Travel Footprints

From http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/178466/bangkok-in-shambles

I can’t believe the riots in Bangkok elevated to this intensity already! We were in Bangkok last April 10 for our flight back to Manila from Kathmandu and the security checkpoints along the highway from the airport was enough to scare us off and stay as far away from the city (and closest to the Suvarnabhumi airport). And, good thing too, because it was during that time that a large crackdown on those anti-government protesters occurred leaving at least 15 people dead and almost a hundred more injured. Now, the so-called Red Shirt protesters are torching the city! Tsk.

My distinct memories of Central World were shopping for shoes at Nine West about a year ago (the great Thailand sale!) and meeting a friend for coffee at the main lobby of Offices at Central World. I’m sure they’re gonna find a way to rebuild the mall somehow. I just hope the situation in Bangkok settles down peacefully in the next days.

If you don’t see the video, click here!

Since we have more than 12 hours of transit in Bangkok en route to Kathmandu via Thai Airways, it was important for us to find a place to stay where we can rest and have a good night’s sleep. We found out from the internet that there is a day room hotel just within Suvarnabhumi Airport called Louis Tavern Day Rooms. We’ve never stayed here before (which was probably a good thing) but like they say, there’s always a first time for everything.

We got a double room good for 10 hours which looks like this –

Pretty cozy eh? Especially when you compare the atmosphere to the airport scene just outside our room’s window –

The room also comes with free snacks and buffet breakfast –

as well as a hot shower right inside the airport!

The catch? This little airport luxury sets your travel budget back at USD197 for 10 hours. Minimum allowed stay in the Louis Tavern Day Room will cost you around USD115 but only for stay of 6 hours. Not such a good idea when leisure travelling on a budget but great for stress-free business travels! Hehe. We will definitely stay in another hotel on our way back to Manila :p

We’re leaving for Nepal today. After months of training and travel planning, our Nepal holiday will finally start today. It will take us 2 days – today and tomorrow – to travel to Kathmandu alone (Thai Airways flight has a stopover in Bangkok). We are expected to arrive in Kathmandu mid-day tomorrow.

During the weekend, we once again scoured outdoor shops for additional gears we will be bringing along for our trek. It was important for us to bring thermal clothing that are water-resistant AND lightweight. Majority of the gears we bought were from Columbia. We even got to be certified Columbia Titanium card holder because of our ‘loyalty’ to the brand. We hope Columbia lives up to expectations during our trek in the Himalayas. And we do promise to give a gear review after our trip along with the other gears we bought (e.g., North Face, Aigle, Habagat) from ROX.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we will be safe and sound (and comfortable!) throughout the trek. In the meantime, cheers to pad thai and tom yum soup as we take time to relax in Bangkok first before the next great adventure of our lifetime!

In my recent trip to Bangkok last year, I was lucky enough to have experienced the Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand. This photo shows the flower-and-candle offerings that were made available to us by the Imperial Grand Palace Hotel where I was attending a conference. Loi Krathong, also called Festival of Lights, is celebrated every year in Thailand as a ceremony to honor Buddha.

Found myself back in Bangkok in October this year just because it’s the birthday month! I’ve always liked Bangkok, it’s one of the few countries I frequent most next to my own beloved Philippines. Here are some of my trip highlights in photos –

Noodles! My first meal for the trip as soon as I arrived in my hotel room. I can eat noodles everyday while in Thailand. Of course, this is paired by a spicy seafood salad, one of Thailand’s signature dishes (just don’t let the chillis scare you). Yum!

Passing under the RamaVIII bridge during the Chao Phrya River Cruise where we had our buffet dinner…

…together with friends from all over Asia! The picture below shows a good professor from Hong Kong, Dr. WT, teaching us how to do a real Chinese dragon dance during our Welcome Dinner –

Good times!

Aside from the fab shopping bargains, some of the things I got accustomed to in Bangkok are -

Temples! A view of the Grand Palace at night by the Chao Phrya River.

Busy highways with colorful taxis

Fascinating culture (these are books I found in my hotel room, never mind that I don’t understand a word in it)…

…Suvarnabhumi airport! I once found myself stuck in this airport for about 12 hours due to delayed connecting flight before the airline finally decided to get all passengers a room in a nearby hotel. Glad to have made it through the 12-hour wait with all the book/gift shops and restaurants inside the airport. Something I wish our own Ninoy Aquino International Airport would someday offer to weary travellers as well.

Sawasdee Bangkok! ‘Til we meet again

I’m writing this post for my sister. Because she is going to Thailand for the summer with friends, and i had to answer endless questions about their itinerary and details. And so, for my sister’s benefit, here is a snapshot of where i have stayed in Bangkok so far:

BACKPACKER’s PLACE: Suk 11 Hostel (http://www.suk11.com/) Price range: 10-20 USD

I love this hotel. The backpacker’s capital in Bangkok may be Khao San Road where you can get uber-cheap accommodations, but i like the urban serenity and unique character Suk 11 has to offer. The room rate is cheap too. The last time I was there we only had to pay for something like Php500/night (room with own T&B with free breakfast). Right outside the hostel is a local restaurant (must try!), two massage place (the luxurious version and your normal run-of-the-mill thai massage place), post office, a bar called cheap charlie, parlor etc. Basically, it’s a comfortable zone where you can interact with locals and foreigners alike. And it’s walking distance to the BTS (Nana Station) along Sukhumvit Road, the main thoroughfare in Bangkok.

AVERAGE: Asian Institute of Technology Hostel; Price Range : 20-40 USD

You read that right. i stayed here for about 3 weeks in 2007 and again in 2008 and this falls into my category of average accommodation. It IS a campus hostel anyway. It is clean and it is cheap. I love the fact that they offer free Internet though. Just ask for a LAN cable from the reception desk. Food is available in the restaurant too but there is a time limit for orders in the evenings. Oh, and it’s FAR from the Bangkok city center! Taxi from the airport cost about 700THB one-way. Definitely not ideal for a Bangkok holiday trip.

MODERATE: Ambassador Hotel; Price range: 40-60USD

This first hotel in Bangkok i’ve ever stayed in. It is old, nothing really fancy. A Thai-Canadian friend i met in this trip to Bangkok even shared that they used to go to this hotel when they were young to see the pet zoo they kept there. No zoo at present but it can be a jungle in there especially when you find yourself in a crowd during some trade fairs/exhibits. No regrets for me, though. It was during my stay in this hotel that i found Suk11 hostel. Yep, the Ambassador Hotel is located right across the Suk 11 hostel. I discovered it when i decided to try the local restaurant right outside the hostel. You just have to find your way inside the cul-de-sac behind the 7-eleven store.

MODERATE: S.D. Avenue Hotel (http://www.sdavenue.com/) Price range: 40-60USD

Located somewhere near the old Bangkok international airport, this hotel felt to me like it was in the middle of nowhere. Too many roads (and a flyover!) in the vicinity of the airport and not much to see. Since hotel internet is way too expensive, I found a cheap place for internet one block away from the hotel in what seems like a row apartment converted to stores. The owner do not speak English but we got by thru punching in number in the calculator when i asked for the rate per minute. The nearest mall is an obviously newly-built Tesco so at least there is a place to buy your usual Thailand souvenirs (tamarind, etc). The good thing about the hotel, though, is its proximity to Chao Phraya River where we were able to enjoy a sumptuous dinner crusing by. 

MODERATE: The Grand President Park Hotel (http://www.grandpresident.com/) Price range: 40-60USD

This is the third hotel i stayed in within Soi 11 (where Ambassador Hotel and Suk 11 Hostel) is located. You can say this is the little strip in Bangkok i am most comfortable with. Where your craving for mexican, thai, or italian food are satisfied with just a stone throw’s away. I even found a bridal store somewhere a bit far (but walking distance) during the time i was doing our wedding preparations. I swear i think i may have tried the 30-baht noodle meals for each trip in this area. The only con for this hotel was that i stayed in Tower 3 and you actually cross the busy street of Soi 11 before you can get to the restaurant to have your breakfast.

EXPENSIVE: Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok; Price range: 60-100USD

This hotel is the place to be when you want to treat yourself to an ambience of relaxation and luxury. The pool is huge and enticing. There really is nothing much to see when you step outside so it is better to stay indoors and enjoy the hotel facilities. You have to take a long walk to reach the mall and the BTS (Chidlom and Ploenchit station) and the surrounding structures are mostly embassies.

EXPENSIVE: Imperial Queen’s Park; Price range: 60-100USD

You have to walk two blocks and cross through a public park to get to the BTS station. My stay in this hotel was memorable because it was the time of the Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand. We got to make an offering to the waters at the park, behind the hotel. Inside the room, the lighted candles in the park was visible from the window.  Pretty amazing. Oh and while lounging in the hotel bar in another night, a Filipino band started playing. We were the only ones inside so we had the dance floor to ourselves and we did rock the night away. We know the band is Filipino because they said they were from Sampaloc (in Manila). For a long time, my British friend was saying “ask them to play something Spanish.” Which was a little weird. When the singer started singing Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? (a Tagalog song), my British friend was obviously puzzled. Turns out, he heard them say they came from Sao Paulo when they were introducing themselves as the band from ‘Sampaloc’ *lols*

I do hope you find this entry useful in planning for your summer vacation!

You know the feeling when you look at a certain picture of a place, say a crowded beach or a busy market, it looks so colorful and vivid that you can almost hear the buzz of the crowd and experience the hustle and bustle of activities? Well, that’s how I feel whenever I take a glimpse of our photos in the totally chaotic Floating Market of Thailand.

We’re lucky to have had pleasant and memorable experience of the place considering we only had the weekend to spare in this trip to Thailand. What better way to start off our weekend than to visit the scene where a classic James Bond chase was filmed 30 years ago. 

Totally chaotic and exciting floating market of Thailand

Mr. Rono and I trooped to the tourist attraction situated 110 kms west of Bangkok with some friends to the Damnoem Saduak, more popularly known as the Floating Market. A flurry of activities met us as soon as we got off our rented van. Clearly, it was going to be an exciting day at the market.

The scene surrounding us in the floating market was vibrant with colors, noisy with chatters of hawkers and bargaining customers, definitely touristy and great fun.

We hopped onto one of the flat boats by the short landing place next to the eateries. A young man skillfully navigated our way through the small ‘khlongs’ or canals of the market. Never mind that he can barely speak a word of English to us, we were able to communicate non-verbally through hand signals and facial expressions if we want to go check out some goodies in some of the shops by the side of the canal. 

Bargaining onboard our flat boat happens frequently as lots of goodies on display prove irresistable to tourists

It was very interesting to see a range of products being sold not just in the shops by the side but also of peddlers in boats. There are wide array of products sold – vegetables, fruits, souvenirs, household items – just like in any other market except you can get them ‘floating’ about the canals. In case you get hungry, you can even buy noodle soup while being navigated around as your boat and the vendor will skillfully match pace until you get to finish your hot bowl of soup.

Not just noodle soup, you can also get a refreshing cold drink from this lady on a boat here

Be mindful of how you look though because paparazzis, believe it or not, are everywhere. After going round the market, lo and behold, you would probably see your smiling face in a souvenir plate that says “Floating Market” (hence, the paparazzis). It was severely overpriced and they never gave in to my bargaining powers. no matter how hard. We finally bought one souvenir plate (out of the 3 available) for posterity.

Eventually, this souvenir plate was accidentally broken while on display at the house which gave away a trade secret: the photos were simply pasted on to the plate (very skillyfully I must say!) and not really lasered or something. Oh well. At least we get to keep the photo sans the display plate.