We stayed at a very cheap hotel, or rather an inn around Baiyoke Sky area which comes with daily breakfasts. Check out Pratunam City Inn http://www.pratunamcityinn.com and mostly tut tut / taxi drivers are unable to recognise this hotel, just tell them it is next to Baiyoke Sky. You can walk back to your hotel within 10 minutes I think. Platinum Mall is nearby as well, less than 20 minutes walk.
MBK, Central World, and Chatuchak are few of the most visited shopping areas in Bangkok. I totally cannot stand Chatuchak as it is too large for me to explore. As it only opens on weekends, the crowds already turned you off. We left less than an hour. There was nothing much at MBK, Central World but Platinum Mall is worth visiting. Try out Thai massage if you dare, it is terribly painful to me.
We did not check out any good local foods around our area, just dropped by when we passed by one of them at some shop houses nearby our hotel. We loved the tom yum soup.
**22nd March 2008*
Thai people are very friendly and polite, if you know how to greet in their language they love you even more. Some basic greetings: Sawadika = How are you, Khob Khun kah = Thank you. You need to place both your palms against each other as a gesture just like Chinese when they pray to Gods. Speaking of Gods, Thailand is full of Buddhas and we visited to lots of temples. Our half day city tour is river cruise to the famous Ayutthaya Temple.
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| Ayutthaya Temple |
We hopped onto local tut tut to Chinatown, and you will be surprised at how the drivers actually cut through busy traffics during peak hours. Please hold on tightly or you will literally fly out of the vehicle. Chinatown is full of seafood restaurants, don't forget to try out shark's fins as well as bird's nest.
**23rd March 2008**
We had our free and easy tour around Bangkok, and everywhere we go we see temples. By the way, Thai love their King a lot. He is like their God, when they speak of their King their eyes filled with tears. Felt so touched by them.
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| Thai King |
We had buffet dinner on Chao Phraya Cruise http://www.chaophrayacruise.com/index.html which tours the same route when we visited Ayutthaya Temple. The entire journey was about an hour.
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| Ayutthaya Temple at night |
Some souvenirs to bring home, not forgetting local product.
