Visiting some temples in Bangkok

Today we've visites the temples of 'Wat Pho' & the Royal palace in Bangkok. The best way to do this (as it has been adviced by the concierge), is by boat.

The 'Chao Praya express boat' is the public transportation along the river. You can recognize these boats on the orange or blue flags. The color indicated what pier they stop and the stops are announced every time. 

You can buy a day ticket on the boat or on the central pier for 150BHT to hop on and off during the whole day. 

Have a look on their website and pick the closest pier to your hotel (Hilton for example provides the free boat service every 20 min to the central pier). From that point you can hop-on and just pay your ticket on the boat. 

Royal palace:

We first visites the Royal palace, which was of course the biggest and most impressive one. We've visites several temples and were very impressed by the beaty and the details.

Good to know: you need to wear long pants (also women) & at least a t-shirt that covers your sholders. If you don't wear them they provide you some @ the entrance (obligatory). The entrance is 500BHT per person including the visit of the national treasure museum (this last one is really not worth visiting when you ask me).

Please be aware it can be very hot during the visit, so provide some water and shoes that can be easily removed (to enter every temple you need to remove your shoes)

Attention: along the road to the palace, several Thai try to convince you the palace is closed as monks are praying. But this is false, the palace is opened all day. They're trying to sell you an other tour.

Also the tuk-tuk guys are trying to convince you're on the wrong way and you better take their service. Just ignore them. Unless you're willing to drive around to other tempels too.

Wat Pho:

The advantage of Wat Pho is definitely the less visitors & the fact you can take pictures from all temples in and outside (which is not the case for the Royal palace). You only pay 100BHT per person to enter the domain including a free bottle of water. 

There is Buddha's all over the place with of course the big laying Budha as highlight. He's situated in the building just before the exit of the domain. Here they also provide you with clothes to cover your sholders (If that's not yet the case), but shorts are allowed. 

Both visits were really worth it but I can tell you that this is more than enough for one day by these temperatures (40 degrees). The Royal palace at least takes you 2 hours and then you're really not looking into every corner of the domain.

Local market Bangkok

During the weekend there's a local market in the northern part of Bangkok (the biggest market in the world with more then 5000 stands - 1 of the 10 must see's in Bangkok). 

The best way to get there is by the skytrain. You can buy a day ticket for 130THB in every station. The market is situated near the 'Siam' station next to the parc. You better schedule Several hours for a walk through this market as it's pretty big. We've walked for more then 3 hours and only saw the biggest road without entering all the small allies. 

It's really worth visiting when you want to see the real Thai people and to buy a local product. From food to clothes, you can find it all for very little prices.

A nice cotton T-shirt from good quality (although this is what it seems to be), is for sale for 150/300 THB.

Arrival in Bangkok - staying @ Hilton Millenium

Flight to Bangkok 

After a flight of almost 11hours (from Brussels) with Thai airways we've landed in Bangkok. Thai airways is a good company when it comes to service. Free drinks (even gin,whisky,wines,...) are included along the flight. 2 different menus are served with really good food for an aircraft and the staff is really helpfull and friendly.

The inflight entertainment is really broud. From the latest movies to the most popular TV-series, games and music.

AirPort of Bangkok (Don Mueang)

The Airport of Bangkok is really big and it takes a while before you've passed the passport control to get your luggage in the end.

After picking up out luggage, we took a official (green-yellow) taxi to the hotel. This took us about 45min. and costs only 600THB including 100THB for the highway.

Hilton millenium hotel

Today (Sunday 29/3) we've checken in to the Hilton millenium in Bangkok. This 5* hotel is located near the river and offers a complimentary boat trip to the city center of Bangkok (skytrain station).

The boattrip is already an exiting trip as there is a lot of traffic on the river and it's very bumpy. But really an experience. 

At check-in we received an upgrade to the executive Floor, where we have free acces to the executive lounge (31st floor) with complimentary fingerfood and drinks (till 9pm). Alcohol is only served during the cocktail from 5.30 till 7.30 pp.

The executive Floor is just 1 Floor underneath the 360rooftop bar and had his own terrace.

The rooms are very nice and traditionally decorated. We had a room on the 27th floor with an amazing view over the river and the city. The night lightening in the room is an extra, but very comfortable to not disturb your roommate when waking up in the middle of the night. As the curtons do there job really well (read:it's dark even with all the lights of the city on the other Side of the window), this is a plus.

The bathrooms are Well equiped and spacious with rainshower and bath.

They provide you with 3 XL towels, 3 normal towels and 3 hand towels. Of course as Hilton is expected too they provide you with all amenities like soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shaving kit, sewing kit and all other stuff can be ordered by dialing the nr 9.

The view of the hotel when we came back in the evening by boat is magnificient. 

Facts about the hotel:

Room:

- wood floor in the room with carpet underneath the bed

- Hilton watch on the bedside

- safe (free of charge)

- minibar

- coffee machine + water (complimentary)

- a good hairdryer

- TV + stereo (with CD)

- spacious closet with 2 bathrobes

Pool:

- free towels provided @ the pool

- artificial sand beach with beds & seats included

- pool service

(When you ask me, the pool needs a renovation, as several stones where broken and this really cuts into your feet (i experienced myself))

- the view from the pool (4th floor) over the river and the city is great!

Breakfast:

The breakfastbuffet is very large. There are 3 different open kitchens with european, Chinese and Thai food

- Broad offer of bread, croissants, jams,..

- more than 10 hot served dishes (fresh scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages,...

- yoghurt with fresh and dried fruits

- 3 kind of smoothies

- sushi, Chinese soups

- cheese, ham, smoked fish

-...

- the only small remare for this breakfast is the fact the orange juich is not fresh. But not a big issue.

Thailand schedule

Today we're leaving for a trip to Thailand. For the first time I'm going to Asia. I'm really wondering if the feedback from all visitors will suit my experience in this called 'very hospitable' country.

First stop in Thailand - Bangkok. There we're staying in the 5* Hilton Millenium hotel near the Chao Phraya River.

After 4 nights in this multiple nominated hotel, we're flying to Phuket by Nokair. Nokair is a low cost company which I have been adviced by a regular visitor of Thailand.
In Phuket we will take a cap to Khao Lac where we'll be staying 7 nights in the Khao Lac Laguna Resort 4* to have a real sun & beach holiday.

From Khao Lac we will be transfered to Phuket and stay in the Ibis Styles Ao Nang in Krabi 3* for 1 night. You may not be aware, but the Ibis Styles hotels are uncomparable with the well known Ibis hotels. Most of them are totally renovated and give you the luxury needed for a 3* hotel.

After this short visit to Krabi, we will be transfered to Phuket where our holiday will end after 3 nights in the Nap Patong hotel 4*.

From Phuket we'll fly by Thai Airways via Bangkok to Brussels airport.

 We will leave around noon from Brussels Airport by Thai Airways in economy class.
This flight will take about 11 hours, So we're foreseen to land on Sunday morning at 6.30 am.