Amazing Thailand

Massage

Bangkok is internationally famous for its massage parlors. Traditional Thai massage can be found all over town, in hotels, at spas and stand-alone salons. Thai massage is recognized for its health benefits and relaxing effects, both on the body and on the mind. Thai massage, foot massage and oil massage are the most popular courses. A one hour Thai massage can cost as little as Bt 129 excluding tips.

Bangkok has a lot to offer after dark. Live music, bowling, ice skating, dinner shows, river cruise, Thai boxing, night shopping – a lot of things to do for all people and all budgets.

Bangkok has a reputation for wild and rowdy nightlife.
The truth is the city’s nightlife goes way beyond the over-worn naughty image from the Vietnam days. Fun would be a better description for it.
Bars and clubs catering especially to foreign guests are confined to the following hot zones – Patpong, Soi Nana, Soi Cowboy and Khaosarn Road

Patpong. The nightlife strip runs along two short lanes, Patpong 1 and 2 in Silom. Bars share street-space with restaurants, massage parlors, a couple of hotels while a night market selling clothes, fake watches and souvenirs runs down the center of Patpong 1 and out along Silom Road.

Nana. Three floors of nightlife activity around a central atrium. Located on Sukhumvit Soi 4, it is a cluster of go-go and beer bars in the three story building of Nana Entertainment Plaza. The first floor has a lot of busy and exciting bars, The second floor is occupied by smaller bars, often frequented by old hands. The third floor has a few, really big bars known for their girlie shows.

Soi Cowboy. Just a few meters from the Asoke BTS Station, Soi Cowboy is a cluster of go-go bars and beer joints, Prices here are cheaper than those in other red light zones in the capital. Beer costs 55 to 85 baht, perhaps a little less during happy hour and little more at some of the more popular spots, and the obligatory (soft) drinks for the girls cost a little more.

Tuk-Tuk

A taxi style mode of transport that;s unique to Thailand. The three wheeled, open air tuk tuk can take you almost anywhere in Bangkok. Rate is usually negotiable, from Bt20 for a very short distance to Bt300 for a father destination.

Floating Market at Damnoen Saduak

Thailand is famous for its floating markets and some of the best are found in the outskirts of Bangkok. One is Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi, In the narrow canals of Damnoen Saduak, women crowd the waterway network to sell goods to riverbank residents.

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Christmas in Bangkok

Bangkok is the epicenter of fun and entertainment in Thailand. Its rich cultural heritage accommodates practically much of outside influences, making it a veritable city of non stop celebration. Be it Western bash or a local festivity, Thais always find a good reason to celebrate it.

Undoubtedly, as Thailand becomes more tangled in modern culture and globalization becomes more real. Western influences such as Christmas also comes unavoidable. That is not to say that Thais are discarding their wonderful age old culture and customs; they have always been zealously guarding their traditions. That Christmas celebration has become common, at least in the top tourist destinations, simply reflect the Thai people’s innate tendency to embrace everything that constitute fun.

Christmas, in fact, gives great occasion for great merrymaking. Futhermore, Thais are generally generous, and the spirit of giving that Christmas encourages blends well with their homebred values. Not surprising then that Christmas is widely celebrated in the country that is largely Buddhist.

In short, it doesn’t take a Christian country to have real fun on Christmas. Buddhist or Christian, Thai or Farang (foreigner), everybody can have a good Christmas time….

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Sawasdee Khrap, Sawasdee Kha...

KLIA - Boarding Thai Airways to Bangkok on Boeing 777

My souvenir from Thai Airways

The journey from Survanabumi Airport to the city center takes between 30 and 45 minutes. However, I took 2 hours to reach my hotel which is located at the downtown of Bangkok - The Amari Watergate Hotel because of rush hour.

Sawasdee Khrap...Sawasdee Kha

In Thailand, people in general greet one another with the word Sawasdee and a gesture of pressing the palm together called Wai. The word Sawasdee can be used all times of the day. A male would add the word Khrap and a female the word Kha after Sawasdee to show politeness. The Wai has much more social significance than a western handshake and in general, the younger person or the person with junior ranking wais first to an elder or senior, who returns the gesture.

I was told that there are three institutions that the Thai people regard highly and must therefore pay proper respect. The Nation, represent by the Nation Flag and the National Anthem. The Religion, represented by the Triple Gems: Buddha, Dharma and Sangkha (the monks). The Monarchy, represented by the King and members of the Royal family.

Long Live The King

Here's a quick review of the hotel I stayed...

The Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok

View of Amari Watergate Hotel from CentreWorld

The Amari Watergate Hotel is located in the very heart of the city in Pratunam, one of Bangkok’s main commercial and shopping district.

I was not dissappointed with the Amari. Good location, close to shops, restaurants, public transportation...in the heart of the city and brilliant all round package. I stayed in a deluxe room for 3 nights; which was modern and very clean, with LCD TV and DVD player. One night here cost me 5,438 Baht which is equivalent to RM550.

Deluxe Room with 42' LCD

Bathroom with duckling duck to play with

The difference between a Superior and a Deluxe is the floor level and room decoration; Deluxe rooms have been refurbished in a more modern/business style, but the bathrooms are still the same in all rooms - twin hand basins, a separate show cubicle and a large bath tub. Each room has a spectacular view of the city.

Staff were very polite, they try to make your stay really pleasant and will help out any way they can. The 8th floor gym and pool area are also great. The breakfast buffet is quite good and runs until 10:30am, which is also great if you're not an early bird!

Swimming Pool @ Amari Watergate

There is no air condition in the corridor - where the elevators are, and also in the elevators themselves - so it's pretty hot there... The only thing that I found a bit of the nuisance was that no free internet in the room. However, there was free wi-fi in the lobby, which I only found out when I checked out!

Right in front of the hotel, there is a new wholesale mall with not less than 1500 shops, and clothes are extremely cheap! But I am not a shopaholic, so I bought nothing at all...was tempted to buy the pirated version of croc shoe @ 159 Baht; but end up didn't buy...

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