Bangkok Itinerary (3D/2N)

BANGKOK 2012
June 17, 2012
NAIA 3
Departs at 9:35pm
ETA - 11:50pm

Airport link  to Phaya Thai Station to Saladaeng Station
Sunflower Place ???????????? ???? 39/17-19 ?.??????????? ?.??????? ????????? ???????? 10500
Address : 39/17-19 Soi Anuman-Rajdhon, Surawong Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel : +662 235-9080 Fax : +66(0) 2235-9081

From Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport
o By Airport Rail Link (from 6AM - Midnight) Around THB40-100:
-Go to Airport Rail Link counter on level G. Take "SA City Line" (fare around THB 15 and takes around 30 minutes) to Phayathai Station (end of the line), and walk to (N2) Phayathai BTS Station (5 minutes walk).
-Continue by BTS to Siam Station and transfer to Silom BTS Line.
-Get off at (S2) Sala Daeng BTS Station (take Exit No.1).

Directions:
Easy access (5-8 minutes walking) by both BTS (Bangkok Skytrain) and MRT (Bangkok Subway)
o By BTS: get off at Sala Daeng BTS Station (take Exit No.1)
Or
o By MRT: get off at Silom MRT Station (take Exit No.2)
Then continue walking down to Silom Road until you reach Silom6 Street.
Turn right into Silom6 Street until reaching "Thai Prime Massage Store".
Turn left and continue walking toward "Green Point Condominium", you will find "Sunflower Place" on your right

June 18 - DAY 1
Saladaeng Station ' Hua Lamphong Station
8am
Ayutthaya
Travel time: 2 hours from BKK
10am arrival

By Train
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Price: third class 15 baht
There are several trains a day from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. There are third class trains going roughly every hour from Hua Lampong station. It is a nice and relaxed way to get to the temple town of Ayutthaya. There is also a possibility to use the express train that heads for Chiang Mai. You can buy tickets on the day of travel and you can only buy a ticket if the train is not occupied by long distance travelers.

By Minivan
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes
Price: 60 baht
There are minibuses leaving almost every 15 minutes from Victory Monument in Bangkok to Ayutthaya. The minibus is the fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
The minibus drops you at the main bus station in Ayutthaya. Check out the map on the Victory monument page to see where the minibus to Ayutthaya is situated.

By Bus
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Price: 65 baht
There are buses going from Bangkok Northern bus terminal to Ayutthaya. Depending traffic the trip to Ayutthaya will take you about 90 minutes. The price for a ticket is 65 baht and you can buy the tickets inside the terminal on the second floor. Buses go approximately every half hour from 05:00 till 20:00.
Directions:
From BTS Station Rachathewi station to Mochit station.
Cross the footbridge (which is connected to Mochit exit station)
Ride the BUS #3 or 77 going to Northern Bus Terminal
At the Northern Bus terminal ride a bus going to Ayutthaya (Fare: 65 BHT)
" get to Northern Bus Terminal, take to Moh Chit BTS Station. Upon exiting gantry gates, cross the bridge on the right to go to bus-stop, and take bus service 3 or bus service 77. (air-con buses charge 12 baht, non air-con buses charge 7 baht.) Bus ride is about 10 - 15 minutes and the Northern Bus Terminal destination is the last stop for the bus services. However, buses do not stop in the Northern Bus Terminal, but at the bus stop across. Cross the bridge to get to the Bus Terminal. Also you can take a minivan from the Victory Monument direct to Ayutthaya. Takes ~1 hour and costs 100 baht. Minivans depart every 20 minutes or so..."

** arriving at Ayutthaya - hire a tuktuk

Tourist spots in Ayutthaya: (fees based on 2010 travel)
Wat Phanan Choeng (largest sitting Buddha) - entrance fee 20 thb
Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol (array of Buddhas w/ yellow scarf on their chest) - entrance fee 50 thb
Wat Chaiwatthanaram (oldest shrine) - entrance fee 50 thb
Wat Mongkol Bophit (no entrance fee)
Ancient Royal Palace (located beside Wat Mongkol Bophit) - entrance fee 50 thb
Wat Mahathat (Buddha on the tree trunk & headless Buddhas) - entrance fee - 50 thb
Wat Phutthaisawan (free entrance)

**Expect heavy traffic going back to BKK, if you finish touring Ayutthaya at 3pm, you'll be in BKK at aroung 7pm due to heavy traffic.
4 or 5pm Bangkok

Back to Sunflower Place
-Take subway from Hua Lamphong MRT station and get off at Silom MRT Station (Exit No.2).
-Continue walking down to Silom Road until you reach Silom6 Street

Patpong Night Market
BTS Skytrain: Sala Daeng (S2) Exits 1, 3
MRT Subway: Si Lom Exit 2 (from the exit, cross the bridge to Silom road)
All exits are about 10-15 minutes walk.


June 19 - Day 2
7am (call time)
Sunflower Place to Platinum Mall

Operationg Hours: 8am to 8pm (We, Sat & Sun) 9am - 8pm
Directions:
Take the skytrain to Chidlom or Siam
Walking distance to Pratanum Market

Siam Square
Getting here: Directly opposite MBK or Siam BTS (exit 2,3,4)
MBK Center
Getting here: Skytrain (BTS) to: National Stadium or Siam Station
SIAM Station ' SALADAENG Station
** Back to Sunflower Place

DREAMWORLD
SALADAENG Station ' SIAM Station ' MOCHIT BTS Station (Northern Bus Terminal)
Or
SALADAENG Station ' SIAM Station ' VICTORY MONUMENT Station (BUS 538)
DREAM WORLD
Located Vibhavadee - Rangsit Highway
Dream World is open daily from 10am - 5pm
How to get there:
Catch either a Number 188 bus from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) or a Number 538 from Victory Monument. Both bus services are air-conditioned.
Entrance: 150 Baht, 450 Baht - ride all you can, 365 Baht - saver ticket, 20 - 80 Bath - per ride

Dinner
Chao Phraya Cruise
River City Pier
Saphan Taksin Station (Silom Line of the BTS Skytrain) has Free Shuttle Boat Service going to the River City Shopping Complex Pier.

June 20 - Day 3
Temple Tour
Grand Palace
Wat Pho
Wat Arun
Grand Palace
BTS to Saphan taksin Station
Walk to the pier
 
Water taxi - cost 15baht
Get off at N9 Tha Chang, pass thru the market place, and then to national road, cross the street and you'll see this:

Grand Palace
Entrance: 400 Baht
Dress code is strictly implemented

**After Grand Palace, exit the gate and follow the signs to Wat Pho
WAT PHO aka Reclining Buddha
Entrance: 100 Baht

**After Wat Pho, exit to the gate & you'll see a small market with a pier.
Ride to the ferry (ferry fee: 3 baht) , 2 minutes travel time :
WAT ARUN
Entrance: 50 Baht

**Shopping
9:40pm - airport
12:40am flight

"Blast From The Past" BORACAY '09

Another Blast From The Past entry! To the beautiful island of Boracay! The very famous beach in the Philippines and please stop saying BORA, it's BORACAY ^^

Very late summer indeed, travel dates June 29 - July 1. Thanks for the good weather! Still summer! Our tickets cost almost 1k per pax (round trip) Manila to Caticlan via CebuPac, yes it's a promo (again). Thanks to CebuPac promo deals, now every Juan can fly ^^

 Arriving at Caticlan Airport, we just walked to the port and paid for environmental fee and terminal fee, then from Boracay Port we take the trikes to the White Beach (Station 2).

Villa Lourdes for our accomodation (very cheap), located at station 2. It is very easy to find, very near to D' Mall, souvenir shops and to the beach.


On our first day we went to Puka Beach, we take the trike going to Yapak for 100 bucks (2pax).

On our second day we have an early schedule for Reef Walking at Station 3. I've got Mang Beboy for the Reef Walking and Island Hopping Tour.

Reef walking cost 500php per pax, with additional 500php for the picture that was saved on a CD. Not bad for the underwater experience! 

Then we had our Island Tour with other tourist, we are in a big group!

The Island Hopping Tour includes touring to Puka Beach, Crystal Cove (entrance fee not included), snorkeling and lunch! I enjoyed the tour with the other tourist too ^^ fun fun fun!

I'm so happy that we were blessed with a good weather! 

Definitely Boracay is very lively at night! Boracay Party!

Last night in Boracay, chillin' at the beach!

After a tiring day, we still manage to buy pasalubongs then I heard to a woman that they received a notice from Cebu Pacific that their flight to Cebu will be in Kalibo instead of Caticlan, I also heard that there's problem with CebuPac's aircraft that would not operates in Caticlan. Panic mode! I haven't receive any notice, we head back immediately and I check my mobile phone and email. To my surprise, yes the flight will be in Kalibo! Travel time from Caticlan to Kalibo is 2 hours! Tsk! So we have to be ready for an early flight tomorrow though CebuPac provides a van transfer (they really should provide that!). Still this is a hassle for us!

And so our trip goes like that, catching early sunset in Boracay!

I think everybody loves Boracay, a true paradise! I would definitely be back here (if I can) ^^.

Donghae and Siwon on Bench!

Finally Bench goes Kpop! I'm so HAEppy that Bench chooses Super Junior's Lee Donghae and Choi Siwon to be the new model of Bench.

What makes me more HAEppy is when I see their billboards around EDSA which was posted second week of May 2012!

SiHae on Bench at Quezon Avenue (cr: Cathleen Catapia via FB)

DONGHAE's Billboard at Edsa Guadalupe (cr. naughty noona via FB)

Yay ~ fanboys policeman? ~kekeke~  (cr. Ryeo Mae Shin)

Can't help but smile when I see these big billboards of Donghae and Siwon!!!! ^_^

DONGHAE & SIWON! omaygawd!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! (cr.sarahpascasio)

I just hope the billboard will last forever! ^_^ Don't change it please! ^_^ #fangirling

Now I'm so loving Bench for this! I can't wait to buy the shirt, I want the SORRY SORRY shirt of HAE ^^ How I wish they could bring them here with the rest of Super Junior!!! (yay~so greedy) Okay, so just bring HAE & SIWON! Or even HAE hahaha evil me who really wanted HAE!!! ^^

"Blast From The Past" BOHOL-CEBU '09 Escapade

I just started blogging last year and I want to blog my past trip which took off last 2009! Hey it's already 2012! Memories were so great, looking back to it makes me smile and remembering the experiences we had. I'm gladly sharing my Blast From The Past entry, the first entry would be my Bohol - Cebu Escapade!

BOHOL - CEBU 2009
March 21 - 23

We booked our ticket via Cebu Pacific, Manila to Cebu round trip ticket that cost 700+ php per pax. This is my first flight, first out of town and first vacation with my BFF!

BFF (wacky team)

Touring Cebu and Bohol would not be a problem for us, because luckily Lhuz's uncle will accompany us through the whole trip. He was working in Cebu but living in Bohol, he fetch us at Mactan's airport. We took the taxi to SM Cebu and had dinner there and we go straight to the port. Yes to the port that will take to Tagbilaran, it was almost 10pm when we reach the port. We take the RORO, because at that time that is the only available ferry to reach Tagbilaran, it would took 5 or more hours of travel. We slept at the cabin of the ferry, it's comfortable though. 

cabin

Arriving so early in the morning, we go to Tagbilaran Church for the Sunday Mass (March 22, 2009).

How cute these trykes outside the church, it's something new to us ^^ (can't see these in Manila or Bulacan)

Planning for a half day touring Bohol, after having breakfast we head to another Lhuz's relatives, we freshen up ^^ So relatives are really helpful, they even get us a van that we rented for the tour. 

First stop: Mag-aso Falls

Located in Antequera, Bohol

Beautiful falls, you can enjoy swimming in this place too.

2nd stop: Blood Compact

scenery from Blood Compact

Third Stop: Baclayon Church

Fourth Stop: PRONY Python! ^^

Prony was sleeping! See how brave I am :P

Fifth Stop: Loboc River

We already had lunch before we go here, so we did not take the cruise.

Sixth Stop: Loboc Tarsier

These cute little creatures asleep during the day (nocturnal), when taking pictures please make sure to turn off the flash.

Seventh Stop: Hanging Bridge

The infamous Buko King is also located here, some pasalubongs can be bought here too.

Eight Stop: Man Made Forest

Ninth Stop: Chocolate Hills

End of day tour, we contracted the van to drive us in UBAY, wherein Lhuz's relative resides. It is more than 2 hours drive from Carmen (Chocolate Hills) to Ubay. Nap time at the road, kinda exhausted from touring. 

Reaching Ubay, I must say that I'm really at rural place. Well I got to experience riding habal habal, kinda scared a bit. We just can't miss to enjoy the beach in Bohol, even it's already night we hit the beach! ^^

Spending the night at Lhuz's relatives, then tomorrow will be heading to Cebu.

Ubay in the morning

Ubay Public Market

Ubay Church

Now ready for Cebu, we head to Port Tubigon, which is the nearest link to Cebu City. 

CEBU

Arriving Cebu (again), we waited for Lhuz's Aunt who will be our tour guide in Cebu. ^^ But we don't have much time, we will just visit the Sto.Nino Cathedral and Magellan's Cross. We also bought some pasalubongs near the cathedral.

Sto. Nino Cathedral

Magellan's Cross

Leaving Cebu, I enjoyed this trip so much with my BFF Gladz, Cherry and Lhuz! ^^ 

Secret Recipe - Shangri La Mall

It's Thursday again! Thursdate with my sister Tina ^^ Food trip for today Secret Recipe's unlimited cakes and coffee/tea located at 5th floor Shangri La Mall in Edsa Ortigas.

The unlimited cakes and coffee/tea is courtesy of Cash Cash Pinoy (online deals), got this deal for  199php. Of course rules apply: 1 person per voucher, strictly no sharing and no left overs, the deal starts at 2:30pm to 6:30pm.

We came around 3 o 'clock, the place is nice. Only few people were there and lots of staffs, some were OJTs. I handed the voucher at the cashier and she verify it, then after few minutes the staff came to take our first round of cake. There are 7 cream cakes to choose: Moist Chocolate Cake, Almond Coffee, Strawberry Cake, Black Forest, Golden Nugget, Cocoa Mocha and Mocha Walnut.

Round 1
I ordered Moist Chocolate Cake and Jasmine tea, while Tina ordered Almond Coffee Cake and Jasmine tea too.

Round 2
Black Forest and Strawberry Cake

Round 3
Golden Nugget and Mocha Walnut

Round 4
Cocoa Mocha and Moist Chocolate Cake

For the coffee or tea, you can only choose one and they will just refill it. For the cake, just ask some staff there to have your next round of cake, but of course you must finish everything first, like I said earlier strictly no left overs! ^^

We tried their Spaghetti Bolognese (185 php)

My review:
Service: Poor
So slow in serving foods, I'm seeing lots of OJTs and they were not attentive.

Food: Average
The Spaghetti Bolognese tastes like pizza which is just okay.

Cakes: Not good
I like cakes, but their cakes is not good, it is drying and not fresh at all! The only cake that I appreciate is the Moist Chocolate Cake, the rest is no good.

Ambiance:
Not so many people here, place is nice.

For this experience, I'm telling to myself that I wouldn't be back here, the price for the cake is way too expensive! I would understand if the taste is good, but seriously those cakes was not fresh!