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| Fresh Water River Prawns |
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| Mango with Sticky Rice |
We had our firm trip in Bangkok. The last time was in Perth. This trip, my husband and our youngest joined me. I and my hubby arrived at Don Mueang on Friday, at 8:00am. Our eldest still has to go to school on that day, she arrived DMK almost midnight.
We picked up the rented car at the airport. Traffic was so bad... not as worst though as in Manila, Philippines. It took us almost an hour to get to our hotel, for a few times we missed turns/exit- GPS sometimes informed us late.
We were booked by our company at Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok. Fortunately, there was an available room, we got to check in early. The room was really great with welcome fruits. More so, we got to wake up with the view of the Chao Phraya River. Four bottles of drinking water were provided every day. The hotel is just a few steps to Sathorn Pier and BTS Saphan Taksin station passing through 3rd floor down to Krungthep wing. Mandatory bag screening thru x ray machine to enter the hotel There were Spa and Massage centers nearby at 250 baht per hour.
We did not spend much time resting, we headed back to the car for a trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park, an hour and over drive from Bangkok. Ayutthaya was once the capital of Thailand and the site of the Royal Kingdom in Thailand until it was ruined by the Burmese army in the 18th century. There was a parking area for free at the entrance of the ruins site. Public toilets are for a fee, 5 baht. Along the way to the site were number of stalls selling authentic Thai food, clothing and souvenirs. We had tried the fried pork, we call it chicharon in the Philippines, it was so crispylicious!!! We bought only the small one at 50 baht and we did regret. We could have bought the big one which was 100 baht and more to be brought back home. The fried pork we bought at MBK in Bangkok was not as good as the one in Ayutthtaya.
The Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared Unesco World Heritage site in 1991. There are four temples at the historical park that are recommended to be visited. They have the main sights of the former Ayutthaya kingdom which was ruled by 35 Kings. We could start at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet then to Wat Phra Ram and conclude at Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana. Entrance fee of 50 baht for foreigners for each temple. We just went inside Wat Si Samphet. We did not want to pay more 50 baht fee. We just viewed the ruins of the other temples from the outside. I wanted to see though the head of the Buddha in tree roots at Wat Mahathat. There were also Elephant rides at the park, I do not recommend though. I will update this blog once I have uploaded the video taken in Ayutthaya.
We left the city of Ayutthaya at 5pm. We were booked for 7pm dinner buffet at Baiyoke Sky Tower in Bangkok. Considering the traffic conditions, two hours should be sufficient. It was pouring when we reached Bangkok. Jam got worst. We made it to Baiyoke half an hour earlier. We booked the dinner thru Klook. It was our first time we used the site. There was no issue when we showed our printed voucher. We were earlier though, we were allowed to go in the restaurant. All guests are allowed to stay inside for two hours. We paid S$70.30 for the buffet dinner for two at the Balcony (indoor) located at 81st floor of the tower.. The price includes the admission to the Revolving Rooftop Deck at 84th floor. I uploaded the video taken inside the restaurant. Check it out.
Baiyoke is within the Pratunam area, known for its inexpensive markets that sell almost everything, wholesale and retail. The area is also surrounded by massage parlours and its cheaper than those near Shangri-la, 200 baht for an hour. We had our first foot massage, the car was still parked at Baiyoke parking area. The massage was not bad but not that good. We got what we paid for. Most of the massage centres closed at midnight. If you come after 11pm, they would not accommodate you.
We went back to Don Mueang Airport to fetch our youngest. It was her first to fly herself. She turned 16 on 21 August. Other airlines do not allow ages 16 to fly without an adult companion.
There you go... day 1 in Bangkok. We spent day 2 cruising the Chao Phraya River by public boat, climbed 344 steps (???) to the man made hill, Wat Saket and shopped at Platinum Mall and MBK.
The total cost of the rental was 5,000 baht for use from 24 Aug at 9am ~ 27 Aug 6pm. The total amount includes the basic insurance but excludes fuel consumption which costs us a around 1,000 baht throughout.
view from our room at Shangri-la Bangkok
Mandatory security screen to enter Shangri-la Bangkok
This was my second time stay at Shangri-la. The first was in 2012 at Mactan, Cebu, Philippines. I don't remember there was security screen back then.
Street outside the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok
Street outside the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok
BTS Saphan Taksin Station
Sathorn Pier
a major pier at the Chao Phraya River in front of the BTS Saphan Taksin station and under the Taksin Bridge.
a major pier at the Chao Phraya River in front of the BTS Saphan Taksin station and under the Taksin Bridge.
Wash area, soaps are provided
One of the ruins site at Ayutthaya Historical Park. It was the holiest temple in the old Royal Kingdom in Thailand.
Wat Ratchaburana
one of the destroyed temples preserved at Ayutthaya Historical Park
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| Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Bangkok, Thailand |
An hour foot massage after the sumptuous delightful dinner at Baiyoke Restuarant. The parlour was just a few steps from Baiyoke's ground.
There's our youngest, with her dad. She is now taller than I am, not a baby anymore.
She just arrived from Singapore. It was almost midnight then.
She just arrived from Singapore. It was almost midnight then.
To continue to day 2: Shangri-la Buffet Breakfast, Chao Phraya River Tourist boat, Wat Saket, Platinum and MBK mall.
Day 3 lunch at Baiyoke Floating Market Restaurant and view from the Revolving Rooftop Deck daytime. Not much of activities on Day 3, I had prepared for our firm's dinner and dance.
Day 4 was the last day: Terminal 21 Mall with eight themed floors - Italy, London, Paris , Carribean, Tokyo, San Francisco, Hollywood and Istanbul. Concluded the escapade at BKK International Airport.
Over-all activities were trimmed down, we decided to spend more time on shopping and massage. We had planned to spend the Day 2 in Pattaya and Day 4 to Maeklong Market and to Damnoen Saduak floating Market. Both were 2 hours drive from Bangkok and we realized it would be very stressful considering the traffic as we could have ended on the road most of the day. I was even trying to squeeze night markets every night. There would be next visit anyway. Bangkok is just two hours from Singapore by air.
Related Video:
Buffet Breakfast at Shangri-la Bangkok Next2 Cafe.
continue to Bangkok in 4 days DAY 2
Day 3 lunch at Baiyoke Floating Market Restaurant and view from the Revolving Rooftop Deck daytime. Not much of activities on Day 3, I had prepared for our firm's dinner and dance.
Day 4 was the last day: Terminal 21 Mall with eight themed floors - Italy, London, Paris , Carribean, Tokyo, San Francisco, Hollywood and Istanbul. Concluded the escapade at BKK International Airport.
Over-all activities were trimmed down, we decided to spend more time on shopping and massage. We had planned to spend the Day 2 in Pattaya and Day 4 to Maeklong Market and to Damnoen Saduak floating Market. Both were 2 hours drive from Bangkok and we realized it would be very stressful considering the traffic as we could have ended on the road most of the day. I was even trying to squeeze night markets every night. There would be next visit anyway. Bangkok is just two hours from Singapore by air.
Related Video:
Buffet Breakfast at Shangri-la Bangkok Next2 Cafe.
continue to Bangkok in 4 days DAY 2
See Also:
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Dream World Bangkok
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Phuket
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Shangri-la Mactan,
Cebu, Philippines |
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Aberdeen, HongKong
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More Places Visited in
Asia |
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