Thinking Thoughts_v13.03

SEAT SALE Alert!

MARCH AWAITED seat sale courtesy of Cebu Pacific Air has been such a buzz today! The main and most logical reason was that some of the fares was PHP 1, or popularly known as the PISO FARE. Of course it excludes the fuel surchage, taxes, web admin fees, check-in baggage fees, travel insurance, seat selector, and many other more........

For those travelers and would be travelers, grab the chance for this seldom seat sale promo of Cebu Pacific for all their travel destinations, may it be local or international. I "tried" booking one domestic trip earlier and all-in-all, it was around PHP 900, with no check-in baggage included.

SEAT SALE ALERT!

The seat sale is only until March 8, well that's tomorrow, or UNTIL SEATS LAST. Travel period is from NOV 1 to DEC 12, 2013, and JAN 13 to MAR 31, 2014. Try your luck in searching for your most convenient travel dates and may the odds be in your favor....

NAIA Terminal 3

Good luck travelers! Ganbatte! Time is running out.. :)

Where to in Bangkok?

I want to be a certified backpacker; well at least I’m trying to be one. I want to experience exploring in a new place with all my things just packed in my backpack. Thailand is a popular destination for backpackers and I thought this will be a good start for me to be one.

Suvarnabhumi Airport

TRAVEL TIP: Ride all the local transportation as much as possible, be closer to the local people, and get acquainted with the place’s culture, up close.

I want to share with you how transportation system is like in Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok. It’s good to see that even though Bangkok has progressed greatly over the years, they still haven’t seized their early mode of transportation, the Bangkok State Railway. Now I agree with the ideas I've known before that train systems are the city’s road to industrialization.

I’m amazed of Bangkok’s State Railway because it is still fully operational and still offers a lot of train routes heading to various places of Thailand.

Bang Sue [bang-soo] Train Station

For instance visiting Ayutthaya City on the northern part of Thailand, you can ride a train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station via the Northern Line. The trip takes around 90 minutes and costs around THB 20 for a 3^rd class yet a comfortable seat. The train regularly departs everyday from 6:30 AM so no need to be worried not to catch a train ride. :)

Ayutthaya Bound Train Station

When you are a first time traveler in Thailand just like me, arriving Bangkok’s airport and going to the city central is very convenient. After passing through the Thai Immigration and getting your luggage, exit the arrival area and go to the main lobby. Then head down to the Basement to which the Airport Rail Link (SARL) is located.

SARL Train at Bangkok Airport

From the airport going to the last train station of SARL, Phaya Thai Station, it will only take around 30 – 45 minutes and costs around THB 40 – THB 50. Not only you will pay less, you will still have equal comfort!

Train token vending machine

TRAVEL TIP: Roaming around Bangkok, there are a lot of transportation options to choose from. It depends on what area you want to go and what’s the cheapest and safest option to have. If the place you wanna go is near the Bangkok MRT Stations or BTS Stations, I highly suggest riding the Bangkok Trains. It is fast, convenient, highly-organized and safe. Well the downside is that it is a bit expensive.

Train turnstile using contactless token

Petchaburi Station                           Bang Sue Station

If the place is not near the train stations, the TAXI should be your next option. There are a lot of “colorful” taxis in Bangkok. Yes, I did mean it is colorful. Always politely ask the driver to use the taximeter rather than them dictating the price. If they don’t agree with this suggestion, put on your smile, get out of the taxi, and politely say thank you. There are a lot of taxis available in the city so it would not be a problem.

There it is, the PINK Taxi!

TRAVEL TIP: The taxi’s flag down rate is THB 35 and increments regularly depending on the distance and time it takes for you to arrive at your destination. You may find some online Bangkok Taxi Calculator to have an idea prior.

Crossing the famous Chao Praya River, you can easily go to Wat Arun from Tha Tien Pier, near Wat Pho Temple, through their express ferry. The ferry operates regularly until 8PM and it only costs THB 3.

Tha Tien Pier

Last mode of transportation I would recommend is the Tuk-Tuk. Tuk-Tuk is very and cheap but some tuk-tuk drivers tend to fool you around especially when you’re new in Bangkok.

Yes, I am a living casualty of their “tuk-tuk moves”. It may cost you cheaper but be mindful though because they might bring you to some places first such as the Information Center, expensive River cruise trip, and other places to which they can earn referral commissions.     

Yes, he did his "Tuk-Tuk moves"!

Visiting Cambodia from Bangkok, there are a lot of options to choose from heading to the border, Aranyaprathet; bus, taxi, and train. Well, what are the pros and cons? Check out my “opinion table” below about the transportation options:

	TRAIN	BUS	TAXI
Availability	Departs Bangkok's Hua Lamphong twice everyday  (5:55 AM and 1:35 PM)	A lot of buses available going to Aranyaprathet	Available anywhere and anytime
Travel Time	5 - 6 hours	4 – 5 hours	3 – 4 hours
Comfort	3rd class non-airconditioned seats	Air-conditioned seats	Air-conditioned seats
Safety	SAFEST	Somehow safe   (but takes a lot of stops)	Very Safe
Price	THB 48 (cheapest!)	THB 230	THB 2,000

Hua Lamphong Station

I highly recommend riding the train because it is very safe, heads directly to Aranyaprathet without detour stops, passes the rural areas of Thailand, and the best of all - you will surely meet fellow tourists and backpackers alike! :)

More resources about Thailand:

• Bangkok, Thailand's Krung Thep
• Bangkok Foodies
• Bangkok City and Temples

Bangkok Food Tripping

Yes, food is important to me! :)

Before going to Thailand, I did beforehand my slightly "extensive" research about their country's finest delicacies and popular local dishes. I've read a lot of sources saying Thailand's dishes are bursts of each and every flavor. Interesting, right?!

Well, I've considered all the online comments I've read and listed down the must-eat foods, and now it's my time to give my verdict!

Thailand has lots of cuisines to offer to satisfy your stomach's desire. I really did my best trying all their foods may it be from a formal restaurant, food court center, street food stalls, and side walk vendors. Join me as I share with you glimpses of Thai foods that surely made my trip more satisfying.

Food Court center around Pratunam

I've read some sources online that in Pratunam Area, they serve delicious Chicken Rice [they prononouced it as "chiken righ"] and Tom Yum. Well, I found a chicken rice which costs THB 50 but it was the fried version and not the steamed one. But it still passed my taste bud's criteria.

Thai Chicken in Rice

The Tom Yum on the other hand was EPIC! With its THB 100 price, Yes, E-P-I-C! The sweet and spicy taste of the dish really brought a "stinging" sensation in my body. Somehow, I realized that Thai foods are sharing the same taste with Filipino foods. For instance Tom Yum versus our local Sinigang dish!

Tom Yum

Strolling along Pratunam Area, there were also a lot of food vendors selling lots of fruits which were delicious and sweet and cost only around THB 20 - THB 50. In the Philippines, we usually use Soy Sauce with Green Mangoes and Guavas but in Thailand, I was amazed because they used chili powder! And yes, again it was perfectly matched!

Street food spices to spice up your life!

TRAVEL TIP: Aside from Thai Food, you can also find bunch of restaurants serving Indian Food, Chinese Food, and European Food. If you're too adventurous to taste all the dishes, don't hesitate to try everything at once!

Noodles w/ Egg & Tomato Soup

   Stir Fried Noodle w/ Squid              Stir Fried Chicken w/ Peanuts

Going up north in the historical place of Ayutthaya, One Love Restaurant & Guest House, in front of Wat Ratchaburana, offered delicious dishes! I highly recommend this resto to all tourists visiting the place! Prepare around THB 400 in your pocket and it will already suffice your hunger.

One Love Restaurant

Who said we're hungry?

Going back to Bangkok, another Thai Food on my list is the Pad Thai! I have tasted before this dish from a Thai Resto here in the Philippines but my tongue is really searching for an authentic one.

Seafood                                           Chicken

TRAVEL TIP: Try the sidewalk food stall located in the entrance gate in Tha Tien Pier because they serve tasteful Pad Thai dish either in Chicken mix or Seafood mix at THB 60 only. By the way, Thai Tien Pier is near Wat Pho area.

Pad Thai Preparation

Moving on, there's a place in Bangkok which is popularly known as the "Backpacker's Haven". Where else but Khao San Road! Why? Because it's an area jampacked with tourists and backpackers alike. They have affordable lodges, pension inns, and guest houses! Additionally, the place transforms itself as a party haven at night!

TRAVEL TIP: Never miss tasting Thailand's local beer, "Chang Beer", from a bar in Khao San Road! I admit, it's cheaper because it only costs THB 60 for a 640 ml bottle. Fair deal, huh?!

Cheers to Good Health!.. I meant Good LIFE! :)

Is it maybe because Thai foods have the same tastes as Filipino foods that's why I loved their dishes? Hmmm, I think it's more on the "innovative taste" that Thai foods offer that made it worth a try, Always!

More resources about Thailand:

• Bangkok, Thailand's Krung Thep
• Bangkok Transportation
• Bangkok City and Temples