Bangkok 2012 : What's it like to travel solo ? #2

"Bangkok : where Parti PAS & BN are one. Heh."

Traveling alone gives you more time (and privacy) to observe things around you since you have no one to talk to. You tend to gain more on streets knowledge, too, because you need to ask A LOT. Yes I've googled, read and asked some information regarding some interesting places in Bangkok, but well, when you are busy dragging your heavy luggage up and down public transportation, made you forget it all. 

Travelling alone save you from embarrassing / disgusting / inappropriate candid shot by your travel buddy too.

Exhibit A: Stupid

Exhibit B: Disgusting & embarrassing up skirt. And she uploaded this on Facebook (without the X)

Not to mention you can wake up and sleep whenever you want to, you can miss hotel breakfast, continue to sleep in bliss without hearing voices waking you up. You can eat whatever you want without worry that your travel buddy actually wanted to eat other things and again (on time). Ok. Stop about how good is to travel alone already. It just some of my points to make me feel good about it :(

Bangkok Day 2:

My decision to stay at Bhiman Inn on my 1st day arrival wasn't bad at all. The hotel just 2 minutes walk from River Taxi pier "Phra Arthit". I need to move to my next hotel and stay there until the end of this lonely trip :(

I read about Chao Phraya River a lot during school. So now I want to 'cruise' along something that I read for almost 20 years ago. 'Cruise' - sounds very grand. But actually, it is the cheapest public transportation in Bangkok. Dirt cheap.

THB30 for a view of Bangkok City for 20 minutes, complete with tour guide. Opps, my Xmas nail color still on. Fugly.

This is me with Mr Timer taking my picture. I can rely on Mr Timer every time when I'm alone. I love you Mr. Timer.

On Board. She explains and gave information on every big and little buildings that built along Chao Phraya River stream, left & right.

Well, the water is scary. Friend said to me that I will fall sick if I accidentally swallow the water splash. Uh.

But the view is quite amazing. I didnt come back here at night, which, I should. I bet the skyline view along this river would be so much more amazing than day time.

I present to you, day view of Chao Phraya River. 

I was lucky one of the tourist willing to help me with the picture on the boat!

The Kapitan is so happy, finally someone care to snap his picture. He even smile for my camera :)

At Sathorn Pier.

After dragging my luggage up and down, No! I didnt lie! look at the staircase!

and I found that they have lift after both of my hands are all blistered :( Im so stupid, why I never thought of it.

My next hotel is in Pratunam Area (and again, public transportation which is, Train) so that's why I choose to take train from Sathorn. it's not that the tuktuk is that expensive, I just want to take a look at Bangkok city from many type of views.. river view, high city trail view, ground level view.. bird's view.. in 4 days time.

So it cost me THB45 to go nearest train station to my hotel, Rajchathewi, with one stop at Siam Centre from Sathorn. They have a day pass train, priced at THB120 and you can use it from morning till midnight. Hop in & out every stop, or anywhere you want to. All rail except train to International Airport.

Im quite sure of where Im heading to, but then I still wanted to feel like a lost traveler. I don't know why. I became  addicted to ask around. Or, maybe Im too lonely and I find that, asking around is the only way for me to chat with someone. WTF. So this girl, Im not sure what she is, she looks like Korean/Japanese/Vietnamese,  not Thai's, but my point is, she's Asian but yea she did sound like an English speaking Japanese, explained to me to change my train at Siam Center station. She even offered to give me her map. I knew she isn't Thai! No local girls walking around Bangkok holding city map, but white men's hand! 

Well, I looked around me, be it on the streets or train, I saw many white guys with Thai girls, walking hand in hand. I bet that is not his wife or girlfriend, and I strongly believe that he is not purely STUPID to read / ask direction where he wanted to go to either. But from my observations, these guys automatically became retarded & lost their back bones (but their balls still attached somewhere) once they stepped into Asia. Suddenly they need someone to help them to cross the street? During day time? I still forgive them if it's a night time, well, maybe these guys has poor night vision due to cataracts or astigmatism or BLIND. AND these guys are either TOO UGLY, TOO OLD or TOO FAT.  I mean, seriously? They are willing to travel that far just to get PAID service of 'helping hand - crossing the busy road'? If yes, I PITY YOU.

Arrived at Rajchathewi. People told me that it took only 5 minutes walk to the hotel I booked for my whole stay from here. I can see the tip of the hotel tower from everywhere I stand. It looks so close and I think I can hit it with a slingshot. Yea.. after 5 minutes trying to get there with so called - slingshot - distance, I gave up. So it's time for a Tuktuk. I'll post up my video on Tuktuk on my next post (tak tau bila la tuuu)

For THB60 (after some bargaining) he agreed to bring me to the Hotel. You see, the type of hotel or hotel area you stay can give you some kind of trouble too. They sometimes quoted you the ride charge according to the type of hotel you stay. If I really know Bangkok city area very well next time, I just ask them to drop me at wet fish market & tell them I sleep there. They might send me for FREE!

Streets in Bangkok is all about shopping spree. Ladies' favorite mostly. But then it will be men's favorite too after seeing their lady putting on something they get from the streets. But if you are not careful enough, you will end up looking like a street girl and your man looks like paying a street girl to help him to cross the streets!

Hey, looks like tuktuk that im riding now has the same color with the other one. Were they separated at birth?

And here I am. The other reason why Im in Bangkok.

"The Baiyoke sky Hotel, rising 88-storeys above Bangkok's skyline, is Thailand's tallest and Bangkok most scenic hotel. The hotel is strategically located in the largest fashion square of downtown Bangkok, surrounded by various shopping centers and entertainment attractions. While enjoying the spectacular view of the colorful city from the artistically built hotel or haggling around the famous Pratunam area, there is also easy access to many shopping paradises. The Central Wold Plaza, Platinum Fashion Mall, Pantip Plaza, peninsular Plaza, Gayson Plaza, Sogo Department Store, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon and Siam Square are only within a few walking minutes from the hotel. Cuma kau nak kena bawak banyak duit jer. Shopping la sampai keluar buih ikut mulut kau"

Source~ Baiyoke Sky Hotel website.

er, the last statement is mine. Not theirs.

Um, the more you pay, the sweeter the treatment is. Bellboy came running to help me with my luggage soon I stepped down from a cheap Tuktuk. Ah, I don't need to drag my luggage for few days now. #bliss.

Hotel reception is at 18th floor. I arrived earlier than check in time. But they still let me in. Yeah, I bet they saw the amendment record I sent them online - double bed - twin bed -  double bed - then twin bed. I mean.. what kind of person who pay attention to the of type of bed when they are sleeping ALONE, anyway? Well, I CARE.

48th Floor is all I can afford.

and for extra precaution, since Im travelling alone, I took a lesbian's lady's floor. No male on this floor, they can enter this floor but only up to elevator's lobby. Male still need the magnetic card to pass through the glass door. Ladies, you can walk naked on this floor. Just like ladies changing room at spa recreation.

I know, the bed and the carpet isnt that impressive. But they are not selling the bed or how the carpet looks like & feel. But they are selling the View.

Ok la.. the bottle of complimentary mineral water is kinda cute. It's the shape of the tower itself.

OMG, Im so tired. I want to rest. I mean, not after I drink that mineral water.. but I mean now. I'll continue about Bangkok View and all on my next post.

Tata~