Bangkok Holiday Day 1: Hello Chatuchak!

Day 1
13th July 2014

The night before we bade our children goodbye because our flight departed early at 8:25am, which means we needed to be at the airport by 6:25am, and arranged for our trusty cab driver to pick us up at 5:15am.  We set our phone alarms to wake us at 4:45am.

Vic wanted to wake at the same time as us to see us before we left.  Of course we objected as we didn't want her to lose any sleep but finally we came to a common ground that I will nudge her.  If she wakes, she wakes, if she doesn't then no unhappiness, ok?  Deal!  In the morning, I kept my part and she opened her eyes a little and mumbled good bye to us.

We had porridge breakfast in KFC, KLIA2 then proceeded to our gate.  You know since the last time we missed our flight to Hanoi was because we engaged in an interesting chat over porridge as well, so this time we consciously kept watch of time.

Upon arrival at the rather quiet airport, we took a cab to our hotel, Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel along the busy Rama 1 road.  Surprisingly the cab driver did not know where our hotel was, despite us showing him the address (in English, which he did not understand nor speak) and the map.  He didn't carry a phone either, so there was no way for him to contact the hotel for directions.  We kept our eyes on signboards just to make sure he's not bringing two foreigners to sell, haha... and secretly my heart was already travelling to our next destination, Chatuchak Market.

Finally found our hotel, and all he could say is, "Ohhh, Ibis!!"  That's because the two hotels share the same location.  We are just diagonally opposite MBK Shopping Mall, and a stone's throw away from Siam Discovery, Siam Centre and Siam Paragon.

The bathroom is modern and sleek.  I like it that the toiletries are kept to a minimal and extras like toothbrush, cotton buds, etc are provided upon request.  

Our room is smaller than the standard hotel room size, but spacious enough for two of us, and can still put in two kids in the future.  The sofa at the end of the room is big enough for one person to sleep.  

Chatuchak Market

Our first trip to Bangkok was before William came along, possibly in the year 2006.  That trip, we intentionally chose a hotel near Chatuchak Market but ended up shopping in downtown instead. Our second trip was in December 2011 with Mama Yeh Yeh, Yee Sok See Sam, Theodore and friends for 4D3N and it was during this trip that I had my first experience of Chatuchak.  I was impressed and amazed at so much selection at unbelievable prices.

Our last attempt to Bangkok last year was cancelled last minute.  We burned our air tickets and hotel accommodation which was paid in full.  Naturally this trip we learnt not to book our hotel too early, and waited till the last two weeks.

The BTS was just at our hotel doorstep (see, this hotel is really a gem!) and we did only one change of train to Mo Chit stop, which is outside Chatuchak.  The whole journey took no longer than 30 minutes, and cost us only THB42 per person (Equivalent to RM4.2)

Waiting for our train... we are entertained by TV ads on the platform and in the train

Our lunch venue

Pork noodle soup - yummy and wholesome!

Snacks that we ate along the way

Art and craft materials

Clothes, shoes and accessories

Lights and decorations

Potteries 

Decorative birds

Magnets

Plastic flowers and bangles

Shoes

Dinner at MBK.  We were recommended a shop called Nova Kitchen from the information counter that serves Thai-Chinese cuisine.  Food was good, and as a tourist we get a tourist discount card for selected shops in MBK.  For above THB350 in Nova Kitchen, we are entitled for 10% discount.  Not bad eh?

Our dinner:  Pineapple fried rice, green curry with roti, mixed seafood tom yam soup and prawn in egg puree

Walking to / fro hotel and MBK.  See how safe the road is?  Exposed cables and uneven pavements.  

After dinner, we headed for massage.  There is a place just within 3 minutes walking distance from our hotel that charges very very reasonable price.  So reasonable, I couldn't help laughing just thinking about it!  Hahaha... At first hubby was hesitant as he is not keen on massage, but after a tiring day out and prospect of waiting 1 hour for me to finish mine, changed his mind!  And what a great decision it was!  He fell asleep next to me, snoring!  : )

Thai massage is always best!  A million times better than Indonesian!

Happiness.  Sleep.... zzzzzzz