wanhengkei: Free & Easy Holidays in Thailand - 2006 (Bangkok. Ayutthaya & Nakhon Pathom)

Photograph of Free Standing Statue of Buddha at Buddhamonthon, Nakhon Pathom

Thanks to Air Asia - Now everyone can fly. We the Wan Family were regulars flyers on Air Asia and we made two trips to Thailand in 2006, i.e. 18th - 21st August 2006 and again on 18th - 22nd November 2006. In addition we also flew to other places like, Guangdong (via Macau), etc. Our two trips to Thailand were at bargained prices, the 1st trip was at RM 9.99/sector and the 2nd trip was the courtesy of Air Asia's free of charge tickets. These prices exclude airport taxes, administation fees and fuel surcharges, etc.

1st Trip - 18th - 21st August 2006

On our 1st trip, we flew to Bangkok via Don Muang Airport. On arrival, we walked across the road and took the train to Hualamphong Station. Unbelieveable, the Thai Railway has one of the cheapest fares in the world; the trip only cost Baht 10/person or RM 1.00. On arrival, we took a 10 minutes walk to our hotel- The New Empire Hotel, Yaowarat Road (The Chinatown of Bangkok). We stayed here for 3 nights, firstly the convenience of public bus and railway transportation, also its location at nearby Chinatown where all types of delicious food were found here. The temple of the Golden Buddha or Wat Tramit was only 2 minutes walk away. We travelled by cheap stage buses to places like Chauchak Weekend market - the largest outdoor market in the world, the latest shopping complex in Bangkok like Mahboonkrong, Siam Paragon. Bangkok - the paradise for shoppers especially my younger and elder sisters.

We took the river taxi and also chartered a long boat crusing the Chao Phraya River and visited a number of places like Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, the canals, the floating market, the Royal Barge Museum. As some places on the Thonburi side of Bangkok were below river level at high tide, the long tail boat had to wait at some of the lock gates in the canals to pass through. These lock gates were used to prevent flooding on the low-lying villages.

On the 2nd day, we walked to Hualamphong and took the morning train to Ayutthaya - the ancient capital city of Thailand. Ayutthaya was located about 76 kilometres north of Bangkok. The train journey took about 2 1/2 hours but the fare was only Baht 20/person. On arrival at the train station, we walked across the road and took a river boat (Baht 3/person) to the city on the other side of the river.

As there were five of us, we booked a tuktuk which could accomodate all of us. The total fare was Baht 600.00 for 4 hours. We visited the tourist attractions there, e.g. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthata Historical Park, The Grand Palace in Ayutthaya, the old city wall and gate, Wat Lokkayasutha, Sleeping Buddha Wat, Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Wat Mahathat. We ended our tour around Ayutthaya just before 2.00pm and thereafter, we had a fast lunch at unusual low prices.

Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya - The face of Buddha with a tree growing around it

After lunch we took a songthaew from Ayutthaya as we intended to tour Bang Pa-in Palace which was located 18 kilometres south. It has a history dating back to the 17th century. The palace was revived by King Rama IV of Chakri Dynasty and today, the present palace is being used by the present King Bumibol & Queen Sirikit as a residence as well as holding receptions and banquets.

The songthaew we boarded went around the entire Ayutthaya district picking and dropping passengers here and there. By the time it reached Bang Pa-in Palace (the last stop), it was almost closing time @ 4.00pm. So, we just spend our time outside taking photographs and walked around.

The songthaew was infact a truck converted into a public bus. It was operated by a driver in front who had no access to the passengers at the back. It will stop anywhere to pick-up or drop passengers. When the bell rang, the passengers will get off, walked to driver and pay the fares. To reach our destination at Bang Pa-in (18 kilometres away), it took more than 1 1/2 hours as the songthaew in fact travelled more than 50 kilometres. The fare was Baht 20/person.

My younger sister, younger brother, sister-in-law and elder sister enjoyed with their photographs taken at the back of a Songthaew.

2nd Trip - 18th - 22nd November 2006.

This trip the plane landed at new Bangkok Airport, i.e. Suvarnabhumi Airport which was opened on 28 September 2006. On arrival, we took the free shuttle bus service to the transportation centre and then Public Bas No. 551 @ Baht 35/person to Victory Monument, Bangkok. From here, we boarded bus No. 29 @ Baht 7/person to Hualamphong Station and then walked across the road to our hotel, Bangkok Centre Hotel. At night, we were shopping at the chinatown.

The next day, we took the train to the neighbouring province of Nakhon Pathom lying about 56 kilometres away. The journey took about 1 1/2 hours and cost us Baht 15/person. On arrival, we walked to the nearby Phra Pathom Chedi. It has a history of more than 2000 years and it had one of the largest chedi in the world at 120.45 Metres and a length of 234.75 metres around the base.

After lunch, we walked to the nearby bus terminal as our next itinerary was Buddhamonton - a Buddhist religious centre opened on Vesak Day, 13 May 1957 to commemorate 2500 years of the existence of Lord Buddha. We boarded a local stage bus but since we could not speak the local Thai language, we showed the lady conductor a phamphlet of Buddhamonton. The kind lady conductor dropped us off at the nearest bus stop cum taxi stand; got down and spoke to the taxi driver, who then drove us to Buddhamonthon. The same taxi driver even waited for us for about 20 minutes for us to complete our tour. Not only that, he charged us a very reasonable fare.

We love to visit Thailand as Thais are very honest, helpful and extremely friendly to foreigners and tourists.

At Bangkok, we visited other places by water transport (river taxi) along the Chao Phraya river right up to the neighbouring province of Nonthaburi; by public buses and Metro Rail to the Erawan Shrine, shopping at various places like Suan Lum Night Market, Mahboonkrong, Yaowarat Road/chinatown and others. We had no problem in getting to the right places as we usually informed the bus conductor and he or she will tell the place to get down.

Since we were backpackers and light travellers, we enquired with a taxi driver who quoted us Baht 1000 for a trip from Bangkok Centre Hotel to the new Bangkok Airport. However, we took a very much cheaper alternative route by walking across the road to Hualamphong Station. From here, we boarded a train to Hua Takhe Station @ Baht 7/person. On arrival and right behind the train station, there was an air-conditioned bus waiting to transport us to the bus terminal @ Baht 15/person and then we boarded the f.o.c. shuttle bus to Suvarnabhumi Airport. For lunch, we had a various local food at the food court located at the ground floor. The food prices were very reasonable (especially in an International Airport) - the prices were quite comparable to those charged by a Kuala Lumpur coffee shop; which airport in the world can offer such prices !!!! only Thailand. We really enjoyed out stay in Thailand.