S7. Gigantic IKEA CHERAS

Calling  Calling!!!

That's what it felt like when I got the invitation through email and flyer.  But why it has to be on Thursday?  For other people I guess.

We gathered some helpers and head to IKEA early Saturday morning, yes the third day after it's opening.  As I rightly guess, a queue has been formed hours before the opening time, so we joined them.

Getting a gift for being their 'family'.

We started the IKEA tour by visiting the food court.  Being the first few in, we managed to get a nice seating but immediately after that, waiting for seats has been the norm, just like the other IKEA.  The food court is much bigger though, but still cannot accommodate all the enthusiastic shoppers. 

 

Some area are still not complete and work-in-progress can be seen here and there.

Strange enough, there seem to be enough space to move about obviously because of the size of this place. 

 All the pictures here is to show the vastness of the place. 

 

 

And right outside of the IKEA building, the IKANO complex is in the making and mannn it's so huge.  The pictures have to wait for now.  So finally IKEA is closer to home.

H12. Majestic Suite Hotel, Bangkok

Just about 100 meter, on the left of the road if traveling from Nana towards SIAM station, there is a nice hotel called Majestic Suite Hotel.  The location is not very easy to find even the taxi driver needs some time to be sure. 

I am not sure what to call the curtain material but it effectively avoid any possible light from entering when it is closed.

Located just a mere meter from the Sukhumvit road, and with the notorious Bangkok traffic, I was thinking the traffic noise could be unbearable.  But it wasn't to be, maybe because we were too tired after the long days.

We found out that the breakfast served with pleasant smile and the foods even though basic still feel so tasty, as normal Thai food would be.  No Tom Yam in the morning though, just western breakfast enough to keep you going.
 

This is really my favourite omelet.  I may come back for this.

With the location, ambient and everything in between, we give this hotel a

***1/2

T57. Closure on Bangkok

1.  Taxi  @  DongMuang  Airport

As we arrived at the DongMuang Airport, the first thing we wanted to find is the taxi stand.  Stepping down to ground floor just after immigration clearance, we saw a big signage saying TAXI SERVICE.  We wonder if that is the only taxi service available and strange enough there are not many people.  I just asked the taxi fare to Bangkok city around Nana station and I was shocked to hear 700 Baht.  He said that includes going around the city, which we had no intention to.  As it turn out, TOUR operators like to hide behind name like TAXI SERVICE and AIRPORT TAXI when actually they are tour operators charging exorbitant price for transportation to the city.  This is like a repetition of the HANOI venture.
Who saves the day again?  My wife went on and ask the Information counter and was told that the actual taxi stand is at GATE 8 where there are many people queuing up for taxi.  And the fare is just 300 Baht, just as I had figured much earlier.

2. Tuk tuk sometime, Not always train

As we are so used to city life with train as our second transportation means, we tend to forget how to ride a more down-to-earth people-friendly transportation such as tuk-tuk. This form of transportation is crucial for Bangkok is always associated with traffic jam, though not as bad nowadays due to the existence of mass-transit means.  But we never want to miss the opportunity to ride on one before this form gone forever.  And I bought a replica of the tuk-tuk as well.  The fares from Platinum fashion mall to Ratchatewi station for 15 minute ride is just 130 Baht, just like the fares for a 30 minute foot massage.  So you may want to walk to the nearest station which is not near and save the Baht for massage or you can just do both.  In our case, we had our massage the day before so this time we spent on the tuk-tuk.

3. Get the TAXI yourself

Taxi in Bangkok is considered pleasant and the driver is also well-mannered.  But as we need the taxi from our hotel rather early in the morning, we book the taxi through the hotel front counter.  Immediately the counter lady saw the dollar sign, or is it Baht sign and we had to pay about 200 Baht in extra.  My previous reading had indicated this matter but we feel its burdensome to get the taxi ourselves.  But if you want to save some money, just walk out after checking out from your hotel and get the taxi yourself, never ask from a third party to help.
As it turn out, because it was Sunday, we reached the airport in just 20 minutes, even the taxi driver seem too happy to acknowledge that is his new record.  Normally it takes one to one and a half hours to reach the airport.  It's his day indeed.

T56. Bangkok Part II

Chatuchak Weekend Market

As the name suggest, this weekend market is a must if you are in Bangkok.  Since I was staying around BTS's Nana Station, I conveniently took the train from Nana Station to Mo Chit Station.  If by MRT, the station to align would be Kampheng Phet station.
This time of the year Bangkok is always hot and humid so my wife decided to wear a mask.  I wonder if her intention was to filter the smell coming from the market.

Busted!!!

Price of goods is not really that cheap maybe the sellers want to give enough room for us to haggle, so haggle we did especially for buying shirts. General rule:  start asking for 60% from the written price for any goods.  I am not really good in haggling so I leave most of this sort of things to my wife.

My favourite rustic-looking plague

Halal foods also available

The famous clock tower.

The entrance into the market is relatively small but once inside, with the many twist and turn you might end up somewhere you are not familiar.  Luckily, there is a clock tower as a landmark and if anything happen such as lost or break away from your group, just regroup at the tower which is quite near to the exit.  With all the heat and stuffiness of an enclosed place, I got confused about direction, but my wife as usual steadily found the way out.  She always have no problem figuring out direction when shopping, be it open space market or complicated complex.

People gather for a damn cheap goods.

Platinum Fashion Mall & Tuk Tuk

Based on our reading, another not to be miss mall should be Platinum Fashion.  So we took the BTS on the opposite direction towards Chit Lom station.  Platinum Fashion should be walking distance. 

Out from Chit Lom station, there is a long stretch of walking alley on top of Ratchadamri Rd and on the left a huge shopping and high end living complex called Central World. 

We saw people gathered on some part of the walking bridge and certain part of the bridge and road were closed.  There were big number of police personnel at every corner that made me worried. 

Heavy security around shopping malls.

As it turned out, there was a reenactment of the bombing event that had happened recently around Erawan area and apparently the suspects were using this part of the city as a launching place.  That answers the question of heavy security condition and the many police personnel around this place.

  In the Platinum Fashion itself, we did find some interesting shirts with quite unique design which should be suitable for souvenir.  There is halal food stalls as well on the sixth floor.

The traffic back to jam-packed.

We couldn't imagine walking the same route back to Chit Lom Station so what's our choice?  Tuk Tuk of course.
Tuk Tuk is a three-wheel motorbike that used to be main transportation means in Bangkok but with the existence of city train its usage is less popular.  But I felt I need to ride this tuk tuk before this form of transportation unique to Thailand is forever gone.

Feel the Tuk Tuk ride [30s]

Terminal  21

 Taking BTS one station after Nana is Asok Station.  This is the centre of Sukhumvit district and Terminal 21 stands out among the many malls.  Why Terminal?  The concept of the mall is following an airport terminal, thus its name.  Each level is designated based on the airport of the city around the world such as London, Tokyo, LA etc.  Not surprising to find London bus and Sumo wrestlers in these levels.

Does it look like an airport?

She still thinks of Malaysia.

Samurai.

Spot the Sumo wrestlers.

London tube.

London red bus

I have no problem with this concept but knowing this is actually a shopping mall, the goods sold not really follow the concept of the floor.  I found a Chinese restaurant in the London floor.  How come?

So, what kind of 'shopping' do we ended up with in Bangkok.  Well not really till u drop shopping but it is more city touring or just a weekend in Bangkok.

Rare t-shirts, according to my wife.

Another rare items?