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Post by oldman on Nov 7, 2013 6:58:55 GMT 7
Was looking forward to a short trip to Bangkok this month but looks like I have to cancel this trip. Fortunately, I have a habit of buying travel insurance immediately after purchasing the air tickets which are usually non refundable. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all trips and the key is to buy these early. Ideally, immediately after buying your air ticket as this is usually one of the most costly items of a holiday. ----------------- The Thai Government has imposed the Internal Security Act in three districts of Bangkok - Dusit, Pom Prab, and Phra Nakorn - until 30 November 2013. During this period, a number of political demonstrations are expected to take place in central Bangkok. Protest areas may include Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Silom Road, Ratchaprasong intersection, Sam Sen train station, Lumphini Park, and Uruphong intersection. Singaporeans travelling to Bangkok during this period are advised to stay away from large crowds and demonstrations, monitor local news and developments, take all necessary precautions for personal safety, and purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance. In addition, Singaporeans are encouraged to eRegister with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ so that we may contact you should the need arise. Singaporeans who are in need of consular assistance while in Bangkok may contact our Embassy in Bangkok or the 24 hr MFA Duty Office at: Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Thailand 129 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 001-66-(2) 286-2111 or 001-66-(81) 844-3580 (24-hours) Fax: 001-66-(2) 287-2578 Email: singemb_bkk@sgmfa.gov.sg Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hours) Tel: 6379 8800, 6379 8855 Fax: 6476-7302 Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/consular_information/for_singapore_citizens/travel_notices/2013/201311/travelnotice_20131105.html |
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Post by oldman on Nov 12, 2013 11:11:54 GMT 7
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Post by oldman on Nov 13, 2013 14:11:36 GMT 7
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Post by oldman on Nov 18, 2013 5:25:50 GMT 7
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Post by oldman on Nov 24, 2013 6:17:40 GMT 7
Had a very pleasant flight to Bangkok flying SQ. Surprised that for this 2 hour flight, they even served lunch. The only downside is that I was watching a damn good movie called Wolverine which did not complete by the time we landed!
Got the 299 baht unlimited broadband card with 100 baht talk time. Lots of Thai companies selling the same type of card. Like a typical Singaporean, I joined the one with the longest queue as I thought that this must have the most reliable network!
Taxi to the hotel was surprising cheap and good. 300 baht to the hotel is around $12. This includes the toll charges of around 75 baht. As I always have a soft spot for good taxi drivers, I gave him a good tip.
We are in Bangkok as my son is competing in one of competitions here and we wanted to support him.
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Post by candy188 on Nov 24, 2013 22:16:59 GMT 7
Had a very pleasant flight to Bangkok flying SQ. Surprised that for this 2 hour flight, they even served lunch. The only downside is that I was watching a damn good movie called Wolverine which did not complete by the time we landed! Got the 299 baht unlimited broadband card with 100 baht talk time. Lots of Thai companies selling the same type of card. Like a typical Singaporean, I joined the one with the longest queue as I thought that this must have the most reliable network! Taxi to the hotel was surprising cheap and good. 300 baht to the hotel is around $12. This includes the toll charges of around 75 baht. As I always have a soft spot for good taxi drivers, I gave him a good tip. We are in Bangkok as my son is competing in one of competitions here and we wanted to support him.Hi oldman, thumb up for rendering morale support to your son. Today, we waited for 1 hour for the so called famous fried bee hoon at Pelangi non-aircon restaurant as there is a huge crowd, ended up only the bee hoon really meet the standard.  Other items (ostrich meat, fried vegetable, fried beancurd, pork, egg Teow Chew Yam) just so-so (average standard).  However, reasonable deal for bill of RM110, taking into account the small portions.  Interesting, the restaurant (more like coffeeshop to Singaporean) is called San Lou Seafood Restaurant 三楼海鲜园 (三楼 means 3 storeys but it is just only 1 storey high) lertraveldiary.blogspot.sg/2013/08/san-lou-seafood-restaurant-taman.html |
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Post by puregold on Nov 25, 2013 11:32:45 GMT 7
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Post by oldman on Nov 25, 2013 20:21:47 GMT 7
The main protest is on the west side of the city where the famous landmarks are. There was a one day gathering of the yellow shirts around the Central World area and we had to go through this crowd as they occupied the main road between Siam Paragon shopping centre and Central World shopping centre and we wanted to go to both malls today. Interesting experience. Peaceful demonstration. When we took a taxi back to our hotel, we were caught in the normal peak hour traffic not due to any demonstration. A normal journey would have taken 10 min but we were still sitting in the taxi for one hour. Nearer the hotel, we alighted from the taxi and walked to the hotel as this was very much faster! After you experience the traffic in Bangkok, you will appreciate Singapore traffic a lot more!  |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 25, 2013 20:49:44 GMT 7
Hi oldman, glad that you are sound and still chirpy. Thank you for the visual broadcast of the happening demonstration.   Overseas holiday trip enable Singaporeans to appreciate the efficient & safe nation that we are dwelling and taken for granted. Was paranoid over my kids safety during the JB trip... holding my girl's hand tightly all the time... refusing her request to enjoy herself at the playground next to restaurant. The red shirt protest is on the west side of the city where the famous landmarks are. There was a one day gathering of the yellow shirts around the Central World area and we had to go through this crowd as they occupied the main road between Siam Paragon shopping centre and Central World shopping centre and we wanted to go to both malls today. Interesting experience. Peaceful demonstration. When we took a taxi back to our hotel, we were caught in the normal peak hour traffic not due to any demonstration. A normal journey would have taken 10 min but we were still sitting in the taxi for one hour. Nearer the hotel, we alighted from the taxi and walked to the hotel as this was very much faster! After you experience the traffic in Bangkok, you will appreciate Singapore traffic a lot more! |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 25, 2013 21:09:24 GMT 7
Chaos & Natural disaster bring out the goodness of people, what I mean is the concern of others regardless of race, nationality or religion.   |
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Post by oldman on Nov 26, 2013 20:43:03 GMT 7
Was down at the Grand Palace this afternoon. When I tried to get a tut tut back to the hotel, the driver wanted to charge 100 baht which I thought was a great deal. 1 minute into the journey, the tut tut driver stopped his tut tut and then said that he has to make one stop and it will only be for 5 minutes. I declined and even offered him double the money but he still refused and we got out of his tut tut. Then, we tried to take taxis from the Grand Palace and all of them said the same thing. One stop. Finally, we found one taxi driver that is willing to take us directly to our hotel for 300 baht and he then talked about the way taxis and tut tuts work in Bangkok. Firstly, if you take a taxi or tut tut to any of the major shopping malls, the driver will be very willing to take you there as they can claim free petrol or diesel from the shopping mall. Something to the tune of 80 baht. Taxi drivers in Bangkok are famous for refusing to put on the meter and instead ask for a flat rate. However, if they were asked to go to the major malls like Siam Paragon, they will be OK to put on the meter because they know that they will be paid extra by the malls! Then, if they make one marketing stop for the passenger, they not only get free petrol but will also get a commission on the amount of money the passenger spent! Hence, they are incented to focus on getting such customers who are willing to make one marketing stop.... usually to a gem shop. Apparently, this is a very common practice in Thailand. Sure, this is a form of kick back but guess this is just how business is done here. So glad that we don't have to deal with such business practice in Singapore. |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 26, 2013 21:01:19 GMT 7
Hi oldman, Sound complicated just to take the tut tut and taxi.  Tut tut looks cool though.   Wonder what is the difference between taxi and tut tut?  Was down at the Grand Palace this afternoon. When I tried to get a tut tut back to the hotel, the driver wanted to charge 100 baht which I thought was a great deal. 1 minute into the journey, the tut tut driver stopped his tut tut and then said that he has to make one stop and it will only be for 5 minutes. I declined and even offered him double the money but he still refused and we got out of his tut tut. Then, we tried to take taxis from the Grand Palace and all of them said the same thing. One stop. Finally, we found one taxi driver that is willing to take us directly to our hotel for 300 baht and he then talked about the way taxis and tut tuts work in Bangkok. Firstly, if you take a taxi or tut tut to any of the major shopping malls, the driver will be very willing to take you there as they can claim free petrol or diesel from the shopping mall. Something to the tune of 80 baht. Taxi drivers in Bangkok are famous for refusing to put on the meter and instead ask for a flat rate. However, if they were asked to go to the major malls like Siam Paragon, they will be OK to put on the meter because they know that they will be paid extra by the malls! Then, if they make one marketing stop for the passenger,
==> they not only get Free Petrol
===> but will also get a Commission on the amount of money the passenger spent!
Hence, they are incented to focus on getting such customers who are willing to make one marketing stop.... usually to a gem shop.Apparently, this is a very common practice in Thailand. Sure, this is a form of kick back but guess this is just how business is done here. So glad that we don't have to deal with such business practice in Singapore. |
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Post by oldman on Nov 26, 2013 21:13:45 GMT 7
Tut tuts are rather "touristy" and usually cost more than taxis... even though the ride is not as good as the aircon comfort of a taxi. Taxis are cheap and generally, if the taxi driver put on the meter, it should not cost more than 100 baht anywhere in Bangkok. Usually, 50 baht takes you to your destination. 50 baht is just $2. As I really don't like the hassle of taking taxis or tut tuts, I rather take the skytrain. I have the stored value card called the Rabbit card and a trip usually cost just 20 baht. Best thing is that I can keep this card for my next visit to Bangkok. Hi oldman, Sound complicated just to take the tut tut and taxi. Tut tut looks cool though. Wonder what is the difference between taxi and tut tut? |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 26, 2013 21:23:52 GMT 7
Interesting facts to spot Singaporeans. Agree on point 1.  Waited for 1 hour to savour the famous fried bee hoon at Three-storey (San Lou) restaurant (brought there by the chartered driver) during the JB trip.  For me, I don't bother to queue for the recommended "hot" food. I "eat to live", food is basically to fill my stomach.  1. Culture? No thanks
Apparently Singaporeans are much more interested in where to eat and shop.
The wonders of the ancient world can wait if Prada is just down the road.
3. Wi-Fi is everything
We are uber-connected. Every aspect of the holiday must be logged, uploaded and shared as it happens. That means a hunt for Wi-Fi.
Why watch the waves or laze in the sun when you can find out what's on Facebook, or even worse, still check work e-mails?
 www.relax.com.sg/article/news/how-to-spot-a-sporean-abroad#sthash.ZADRs5Ec.dpuf |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 26, 2013 21:35:39 GMT 7
Hi oldman, appreciate the detailed explanation. Concur with your viewpoint that the skytrain is a better option so one is not subjected to uncivilised practice. 1) Tut tuts are rather "touristy" and usually cost more than taxis... even though the ride is not as good as the aircon comfort of a taxi. 2) Taxis are cheap and generally, if the taxi driver put on the meter, it should not cost more than 100 baht anywhere in Bangkok. Usually, 5 0 baht takes you to your destination. 50 baht is just $2.  3) As I really don't like the hassle of taking taxis or tut tuts, I rather take the skytrain.  I have the stored value card called the Rabbit card and a trip usually cost just 20 baht. Best thing is that I can keep this card for my next visit to Bangkok.
Hi oldman, Sound complicated just to take the tut tut and taxi. Tut tut looks cool though. Wonder what is the difference between taxi and tut tut? |
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