BKK Adventure 22 – 25th May 09

与仕源在一起的日子：第964天

I’m back from Bangkok! My very first time flying on my own and I wasn’t the least bit afraid. Probably because I know Darling is waiting for me at Bangkok International Airport, or probably because Lena prayed for me before I leave for airport, or also perhaps there was movies on board and the plane landed before I could even finish the movie.

I felt pretty calm.
A.S.S.
Hehe.

Darling’s thai colleagues told him that CTC opens till 2am on a Friday night and so we went ahead despite being told not to by the staff at the airport. Thehe place is so deserted loh. Haha. Maybe because it was raining and the night stalls weren’t open. We were like so stupid standing there, haha. Than we board another cab and told him to bring us to somewhere to eat and where there’s massage.

Photos in the taxi

He dropped us at this Mido Hotel and we finally had our really late dinner.

I ordered fried noodles (but it was kuay teow) and Darling had this garlic with beef.
The main course isn’t very nice but the tom yum was good and the orange juice was fresh.

We went to the massage parlor in the hotel itself but than they are closed leh, even though it’s stated that they are open till 2am. I was disappointed cuz I was really set with a mindset that I must get my massage that very night. We checked with the reception than cross to the opposite and finally found ourselves one massage parlor in another hotel.

Darling ready in his massage ‘outfit’

It’s 300B for 1 hour, 100B more expensive than the usual we have in Pratunam. However, sad to say the massage isn’t very good leh. The 2 aunties were busy chatting and watching TV, when they talk their hands stop. And Darling say the  aunty kept pinching on his flesh. Haha. And this is the first time I encounter a massage parlor asking for tips, ask for tips nevermind but at least give good service lah. They only started our massage half an hour after we settled down, so all in all it was only a 30mins instead of 1 hour massage. Still ‘buai pai seh’ ask for tips.

And Darling gave them 100B each. :/

We went to a supermarket and got some mineral water and tidbits and head back to Darling’s hotel – All Seasons Gold Orchid. Was pretty shagged out by than, took a  bubble bath and Darling continued with his work. I accompanied him for awhile before I concuss.

I wonder if I’m really tired or I’m starting to feel alright about hotel beds, but I had a good sleep for the 3 nights.

Darling booked a taxi for the 2nd day to bring us to 3 places.
1. Floating Market
2. River Kwai Bridge
3. Tiger Temple

Ready for our excursion

Our Room – 911

In the cab

Our driver was nice and very honest but he doesn’t speak much English and thus it’s alittle tough in communicating with him.

The taxi costs him 2500B which initially he thought includes the tickets to all the 3 destinations (if any). But upon reaching this floating market which was operated by a ang moh, we had to pay 1000B each. So expensive!!! But we still went ahead lah. Haha.
At least this floating market is the real floating market, not one of those fake ones which I’ve been to before where there are only like 1 – 2 sampans selling rotten bananas.

We were served coconut juice before boarding the boat. You cannot imagine how scary the houseflies are. There were so many of them!

Flies in Darling’s face!

Flies in my face

It was a pretty good experience but was alittle expensive.

It’s alittle like ‘Nang Nak’  – the Thai ghost movie about the wife.

Saw some puppies feeding on their mummy’s milk. So cute! Cookie’s so tiny, can’t imagine her having babies and feeding her children. Haha. – Not that it’s gonna happen anyway.

We passed by this Coconut Sugar Farm on our way into the floating market.

The makings of the coconut sweets
There were alot of houseflies too.
But we bought a packet of coconut + peanut sweets

Entering the floating market

Some shops.

We bought the kuehs (bottom right hand corner), it’s some sort of coconut concoction kueh. Not very nice. Haha.

Had our breakfast on the boat too. I was famished and keep looking out for food. Than finally we stop at this area where we bought our bee hoon soup. It’s a new experience eating on the boat, the bowl is hot and boat is moving and we have to use one hand to steady the bowl while the other to hold the chopsticks.
But the bowl is so damn hot can. I ended up putting it on my bag very reluctantly.

We stopped at a temple and did some sight seeing. When we went back to the boat, the bowls were cleared liaos. I wonder how the boatman wash the bowls or did he even wash it. Perhaps the remains of the bee hoon is underneath the river and people bath with the river water.

Finishing with the floating market and next – Kwai River Bridge.

It was supposed to be a 1 hour journey away from the Floating Market but it took us around 2 hours to get there because our driver lost his way. We concuss in the taxi and both our butts were aching from sitting too long.

The bridge is pretty interesting, it’s actually an old railway track  used during World War II but it’s a tourism area now. There were shops there and we shopped around and took some photos.

See the yellow thing in the plastic bag, it’s actually fried, dry bananas but it’s super not nice.

Walking along the bridge

I think I really am afraid of heights. Looking down from the bridge and seeing the rivers made my legs go jelly.

Train oncoming!

Darling with the ‘train’

Took some photos there and had our lunch – fried chicken rice!!! Yummy. We love the fried chicken rice there, they are so so nice.

Crispy and tasty and I love their sweet chili sauce. The watermelon juice was really sweet too. Had a very good lunch. Sometimes, a good meal doesn’t have to be very expensive, a simple nice fare is as sweet and heart warming as well.

You can’t probably find cheap deals there cuz the place is infiltrated by tourists.

We head over to the Tiger Temple (The highlight of the day’s events) after our lunch at River Kwai Bridge.

Saw 世界那么大 last week and the host introduced this place where tourists get up close and personal with Tigers. Darling found out about the place, which is the Tiger Temple. It’s really interesting but yet it’s alittle scary. I mean, TIGERs leh.
They can just kill me with a swat of their paws. Haha.

But no regrets!
We enjoyed the excursion to the Tiger Temple! I don’t think there will be another chance we get actually get that close to Tigers and taking photos with them. So it’s really a good experience!
Initially we were told by one local driver that we have to pay 1500B to take photos with the tigers and another 500B just to touch them.
Was alittle ’sian’ cuz it’s so freaking expensive but we only have to pay 500B each for the entrance fees and that’s all. No other charges if you want to take  normal photos with the tigers. If you want something special you will have to pay and the money will go the donation fund for the temple.
However we had to pay extra 200B because I was in skirt and skirts are not allowed in the temple.
I had to wear my cardigean and it’s so freaking hot.
Red, Pink and Yellow ae not allowed into the temple too. So just take note if you are thinking of going.

We had to sign an idemnity form before entering the temple too as there are many other wild animals like water buffalos and deersand not forgeting the tigers.

It’s freaking hot can, and I had to wear my cardigean plus wrap another piece of this sarong like pants over my skirt. I didn’t know the right way to wrap it. Haha. Anyhow wrap only. Keke.
I was alittle stress before entering the temple as I wasn’t sure what to expect. What if the tigers really roam freely? But I guess I worry too much.

Darling’s not worried at all, in fact he’s so looking forward to hug the tigers.

Water Buffalo. Plenty of them in the temple.

Moving down to the Tiger Canyon where quite a few tigers gather.

Yes it’s freaking hot.

If you are wondering why am I not with my sunglasses since the sun is glaring.
It’s because I didn’t want to miss spotting any animals lurking around me!!!

I can see better without the sunglass on.

The crowd at the Tiger Canyon

Initially I thought I can actually go into the canyon with Darling and take photos together with him. At least I feel safer with him beside me BUT we can’t leh. We have to go in one by one =(
I was really terrified. A volunteer was being assigned to each of us, they held our hands tight and lead us to the individual tigers resting in the canyon.
We were told to sit or squat at a certain area and put our hands on the tiger. I’m like ‘are you crazy?!!!’ But I still went ahead, I placed my palm gently on the tiger but the volunteer held my hand and put it hard on the tiger’s belly. He gave me a look as if to tell me ‘Don’t be a sissy.’ Haha.

He’s gigantic!

I was waiting for my turn to touch the 2nd tiger when one very irritating volunteer used his hands to nimble on my legs with the growling sound. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Afterwhich, I held on tight to my volunteer.

See. I’m not joking. I’m scared.
It’s a challenge you know. You have to look at the camera and smile but at the same time you want to make sure the tiger is still in a stupor.

Alright. I’m loosening up.

I think the tigers were being injected with something thus causing them to be so ‘nuai.

Darling’s time with the tigers.

He’s eyeing the tiger.

The Tiger Temple has a total of 43 tigers and many other animals. There’s one leopard too but the leopard is kept in his cage.

You can also pay 1000B to take ’special’ photos with the big tiger and also 1500B to feed the cubs.
500B to watch a show.

All these monies will go to the temple’s donation fund.

The ones in purple are the volunteers.

We took a slow walk out of the canyon and to other parts of the temple, in search of the leopard too.

There were a few smaller tigers at the other areas of the Tiger Temple and they all have a monk and one volunteer.
We are allowed to take photos with them too!

Our fave shots.

I appeared to be so cuddly with the tiger but actually I’m really scared and was being forced to bend down and rest my chin of this tiger’s head. The volunteer pulled my hand towards the front and place it infront of the tiger and than press my head down on his chin.
Haha.

And I’m the extra in this photo.

Saw a deer and we fed him or her with leaves.

See. I took this so nice photo of him with the deer. The whole deer.
And mine?

Can only see the deer’s head.
Damn.

Surrounded by water buffalos
I took one too but I was really afraid that they will bump me with their horns.

We walk around the temple and than back to the canyon again.

We stayed for awhile watching the tigers. Most of them were getting more energetic and some were growling.
One of the volunteers placed a stone infront of one of the tigers, he bend down and smell the stone and afterwhich he stretched open his mouth and close his eyes as if he’s smiling.
It’s so cute loh.
Wonder what’s that stone.

Spent quite sometime at the temple and we are ready to go!

We told the driver to drop us at CTC instead of our hotel and it’s another 2 hours plus ride.

It was a super long ride and I’m hungry again. When we got to CTC it’s already close to 7pm. The pets corner is closed and I’m pretty tired to move around the people and bargain.
I had strong cravings for MK Steamboat and we went straight to Central Plaza for it.

Had a good dinner but had abit of cramps because I ate too fast. Bought Mister Donuts but it’s not nice one leh. =(

I had thai massage in the comfort of our room that night. It was so good!!!
And while I was enjoying, Darling was doing his work.

I slept pretty early that night while Darling’s still doing his work. When I say early, I mean like 1am+++? Conked out once again till morning and I didn’t wanna wake up in the morning.

Usually I’m like the first to get up during holidays and make everyone else wake up but this trip I’m like sleeping more.

We got up around 10am and took a cab to Platinum. Had our breakfast cum lunch there – fried chicken rice again.
Hehe.

We love the fried chicken at Bangkok, so so so tasty.
Shopped around Platinum, bought a few dresses, some shorts and lots of belts. Been into belts lately, haha.
Didn’t really like comb the while Platinum cuz the stuffs theyare selling are almost the same and somehow I didn’t see any shoes leh. Went over to Pratunam market – just opposite Platinum.

Bought some stuffs again and went over to CTC. Darling’s having a bad headache from the late nights and perhaps the hot weather. It’s so damn hot over at BKK now though there’s rain too. But Jan was still the best, cooling and great weather for shopping.
We took a short break in Burger King before grabbing a cab to JJ Mall. Haven’t been into the new JJ Mall yet.

There’s actually nothing much to buy in JJ Mall, the apparels they sell aren’t the kind that I like but you still can get some good buys there.

We walked the external of CTC than took a cab back to our hotel. It was close to evening and I took a shower and arrange for a massage at around 5pm. Hehe. We both did thai massage and Darling went back to his work after that while I laze on the bed.

We went for the buffet dinner at the hotel at around 7pm.

Horsing around in the restaurant.
The pasta was nice, the soup was nice and the bee hoon soup was good. There wasn’t alot of variety even though it’s supposed to be international buffet but the food is ‘buai pai’ lah.

Dinner was at Rim Vibha Cafe.
See the mess on the table? Very ‘jia lat’ hor. Haha. Darling was drinking his coffee and I was trying to illustrate how the volunteer at the tiger temple held my hand and put it on the tiger.
But I hit his hand too hard and the coffee spill all over the table.Haha. The scene was so funny, we laughed till our sides ache.

Darling revealed something to me later in the evening after our excursion also. He told me the second time when the volunteer tried to scare me again with the pinch of his fingers, he wanted to scare darling initially but Darling saw him. He than told Darling to hush and signalled to me.
So darling actually knows that he’s gonna do that to me and yet he kept quiet!!!
I was so engrossed in seeing the monk feeding the tiger with milk and I really had a shock loh.

We took a short tour around the hotel after dinner and I made reservations for another massage for 11pm in our room. Foot massage this time.
It was so so good, I love foot massages. Managed to have another good sleep after that.

Poor Darling worked till 5am.

On my last day at Bangkok we had to leave for the airport at around 10am.
Packed my bag the night before, Darling helped me with some of my other stuffs.

I checked in and we went for our lunch.

Can’t remember the name of this cafe, but the pasta there is not too bad. Darling stayed with me till around 11.30am and I have to board liaos.
Missing him so much =(

But he will be back real soon, maybe Thurs maybe Friday.

The returned flight to Singapore was pretty bumpy. I watched Inkheart on the returned flight and Bridewars on the flight to Bangkok.
Managed to finish BrideWars but not Inkheart. Like both shows, will go rent or buy Inkheart.

I MISS Darling so much.
Hugs.

Thanks for accompanying me despite your tight schedule Darling.
Muacks.