From bangkok to Chiangmai

Posted by Fico , Friday, August 31, 2007 8:19 PM







I have huge back pack on my back(80ltr), one in front of my chest (30ltr)and we still had to drag other bag (50 ltr) to the MRT station, and then sub way. Have to walk on sky walk before reach the subway.
Nightmare !
Its the other price to pay when you're a shopohoilic. I got tshirt for my family, sisters, evern small tedy bear for my niece.
We check out at 10.30 from Central Shukumvit 25. We had our break fast there, also lunch after we get to internet first to back up our cameras memory. Maria camera already full so she have to move half of the datas to a new sony micro flas disk that i just bought (390 baht).
We bought KFC for our dinner at train ( no more "is this cooked with pork?" question at least). The KFC located outside the station. When you get your ticket you have to seek very carefully to the KFC sign on the other side of the waiting room of the station, its on the corner of the food court stairs (the food court on the 2nd floor).
We went here yesterday. We quite supraise to see a white guy as a cashier of the KFC. Ofcourse it could be anywhere, but not at Indonesia for sure. That white guy speak very fluently Thai language, that we even re-thought that he might 50% Thai (he is absolutely physicly 100% white guy).
Our train number was 15. We got the last seat. Its not really a seat, at night it will become a bed. Both of us choose the upper bed, with fan and its rapid train. The ticket price is 491 baht for each.
The train leaving the bangkok station at straight 2.30pm and we will arrive at 6.00 in Chiangmai.
The journey ?
Feels almost the same like a train that i used to go to Palembang from Lampung. Business class.. but you could see lots of "non-passenger" get thru you offering foods, drinks, etc. But at least they were more nicely than you see on Palembang-Lampung train. They don't push you or threat you to buy anything for sure.
I can't really sleep because outside the window the scenery is beautifull. Its not all jungle like in Sumatra. You could see rice field, jungle, yes, and small towns.
I don't want to missed that. Also the sunset for sure.
The ticket guy is really nice to us. He said that his brother went to Indonesia for working (i'm grinning because there's alot of Thai guys working on our plant shutdown job).
There's none pick us up. We check my mail from the raiway station internet (10 baht/15minutes), its fast enough. The internet just looks like a vending machine.
The guest house said that they were probably wont sent anyone if theres none at the station using yellow shirt with julie guest house name. None.
So we ask the information about the tuk2 price to the guest house they said it was 60 baht.
We went outside and theres a woman offering songthew (pickup van) for 100 baht but Maria insist for 50 baht. They left us. But after about 15 minutes the guy back and agree with 50 baht (good job maria !!)
At the first sight when i see the guest house, its alittle bit dark, and Maria also said.. "errrhhh... is this the same guest house that we see online???" well i don't know for sure.
The office is seemed still closed as they said on the net, they will open at 8 am.
So we're trying to sleep pn the hostel looby. That morning there's several people sitting, or just lying down the bed or sofas that the put outside the hostel.
There's several people also seemed just arrive just looks like us with loads of backpack on their back waiting, and trying to get some rest. But same just like us they have to wait.
At 7.30 then they open the front door of the office and i ask about my booking confirmation. They said there's only double room but without hot water. I don't feel i was booking a room without hot water, so i insist to get one. They said they will arrange the room but we should wait until 11..


crazy chiangmai.....

Posted by Fico , 8:11 PM

Bangkok-Chiangmai 31 Agustus 2007

Kita berangkat ke Chiangmai naik kereta setelah survey dan beli tiket satu hari sebelumnya di stasiun Hua Lampong (cuma ada 1 stasiun kereta, kita kemaren naik BTS dan lanjut naik MRT tapi dari stasiun .... ke stasiun Hua Lampong lumayan jauh so selamat berjuang kalo punya bawaan kayak kami kemaren). Kita memilih kereta 2nd class sleeper rapid train (491 baht) soale jam berangkatnya jam 2 siang so nyampe Chiangmai sekitar jam 6 pagi. Ada juga se yang berangkat jam 8 malam, kereta Express, coba cek websitenya aja biar lebih jelas!!! Keretanya ga mewah, sama aja kayak Parahyangan Jakarta-Bandung tapi yang ini punya tempat buat tidur so bisa istirahat de. Hati2 dengan bawaan, kita kemaren spare gembok gede buat jaga2 J.

Chiangmai 1-3 September 2007

Di Chiangmai sama aja kayak di Bangkok, semua hostel buka jam 8 pagi so kita nunggu dalam keadaan ngantuk, capek, dekil plus pusing (train lag J). Sambil nunggu kita ke warnet dulu, disini warnet 15 baht/jam dan cepat banget, sangat murah sekali dibanding dengan Krabi or Bangkok yang rata2 40 baht/jam.

Kita nginap di Julie’s hostel, kita nyewa 1 kamar dengan hot shower 179 baht/kamar tapi kamarnya mah kecil banget apalagi kamar mandinya. Menurut gw ga terlalu nyaman se tapi banyak banget yang nginap disini bahkan ada yang rela balik lagi kesini walo da nginap ke tempat lain karena kelamaan nunggu front office buka. Mereka punya restoran so kita ga perlu repot keluar mo makan or beli minum, harganya mang lebih mahal tapi cuma beda 10-15 baht dari warung luar so ga masalah kali ya.

Tadinya mo ikut tour keliling kuil dan tempat kerajinan sutra tapi karena kita pesan buat hari minggu so harganya jadi 3250 baht, halah, mending ga jadi. Tapi kalo hari biasa 2800 baht, mang mahal banget se tapi da dapet makan siang+malam plus menyaksikan tarian tradisional Thailand. Karena ga jadi so kita bertualang sendiri lagi, sorenya kita mulai dengan keliling pasar malam dan seperti biasa semua ada di jual disini.

Perjalanan ga jauh dari ’wat day’, kebetulan tempat kita nginap dekat dengan berbagai kuil yang cukup ternama dan masuk dalam rekomendasi buku yang kita punya dan kuil2 yang akan kita kunjungi kalo pake tour. Dimulai dari Wat Chedi Luang, disini kuil tua, ada 4 patung Budha yang gede lagi duduk dan ada replika patung Budha tidur tapi kemaren lagi renovasi. Wat Phra Singh, kuil tempat ibadah dan banyak dikunjungi masyarakat setempat tapi ga terlalu besar. Habis dari sini kita ga ada rencana lain tapi waktu masih siang dan ada ide mo ke Doi Suthep, kuil tertua di Chiangmai. Kita nanya2 ma bule yang lagi belanja di 7 eleven dan bilang ada songthew yang langsung kesana dan bayar ga lebih dari 40 baht. Mulailah memberhentikan songthew yang lewat dan bertanya dengan bahasa inggris yang singkat padat dan jelas..’doi suthep???’, dia bilang ga tapi memberhentikan songthew lain dan kami bertanya lagi...’we want to doi suthep??...’yes!’...’how much???’...’40 baht 1 person’...’ok, 40 baht to doi suthep for 2 person???’...’yes!!’. Naiklah kami ke songthewnya dan meluncur dengan pasti kearah jalan yang pernah kami lalui. Tiba2 berhenti dan nyuruh kami turun dan nyambung ke songthew lain mo ke doi suthep tapi kami harus bayar dia 40 baht. Gw marah dan jelas tersinggung, ga lagi2 gw diboongi ma supir. Gw bilang ga mau bayar dan supir lain malah marah2 karena ga mungkin kami diantar kesana dengan mobil itu. Gw bilang ’bodo amat, dia janji mo antar kok sekarang berubah dan kami harus bayar lebih, kalo ga bisa antar bilang ga bisa dari awal!!’. Dia malah ngancam, ’kalo ga mo bayar kalian diantar ke kantor polisi!!!’. Gw dalam keadaan emosi, makin berang aja ’hayo!!!!!’. Beneran kami dibawa kekantor polisi dan waktu fico bilang gpp kalo kami ke kantor polisi, gw tetep maju membela kebenaran. Sebelum masuk, supirnya melototin fico dan yang jadi berang malah fico. Masuklah kami menghadap pak polisi dan si supir ’terhormat’ itu yang merasa ada diatas angin, ngomong langsung dengan bahasanya tentunya dan waktu gw mo ngomong...huahhhh...ternyata ga ada yang bisa english tapi untung ada seorang wanita yang lagi mengantar seorang bule yang habis kecelakaan dan dia bisa english sedikit. Pertama si wanita berfikir kami ga mo bayar padahal da diantar, kita ceritakan semua kronologis dengan english secepat kereta dan kami berdua semakin panas dan suara meninggi. Awalnya si wanita sulit mengerti dan si bule membantu kami menerangkan dengan suara yang tenang dan lambat sehingga si wanita mengerti. Si bule juga berkata disini memang sering terjadi seperti itu, si supir sering membohongi para turis dan jarang yang melapor ke polisi. Akhirnya si wanita menjelaskan keadaan dan si supir ga berani membantah, mungkin bapak2 polisi merasa menghadapi kasus yang aneh dan bingung plus pusing mendengar fico dan gw ngomong dengan ’kekuatan bulan’ J akhirnya nyurh kami pergi setelah si wanita nanya ’kalian mau bayar bapak supir ga??’, gw dengan rasa marah dan BT bilang ’ga akan!!’...’kalo gitu kalian boleh pergi!!’. Gw heran, gitu aja??? Dan yang paling ga nyambung si wanita sambil megang tangan gw bilang ’Thailand is beautiful, the people is good’....’maksud??!!!??’ Kami keluar duluan, sedang si supir masih tertahan didalm, mungkin si polisi takut kami dicegat ma si supir kali ya ??!! kami berdua berjanji…cukup sudah kuil2an!!!!!!!!

Untuk menenangkan diri kami kembali ke hostel dan membagi pengalaman ini ma front office, eh dia malah ga percaya dan rada BT ngeliat kami. Negara yang aneh dengan penduduknya yang aneh pula. Karena emosi dan rasa pusing plus lapar, kami merindukan McD kami yang tercinta, panas terik ga menghalangi kami untuk sesuap burger dan kentang goreng dan tak lupa segelas besar coke. Makan siang menjelang sore sekitar jam 3 kurang dan kami melanjutkan perjalanan mengitari jalan yang belum pernah kami lalui dan menemukan ’Pantip Plaza Chiangmai’, mall alat2 elektronik dan fico tergiur dengan laptop yang lagi sale…hehehe…. Oia, disini ada internet gratis so lumayan buat ngecek email dan browse tentang taksi dari bandara change ke hostel. Petualangan Chiangmai kami tutup dengan mengobok2 tiap kios pasar malam dan kembali ke hostel sebelum jam 8 malam karena harus packing semua beban dan kembali ke Singapore sebelum kembali ke negaraku tercinta.

bangkok oh bangkok

Posted by Fico , Thursday, August 30, 2007 9:50 PM

Phuket-Bangkok 27 Agustus 2007

Check out hostel jam 12 siang so kita harus ngungsi lagi menuju kota lain...BANGKOK.... Kita rencananya ke Surat Tani dulu naik bis dan lanjut naik kereta mpe Bangkok tapi gw bilang ma fico, kalo gitu kita bakalan capek banget harus angkut segala bawaan yang tiba2 jadi bertambah dengan hebatnya karena bawaan orok wanita yang hobi belanja so gw memutuskan dan dikit maksa fico supaya kita naik bis aja langsung ke Bangkok. Kita ga tau jadwalnya dan front officenya juga ga tau so gambling aja langsung datang ke terminal bis yang dekat banget dari hostel tapi harus bayar 90 baht/tuk2 (pake taksi, supirnya minta di bayar dimuka gara2 mobilnya bensinnya abis (egepe daaah!)). Gw lupa jadwalnya tapi waktu kita datang itu sekitar jam 1 siang so bis yang mo berangkat itu untuk bis tingkat isi 36 (626 baht) jam 4 sore dan untuk bis isi 24 (910 baht) berangkat jam 7 malam (kayaknya ada website tentang bis lokal Thailand de, coba cek aja). So kita naik bis tingkat yang isi 36 tapi kursinya agak sempit buat kaki kita yang cukup panjang, so lumayan pegal aja 13.5 jam perjalanan walo bisnya nyaman banget dan dapet makan gratis juga ada pramugarinya loh!! Oia, ada waktu istirahat 20 menit sekalian buat makan, kalo penggemar makanan halal, tanya aja ma pramugarinya soalnya tersedia makanan halal dan tidak halal. Tempat perhentiannya ini keren banget dan luas, bersih banget ga ada de di Indonesia.

Bangkok 28-31 Agustus 2007

Tiba sekitar jam 5 lewat so kita langsung menuju hostel jalan sukhumvit soi 25 naik taxi dan bayar 200 baht padahal waktu nanya ma pramugarinya kita harus bayar 300 baht, gw dengan sok pedenya aja bilang 200 baht waktu para supir taksi nyerbu, awalnya supaya untuk ngusir mereka aja tapi ada 1 supir yang mau so hajar bleh, soalnya dari peta kelihatannya cukup jauh dari terminal dan benar aja, dengan jalan yang ga macet sama sekali dan terhambat lampu merah 2-3 kali kita nyampe dalam waktu 35 menit di Hi Sukhumvit Hostel.

Badan rasanya pegel banget dan pengen tidur dengan segera...eh, malah terhambat ma front office yang ngomel karena kita ga booking sebelumnya dan kita datang kepagian. Hostel check in sekitar jam 9 tapi kita datang jam 6 so kalo kita mo masuk juga harus bayar 90 baht. No problem with me...dia tetap aja ngomel, katanya kita ga boleh kayak gitu, harus booking dulu dan dengan pedenya bilang, ’gimana kalo tadinya ga ada kamar buat kita???’. Gw bete aja dengan pria yang agak gemulai itu (gw nyebut dia, banci kaleng!!) so gw ga nyaranin lo nginap di hostel ini, selain itu tempat tidurnya tidak nyaman dan AC hidup hanya dari jam 20.00 s/d 08.00, harganya buat dorm female 8 tempat tidur 290 baht/orang (hostel tertidak nyaman selama perjalanan).

Setelah jalan2 sekitar hostel, menemukan 7 eleven (tempat andalan lain selain McD, KFC!!), makan mie thai (25 baht) dan

di seberang jalan di dekat 7 eleven, kayaknya tempat orang kantoran biasa sarapan, lumayan aceemm dan sarapan gratis dari hostel (cuma ini andalan mereka karena kita sarapan di restoran italy, tempatnya cozy banget tapi hanya tersedia nasi goreng/roti/sup dengan teh/kopi). Tidur dengan rasa kesal yang masih membara sampai jam 1, jam 2 da keluyuran naik BTS (skytrain, kita beli kartu 20xperjalanan so kita bayar flat 20 baht/1x perjalanan dari stasiun mana pun). Petualangan pertama ke MBK (turun stasiun Siam) (katanya orang Indonesia banyak gentayangan disini, bener aja, waktu makan di McD (lagi!!!) ketemu ma ibu-ibu dari bandung J. Disini aja jual baju2 knock off (aspal tapi kualitasnya bagus euy dengan harga 190 baht) tapi ga tiap hari kayaknya soale lusanya kita datang lagi, ga ada.

Kita juga ngunjungi Jim Thomsom, tempat jual sutra asli tapi harganya juga asli MAHAL BANGET, masa scarf doank 500rb. Dilanjutkan ke Suan Lum Night Bazaar (naik MRT, kereta bawah tanah or mereka lebih afdol nyebut Metro, dari stasiun Asok dan turun di stasiun...,mudah kok kalo punya peta J) ada 4 blok yang satu blok ada 6-7 lorong (paannjaang) yang kita iterin cuma 2 blok aja da empot2an ni kaki. Harga lumayan miring d

an ada yang jual bendera kecil, waktu gw beli di Singapore S$2/bendera, disini cuma 20 baht/bendera dengan kualitas yang sama. Ada juga yang jual sutra tapi ga tau asli pa ga tapi dengan 500 baht bisa beli bahan untuk 1 pasang baju. Ada yang jaul baju Thailand juga dengan berbagai ukuran dan lebih murah waktu kita beli di Phuket. Banyak de jualannya mpe bingung karena kebanyakan yang dilihat!!!!

Oia, soal MRT ga perlu beli kartu karena kita akan lebih sering naik BTS tapi kalo mo koleksi kartunya se gpp or mo kembali dalam waktu dekat ga rugi kok. Kartu MRT berlaku sampe 5 tahun (kayak ka-te-pe de!!!!!!!!!!). Lumayan murah banget daripada harus beli lagi (kalau emang niat balik lagi), itung2 investasi bo! Peta juga bisa didapatkan di tiap hostel kita menginap or kalo ada spot ’tourist information’ pasti punya peta gratisan, biasanya petanya dilengkapi dengan nama stasiun dan tempat wisata dan shopping center so ga perlu beli peta sendiri, lumayan menghemat biaya plus bawaan.

Di Bangkok kita melakukan petualangan sendiri tanpa ikut tour, ga perlu kalo kita tau mo kemana aja, ga akan nyasar de, jamin mutu kalo kalian bisa baca peta dan punya peta BTS+MRT.

Besoknya kita mo ’wat day’ artinya ngunjungi banyak kuil mulai dari Wat Arun, Wat Po (Budha tidur), Wat Phra Kaew dan Grand Palace. Enaknya kita naik BTS, kita naik dari stasiun Asok lalu ganti kereta di stasiun Siam lanjut mpe stasiun terakhir Saphan Taksin, lalu naik ferry cuma 13 baht (flat ke semua pier=pelabuhan), ga usah bayar yang 100 baht/hari karena kita ga akan bisa bolak balik naik ferry lebih dari 3x dalam 1 hari soale ngunjungi 1 wat aja da abisin waktu 1-2 jam, keren banget so rasanya ga mo pulang. Kita mulai dari Wat Arun,

lebih keren kalo ngunjungi waktu sore soale dindingnya dilapisi kaca warna warni so bakalan berkilauan, masuk harus bayar 20 baht. Kuilnya tinggi banget dan tangganya curam so hati2!!! Trus lanjut ke Wat Po, disini ada patung budha raksasa yang lagi tidur, katanya dari emas (ga tau de, mungkin dilapisi emas kali!!!), masuk harus bayar 20 baht. Kita mo ke Grand Palace & Phra Kaew (dalam 1 lokasi) tapi waktu itu adalah hari budha so tutup selama 2 jam buat doa. Raja memberi subsidi buat supir tuk2 dan masuk Grand Palace+Wat Phra Kaew+Vimanmek Mansion gratis (seharusnya bayar 250 baht) semua tuk2 hanya bayar 10 baht keliling kota sepanjang hari selama 1 minggu dan ternyata waktu kita datang itu adalah hari terakhir. Kita dibawa keliling menuju budha duduk yang ternyata ga penting dan kita terbujuk rayu untuk beli cincin yang katanya kalo dijual balik harganya 2x lipat (ternyata BOHONG!!!) dan supir tuk2 maksa kita ngunjungi tempat jual perhiasan lain supaya dia dapet bensin gratis dan dia juga BOHONG kalo Grand Palace tutup jam 4 sore (buka jam 8.30 dan tutup jam 15.30). Oia, info aja kalo ketemu orang di tengah jalan dan bilang kalo Grand Palace tutup dan nawari ketempat lain naik tuk2, mereka BOHONG!!!! Lengkaplah rasa kesal dan amarah dengan dibasahi hujan deras, untung gw kemaren pake baju item.

Kami melewati gratisan so kita jalan kaki (dekat banget dari Grand Palace) ke Kao San road, tempat komunitas backpacker berkumpul dan hanya rame menjelang sore aja soale banyak orang jualan dan para backpacker baru muncul kepermukaan. Kayak pasar aja de sepanjang jalan, jalan aja rasanya sulit karena akan bersentuhan dengan para pejalan kaki lain. Oia, dalam perjalanan kita menemukan lapangan/taman gitu yang banyak merpati bebas yang ngumpul kayak di Inggris gitu de, keren de buat foto2 J (di depan Thammasat University (tempat fico’s ex lop steven ngajar ((huakakkakkkakkak) sempat masuk ke kampus poco2 di depan kampus sama membaca peta kampus (nyari kampus fisip tempat steven ngajar) dan ini hasil usul dand desakan gw yang buat fico malu2 tapi mau, halah!!!!!!).

Petualangan wat dilanjutkan besoknya dan memang Grand Palace indah banget, jauh lebih keren dari Wat Chalong yang di Phuket or Wat Arun, lo kudu datang kalo mampir ke Bangkok, walo bayar 250 baht, worth it!!! Bangunannya megah banget dan warnanya sungguh mempesona, ga bisa diceritain liat aja de fotonya. Habis dari ini kita ke Erawan Shrine (patung budha 4 wajah, turun di stasiun Siam), kata fico banyak orang yang berdoa disini terkabul doanya (?), coba aja de!!! Sekalian mampir di Central World (mall) untuk menghilangkan kepenatan seharian karena seharian jalan kaki dan cuaca yang panas banget kita tutup dengan mengunjungi bioskop dan nonton ’The Invasion’ (160 baht). Keren banget bioskop dan pastinya lebih dingin dari 21 diIndonesia. Jumlah teathernya 19, trus bisa milih jenis tempat duduk, oia ada yang VIP arti na duduk di sofa, ada yang bahkan bisa sambil tiduran sambil nonton di hari2 tertentu. Beli pop corn membabi buta (fico doank loh!!! Gw kalo nonton jarang sekali beli popcorn+minum, gw beseran se J) sebab ENAK BANGET !! Apalagi yang rasa karamel (makan popcorn kayak makan nasi huahahahah) anehnya harga popcorn di lantai atas lebih mahal dari pada yang dibawah. Yang dekat dengan counter penjualan tiket. (??). Oia, karcis nonton bisa di beli dengan kartu debit dan kredit card, bisa pesan via telpon dan internet (wooohoo, hebat!!!!)

Oia, disini ada pasar Chatuchak namanya, yang luaaaaaaasss banget tapi hanya buka sabtu-minggu tapi kita harus melewatkan ini karena harus berangkat ke Chiangmai hari sabtunya.

Last day fun in Bangkok (full of bling2)

Posted by Fico , 9:36 PM

Istana Raja (King Palace)

Megaaaahhh nyaaa !

Om yang jaga tempat kediaman keluarga raja...

Emaasss ???




Yesterday is very exhausted day.
But as always we did it with fun !
We went thru the same activity like the other day, went to the Chao Phraya River using MRT and sky train from Shukumvit.
We already know where we should stop at, at 8th pier and then walk outside the pier to the street. And the grand palace is next to the street (theres a small market that you have to get thru).
First thing in the morning we went to the Grand Palace, its where the royal family live.


Sooo amazing. Its very crowded with tourist, you could see lots of different peoples here. This morning we see lots of Chinese or Japanese. But most of them are white people.


Check the details.. amazing bo ! detail kaca tempel sampe segitu kecilnya !

The palace is beutifull, and colorful like any other thai traditional buildings. It's so amazing to think that this people could build such a beautiful palace. Its also well known as one of "must seen" tourist place, so everyone that come to Bangkok should visit this place. Its amazing.

Details on ceilings at the Prince Palace, beautifull.. reminds me of malay tho (because of the red and gold color)


We have to pay 250 baht to get in to the palace and also several place like marble palace and i can't remember 2 other places that included into the ticket.

The temples and palace is shiny gold colour.. the colour that most woman attract.. hehe.. i guess thats why i like this places most.. is sooo ..errhh bling2?? (for what ever that's mean). But in the shining daylight it is BRIGHT GOLDIE COLOUR.

I think the gold colour only paint.. i didn't see any guard there to stop us touching those shiny building. But yes there's several places that you can't just touch the wall.


Sun glass.. yupp.. its gold shine my eyes !

We walk..and walk and walk.. among like thousand tourist there, its georgeus !
Some part of the Grand palace are being restored so we couldn't get in.
Taking pictures is a new adventure here. You will find its hard to take pictures in certain places. Because there's so many people you can't take the long shoot. Its too bad that few of our pictures almost cannot spot two of us, because theres so many people there.

The palace is really big, we could get lost if we don't have a map. And the weather when we went there is so HOT !

So were advise you to bring lots of water if you planning to go there. But near the out gate theres haagen daz ice cream stall (yums !) near the royal family museum.
We also went to the museum and see how the royal family try to reserve the buildings in here. It must cost lots of money for sure !
There's plenty of pictures and well.. the museum quite dark and i think its little bit spooky, but its museum anyway.
But i think its worthy for tourism.


We didn't go to the marble palace because its quite far and we're exhausted. After exhausted to temples and palace.. we went to Siam Paragorn Shopping Mall !!

I think it's just a coincident. Because we're actually planning to go to the "Erawan Shrine". We went to that place and then we see.. woah.. malls.... good. But first thing first.. we have to find the Shrine that said could made a wish come true if we pray there (believe it or not, its all up to you). But i think it's only related with business ofcourse.


So we took pictures at Erawan Shrine from distance (from sky walk) and then went to shopping mall. I think it's un-polite to take pictures of people whos praying there.. mostly chinese. We also made our own wish there (hehehehehh...). We see there's so many people praying around the shrine.. i don't think it's appropiate to take pictures on peoples praying... most of the visitors are chinese.



We goes to Movies and watch the newest Nicole Kidman movie "The invasion". Its really good !

And for the tips.. GET THE CARAMEL POPCORN !!!



For those who love sweet and salty foods.. its good !! i can't get enough of it *burp*... i'm full...

The theaters where we watch the cinema like mega theaters.. consist of 19 theaters.. in Indonesia.. 12 or 15 i think is huge.. but 19 ??!!!!

After went to cinema, it was still like 9 pm, we were on the way back to our hostel.. but we're thinking, how could we just go back and sleeeping ? so we went to another mall.. not for shopping just to window shopping, to see those branded things.

Then we went to MBK (again) i really like the knock off tshirt. Its really good.. you can't really see the difference between a knock off tshirt with the reall one. the shirt is soft and thick and the pictures is good quality.

But when we went there.. the tshirt stall is gone !! there's only souvenirs stall.. ouggghhhh.. we missed those tshirt.. (hikksss)


But .. hahaha.. must be a joke.. 9.30 people were rushing, the shop is closed !!!!

Even Jambi mall closed at this hours.. i thought Bangkok is City of angel, and sisters city with Jakarta ??!!


What a terrible shock... for us (hehehheh..)

Bangkok and tour to the wat wat (???)

Posted by Fico , Wednesday, August 29, 2007 4:57 AM


We just got back from "wat tour".. we did it our self. From were we stay (Shukumvit soi 25 "Shukumvit Centre" is the hostel name) we took MRT from Asok to Siam and then change into Silom line at Siam to Saphan Taksin and then go down to lower level to the pier (Central pier/Sathorn Taksin).










We choose the express boat (13 baht/trip) cause its have flat fare, the other one ferry price is 100 baht but you could go as much as you want.


I don't think we could go as much as we want, just several time for today and we go to the 8th pier at Tha Tien.

We have to go across the river to go to Wat Arun Temple and the ferry cost 3 baht.








Wat Arun is AMAZING. Beautifull and so high.


We went to the highest of temple part. My arse and my tight is soooo tight, i am afraid i will look like Maradonna , hehehehe.. or Arnold legs.. hehehe




After Wat arun, we go back to the Tha Tien cost another 3 baht. We want to visit the reclining Budha at Wat Po.



Its alsooo sooo big...

We went there, just go inside without noticing that we should pay for tickets and nobody stop us.. i think its just because we just looks like Thailand girls.
We're planning to go to Wat Prakaew after that but tuk-tuk driver messed it up, and took us to a gems store.
I bought a pearls ring with ruby on it, beautifull... this is my first ring since i work. I should be nicer to my self.. hehehehe....
We missed the Wat Prakaew but we will go there tomorrow since its close so early at 3.30 pm.


We also went to Khaosan Road, woah sooo crowded...
nothing special.. i just bought noodles with egg and two scoup of ice cream. It was fantastic to meet with all of these bakpackers. You could hear them speak with different langauages.. sometimes the languages that i never heard before, well mostly it was from Europe or anywhere in middle east (hard to find here) or Israel.




We go back to hostel at 6.30... tired... exhausted.




Bangkok City of Pretty boy

Posted by Fico , 1:26 AM

The bus fare from Phuket to Bangkok is 626 baht, and its 15 hours journey. Two time stop and each stop is about 15-20 minutes. The stopping place is clean, its where we eat.
We finally arrive to Bangkok, City of angels. Its really similiar to Jakarta i think.
We arrive at 4. 30 am. The lights still on. An there's already so many people on street. Just the same like jakarta.
Maria already ask the bus attendant about the taxi fare or bus fare to Hi-Shukumvit where we're going to stay. Im still sleepy. The bus i quite comfy. At least this time i had some spare space for my legs to move.
I'm still thinking wether its worthy to leave Phuket to go to this city.
I've heard alot before from a friend that staying here, its not much different than Jakarta. I'm just wondering what he like most about this city tho. He teach at a university in Bangkok, but when we went there he went back to USA (too bad !).
After getting information about what will we use to go to the hostel, we finally decide to use taxi due to our huge bags are just too big.
The bus attendant said that the taxi fare will be like around 300 baht. We try to haggling until 100 but the lowest is 200 baht. Its actually accidently happened, because the taxi drivers and tuk-tuk’s is pulling, begging and asking us to go with them, so we short of say the numbers that we want to get rid of them. And it works one by one they were say “no..can’t that’s to cheap, more” and only several stay with us. And then one of them agree for 200 baht ! We got a nice pink taxi with a good price for sure, the distance is quite far from the map that we see. And when we ride the taxi, it took like 35 minute to Shukumvit.



We were dying to get some sleep when we’re arrive at Hi Shukumvit hostel.Its 5.30 in the morning. The first look at the hostel is the hostel is clean and seemed not too crowded, its short of reminds me of an english course place in Jambi.
When we arrive the front desk ask if we already book the room. And he just act like a girl, and keep saying that we were too early to come there (I thought hostels are 24 hours). And he said that we should wait until 9 am. And if still insist to check in we should pay for 90 baht. We said we don’t give a damn, we just want to sleep. We will pay. But still he annoy us and keep saying we should book the room first.
Maria pretty upset, and me neither. Maybe he just ever had bad experience with Indonesian travellers or so.
The room price there is 290 baht for a female dorm. We pay for the first day. And leave our bags at the office, and then we went outside to seven eleven across the street. And right on the street next to seven eleven we saw a Pad Thai stall, there’s several peoples doing their breakfast there. So we decide to give a shot for this Pad Thai for 25 baht.


Its sooooo sour ! euuhhhhh… all of thai people like sour foods, they pur lots of acibut its warm tho.. (read spicy), a good warming up for our tummy.
After that we went back to hostel, and then meet the front office that waving two breakfast coupons for us to eat at next door Italy restaurant.
So we hit next door to eat breakfast for the very second time. It’s a couzy and clean place. The owner is an expat’s couples. I like the woman style that so classy. Good.
We have toast and jam and cup of tea for breakfast. After that the front office finally let us have our bed and we sleep until 1 pm after take a bath.
There’s no air conditioner since the air con only on until 8 am.
We then woke up, have fully recharged again. Ready to hit Bangkok road.


First we went to BTS (Sky Train) to buy a card for 20 times journey and all flat 20 baht to all destination far or close. We went to MBK the “Indonesian” mall . And we did meet with several Indonesian there for shopping. We eat at Mc D’s and meet some Indonesian lady that went there for shopping, they were from Bandung. We buy knowck off tshirt for 190 baht here, the quality is very good that you almost can’t tell the difference with the original one.
After that we decide to go to Jim Thompson for silk. It’s a famous place for a silk place. My mom ask me to brought Thailand original Thai silk. And its wow.. expensive.


After getting my credit card hot, we went to Suam Lum Night Bazaar using sky train (MRT) and underground train or BTS. We bought token coins from the ticket vending machine to get the BTS train. The vending machine is on each station entry door. Just put your coins as much as requested, and you could use paper money too. We did this because we don't think we will use BTS as much as MRT. Because BTS have limited destination only.


Yupp.. we stop at Lumphini station, and from the exit of the station.. you could see Suam lum night bazaar lamp right infront of your way...



Its an amazing place to shop. Every woman must love this place. Its ultra cheap, and its also so big. We spent the whole afternoon and night there that I almost can’t feel my toe because we walk so much. I bought another 4 meter silk for my mom, and it cost me 500 baht (amazingly cheaper than Jim Thompson offcourse). This is a very good place to buy something for your family because you could find everything in here.


Thailand tshirt also much cheaper in here. I bought several and Maria too. We bought lots of things in here that we must hold our self not to spent all of our money. Oh i did an air brush tatoo on my right upper hand. Its a fairy tatoo... cool, but its kind of itchy at first when they did it. No, i don't want reall permanent tatoo...thanks. heheh..
We went back to hostel at 9.30 at night. Exhausted but so much fun.
And finally we meet with our room mate. She’s a Canadian engineers. Oh world so small that you meet lots of travelling engineers. We talk about work and laugh about it. Its so fun to share stories about working places where its say as man world. Cute.
We went sleeping happy with our shopping bags all over the place.

phuket.. buh bye !

Posted by Fico , Sunday, August 26, 2007 6:59 PM

Last day in phuket, we only have couple hours to stay here.
We decide to go to Wat Chalong, the biggest temple here in Phuket. We see the tample on the way to Kata/Karon Beach, its beautiful !
After went to Wat Chalong we must rush back to catch our bus to Bangkok..
We back to our hostel at 11 am. We must repack our things.
At night actually we've been talking again about the way we go to Bangkok. Actually i really want to go by train. My plan is we go by mini bus to Surathani and then from Surathani to Bangkok we go by train.
But Maria have a very good consideration.. our luggage. We can't really move from one to other transportation very easy because of it. I think that was made sense, she's right.. but i am sooo disappointed because can't travel with train.. i think its more relax. I had bad issue with bus, i am talking about the seat.
Our room mates Patrisio and Maeve planning to go to the beaches with scooter.. aaawww.. i am really sad because of this.. i want to go with them because it must be fun to go with more people, especially with them.. its from our experience when we went to the night bazaar with these people. Nikki and her boyfriend coming too.
But had bus to catch anyway... we say good bye, took pictures and go with taxi.
We had two option with the bus, 64 seater or just 24 seater... We choose 64 seater. Its a double decker bus.
The seat is not comfy at all !! it might comfy for those who have height less that 150 cms, but not me !
The seat is trapping me down !
The bus stop twice. First bus stop, its a small restaurant, we stop at 5.30 pm. We didn't eat there, Maria seemed so sleepy. We take sleeping pils so we don't really feel trired when we got to Bangkok. And also we're afraid to get headache.
The second bus stop was amazing place. The place is so huge and all double decker bus seemed stop there. We only had only like 20 minutes to eat !! its so different with Indonesia buses.
I had trouble because the bus attendant (yes they have a buss attendant just like a flight!) speak in Thai language. She didn't explain anything in English. So wen they ask us to sit in the prepared table, i just sit.. but i got all suspicious because they serve this soup, with "white meat".. and i ask.. yes thats pork.. all the food is made from pork !! i only grin to Maria and step back from the table.
I can't find the bus attendant. But then i see.. this guy wearing Arabic man head cover, we called it syal. I ask him "im a Moslem, and i want to eat" and he ask to made sure im Moslem, and then he ask me to choose food from different stall. Ooooohh yess ! thank you !!
The lesson from all my travelling is.. never afraid to ask.. you're aforeigner, no one will blame you necause you had any idea what was happening !! After rushing eating and while Maria take few picts .. we're late !! everyone seemed eat so fast that we're the last passenger get into the bus ! oooohhh... right !
We're sleeping until we get to Bangkok at 5 am.

fotooooooooo di phuket!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Fico , 6:50 PM