Indochina Trip 2013: Bangkok, Thailand

Finally touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport! Hello Bangkok! Sawatdee Kah! ^^

It's my second time in Bangkok, its nice to be back! I have love Bangkok for sooooo many reasons!!! ~kekeke~

Bangkok at night

Following my simple itinerary for this Indochina Trip, first stop is "Bangkok, Thailand", we head first to Sunflower Place. For the second time, I chose to stay here because this guesthouse/hostel is a great place to stay.

How to go to Sunflower Place from the airport:
We take the Airport Rail Link (Level G), we take the "SA City Line" to "Phayathai Station", that is the last station. Then transfer to BTS Station, to go to Silom BTS line, off to "Siam Station" and transfer to go to "Saladaeng Station" (take exit No. 1).

Then continue walking down to Silom Road until you reach Silom6 street. Then turn right until reaching "Thai Prime Massage Store". Turn left and continue walking towards "Green Point Condominion" and you will find "Sunflower Place"

While checking in, we ask the staff if she knows about the direct bus to "Siem Reap", we let her know that we are planning to take the direct bus to Siem Reap, and luckily she knew about it. She advise us to go at Thai Ticket Major outlet located in Siam Paragon level 6 (near cinemas). Unfortunately its already past 8pm and the outlet is already closed, we have no choice but to try tomorrow.

Sunflower Place

Quick review of this guesthouse/hostel: 
The room is always clean, spacious enough even the bathroom. The complimentary two bottled water is a plus. The location is good, few minutes walk from Saladaeng Station, near to KFC, McDonalds, 7-11, to banks (Standard Chartered and City Bank), to massage house and to Patpong. Consider the cheap rate per night, its not bad staying here. I have stayed here last year and I had no bad experience at all, the staff were all nice and approachable. Sunflower Place is a safe place to stay in :)

As I say this is "Amazing Race trip", we try to visit places as many as we can! After checking in, we head to MBK, a familiar place to me. You can buy cheap T-shirts souvenirs and cheap bags here!

How to go to MBK  from Sunflower Place:
From Saladaeng Station to National Stadium Station

After MBK Center, we stroll Patpong area, this place is near to Sunflower Place.

PATPONG
How to get there:
From MBK Center, take BTS National Stadium Station (the last station) and get off to Saladaeng Station, take exit 1 and just walk ahead.

Beware of scammers here, ever heard of the "Ping Pong Show". Some offer a cheap price but when you're done with your drinks, the charge will be doubled or tripled the price.

Dinner at the nearest KFC in Saladaeng Station :)

my dinner, safe dinner, not too spicy :)

che's dinner :) Looks spicy right? ..... Yes indeed!!!!

Indochina Trip 2013: Clark to Bangkok

Finally my "first" international trip for this year, it's been 8 months since my last trip abroad and so happy that I'm flying again. Another "first" is this backpacking trip that covers three (3) countries! Yes 3!!! Indochina Trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam! Of course my "first" time in Cambodia and Vietnam and my "first" time backpacking! "First" time flying Tiger Airways and last but not the least my "first" time flying from Clark International Airport!

How to go to Clark Airport:

From TriNoma

Ride the bus located at TriNoma beside Mercury Drug

Schedule from TriNoma to Clark Airport : 3:00am, 5:00am, 8:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm

Fare: 200

I'm not aware of the schedule, we went to TriNoma around 10 'o clock in the morning and I was surprised  to know that the bus will leave at 12:30pm, our flight is 3 'o clock in the afternoon, of course we still need to check in at least 2 hours before our flight. What we do is take the bus at the other side of TriNoma near Landmark Supermarket, we ride Victory Liner going to Dau Mabalacat, Pampanga, the fare is 133php. Then at the terminal, you can ride the VAN straight to Clark International Aiport with the fare of 100php.

Clark Airport

Travel Tax is 1620php

Terminal fee is 450php (cheaper by 100php from NAIA 3)

Check in area

Tiger Airways

Waiting to board at Gate 2, the area is just small compared to NAIA Terminal 3, I think NAIA Terminal 4 is much bigger. Anyways, I enjoyed the free wifi that keeps me busy while waiting.

Bangkok in a few hours.....

Indochina Trip 2013: Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

My first time to do backpacking, will do "Indochina Trip" covering Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam! Squeezing just 5 days for three (3) countries! Is it possible?? Yes if you fly from one country to another, but this is backpacking , talking about low cost budget we travel by land, cheaper but takes long travel time. Thinking only of 5 days to travel from Manila to Bangkok, then to Siem Reap, to Vietnam then back to Manila? Is it possible?? Of course! This backpacking result would be an Amazing Race trip!

 I'm excited, this is my second time in Thailand but I'm glad that I will visit new country this year "Cambodia" and "Vietnam".

The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Getting ready for this backpacking trip!

TICKET

Our round trip ticket is originally for Manila to Ho Chi Minh City, for the nth time , thanks to Cebu Pacific's PISO fare last August 2012, that cost roughly 900+php each. But because of my excitement booking that flight I accidentally input the incorrect return date :) Instead of a couple of days, the said travel date went for a month!  The plan for Indochina trip starts with the wrong booking and I waited for another flight promo, this time "Tiger Airways" had their promo.  I was able to book last January for 1 way ticket to Bangkok that cost 800+php per person, from Clark to Bangkok. To sum it up, our ticket is cost 1,700+php.

By the way, supposedly our travel date is July 10, 2013 but Tiger Airways rescheduled it to July 11. I don't understand their reason, they just send an email notification stating that "Your flight has been rescheduled due to a network review". A day after they canceled our flight to Davao!!! Wow Tiger Airways!!!

MONEY MATTERS

Still Czarina Forex for money exchange, Thailand Baht is a bit expensive compare to last year rate, buying rate is 1.5php to 1 Thailand Baht, I remember last it was only 1.37php = 1 bht. For Cambodian Riel and Vietnam Dong, I choose to buy some USD. Cambodia accepts USD, 1 USD = 4 Cambodia Riel and 1 USD = 21000 VND (Vietnam Dong). Buying rate of USD is 44.80php.

Baht and USD

ACCOMMODATION

For Bangkok, I booked again at Sunflower Place thru Hostelworld. I couldn't think of another hostel/guesthouse in Bangkok, my stay here last year is very good, the room is always clean, the place is safe and accessible and the staff is always accommodating. If I would be back in Bangkok , I'd still choose to stay here in Sunflower Place.

For Siem Reap, I booked at Bou Savy Guesthouse. I've learned this place from forums/blogs, a lot of good reviews for this guesthouse, so I decided to pick this. The rate is good, the room is nice and clean, the staff is very accommodating. Mr Bovorn always answers my queries through email, he even arranged our Angkor Wat Tour and the bus trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

For Ho Chi Minh City, I booked at Nguyen Khang Hotel. I've learned about the hotel thru forums and blogs. The rate is good, near to the bus stop of Mekong Express, the bus trip from Siem Reap to Saigon. The reservation is by email only, Ms Houng accommodates all my questions via email.


ITINERARY

July 11, 2013
Departs from Clark Airport
Arrived in Bangkok at 6pm

July 12, 2013
Half Day Temple Tour (Wat Po and Grand Palace)
Terminal 21
Platinum Fashion Mall
Siam Paragon
MBK Center
Patpong

July 13, 2013
Travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Check in Bou Savy Guesthouse
Angkok Night Market

July 14, 2013
Angkok Wat Tour
Angkok Night Market

July 15, 2013
Travel from Siem Reap to HCMC, Vietnam
Check in
Ben Thanh Night Market

July 16, 2013
Cu Chi Tour (half day)
Ben Thanh Market
Saigon Square
departs from HCMC Airport at 1am (July 17)


Adventure starts now!

Life is a Beach - Boracay 2013

Back again to BORACAY for the third time!  I'm with my favorite travel buddy "Tina" (my beloved sister, my dongsaeng! )

This time we are flying via ZEST AIR, my first time flying with them. And so I was not surprised of the delayed thingy reviews about them, as I've experienced it too. I'm just glad that we had a safe trip going to Kalibo. The delayed flight and the not so good weather makes us feel so stressed, so riding the ferry from Caticlan to Boracay makes us feel so dizzy, and it's hard to take a trike at that time, definitely not a good night for us.

We had our room reservation at Isla Del Mar located at Station 1, thanks to fellow GT Matet Reyes (female network) for the good review of this Beach Hotel.

Isla Del Mar has a very good location (Station 1), not really beach front but it's just a minute walk from the beach. The room is spacious and clean. I highly recommend this budget friendly beach hotel.

Because we arrived night at Boracay and it's raining we only had dinner at BITE CLUB Grilled Burgers.

Day 1 in Boracay

Breakfast at REAL COFFEE - The Home of The Calamansi Muffin!

It's my first time here in Real Coffee and tasted their famous Calamansi Muffin, now I know why it is popular here in Boracay, the muffin tastes good! The place is just small, you can also see how they make the muffin.
Calamansi Muffin cost 45php per piece. We also tried their pancake and cappuccino.

We don't have plans to have water activity so we just had a walk from Station 1 to Station 2.

Station 2  - D'Mall

Tea time at Share Tea.

We were supposed to have our lunch at Smoke Bar but there's no seat available. We have no choice but to eat somewhere else, too bad. It also began to rain but not that heavy.

Back to the beach :)

Night at Boracay

Dinner at Smoke Resto!

Day 2

Morning stroll at D'Talipapa for "pasalubong"

Morning at the beach!

 

Bungee Fun??? It's my first time to see this new activity :) Looks fun though.

D' Mall

 

I love Boracay! :)