Tour the Night of Bangkok

Sawatdee krup! Hello….

Bangkok, Thailand, June 9 – 13, 2008. I couldn’t imagine in that time I was in Bangkok and enjoy the panorama. I learned so many new things about other country, such as people, heritage, foods, and many more. 

I arrived at Bangkok at 11.00 pm, June 8, 2008. Trip to Bangkok from Jakarta need approximately 6 hours within 1 hours transit at Changi Airport Singapore. Wow, I was in Singapore now, even it just at the Airport. Oooo, there is an exhibition now, Look at that real Formula 1 car. It’s Ferrari!!! Hehehe.

Subvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, the largest airport at South East Asia, incredible! Ok, call taxi to going to Sofitel Centara Grand Hotel and don’t forget to use taxi that using “meter”. Meter means “argo” in Indonesia. I have told by my friend that taxi with meter usually is cheaper than taxi without meter.

Sofitel Centara Grand Hotel, 5 stars hotel at Bangkok placed in Paholyothin district. Let’s register to check in to the receptionist. I got room at third floor. Before I go to my room, I ask receptionist about internet network at the hotel. But, I got misunderstanding there.  

I am: Miss, Did this hotel provide Hotspot to the guests?
Receptionist: Hoooo??? What you mean?
I am: Hotspot, a network that we used to email and browsing web pages?
Receptionist: Ooo, Accor (eko, Thai accent)?
I am: Accor??? haaaa??? What is accor?
Receptionist: yaa, you can use accor with your laptop! And you was reserved this hotel with accor yesterday.
I am: So, you mean that internet is same with accor?
Receptionist: Yes, it’s accor
I am: Is it free?
Receptionist: No, THB 17 (17 bath) per minute (± IDR 5.100 per minute)
I am: Oh my Good!!! It’s so expensive!! There is no free internet in this hotel?
Receptionist: No, THB 17 per minute!
I am: Ok, thank you. 
Shit!! Going to sleep!

Actually, internet is free in Thailand. But, it’s only for student. By showing student card, you can use internet with free.

First day training..What??? Training??? Yes! I went to Bangkok due to Facility Engineer General Skills 1 Training. My company, PT. CPI has been sent me and my friend, Rangga, to the training. Oh it’s 7.00 am, wake up, and wake up! Training was conducted from 8.00 am until 4.30 pm. I met other participants who come from Indonesia there are Rahma and Riyadhi and another from Thailand. Interesting, I have new friends from other country.
 
After the class, Riyadhi contacts his friends who stayed in Thailand. They are Ery and Egha. Ery and Egha will be our guides in Bangkok. 

Fist night, I am going to Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Suan Lum Night Bazaar is a market in near of Lumphini Park at the Bangkok Subway’s Lumphini Station. This market can be reached by using Subway Train, stop at Lumphini Station and going on foot to the market. 

The Night Bazaar is open from 3.00 pm to midnight, with some shops open until later. It has vendors selling gifts, clothing, jewellery, fruit, compact discs, hand-made products and fine arts, such as paintings and sculptures. There is a large beer garden, with an array of food available, and live entertainment. On the other side of the market there is a quieter area with many restaurants offering both inside and outside garden seating. I had bought some T shirts, key rings, bags, and freezer centerpieces.

What??? It is 11.00 pm now, its time to going back to the Hotel. “Stani Pompey, Stani Paholyothin”. That is sound in subway train; announce that we will arrive at Paholyothin station in a minute. At 12.00 pm, we have arrived at Sofitel. Time to sleep!

Second night, I am going to Phat Pong. Woo woo woo, what the hell this place! Oh it is an icky and dark street. The street is like a huge mall, with vendors spanning the entire place. Along the 'sidewalks' are men trying to get you to come into the sex shows, they will show you sexy pictures to rise up your desire and from the outside of bar you can see girls dressed just with bikini was dancing there . That is the fun part! They will entice you with anything to get it, but once you do go, they will change the story, and you will pay! The place is a zoo - that's a good way to explain it. Phat Pong is packed full of people, vendors, and bright lights. It's someplace you need to go at least once, though; you will not forget it anytime soon.

Back into the Training at the third day and times up at 4.30 pm! This night we plan to go to Chao Praya River. We enjoyed the river along with eat some food at the river side restaurant. One of the menus from that restaurant is flaccid bone crab. Imagine you can eat almost part of crab with haven’t to worry to select the crab’s meat from the bone. You can eat it directly. Hmmm so deliciously oily!!!.

After satisfied, we continued to Khaosan. Khaosan is a street that placed by backpackers from all countries. The street is look like Malioboro Street at Jogjakarta. So many handcraft vendors at side of road, on the street you will find pedestrians with his or her backpack and local people were showing Thai art. Sometime you will find drunken people. Nice price hotel can be found around this street. Oh, it is a tired journey!
  
Fourth day, let’s go to Siam Square, Siam Square is a shopping and entertainment area in Bangkok, Thailand. The area connects to other important shopping centers and links to the other shopping districts by Sky Bridge, such as Siam Center/Siam Discovery Center, MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Ratchaprasong shopping district and Sukhumvit.

Within Siam Square itself, there is a wide range of shops and services, including tutor schools, restaurants, cafe, designer clothing boutiques, record stores, bookshops, Hard Rock Cafe and banks. The customers vary from young-aged school and college students to office workers and foreign tourists.

Siam Square can be reached from Paholyothin by using subway train, stop at Stani Hua Lamphong. And then continue using Tuk-tuk to Siam Square. Tuk-tuk is motorized rickshaw; it’s like Bajaj in Indonesia. Tuk-tuk is named because of the sound of its engine. It’s so popular in Bangkok tourism. Commonly, using Tuk-tuk is faster than taxi in heavy traffic as weaving in and out easier. You should try Tuk-tuk, when you’re in Bangkok.  

Last night at Bangkok, Come on! Let’s look a Thai Boxing! Unfortunately, we need THB 1000 (± IDR 300.000) each person. I think it’s so expensive because local people only need THB 400 (± IDR 120.000) to see it, but foreign need THB 1000! Extortion! Let’s spend this night by enjoyed live music in Suan Lum Night Bazaar.
  
Thus all the places I have visited when I am in Bangkok. Bangkok still have a lot of exotic places, but several of it, you have to visit it at afternoon. At the night, I recommend to visit Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Phat Pong, Cho Praya river, Khaosan, and Siam Square. And if you have still money, don’t forget to see Thai Boxing.

Kop Koon, La gon! Thank you, Bye…..