Back from Bangkok.

Ah, well, finally I get to go somewhere in Thailand which is not the boring and staling streets of Hadyai (I hope I got the spelling right). The trip there was quite an unplanned one (for me, that is); I only got invited along 4 days before the departure, so I had to renew my passport in 2 days and cancel a movie with Amanda (I’m still so sorry, hope I can make it up).

My 4th and 5th aunts, their husbands, my grandparents and my cousins went, and I have to thank the fact that my cousins were there or not I would’ve silently rot in my hotel room reeking of boredom. The sad, unfortunate thing about this trip was that it was basically a shopping trip (DAMN!), so the sight-seeing is kept at a bare minimum. But well, the trip was worth it, and it had some great moments. I just hope that next time I get to go I get to see more than just the modernized culture of the city folk, but also the beautiful and fascinating traditional cultures (of which I only get a glimpse of).

We flew there last Friday (Air Asia, budget is tight :P) and was back on Monday. I had spent a sleepless night at my 4th aunt’s house (the air-cond there, in my cousin’s room, can be ruthlessly cold) and we took a 7 something flight there (I was too sleepy to tell the time). The flight was… cramped (I know it’s a budget airline, but they could make the seats slightly wider apart), and I was kinda separated from my cousins, sitting in between my 4th aunt (who looked deranged from the lack of sleep O.O, no offense) and a stranger uncle who stole my armrest (so I had to steal my aunt’s instead, sorry).

We arrived there at 9 something (once again, was too sleepy), and we rented a mini-bus to get us to the hotel. And that was when we get our sight of Bangkok city.

Arrived at our hotel after a while (which was aptly named Asian Hotel), unpacked and head of for our first meal at there, which was chicken rice (I was crooning silently, we get better chicken rice here T-T). And just soon after, the shopping began.

We went to Ma Bu Keong (or something like that, I dunno how to spell it but I know it’s MBK, so I’ll refer to it as that from now on), which I was told is the KLCC shopping centre for Bangkok. I was surprised, I admit. It was not the traditional, more cultural Thailand I expected (and hoped) to find. The mall is impressively large (not Mid Valley large but large enough), and full to the brim from regular shopping stuff to souvenir shops that amounts to the dozens. Most of us quickly head off to their shopping. I was more interested with the things and people that I find there.

Shopping lasted LONG. Hours, I lost touch, and we couldn’t really be separated because not everyone got to use the cell phone there. Anyway I had a great bite at a satay looking food which is good, authentically excellent (I ate to a total of 12 or more stakes, the price is not quite low). We had dinner at a small restaurant near the hotel, and the food was OK but disappointing. Not to worry though, we had a great supper of soup noodles and fried oysters (which I learnt is call Hoi Tord there) and steamed peanuts. End of day 1.
Day 2 was, well, more hours spent shopping (some of my relatives should know that there are more fascinating things than 99 baht t-shirts). We did go to another shopping centre (I dunno the name, but it is close to MBK) but only for a while. At least this time we got more freedom, me and my cousin Aaron, and we explored the higher parts of MBK. We even got to have a game of Counter-Strike with the Thais (they’re good, but all playing the same style of De-eagle and AWP snipers), and went to the arcades for a while, and not to forget the goofy pics we took at the picture parlour.

Though I do not really love it, I did do some shopping. I got myself a pair of shoes for 400 baht (I think it’s a good bargain), got 2 t-shirts (99 baht each, that’s like RM9.90), got some souvenirs and treated myself to a jacket I fell in love with (I’m not really prone to loving clothes on sale, this is a rarity) which cost me 1300 baht and money chipped of my ang pow savings.

Oh, I’ll like to note that the Cineplex in MBK ROCKS! There are no qualms about controversy and cencorship there, and they were having movies like Brokeback Mountain being screened. I can live there, seriously, just for that.

Dinner at day 2 was unique; me and my 2 cousins (Aaron and Vince) ate at the Brazilian cuisine restaurant at the hotel (my 4th uncle asks that I accompany them while he and the rest ate somewhere else). It was a buffet, in which the waiters have to (I pity them) carry cooked meat on swords to us upon request. By God I was stuffed like mad, but I’d actually rather eat authentic Thai food. Still, I get to eat this expensive stuff, so no complains JE, be content.

Day 3 was the GRANDADDY of trip. I, Aaron and my 5th aunt and uncle went to the floating markets of Chao Phraya River. We followed a small tour there, and sat in a van with Japanese tourists for 2 hours or so. We got to one part of a river, and took a motor boat to the market. It’s smaller than I thought it is, but interesting and fascinatingly beautiful all the same. They have rows of shops built on the river there, with several people rowing around on boats selling fruits and food. We paid a personal to row us about the market, bought a few stuff (it was pricy there, but we can actually bargain the price to half of it) and even ate noodles on board.

By the time we got back to the quay the market was horrendously crowded with boats, and we were stuck at many points in which we had to pull away from other boats and dodge tight situations. It was exhilarating, really, and I was all hyped up and snapped pictures till my camera battery died (despite fully charged).

The tour later took us to a cobra show performance thing, and we paid 200 each baht to get in. I was expecting a regular, snake exhibition cum cheap performance, but the show was good. The performers work with venomous, piss-off snakes that lunged at them and the performers dodge in intense and exciting methods. Sad for the snakes though, they had to work like this for a long long time. And someone needed to tell the commentator that he’s stuffed-crust pizza cheesy.

We skipped an elephant trekking side-tour and headed back for the city, stopping at MBK. There the usual shopping ensued and I was wondering amount aimlessly and stopped by the arcades for a moment (imagine that, I went all the way to Bangkok and spent half my time playing Daytona USA).

We didn’t return to the hotel until after dinner, which was at a street side hawker stall eating a rather good pot Tom Yam, teriyaki meat and fish. All in all, BEST DINNER THERE. We went for a little loiter around the streets eating some snacks and bought some food back to the hotel for a little get-together (which was short). I went for a hearty dip into the bathtub of warm water before sleeping :P

Day 4, departure day, I woke early to accompany my cousin sis to MBK (she wanted a last minute purchase of a wallet) but me and Aaron got sidetracked to a noodle stall with the best noodles around (and only costing 10 baht, which is RM1, per bowl). Had a short go around MBK for some final souvenirs, and we left for the airport around noon.

Trip back was at least better, though we had to hoist a ridiculously large amount of baggage and items (all of them not even mine, and you should’ve seen the amount of baggage increased after the trip). We got separated, and I fell asleep half the journey home.

The trip ended with me returning home after a small dinner at my 4th aunt’s before brother fetching me back. I got unpacked, took a rest, and slept till the afternoon the next day.

Not the best of all vacations, but certainly something memorable enough (thanks to day 3). Next time I go, it had better not be a shopping trip, and I want to see river Kwai (and the other stuff).

Sorry for the poor account of my trip, but I wanted to keep it short (it’s severely shortened, this one) and brisk. Anyhow, thanks for reading.

Goodnight :P.