2019.01.23. Bangkok Adventures Part 4: Travel!

(Right now: Waiting at the airport.) 

After attending the International Conference on Applied Physics and Mathematics (ICAPM) 2019 in Chulalongkorn University, Nessa and Cams had to pick the earliest flight the following day to catch their classes in La Salle. Mich and I, on the other hand, stayed for another day. We met up with Mich’s brother Ed who is now based in Thailand (in the northern provinces). He went with us for a tour of the nice attractions in Bangkok. Here are some of the nice pictures I took during the tour.

With Ed, Mich’s older brother. 

We first roamed around the area near our hotel and had breakfast. I tried a local delicacy from the KFC menu. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to finish it because it was too hot for my taste. 

Look at all those onions and chilli seeds!

We rode on a tourist hop-on-hop-off bus to get to the important tourist locations in the Chao Phraya River. This whole day pass is perfect for tourists who have only a day to spare in their itinerary. All important locations in the area can be visited in a whole day.

View from the tourist boat.

As tourists.

The views from the boat ride are lovely, with most of the destinations looking grand and majestic as viewed from the river. I am sure that the river floods from time to time, but it is a testament to the pride of the local people that these temples and other structures by the river have been kept very beautifully over the years. 

The Wat Tarun, as viewed from the river.

In one of the local docks.

Another palace from the other side of the river.

The siblings

Our first stopover in the boat tour is the Grand Palace, the residence of the Thai Monarchs. We were greeted by a throng of other visitors who have to line up before they can enter the gates. Since this will take up so much of our time (the lines stretch out long into the nearby parks) and money (500 Baht is quite hefty), we just decided to take pictures from the outside. 

Outside the Grand Palace

Grand Palace through the walls

After staying for a bit and talking about Mich’s student (love) life (😂😂😂), we took another boat and went to the Wat Pho, another intricate architectural grandeur by the river. 

The local boats by the dock

The horizon is lined up with old and modern structures.

The entrance to Wat Pho.

After that, we hopped on another boat and crossed the river to get to Wat Arun. The Temple of Dawn is one of the most widely known structures that have come to symbolize Bangkok. It was intricately designed with mosaic from broken china and tiles. Although we were also greeted by a huge crowd, the place is still majestic and awe-inspiring, and almost spiritual. 

Mich by the entrance

Ed and Mich in the higher levels of the temple

With Mich

The intricate designs of Wat Arun

Wat Arun facing the river and the Grand Palace from across the river

By lunch time, we took a tuk-tuk (see what I did there?) to get to the restaurants just outside the Palace Gates. The place reminded me of Eastwood or Bonifacio High Street and some other similar development areas in Manila, except that it is just beside the river.

Mich excited to ride the tuk-tuk

Lunch!

The fountains and the general feel of the place reminded me of Bonifacio High Street.

After the boat tour, we went back to the city. Ed recommended that we visit the True Love Neverland, a place where you can play with their pet dogs, most of them huskies. We rode a taxi and experienced the Bangkok traffic in midday (note: still better than Manila), and reached a quaint neighborhood where the cafe is. We paid the entrance fee which comes with a drink and a cake, and watched the video instructions about how to go about with the dogs. 

In the True Love cafe

And, after that, off we go! We were actually last in line, but because we had to catch a flight, the attendants were kind enough to let us go first and have our pictures with the young Siberian huskies. They were very playful! I immediately thought about my daughter; oh, she would have loved them! But I quickly remembered that this place is not for anyone younger than 15. Oh, well. We’ll just have to wait several more years. 

Petting the older dogs

Ed and Mich with the huskies

After the trip to the cute dogs, Ed had to catch his van back to his place. We went with him to the station and bid him goodbye. Mich and I, on the other hand, continued to explore the city, most especially the malls. 

In the train station that leads to the malls.

View from the train station. Yes, that’s Hooters on the foreground. Nope, we didn’t go.

It was dark already and we needed to buy more stuff for pasalubong. Cams and Nessa said we should go to Asiatique, a huge mall south by the river to buy some stuff at a bargain. We went there and bought food items and some dresses for Mich’s mom. 

Asiatique, the shopping destination

Shortly after, we went back to the hotel to get our bags and took a cab to the airport.

View from the higher deck in the airport.

The tour was fun and it’s also nice to meet Ed. I hope I can return to Bangkok someday to be able to visit these places again. ■