Bangkok has been known as the city with much similarity with Jakarta, though I might say it's totally different. One of the differences is that, Bangkok has been a super friendly city towards the tourist and it's no wonder that so many foreigners come to Bangkok to enjoy their leisure time and have much fun shopping and hopping around mall to mall.
This time, I would like to give you a short shopping vacation trip, maybe for you who wants to spend a day or two at Bangkok. We arrange this trip by ourselves and there is no tour guide at all. For transportation, we rent a van (Hi-Ace) which is rent for tourist with rent fee calculated per day for maximum 10 hours/day. The rental agency will charge for the overtime per hour. Based on what I've been discussing with our driver, Mr. Chai, he said that the van is being subsidized and arranged by the transportation department in the Ministry Department to help tourists in exploring the city, which sounds powerful to me. I really hope that our Governor and Minister to be able to transform Jakarta as a tourist destination and support the tourism industry more like Bangkok.
The van is enough for 9 person, but you have to consider if you bring much luggage, then the van can fit up to 7 people in the car comfortably. Our driver is very nice because he doesn't charge us for the overtime, though we still give him more for his super excellent service. Can you imagine that he is willing to wait for us for more than 6 hours of shopping and bring our shopping bags to the car?
After arriving in Bangkok, please be prepared as the immigration takes quite some time, same like Jakarta arrival section. Even us for Indonesia, we still have to wait. Though they did improve as the queue is not that long anymore and the staff did the job quickly. Spare 30 minutes for immigration and baggage waiting. Once you exit the immigration and take your luggage, there are few people who will offer you phone number with internet for your stay. They will usually sell for 300 THB or around Rp 120.000,- for unlimited data for 7 days.
So, the first and second day were spent for shopping. Maybe you will ask me where we are going for that much of shopping. Then I could tell you, it's Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam area. This mall is like Mangga Dua but in a more sophisticated way. You can start exploring from 5th floor, as 6th floor is the food court if you are tired and hungry, you could always go there. They sell everything which you can just spend the day there.
For fashion hunting, I think it was best if you start as early as possible because this mall is quite big and you need at least two days to finish all floors there. FYI, Platinum opens from 10am in the morning till 7pm at night. So, be prepared! You can also bargain for price in Platinum as they sell the clothes in wholesale price, thus, you get cheaper price if you buy in wholesale (more than 3 pieces). Some of the shop owners is very cocky and arrogant, so don't get shocked when they don't really welcome you. From what I learnt, I think that's because they can't understand English...too bad...they should have learnt about that since the Nation has opened their door widely for foreigners. Though in the end I found a shop in UG floor with handsome owner who seems intelligent enough and can understand what I need.
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| Wat Pho Temple |
Besides shopping, you could go to Wat Pho temple to explore the culture in Bangkok. It's a very nice place to take photo, though the sun shines so bright and the weather was very hot.
Accros Wat Pho, you could take Ferry for 4 THB/person/one way to Wat Arun temple. I think that's the only way to go to Wat Arun.
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| Wat Arun Temple |
Wat Arun is famous for Julaihut (Mi Le Fo) which is believed to bring happiness and luck. Mi Le” means kindness, and he is known and believed to bring happiness, hope, and brightness to mankind.
Another trip you have to visit is Erawan Four Face Buddha, near Grand Hyatt Hotel Bangkok. It's not that far from Platinum, as I walked there in the morning from Platinum, towards Central World and cross the street to Erawan Four Face Buddha. You can google for maps and direction.
Erawan Four Face Buddha is very well known in Bangkok. Many people come to pray and based on the story circulated, if you pray sincerely, what you wish will come true. If your prayers are answered, then it is suggested that you come back there to give thanks and some sort of repay back. I don't know if you believe it or not, but this is a true story. It takes 7 years for my Mom to get pregnant, she had no hope anymore till one day, she came to Bangkok and pray sincerely to ask for a baby. She promised that if she had the chance, she would come back again to give thanks. Three months later, she had me and a year after that, she had my brother. In the end, she fulfilled what she promised and had us to come back to Bangkok to give thanks to Four Face Buddha.
In Erawan Four Face Buddha, it is recommended that you washed your hand first before praying.
A Thai local share with me that the best auspicious time to pray at Erawan Shrine is around 6pm.
How to pray the Four Face Buddha:
1. Buy your flowers, joss sticks & candles. There is a counter at the right side in the shrine. Less than 50 Baht.
2. Start from the first & front face of four face buddha which is facing to the entrance of the Shrine.
3. Pray sincerity in clockwise direction.
4. Put 1 candle & 1 bunch of flowers & 3 joss sticks at each of the four face buddha.
5. Make a wish.
6. Finish your visit by washing your face/hands/legs from the golden urn just beside.
Each face of the four face buddha signifies different meaning.
Front face: Career
Left face: Romance
Back face: Money
Right face: Health
Once you have done your prayer, go to the left side and you can find a golden urn which sometimes people put money there. This water that I've been talking is to bless you all the way, so take the water, pour in your hand, your face, your hair and everywhere you want but do not drink this water.
Reminder: The stalls outside the Four Face Buddha Shrine are selling offerings which are much more expensive
Oh almost forget, you can try so many food in Bangkok, like Mango Sticky Rice, Tom Yum, Pandan Chicken, Pork Skin but you also have to try the Coconut Ice Cream! It's a must! You will like it.
I also had a chance to try the famous Thailand food with reasonable price. For my taste, it's not that spectacular, but I still kinda like it, specially the ambiance. You will like it too.
Lastly, we also visited Chocolate Ville for photo-shoot and take a look at the cute village
Things that I learnt from this visit:
1. There are so many highway, double or even triples and I am surprised as how the Government plans for the transportation facility, specially the road. It's such a simple thing but I am amazed as there is no hole at all. The journey was very smooth till I can just sleep comfortably.
2. Sadly, not many Thai can speak English. That's just too bad. Besides, some of Thai seems so arrogant, specially when we are asking about the price, they would just tell me, "I don't know". Totally no manners. Another event up is when we are waiting to check in, could you believe that one of the airport trainee staff told us, "Up to you.." to a customer, when they work at customer-served basis? It's too disappointing, though, there are also some who are not like that.
It was a good trip, though I don't really like the hot weather there. If I had a chance, maybe will come back to shop again ~ though this city may not be my favorite on the list.
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