My Travel Buddies

Traveling is the true love of my life. 
                             - Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat.Pray.Love)

My passion for travel started when I joined my friend's trip to Baguio in 2001.  Weekend out-of-town trips like Puerto Galera, Batangas and more followed years after.  When I first traveled abroad in 2006 for a business trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was then that I knew I can do it on my own. 

my first trip abroad
Bound to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
November 2006

Burning with the fuel of curiosity through my veins and the accelerating excitement to see other countries like Hongkong and Singapore, I started to visit other country's tourism sites, read travel blogs and browse pictures on the net and travel magazines.  When I planned the Hong Kong trip in 2006 for 6 months, I started to scribble the bucket list of my dream destinations.  For the last eight years, the scheduled trips and planned vacation leaves had been my motivation to work hard. It then evolved from the mere fact of being in the place to getting fascinated of what I can discover.

After exploring the place myself, I find more fun in preparing the itinerary all over again and then share with friends who love to travel too. The thrill and adventure are very different when I am trying to figure out where I am heading - when I get lost and ask a local for directions.  We speak different languages but a smile and simple gestures can still make people understand each other.

We heart Spring! At Great Wall of China April 2011
L-R: Joan (on-site calculator), Anna (ITI planner), Lea (wala lang), Me (navigator), Vian (key keeper), Jen (simpleng photographer)

With my regular travel buddies like Anna, Joan and Vivian, we explored not only the beautiful places in the Philippines but also other countries like South Korea and Beijing. We are a group of independent travelers who, at the test of time, get used of each other and mutually understand the silent rules like "wake-up call", sharing of common expenses such as food, transportation and tours, amazing race-like itinerary, staying in a hostel, and most of all respect for time.  We can separate during shopping time but stick to the meeting time thereafter. 

Gyeongbokgung Palace
South Korea
May 2010

We shared the same interest in finding adventure as we figure out the country's transport system; experience and witness the culture and tradition; watch the locals way of life; taste their local food and cuisine; research for the best shopping districts (both for branded and local cheap best buys) and wander the tourist destinations (literally means walking and walking and walking!).

long stretch of Summer Palace
Beijing, China

..and on March 2013, I will be living my dream to travel only on my own.

Do-It-Your Own Tourist Visa Application for Beijing

You can apply for a Tourist/Family Visit Visa to Beijing without going through a travel agency!  We saved some money that we just added to our travel fund plus the indescribable feeling that we got it through our own efforts.

Unlike in our tourist visa application in South Korea where we downloaded the form and have it ready for submission when we arrived in the embassy, for Beijing, you have to get it from the embassy itself. So be sure to be early so you can have enough time to fill-out the form and have more time to review. (Update: My travel buddy, Anna, shared in her blog the PDF copy of the application form. Get it from here!)

When to apply:

At least a month before the scheduled flight, apply for a tourist visa.  For us, we applied for Tourist/Family Visit Visa (L) on March 22, 2011 for our April 14, 2011 flight. So prior to that, make sure that all the necessary and required documents are already available.

What are the requirements:

For first time applicants, be ready with the following:

1. Passport with blank pages and at least 6 months validity left before expiration. Photocopy of the page with your photo and passport number (in front) and the emergency contact information page (last page). Emergency contact info should be filled out.

2. Completely filled application form affixed with one passport-size or 2x2 colored photo, with white background, full-face front view, and no hat. Photo must be glued on the application form. Stapled photo and scanned photo will not be accepted.

3. Copy of round-trip ticket (if not coming from the Philippines, present an onward flight tickets)

4. Print copy of hotel reservation with your names noted as travelers or letter of invitation (from a friend or relative living in China)

5. NBI Clearance, original copy, valid for travel abroad (I renewed my NBI clearance in Park Square 1, Makati). Here is the list of Renewal and Application Centers in Metro Manila as posted by www.internetphilippines.com

6. Original bank certificate with RECEIPT or original passbook, updated within the month that you are applying (around Php60K-90K bank balance is already acceptable)

7. For employed persons, also provide the following:

             A) Certificate of Employment

             B) Photocopy of company ID,

             C) TIN ID or latest ITR

             D) SSS ID or E-1 or static information or contributions info (maybe a print-out from SSS Online.)

Note:Personal appearance is required for applicants ages 16-21 yrs old.

Where to Apply:

Apply for the tourist visa at the Consular Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China

Address: 2F/3F World Center 330 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave (known as Buendia), Makati City. World Center.

How to get there:
World Center  is located adjacent Mapua Institute and beside Planters' Bank.
Getting there can either from Taft Avenue or EDSA:
1. From LRT station (Taft Avenue), if you take the Makati Ave or Guadalupe bound jeepney, alight at the front of the World Center. But, if you'll take the Ayala-bound jeep, get off in RCBC Plaza and walk for about 5 mins  to World Center going to the direction of Makati Ave.

2. From MRT station (Buendia/EDSA), you may take jeep or FX going to LRT/Buendia and get off in the intersection/traffic light before Mapua Institute. (just tell the driver to get you off in Mapua). Cross to the other side of the street and walk for about 5 mins to your right going to World Center (towards the direction of RCBC Plaza/Makati Medical Center).


Important Notes:

·         Monday  to Friday  9:30 to 11:00 am – Acceptance of  visa application

·         Be very early when going to the Embassy. Queue would start as early as 6am.

·         Regular processing time is 4 working days. For express service, additional fees of 1,700 PHP/per for next-working-day releasing, or 1,100 PHP/per for third-working-day releasing will be charged.

·         Visa must be used within 3 months of the date of issue (this is indicated on the visa sticker), and is good for 30 days from date you enter China.

·         Visa Fee 1,400 PHP to be paid when you claim your passport with visa sticker.

Additional Tip!

   Make sure that you have the complete documents. If there's any lacking documents, you will be rejected right away or asked to re-submit (but will require another queue #).  If approved, you will be issued with a pink slip with a date as to when you can claim your visa with processing time of four days. So after four days, we claimed our visa and paid Php 1,400.00 processing fee. As easy as that!

Note: Credits to Anna for sharing some info.

South Korea Spring/Summer Trip: Everland Resort

Unexpectedly Beautiful!

After Kimchi Museum, we then made our way to the bus stop going to Everland Resort.

There are lot of theme and activity parks inside the Everland Resort -Everland Theme Park, Carribean Bay, Home Bridge, Glen Ross Golf Club and Hoam Art Museum and Transportation museum. Our main destination for the day is only Everland Theme Park. 

Ranked as the 4th theme park in the world, it opened in 1976 with a themepark, a zoo and various rides together with a world-class water park, Caribbean Bay. Carribean Bay is a separate ticket and most likely have to stay for a whole day so perhaps, on our next trip, we'll try that. 

the breath-taking and terrifying rides in Everland

Feels like we were in Alice Wonderland in Everland!

We felt like kids again at Everland!

From Seoul, there are two options in going to Everland:

1. Take Bus 5800 at Gangbyeon or Jamsil Stations on Subway Line 52

2. Take Bus 5002 at the bus stop in front of WhoRu store from Exit 6 of Gangnam Station on subway line 2.

We took the 2nd option. WhoRu store is quite small for a landmark with an arrays of large establishments along that street so just look for the bus stop where bus 5002 stops. We arrived past 2PM with travel time that took almost 1.5 hrs and can't remember the fare because we're using the T-money. When we arrived, I never thought it would be too crowded on a Thursday! I read from a blog that it was advisable to visit Everland on a weekday to avoid long queue but unfortunately, there were students from all levels having their fieldtrip.

Anyways, before going inside, we took Korean hotdog first. Entrance fee is KRW 33,000 each only because i got a discount by printing a discount coupon from their website. All foreign visitors are entitled for a KRW6,ooo discount for a group of up to four persons only. 

Am I in Holland?!

Enjoyed the fun, the magic and the lights from day to night at Everland!

Everland was celebrating 25th rose Festival during our trip so only there I saw not only different types of roses but other flowers too. Anyways, Everland claimed as the world of festivals. So from June-August, they celebrate "Summer Flash" with water parades during the day and musical performance during the night. September-October is a "Happy Halloween" with expected Ghosts' special party, of course. Come November-December, they have spectacular fireworks named as "Magic in the Sky", a beautiful Christmas tree and an extraordinary magic garden of course. I can only imagine the "Avatar-rose tree" will become a magical Christmas tree. And finally, March-April, they have Tulip Festival. Rose garden will turn into Tulip garden filled with spring fragrance. I will definitely go back in March!

Everland has five theme parks - Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European

Adventure and Zoo-Topia. We were able to go through the theme parks except Zoo-Topia because of tired feet and too much pictures =) but we tried some rides like skyway, bumpcars and the dragon coaster .

Global Fair has basically the souvenir shops, booths of different knick-knacks on the street and lots of resto.

American Adventure has the most thrilling rides such as Double Rock Spin which spinning made us scream too much although we were just watching. LOL. I sympathized with those young ones who tried it but I'm sure they had conquered their fears. We tried the Skyway ride anyways.

Magic Land has lots and lots of magical attraction and rides. This is where we saw the Avatar tree of roses.

European Adventure showcases Holland, Rose Garden and the only steepest, wooden roller coaster in the world, EXPRESS. God forbids but if I know I got a day to live, will ride that one! I like this themepark, anyways, because of Holland. Even if it is only a miniature of Holland in The Netherlands, I felt being there too. Europe is my dream destination!

Zoo-topia, is one of the reasons why I need to go back to South Korea because we missed to visit this one.

Our trip made it more memorable because of the Moonlight Parade and the breathtaking spectacle of light, flames and fireworks, Dream of Laciun.

The show ended at past 10PM so we needed to walk and run to the bus terminal to catch-up the last bus to Seoul. It was 11PM when the bus to Jamsil arrived . It was full already but we need to ride it or else we won't catch the last train back to Hongdae. The traffic is terrible even on highways and the 1.5hrs ride became 3 hrs!!! Too tired, my friends sat down the bus floor (this is something that we would never do here in Manila, ever!) but funny though, many Koreans followed us. They sat on the floor too! =)

Next Blog: 
Culture,Tradition and Palaces

South Korea Spring/Summer Trip: Yeouido Park, COEX & Kimchi

Breathing morning breeze of post Spring in Seoul..

Yeouido Park, COEX Mall and Kimchi Field Museum in just half of the day!

We woke up at 6:00AM Korea time with barely 4 hrs sleep since we arrived. That marked the start of little time to sleep and tired feet in Seoul but worth them all!

Our list of TD (to-do's) and MS (must-sees) for the day should have been ;1) Wake up call is 5AM and in the morning, we'll do some biking at Yeouido park along the 2-kms cherry blossom tree, stroll along the streets of Korea's TV channels like SBS, KBS, then Kimchi Museum. 2) After lunch at COEX, we will be going to Everland. 3) I expected to be back in Seoul by 10PM and take some walk along Seokchon Lake at the back of Lotte World.

But as part of the journey, changes can happen so with our itinerary for that day. There are factors why - long, long walk in the subway transfers, figuring out Seoul Metro exits. 
For first timers, be sure to have your feet ready for lots and lots and lots of walking so make sure you wear comfortable outfits.

Bought our T-money, familiarized the Seoul City Subway and off our 1st day in South Korea

We entered thru Exit 1 of Hongik University (just in front of our hostels' building) and bought T-money for KRW 3,000 (Php 125) at the booth. T-money is used for subway's metro and even bus transfers. There are establishments that accept T-money as long as there's enough funds in it. Funny but we really need to understand what's written on the machine and the six of us got our own T-money and even selected an option to get a receipt for souvenir and for my scrapbook, of course. After having the T-money card, we loaded it up for KRW 10,000 (Php 420) enough for the next two-three days' fare for trains and bus transfers.

Our first destination, Yeouido Park.  When we went out of Exit 2, I was expecting to see a tunnel of cherry blossoms but unfortunately, spring is already over. (Thanks God, was able to fulfill that dream in Beijing!)What I saw is a tunnel of greeny trees. So that's the cherry blossom tunnel! However, that did not bring down my excitement because we saw maple trees and other flowers like azaleas that I haven't seen before.

Directions to Yeouido Park
From Hongik Station (Line 2), transfer in Dangsan Station (Line 9) and get off in Yeouido Station.
Take Exit 2 and walk towards the front gate of the National Assembly Building.

We just walked along the park towards the National Assembly Building just killing time until the opening of COEX for our next destination. And I saw these flowers - sooooo beautiful!

After almost an hour of photo-op and it was nearly 10AM, we walked back to the subway and headed to COEX where Kimchi Museum is located.

COEX includes all - shopping mall, exhibit mall, convention place and aquarium. COEX mall caters to everybody's taste and picks with more than 260 shops, the largest underground shopping mall in Asia. The length of the mall is as long as 663 m.

So from Yeouido Stn, we transferred in Dangsan stn (Line 2) and get off in Samseong Station of the same line. We followed the directions going to COEX mall. Since it was almost 12NN already, we decided to have our lunch so we headed towards the mall's food court. Joan and I shared the lunch meal that we bought from Jeonju Bibimbap Resto composed of rice with bulgogi, mixed vegetables served in a hot pot for KRW 6,000 (Php 250). The serving is too large for one person only and all meals are served with kimchi and Korean chili paste.

How to get to COEX Mall:
Connected to Exit 5 & 6 of Samsung Station (Line 2)
I saw ARTBOX and the passion in me for notebooks and other paper products like stickers, notepads ignited!
Bought crafted notebook, funky band strips and colorful stickers that made my hand-carry luggage much heavier!

Then, we took our route to Kimchi Field Museum!

How to get to Kimchi Museum:
Inside COEX, walk towards the Megabox movie theater and take the escalator next to the ASEM Pharmacy.  Go down to the 2nd basement floor where the museum is located.  The museum is open Tuesdays thru Sundays and entrace fee is KRW3,000(Php125).

According to what I read from one of the displays in the museum, Yi Kyu Bo, a literary man in mid-Koryo Dynasty wrote about turnip kimchi. There are six kinds of vegetables: cucumber, eggplant, turnip, greenonion, mallow and white gourd. And the book also says that leaves of white raddish dipped in paste (turnip changatchi) are very good to eat during three months in summer and the salted ones (turnip changi) are endurable during winter time.

Only there where I discovered that there are so many kinds of kimchi. Good to always include museum visits in your trip. Unfortunately for me, I can't really compel myself to eat Kimchi. I'd rather eat "binagoongan". =)

Link to next blog:
Enchanting and Colorful Everland Resort

South Korea Spring/Summer Trip: Arrival Incheon International Airport

We left Manila's NAIA 3 on May 19, 2010 at 15:55 via www.cebupacificair.com and arrived at Incheon International Airport @ 20:55 SK Time, one hour behind Manila time. Upon arrival, we took the train coach for 5-min trip to the Immigration Hall.  It was almost midnight so there were few passengers at the airport. 

Incheon International Airport

Bring with you your other government-issued IDs such as SSS, Drivers’ or PRC. The immigration officers might ask randomly. Make sure that you also know at least some places to go or better yet, familiarize your itinerary. I was told that there are random interrogations of foreigners at the Immigration office. 

We passed through the immigration smoothly. We then collected our luggages and then converted some USD to KRW (I suggest that you should bring USD rather than PHP as there’s quite difference in exchange currencyof PHP=KRW than USD=KRW. However, if you have excess KRW going back to Manila, have it converted to PHP, the exchange rate is higher. You'll have FOREX gain!! =). 

After asking for Seoul Metro Map from the Airport Tourist Information , we went out of Exit 12 and looked for Exit12A, then took Bus No 6002 going to Seoul.

one of the city lights on our way to seoul captured by Lea

We traveled for an hour and a half and arrived Seoul past 23:00.  The shimmering and glittering view from the bus at the midst of  the chilly night were fascinating and we couldn't dare to take a nap.  We got off the bus on the third stop, Hongdae. One thing I want to commend and did not expect was the  very helpful bus driver (did not experience that neither in Hongkong or Singapore). He helped us lift our luggage from the bus and put them on the curb and point to us the Hongdae building across the drop-off point where Hongdae Guesthouse is located.

along the street of hongdae

From the bus stop, we just crossed the street to Dunkin Donut’s building where Hongdae Guesthouse is located at the 3rd Floor. Mary, our landlady, was kind enough to wait for us for us even at a very late scheduled flight from Manila.

Check out my blog about Hongdae Guesthouse.

Wanderer South Korea's Amazing Race - Pre Departure

my first travel with tourist visa!

Rather than having a travel agency arranged for our tourist visa to South Korea, we made a research how to apply and did it ourselves. It was too easy. Just make sure you have the complete requirements.

1. Apply for tourist visa at least 60 days before your scheduled flight.

The requirements are as follows:
1. Fully Accomplished Korean Visa form. Download the form for your convenience and fill-out prior to your schedule of applying for the visa  at the embassy. (Note: The form can be downloaded from the embassy's website too. Click the link of the embassy below)
2. Photocopy of Passport
3. Certificate of Employment
4. Income Tax Return
5. Bank Certificate
6. 2 pcs Passport size ID pictures (Canadian Visa)

No fees for stay of less than 60 days!

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines
122 Upper McKinley Road
McKinley Town Center
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634
Office Hours: 08:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:30
Email Address: dipinfom@mofat.go.kr
Contact Nos. 
Phone number: 02-856-9210

Fax number: 02-856-9024
Extension numbers:
260 – for passport
240 – for family registration and other related documents
220 – Visa 1
230 – Visa 2
302 – Visa 3 (Filipino)

Website: http://embassy_philippines.mofat.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/main/index.jsp

Taking C5 route, the embassy is after the Petron Gas Station

2. Research for the "Must Sees and Must Do", accommodation and weather.

• Start with some research. Where to stay? What to do? Understand the metro subway.
• Ask a friend/colleague of who’ve gone there already. So for me, I asked Tonee’s help who is kind enough to share her blog. From there, I got some ideas where to go and where to stay. Seoul 100 guidebook is helpful. You may refer to my blog also.
• Prepare an initial itinerary and share with your co-wanderers. Come up with common interests.  This will make your trip more fun!
• Check for South Korea’s weather forecast.You need to prepare clothing suitable for South Korea’s weather. 
• Make early reservation for your accommodation. On our first 4 days, we stayed at Hongdae Guesthouse, a dormitory-style guesthouse located within Hongik University's vicinity.  Check out my blog about Hongdae Guesthouse. Then, during our last 2 days/1night in Seoul, we transferred to Bukchon Guesthouse to experience Hanok, South Korea's traditional house. 

3. Learn about their transportation system.

South Korea's transportation system is very convenient and tourist friendly.  We took airport bus from/to the airport, took shuttle bus to the tourist destinations and most of the time the subways. We never took a cab and it was a "well done" for me!!

Here's one of the helpful links about South Korea:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_4.jsp

Sharing our actual itinerary:

Travel dates: May 20 to 24, 2010

Day 1: Thursday
AM Yeouido Park, National Assembly, COEX, Kimchi Museum
PM Everland

Day 2: Friday

AM Insadong (Skin Food), Gyeongbokgung Palace
PM Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, Namsam Park, N. Seoul Tower/Teddy Bear Museum
Day 3: Saturday
Whole day Namiseon Island
Night Night Shopping at Dongdaemun
Day 4: Sunday
AM Incheon – Sin-do/Si-Do Island (Full House Setground)
PM Anguk/ Transfer to Bukchon Guesthouse
Day 5: Monday
Whole day Nandaemun Market
Lotte Department Store
PM Flight back to Manila

Story Behind The Picture (Part II)

I love taking pictures and am working on how to take a very good shot. After HongKong, here's some of the pictures from Singapore Trip last November 2008.

travel with a child....

It was my first time to travel abroad with kid. Here is my godson, Simon Gabriel, 4 yo & my friend, Cecille's son. There are good things having kid on flight - we were on priority for the airplane front seats, not too many questions in the Immigration and most of all our sort of stopper for shopping too much. Is there any kid who would find fun in shopping???? Perhaps, this is just a practice for me when my time comes that I need to bring my own kid to other places like Singapore.

experience commuter's life

Whenever I travel abroad, I make sure that I would ride a bus other than their subway trains. In Singapore, the buses are numbered so make sure you know the bus # that will bring you to the place that you want. But unlike in HongKong where the bus stop are announced, in Singapore you should take note the # of stops or else you'll get off in the wrong bus stop. When I was in Singapore last June 2009, I tried riding a bus from City Hall and hopped from one bus stop to another until I reached Orchard Road. There were four stops. I just take note of the bus# that brought me to Orchard. In one of the buses, I met some Filipinas on their day-offs and were going to some place to celebrate one of their friend's birthday. They brought a cake, spaghetti and some chichiryas (chips). I realized that eventhough they are away from home, they still find to have a sort of family bonding with their kababayans.

foreigner kids...

I'm amazed with foreigners' kids.. how they loved to travel abroad with their kids... they let them enjoy on their own, let messed up their faces with ice cream and chocolates, run on their feet, they are always carefree...

try their food (cuisine)

After visiting Singapore Zoo, we ate at food booth outside the mall in Ang Miok Yo. I forgot the name of this menu but this is with tofu, fried kangkong and boiled egg. When travelling abroad, don't be afraid to try their cuisine, ask questions from the server and let them practice their English a little bit. If you need to practically point at the menu if you can't read them well, then do it. If you find other customers' food more appealing, then just point discreetly to their plates. Just be polite and smile. Don't be grumpy! If they end up giving you a wrong order, just enjoy it. It is part of the experience.

take a slow pace for once, take a walk and enjoy the view

When we are travelling, we tend to beat the time to make sure that we visit all the places in our list and follow the itinerary... but always take a moment to enjoy the view, walk slowly and appreciate the place. I took this picture of Cecille and Simon walking along the side of Marina Bay after we bought our coffee in Starbucks. It was 9 am and we just enjoyed the dry breeze of the wind, enjoy the sun and the humid weather in Merlion Park.

use your charm, huggle in a friendly mannger

This is in Bugis, Singapore's Largest Street Shopping. You got a freeby with a charming smile.. Shopping in flea market is always included in my itineraries. But I shop only because I enjoy it and not to spend too much. One thing that I have proven, whatever nationality, whenever the place, a charming smile could always give you discount. Observe. Be courteous. Respect their culture- their ways of living.

Try adventure.. conquer your fears

I'm adventurous in some ways but not with extreme sports - no heights pls. I loooove go carts. So when I learned that there's a luge in Sentosa, I asked Aileen to try it. But for us to experience the luge, we need to ride the skyride. It's like a swing in an open air as high as five times of Meralco posts that will bring you to the luge located at the upper side because you need to drive down to the sky ride terminal. Aileen has heart ailment and so am I but in order to get what we want, we need to conquer our fears. The skyride took about 30 minutes. If the cable car is in a confined space, this one is literally in the open space. The breeze of the wind got to my nerves that I end up singing. hahahah! I was much concerned of my slippers to drop. But it was really, really fun! And I love to try it again.

Meet some friends..

I have so many friends in Singapore.. so we make sure that we met them. I met Ate Mers in Jurong Station and gave her Lapid's Chicharon which she missed so much from Manila. Raymond met us on our first day and brought us to a restaurant in Suntec. Then, on our third day, we had dinner at his place. Melvin and his family came over too. We drank, we sang, and we're bloated. Who would think that I could eat a delicious kare-kare in Singapore? Thanks to Mae. Then, Anabi gave us a dinner treat in a Japanese restaurant in Suntec near the Fountain of Wealth.

Birthday Bash in Bangkok, Thailand (March 2008)

When I started earning on my own, I celebrate my birthday to its grandest every five years. So I gave myself a treat last March 2008 and celebrated my 30th birthday in Bangkok, Thailand with Lea. Main itinerary was to go shopping and river cruising. Never did I know that I'd be amazed with the architectural tourist spots within the City of Bangkok.

Culture & Tradition, Historical Venues and Temples

Grand Palace Temples

I witnessed how Thais showed their reverence to the Royal Family as evident to the King & Queen's billboards in every district and main streets of Bangkok. When we cruised Chao Phraya Rivera at night, the Thai band stopped playing, pause for short silence and stoop up as we passed the Grand Palace. Grand Palace once served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the 18th century onwards. However, at the present King Rama IX does not currently reside there but at the Chitralada Palace. Bangkok is somewhat relaxed as the city offers enormous amounts of getaway locations. The city itself offers many historical venues mostly temples such as Grand Palace, Wat Arun, etc. I admired how Thai maintained Chao Phraya River for tourists for cruising at night and hopping from one temple to another during the day.

Shopping, Massage, Tuktuk, Thai Cuisine

Bangkok is a haven of street smart and quality and fashionable clothes, accessories, bags and shoes. Famous for the cheap wholesale items is Chatuchak Market or Jatujak Market which is also known as Weekend Market. This is the largest flea market in Thailand that offers variety of products including clothing, household items, Thai handicrafts, collectibles, religious artifacts and even live animals. Most stalls are only open for Saturdays and Sundays. Wholesale came in 3 pieces and my tip is to haggle up to 50% of the original price. Use your charm and haggle with all your might. Speak slowly as there are some Thais who cannot speak straight English and be a little friendly. It really helps!

MBK is also one of the largest malls in Bangkok. In downtown Bangkok where we stayed are nearby malls like Platinum Fashion Mall, IT Mall and the famous night Pratunam market. If Hongkong and Singapore offers outlet stores for branded and signature clothes, Bangkok offers variety of fashionable items with unique style but of good quality also. One thing why I loved Bangkok is because of their cuisine. They are abundant with sidings and garrnishing ingredients like fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. We were too delighted with all the food that we ate in a restaurant in Platinum Mall, Riverside Cruise, foodcourt in Platinum Mall and even in the cafeteria in the Chao Phraya Pier.

Cruising Chao Phraya River during the day and View of Bangkok City at night in Baiyoke Sky Tower

Aboard Riverside Hotel Rivercruise

On the eve of my birthday, we tried the night cruising with Riverside Hotel Cruise. I enjoyed the scenic views at night, the music of Thai band and dinner of some Thai cuisine.

Chao Phraya Unlimited All-Day-River-Pass @ Baht 120 only

And on the day of my birthday, with the all-day-river pass, I & Lea cruised the Chao Phraya River and hopped from one temple to another.

Baiyoke Skytower 360 degrees roofdeck

The Baiyoke Sky Tower also offered a different experience of capturing the best view of Bangkok and beyond the metropolis to the Gulf of Thailand for 360 degrees in an open-air at the 84th floor. Being the highest hotel in Bangkok, the hotel is rising with 88-storeys above Bangkok’s skyline. The observation deck is located on the 77th floor while the Sky Walk-Revolving Roof Deck is on the 84th floor.

Here's my itinerary for this trip:

March 14, 2008
22:00 Departure from NAIA 1 to Suvarnabhumi Airport .
01:00 Arrival BKK Airport

March 15, 2008
01:00 Check-In Grand Watergate Hotel
08:00 Wake up Call
09:00 Breakfast at Grand Watergate Hotel
11:00 Chatuchak Market Shopping
14:00 Platinum Fashion Mall, IT Mall, Pratunam Market
16:30 Foot Massage at Lavender Spa
17:00 Riverside River Cruise along Chao Phraya River
22:00 Back to Grand Watergate Hotel

March 16, 2008
06:00 Wake Up Call
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Rivercruise
02:00 MBK/Platinum Fashion Mall
18:00 Baiyoke Sky Tower
21:00 Departure to BKK Airport