Day 3

On our last day in Bangkok, we start off a little late than yesterday because there’s not much place to visit today. Today is my turn and Catri’s to have breakfast at restaurant. So, at about 8 AM, we go to the lobby and we meet the woman who helps us ‘finding’ this hotel!

“Hello, we meet again!” I greet her with smile.

“Oh, so you stay here, too!”

“Yeah, in which tower do you stay?”

“I stay with my family in Tower 3.”

“Thanks again for your help back then.”

“You’re welcome. Have you all worked or are you all students?” She’s curious about our age. She’s very tall but I think she is much younger than us.

“We work.”

“Ooo..” maybe she’s realizing the same thing, too. Though I’m much smaller than her, I am, in fact, older.

“… when we first met you all, and knew that you hadn’t booked a hotel yet, I was thinking, ‘wow, these girls are super brave! Going abroad without knowing where to stay yet? I can’t do that.’”

“Hahahaha…”

“Hey, have you gone shopping?”

“Yes, yesterday we came to Chatuchak Market. It was super fun and satisfying.”

“Did you shop enough?” Mm, what kind of question is this? Is she going to treat us something?

“You have to go to MBK Center!! Many things are cheaper there.”

“Whoa, is it? We’re actually going there today. Ok! We’ll find some more! Thank you.”

Then we both go back to our seat and having our own breakfast. I told Catri everything.

Our flight to Jakarta is in 9.30 PM so we checked out first and have our (bigger) backpacks kept in hotel while we continue exploring Bangkok in our last hours here.

The total of 2 days stay in Grand President is 6500 Baht. Since we deposited 8000 Baht when checking in at the first night, we get 1500 Baht back. Yippie! Another Baht for shopping in MBK Center. Quite cheap for such a great hotel with great facilities. *Of course! Cause one room used by 4 people!*

 

 

Today we decided to visit Dusit Palace first. MBK Center can wait, it won’t be going anywhere.

We take BTS from Nana Station, transit at Siam Station then take another train to National Museum Station.

From National Museum Station, we can see 3 level of roads which is used by 3 different transportation modes. First level is for cars, bus and motorcycles. Second level used for pedestrians. And the third level is for BTS.

We ride tuktuk again to Dusit Palace. It is located near Bangkok’s Zoo.

Dusit Palace is a complex of palace but the other buildings are located quite far and not in a walking-distance from the first palace, so we just visit this Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall.

Free entry but woman visitor should wear a skirt to go inside. Fortunately, they provide some colored fabrics costs 40 Baht in a stand right outside the entry door. So, in conclusion it is some kind of ticket, too.

The interior inside is so European, like the castle I watched in Three Musketeers movie.

We can’t take pictures at all here. So, let me tell you that everything inside this castle is very luxurious and expensive. There are kitchenware, ship miniature, temple miniature and many more. All of them made from gold, silver, ruby, emerald, etc. This is the real Jewel in the Palace.

 

 

No wonder the security guards are everywhere and there are cameras everywhere, too.

But one thing that makes me such in awe is this one huge engraving from wood and in 3D!! Like for real, in 3D. It’s like comic book which tells us that in a temple in a huge forest full of dragons, Buddha is having its meditation. The depth of the dragons, trees and temples engraved in an unbelievable rate I can’t believe that its all made in unity.

Dusit Palace done explored!

Move on to Madame Tussauds Museum in Siam Discovery Mall. We go there by taxi.

Waow! All transportation modes done tried, too!

Yesterday we find Madame Tussauds Museum brochures at hotel lobby and find out that there is 200 Baht discount in each of the brochures.

We were excited and thought of it as some kind of give and take.

We pay (give) some huge amount of Baht for hotel and in return we get (take) a slightest cheaper price for entry to the museums. Not apple to apple, though, haha..

Well, we spend most of our time today here. Too excited and too busy posing with our idols.

Finishing with super satisfied feeling, we continue our trip to MBK Center. We’re gonna buy Thailand’s foods for our office colleagues. But, after a fun and tiring photo session with famous people in museums, we think that we should get some lunch first so we’re heading to Burger King. When we saw the menu choice, ouch! mostly pork meat, so we ask for the beef meat. But I think the oil used to cook the meat… oh, what the hell, I’m eating it.

After lunch, we’re hunting more souvenirs and foods. I’ve been told the right thing: many things are cheaper here. I regret buying a few things more expensive in Chatuchak Market. But I still have a few hundred Baht from hotel, let’s spend it out with no regret!

It’s already past Ashar time so we search for a mushola here. Rumors said that there’s one in MBK Center. We’re asking everywhere again, (don’t be ashamed to ask!) and no one told us the right direction. Until we meet some jilbabers in a certain level in MBK Center. We come closer and ask whether she knows the location of mushola or not. And yes, she is Indonesian, too. But unfortunately she doesn’t know where it is, too. So, we search it together and find it in 6th level.

After shalat, we had a talk for a while. Her name is Iis, she is from Jambi and she’s currently taking a master degree in medical science here in one of the university in Thailand. We exchange emails and separated. After finding some Thailand’s foods we go back to Grand President to take our backpacks, packing again and left for Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The train we took today costs half than the last airport train we took when we first arrive here (the express one), only 45 Baht. It’s because this one stops in every station. No wonder it’s cheaper and we have to stand at the corner because it’s quite crowded.

Arriving safely in Suvarnabhumi Airport, we’re looking for Tom Yam for dinner and find Muslims prayer room. A tall Arabian guy standing inside sees us and says “Assalamualaikum”, I doubt for a while then realize that he’s not mang2 (?) who always makes fun of Assalamualaikum to flirt with a girl, so I reply “Waalaikumsalam” and going inside mushola.

It’s such a relief to see a mushola. We’re lying down a while then take wudhu in turn. There is some kind of chair in front of water tap. Mbak Iis told us before that it’s more comfortable to sit while taking wudhu. So Alis and I try it and it is indeed more comfortable.

 

 

Maghrib and Isya’s shalat are done. Now, it’s time for Tom Yam dinner before checking in. 250 Baht each and we’re running out of Baht, so we just buy 2 bowls.

Checking in, waiting, boarding, take off.

Thank you Bangkok for this awesome weekend. We’ll see you again later.

 

 

…

On Tuesday 2 AM, we arrive in Jakarta safely. At 3 AM, Alis and I arrive at home. At 9 AM, I wake up then go to work.

 

 

Note:

I think there are some inaccurate price of train, boat or entry tickets to museum.

It’s because I don’t really remember it, we should ask Catri for sure