, it’s the halal food that they serve.
Our first stop was the Platinum Mall; the largest wholesale shopping complex in Thailand and spent about 5 hours there. From the hotel, you need to walk more than 20 minutes under the hot sun and the crowded small lanes – and yes, no more tuk-tuk driven Lewis Hamilton-styled for me to go anywhere. For those who have not been to this mall, it’s highly recommended. But be prepared with a good walking shoes and stamina to cover every nook and cranny for good bargain. A day is not sufficient to cover all 5 floors. However you have to buy at least 3 pieces to get the wholesale price or pay a retail price if you buy only a piece. If you are looking for clothing, then Platinum Mall is much more convenient compared to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Dinner for both nights was buffet style - in the room!! We bought ikan, udang, sotong bakar and the not-to-be-missed mango with sticky rice and corn with coconut from the curbside stalls. Be warned however, that it is not recommended for those with delicate stomachs.
If you want to help improving the life of sex workers in Bangkok, you can visit Pat Pong in the evening. This area is famous for its notorious nightlife. Since we both are not party girls plus we already went there before; we decided to give our legs the rest they deserved. To unwind, we paid THB500 – Connie opted for full body massage and I had head and shoulder massage. After one hour of massage, it was really difficult trying to stay awake.
As it’s my routine to wake up at 5.45am everyday, it’s the same in Bangkok. I woke up at about 4.30am (Bangkok is one hour behind us) and Connie chased me out of the room as my twisting & turning had disturbed her sleep. Another plus point, this hotel provides free internet services but you have to go down to the lobby. Connie only came down at 7am. First we helped improve Bangkok’s economy by spending a fair bit at the morning market which is vibrant, noisy but great fun. Remember to smile when bargaining but things are dirt cheap here that you will feel guilty to bargain too much unless you are an Arab hehehe
We had our breakfast at Sky Restaurant located on the 43rd floor of Baiyoke Suite. Come here for the view – food is just OK. After that, we were off again to Platinum Mall for another 5 hours of non-stop shopping.
On the second day we also went to Indra Square, Baiyoke Garment Centre and Pratunam City Centre. That night, we also went to Suan Lum Night Bazaar. This place is not ideal for shopping as the prices here are twice what you can get in Platinum Mall. However the 2 great features of this night market are the open-air food court with live entertainment as well as the many hip restaurants on the quieter side – a cool place to hang out at night.
On Fri, 1 May we had breakfast at the hotel before venturing into the morning market again and off to Platinum Mall – yes again! At noon, we walked back to the hotel – packed our things – freshen up and checked out. We left our baggage at the reception and went to Nice World Spa – had our hair washed + manicure & pedicure for RM50 each. Yes, only RM50 – very cheap!! We had lunch at Black Canyon Coffee which serves the best iced coffee.
It’s only 2pm and we could do some last minute shopping but we didn’t have anymore space to carry anything back. We decided to go to the airport to see if we could change our flight to an earlier one. Though Connie & I are ‘Air Asia Frequent Passengers’, we just got to know that to make any changes, it has to be more than 48 hours before your actual flight.
People who know me well will know that I’m not the person who can sit for hours without doing anything. I walked to a few bookshops but the magazines such as Australian Women’s Weekly, New Idea, Woman’s Day, Hello, etc are cost almost 100% higher compared to KL. And to our disappointment, we could not find a single internet terminal or even an internet café at Suvarnabhumi Airport. For this, I must commend Singapore Changi Airport which provides free internet terminal for its passengers located at the waiting hall. Not sure if KLIA has these services though.
As we could not checked in until 6.00pm, we had no choice but to wait. We sat from 3pm to 6pm – checked in, had our dinner @ a Japanese Restaurant – and we sat again, waiting for our flight @ 8.20pm. It was the most uncomfortable period for me and my back complained for over a week later.
However, all in all, it was an escape that didn’t break the bank so we are set to come back in December this year.
