MY SECOND TIME IN BANGKOK!
I had a very quick trip to Bangkok for only
21 hours and I knew I had to make the most of it. So since this is my second
time here, I prioritized those places I have yet to visit. Two years ago I
visited this beautiful country for 3 days and yes that was really worth the
luxury of time we all have. I had enough time to wander, explore and discover more
things from good to something exotic. Before flying to Bangkok, I made sure I
had complete documents for the immigration pass. There are plenty of times
where travellers were denied going to other countries for whatsoever reasons and
surely, I don’t want to be one of them so I need to be very persuasive and
since it's my 5th time to go out of the country I am used to answering
and passing through. And most especially I don’t want to lose all the efforts
I’ve spent just to come here, I have spent to buy a vice versa ticket, hotel
accommodation, transport fees and other fees you may have incurred- which to me
is very costly, so be alert, be clever. These immigration officers are very
keen on your return flight so having a vice versa ticket gives them an
impression that you're coming back together with your hotel accommodation coupon.
I booked my hotel accommodation online via Airbnb at Express Hostel, in Sathon
road close to my fave place which is Silom where bar and business are open til
late, it is an hour ride from the airport. Before coming, I asked the hotel to
arrange a car to pick me up at the airport, gave them all the flight details,
air carrier, time of arrival, name, etc and paid 600 baht which is quite high
instead of paying a normal taxi but I have the convenience and I don’t have to
talk to these taxi drivers and bargain from 1000 to lower the price. So for
hassle-free trips- make some wise decisions, the grab can be an option as well.
Before I left the airport- I bought a local sim with a bundle at 299 baht for 8
GB and also get an exchange at the arrival area (USD 200 x 30.68). Travel time
from Manila to Bangkok is 3 hours and from the Suvarnabhumi airport to Hostel
took us 1 hour due to heavy traffic even we took a skyway. One-night
accommodation cost me 1,413 pesos and my airfare which I bought 2 days before
my flight is around 13,000 pesos.
At 11 a.m. I arrived at the hostel, tired
and exhausted but I only have a few hours here so no time to be a lazy boy. I
have not eaten breakfast yet but I want to save time so I went to the
convenience store and bought some chips and juice then booked a grab and found this
the spectacular beauty of Wat Arun Temple.
Download this app for your best experience
in Bangkok, it’s called “Bangkok Guide App”.
To begin our tour, first stop: Wat Arun Temple
Entrance fee: 50 Baht only
Dress code: Dress appropriately- you’re
visiting a temple so avoid wearing sexy, short clothes otherwise you will not
be allowed to enter but there’s a store where you can buy shoals to cover your
legs and shoulders available for sale or for rent.
No sleeveless allowed in this area. From Express hostel to Wat Arun is almost 25-30 minutes depending on the traffic jam and charged me only 145 baht via grab.
No sleeveless allowed in this area. From Express hostel to Wat Arun is almost 25-30 minutes depending on the traffic jam and charged me only 145 baht via grab.
There’s s much to see in this place and you
will surely be delighted seeing its beautiful, intricate and detailed piece of
work.
After an exhausting and tiring day around
in this temple, I booked an uber and went to a massage spa to get some good, a
really good massage. I just found it on google and it costs me 1,500 baht, a
little expensive but it is very good. It an hour massage and they have a shower
available as well. The room is beautiful and the place looks nice as well. It's
worth the price. After an hour, I headed home, rest for a while and I went to Tawan
in Silom area to have dinner and also some drinks.
If you’re able to visit Thailand, Tawan
area in Silom is a must-visit place, it is safe, so plenty of businesses around
you, bars and spas. And it is open till late in the morning so, you will surely enjoy
your time coming here.
Day 2- THE GRAND PALACE
On my second day, I woke up early and rode
to Grand Palace. I booked a
grab from the express hostel and it only costs me less than 200 baht. But before
you go to this temple, you need to do a little research first especially the dos
and don’ts. If you happen to visit this place, you are not allowed to wear
shorts and sleeveless. Wear appropriate attire every time you visit a temple
even not in Thailand. The entrance fee is 500 baht, the crowd here is too much,
you can hardly take a picture without photobombers.
Coming to this place is so fascinating. But even if this place is crowded, I found my way to catch the best memories in my life even I’m travelling alone.
Coming to this place is so fascinating. But even if this place is crowded, I found my way to catch the best memories in my life even I’m travelling alone.
After an hour spent in the Grand Palace, I
headed to the other side of the temple where Wat Arun was situated, I rode a
boat and paid only 3.50 baht to go across. I was looking for some extra shirt
to buy since I’m sweating already due to a warm climate but unfortunately I
have never found the local cloth I wanted to wear but only when I came back
then I saw so many local clothes just outside the grand palace, I felt so disappointed
of wasting my time crossing the river but I have to be positive and enjoy my
holiday here.
Please bring enough cash when you go out, I
ran out of cash and headed to the banks to exchange but I haven’t brought my
passport with me so I was looking everywhere but he banks won’t do transactions
without your passport so my last resort is withdrawing from the atm machine. It
is not advisable doing this otherwise the exchange rate will rip you off.
Beat the heat of the sun and bring some
water to keep hydrated.
Grab is not allowed in the grand palace so
you can book grab a taxi for your convenience.
Next destination, I went to Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
I rode tuk-tuk coming to this place and it's
about 20 minutes ride from the grand palace and paid him 100 baht. It is my
second visit here but I have enjoyed here compare last two years back. We just
passed by last time now I’m literally outside the palace. Took cool photos and
headed to my third destination.
The third destination- I headed to Wat Suthat Temple
and The Giant Swing.
The entrance fee is only 100 baht and here is quiet and less crowded but still, the temple is amazing.
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| THE GIANT SWING |
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| THE GIANT SWING |
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| WAT SUTHAT TEMPLE |
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| WAT SUTHAT TEMPLE |
The entrance fee is only 100 baht and here is quiet and less crowded but still, the temple is amazing.
After a long day of gallivanting, I went to
the bathhouse for some hour and had dinner in Siam Paragon. The food was
delectable and I only paid 900 baht for three of us with my new local Thai
friends. After having dinner, I went
home via BTS Train. It was Friday and traffic is expected everywhere so I need
to drive early to the airport.
And that’s my 21 hours well spent time in
Bangkok. As a traveller, you need to be flexible and strategic. Make everything
easy, enjoy have fun.
Thank you! Khon Krub!
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Twitter: @mister_aquiman
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Email: khentaquiman@yahoo.com
