Bangkok 2010

Suvarnabhumi Airport





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The Key Bangkok Hotel
19-19/1-3, Sukhumvit Soi 19, Sukhumvit Rd., Wattana Bangkok.









Our 4D3N room cost THB5,064.00 (approximately MYR500.00++). I was totally hooked with this hotel because the room combined all the comforts of an apartment and the convenience of a hotel, with the ambition of providing the most flexible and comfortable accommodation - just like home!

Furthermore, every room has a DVD Player and DVDs are available for rental at the reception desk.







Mini Pantry - With fully stocked mini bar, microwave, hot water pot, plates, bowls, cutleries and a dining table.







As it says "First impression count...” The Key Team has prepared Unique Staff Uniforms to cheer up their customers' day.

. Mon & Fri: Barbie & Ken
. Tue & Sat: 60s
. Wed & Sun: Military
. Thu: Colonial

The team is extremely friendly and helpful. The best that you’ll never get elsewhere.

To note: You may like to tip them if they're providing good help and service (approximately THB10.00 or 20.00 = MYR1.00 or 2.00).

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Shopping

1. Suan Lum Night Bazaar
To compare: Petaling Street, KL / Ladies Market, HK

The night bazaar sells a variety of goods, from clothings, shoes and inspired handbags to furnitures and souvenirs, the bazaar offers everything but NOT quite at a very low price.



2. Chatuchak
To compare: None

The market spreads across the road, making it easy for tourists to get lost as they make their way through the area to check the array of goods.



3. Central World Shopping Mall
To compare: Pavillion, KL

A seven-level shopping malls that offers a wide range of medium-high end brands.



4. Mahboonkrong Center (MBK)
To compare: Sungai Wang Plaza, KL / Mongkok Plaza, HK.

There are many shopping malls to discover but two places I found particularly were Central World and MBK. Things sold here are lower-end compared to Central World. And sometimes you're able to get goods at a bargain price.

5. Beauty Buffet @ Mahboonkrong Center (MBK)
To compare: Skin Food / Face Shop / Etude house

A local beauty shop that is very eye-candy. The shop is being decorated with a myriad of pinkish cosmetics of all varieties range of beauty products - cosmetics, body care, skin care and hair care products. And what's more, the the price are affordable too.

6. Robinson @ Sukhumvit Soi 19

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Visited Places

1. Erawan Shrine
To compare: None

You may find a lot of local as well as visitors from all over the world, hoping that their prayers will come true. Apart from that, nothing really interesting.



2. China Town
To compare: Pasar Malam

You're able to get a lot of Chinese goods. From jerky and Chinese herbs to fruits. You may find interesting street food too!



3. Thai Massage @ Suan Lum Night Bazaar
To compare: None

We were tired and hoping to take a break at any of the massage centres. Only god knows how torturing it was for that hour. It wasn't enjoying instead, freaking painful!

Price: THB600.00 (MYR60.00)

To note: Find a comfortable masseur or enjoy your massage in KL.



4. Bed Supperclub
To compare: None

According to research, Bed Club is listed as a premium club - it means, must go! It plays electro/techno music. According to source, RnB clubs will usually close at 1a.m. and electro/techno clubs at 2a.m.

Price: Cover charge on Saturday night is THB800.00 (MYR80.00) per person with 2 drinks

To note: Those who are a RnB lover, you may want to remove this from your list.



Kind reminder: Kindly avoid a club called BOSS, it's super dodgy!

5. SF World Cinema @ Central World Shopping Mall
To compare: Not comparable

SF World cinema took up 2 stories and has 15 screens. It has very nice interior and comfy seats.

Price: Ticket on Sunday is THB160.00 (MYR16.00) per person.





I love the popcorn set specifically, you may choose from vary sets available. The chosen one was Ferrero Set, it comes with a large popcorn, large soft drink and 3 pieces of ferrero rocher.

Price: +-THB120.00 (MYR12.00)

Dontchu just love the cup?



Spotted a very interesting ambient advertising outside the cinema.



6. The Grand Palace
To compare: None

A well-known travel destination in Bangkok. Dress appropriately (no sleeveless or short skirt/pants), or else you’re required to rent their clothing.

Entry: +-THB300.00 (MYR30.00) per person
Clothing deposit (if required): +-THB200.00 (MYR20.00) per piece



7. Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha)

Another well-known travel destination in Bangkok.

Price: Unidentified

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Food

Save the hassle walking around in order to get good food. In Bangkok, you can just walk down on any streets and are able to spot delicious street foods.



1. Kerabu (Thai Salad)

It may be spicy for people who can't really accept spiciness. However, it is a very appetizing starter comes with quite a lot of seafood (oyster, mussels, prawns, squids, fish).

Price: +-THB30.00 (MYR3.00)



2. Thai Noodle

Price: +-THB30.00 (MYR3.00)



Personally, I prefer spicy soup than clear soup.



Or maybe dry noodle?



What about Tom Yum Noodle?



Want to be more spicy? Just add these!



I just love spicy, can't help!

3. Grilled chicken and fish

Just found out from my mother that apparently Thailand is very famous for its grilled chicken. People who went Thailand for traveling will definitely bring home with plenty of this.

I would highly recommend both, chicken and fish as well.

Price: +-THB60.00 (MYR6.00) for chicken and fish



4. McDonald's



Comfy interior setting



Samurai Pork Burger

Very delicious, better than the pork burger in Hong Kong if were to compare. A must try!



Spicy McWings

It tasted like Malaysia's Spicy Ayam Goreng but in a smaller portion.



French Fries

I love soggy fries!

Just one thing to note, their chili sauce is actually sweet chili sauce. Unlike chili sauce in Malaysia, the one we had is exclusive and only available in Malaysia. Same goes to other countries, they only have sweet chili sauce.



Price: +-THB230.00 (MYR23.00) for 2 regular Samurai Pork Burger sets and an ala-carte Spicy McWings

5. Apple Orange Martini @ Bed Supperclub

Heard of Apple Martini but not Apple Orange Martini? Now, you gonna try this!

Price: Unidentified. It was one of the drink that comes with the cover charge.



6. Seafood @ China Town

It was quite a surprise that their street food can be so delicious. Unlike in Malaysia, if you pick the wrong stall, that's it! In Bangkok, all street foods are delicious.

Price: Unidentified. +-THB200.00 (MYR20.00)



7. Dessert @ China Town

You should get a bowl of bird nest when you visit Thailand. That's what famous, right?

Price: Unidentified. +-THB100.00 (MYR10.00)



(And shark fin too!)

8. Grilled Meats @ China Town

There are 3 types of meats to choose on:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork

I was confused to pick on beef or pork and finally I decided on pork. Grilled with capsicums, onions and pineapples, it added additional flavor to the meat.

Juicy, tender and cheap for that big skewered meat.

Price: THB30.00 (MYR3.00)



9. LiaoNing Gyoza @ China Town



I was disappointed with the Gyoza served here; perhaps I just picked the wrong dish? *Unsure* It was dry and tasteless even when I go with some chili oil.

Price: +-THB120.00 (MYR12.00)



10. Grilled 油条 @ China Town

This really caught my eyes because we never have this in Malaysia. Typical 油条 is easy to get in Malaysia but not grilled 油条 served with condense milk. I just can’t imagine how sweet and salty can be matched.

However, I die die also would want to give it a try although my stomach is going to burst anytime soon because we had tasted hell a lot of food.

Well, it came out to be good! Another new type of food we had tried.

Price: THB30.00 (MYR3.00)



11. Soya with 油条

Typical Hong Kong style breakfast – 豆浆，油条. However, the soya was cooked with jelly and sago, a new method to drink soya milk. Very interesting!

Price: Unidentified



12. Fried Mussels @ Chatuchak

Fried oyster is available anywhere in Malaysia; however, have you tried fried mussels or prawns? Interesting, isn’t it? Dipped with their homemade chili sauce, this fried mussel definitely tastes fantastic!

Price: THB30.00 (MYR3.00)



13. Green Tea Milk @ Chatuchak

The name, sounds fattening or rather “jelak” (in Malay) to you? But I can guarantee, words can’t describe how good green tea milk actually tasted.

They served it in a very nice cup, the one in green. The drink in front is my Apple Tea.

Price: Unidentified





14. MOS Burger @ Central World Shopping Mall

Seet insisted and must try MOS Burger (a Japanese burger restaurant) since it’s not available in Malaysia. We ordered a Black Pepper Beef Burger set and an additional Spicy MOS Burger.

They served our coke with a very cute glass coaster. In the split second, I really wanted to take it home.

We felt that it is a little bit overpriced for that not-very-big portion. But overall, it tasted well especially the Spicy MOS Burger sauce.

Price: THB200.00++ (MYR20.00++)



15. Cabbages and Condoms



As one of the most unique restaurants in Metropolitan Bangkok, the Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant has attracted international attention.

This restaurant was highly recommended by one of our colleagues and a Bangkok taxi driver. According to their recommendation, Cabbages and Condoms provide you with a wonderful experience in a cozy atmosphere and served mouth-watering Thai food.

We or maybe just I? Went with high expectation and fortunately it doesn’t disappoint me. Love their Tom Yam Kung, Green Curry Beef, Steamed Fish and Vegetable.

Price: Total bill THB100.00++ (MYR100.00++)



16. Afternoon tea @ The Authors' Lounge, Mandarin Oriental



Afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental was really a big satisfactory. This lounge has old colonial charm and is decorated with white rattan furniture. It is considered to be an ideal place for a peaceful and comforting traditional English afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches and cakes and of course only the world’s finest teas or coffee.

Menu highlights:
Traditional or Mandarin Oriental Thai set
With home-made scones, finger sandwiches, savouries and sweets

We ordered one set each to compare. Still, I preferred traditional English scones.

Price: THB990.00 (MYR99.00) per person



17. Minced Pork with Sticky Rice @ 7-Eleven

Even food sold in 7-Eleven is nice to eat, what else I can say?

Price: Unidentified



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Transportation

1. BTS Skytrain
To compare: MTR, HK

Experience the cleanliness and efficiency of advance local transportation. From Chit Lom to Asok station cost about THB40.00 (MYR4.00) for 2 pax.





2. Tuk-Tuk
To compare: Not comparable

Get the one time experience and be excited.



3. Taxi
To compare: Not comparable

Taxi in Bangkok is much more cleaner compared to taxi in Malaysia. They are classified according to colors - different taxi company uses different color. Taxi drivers in Bangkok overall are much more friendlier.

To note: Almost all taxis in Bangkok has a NGV in the back boot. So if you're carrying many (4 and above) of luggage, you're advice to take a taxi van.



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The People

The kind hearted Thai people are always ready to help guide tourists as most can speak English.

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Souvenir from Cabbages and Condoms



Why rice? Please read.



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Total Damage

Total spending in Bangkok is THB7000.00++ (MYR700.00) and that excludes airfare and accomodation.

. Accomodation: +-RM500.00
. Airfare: +-RM500.00
. MISC: +-RM100.00



Well, I'll be awaiting for our next trip. Hopefully it will be Taipei as promised.

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