Tnx Maxim..but this is a biz trip and I only need nice reasonable halal restaurant close to my hotel at Soi7 sukumvit...Oriental is too far away..in Silom & distanced away from Sathon pier BTS too...

This post has been edited by stimix: Jul 21 2007, 09:23 PM

No need pastport.. This is the 1st time I heard....That border pass only for ppl leaving in states bordering Southern Thailand & it is for that regions' only...
How much..It can be as low as RM200 to as high as RM700 or a return ticket...just check the website....Exp..depending on your budget...but don't hope much on BKK pricing most of their goods are almost similar to KL pricing....

Just touched-down after a tiring working trip to BKK 2hrs ago...It is raining season now in BKK...and due to the jam, It took me >2.5 hr to reach my Hotel in Nana, sumkumvit from Bangna!! a distance or <20KM...Road side food surrounding sumkumvit seem to hv inflated from last yr pricing..price of pad thai/caarot cake (road side) start from 30bath for last yr 25bath. MBK food court pricing almost similar wth starting price from 35B onwards..otherwise..restaurant food around Sumkuvit is damn pricy wth pad thai/ or simple fried rice start from 60Bath!!

T-shirt hunting....no way getting less than the cheapest at MBK which is ficed at 99Bath!..Grade A selling at 199Bath all fixed...Suan Lum nite bazaar..T-shirt starting at 250-350Bath and it is up to u to bargain downwards...pheww...Nothing compare to the cheap pricing in KL....BTW, the toll way surrounding BKK is at 40bath/entry..& similar to KL so many tolls in BKK...damn pricy!....Petrol price =30bath/ltr & diesel at ~26bath/liitre....no wonder the infaltion in BKK so terrible...

This post has been edited by stimix: Jul 27 2007, 02:14 PM

Bro, Do u know that Khao San road is not so convenient although it is a heaven for Mat Salleh backpackers There is no nearby MRT or BTS to al major attractions and the only transport to everwhere is either Taxi or tuk-tuk..Better stay soemwhere near to BTS & MRT line...

This Soi 17 at Din Daeng is about 11KM away from Central BKK...and it is about 4KM away by road from Catuchak & about 600M away from the nearest Suthisan MRT station..so should be OK but abit far away from Central BKK-lah....Well atleast it is not far from the underground train..

Check this GPS Bangkok zoom out map from http://rotweilermaps.com/..on the location of Soi 17 to the MRT & also to the central bkk shopping district at MBK/Siam Paragon:



I used this map extensively in Bangkok and just luv the accuracy...to get it just visit the website & make some donation..



This post has been edited by stimix: Aug 16 2007, 06:53 PM

The map is inside Mapking official website. but it is not free. If u'r staying for only 3 days, what u can do is to open the 3 days trial maps once u'r in BKK...no need to pay....Easier try to the get the Garmin free map of BKK from mapcenter


I believe they hv as this is universal chinese celebration. However just like M'sia, it will not be an official holiday. Thailand's Nine Emperor God festival will be even better compare to M'sia...imagine having guns, bicycle rods & etc piercing thru the mouth....

Khao San road is located about 4KM Northwest from the nearest MRT at Hua Lamphong Raiway station. U can walk if u are strong enough & I did walked 5KM from my hotel in Rama 4 to Chinatown !...

more info of Khao San & the surrounding cheap hotels here:

http://khaosanhotels.com/

Chinatown (Price cheaper but only wholesale & up to 6pm only, Patpong - Nite market very similar to Petaling street, Khao san road but far from MRT/BTS & shops surrounding Nana BTS at Sumkhumvit.

U can check for urself via Air Asia / MAS /Thai airways websites & compare the rate...But for sure u won't get it cheap this time of the year unless u hv book 6 mth earlier.

I booked an AA flight to BKK 2 weeks b4 departure in Jul'07 at it cost me RM600 (Inc of tax, fuel surcharge & handling)....If by MAS/Thai should be around RM900-RM1000. (All to & fro)....If u hav booked earlier let say during promotion..u might be getting ~RM250 to/fro to bkk by AA

OK-lah..the nearest Sky train is ~1KM from the hotel

Just to add to what WK wong mentioned about the "real" floating there (~100km from BKK)...Yes it is correct that when u reach one of the many boat operators there..they will charged crazy prices up to 2000bath!! and those guys are like gangster! I decided to turn off and asked my taxi fellow to go bck Bangkok until that gangster decided to lower the price to 900bath Still very expensive but no choice oledi comes all the way from BKK.

Beware as I think the taxi fellow do get commision from those operators too. because u will be shocked if I tell u the taxi fare is only 800bath to & fro. The safest way to go there is buying some of the package tour which is about 800bath/pax (Also expensive )

Actually the main highlight of BKK trip is actually the Floating market!! Dun miss this once in a lifetime experience ..really crowded wtl tourist & boat merchants...worth the money spent although pricy!! ..If u really good on bargaining go on urself (Taxi ~800bath, boat renting ~1000bath -2000bath) or else go for numeorus package tour of 800bath/pax......

Another must is to buy the 100bath/pax Chao Praya tourist pasport to hop from one jetty to another using the famous BKK water taxi...really an interesting experience...I enjoyed both the floating market & Chao Phraya river taxi experience more than shoppings & temple visisting..oh btw..do visit BKK Chinatown too but during the day (Chinatown closed after 5PM!!)...It's interesting to window shops at the never ending street peddlers from the main roads till every corners of the backlanes & sidelanes...total Chao..but

(BTW..this Danuek Saduak floating market is the only real surviving floating market. those in BKK city centre are oledi dead or only small boat peddler not worth visiting....The boat man also charging about 1000bath to goto to those small & dying floating market in the city..not worth it....This Danuek Saduek is real!)

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 14 2007, 11:12 AM

Here is my suggested additional itinery in blue:

Actually, Asia Hotel is the best located Hotel in Bangkok as it's integrated into the Skytrain route..walk out from lobby and that's Skytrain... ..I din stay there too but read lotsa of nice review on this centrally located hotel at virtual tourist

Haha what to do ..really pissed off at that time...sumore that guy told me that's special price. If stopped by the authority, tell them I'm paying 1500bath not 900bath!! Chiss...mana ada Polis in middle of canal!! Yes the photo taking is common everywhere..even in Malaysia too...just like the Genting Snow world ..

I think he meant Thai Girls show... ..never seen any in Bangkok but twice in Phuket... ..nothing much just a couple ML on the stage... but b4 that u will be treated to nxdx ago-go & circus performance using certain body organs & etc..

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 20 2007, 12:53 PM

Also look for the open air altar wth gigantic penis (Yes the P )...They do pray that inside wat Po!!

Aiyah..put it simple,,there is a statue of Penis under one of the tree begind the main wat.

No -lah..all business activities at Chinatown closed after 6pm..Chinatown famous for bulk or wholesales items. So in order to get cheap u have to buy a dozen of similar item!

The only nite market will be the Sum Luan at Lumpini park, Patpong & road side sellers at Sumkumvit & Khao sang road...Even Pratunam closed after 6pm!

Yes Chinatown food outlets & chinese restaurants are opened at nite but not those "Chee Cheong kai" stuff such as shoes, bags, t-shirts & etc...all close by 6pm...

Pretty far away from nearest MRT/BTS...I think the nearest is via the last MRT to Hua Lam Phong Station. From there u can take a Tuk-tuk or taxi (Preferably taxi) The distance from the MRT to Khao San road is another 5KM North West from the MRT station. U hv to past thru Chinatown first..so what u can do is shop around Chinatown (Walk for another 1-2 KM from Hua Lam Phong) & take a cab to Khao San road further North from Chinatown