Oh boy my head's spinning while typing this. Just uploading & resizing these photos took me almost 2hr. Serve me right for going on a year-long (could it be longer?) hiatus.
Right. So I decided to blog about my bkk trip first, partly becos there's lesser photos, & mostly becos I wanna prove the girls wrong. Whenever I whipped out my camera for photos, they'll go,
"Sigh we're never gonna see these photos again",
"Using Ali's camera equals not taking at all, she won't even upload!" and they were so sure they have to wait until at least 2013 before I will upload on fb.
Uhm... actually that's kinda true. I took more than a yr to upload my cousin's wedding pics. I dunno why I take lotsa pictures with my camera & let them rot inside :/
BKK (17-20 Jul) It was an impromptu trip. Originally only Jerlyn & Kexin's going, I couldn't cos of work. Plus I'd already booked phuket & don't wanna spend so much. But my last day of work is 22nd (I tendered a month earlier after coming back from europe, which was my wakeup call), & I have some leaves to clear so I tagged along. I would've say this is my fav city, but unfortunately it'd become 2nd place since last wk :)
Ok let you all see what's in my luggage. I tried packing light but my 'essentials' already took up half :( Haha before that day we were talking in the grp chat:
Jerlyn,
"Xueting remember to bring my moolah! Most impt!"Kexin,
"I got my MacBook. That's all that matters"Me,
"Most importantly is my starstar & beibei" I changed thai baht a few days before the trip, at 24.8. I thought that's pretty high compared to previous trip so I changed for phuket as well, total $800. But who knows the rate risen to 24.9 & even 25.02! >:(
Originally wanted to check in my luggage with theirs, but it exceeded the weight limit. So without thinking twice I carried on, that's how my cleanser/toner/contact lens solution got retained!! So angry cos it's the 2nd time! The other time when I came back from london also like that! Should've put my cleansing stuff in their luggage first :(
Ok considered a new face on my blog but not in my life. It's funny how we only speak to each other properly after sec sch, & even after poly. Never had I imagined we would become so close one day. Not just Kexin, but 8 more others :) And this clique we call ourselves TMG
This is how I look with only foundation & blusher. Can pass off as 16?
Oh we had an absurd mj session that Sunday at K's. TMGBF they played using the normal table. We played using ridiculously small hello kitty tiles & a narrow rectangle table. But at the end of the day, we (K, J & myself) won $10 & put it into our travel fee. Blown on these macarons -.-
Colourful & cute hp covers. I don't get why girls can spend $75 on a hp cover, not to mention change regularly. And what's the thing on top? The cute thing you put into the earpiece hole? I totally don't think its cute at all! My 3 for $10 casing bought at pasar malam can last me a year.
This is our hotel! I stayed here when I came with Chloe last year & love it! Their staff are all super polite & will go to great lengths to help you
First thing: Check-in
Second: Camwhore
Third: Platinum mall for lunch!
My fav duck kway teow + lotsa chilli. I'm salivating while looking at this picture... & being 3.20am now just make it worse :(
After shopping till 4.30pm, we went back to the hotel to take a nap first zzzzzzzzzzzz
K's quirky sunglasses
K's shot. Siao she brought this thing here sit on the bed
She siao one buy so many funny sunglasses! It's only day 1 wait till you see at the end of this trip
CUTE!
It was RAINING when we wanted to leave for night markets. The first time it rained in bkk the 3 times I've been here! So we seeked shelter at Siam Paragon & had a casual dinner.
Woohoo!!! I love night markets! This is the one at Siam Paragon, I only found out about this on my previous visit in Feb
Khao San, my fav night market in bkk. Well actually I haven't been to that many. Stupid ang moh just spoilt my picture :(
Everytime I go to Khao San, I'll have the mango sticky rice for sure. And I just recalled I ONLY have it here. I dunno... maybe it's me to do/eat the same things at the same places. I usually don't like changes so perhaps the 1st time I ate this here, made me naturally do the same things the 2nd/3rd time. #ifyouknowwhatimean
Look at this! Freshly sliced sweet mango on glutinous rice for just 25b = $1
What's with my face? "Hurry up leh I v hungryyyyy!"
The most unglam photo of the year, with the tummy & all :/
I'm so good at bargaining! I'm the best among them all, so whenever they had their eyes on something, or when it's time to hail a cab, I'll be leading the way. K was so impressed w my bargaining skills. I helped her save quite a sum considering she really bought ALOT of things.
And I saved quite alot for myself too :) Something from 400 I can bargain till 380, 350, then 300 hehheh
Pad Thai. Sucky! Not nice at all! These kind of street stalls are hit-&-miss. Sometimes you'll have mind-blowing food, & on another visit or at another stall, you might not get it again
I can be so restless when on holidays. I wanted to go yet another night market (saphan phut), but they were v tired already so we went back to rest. And AFTER bathing & brushing my teeth, K suggested going 7-11. I already brushed so I can only have milk, which was divine!
Ok lah I exaggerated. I love drinking milk, at any time of the day, but especially at night. So right before slp if I can have a glass I would slp happy :)
Day 2Day 2 consist of shopping shopping & more shopping! Kexin had to ask me at the beginning if it's ok we PURELY go for shopping on this trip. Hahaha she's afraid I'll want to go sight-seeing. Actually I do! I suggested to Chloe we can go the tiger temple, see the buddha & stuff & she made a face :( Cheryl asked me to go myself :(
That day in Phuket we met a female solo traveller & we were chatting. She told me about those historical places in bkk, the bridge which they forced prisoners to build (if I'm not wrong), & I felt so ashamed I haven't even been to the chao phraya river in the 3 times I come here!!
Was kinda shocked to see the empty dining area when we come down for breakfast. Turns out we missed the timing altogether. But Budacco staff were so nice! They specially prepared breakfast for us, albeit a simple one.
Heh lecherous face
WHY IS JERLYN ALWAYS SLEEPING! I have photos of her sleeping on the plane, in bed, & on cabs.
I wanted to take the BTS but K's right. 3 person take cab is more worth it. BTS probably about 30b per person. I think we only paid about 80-100b for cab. But of cos you must insist on meter. I'm v hard on this one... I refused to get on a fixed rate cab unless it's really no choice. Some drivers refused to on the meter, in this case I'll let them go & hail the next one. Auntie Alicia FTW!
First stop: Union mall.
I bet most of you wouldn't know about this place. Me neither. K recommended this place, & it's not centralised at all. If we were to take the BTS we'd have to change to MRT until the end of the line. I was msging with a friend & he knew about this place! Said that this is where the locals do their shopping... cheap. But they don't do wholesale like platinum mall, meaning it doesn't get cheaper with the quantity you buy.
e.g in Platinum mall, if a dress cost 390b, & if you get 2-3 pieces onwards, it's considered wholesale. Wholesale prices are wayyyyyyy cheaper, maybe 250b each? So it's best to come bkk with gfs ;)
Yumyum A&W root beet float!
Next to Platinum mall for their shoes & food court again for our lunch. Very late lunch.
We have to pass by Pratunam market to get to our hotel. It's just so convenient our hotel! In close proximity to the malls.
And yes that's what I wore that day. In a top I bought the day before & my mum's shorts. I just wanna get comfortable!
I think this photo's so funny! That's another pair of sunglasses to her collection -.-
This season is totally not my style. I'm not a very trendy person, I don't follow fashion trends & I'm lazy to read fashion mags/blog nor dress up to the latest season. I don't wear chunky accessories, statement pieces, asymmetrical hemline long skirts, thick eyeliners, or the latest high platform sandals (or is that out of trend already?)
But still, I bought a few pieces of clothes that I highly doubt I will wear. Just becos it's cheap. I'm much smarter this time! The first time I came to bkk, I went crazy (hmmm not as crazy as chloe she spent $1200! I spent only about $700). But when I returned home & opened my luggage, I couldn't see $700 worth of stuff. Like, "That's it?"
So this time I only buy the things I really like (apart from those 3-4 pieces which I was tempted by), & which I know I will wear. Worse come to worse, "we can sell it in fleas!", that's what we told ourselves lol!
GIRLS!
Crazy girl with her Lady gaga shades
For the first time in bkk, I had dinner sitting by a street stall. Usually I just buy & go... those chicken skewers, fried noodles etc. Never really sitting down to have a meal mainly cos of sanitary issues (they're mostly by the drain, with dirty wet boxes beside etc)
K, on the other hand thinks differently. She's afraid to have chicken skewers & such becos she thinks they're dirty cos these mobile vendors push their carts around & it'll come into contact w the car exhaust fumes blah blah blah. She claims she ONLY eat from this stall cos it's stationary. NONSENSE I say. As if they don't need to transport fresh ingredients over -.-
"I'm so hungry I could KILL!"
After that we were deciding on going night markets, or clubbing since we happened to meet Andrew (K's friend, whom I know thru Chloe a long time ago) on our flight here. It was already close to 10 & I walked around the night market at our hotel area myself. Just a small one nothing much compared to the ones we went to ytd.
After much deliberation, we decided to go club. I was okay with the idea, & quite enthusiastic at first. But after bathing & dolling up, my mood suddenly went a 180 degree downturn. Totally sian! I dunno what's the reason. Could be cos of the clothes cos I don't intend to club so I only wore a pair of slippers here. Have to put tgt an outfit from my new buys + wear K's new heels, which made me very uncomfortable.
Or could be actually... I only like Mink ;)
Their club is so big & luxurious! That's just the toilet, mind you.
Oh another of K's friend + bf were also at bkk so we all clubbed tgt at RCA. Anyway I was so bored I stood beside & kept texting. And I know I'm making the girls upset, esp K, so I tried cheering up. The songs are not bad actually. She's so silly! In order to try to get me into the mood, she say ask me play 5-10 w Andrew, lose she drink. Andrew lose, she also drink. That makes it 100% hit rate! HAHAHA!
She got so high she went outside for a rest. Said she wanna go home, we all agreed but just minutes later she changed her mind! Insisted on going ANOTHER club. Oh my, we were so tired by then. But eventually we didn't go into the club, went back to the hotel instead.
Day 3Somebody haolian say she'll wake up at 7.30, end up slept the latest almost missed breakfast again! *SMUG*
After breakfast, we went back to slp for an hour (pigs!) before checking out. The hotel security guy was so nice! Helped us pushed our heavy luggages to the main street & hailed a cab amidst the busy streets.
And we checked into....
The Period Pratunam! Reason being they're going back to SG today & I'm staying for another day myself. Crazy uh? Most ppl say I am when they heard that. But actually not really... I think it's quite wasteful to spend the air tickets come here & just stay for 2 nights, that's why I chose to stay another.
Btw this is a very new hotel. Usually when I book accommodation, I'll looked through agoda, booking.com, hotels.com, & lastly tripadvisor for real pictures. So I'll take hours on days on end before I decide on one. But this one has not much reviews nor real-life pic for reference, but I still took the leap & booked it.
For me, the first thing I look at is the toilet. It must be clean & at least fit for human use. This one looks clean & the rooms are small but cosy (perfect since I'm alone, if it's too big I'll be scared :/)
But the service is immensely different from Budacco. You can immediately feel the difference! At Budacco you can feel the warmth throughout your stay. Here, the staff is cold, unwelcoming, unhelpful, unfriendly & you don't even know what they are doing.
Jerlyn & Kexin accompanied me for check-in as their flight is in the evening. But the counter staff kept asking skeptically if they're staying as well. Our conversation goes like this:
Staff,"Erm... miss... the room you book is for ONE person."Me, "Yes."Staff, "So they're not staying?"Me, "No. They're going off later."
Staff, "So only one person?"Me,"Yes! Only Me."After repeating a few times, she still gave me the suspicious look. As if we'd cheat the cost of an extra person, which is probably about $25.
Went for one of the massage parlour on the stretch of road where the hotel is on. (LOL reminds me Kexin she kept saying stretch as 'sketch' throughout the trip!)
Which
SUCK! It was so painful, not comfortable at all + the 3 masseuse kept chatting among themselves for the whole 60min. And what's more... after the massage, one of them shamelessly say, "小费, 小费!" which means "Tips! Tips!" in mandarin. This kind of thing if I think it's really good, I'll give it to you voluntarily. She's not getting a dime from me with such poor service & skills.
Tuk-tuk to Central World: 50b fixed rate, haggling failed :( That's platinum mall btw
My stomach was GROWLING by the time we finished shopping at Naraya. I personally dunno why ppl like Naraya so much. Everyday without fail, the shop will be filled with jap/chinese/foreigners throwing their goods into their baskets like I do when I go to the supermarket tidbits section.
What's the hype about it? I really dunno. But it's really cheap, that I cannot deny. I only own one makeup pouch, other than that I buy Naraya just to give to other people as souvenirs.
The only ramen I eat at any ramen store: Spicy ramen
After that, we walked back to Platinum mall. I didn't know it's of walkable distance! The taxi rides always make it seem so long cos of the constant traffic jam in bkk. I kept that in mind & walked the same route the next day ;) Which in turn is a life-saver, you'll see.
Bought a 30b coconut to quench my thirst. Look at that pls! It's so HUGE it's almost as big as my face. Just for $1.20, not bad!
Went for last min shopping in Platinum mall & saw Edison...
In this auntie attire.. with minimal makeup! Paiseh! Usually, almost every wk when I see him in Mink I'm all dolled up. I'm surprised he can still recognise me lol!
Walked back to my hotel while they packed their last min buys. They have to leave for the airport by 6pm.
The counter staff still looked at us skeptically -.-
COSY!
Couldn't get a cab so took a tuk-tuk to Ratchaprarop station. So cool with the heavy traffic & attempts to keep the luggages from dropping onto the streets! Feels like Nicholas Cage in Bangkok Dangerous hahahaha!
They thought the driver fixed 50b, but in the end he said 100b. Scammed!
They took the airport link to the airport, while I took the other side to Siam. Needa go back the night market at Paragon to get Xingyi's contact lens.
LOOK! That's them on the other side
Nearer... K's waving!
Nearer!
And that's me waiting on the other side. They sent this pic to me thru whatsapp.
At this time... I really really got the jitters.
Started feeling a little bit scared knowing they're leaving bkk & I'll be all alone. K gave me Andrew's number just in case. But I figured I'm ok alone so I didn't call.
I tried so hard to blend in the evening rush hour! But failed terribly haha. For some reason I couldn't get outta the train station & have to seek help. Anw once I reach the night market I'm ok already :)
At this point of time, I only have about 1300b left for the evening. Lucky I'm smart enough not to bring out all my cash (left 1000b in the room before I left), else I'd have spent more & leave very little for the next day.
And I bought 2 tops which I don't really like, that's 300b gone :( And of cos can't refund so there's nothing I can do. Fortunately, I'm very VERY good at bargaining ;) Learnt them from my previous bkk trips with Chloe & xy. Bought a pair of loafers I really like, which I bargained from 390 to 350 to 320 last price.
Plus I still have to walk to & fro to find the contact lens for xy, that's 400 set aside.
Which means I only have 240b ($10) for food AND transport home.
It is possible, provided I take a meter cab. I figured I'll set aside 100b in case drivers insist on fixed rate. So that means 140b for food! I walked around Paragon food hall but everything is so expensive. I only bought a pudding (40b = $1.60).
Then I went back the night market for this banana egg crepe (55b = $2.20) and chicken skewer (10b = $0.40) That's it! My dinner for you!
And I INSISTED on taking a metered one, closing the door on all fixed cabs until I got one (SIAO quote me 200b back to hotel! Think I'm easy to cheat?). I think I'm quite gung-ho one girl standing on the road side with so many oncoming traffic. Anw it's only 60b. The ride back was a little scary cos my hotel is in one of those small dark alley unlike Budacco's surroundings with a boisterous crowd.
Worse come to worst, I figured since all around bkk is traffic jam, I can just jump outta the door. I'm not scared of any injuries. HAHAHA say only right.
Sometimes, I feel I'm a little too gutsy for my own good :/
I was very very tired, but still afraid to slp. Esp when I bathed I kept imagining those scary things, that's what I'll always do since I was young :( In the end I got so tired that I fell asleep with the tv on.
Day 4
Had a very very good slp!! My bed is very cosy in fact. But needa check-out at 12pm, so I followed the previous day's plan. Woke up to have breakfast, then nua for 1hr, then check-out.
The breakfast is very basic & minimal, much like home-cooked kind.
Ok that's my hotel room! Small but really cosy :)
So the day's plan is Pratunam market > Platinum > Praying > Central World > Platinum > Pratunam market > Airport.
Central world to get Jerlyn's Naraya cos she decided she wants one more bag in a diff colour. I'm afraid I don't have enough cash, luckily Naraya is big enough to let me swipe card. Kinda embarrassing swiping a card for $8 :p
Coincidentally, I saw Peilin & bf in Platinum mall! She's the one we clubbed with the other day. She was just texting me the previous night asking which mall I recommend & here she is! What a small world!
If you don't know yet, Platinum mall is freaaakkkkingggg big. It's separated into diff zones & lanes (Oxford/Camden/Nathan etc) So once you spot something you like, you have to buy if not there's a slim chance you'll ever find that shop again.
Everytime I come to bkk (3rd this time), I'll come here to pray. Not that I'm a strong believer, but since I'm back here in bkk, I make it a point to come here on the last day.
So... I have lotsa time from 12pm to 6pm. Firstly, I went to Pratunam market to see Cheryl's blazer. Then I WALKED to pray (near central world), & after that back inside to Naraya to get Jerlyn's bag. And I still have to buy souvenirs for my colleagues, a bag my sister requested & a hp casing my mum wants.
So basically, the whole of today is to get stuff for ppl. Actually I'm reallllyyyy bored of shopping already. I dread walking in Platinum cos I've been walking on the same tiles for 4 days & seeing the same things that're not my style!
Then, I walked back to Platinum mall. Not that I'm stingy okay! I really don't have enough money left :( Plus I purposely didn't bring SGD so that I wouldn't spend more than I have. I only brought enough for cab fare home when I touch down.
Bought a bag for my sis 400b ($16) wtf! The most expensive thing I bought in this trip. It's not expensive in SGD but it's expensive compared to the price in bkk! Cannot bargain cos I bought it in Platinum mall 2 (the newer section). There's a street stall selling bags at 199b, but I choose to buy this instead cos it's of a better quality. I'm sucha good sister :')
But I got so hungry... The other day I saw someone having the chicken briyani & I tell myself I'll come back on the last day. But it was so expensive (110b)! Actually not really, but with the amt of cash I have in my wallet it is. I can only afford to eat a 25b crepe. Want put ice-cream also cannot afford see how pathetic I am :((((
Don't even have enough cash to buy Cheryl's blazer, so I changed a S$10 at the money changer
.
.
.
AND WAS CAUGHT BY PEILIN & BF!
Wtf why so coincident again! The transaction only needs less than a min & they have to come out from this exit & see me change an SGD 10. So embarrassing. I think the money changer also stunned lol!
Went back Pratunam Market to get her blazer (180b) & walked back to hotel.
This orange bag which I bought 2yrs ago in Bali on our family trip is really useful! It has accompanied me on 3 bkk trips, foldable & durable, it has already made it's worth already :)
Here's my hotel's exterior. Very nice homely feeling, but if given a choice the next time, I'd stay at Budacco (nearer to Pratunam market) even though both are of walking distance to Platinum.
Set aside 100b for fare to airport: 50b for cab to Ratchaprarop + 40b for airport link
I booked a one-way Jetstar outbound & one-way Scoot inbound. It's cheaper + I get to experience Scoot for the first time. Anybody needs help finding flights/accommodation or planning itinerary, find me I'm damn pro at this! :)
I didn't tell my mum I'm staying for a day alone. She thought I'm flying back with the girls. If she know she'll scold me for sure. So 2 things strike off my list: 1) Staying in a city alone, 2) Taking a plane alone. Not so much as solo-travelling, maybe next time.
She got to know it later on (from stalking me on fb haha), didn't really scold me but nagged say it's dangerous, what if something happened etc. I dunno... I just want to do what I feel like doing. In fact I think that it's all pre-destined. If someone is to die, then he/she will die, even in safe Singapore. So no point lah all the precautions.
So do what you want, you only live once.
It's a must to try bkk's 7-11 food. I have it everytime I come here. It's so cheap & good! This one only cost 39b I think. I can have a full dinner + fresh milk & still have 20b ($0.80) left, not bad at all!!
Here, something dramatic happened. I was told to start boarding early cos the gate is VERY VERY far. But I thought it needn't take 30min to walk there so I ate slowly.
Who knows their whole immigration system changed. There's a superrrrr long snake-like queue going round & round the whole area. My eyeballs nearly popped when I went down the escalator. The queue looks at least 2hr long when I need to be at the gate in 15min! It was 7.30pm & my plane is departing at 8pm.
I panicked & told an officer, who led me into another room: The fast track, where the diplomats/premium flyers queue. Even then, I was nearly late! I ran as fast as my legs would take me until it nearly broke!
Ok, that's the end of my bkk adventure!
