Malaysia, Truly Asia

Although my trip was re-routed to Singapore, I did not miss the chance to take an adventure: to explore Kuala Lumpur at midnight.

I landed the Kuala Lumupr's Low Cost Terminal (LCCT) in such a breeze. After a quick walk from the plane to being held in Immigration for a while, I went towards the transport terminals and saw a chain of restaurants. "Old Town" Coffee shop caught my attention which brews one of my favorite coffee in Asia.

I immediately headed to money changer after leaving the baggage checks counters.  As I moved towards the Arrival hall, there were taxi booths  available in the premises. I just needed to cite my destination for the fare quotation and coupon was released after my payment. Striding towards Arrival hall and Parking bay next to Coffee Bean, I hailed for the taxi cab at RM150 rate. It is cheaper to ride metered taxis during the day vs. late night where rates are increased by almost half.

The taxi driver was friendly. (Should I say extremely friendly and personal? ) He toured me around the city  till dawn. He was my official photographer yet I gave him a failing mark. I was able to capture the beauty of Malaysia by wandering randomly, sight-seeing and people watching. I had a whirlwind glance  of images of skyscrapers, palm trees, motorcycles and temples.

Finally, the driver took me to Petronas Towers with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the symbol of Kuala Lumpur was hiding its majestic light. I only saw a version of the sleeping giant towers. I believe they are even more fascinating and overwhelming in the afternoon or  in the dusk where gleaming repetition of  curves and lines shimmer from afar.

Eat Pray Love in Bangkok ( A Guide for Solo Traveler)

    I never knew I would be riding solo in Bangkok.  Thanks to my gutsy and persistent heart, I was able to experience Bangkok to its finest even without company of my best friends. I knew it would be carefree and easy as I was able to familiarize myself with this City of Angels during my visit last 2010.

The Airport

    Boarding the plane at 9:00 P.M. on August 25 and arriving in Bangkok before midnight made me stay in the airport until sunrise for safety reasons. From there, I took advantage of the free time to get acquainted with Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK (pronounced as “su-wan-na-poom” which means “Golden Land”) .  It was an opportunity to explore the airport and search for  Foreign Exchange Booths, Shuttle Bus pick-up points, restaurants and Public Taxi terminal.  There are 7-11 and Family Mart convenience stores in airport where one can avail affordable snacks and goods. Moreover, I also needed to purchase a local network SIM card in Thailand to keep me connected throught out my stay. TRUE MOVE SIM costs around 349 Baht including 300 worth of call credit. IDD calls charge at around 1 Baht/min; Such a reasonably priced item for solo travel or long term stay.

                After a short power nap and snacks, I decided to take the taxi to Bangkok Loft Inn without availing the hotel’s free shuttle ride. To ride a cab, you just need to follow "Public Taxi" signs that direct to 1st floor of the outside airport grounds, which is one floor lower than the Arrivals, line up and state your desired destination at the service desk. One way metered trip to Tak Sin costs 440 Baht. This is way more expensive than the destination of Baiyoke Sky’s taxi which charges around 180 Baht. You also have to pay 45 Baht for Express Way and 25 Baht Toll plus 50 Baht Taxi Surcharge. It takes about an hour to Bangkok Loft Inn depending on the traffic situation.

The Bangkok Loft Inn

            This four-story boutique hotel offers their guests luxurious, cozy and elegant ambiance. Their contemporary styled rooms and amenities definitely give a graceful and comfortable stay which is also highlighted by their friendly and hospitable staff. A stone’s throw away from the Wongwian Yai BTS Skytrain, their location is convenient to all areas of the city without hailing a cab. Overall, I gave this Bangkok Loft Inn Boutique Hotel 8 out of 10 Stars.

City Tour

            I decided to reward myself a private tour courtesy of Tong who specializes in custom tours to explore the beauty and history of Thailand on a personal height. Thanks to Jerry, my personal tour guide, I was up to enjoy the sights tailored to my preference. It was definitely like having a good friend in Thailand. I never felt alienated, and I was truly blending in.

            The Tour began in  Vimanmek Mansion, hyped as the biggest golden teakwood house in the world located near Dusit in an attempt to blend in Thai and European architecture and style. This Teak Mansion was constructed in 1900 by His Majesty King Rama V as a royal palace for five years. Renovated and rebuilt, Vimanmek Mansion is now used as a museum to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his portraits, personal creativity and handicrafts, and to serve as an exhibit of Thai national rich legacy, history and heritage. This is open from 9:30 A.M.  to 4:00 P.M. with an entrance fee of 100Baht. However, photography is not allowed. Moreover, guests are required to keep all belongings in a locker with a fee of 20 Baht per locker and shoes must be removed upon entry. Visitors should also be accompanied by tour guide to explore the palace as no one is allowed to wander on his own. Proper attire must also be observed (at least knee-length). Although there are  available  sarongs guests can borrow that requires a refundable deposit of 300 Baht.  With Jerry’s tale of history of the Mansion and King Rama V, it was enlightening to realize that Thai people have deep devotion for their Kings and Queens.

       Passing by the Democracy Monument and Giant Swing, we headed towards Wat Pho which is famous for the beautiful golden Buddha that gauges around 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height with feet wrapped up with mother-of-pearl.  Walking around the complex leads to a part of the compound where the “Traditional Medicine and Massage School” is located. Scriptures of the Thai Massage were written on the walls and icons of different Thai massage were sculptured as invigorating and therapeutic massage to relieve stress and improve blood circulation. Access to Wat Pho charges you at  50 Baht, open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and requires guests to take off their shoes inside the temple. Other attractions are Bangkok Chedis, Cambodian Style Chedis, Sitting Buddhas from Chiangmai, Wiharn and the Ubosot.

 Since Wat Pho is across Chao Phraya River, we grabbed the chance to watch and observe the rehearsal of Royal Kathin Barge Procession on 22^nd of October 2011 in Bangkok, which makes the royal barges of Thailand the last of their form in the world. This also stopped operations on crossing the river at that moment. Thus, we were also glancing at Wat Arun’s beauty from the banks of Chao Phraya River. The spectacular view of Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) is perfect during sunset. Crossing the river with a 15 Baht- ferry and visitor's fee for foreigners is 50 Baht, guests can climb the steep stairs up to the upper terrace where the main tower measures 79 meters high with all four prangs meticulously designed with small pieces of ceramic from China. From the terrace, visitors can catch a glimpse of the an impressive view of Bangkok transverse the river with highlights of the Grand palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and  Wat Pho.

        

      

From the Market near Wat Pho, I had the chance to eat one of Thai amazing dishes: Pad Thai. Jerry said the best one can also be found in the streets. For only 50 Baht, I had one sumptuous Seafood Pad Thai. 

The owner asked me: "Masarap?" Definitely with thumbs up, I told everybody it was indeed scrumptious. Forgetting the allergies, I finished my spicy Pad Thai meal with a dash of smile.

Then we headed to The Peninsula Bangkok and catch our ferry to Saphan Taksin BTS Station. The trip reminded me of the Lunch cruise with Chao Phraya Princess and the luxurious hotels by the river that touted Bangkok as the Venice of the East.

From Saphan Taksin, Jerry taught me the BTS 101, fares ranges from 20-40 Baht. I requested him to take me to The Emporium and Benjasiri Park. To his wonder, he took me to The Emporium which is home for signature shopping and has direct access to Phrom Phong BTS Station. This shopping center was already been outshined by Siam Paragon and Central World. I asked Jerry to look for the bird sanctuary in the Benjasiri Park but to my surprise I only saw musical fountain and Thais performing yoga in their fly. Next time, I might grab an ice cream and bag of fusty bread to feed fish in the lake for a relaxing late afternoon.

           

Going back to Wongwian Yai Station at past 6 P.M. surpassing rush hour traffic, Jerry and I ended the City tour with distinctive stories and lovely photographs.