An Unforgettable Trip to Thailand

My trip to Thailand is on Dec 7 - Dec 13, 2006. I was damned tired coz I didn’t take a direct flight from Jakarta to Bangkok. The several flights and continuing by boat to across from Batam to Singapore give me a lot of troubles. The purpose to make the travel cost lower has turned the other way round. It gave me double cost, which I did regret it later on, since I lost my flight when arriving in Singapore. I have no idea that it will take around 45 minutes from Harbor Front to Changi by MRT.
The returned flight of Jakarta-Batam costs only USD 43.35. It's very cheap in the current season. Crossing from Batam to Singapore by boat called Penguin Fast Ferry is SGD 21 (the two-way ferry ticket). You can easily find its locket inside the harbor. As for the advance booking, you should call their office in Batam centre: (0778) 467 574, 460092-93. If you carry a lot of luggages, it's more convenient by letting them be in cargo. After we arrived in Harbor Front, we can claim our luggages. As far as I remember, there's no charge fee for it, but when I was back from Singapore to Jakarta, I had to pay IDR 5,000 per luggage (USD 0.54). Well, I'd better to pay the luggage charge than carrying it alone to the deck.

Harbor Front is very amazing. To me, its architectural landscape is as splendid as the ones in Orchard. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes where people can relax whilst sipping their hot coffees or tea with crunchy bread in comfortable couch. I always love to go abroad during Christmas because that's the only way I can feel the real and true Christmas. In many other countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, there are big, wonderful, and vivid Christmas celebrations. Sadly that I hardly find the same experience in my own country. Using my Sony camera, not intend to promote it though, I snapped a few pictures of giant Christmas tree in the main entrance of the mall. Its tree decorations mesmerized me. There were so many cute and adorable teddy bears on the giant Christmas tree. Mmh... I'm thinking to do the same decorations to mine.

I ended up my feet at Deli France. The food taste is quite good and similar to the ones in Indonesia. I enjoyed the meal so much until I forgot to catch up my flight. Hurrily, I ran to the nearest MRT gate, and never stop running along the way to reach the Air Asia office in Gate F. I was nearly out of breath when finally arrive in the office but it was closed. After spending much times in explaining the situation and the reasons why I was late, I realized there's no use to more convincing this guy. So I begged on him to let me be in the next flight. The first time he refused to help me out but later on, he agreed. And guess what? I had to pay SGD 244 for a single-trip ticket. What I could do was just accepting his offer and waited in the Changi airport for more hours. Tragically, I waited in Deli France cafe again, where I was too much enjoying my coffee until I lost my flight! Now you all can learn from my bad experience. If you go flying by Air Asia, be sure to arrive in the airport earlier couple of hours. There's no tolerance for any late and for any whatever reasons, you name it. :(

Finally, arriving in Bangkok
I arrived in Bangkok around 9 or 10pm. I went down by escalator to queue up the cab, which took me to the hotel. The cab costs around 300 Baht. The First Hotel is pretty lousy. The bad smells of the room made me hardly slept over even though my body felt melted from head to toes.

On the second day, I woke up and was very enthusiastic to explore one of the exotic cities in the world. Bangkok, I'm ready to go!
I was so excited to see Siam Paragon mal. You know all women type, quite addictive to malls and shopping. Well, I don't consider myself as a shopperaholic, but will be freak-out for sale and discount, too. Hehe...
Okay, let's continue my story. Going to Siam Paragon is quite easy. Just walk around 5 minutes to the nearest BTS station. There are several stops before the Siam station. Once I came out from BTS, I walked through the connect bridge to the mall. Wow... it's very very convenient. No need to be sweaty. The entrance is so spectacular with waterfalls and green plants on the glass walls. Strolling around the mal for hours is very fun, even though I haven't got anything home yet. It's too early to spend money in my first day. Besides, the best way to spend money is go shopping in flea market. I heard that Chatuchak is such a good place to cheaply buy some jeweleries, bags, clothes, and many things that women must like them.

I spent my evening time to watch a cultural show in Siam Paragon. It's free of charge. Sitting and enjoying ice cream at the Cream & Fudge Factory for a while before going to aqua-theme aquarium inside the mall. The ticket is relative expensive. It's around 450 baht. But it's worth it for such good experience. They put the fishes in refrigerator, microwave, and even in a car! What a brilliant idea. The next day, MBK (Mah Boon Krong) is my destination. I bought some nice flower-shaped lights and fragrances. The average price in MBK is a bit higher than the price in Suan Lum Night Bazaar. I took my lunch, Pad Thai, over there. This yummy fried kuetiauw costs me 35 Baht plus mineral water around 10 Baht.

Feeling refresh, I continued to go to the National Stadium station to go to Central Plaza. I stopped in the Chit Lom station. Spending more few hours there, before going to Suan Lum night bazaar by cab at 6pm. My ordinary dinner, pineapple and ham fried rice, was taken in an open-space area behind Suan Lum. While finishing my dinner, I was accompanied by a boring live-local band. The tables centered in front of the performance stage, surrounded by various local food stalls. All the foods contained pork. So if you're Moslem, better packed your meal in your bag when going to Suan Lum coz it's quite hard to find any free-pork meals.

How to go to Chatuchak?
From Ratchathewi station, stop in Mochit (1) station, then walk across the Chatuchak garden, you will find the Chatuchak market which is open only on Saturday.

Chao Phraya River Excursion
Every time you across the river, you must pay 3 Baht. And pay another 3 Baht to across back from your origin point.
I bought a one-day boat ticket for 100 Baht. The last boat is at 4:30pm. But don't waste your money for a 100-baht boat ticket, coz you won’t be able to make it. I was left behind because there are so many interest places I visited. You’d better buy a single-trip boat ticket (18 Baht) which you can save your money for entering the temples.

These following places that I went:
• Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)
• Wat Arun
• Grand Palace (I went to Grand Palace twice. The first time I went there, the officer didn’t let me in due to the ceremony held inside. It was on Sunday. So I went back on two days after tomorrow. It happened again. Another officer held me to go inside. I ignored him; instead I left him and walked away to find another gate, and finally I found it. The building is so huge, so you must bear to walk for miles. It’s tiring due to the day light and the temperature is so hot. And it’s true; they held the Buddha religion ceremony. The crowd fell over the space within the building. Inside the Grand Palace, stand some buildings which are museum, cafeteria, the king palace, library, etc. Don’t miss them.)
• Happy Buddha (it is a lousy temple. I was told by the officer who didn't allow me to enter the Grand Palace in the 1st day).
• Marble Temple
• White Buddha (Marble Temple and White Buddha are in the same location, but it’s so far away from the last port. That’s why I missed my last boat).
On the way return to Indonesia, I took a cab from my hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Prepare the cash of 500 Baht each person for airport tax. The flight took me to Changi airport, terminal 1. Note: Air Asia flight is flying only in terminal 1. I went to terminal 2 by skytrain in order to take MRT to go to the Harbor Front. Take the lift to downstair, you will arrive in MRT terminal. I bought the MRT ticket for about SGD3.

The MRT route from Changi Airport to Harbor Front (there's an interchange):
1. Tanah Merah (just cross to the left side of the train: PLATFORM B)
2. Stop in Outram Park station then go down by elevator. A little bit walk for couple of mins, and go straight to Gate 6. You will arrive in Harbor Front.

In Harbor Front, I took my lunch at Noodle Hut. Well, the food is very strange and awful. Too Singaporean, I must say. Even though I don’t appraise Asian food much, but this is the worst dish I've ever had. After finishing my last spoon of noodle soup, I continue going home to Jakarta through the same way as I came to Thailand. Will write some more for my next trip. More photos are upcoming. Please bear with me.