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The Kaiser

lends his voice in the upcoming animated film of

Bitter Heart

Bangkok, Bangkok

Trip to Bangkok!

Day 1 - Sawadeeka!

Our first day didn't really consist of much activities.
We walked around the Asoke-Sukhumvit area where the stalls were. The stalls all looked the same, one would be selling t-shirts, another DVDs (porn is openly displayed), another weapons and then it was like it was on a loop.
Had McD's at Robinson which we made the mistake of going upsize (we thought the woman said "large") and it was supersize!
Then we went back to the hotel to rest before going to MBK center (a mixture of Low Yat/Sungei Wang but better) and watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
The cinema was surprisingly strict - they checked everyone's bags before they entered into the theatres. And they actually have ushers inside the theatres showing everyone to their seats. Talk about service.
We had no idea about this but before every film is shown, they play the Thai Royal Anthem, where the image asks for the audience (to rise) to pay their respects to the King and then they play a montage. It was overwhelming and beautiful really. The respect and love they have for their King is extremely admirable.
After wandering around MBK, we went back to the hotel where we got take-out from a Thai restaurant down the road.

En route to Bangkok

Not too full of a flight

Being "productive"

The stewardess was wearing a mask. Freaky.

Welcome to Bangkok!

Our hotel room:
The kitchen

Living area

Bedroom

Bathroom

Toilet

Rania being violent

The gym

Us on a tuk-tuk:


The pool

Laundry room

Fooling around with the masks we bought which we did not use at all.

Ugh. Zac Efron.

The mess we made

Day 2 - Retail Therapy
Decided that Wednesday would be designated for shopping.
Went to Siam Paragon. It is huge. It's pretty much like KL's Pavilion. Was too tired to walk the whole mall though. Actually had Japanese curry rice for lunch.
And then decided we were too sleepy to go on any longer and headed back to the hotel where we rested for a while.
Then headed out on motorcycle taxis to Patpong for shopping and then via tuk-tuk to Suan Lum for dinner and shopping.

Siam Paragon's Siam Ocean World

Sometimes we wish the fishies will just stop moving for a moment.

Hideous eels


Ugly thing this is even though we realised it looks like it's smiling.

Beavers

Otters

Chevy Fish Tank.

Penguins

At Patpong where there are "sexy shows" at clubs with names like "Pussy Collection".

In the Valley of Stuck

Fooling around at the pool area

Day 3 - Sacred and Sleazy
Went to 2 Wats (temples) - Wat Pho (home of the reclining buddha) and Wat Arun (temple of the dawn) as well as the Royal Palace which is all around the same area. With Buddha in our heart, we went back to Sukhumvit, bought McD's went back to the hotel to rest. At night, we did a total 180 and went for the notorious ping pong show.

The jedhis/chedis

Bell which they ring in the new year with


Marco Polo


Ancient massage school




The Reclining Buddha

The walls are painted with images that tell stories




Singha : Half lion half dragon





Wat Arun


















Another Wat which we missed out on but passed by on the road

Mr. Bee, our personal driver of the night.

Suan Lum

Soi Cowboy, just down the road from our hotel


Juthamard aka Tangmo (watermelon)

Day 4 - The End

Bidding farewell to this

Back at home with Hachiko!

Thoughts:
Bangkok - Not for the prissy princesses. It's dusty and hot. The traffic is bad. The streets do not look too decent as well. Basically it's a replica of KL but certain areas in KL.

Citadines Sukhumvit 23 - A new hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 23, it's clean, reasonably priced and provided top notch service by the friendly staff despite it being small. However, the breakfast is unmentionable as it barely exists. Won't mind going back there again if ever in Bangkok.

Transport - Bangkok is infamous for its traffic however there are many options for transportation. There's the usual trains, buses and taxis but there are also the alternatives of tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis. If you can't stand the heat or the carbon monoxide filling up your lungs and have the patience to boot, opt for a taxi as it goes by meter. A must-do for every tourist is take a tuk-tuk however it does not neccessary mean it's any faster or cheaper in that sense. Bargain for the fare. Motorcycle taxis fast as you cut through traffic like nobody's business, squeezing in through the tightest gaps. Helmet is optional. Bargain for the price as well. BTS and Subway (MRT) is a replica of Singapore's LRT/MRT system - clean and efficient. There are metal detectors and guards on standby so do not carry a bag with magnets (as I did) because I beeped every single time.

Wat Pho - Getting a guide is recommended. They explain the history of the temple and everything you need to know.

Wat Arun - Do not go if you are not into heights/climbing. Getting to the top requires you to climb just about the steepest stairs mankind has laid eyes on.


Grand Palace - It's huge and if you're walking from Wat Pho, it's a long walk as the entrance is way on the other side. And as our guide told us, there are many drivers that are waiting to cheat tourists around the area so beware when they tell you the palace is closed due to whatever reason, it's not true.

Ping Pong Show - If you want to see every aspect of Bangkok, and are willing to see naked women (and man) then go for a Ping Pong Show. Apparently the clubs at Patpong do have shows otherwise there are many tuk-tuk and taxi drivers that will bring you to a place. Expect to see a vajayjay talent show and then some with a big finish. The show is on a loop so don't worry if you stumble in in the middle of the show.

Cuisine - Did not really have any authentic thai food as in the street stalls so I can't exactly comment.

Note: Remember to bring and apply your sunscreen because the very day we forgot to put on was the day we went to the temples. And what happened? We went back to the hotel two toned and nicely toasted and slightly burnt.

Holidaaaays!

Stunning!

Sasha in Lanvin by Cedric Rivrain

Check out more illustrations like this at his official website