Bangkok Chapter 1 (Chatuchak Weekend Market : 'Extra Tropical' Edition)
Sawadee kha!
How are yall fab peeps doin? :) Last April I went to Bangkok with some of my bffzz and i am thrilled to share my experience with you lovelies :D.
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The flight from KL was on 8th of April 2017 via AirAsia (of course). I got the ticket during promo to all Thailand destinations, the price i got is RM218 return. It was quite cheap bcos April is a high season for Bangkok and other Thailand cities mainly because of the Songkran festival. But no we didn't get the chance to experience it as we came back 2 days before the festival, sad right? hmmmh. So we didnt got songkran-ed. -berhuhuhulah kita- Click for more info on Songkran
Our flight from KLIA2 was at 6.40AM. We took the booked taxi to KLIA2 as there were 6 of us, total price of RM180, divided by 6 so around RM30 per person. Usually we will park at Putrajaya and take the ERL to the airport. But because our flight was sooo early, even if we take the earliest train, there is a possibility that we will not make it on time. So we chose the taxi. TIPS: Be at the airport early esp KLIA 2 bcos the airport is big. Also the queue for the immigration and Air Asia inspection (baggage and stuff) can be very long. I took with me my 70L bagpack and i was quite unsure whether i can bring it in due to AA strict inspection lately. But luckily it wasnt a problem, i got thru. As long as it doesn't exceed 7kg (it'll look big if it is). If you wanna hassle free, you can check in you bag, at a cost of course.
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| Don Mueang, the low cost airport in Bangkok |
We reached Don Mueang International Airport at 8AM Bangkok time, terminal 1 for international flights. As we walked into the arrival halls, lots of private taxi and tour booth offering their services. But i already read on how to get metered taxi from Don Mueang to Bangkok City. So i walked straight to the center of arrival halls near the exit.
There is a counter there for metered taxi and they will help you get to your hotel at a metered rate. TIPS: The metered taxi counter is located at gate 7 & 8 in the arrival hall, it is small but there is signboard, and there will be people queuing for their turn. The bangkok taxis comes at various colors, green, yellow, pink etc but all operates at the same rate, there is no difference. Maybe they just wanna make Bangkok a colourful city, hiks :).
The taxi driver that was assigned to us was very talkative, and quite flirty, yawnn.. But he is funny. Bcos they didnt really understand english, they asked for the itinerary that i was holding, lol. Heyyy, that is my itinerary not hotel address. I showed him the hotel address and he got it.
We took 2 taxis to our hotel, Kokotel in Surawong Rd, Bangrak area. Our taxi use the highway after we agreed. Along the way, there are few new train stations being build. I guess in a year or so u can commute to Don Mueang to the city with trains!. TIPS: There are few ways to go into the city, using the highway and old road. The highway requires you to pay a toll but old road no, however, old road can be congested. If you choose the highway, the toll need to be paid by you and not the taxi driver. So don't think you are getting cheated, no, cos it is how they roll in Bangkok. The toll is around 50 to 100THB depending on the route you took. Some taxi took 2 highway, its better that you ask first.
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| bustling Bangkok city from the airport |
We paid the toll, 50THB to the taxi driver and he passed it to the counter, within 10minutes after that passing by the bustling and rapidly growing Bangkok city, we reached our hotel, Kokotel Surawong!. The taxi fare is 250THB, plus the toll it is 300THB total. TIPS: Note that Taxi around Bangkok city charged around 55THB for 1-5KM around the city, depending on traffic condition. To hail a moving taxi, the one that are available for hire will have a red sign illuminated in their front window.
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| in front of Kokotel Surawong, howd i look?> :P |
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| Kokotel Lobby, so cute! |
As it was still early, we know we cant check in yet. The staff of Kokotel were friendly, they attend to all my queries. I filled up the form and asked whether we can leave our bags first before check in, and the staff, gladly helped us and promised to look after it. He even gave me a paper with room number for bag collection, to ensure no one else take it.
I asked for the direction to Chong Nonsi BTS Skytrain station, which is the nearest station and he provide me with a map, bravo!. So where are we taking our BTS to? well none other than the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market!
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| Chong Nonsi BTS station |
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| along the way, u will definitely set your eyes to this new icon of Bangkok City, courtesy of Bella, you can check out her blog at mamamuezza.blogspot |
It was around 900M to 1KM walk (quite a walk) via Thanon Surawong and Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road to Chong Nonsi BTS station under the scorching hot sun. The map and my research really did help. Because we are not gonna take the train that much so I just bought a normal ticket at the counter. TIPS: Bangkok have 2 train system called BTS and MRT. BTS have 2 lines which is Silom and Sukhumvit. If you happened or plan to use the BTS and MRT a lot, do buy the daily usage ticket. Info on this can be found here! . The table below shows the current fare for Bangkok BTS or Skytrain and the map for overall transport systems in Bangkok
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| BTS Fare |
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| the Bangkok transport Map |
I bought the ticket to Mo Chit station, the nearest and currently the last BTS station, to Chatuchak weekend market. One way and the price is 40THB. To get there, we changed our train to Sukhumvit line at Siam station, 3 stops from Chong Nonsi. The train was crazy pack!. Sooo many people maybe bcos it was Saturday, idk. My oh my oh my, like sardines in a can! with the temperature of upper hell level, lol hahahaha, Extra Tropical is the word yall, extra heat, extra sweat!
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| train comes i dont know its destination #sugababes |
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| sardine can, lol |
We reached the Mo Chit station, finally and it was freakin hot, around 42'c!!. TIPS: The entrance to the Chatuchak market is very near the station, just around 300M walk. Just follow the crowd and u will find it. The exit you must take is exit 1. You can also enter the market via the Chatuchak park.
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| To Chatuchak! |
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| we are here! in the microwave |
Annnd we are here! The blazing hot Chatuchak Weekend Market! That's why i call it EXTRA TROPICAL, where the sun said 'hey lets cook their skin!' .
The market was so big we don't even know where to start. There were stalls selling coconut water, clothes, souvenirs, u name it! TIPS: I strongly advise you spend 2-3 hours to just look around. If u like shopping, oh well, bring lots of money and u might spend the whole day here, haha. The Chatuchak market only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 6PM roughly, so plan your time well!
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| into the sauna, lol |
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| here we go! |
We got into the lane that sell lots of clothes and souvenir. The simple shirts and sleeveless are mostly sold at 100THB. In fact, most of the items here are sold at that price. But still u can bargain, if u buy 2 or 3, ask for cheaper price!. Most of the sellers here can speak simple English, like very simple. TIPS: Bring lots of small change here cos sometimes they don't have change for big notes like 1000THB / 1000 Baht.
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| it will be awesome for signboards as well! |
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| bottle cap anyone? |
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| hot coffee served here!, i bought this |
I stopped at a shop selling sleeveless top, not the one that written Bangkok, but creative animal design, which i found unique. Bcos Bella was wearing a thick clothes, she bought it and change on the spot, hahaha. The owner of the shop even hold a piece of canvas acting as a 'changing room', lol. I did told her to wear something light cos the temperature will be hot inside the market. Again, in April this year, it is EXTRA TROPICAL!.
Aman bought it too and we got the tshirt for also 100THB. Cheap, original price was 150THB each. The key is bargain yall.
While we shop there, Sherry and the rest were choosing their new passport holder. Mmmhmm, they sell custom made passport holder here. By custom made i mean you can choose to 'fancified' the holder with some added wording or images.
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| the accessories beading for the holder |
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| how it looks like once it is done, courtesy of bella at mamamuezza.blogspot |
I wasn't interested in it, but lots of people do. Almost all of my friend bought it, cos honestly some of the beading design is unique and pretty, especially if u wanna give is as a present/gift to someone. The price was 100THB with 2 beads and additional 20THB per extra beads & accesscories.
We were starving by that time and with that temperature, my oh my i jus want a very ice cold drink. Ija asked at one of the stall there for halal food place and we got the direction. She can speak malay that lil girl! thank god! hahahaha.
We walked to the main street with lots of food stalls on the left and right side of the road. This is the food section of Chatuchak! TIPS: Chatuchak market consist of almost 8000 stalls, segregated to categories such as clothing, souvenirs, food, flowers. decoration, aromatherapy etc. It is impossible to see all of it in such short time (2-3 hours). So, u can just wander and let yourself be surprised or plan it well by doing some research. My advise is, just walk and let Chatuchak amaze you!
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| coconut icecream stall, wait for it.... keep scrolling :P |
As we walked via the food section, i was really attracted , like a magnet, to the mouthwatering coconut icecream. But of course i need to eat lunch first, desert later! hiks. Ija found the 'muslim food' signboard and we just follow it.
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| Muslim food in Section 12, Soi 2 |
Holy crap the place was so pack!. We have to queue and wait for people to leave first and then we can sit. TIPS: For muslim travelers that concerns bout the food, from what i read there were a few halal food in Chatuchak market. But i can only find this one. It is located in Section 12 Soi 2, in the inside of the food section, not exactly on the side of the road.The signboard is there. It is near the clothing section like an intersection.
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| Starving! |
Once we got a seat, food and drink here we come!. I ordered thai chicken rice cos i cant really think anymore. Especially when i saw a cockroach on the wall, my biggest fear. Luckily it didnt go anywhere near us or the kitchen!. But the food was good yes, maybe cos we were hungry idk.
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| walking stick is walking away, hahahaha :P |
Once we filled our empty dancing tummy, we started walking again. The footwear shop here have some cute flip flops. But it was not that cheap, maybe i didn't bargain much. Even the clothes were a bit expensive. So we leave that area.
We got into a more well organized area selling spa and aromatherapy items. The smells was amazing here! maybe cos they got lots of lemon, lime, lavender, roses candles and oil. Aman stopped at one of the shop selling natural organic soaps and aromatheraphy candled. This girl decorates her shop quite well, very welcoming. TIPS: If u buy more, u get cheaper price!
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| scented!! <3 |
While Aman choose the best scent for his soap, Jenny and Sha bought some decorative lights. There were lighting and decorative bulbs shops here as well. Especially the kind that u can find in IKEA, you can find it here with wayyyy cheaper.
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| decorative lights! |
Other than that, u can also find handicraft items around this part of the market. Spatula made of coconut shell, bags made of pine leaves, little buddha and other idols made out of wood and lots and lots more items!. So if u feels like this is the kind of thing u would buy, bring a big bag! :D.
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| this area i love, cos it is well arranged |
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| back to the clothing section |
After that we headed out of the market back to the main road and went directly to the..... *drumroll* coconut icecream stall! hihihi. Hey, i already said my eyes were stuck on that icy cold desert. It was friggin delicious!. You can choose the topping from peanuts, corn, chocolate rice, red beans and others. One word: Satisfying! . They sell it just for 60THB, yummeh!
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| 'what you want? pineapple? Mango? Guava? name it!' |
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| tadaaaa! my heart melted for this icecream! |
We walked out of the market to the taxi stand while eating the icecream, like kids ay? :P . The weather was fiery hot and we were so tired, we decided to just take a taxi back to the hotel. Problem arise, none of the taxi wanna use the meters to Surawong. Some were just unwilling to go there. Few taxis offers to take us with 400THB, i was like whatttt, that is expensive yall come one, don't cheat on us!, we are your neighbor for god sake!
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| crossing out and into Chatuchak |
Until 2 taxis agreed to take us there for 300THB, so we said yes. TIPS: Communication is always a problem, so the best way is to show the adress or the map of the hotel, that way the taxi drivers will know which road to take. Try to get taxi that agree to use meters, if u cant find one, don't be afraid to bargain on the fare.
We reached Kokotel Surawong around 12.30PM and proceed with check-in. We got the keys and our bags, and went directly to our rooms. The Koko Party rooms, which is designed for 4 people, very comfortable.
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| KokoParty! |
The room was cozy and cute!, i love it. The mattress & pillow was comfortable. The shower room and toilet are separated and a bit small, which i'm not a fan of. But very clean. They also provide shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in designated box near the shower. All u need to do is just press it, impressive ay :) .
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| hairdryers are available! |
On top of that, they also have kids playground at the lobby, slides (yes slides that u can take as well) and cafe & restaurants. Oh yes, u got 200THB voucher per room per night as well! redeem it for drinks, yay!
I decided we need to take some rest and go out later in the afternoon. To where? The famous Wat Arun! <click here lovelies!> . XOX
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