Bangkok, Thailand

Fresh crabs @ the Seafood Market

Coconut ice-cream & mango with sticky rice

Floating Market

Elephant ride @ Elephant Farm

We reached Survanabhumi Airport at 2030 after 2 hours and 30 minutes journey from Kuala Lumpur. The airport was gigantic and the structural design was similar to our KLIA. After we got our luggage, we took a taxi to Shukumvit. It was chaotic; Bangkok was like a concrete jungle that never sleeps. We arrive at Somerset Lake Point View service apartment at 2130, took a quick shower and went to Suanlom night market.
Suanlom market covers a huge area with multitude of souvenir stalls (t-shirts, Thai-style clothing, trinkets, woodwork items, kitchen utensils, bamboo mats, you get the idea) with a suitably giant food court, they have a live band playing on stage every night.

On the next day, we woke up early in the morning and went for free breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast, a guy name Diamond picked us up at the lobby (I told the receptionist on the night before that all of us wanted to go to the Floating Market). The trip costs us around 750 baht/person (approximately rm75). It was a 90 minutes van ride from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. There were 12 of us in the van including Australians, a friendly couple from the UK, and some from US.
Our first stop at Samut Songkhram province was the Elephant Farm. To ride an elephant, we have to pay 600 baht/person/hour (app. Rm60) and a bucket of banana costs us around 100 baht.

Later, we headed to the Floating Market. Floating market is patronized mostly by Thais. A lot of Thais sat on the steps leading to the river, enjoying their bowls of noodles prepared by female traders on the boats. There were locals selling fresh goods and flowers and boats selling coconuts to drink or some food. After several hours at the Floating Market, Diamond told us that we will be carted to the Cobra Show before heading back to Bangkok. Anyway, I don’t really like the Cobra Show. The show was a tribute to animal cruelty. Can you imagine a Mongoose fighting with two cobras in a glass box? That was cruel! A handler made a snake angry so it lunges at him while he holds the tail, and then throws it across the pit. WTH. It was a tiring day, we arrived our Apartment at 1600 hours. At night we went to the Seafood Market to have some fresh seafood and a good Tom Yam for dinner.

After dinner at the Seafood Market, we went back to our apartment. I was quite tired, and when I was about to fall asleep, I was asked to stay awake because Tiger Show is a must in Thailand! At 12 midnight we took a taxi to Patpong area. There was a guy holds a pamphlet came to us and said ‘Tiger Show, only 100 baht. Hurry, It's about to start!’. Without think twice, we agreed and followed the guy. The place was dodgy and I told the others ‘I think it’s a scam!’, but we entered the club, anyway. The club was ruthless and there were 6-7 showgirls pole dancing in the nude. 2-3 of them are old! There were a dart trick, blow a birthday candle trick, coca cola bottle trick and more. I noticed every time people want to leave, there will be an argument at the cashier. Feeling uncomfortable, we decided to leave. I was right! I was shocked when I saw the bill stated 5,000 baht (app RM500!). WTF. There were gangsters around us, so we don’t have choice but to pay! For God’s sake, we only ordered 1 coke, 1 Singha beer and 1 jack Daniel (cost us 3,000 baht) and another 2,000 baht was for the showgirls.

On the next day, we went to Platinum Mall. Money was limited and stuff there was very cheap. Now I know where all the blogshop owners take their stocks. It was a relaxing evening tho; after some shopping, we went for foot massage (only 200 baht for one hour) & full body massage (only 250 baht/hour). For dinner we had Tom Yam again!
Next day we went to salon for pedi and meni. It was damn cheap. After lunch we headed to the airport and arrived KL at 1830 hours.
I miss Bangkok.