Have you been to Krung-Thep-Mahanakorn-Amon-Rattanakosin-Mahintara-Ayuthaya-Mahadilok-Propnopparat-Ratchathani-Burirom-Udomratchaniwet-Mahasathan-Amonphiman-Avatarnsatith-Sakkatith-Tiyavisanookam-Prasit? That’s Bangkok, the longest named city in the world!

I thought the BTS line was connected to the airport like in Japan so I searched the place for a direction. The information center directed me towards Terminal 1. Instead of finding a BTS station, I found myself in Amari Hotel walkway which is near a railway station. I went back to the terminal and considered riding a bus to the city center. If you are unsure what bus number to take, you ask the dispatcher of your destination and he will guide you accordingly. The airport bus was leaving in a few minutes so I got on. I have not been here before and so I was excited to see it for the first time. Temperature outside the terminal is a burning 34 degree Celsius just like when it's summer in Manila.

From the airport, the bus took an elevated expressway to Bangkok downtown. It was an express way indeed, but heavy traffic waited at the end of the expressway. It was quite a typical Manila scene moving along Bangkok's main thorough fares. It took us about an hour from the airport to Petchaburi Road where The Residence, my hotel, is located. The driver prompted me to get off and pointed to the other lane while giving instruction that I didn't understand. Thais generally understand English but some find hard time giving specific direction.

I was near the Ratchatewii BTS station when I got off. I crossed the street and I walked going north to check where I could possibly find the hotel. In Bangkok, each small street branching out from the main road is called Soi and it's easier to get the address if you know the closest Soi. I really got mad in finding the hotel. I went back to the Ratchatewii station and walked east until I reached the Siam Center. This place is packed with malls like Siam Discovery Center, Siam Square and the World Trade Center, most connected by walkways. You can stop here for trendy clothes shopping. Across it is the Mah Boon Krong or MBK, a very huge shopping center.

I rested in the area for about an hour. It was late and I was getting weary. I bought a phone card from a 7-11 store after finding that my roaming service was not activated. I grabbed a public phone and checked with AsiaTravel the exact location of The Residence. I got the same information written in my notepad which I printed prior to my departure. I asked the operator to give at least a famous landmark along Petchaburi Road. It's near First Hotel, she said. I got back to my feet and took the BTS back to Ratchatewii station.

The BTS is similar to our new MRT3. The coaches are wide and the stations are clean. One thing you should know in BTS is the end points of all lines as they are referred to in all its signs. By knowing which line you are in and the last station, you will surely get the correct platform. Fare starts at 25 baht and increases by five per area. Tickets are sold at the vending machine. Loose coins are available at the counters. All you need is to check the fare guide map, insert the coin(s) and press the area number of your destination.

It was quite a foolish thing I failed to note--buildings are numbered! It would have been easier if I only looked at the numbers. Well, at least, the First Hotel was a great help. Finally I found it!

Unfortunately, the receptionist informed me that there was no single room available. I insisted that I had the room confirmed so she gave me a double room without any additional cost. Single room rate was 800 baht. I stayed and rested at the hotel until 6pm before I went out.

There are many good areas of shopping throughout Bangkok. There are luxury shopping malls at the area of Ploenchit Ratchaprason, namely Central, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin and Peninsula Plazas. In Silom Road, there are special shops and boutiques with all the major buys. From the main road branches other smaller retailers and several shopping bazaars. This street also leads to a notable shopping for gems and jewelry. Street stalls also abound. If you really need to buy cheap items, they say that the best place for this is the Pratunam Market but I didn’t visit this place. This is Bangkok’s biggest center for ready to wear items.

After a snack at KFC, I walked from Silom Road going to Suan Lum night bazaar. It is along Rama IV road near the Lumpini Park. It was quite a long walk. While along Lumpini Park, my roaming service was activated. Post paid account holders of Smart, and I think also Globe, charges SMS roaming service on top of the monthly allocation for consumable plans.

The night market has a very lively atmosphere with lots of stuffs you can choose. All goods that you could imagine are on display and prices are just like in Manila. The place was packed with people, locals and tourists. Live entertainment and refreshment kiosks and restaurants are within reach. I got some souvenir shirts and blouses for my wife. I made my way back to the hotel after a couple of hours.

On the next day, I woke up at 8am. My plan was to visit some historical sites and temples. At 9am, the streets were jammed with vehicles. This impelled me to try the motorcycle service. You will easily identify these motorcycles for hire because the drivers wear an orange vest with a number at the back. I am not sure if it was a good bargain but I paid 60 baht after negotiation with the driver. He provided me a helmet and we moved south along Petchaburi Road. It was a bit riskier but you won't mind it if you're vying time. A back ride in a motorcycle is just very ordinary but riding it while in Bangkok is a lot exciting.

I got off near the Democracy Monument and explored around this place for a while. There is a wet market nearby so I looked for tamarind which is known for its sweetness and spicy salt. It was fascinating to walk around the narrow streets. I passed by the Wat Sarat and the Giant Swing. At first, I thought it was the Grand Palace but I was a bit skeptical because it does not look that very magnificent. I explored it anyway. The things you would see inside Bangkok's temples are the Buddha images and the Thais' unique structure and building architecture. But one thing in the main temple that would fascinate you is the magnificent 19th century murals or wall paintings. Upon realizing that it was not the Grand Palace, I walked along Bamrung Muang Road towards it. The streets are somewhat similar to our streets in Binondo. At the corner fronting Grand Palace, a man approached me and asked from where I was as I was looking at the map. He said that the City was observing a holiday and most of the temples are closed until 12 noon.

He got my map, and pointed some places that may be of interest. He said that I can visit those places and go around town in two hours for only 40 baht! I was dubious at first but he looked sincere. I asked him to arrange for a tuk-tuk and give instruction to the driver of the deal. That was my first tuk-tuk experience. It's just like Philippines' tricycle but I think it's more exciting. We visited Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple), Wat Saket, Golden Mount and some other places but I didn’t find them very interesting. While visiting places, you may get down anytime and spend five minutes or so and the driver would wait.

The government of Thailand is issuing warning to all its visitors to be cautious about drivers offering a ride to jewelry shops, enticing its customers to buy something because of an ongoing sale. They further add that buying something or visiting a shop would entitle them to a free gasoline coupon. This tuk-tuk service I got offered this to me. I tried to get into three of these shops. Unless, you are very good with stones and gold, do not be persuaded with the offer.

Before that morning ended, I invited him to have lunch with me but he refused. I think 40 baht was not enough for that experience so I added some more.

In the afternoon, I went back to the hotel and decided to move to a cheaper inn in Khaosan Road. The rates are half that of my hotel. I found this information from a telephone booth near the Democracy Monument. A single room of 800 baht is of course the good place to stay but you would also consider a 350 baht to be a lot cheaper.

I got my things from the hotel and moved to Khaosan Road. I had a little difficulty getting to Sawasdee Inn but after trying some directions I finally found it. It took me half an hour to find the place because the map does not provide good details. Finally, I arrived 4pm at Sawasdee Smile Inn located in Chao Fa Road-Soi Rongmai. This place is behind the National Arts Gallery that exhibits traditional and contemporary works of art created by Thai artists. The next day, I found out that there is a shortcut from the Chakrapong Road through the backdoor of Travelers Connection at the second floor.

From Khaosan Road, I rode back to the Grand Palace by tuk-tuk. Entrance fee is 200 baht. This magnificent landmark contains several buildings with highly detailed architectural features. In the same compound, one will find a treasure house of Thai arts, the Emerald Buddha, which is the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. From here, I walked around for an hour until I got to the Tha Chang boat station in Chao Phrya River. Boats from both directions come and go every several minutes. There were also boat operators offering river tours of different routes but I find them expensive. I didn’t try a boat ride.

I took another tuk-tuk ride to Petchaburi. From here, you might as well visit the Pantip Plaza. This shopping place offers wide selections of electronic items. I went also to Sukhumvit area. Sukhumvit like Silom, is lined with modern shopping centers, shops and boutiques. At night, I met some Church brethren at MBK shopping center. This is a very huge shopping center, near the National Stadium station, of nine floors I think, with all sorts of stuffs. I found a fruit store here with all sorts of dried products including Bangkok’s sweet and spicy tamarind.

Khaosan Road

If your budget doesn't stretch to paying for an excellent hotel, or want to find a fun place to stay within your resources, Khaosan Road is the place for you. Khaosan Road is lively community of backpackers and travelers. Most of whom are Europeans—I seldom see people from Asia here. Actually, I felt I was out of this place.

Cheap hostels and inns are all around. You will see all the colorful lights and wares around town. This is also a place for bargain hunting, shopping and doing things that you would want to do. There are a lot of bars, internet cafes, travel tour operators and agencies, money changers, street vendors—name it, and Khaosan Road has it.

I also tried the street food. There were many of these in the area. For just 15-25 baht, you’ll enjoy noodles or rice cooked in Thai style. They taste good though you might thought they’re dirty. Many women had their hair in braids or being done on the sidewalk. At that time, second week of April, Khaosan community is preparing for the Songkran Festival.

The airport bus has a terminal in this area with frequent schedule to and from the airport.

Songkran Festival

It was almost the start of Songkran when I landed Bangkok. The Thai New Year is the Songkran Festival and it falls on the 13th day of April. Khaosan Road is one major center of the festivities. During these days, Thais and the tourists in Khaosan road prepares for the celebration. In Thai traditions, people pour water over a Buddha image and everybody else within range. The most visible sign of the festivities is the splashing of water in the streets. People fill huge containers with water and bring buckets of water and water cannons and merrily splash water against each other. Probably for days, you can’t leave without getting soaked with water. Wherever you go, you can’t escape being wet.

Just before Songkran, I was able to attend INC worship service in Bangkok. From Khaosan area, it takes only about 100 baht taxi ride to the place of worship at 8/21 Soi Santisuk, Suthisan Road. Taxis normally charge a minimum of 35 baht for the first 3 kilometers, and approximately 5 baht per kilometer thereafter.

My fourth day in Bangkok was boring as I no longer want to go around town. I already got a glimpse of Bangkok and I think it was enough. There was nothing I could do more in the City of Angels as nothing interests me anymore. I thought of traveling from Bangkok to Singapore instead to meet a friend but all the flights of AirAsia were full. AirAsia is a low-cost carrier servicing Bangkok and Singapore and other cities at very reasonable fares. I tried getting on one of their flights to Johur Bahru but they do not accept standby passengers. I even thought of getting a flight to Hat Yai but I wonder if I could get a train ride from here to Singapore because even the trains from Hua Lum Pong railway station were full. This is part of the year when people in Bangkok consider as a home coming day to visit and reunite with families in the provinces.

The next day, I decided to fly back to Manila.

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