hi just came back frm BKK , a pleasant 5 D 4 N trip.

Something to share :

During arrival, make sure you get a taxi with meter on as i have being conned for 500B to downtown. Which usually is around 300B

If you are opting for weekend market, make sure you go without carry any beg with you as when you keep on purchase it will become your burden. Plenty of food there and hefty of stuff to purchase. Lunch will cost you around 30bath with water.

Well known seafood at night is Somboon ( i went to the one at Surawong Rd ) near my hotel Trinity Silom ( walking distance ~10min ). A bit costly but the curry crab is fantastic best ever taste before. The steam prawn also is very fresh. Oster is not cheap there though ~ 200B for 2x.

Sun Luan Night Bazaar is a must before it close down. There are life band and roof area where you can enjoy soccer TV. Becareful of promoter that promote foreign beer as there are expensive ~200B. Ask for Singha which is ard 20B a very big different. Bargain is a must in thailand, Sun Luan is no exception. Cut 60% if you can else travel a bit far to Pratunam Night Market which start at 4pm, Do not buy from Boiyoke Plaza as those are for reseller ( they buy in large quantity ) So, just wait at ard 5-6pm and item will be cheaper by 50%. Note. Pratunam is a bit far from tourist area and BTS skytrain ~15min walk.

Sight Seeing for Floating Market is good also, long tail boat and sampan ride is definately a life time experiences. Item are cheap there for fruit, food and noodles etc. However, souvenier is not that cheap.

Then, we move to Elephant Ride which is near the long tail boat pier, 500B per pax and free for children is great. 2x round in the bush and across a human made canal. Free drink after that.

Next stop, Snake Farm. Entry is cheap 50bath and not much snake though but you get a free show from the 3x sifu very entertaining.

And before headed to Samphan Zoo we stop at Royal Craft Center to get some wood craft stuff.

At about 45min we arrive at the zoo and headed direct to Restaurant for Buffer Lunch then enter the elephant show, the junior jumbo is like children very agile and there is a World Cup 2007 show too.

At the same zoo we visit the crocodile farm where 2x gentlemen perform a very dangerous show by putting the hand , head into the mouth of crocodile.

On the way back, we stop by the Gem Gallery International ( which is s scam ). The promoter can speak mandarin pretty well. i told my wife not to buy as this is not a right place. But she keep attrack her to various jewelly etc. Finally, ipull her out and waited at the exit. FYI, we will get a free ride back to hotel or town. we did not took it as waited for too long ~ 45min.

Took a cab back to hotel.

Next day take a cab to Grand Palace and walk to Wat Po ( ~ 2Km away ) Then , took a boat at Tha Tien Pier8 to Wat Arun.

Learn a lesson, do not go there if you can, stress it to your tour guide.

afterall the entire trip is a pleasant one. with good food, place and ppl.

since u stayed in trinity silom, how's the hotel?

i'll b going there next week...

hi lousai, can i know what is the entrance fee for Wat Po & the fees to take boat to Wat Arun & the entrance fee. I visited Grand Palace but skip other temples coz too hot already...will try to pay a visit next time.

Haha, me too. Walk under hot sun for about 4 hours at Grand Palace. Leg toes coming out blister liau. So i skip Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn?) too. Btw, i think very cheap only la to go there as it's just situated opposite to Tha Tien dock.

I was informed there is minimal fees for foreigners to those Wats...For me I read virtual tourist tips I managed to enter those wats (except arun) free of charge! How?

At wat Po, there r 2 entrances, 1 is at the back (nearer to Chao Praya river side) & another main entrance facing inner town...as advised I took the back entrance and since nho one manned the entrance ..it is FREE. Same to wat trimik wth hv the pure golden buddha, enter from the side to avoid main entrance & again it is free.

For wat arun, If I still remembered, the water taxi fair is about 3 or 5 bath 1 way. The entrance to wat arun...This u cannot escaped..all guarded... can't remember the price but I think is about 20bath/pax

This post has been edited by stimix: Mar 10 2007, 10:54 PM

I got into Wat Pho and Grand Palace for free... muahaha...

For Wat Pho... any entrance will do. Just make sure tht you walk anti-clockwise. Anyway, the entrance fee is not expensive. Only 50 Baht.
Oh yea... if you wanna try the authentic thai massage, Wat Pho is the place (try to ask a local and they will tell you the same). About 330Baht per hour.

As for Grand Palace... You figure it out yourself~

This post has been edited by vic7or: Mar 10 2007, 11:24 PM

why must walk anti-clockwise ?

to skip the ticketing counter

Whatever you do..as said...TRY TO skip the ticketing counter!...Just act as you r local & wanted to pray or using smaller entrances at the sides of multiple entrances...dun go direct to the ticketing booth..locals dun use this main entrance, they use side or back entrance to avoid ticketing....

However these ticketing booth on major temples are the letdown to tourism in Thailand & also BALI!.....where in Malaysia u need to pay to enter mosques & temples?

Sorry for late reply, the hotel is pretty inside Soi3 right infront of Chongnogsi BTS, just walked in the soi3 abt 5 min then you see Trinity Complex On your left turn in and turn right is Trinity Silom. You can also come from Soi5 which is from another direction ( Nearest Train is Saladaeng ) and walk abt 15mins before you reach soi5 and turn left into small lane and abt 3 mins you see Trinity.

Overall, bed is superb for 1150bath, toilet is clean . Only drawback is not water boiler and little hidden( even taxi driver dun know abt it ).

But close to BTS, and Somboon Seafood ( walking distance ) and central of Bangkok Bank Office.

If you want pm me and i can scan the hotel card for you.

going in june in an "all girls shopping trip" so figure better stay in chatuchak area would be more convenient smile.gif anyone have a better idea which hotel/guesthouse or inn is ok to stay there ?

prefer between RM 50 - 100 if possible as its just a place to stay and most of the time we will be out instead of staying in the room.

chatuchak only open on weekend, i think just stay anywhere that is near to any train station so u can access to many shopping places like in siam area, suam lum, patpong, chatuchak, sukhumvit, etc etc

but if room between rm 50-100 in those places i mention & near train station really not sure

Best choise! Sam Lodge. Very near to Asok BST. Rm100 per night. Insist of taking Rm100 over Rm120. Same thing..
Alternatif u can take Youth Hostel near Soi 7. Very near to Chong Non Si BST Station. Rm90 for 3 person.

This post has been edited by adriankhoo153: Mar 19 2007, 10:24 AM

wk_wong, will be avoiding patpong area coz only 2 girls another 2 girls accidentally booked wrong date LOL !

I know chatuchak is only open on weekend but i will be there on friday till monday so guess i'm only there over the weekend anyway.

adriankhoo153
thanks, i saw sam's lodge as well. looking at a few other guesthouse. maybe i'll put up a post on my findings as i think this wud help those who is looking for cheap guesthouse as well

u scared that place is danger? i also never been there on my previous visit to bkk but i think they have a night market there, but is it near those bars or discos???

for cheap hotel, i got some in sukhumvit area:
1.)http://thai-house-inn.port5.com/ - this place is old but its clean, i stayed here on my previous visit, 700 baht per night for 2 person (divide 2 become 350 baht), the staff there is friendly and this place is damn safe!!! but its damn hard to find, its hidden, u must ask around!!! myself, my friends, some thai friends also cant find & never know bout this inn
2.) www.aircentre.net - (Business Inn Hotel) my new finding, never stay here, but around 800 baht per night. if u stay here, pls give review

Both inn is just few min walk to nana bts station. btw, when r u travelling?

hi adriankhoo153,
regarding sam's lodge, are they any website or more information of this hotel??? thanks!

wk_wong

I will be going in June 8 - 11th I have been to patpong and that area is just famous for those raunchy dancings and as there is only gonna be 2 girls so, always better be safe than sorry-la.

The night market there is nothing to shout about if compare to chatuchak I'm not sure if compare to Pratunam though. As Patpong is famous for foreigners so the price also all jacked up price for them as well ya know.

does the thai house inn includes breakfast?
i'm goiing there around july.. and i'm still finding a place to stay during my stay there
so far i have found Suk 11 which is located at Sukhumvit 11. But i have to confirm, want to make sure i get a good place..

no, thai house inn doesnt include breakfast.

i saw the link for Suk11, the enviroment is like kampung, quite fun

read from the star last nite that suan lum night market will be close. they want to redevelope the place. it was reported in yesterdays paper. hope this wont be true and they manage to keep it open though.

http://www.thestar.com.my/columnists/story...ec=Thai%20Takes

the link for those who wants to read the story.

OMG..that's shocking news! Such a nice place for shoppings and probably the cleanest & largest nite market in whole Thailand going to close!!

But thinking of Sum Luan nite market concept which is properly lay out, & proper stalls.& gigantic beer garden.. if only u can get this in Malaysia