The Long Awaited (long) post for my Bangkok Trip

Tiger Airways service was fantastic. URGH. I was being sarcastic here. Our 7am flight got rescheduled to 12 pm and we receive no notice or announcement or whatsoever. Imagine waking up at 4 am, reaching the budget (bus) terminal at 5, waited for another half an hour or so, and only upon asking the counters about our flight, we were then told that the flight got rescheduled. The reason? Some (unexplained) operational issues. WTH. The staffs were unapologetic and they just told us matter of factly that’s just how things work at Tiger.

So people out there, never, NEVER take Tiger Airways. My experience with Jetstar was way better.

While waiting, we did random stuffs and had a grand tour from T1 to T3.

Loikrathong Festival

“ “Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk, decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Deepavali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year. According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot.”

- From our trusted source, Wikipedia.org

In Rome, do as the Romans do. So since the Thais are celebrating this festival, we joined in for the fun of it.

Pat Pong

This picture summed it all.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar

It’s great shopping here if you are looking for some interesting art pieces or home accessories but I must say the prices are at the pricier side compared to other markets/malls. The food stalls served some good food too!

Birthday Boy

Sigh, if only I know Macromedia flash, then you will be able to see that if every picture here were placed in a sequential order, his head is actually moving in a funny manner.

Vertigo

“Vertigo is unlike any other bar-cum-restaurant in the world: some 61 floors above the streets of Bangkok, this open-air rooftop lounge grants views that simply take your breath away. Stylish, sophisticated and reaching for the clouds, there is no better place for a romantic tête-à-tête, glamorous cocktail party or fashion launch than this. Indulge in barbecued seafood, champagne and a wide selection of cocktails, wines-by-the-glass and non-alcoholic drinks. ” - banyantree.com

A roof top bar with good crowd, superior service, and an alluring ambient serves cocktails at a very reasonable price.

Shoshana Restaurant

This little restaurant hidden at a corner of Khao San Road was fiercely recommended by Amanda who frequent Bangkok as often as us taking the train in Singapore. Ok, I exaggerated a little over here but this girl should seriously be awarded the Thai-Bangkok Ambassador title.

This place serves some enticing and reasonably priced Middle Eastern food. It’s truly a rare gem and an excellent recommendation.

Note: The hunger in me resulted in me gobbling up my food before the camera was taken out.

Bed SupperClub

A replica (aka ripped off) of the original Supper Club in Amsterdam. We went on a quiet Thursday and Jason almost fell asleep. After all, it’s a BED supper club.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho also known as The Temple of the Reclining Buddha. A tourist should always visit some cultural and historical sites instead of merely thronging through the malls and markets.

Chatuchak

Chatuchak is not merely a shopping paradise, but also a petting zoo! I was hoping to find something more exotic like alligators but the rarest species I found were lemurs.

What were the Thais thinking? Having beetles and squirrels as pets??

Khao San

Caucasians, backpackers, street walkers, boozes, cheap and clean massages, hair braiding, banana pancakes and fake IDs! An exhilarating place to be!

If not for all the nerve-racking meetings I have with the interviewers and my thesis professor, I will probably try braiding some of my hair.

Ok, the banana pancake is not exactly the same pancake we all know, the soft, fluffy ones in Mac Donald’s. It’s more like banana prata but it’s still good nonetheless.

The Most Common Phrase?

The most common phrase used by the Thais?

(1) Can I have a new piece? “Same Same”
(2) What size is this? “Same Same”
(3) Free size? “Same Same”

He loves this shit.

Inexpensive, awesome, thirst-quenching and brain-freezing road side ice coffee.

I love Bangkok! I surely hope that all the protest and riots will stop soon so that the rest of the world can visit this lovely place which used to be known as the “Land of Smiles”.