Bangkok 24-29 Feb - Day 4

We went shopping on the third day. The Fourth day, after Katie left for home, Arai-san shown me to the Jim Tompson's house in Bangkok. Entrance fees is 100 baht per person with guided tour. Choose a language from either French, Italian, German, Chinese, English,... Jim Thompson, is known as the founder of Thai Silk and was disappeared in his aged 61 while having his vacation in Cameron Highland...
Lotus

More lotus

Lotus?

According to the guide, Thai people will put this everlasting flowers on the foam and presents to the King in his birthday

Me in his beautiful yard

Bangkok 24-29 February - Day Two con't

Can you believe that these are street dogs?

She seems so laid back. Sun bathing at the entrance of a Wat is so COOL!

Me with Lotus at The Palace

Bangkok Day 2 - Part two

'The Palace" - One of the tourists' attraction. I think this fancy the "guai Lou" alot. For me, I dont really interested in the history.

I suppose these are symbolising the guardian of the Wat??
You can see beautiful lotus everyway in Bangkok

One of my bad experience in Bangkok, the local are rather rude, not as what I heard and seen in Koh Samui. Local people in Koh Samui are so friendly and enthusiastic to the tourist. They smile to everyone, they greet "Sawadi Ka" , they try to be nice even if they don't really speak English. Well, Local in Bangkok are so much like some of the European countries now. They are very proud of being Thai? Or the English ability is not so high, then it turns up to sounds like speaking rudely? I'm not so sure. But I don't have much good impression in this aspect.

The Second bad experience is been cheated by the Tuk Tuk Car driver. After we visited 'The Palace', we wanted to go to a pier which is near to a flower market. A Tuk Tuk driver said he can drive us to 4 places with only 20baht. He penned down on the map that Katie was holding and insisted that we have enough time to get to the flower market and catch the latest boat back to BTS station. We thought that we still have time to kill, so we jumped in to the Tuk Tuk. The first Wat he drove us to is under renovation, we spent 5 min there and went back to the Tuk Tuk. Second Wat was also under renovation.... The third and fourth place are where he so call Jewelleries wholesellers. We went in for less than 5 min each, nothing fancy to look about and guess the shop keepers there already knew we are few of the little 'goat' that being cheated. But at that time, of course they didnt tell us. But one of the shopkeepers did told us to go back to the Tuk Tuk as the driver was waiting for us.

After that, the Tuk Tuk driver told us that he will drive us to one more Wat. We refused to go because we are not interested at all. BUT, he was so NICE to insist that destination. When we reach there, he collect money from us. Katie told him we are not yet in our destination so we will only pay to him when we get there. Later when we came out from the Wat, his Tuk Tuk, and of course the driver as well, were not there. We waited for a while and decided to go to another side of the Wat to look for him. And he was really there! He stood at the corner and was reading newspaper when we found him. He told us that he has no time and asked us to get another Tuk Tuk to go to our destination, and dont have to pay him. And immediately he walked us to the main road and stopped a Tuk Tuk. The 2nd Tuk Tuk driver told us 80baht. It's such a big difference of the first charge and the second, so Katie bargain with him. "20baht for 2 persons". And he said 'OKAY". But what happened next?

He asked for 80baht when we get there. Katie argued with him.....I advised Katie to pay him as I'm too scared of the driver. And of course there are more stories about being cheated in Bangkok..but well, just be more cautious next time!

Bangkok Day 2

Day 2 Sighseeing: 1st stop - Float Market

We woke up around 5:30am and left hotel at 6:15am by taxi to Southern Bus Terminal. Later we went to the Dao Summon (not sure if spell correctly) by spending a road trip in a bus for two hours. The bus driver stopped at one of the private boat company site, guess he will get some commission from 'selling us' to the operator. The first operator sell the ticket at Thai baht 900 / person. We walked away to another one hoping to get a Tuk Tuk to the pier. But the second operator wanted to charge us 300 baht / person. Of course we didnt paid. We decided to walk to the pier and try to get a cheaper operator. The sun was really hot and luckily half a mile down the road, we were able to stop a Tuk Tuk by paying 50 baht to the driver. Finally we negotiated and get into a boat with the price of 300 per hour. The ride wasnt so much of fun as the operator kept pushing us to buy souvenirs from her friends' stalls. And I dont find it interesting eating on the boat. When we finally get back to the pier, the lady who operated the boat yelled at us. Guess what? She asked for tips!
This a one of the few shots I have taken from the boat. I like some of these handicraft but I was too afraid to ask for price because they will be very hard to call off if I decide not to buy.

Bangkok Feb 24 - 29

The Inn Saladaeng Hotel We found this hotel from Internet and confirmed reservation for only the first night. That is because the price seems too cheap compare with others and we couldnt believe that. When we first arrive, the Thai lady who duty at that time said we didnt confirmed the reservation so there's no room for us. I was so shock and luckily I have printed the confirmation email from one of the staff. And finally we got a room at level 2. Standard room at Thai Baht 1200.

Room size is very small, only good for a double bed, a dress table, a small fridge, and an attached bathroom. Small, but is good for two.

The reception lobby is well decorated with great colors combination. There are some pictures hanging on the wall and fresh flowers on each coffee table.

Every corner is well designed - the steel on the ceiling, the books/magazine corner, the flowers on the reception counter, the coffee tables and well as windows...just so nice!

Second and third night, we shifted to a superior room. We paid Thai Baht 1400 per night. This is slightly bigger than Standard room, but the fridge is much BIGGER! I think for more comfortable stay, superior room is just nice.

Rating for this hotel:

1) Room interior and cleanliness - 9 (the towel is not clean on third night)

2) Hospitality management staff - 5 (the booking system need to be revised. No online booking make it hard to confirm the booking. There's a little conflict between a guest from Europe with the reception staff due to the booking discrepancy. The staff can converse in simple English. But there's still rooms for improvement, I mean friendliness.)

3) Location - 10 (Perfect - secluded in a quiet street, peaceful and safe area but yet 5 minutes walk to reach the main room in Silom. Somemore, there's a BTS and MRT near distant, hawker stalls and small shops nearby.)

Overall: Highly recommended for whoever budget concern and need somewhere safe, clean and convenient!

Chinese New Year 2008

Fuo Guang Shan Zhen Chan ShiThis temple is nice decorated with lanterns and flowers everywhere. I would said this is much nicer than 'Tian Hou Gong' in terms of the landscape. Probably because of the land size in Fuo Huang San is much bigger too.

My camera batt's ran out after a few shots and surprisingly they dont sell batteries anywhere withing the temple. (They sell books, vegetarian processed foods, ... but not battery. :(Me with lanterns. Pictured by my sister, of course I edited. :)

Nexus Resort Karambunai

Jan 25 - 30, 2008

Before I arrived, I had a mind full of dreams to swim in this pool. But the tight schedule of works was only allowed me to watch other guests having fun dipping in the water from the deck at Horizon lounge, while working on my computer.

Well, at least can take some pics in between of works. Took this pic while walking towards Penyu Restaurant for breakfast one morning. I never knew that Lotus is only bloom in the morning before the weather get too warm.

Here I sat down under the coconut tree for a break, trying my vest imagined that I am in a vacation. The soothing breezes blow away all the life's discomfort, for a moment


I bought this from Centre Point KK with RM9.90

Nice color and good price..wanted to buy more but guess I can wait till my Bangkok trip in Feb.

I had my breakfast here almost everyday for the last week. Not only that, had my lunch and dinner here most of the time too. What? No, no, is not what you think. The food they serve here is just "so so". Not much choices in the Menu, but still better than Kingfisher. Most of the dishes in the Menu are Malaysian cuisine, the so called exotic Malaysian food to serve 'guai lou'. For a pure Malaysian like me, I don't really enjoy it. I had pasta for three times here.