Day 1 click HERE
Day 2 click HERE
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Duration: 6D5N 13 to 18 Dec 2018
Time zone: 1hr behind Singapore
Mood of travel: Free & Easy with chartered car in Khao Yai
Chartered transport: Thai National Parks Taxi
Damage THB10,150 for 2 days including transfer from airport and back to Bangkok hotel on the 3rd day.
Travel Buddies: Husband and teenage son
Flight: Jetstar, total damage around $870 (for 3pax)
Accommodation:
In Khao Yai - Casa De Montana
Caravan 1 night THB3,800
Luxury Container 1 night THB5,300
In Bangkok - Glur Central Pratunam (3 nights) THB8,835
Currency: Thai baht, THB1 = SGD0.04
Weather:
Khao Yai - around 16 to 30°C
Bangkok - same as Singaporetique
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17.12.2018
Itinerary Outline:
Morning - Platinium Mall
Noon - ICON Siam
Evening - Asiatique
We took a 3 mins walked over to Pantip Mall's A&W for breakfast.
It seemed that we were their first customers at 8.30am.
Opt out ice-cream cos cold food is not good for breakfast. Plain waffles was great, please come back to Singapore A&W....
We had another simple plate to share among us.
Slowly swing over to Platinum Mall and shop cautiously. I had taken so much effort to clear my wardrobe, make more space to breath. I kept reminding myself that I have more than enough to wear and that I wouldn't choke myself with unnecessary things again.
Too cautious, I gotten only ear-rings and some makeup brushes. We stayed around 2hrs before moving on.
Took BTS from Siam station to Krung Thong Buri, blur blur followed a group of people who seemed to be tourist. We walked out of the station and waited at this sign board along the road.
We found out that the others were waiting for ICON Siam free shuttle bus too, but none of us were sure lolxx... We could see ICON Siam building from here but walking over could be a great challenge under the heat. Also not sure if it's walkable with paths or not though it's a km or so.
Many tuk tuk and cab drove pass offering to drive us to ICON Siam. We decided to wait for another 20mins else we would just pay a bit and hop into any other public transport.
Everybody low-tune roared with joy when the bus arrived!
This was a atas 2 storey shuttle bus.
It was a luxury coach with TV introducing ICON Siam.
The bus drove slowly and safely, we had an enjoyable ride for about 5 to 10 mins.
We alighted at this bus bay, looking left and right for an entrance to enter into the building.
We were very excited!
The entrance was golden and grand like a temple.
So magnificent, my phone camera couldn't capture the entire pic.
We walked through the golden gate and all exclaimed "Waaaaaaa.........". The people walked behind us had the same reaction lolxx...
The above pano pic showed only a small part of the place. It's got very high ceiling like Singapore Expo and it's HUGE like all the Halls of Singapore Expo opened up together into one.
I hated myself for not bringing my camera T__T I was wanting window shop and relax without having to carry that stupid heavy camera, very arm breaking de.... but I regretted like hell then... Anyways, all the pics in this post taken by handphone de... now back to Sook Siam in ICON Siam....
The interior design was splendid with many elements reflecting Thai culture under cool blasting air condition.
More pics from the eyes of the cats from the second floor:
It's bustling but not congested, the main area was the main attraction.
This 525,000 m2 mega mall was opened only in Nov 2018, didn't expect it to attract so many visitors. I thought I was so smart and updated, so others were better than me lolxx...
The concept was very attractive, tourists were able to enjoy various local food (reasonably priced) all under one big roof away from the heat, in the comfort of aircon. I believe it will draw more and more crowd.
Still boats on still water, but still nice to have them around.
I realized that public toilets in Bangkok were worth entering even if you have no business to be done.
Intensely impressive interior design and very very clean. Hardly we can find such innovative design in Singapore. There's a sentimental touch. Thai advertisements for instant, really touches our heart and leave an impression.
Whereas everything over here is for a purpose, commercial purpose, nice but cold and unfeeling... Not trying to compare but this is how I feel when I see how certain things are being designed, how things are being packaged.... Had been thinking a lot lately, heehee....
Back here...... Sook Siam alone took a bit of time, more than an hour I think.
Naraya must be earning big bucks, they got their own cafe now.
Different section of food option other than the main area.
We found something for lunch on this boat.
Little stools were available for a quick slurp but we preferred usual chairs and tables which were available too.
Literally boat noodles.
THB50 rice noodles with half egg, tofu, some slices of sausages, pork meat and skin, yummy.
The portion was half of a normal serving, which was good, so that we could have space to try other food.
Such as noodles with pork slices in braised sauce, THB50 was good deal.
Not bad, very chinese like our zhi char but not much wow...
Other food from the same stall which we didn't try.
After half filled lunch we continued sniffing around Sook Siam. Interesting artifacts kept us very busy while looking for food.
Desserts were colorful.
We gave this Fried Chicken with sticky rice a go.
The fried chicken was crazy delicious but the sticky rice was a bit hard and dry.
More variety of sticky rice here.
Wanted to buy this but hubby refused to share with me, so missed it.
Some cartoon buns here.
Badly filtered photo here lolxx...
Duck eggs, Singapore very difficult to get fresh duck eggs right?
Bought this.
Not juicy enough for my liking, but was still good.
Long ago, one of my nails customer used to buy a pack for me every time she came over to do her nails; it was so long ago, I wonder how is she now...
Fish crackers, prawn crackers, lobster crackers, difficult to resist,we bought prawn I think.
Even the ceiling lights were nice here.
Wow... mantis prawns.
Left Sook Siam to the retail building of ICON Siam. The first floor were lavish restaurants, bars and cafes, for those who are in a mood (and power) on spending to pamper oneself.
This short clip gives a better vision of how posh this place is:
Nice architecture.
Unavoidable lame tourist pic, screaming: WE WERE AT ICON SIAM! Yeah lolxx..
Mostly branded stuffs here. I couldn't afford to splurge so just bought a bit of local cosmetic and some Christmas gifts. Oh, also found that Under Armour not cheap here, other brands not sure.
Apple Store, with trees inside.
We found our Ya Kun Kaya Toast here lolxx..
Waahaahaaa....
After You Cafe coming soon.
ICON Siam's posh looking cinema entrance cum ticket reception.
This was a big space with plenty of sitting area to "park" boyfriends/husbands and children.
Thanos at THB23,800, damn nice (both the figurine and price).
The public washroom at the retailing mall was another style, modern and chic. Our shopping malls' toilets are getting more and more pathetic looking lolxx....
I felt I was in Japan, the cleanliness and the smart WC.
Like our Takashimaya, everything was nice to look at.
Never know Shiseido got confectionery/bakery.
Whenever I see the word H.O.K.K.A.I.D.O, I will feel happy with fond memories playing in my mind.
Didn't see any familiar item that I like though.
Wanted to buy dorayaki for my kid but it was S$2 - 3 per pcs, so gave it a miss.
We exited from Siam Takashimaya, called Grab to Asiatique which was along Chao Praya River too.
Along the way saw this "famous" Sathorn Unique Tower. Wanted an adventure here but I was afraid my ankles and knees might not be up to it and the boys weren't too interested also.
As read from Wikipedia it was supposed to be a condominium, the developer got charged for murder, things became very dramatic followed by Asia Financial Crisis in 1997. Situation must had been really bad and construction was halt. A horror movie "The Promise" was filmed featuring this abandon skyscraper prominently. It was rumored that this building is hunted before the movie, it somehow became more eerie after the movie lolxx... From what I know people normal visit during the day, cos at night it's totally dark with no lights, very dangerous if you can't see where you are walking.
After a short ride we were at Asiatique.
It didn't feel as good as before.
Numerous buses of tourists were dumped here, so much so that it was uncomfortable, to me.
Was thinking of taking a boat back, but at the end still Grab.
All restaurants were flooded with tourists no matter how expensive.
We stopped over here for dinner.
There was an episode of an ang mo lady walked in alone and sat beside us. She ordered a mango sticky rice. What came was a small portion of it in a transparent disposable container plus a disposable fork. The lady angry sia and walked off without touching the food. She said it's not acceptable as she ordered dine in not take away and that she could easy get this elsewhere at THB50 instead of THB150. Obviously Thais couldn't understand her english and ran after her for money.
How would you react if you were in the ang mo's shoes?
We had a big deep fried tilapia THB200
Stir fried kailan THB180
Water melon milk shove ice THB180
Dessert was yummier than the mains.
With 2 plain rice and drinks, the damage was THB700
Should had taken a ride on the ferris wheel to get away from the crowd and enjoy the night view of Bangkok and Chao Praya River.
This pic was taken with Luis almost lying on the floor lolxx...
Continue with digestion...
This hush puppy was the cutest thing we saw, very very very cute inside a shop.
The Grab send us to the wrong airport, luckily never miss our flight lolxx..... Full grandmother story next post.
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