Thailand: Land of Smiles (Bangkok & Ayutthaya)

Dec 5 - 10, 2009

Bangkok

>chatuchak  weekend market - every bargain hunter's shopping paradise :)

>Wat  Phra Kaew - Grand Palace

>Wat Po - Reclining Buddha

>Wat  Arun - Temple of Dawn

>"pingpong show" 

>Siam Niramit  Cultural Show

>Platinum Fashion Mall - shopping, shopping and more  shopping!

Ayutthaya

>Wat Lokayasutharan - Ayutthaya's  largest and oldest reclining buddha

>Wat Mahathat - relics of a  buddha head wrapped by tree branches

>Wat Panan Choeng - largest  bronze buddha in thailand

>Wat Phra Si San Phet - inspired by Sri  Lanka's temples

>Wat Phra RAm - inspired by Cambodia's temples

>Bang  Pa-In Palace - royal family's summer palace

GETTING TO/AROUND

avoid  taxi!they were such a rip off!ugh! we tried riding their tuktuk  once.try to negotiate with the price before hopping on one.we also tried  their BTS and river express boat. cheaper and faster than taking a  cab.hehe

ACCOMMODATION

stayed at My Hotel Pratunam. few  blocks away from shopping area and BTS. good thing they have a free  shuttle (tuktuk) to save us from walking.haha. we got the standard room =  950 baht per night. not bad right? booking online is better than phone  reservation.trust me! hay naku.haha.

TOURS

here are the  rates we got from booked tours (per pax)

Siam Niramit - 1500 baht  (including buffet dinner and transpo)*

pingpong show - 500 baht  (including transpo)*

* we booked these tours through Kabuhayan Tours

Ayutthaya day trip - 1200 baht (including lunch,  transpo and entrance fee). we booked this through our hotel's travel agency

Bangkok temple tours - it was DIY.  normally, agency charges 700 baht for a half day tour and usually only 2  temples were included. anyhoo, we totaled our expenses for the 3  temples tour in DIY. we only spent 550 baht.naks!hehe

CURRENCY

based  on my research it is better to have US dollars with you when travelling  to thailand or buy baht here before your trip

1 US dollar = 32 -  33++ baht

1 baht = 1.4 pesos (i think)

FOOD

i never get to  explore their food that much as i was tooooooo excited to shop.haha. but  i tried...

guava sliced into big chunks and sold in streets - 20  baht

dalandan juice sold in streets - 20 baht

pad thai in platinum  food court

A&W - since it was not available in Manila.hehe

neverending  Mcdo.haha

SHOPPING

i fell inlove with these 2 places:  CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET and PLATINUM FASHION MALL