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.