Indochina Trip 2013: Bangkok, Thailand (Day 2)

Day 2 - Temple Tour

For our half day Temple tour, we visit Wat Po and The Grand Palace.

How to go there:
From Saladaeng Station take BTS to Saphan Taksin Station, walk to pier (Chao Phraya Express Boat) and ride the orange water taxi (fare is 12 baht). Get off to N9 Tha Chang, then pass thru the market place.

Exiting from the market place, you'll see The Grand Palace just across the national road  and Wat Po is just beside it.

WAT PO (The Reclining Buddha Temple)
Opens daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm (break time 12noon to 1:00pm)
Entrance 100 Baht with free one bottled water

Welcome to WAT PO

Now to the famous "Reclining Buddha", I was able to visit this temple last year and its pretty much the same. The only thing that change is I have to wear the robe because I'm wearing inappropriate dress :)

More Buddhas inside Wat Po

After Wat Po, we go to The Grand Palace which is just few minutes away. Again beware of some scammers roaming around the area.

THE GRAND PALACE
Opens daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Entrance is 500 Baht
With proper dress code.
From TourismThailand website (source http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/The-Grand-Palace--52)

Dress Code: Visitors are required to dress appropriately. Thus the following dress - code (applicable to both ladies and gentlemen) is requested:
1. Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, as well as tights can not be worn as outer garments.
2. See-through shirts and blouses, as well as culottes or quarter length trousers can not be worn.
3. Sleeveless shirts or vests can not be worn as outer garments.
4. Sandals (without ankle or heel straps) can not be worn.
5. All shirt sleeves, whether long or short, can not be rolled up.
6. Sweat shirts and sweat pants, wind-cheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers can not be worn


This is my first time to The Grand Palace, the entrance fee is a bit higher compare to last year. (I should have visited last year)

Now exploring "The Grand Palace".

Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat

The Grand Palace has amazing structures! But this place is too crowded, its hard to take good photos, though the weather is not that hot, I feel exhausted because I had to wear cardigans and malong. Anyways, this place is worth to visit!

After our half day temple tour, we head back to Siam Station, the reason for our early Temple tour is to  buy ticket at Thai Major Ticket Outlet located at the 6th floor of Siam Paragon. The outlet is near Starbucks in the cinema area of Siam Paragon. Asking the sales rep of Thai Major Ticket, too bad that the direct bus ticket from Bangkok to Siem Reap was already FULLY BOOKED!!!! I ask the sales rep if we can go to Mochit Station to check is there is a possible ticket, she says "maybe". Then off we go to Mochit Bus Station.

How to go to Mochit Bus Station:
Take BTS to Mochit Station (last station), then take a cab and tell the driver "Mochit Bus Station".

Mochit Bus Station

Following the guide from this site http://berriesenthusiast.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/direct-bus-from-bangkok-to-siem-reap-step-by-step-journey/


When I ask the man selling the tickets, he says that there is no available ticket for Siem Reap trip on the said date (July 13). I have no choice but to research again for another way , we can't move our scheduled trip. (ottoke??)

We went back to Sunflower Place, to research another option for Siem Reap trip. I've read to some blog of alternate route, so our plan B is to ride Minivan/Minibus at Victory Monument Station that would take to Poipet Border. There you go, problem solve and I'm just hoping that it'll just go fine. (Aja!!!)

For our late lunch..... of course McDonald's!

Back exploring Bangkok.....

Bangkok is well known for many shopping malls like Siam Paragon, Centraworld, Isetan, Zen, Siam Center to name a few and one of the famous is Terminal 21, because of its around the world theme. Each floor is designed by country theme and that includes the restroom.

TERMINAL 21
How to go there:
Take BTS and get off at Asok Station

Departing from Bangkok going to London!

London! ^^

Waiting for the train ? This place is cuteness overload, you wouldn't even think that this place is restroom area :)

Istanbul!

San Francisco!

Hollywood!

Japan Japan!! ^^

Again this is one of the cute and unique restroom inside the mall, Japanese inspired!

Then we head to Platinum Fashion Mall and MBK Center again to buy some stuffs and pasalubongs. We passed by at some big malls in Bangkok, namely Centralworld, Zen, Siam Paragon andn even Big C Supermarket.

Centralworld

Zen

Siam Paragon

This is our last night in Bangkok, I'm sad that we only had 1 day to spend in this crazy shopping area! Maybe next year if I'm fortunate to score a good ticket (hopefully~crossing-fingers), I really love to come back, not because of the shopping thingy , but because of more beautiful places here that I missed to see!