Thailand - Land of Smiles & Surprise - Part 2

BANGKOK

Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city for over 200 years. Bangkok offers the international traveler a fascinating, sometimes chaotic rush of sensory stimulation – exotic sights, world-class shopping, super spas, and splendid cuisine, plus a complex mix of the old and the new – from the centuries-old temples to state-of-the-art public transport.

We heard absolutely too much about Bangkok and especially expectations of getting naughtier were much higher thanks to impression that was created by movie Hangover II. Though I always wondered when any family says we had family trip to Bangkok and Pattaya, what do they mean? Is it really a family place?

Well, but sometimes what you see is what others want you to see and exactly not how the fact may be. So when we moved to Hong Kong and met a sweet Marwari Jain friend born and bought up in Bangkok is when my perspective of Bangkok changed in big way. It’s a beautiful city, she says which is famous for being notorious but then its just limited to few areas in Bangkok and not necessarily all the districts are similar. Makes sense. Every city has its darker side, some get famous some remain in hindsight. So we made a point to give this city a chance and we stayed there for 2N3D. Our selection of accommodation went too wrong. Despite of staying in well know brand – Ramada, it was absolutely dirty and not with right type of crowd. We had sad time to accept our decision. As we stepped out of the room, we felt it to be not only unsafe but it gave wrong vibes in all sense. Anyway, what happens in Bangkok, remains in Bangkok!

Another famous thing we always heard about Bangkok was shopping, I regret not shopping from Hua Hin which had amazing places to buy tops and way too cheaper than in Bangkok. A famous market called Indra market is where the whole shopping happens, and its really just “OK”. I hate the prices they quote then you have to go on arguing and bargaining and people running behind you and touch inappropriately. So, what people find the paradise, we thought it was just waste of time to even think of being there. We were not too far away from this place by walk but Thank God we did not opt to stay in Baiyoke which lot of people advised us to do. Baiyoke is just in between this hustle and bustle and great for who like to be surrounded by happening night light around but we are clearly not those types.

Well, I may sound little negative already bout this place, but yes it was indeed a very negative feel altogether to be here. On top of everything else, taxi scams made us go literally mad and we kept wondering why ever we decided to be taking halt in Bangkok. More about scams will describe in end. It was just the kind that we faced only and only in Bangkok. It was our third occasion of being in Thailand and every time we have had best times except the Bangkok time. We had planned going to Safari and lot of temples during our stay there but we ended up just doing nothing and being in our room for some peace. 

Having said all the negatives, let me say may be we would have done ourselves good by staying in little far away urban section of Bangkok and hiring some trustworthy car rental service then local taxis. Just this two things would have ensured that we don’t have negative image of Bangkok. Nevertheless, we are done with Bangkok forever after our bitter experiences.

For you to Enjoy, please ensure two main things and you will be sorted. What can be done in Bangkok?

There are hordes of stuff to do, say, go in and around Bangkok.

Is it your first time in Bangkok? Well, prefer to stay away from Pratunam (where we stayed) if you are more of peace loving person like us and especially if you are someone who has no tolerance for bull shit you should certainly stay away from here. Next best option (considering we are pure vegetarians and prefer veg hotel) we liked the area name Sukhmvit anytime better or best would be stay near River side which has all plush 5 star hotels. However if your budget doesn’t permit too much Sukhmvit it is!

Hotels can look average and may turn out to be really cheap but one should take every review and comment seriously because with right hotel, one sets in the initial mood and aura of being in that new location. We always prefer hotel near veg restaurant which didn’t do us any goo this time though. The veg restaurant around Ramada looked quite average on photos but it turned out to be horrible, both food and services wise. So beware and work out on smallest detail of where you would like to stay.

However, it’s a good city to spend may be 3 nights if you plan to check out best of everything in Bangkok, which includes as follows:

Bangkok places of Interest

1.Golden Buddha

Located in Bangkok's Chinatown, the Golden Buddha patiently awaits visitors at the temple of Wat Traimit – all five and a half tons of him!

2. Wat Arun

The famous Buddhist temple Wat Arun actually takes its name from the Hindu god Aruna. Early risers can see it transform the reflected rays of the sunrise into a magnificent aura!

 

3. Wat Pho 

 

You might recognize the temple's huge Reclining Buddha statue, but Wat Pho is also notable for being Thailand's first public university and the birthplace of Thai massage!

4. Wat Phra Kaew

Complete your tour of Bangkok's most sacred wats at the "Temple of the Emerald Buddha," so-called for its statue carved from a single jade stone. Nobody but the king may touch it!

5. Grand Palace

Grand is an understatement! It's the jaw-dropping majesty of the Grand palace that makes it one of Bangkok's top attractions. The aforementioned Wat Phra Kaew lies within its walls too!

6. Siam Park City

In need of a respite from all this Bangkok sightseeing? Treat your inner-child (or, you know, your actual children) to the city's leading amusement and water park, Siam Park City: open daily!

Last but not the list in one of the must do is Bangkok Safari

7. Bangkok Safari Park

On the outskirts of Bangkok( 40 Kms from city), Safari World offers a drive-through range for seeing by car or one of the park’s coaches. Animal shows including a marine park, orangutan boxing and a cowboy stunt display are held daily.

It’s best advisable when you are in Bangkok to book the tour and it will take care of your transportation and everything otherwise you will have to fall prey to taxi scams unnecessarily.

We had chosen to see just Wat Pho temple and we visited Red sky bar, though we stayed in Bangkok for 2 days but our efforts went in just juggling with taxi drivers and food and accommodation so overall we couldn’t really enjoy Bangkok much but I am sure if we would have taken right accommodation and just booked the tour even if it meant extra cost, we would have much more fun and would have felt sorted. Nevertheless, you don’t repeat our mistake J

Wat Pho Temple famous for its reclining Buddha statue.                                

July 2017

Roof top bar at Red Sky, Bangkok.                                

July 2017

Well we had absolutely unforgettable moments at Thailand and I am sure every visit will continue to surprise us more. Be it culture, food, warm people or beautiful landscapes and beaches. We just wish that tourists don’t go and ruin the places with cans and bottles and plastics. It’s too beautiful to be ruined with such things. I feel so much touched when I see those beautiful corals and fishes beneath but it is very unbearable to see the trashes in between oceans. It’s we who have spoilt and we should take responsibility to keep it clean so that next generation can enjoy the beauty of these places. 

Thailand – Land full of Smiles and Surprises!

Glimpses from Thailand Tour   

Key take away from our experiences in Thailand:

For flight booking: Using sky scanner works out in the best way. Do search from different IP and book from different IP also helps in saving some bucks. As such its best to travel light so we always prefer no frill airlines which sort of makes it compulsory for us to travel light. As for Thailand, Bangkok has many many connecting flights to Phuket, Koh Sa moi, Krabi, Chiang Mai, etc so one can easily rely on Bangkok airlines for booking flights within Thailand. Also, the road connectivity and water ways are quite good there so if you want to travel Phuket but tickets are on higher side then krabi then one can go to krabi and take shuttle bus to Phuket which isn’t that expensive. So read through maps thoroughly before you start making flight bookings.

For Accommodation: For Krabi and Hua Hin our choice of hotel had worked best beacause we knew exactly what we want like we want beach side resort, near not too far Indian restaurant, it has to semi luxury, so we went exactly for such search and found our choice easily. With Phuket in both the occasions we stayed near Bangla street thinking of enjoying night life but we learned hard way that its certainly not what we prefer so would have been better to stay near Karon beach or so and for Bangkok I have said enough already :p

For Vegetarian Food: Vegetarian food was absolutely of no issues anywhere in Thailand, we found lot of Indian restaurant which served us Pure vegetarian Jain meal. All you have to do is, go to trip advisor figure out their contact make a call and confirm before booking accommodation in case if you are too selective about food.

Where to Go in Thailand: Krabi and Hua Hin was my personal best choice ma be because it aint too much commercial yet unlike Phuket and Bangkok. So it really depends on your choice. If one prefers more connectivity and sea side luxury resort without any constrain on budget then Phuket is the place to be at! I would personally love to see more of Thailand, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Sa mui, Kanchanburi to name few places I am keen to visit. Thailand is splendid with lot to offer J

How to book tours: Best way to book tours is hit the city centre find the reliable source (which is absolutely based on our intuition), ensure you don’t pay all the advance money, in fact some tours don’t take advance at all. Beware in Bangkok, book some reliable rental car services. Taxi guys can leave you bankrupt there.

SIM Card: SIM card is best to be bought from airport. Bangkok you can get for approx. 400 THB whereas Phuket Krabi entry ports have SIM Cars available for even 100 THB same data and call minutes.

Protecting Belongings: Its always advisable to buy water bags and keep your belongings safer in it. Buy Camera / phone covers for the island tours because you might want to dive in between the beautiful ocean but all you will think of is safety of your belongings.

Currency Exchange: Its quite easily and widely available everywhere. They exchange even INR at good price but off course USD can fetch you best exchange rates from the exchange shops. You will find them everywhere.

Scams to be aware of in Bangkok: You must must must read this to be aware of scams and its very to believe in them kind of scams  - http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/5-scams.htm

Also, despite of knowing all this we were scammed twice by taxi drivers. Once when we went to see Wat Pho temple that driver pretending not knowing English parked car near the goons who started following us and telling temple is closed we can take you to jewelry store by then the temple will open. So clearly the driver was one amongst those cheats. While returning from temple, whilst it costed us 200 THB to travel from hotel to temple that too just for 4 kms they didn’t settle for anything less than 400 THB and they dont come on meter and for some reason uber didn’t work of us favorably either. So it was very annoying and we preferred returning back to hotel skipping other 2 activities that we had planned.

And the mother of all scam was while we took cab from hotel to airport and about 11 PM, the driver seemed quite generous and sweet but just when we were about to reach airport he re-routed the direction in some weird place saying that he need to fill in the fuel and that we pay him 2000 THB for it. We sort of raised our voice and he locked the car and halted at some haunted place and started demanding any currency any money that we have to give it to him. Though we had agreed to pay 300 THB for the journey but after lot of pleading and crying he bought us to airport and took all THB (600 approx) that were left with us. It was insanely scary that in mid of night he took us to that scary haunted place and demanded money. So please beware of car bookings in Bangkok.