What and where to eat in Bangkok

Bangkok has successfully became a magnet for the foodies from around the world. This food paradise and the collection of  their authentic Thailand food is always make me drooling. From the street snack and drinks to their super delicious food. Okay...forget your diet for a while, let's drooling together hehehehe...

As I mention before on another post, about where to stay in Bangkok. I choose to stay at Baiyoke Boutique Hotel at Pratunam Market area. So when I get out from the hotel, the smell of any kind of Thailand food is already waiting for me.

1. Grilled Pork 
  
So, we're walking at Pratunam area oustide the hotel and try to find Thai dishes for dinner. But this sweet and great smell of the charcoal grilled pork has make me stop and of course I have to try this!It's so sweet and tender.

2. Tom Yum Goong 

I believe that every small or big restaurant in Thailand has this Tom Yum Goong on their menu. We don't know which one to try at this Pratunam area, so we try this small Thai food restaurant that quite full of people. Ah...clear tom yum goong so refreshing. Their herbs make it tasteful. I don't think that I can find clear tom yum in Indonesia, usually they are red colored.

3. Super cute Ice cream

Mango flavored

Ok, this one is not really Thai's but who could resist of this super cute desert! Quite expensive but yah I try this for the sake of their cuteness. hahaha... :p I found this food truck on the way to Paladium Shopping Mall from Baiyoke Boutique Hotel

4. Pork / Chicken porridge

Last night we were satisfied with our food hunting. Today we will begin to continue it again, we consider not to book our hotel with breakfast included because so many interesting Bangkok local food is waiting outside our door.

Like this porridge stall, there are a lot of street stall who sell breakfast early in the morning. It seems that a lot of local people order for take away before they go to work. This porridge stall have some limited seat to eat there in the alleyway beside them. They have a lot of customer. I don't know if you will trust me, because I always say that they tasted good .... but I will tell you once more, this porridge is also delicious! Hahaha...

Note that their English is not good, but you can always point your finger to whatever you want in your porridge. 

4. Pomegranate Juice
This pomegranate juice stall is everywhere in Bangkok. In this hot weather, this one is so tempting and refreshing. Make sure you see the seller squeeze the fruits.

5. Thai Fish Cake

Thai fish cake @chatuchak market

6. Fresh Fruits 

7. Thai Milk Tea

@Chatuchak Market

8. Chocolate Ville

This AMAZING place don't even feel like in Thailand. I feel more like I'm in Europe. This place was so colorful and I think more people come here to take a picture. This place a little bit out of town. We got here by taxi. Not every taxi driver knew this place, and I don't see Thailand's people in this place. 

But don't worry here's a map how to get to Chocolate Ville park. 

Chocolateville map

In the peak and holiday season, it's better to book your table on https://www.facebook.com/chocolateville. 

Chocolate Ville opening hours: 16:00 - midnight.

Chocolate Ville entrance ticket : FREE ( you only need to pay if you order your food)

Happy eating for you foodies and have a great time in Bangkok ;)

Bangkok Travel Guide - Erawan Shrine

It must be my lucky day! There were a big sale promo from Singapore Airlines, so I am going to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand. Yeay...!

So, these time I am going with my parents and our main agenda is going to Erawan Shrine or also known as 4 Faces Budha.  This shrine houses a small statue of Phra Phrom (Brahma).  it maybe a little weird because actually it's dedicated to Hindu's God,but the relation of this 2 religion is close to each other, so there might be some integration.

The Four Faces Budha / Erawan Shrine

The area is crowded with worshipers day and night and always wafting with incense smoke. It is also common to see people bowing as they pass by bus, taxi or above by skytrain. Many believer from around the world believe that if they pray here at Erawan Shrine, they will be blessed and their prayer will come true. 

The shrine is located by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Pathum Wan district. It is near the Bangkok Skytrain's Chitlom Station.

The area has many shopping malls nearby, including Gaysorn, Central World and Amarin Plaza.

How to get there: You can take the BTS to Chit Lom Station and follow the sign " Erawan Bangkok" or "Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok"

Erawan Shrine opening hours: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m

How to pray at Erawan Shrine :
1. Buy a set of incense, candle and flower
A lot of stall outside the shrine but maybe it's cheaper inside the shrine. It's 25 Bath for the small set. 




2. Start to pray 
Normally we pray clockwise starting from the front, which is the side that's facing to the entrance. 
Every side of the Buddha represents different elements :

Front view: Business and Wealth
Left hand side: Wisdom
Back view: Health
Right hand side: Relationship and interpersonal

Light the candle, pray with the incense and then put the flower at the fence in every side of Budha

3. If you want to donate more for your wish, there are also a dancer in this shrine that will dance and sing while you pray. You need to buy a ticket for 2/4/6/8 dancer, and wait for your turn to pray. 

Where to stay in Bangkok

If you looking for a good price hotel with a shopping heaven right in front of your hotel, uncountable food stall and restaurant, many convenience store and a shopping mall

Here are your answer : Baiyoke Boutique Hotel 

 

I found this 3-star hotel at Agoda and when I already stay there, I found that it is really a good deal. This old hotel maybe old. but it's clean. Their staff speak good English. And the location : SUPER!

You will not get any trouble finding this hotel because it's right behind Baiyoke Sky Hotel / Baiyoke Sky Tower II , the tallest building in Thailand who also have a 360-degree revolving roof deck on the 84th floor and fine dining restaurant.

The airport-rail link to Suvarnabhumi International Airport is accessible via the Rajprarop station, which sit about 150 meters away and can be reached by the hotel’s shuttle bus. The shuttle also transports guests to the Chatuchak Weekend Market and to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The hotel is convenient for those looking to explore the largest fashion square in downtown Bangkok Pratunam Market, as well as the shopping and entertainment centers of Central World, Gaysorn Plaza, and the Peninsula. 

Pratunam Market in front of the Hotel

Pratunam Market is already open at around 5 a.m. Oh my...can't open my eyes, but I have to see it. And when I go out at 6 a.m. it's already full of people. Most of them sell with wholesale system.

Near this hotel I also found a quite unique and very creative market at Paladium DIY market in front of Paladium Mall. It's open at around 6 p.m. For you who love the art and DIY things, it's a MUST! It's crowded and full of people until almost midnight. 

Put name and accessories for your passport cover, notebook, key chain,etc   

Handmade key chain with your name

Enjoy your stay in Bangkok, and Happy shopping!! Cuteness overload!

Amazing Thailand 2 - Bangkok

Part 1 : Phuket

I'am so lucky to experience the new Bangkok International airport yang baru diresmikan berjalan hari ini pada pkl 20.00, dan Suvarnabhumi Airport ini bener2 designnya modern punya deh!

Aku di sambut hujan deras, setelah diberi informasi oleh orang2 yang sengaja di siapkan untuk membantu pengunjung (karena baru dan besarnya airport ini), maka aku tahu bahwa untuk mencapai public transport kita harus naik free shuttle bus menuju stationnya sejauh 20 menit. Lalu sesuai dengan petunjuk aku naik bus 551 yang seharusnya berhenti di Victory Monument, namun setelah hampir 2 jam perjalanan menuju tengah kota, bus itu malah menepi di halte di jalan yang cukup gelap dan sepi untuk ukuran tengah kota. Seorang backpacker lain dari Swedia ikut turun bersama ku, alhasil kami bingung karena menurut pendengaran kami pak kondektur bilang kami harus ganti bus nomor 70 tapi ternyata yang dimaksud adalah 17 yang pengucapannya dalam bahasa Inggris adalah mirip.

Teman perjalanan ku turun di Siam Square daerah pusat perbelanjaan di Bangkok. Aku masih harus ganti bus no 15 untuk menuju daerah Kaosan Road daerah pusatnya backpacker berkumpul. Gerimis menyertai ketibaan ku di sana, dengan perut kosong dan lumayan kedinginan aku langsung menuju Kaosan Palace Hotel yang kudapat infonya melalui net. Hum... saking lamanya sampe lupa harganya..... kalo nga salah about THB 500. Hotel ini tidak mewah malah sangat susah mau dikatakan hotel, tapi memang kamarnya banyak.

Day 5
Kaosan Road, juga dikenal sebagai surganya backpacker. Kalau mau membayangkan persis dah sama Legian-nya Bali. Jalan ini tidak dibuka untuk kendaraan di sore hari. Yang ada disana hanyalah lautan manusia yang menikmati suasana hidup di sepanjang jalan itu. Di kiri kanan jalan penuh dengan bar-bar dan cafe, moneychanger, toko segala macam souvenir, foot massage, bookstore, cd bajakan, dannnnn makanan.......

Pagi ini cerah, aku putuskan untuk berkeliling ke temple2 yang sangat terkenal keberadaannya di Bangkok. Sebelum membuat kaki ku bekerja keras hari ini aku menanyakan beberapa informasi ke resepsionis. Dan yang sangat di tekankan olehnya ... (yg jg telah di peringatkan oleh seorang ibu2 penjual kelapa bakar di Phuket) " DON'T TRUST THAI MAN"

Dengan menggunakan tuk2 yang menawarkan THB 10 untuk keliling 4 temple aku akhirnya mencoba kendaraan khas Thailand itu. Satu lagi yang harus diwaspadai di Bangkok ini "JANGAN BERURUSAN DENGAN JEWELRY JIKA ANDA BUKAN AHLI" peringatan ini bahkan ada di box Tourist Information Centre. Ini dikarenakan banyak sekali penipuan berhubungan dengan perhiasan di kota besar ini apalagi terhadap single women traveller.

Find the Tourist Information Center to find the right information. Don't trust a thai man you find somewhere on the street. If you really need to ask, ask many people. And this message from the Information Center booth : DON'T TRUST IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU : TODAY IS A HOLIDAY AND PALACE AND MANY TOURIST ATTRACTION IS CLOSED UNTIL NOON. They will lead you to many other place (where they'll got a commission if you buy something there)

So, aku keliling berbagai tempat yang di kenal sebagai icon Bangkok sampe kaki ku lecet. Tapi asik juga sih...hehe....matahari masih mau menyertai perjalananku. Ada Golden Temple yang merupakan kuil tertinggi di Bangkok, sehingga kita bisa liat pemandangan kota Bangkok dari atapnya. Lalu ada Wat Po, sebuah kuil tertua di Bangkok yang dulunya merupakan pusat belajar raja2 Thailand. Di dalam kuil ini ada patung Budha Tidur yang sangat terkenal berwarna kuning emas hehe ..pokonya panjang banget.

Oh iya ada peringatan lain buat temen2.Dalam perjalanan pulang ada taman besar banget dengan merpati memenuhi jalanan. Karena menarik aku berhenti sebentar menonton kumpulan besar merpati itu jalan2 di trotoar yang ramai dengan penjual es, orang duduk2 di kursi taman, dsb. Tak lama datang seorang cowok Thai yang lumayan lusuh menawarkan sebungkus kecil biji2an jagung ama beras mungkin buat kasih makan merpati2 itu. Aku bilang tidak dan mulai melanjutkan perjalanan, dia masih mengikutiku dan memaksa memberikan sampe jatuh2 segala tuh biji2an. Alhasil dia minta duit untuk jagung2 itu. Dengan nada marah aku bilang NO! sambil trus berjalan.

Malam hari aku habiskan waktu menikmati Kaosan Road, keinginan hati sih mau lihat daerah Siam Square yang terkenal tapi gerimis mengurungkan niatku. Aku mencicipi Pad Thai (semacam kwetiau) dan sekali lagi aku jatuh cinta pada makanan Thai dengan acar cabe yagn gede2 n enak ini. Hummm .. lalu aku pesan minibus untuk ke airport di travel agent di Kaosan Road. Harga yg ditawarkan macam2 tapi harga termurah yagn aku dapat adalah THB 120 dari Kaosan ke Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Day 6
Dimulailah lagi kencanku dengan Airasia. Jam 4 pagi aku sudah bangun karena aku dijemput jam 5. Setelah menanti hampir 2 jam di airport akhirnya gate check-in penerbangan Bangkok - Malaysia dibuka, segera setelah check-in bagasi (walaupun kecil tapi uda nga kuat bawa :p) aku bayar international airport tax sebesar THB 500. Airport ini bener2 keren deh dalamnya, keren abis dah! Di pesawat kembali aku punya temen baru, anak Bangkok namanya Amy, penerbangan kali ini nga terlalu terasa lama karena kami banyak ngobrol tentang berbagai hal.
Sesampai di KLLCC (airport khusus AirAsia) aku melanjutkan perjalanan ke Surabaya, nah ini deh udah penyakit yang namanya penumpang dari Malaysia ke Indo yang rata2 orang Indo ini nga tau yang namanya "antri" aduhhh uda gate check-in penerbangan jurusan ini slalu kayak pasar, main serobot! Jadi harus balapan di sini yang nga punya malu slalu lebih menang.

Sukur akhirnya sore hari aku menginjak Surabaya dengan selamat.