Meowjo's Travel Memories.....: Bangkok Trip (Oct 2014)

Bangkok Trip 2014

~ 16 to 19 Oct ~

Flight from SINGAPORE to BKK (16 Oct)	Flight BKK to SINGAPORE (19 Oct)
SQ Flight No. SQ972 (Terminal 2) Departure Time : 9.40am Arrival Time : *12.00pm (Suvarnabhumi Airport)	SQ Flight No.SQ977 Departure Time: *4.30pm Arrival Time: 6.55pm (Changi Airport)

*All timings are in SG time

We woke up to check into the airport earlier so that we can explore around the shops and airport gardens which usually we would'nt buffer enough time to do so.

The kiddos enjoying their 2.5hr flight.

Reaching there at about 12pm, we took the Airport transfer, CITY LINE.

AIRPORT TRANSFER (City Line)

Price: 45 baht
Duration to Phaya Thai station: 30 mins
Frequency: 15 minutes

Change to BTS to Siam to Ratchahamri station.

Duration 5 mins, 25 baht

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri

BTS Ratchadamri & BTS Chit Lom (4 - 5 min walk)

Siam Sq & Siam Paragon (10 min)

MBK & Central World Plaza (10 min)

Lumpini Park (10min)

* Monitor Lizard, Feed fish, duck boat

We were impressed by the Hotel's grand lobby and we love our suite room! Spacious, clean and good hotel location.

Would recommend to friends and definitely would consider it again for future BKK trips.

After checking into the hotel, we wasted no time to explore out for our lunch! There are so much things to do and food to try on our agenda...no time to waste! =o)

We took a cab to Siam Centre for the so well-known Som Tum Nua.

Som Tam Nua is a casual and trendy dining spot that has risen to fame serving up tasty, foreigner-friendly papaya salad and other Issan-region (Northeastern Thai) dishes. Hidden deep down on one of the alleyways leading away from Siam BTS station, the search for Som Tam Nua is a fun prelude to a tasty meal, and, at times, the queues of locals trailing out the door testify to its reputation.

Siam Square Soi 5 or Siam Centre Level 3.
Opens Daily 11am to 9:30pm.
Recommended: Fried Chicken, Papaya Salad with Salted egg, soup

Our 1st meal for our BKK trip! Love all the dishes we ordered! Seems like Miu really enjoyed the crispy chicken wings.
Not cheap but reasonable priced meal.

Next, we crossed the street to go to Siam Centre to look for more food! Sweet stuff this time,
'Let Them Eat Cake'. (Rec by ironladychef)

After eating, we went back for a nap. The kids need to recharge...me too. ha!

After nap was Terminal 21. A Themed Shopping Mall with 9 different levels with great themes that recreate several world-famous cities under one roof.

Here’s what to expect at different levels:
LG: Caribbean
Ground Level: Rome
Mezzanine Level: Paris
1st Level: Tokyo
2nd Level: London
3rd Level: Istanbul
4th & 5th Level: San Francisco
6th Level: Los Angeles

Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00
Location: Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 19 & 21)
MRT: Sukhumvit
BTS: Asok (direct access via Skywalk)

To me, a mall good to shop around with many interesting background, themed toilets and structures for photo-taking. We visited the toilets of all level just to take the pics.

Mel going ga-ga over the pretty swissrolls and cakes.

Terminal 21 food court has an excellent cross-section of Thai cuisine, with Chinese, Indian and Western options too. The food court is called Pier 21 and is designed in the style of a fisherman’s wharf in San Francisco: everything is bright with plenty of artificial trees and plants around to create an aesthetically pleasing environment.

“It is only here in Pier 21 at Terminal 21 Mall that you will find nice Thai food at a very good price as compared to other malls in town.’

We were spoilt for choices at the foodcourt. So many to try but cant stomach down much as we had late lunch. There were many pretty food stalls and bakeries at the basement too.

Day 2

Splashing good time at the swimming pool and playroom.

After that, we headed to Platinum Mall for brunch and shopping.

Platinum Fashion Mall is smack in the centre of Pratunam, 10-min walk from either Ratchathewi or Chidlom BTS Skytrain. 15mins walk passing by Erawan Shrine and Central World

It is like an indoor version of the Chatuchak Weekend Market, specializes in wholesale fashion clothing and accessories, with four floors of shopping space, packed with some 1,300 shops. Here, haggling is part of the fun, and you’ll save more buying in larger quantities.

<<No pics taken>>

Next is one of the highlight of our trip. Caturday Cat Cafe

Caturday Cat Cafe http://bangkokadventures.com/caturday-cat-cafe/

This new cat café recently opened at Cocowalk, right next to the BTS. Run by veteran GTH director Paween Purijitpanya, the café is decked out with cutesy cat-themed gimmicks while the white house also has many colorful paintings on its walls and glass doors. Outdoor seating is in a faux garden with astroturf and black steel bench sets. Coffee starts from B118.

Cocowalk Avenue.

BTS Ratchatewi exit 2.

Opens: Tue – Fri 12 – 21.30 Sat – Sun 11 – 21.30

As avid fans and lovers of cats, it was a wonderful memorable experience for us all.

The gals were so high and excited from the minute we reached the café, with all wows and aws..by the details of the café and cats.
We felt that we entered cat lover paradise....surrounded by exquisite breeds of cats. The gals were so excited with the cats that they were busy playing, patting the cats and couldn't sit for few mins to enjoy the food. I miss the place and cats.

Would love to bring my mum here the next time. (after all, my fondness of cats was brought down from my mum and now to my kids)

To the girls, one of the best thing of the trip is the bathtub. They get their tub time at least 2x a day. I have many other pics and video of them having their fun tub time but sensored...so not uploaded here.

After a nap, we went to another key highlight of our agenda. Asiatique Riverfront.

Saphan Taksin (Exit 2), free shuttle transfer at Sathorn Pier to Asiatique

Daily: 1700 – 2400 (Go @ 5.30-6pm to enjoy the evening scenery. 5-15mins boat ride)

Asiatique The Riverfront has successfully combined two of the most popular shopping experiences in the city: a night bazaar and a mall. This once-bustling international trade port has been transformed, with over 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed under a huge replica warehouse complex.

Asiatique is split into four categories to help you find what you are looking for without too much hassle.

Chareonkrung - small boutiques selling souvenirs, handicrafts, jewellery, and clothing. The little storefronts are attractive, the displays are interesting and there is a wide range on offer too, from fashionable Thai brands to affordable stores selling merchandise similar to those on offer in places like Chatuchak and MBK.
Factory is more on cutting-edge fashion and gadgets.
Waterfront is Upscale dining selection (smart Italian, Thai, seafood restaurants)
Town Square has bars and outdoor space for events.

Our gals 1st trip on a ferris wheel. Was a scary and thrilling experience for timid Mel and even to dare-devil Miu.

Dinner was at MK restaurant. We fell love with the soup base.

Ice-cream mocha.

My hubby enjoying his bonding time with the elder 2...missing our youngest one.

Myn.....we are having fun..but we miss u a lot. This is a reccee trip, next one, shall bring u along!

Day 3

LOL. A lousy Macdonald breakfast before we took the BTS to Mo Chit / MRT – Kamphaeng Phet or Chatuchak Park

Chatuchak Weekend Market also known as Jatujak or JJ Market, is the largest market in Thailand. It is so huge to the extend that you will never be able to complete all the stalls in a day. The market has more than 5000 stalls selling a wide array of products including fashions for both female and male, accessories, footwear, household items, pets, Thai handicrafts and much more.

Saturdays & Sundays: 0900 – 1800 (Market Map attached)

Must try street food. Choconana, Coconut Ice cream, Pork Chop Bun, Thai Ice Tea, Fried Quail Eggs

As predicted, it was horribly hot at Chatuchak.

Somehow, I find that the place had lost its charm, compared to many years where there were more variety of stalls, pet lane has more pets and allows touching and the prices are no longer competitive to those sold in main town shops anymore.

It was just a quick walk-around and the best find we had was the Choco-nana. It's just like my favourite Swenson crunchy cone ice-cream, just that it's frozen banana instead of ice-cream.

A shop filled with Mel's favourite.

After nap, we had a very nice Thai lunch at Ban Khun Mae Restaurant at Siam Square, before going to the Kid's highlight for the trip. Kidzania!

Ban Khun Mae when translated into English Language means "my mother’s kitchen". The restaurant opened for business in 1998 serving authentic Thai food has impressed many locals and foreigners. On its website, it claimed that the food it serves is made from secret recipes passed down from generation to generation.

The restaurant dimly lighted was clean, rustic with its timbre furnishing and Thai theme decorations (ornaments and paintings).

458/6-9 Siam Square Soi 8

Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 11pm

Kidzania (Siam Paragon) is the latest and, without a doubt, most innovative addition to the 'edutainment' scene in Bangkok. Each and every one of the shops and buildings in Kidzania town is a learning experience for children from four to 15 years old. Not just some boring 'show-how', here kids get to be part of the shops. It's extremely well executed and kids love it.

The range of experiences is also unique as there are up to 80 different jobs to choose from: Dentist, Pilot, Fashion Boutique, Hamburger Shop, C.S.I, Fire Station, Vet, Green tea factory, Airport, Bank, 3G shop, Art Studio, Airport, Beauty Saloon, Barber shop, Hospital, Magic Studio, Radio Station, Stadium, Vault, Theatre, Culinary school, Court House, Police Station, Construction, City Tour Bus, Climbing Building,, Courier Service, Bottling plant, Department Sore, Milk Factory, Disco

Weekdays 10.00 AM - 5.00 PM • Weekend & Holidays - 10.00 AM - 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM - 9.00 PM
Location: Top floor of Siam Paragon BTS: Siam
Price Range: Adult: 480 Baht - Kids (4-14 years old) : 850 Baht (15% for online tickets)

As a reference - an average visit to KidZania lasts approx 4 hours. Some activities (like the Culinary School, Japanese Restaurant and a Hamburger Shop) include food.

In the evening, we came out to Siam for another round of eating and walking.

Mango Tango @ Siam Square Tango is a dessert place that specialises in Mango dessert. They are well known for their fresh mango and mango juice at a very reasonable price.