Semalam di Bangkok

Hi there again!

I’m back to Bangkok, my favorite city in the region.

this time I take my dad and kids with me. It’s (kiddos) first time.

this time around, we took airport link from Shuvarnabumi Airport, then MRT then BTS to commute.

after we arrived at our hotel, off we went to the newest mall, ICON SIAM, by the side

Of Chao Praya.

Just wonder, if Jakarta able to build such an iconic building at the side of Ciliwung/Pesanggrahan river.

Icon Siam

We had dinner at Sook Hiam. My mouth was watering. There’s a halal corner in this area.

For me it looks like Asiatique Front River minus the ferris wheel.

my intention was to eat whatever I saw! On third food, I realized I have limited Thai Baht. All I had was the money left from my last trip to Bangsaen last February.

Then i think, I’d draw money from

ATM, until I realized I left my purse at the hotel :((

So I skipped cruising Chao Praya with boat. Failed to do this on second time.

I squeezed time visit Siam Area again, to have pic with this

SIAM

A proof that Jakarta is sooo left behind.

Taking 10 pm train back to hotel, I found this train is still packed with people! From many nationality with their shopping bags.

Buat saya ya, tanda satu kota udah maju, banyak orang asing menggunakan transportasi umum! For me, we can call a city well-developed, when the foreigners comfortable enough to use its public transportation.

Till next post 😉

Ironman Bang Saen 70.3 Race Recap

Where was I?

Ah ya…

We woke up really early, get dressed and I couldn’t eat. Mami Vitri pushed me to eat at least banana and even made me a cup of instant cofee.

A shuttle bus (in a form of TukTuk) picked us up at 4.15. the hotel gave us a sandwich and mineral water for breakfast, I left it at my room….then decided to bring the sandwich. From Wheeler Bed and BIke , only took 5 mins, approx 2.5K, shortly we arrived at transition area.

And what is a race without drama?

That very moment I realized I left my bike shoes at the hotel! DAMN! I forgot what I did, seems I ran to the drop off point and realized it would do no good. The local said there would be another shuttle bus but I doubt. Friends told me to calm down and I tried, entered the transition area and prepared my stuff. Tried to call Alvin who was still in hotel, but he didnt hear. I  figured if I walked back and forth, it could take 1 hour or so, I still have spare time before the transition area close at 6.00 am.

I ran back to drop-off point, and fortunately the last shuttle bus (with Alvin in it) came. I asked for the driver’s mercy, with the help with locals, figured out my condition that I NEED to go back to hotel. The driver said yes, he dropped me off, I asked him “please wait for me for 10 minutes!” With a 20 Baht on his hand! 😀 It wasn’t bribing I hope.

I run frantically to my room and got it! FIUHHHH now I can smile! probably I couldn’t finish swim leg due to the choppy water, but at least I tried (to get the bike), didn’t I? As I re-entered the transisition area, I heard the MC said Fun Fact about this event. He said that in term of age group, the most participants come from Male 40-44! wooo, target market gw donk, mana mana aja nih yang available. *jahil* Udah tenang soalnya. 

Another drama, ban sepeda kurang angin. The was a local participant telling me I should get my wheel pumped.

Damn! I was looking for a pump with an adopter (related to type of the wheel). Agak susah nyarinya, ternyata ada team dari Indonesia yant bawa! Bagus deh, ngga usah ngoceh pake bahasa Inggris. That local guy helped me with my bike, he pumped the wheels. Kap Khun Kaaaaa! Probably excited that someone from overseas came for the sake of this event! He told me he haven’t done Bintan, yet. I assumed it wasn’t  his first time doing half IM, he knew where the events are held.

Fortunately, next to my bike was an empty space, seemed the 1307 cancelled her. There ,  I took Subh Pray.  Next to me (1305 and 1304) were also  Indonesian. I met Dini several time. She gave me dates for extra energy and I asked for her sunblock too. Lupa bawa booo.

I took a gel and small bottle with me, dropped my bag to BAG DROP station, and off to starting pen, I was in Pink Lane. The slowest swimmers, whose pace is 2:30 / 100m and slower. I met Evelyn, good! Had friends to chit chat, then later with Luwung, and Indonesian designer lives in Bali. We entered the waiting area.

The different between Bangsaen and Bintan, the waiting area provided bottled drinking water and plenty of them. Another thing, the EO didn’t allow us to swim after 6 am although race starts at 6.25 am.

Regrouped with another Indonesian (Including the man behind me). An oriental looking guy came and asked

“Kalian dari Indonesia ya?”

He is Jery (or Geri), an Indonesian living in Laos for several years. He has done that and this half Ironman across South East Asia and annually do Tri Race in Bang Saen. Actually, it was the first time for the 70.3 distance was held under Ironman organizer. Jery also told us a bit about the city, although it’s quite and small, it holds many sport events during a year and the pretty girl next to us is a Thai Model! @mymanow IG nya #penting

Biar wa ngga tegang, wa ngoceh aja terus! I took my gel and drink and another drink. Swimmers entered the water by 5 people, 5 seconds each .

Here’s my recap, it is going to be soooo long.

• The water was unfortunately still choppy. As predicted, being a slow swimmer I got kicked many time.  I saw many swimmers hanging on a rope.
• The course was form of an isosceles triangle, 700 m – 500 m – 700m. Berapa luas segitiganya? #krik
• I pushed hard against the water, otherwise it would take me nowhere like yesterday.
• I’m a right sided swimmer, I took breath better on right, besides the rope also on my right. Make sure I didn’t get too far from the course.
• But I remember I have to switch to left side too, breathing on right side , gives pressure on my right ears. After Bintan, my right ear isn’t normal anymore, it has low tolerance to water pressure that gives trouble during my drill.
• When I took breath from the left, it offered beautiful sunrise.
• Done first 700m, I took left turn with sooooooo many swimmers macam zara lagi sale. Hard to move and the ropes that kept the buoy float were disturbing as well. I reached ones and made them as stepping stone (rope)
• Even 3/4 of the course I still saw some swimmers hanging on the rope and marshal asked were they ok or not. Including the green cappers too. It was a hard sea. But a calm sea will not make a good sailor #apeuuu 🙂
• Each 100 meters marked by a buoy and abt 200 meters before the sea shore I saw my watch it was 50mins something. I still have 20 mins left before the Cut Off Time.

• I pushed even harder. Then I felt slightly cramped on my left calf. Oh no!  This is my very first sport, I love swimming my entire life, not completing this leg wasn’t an option. Not today! And I made it. Exactly 1 hr, 9 mins slower from Bintan 10 mins from COT.
• Alhamdulilah!!!! Untung tuh sepatu gw ambil tadi! I said to myself!
• Run to transition area, I took a fit bar and alike, a sip of water, and ready to go, yet put the bike back as I think I need Tri Vest on. Kurang kece foto gw nanti tanpa TriVest. Run out to transition area. It was sooooo big as it held 1500 participants. (Hope it also answers question, why no rental bike or alike in Tri event like this 😀 )

Bike LEG

• The most scariest leg for me as I had flat tyre on my last Tri Race at Bintan Triathlon.
• We already tested the bike route and Bang Saen famous for its flyovers. The least favorite about the route is there are sooo many speed traps. I saw cyclist lost its tumblers.
  

  That expression tho’

• I think I was doing fine on first flyover, another two I said to myself, as yesterday, my friends and I were discussing the route
• Cyclists were passing me and I looked at them and said “youu…swim slower than me?” #pongah  I silently asked them. Hahahhah kampret sombomg bener gw! When I tackled the flyover, I murmered  Yes, here come one, yes two!  One (flyover) to go, it was the longest flyover or….I thought it was. Wait whatt???? Masih ada flyover lagi???
• Then it took us in alternate road next to highway. Lurus aja jalannya macam orang mudik. Route was boring and dry.  Then we took left to villagers area. Around Km 20 was a water station I opted not to stop. Km 25 or something I saw the potential winner making his way back to the city.
• But I can say, I enjoyed the route, undulating, flat, sharp turn, a combination of flyover Bintaro, Kuningan, Gatsu and those beautiful small villages during TDA, Jogja. Chon Buri area is sooo quite, saw locals cheered us up Tapi ngga meriah aja. Emang Indonesia kebanyakan penduduk kali ya.  I think I was soo closed to God since I made pray and dzikir every other mimutes, jangan pecah ban lagi ya Rabb! Please no bike drama! I keep looking at my watch, 30K, 35K…if I took OD I would have finish this leg in less than 15 mins. Why I gave my OD Sungai LIat Triathlon bib up?  Although not hard core, I train regularly. Also the reason why I jumped up to Ironman Distance. See, mending mengutuk selama race  dibanding nyesel  ngga daftar kan apalagi Did Not Start? hahahhahaha!
• There were still speed traps along this course, sebagian saya tabrak, sebagian saya menghindar ke kiri yang ngga kena trap. 
• I could passed few cyclists and said “Excuse meeee. Bike on your right” when I wanted to pass them. I felt like I’m the coolest South East Asia female cyclist. nyiahahhahahaha #pongahlevel2
• Then I stoped my bike to get my tumbler filled with water. I had two bottles with me, plain water and Isotonic. I ran out plain water on Km 35’s I think. Continue my bike and tried to get isotonic drink from Marshal Hand without stopping my bike, and again, gw berasa keren bener!
• We made U-turn in Km 40’s something, saw few cyclists behind me on my way back.
  
• There was a scenic yet scary route on the way back, by the side of Ban Bhang Pra Reservoir. There was a bridge in front of  us and when  I looked up, I saw cyclists there! Eh gileee jekkkk, nanjak lagi maleeeh? This was the route and why the photographers exist on every tanjakan? muka saya ngga ada yang bener!

 

• I actually couldn’t recall what really happened. The area was quite on my way back (ya iyalaaah gw lelet, udah ngga ada peserta lagi) I kept riding, kept looking at my watch, 50 K, 55, 65 K and so on. I took both gels (that whas taped on my bike) within 10-20Km distance. There was banana provided but I didn’t stop. Things I regret later.   Also met another Indonesian, both using road bike instead of TT bike. salip salipan gitu deh, hahahhaha. Pas nyalip minta jalannya  pake bahasa Indonesia aja.  Later I knew, many of friends including Acha, Ika and BTR did tracking me. Worrying my whereabout, monitoring via Ironman Tracker app. Thx friends. *blowing kisses*
• Just around 10K back to race area, Evelyn passed me. I look my watch, it was almost 11.30 am, I had spare time before COT at 12. 00 pm.
• So, finished in 3 hr : 40 mins. With the headwind / side wind along the course (bikin berat boo) I think I was doing fine. Another wish was granted that day! Alhamdulilah!

Run Leg

• Back to transition area, I took another fit bar. Took my bib with me and drank plenty of water. 
  
• I was almost 12 pm when I started the run, under hot scorching sun! I did power walk as @ayu_soemardoko told me. But those evil hills laid on Bangsaen Seashore were devil!!! drained my energy to the lowest level. #lebay ⁣
• When I jsut started the run, I saw Vitri was making her last loops, she told me water station were good! plenty of food.
• It was a-3-loop-track, steep hills, and hills and hills again! Go check my Strava account for details. If you ran Bali Marathon, the similar hills like in Km 21, repeat 9 times!
• Vitri was right, there were sooooooo many food available, isotonic, cola, water melon, gels, banana even its ice cream and its traditional food made from sticky rice.
• I saw many army and there was a group of people, covering one lady. She was the princess,  the first grandchild from the late Rama IX.
• Since it was looping, saw many friends and they were motivating me. Sunu, Pak Idham, Bagus and the younger Bagus.
• around 3K before the end of the loop, they gave us rubber band in three color. Princess and her group took her second and I of course took the first rubber band.
• Done first loop,  mein Gott! another 14K. I never sign up for a race again EVER!!! EVER, ever! I cursed myself during this hot sunny day. I shouldn’t waste my money, I could just lying on my bed today. get manicure, pedicure, hair spa, full body massage. What a waste of 8 hrs ++ geee. 
• I can’t remember what I ate, I stoped in every water station, eat that banana, water melon, ice cube, cola, isotonic in random oder. I took sponge threw them repeat countless time,
• Near finishing the second loop – which also the check point Cut Off Time, the committe still allowed to go. I really wanted to give up, yet there was no appropriate “resting place” it’s either hot (34 degrees, thank you very much), many garbage (by Water Station ) smelly — yang namanya even kayak gini banyak yang pipis sembari jalan aja..so, imagine yes? 😀  and even …. monkeys 🐵 , ya dalah yaaaaa gw lanjutin aja dengan sisa sisa⁣ tenaga.
• But fortunately, I didn’t get cramp. I was doing oke. I was the last person who got the 3rd loop rubber band! The marshals were about to go back to race village. -__-    I knew I couldn’t make it. meh!

NOTE, that Briyani wasn’t for me!

• On my way to third check point, there was intersection. It was near my hotel, and there was no marshal anymore. I had to cross the streed muyself. they already open the road for public. double meh!
• Long story short, technically I managed to cross the finish line, but 9 mins after they close the gate.⁣
• The race director came to me and said he was sorry I didn’t make it and gave me a T shirt.
• Ingin kuberkata kasar “kata loee enjoyable course maliihhh!” cih! 
• I talked to him on Friday, as I explaiend to him I wear hijab I need long pants on swimming leg. In Bintan, I had to argue as the rules didn’t allow pants above the knee. Lupa gw kenapa aturannya.
• And muss ich sagen, thank you very much Mami Vitri, Bu Thya and Sunu  who had patiently waiting for me. The ladies got their Personal best Time on this devil course. 

• Came back to transition area, regrouped with Natali and Dini. None of us finished this race. hahahhahaha! Natali was only 2 mins too late! kejam kalian panitia! 
• I saw that local guy who pumped my wheel, he made it. when I told him I didn’t he said give it a try another year. “Or I’ll see you again in Bintan!” yeah right!  Unfortunately I can’t remember his name.I even forget his Bib though he was in front of me on transition area.

So why it didn’t work.

• My refueling is big homework, i suffered from bloating few days ahead. I was hungry during run leg yet keep drinking cola and isotonic.
• I barely practice long swimming.
• Of course, the  run as well.
• I should have my weight lost few kg as well.  Perhaps.
• yet, I break my own words, I’ll sign up for an endurance again. hahahahahhaha

My viem for this race

• Give it a try! It was a good race. Thailand is affordable for Indonesia, food are great! I regret I didn’t extend my stay in Bangkok.
• The finisherpix is FREE!!! Otherwise it took USD 100 or something!

SEE YOU ON THE NEXT RACE! 5K color run :)) :))

PS : re-read my Bintan Swim Leg recap, I lied.

bang saen, Thailand Trip

Last Friday, I flew to Thailand again! My 3rd (or fourth perhaps, I suddenly remembered a pic of me and my mom when I was 3/4) to this Negara Gajah Putih.

I planned this trip in mid 2018, when I wanted to shape my body again with a mission! Hahahahah. I decided to cross another long pending bucket list back to Triathlon Race in an Ironman 70.3 Format!

of courseee….with beloved friends from Bintaro Trojan Runners, who elssseeee?

Arrived at the airport, lapor bea cukai karena bawa sepeda, supaya ngga masalah pas pulang, then off we go….

We arrived at Shuvarnabhumi Airport around noon, it’s my first time entering this country via this airport. A bit chaostic but no blowing horn took place (riwereh banget, tapi ngga resek klakson klakson) .

Pak Bagus already arranged pick up serviced with a rented van that cost Baht 2000 one way.

PS : if i wrote down expenses, my purpose is to give the readers how much will it cost! Not brangging how much money I have and spent!

Bangsaen trip took approx 1hr from the airport. We stayed at the new Wheeler Bed an Bike Hotel. A bike theme hotel.

The exterior

It even has a bike holder in each room.

Shortly after we arrived at the hotel, we went to the venue with a shuttle services, Race Package pick up.

Since Ironman event had been on my bucket list for quite a while, seeing finally my name on Name of Athletes made me sooooooooo HAPPY!!!! Until I realize I signed with nama yang kebalik. Whatever! Lagi ngigo kayaknya! Hahaha

I always wanted to pose like this!! Like those triathelte whose account I followed on Instagram.

 

 

 

Also bought some merchandise, and else. Spent the rest of the day by leyeh leyeh. Nope, we build our bike. 😉

Saturday, 23rd Feb

After we had breakfast, Vitri, Iwe, Sunu, Alvin and I tested the bike route, we can also figure out wehter  our bike works well or not.

Gee, I feel like sooo damn keren, since Bisa sepedahan di luar negeri! Jiahahahhahaha. #bahagiaitureceh

Back to hotel, changed our clothes since we wanted to do swimming test.

I decided to use contact lens again since I do need sunglasses! Damn hot! I haven’t using ones since a year ago. I borrowed my sister sunnies, as I lost mine 😀

I never did open water training for this race, and Bang Saen’s wave is soooo….scary!

The water was very choppy, it was hard for me to move! I checked my Garmin. I swam for almost 1K with a very slow pace.

The current was so strong! I was dumbfounded, seems there’s no way I could swim 1900m (may be more) in 1 hour 10 min! I texted my sister, bisa selesai renang gw dah bahagia deh! Serem bener lautnya.

We had lunch near by and I think Thailand food is the most delicious food in the world after, of course, Indonesian Food!

Its pad thai was soo tasty! Lecker

 

The Name of the Restaurant

This city is quite. Macam Anyer kali ya, the city where Bangkok people came for weekend.

The Intersection for Running Leg

I wonder what people of Bang Saen do for Living. At 2 pm, I ride back to venue area alone. Others took nap.This is my first individual Half Ironman Race ( it was a relay when I did Bintan) also I took my bike to transition area and collected my timing chip.

with volunteers

I love seeing my names on screen 😉

Thai people have limited English, yet they eager to help. I took pose with the volunteer.

Race Briefing

I also did Transition Touring, so I can figure out where the swim/ bike/ run in and out. I highly suggest you guys do it, especially this is your virgin IM race.

I went back to hotel to take nap back to venue. We decided to Have dinner in Mall, although race organizer provide coupon for Carbo Loading. Biar ngga rugi rugi amat, gw ambil ice cream aja! Hahahahahahah

( oh yeaaah, anak kota besar harus banget nge cek mall lokal)

we took grab, and the driver was Thailand Muslimah. She greeted me

” Assalamualaikum” when I hopped into her car. She also has limitted English.

Back to hotel, finalizing our stuff again.

For this race, I took 2 gels taped on my bike (Thank you Ashar for the tips), left one in bike pouch, two fit bars to eat after swim and bike, electrolit water in a bidon, plain water in another bidon.I kept myself hidrated since D-2 (which was a bit late) both plain water and electrolit.

To be continued…

Bangkok Trip : mendadak reuni

Now I remember, why I slept early….I had to do my 1 hour 30 mins run in the next morning. 

Day 3

So, I did! And there was a 5 and 10K race that passed the hotel. I was amazed that the track wasn’t clear. I saw many of runners waiting for traffic light!

Bah! Sama-sama saja ternyata! Tujuan saya sih jelass. … run to Lumphnini Park, Central Park-nya Bangkok kali ya 🙂

Menurut peta sih, cuma 3 K  dari Hotel ke sana. So there I was.

Pas masuk parknya (buat yang nonton IG story saya) mungkin lihat ada race juga. Wih, dua racswe dalam satu weekend.

Senang deh dengan Lumphini Park ini, di pusat kota, tapi banyak pohon, bersih, bebas pedangang asongan. But no worry, there are some food/drink vendor. Sudah disiapkan tempatnya. oh ya, 1 loop = 2,5K.

Pas di satu spot, banyak runner meletakkan botol minumnya begitu aja. Di taman Mall BXC sudah diambil orang pasti.

Lumphini Park

Kelar lari saya lelah luar biasa, malas banget lari balik ke hotel, so I took BTS! Begitu sampai National Stadium Station, adik saya cari sarapan. Sudah deh jalan ke arah MBK Mall, ternyata masih banyak yang tutup.

Nah, di belakang MBK Mall ini, ada Universitas Chulalongkorn.

Dan dekat sini, ada Pusat Makanan Halal. The Halal Center of Chulalongkorn University. Girang bukan main…sebentar….ternyata semua restoran (masih) tutup!

Bah! Nyesal juga kemarin malam tidak begitu explore. So, take a note, there’s a The Halal Science Center  Universitas Chulalongkorn.10 mins walk from BTS National Stadium.

Ternyata juga, lagi ada race yang kaus, medali dan goodie bag-nya nuansa pink! Adik saya nyesal ngga cari tau. So, 3 races in a day! Next time I travelled abroad, pengen ikutan local race yaaa 5-10K aja deh. Buat lucu lucuan.

Lalu kami masuk komplek University-nya, nembus (of course) national Stadium. Lalu Lihat nama pemenang Asian Games tahun 1970-an. Ada beberapa Atlet Indonesia!

The Winners, saw Indonesian names

Dan dimana kita sarapan? Mc Donald samping hotel -___-

Lalu saya beli post card near-by (sudah pada tiba semua post-cardnya) then…check out pindah hotel.

hotel Bagus bintang 4, ada yang bayarin…hahahah. Girang banget, biasa hotel budget, ya bebss…

Slightly after check-in, we took BTS again to Terminal 21! Food Courtnya is a must visit menurut saya sih. Banyak benar variasi makanan (tapi yang halal dikit).  Dan jangan lupa, pesan Crispy Fried Oyster di Pier 21 Food Court ini! ENAKKK BETTT!

aya antri yang tidak serve pork aja, vegetarian. Pas saya pilih menu (display food-nya di lemari kaca), ada cowok bule belakang saya.

Him : What’s that are you ordering.

me : Actually, I’m not sure,  most likely Fried Tofu with Sweet Soy Sauce. But yeah trust me, I’m Asian. 

Him : *smiled* yeah, not rich! 

Kampret!

Fotonya buram, yang dimaksud makanan saya pojok kiri atas. Enak deh! Murah lagi ngga sampai Baht 100! Ukuran Food Court-mall ya.. Setelah itu, cabut lagi karena ke BTS agak pinggir kota demi….

Tempat cukup hits untuk kawula muda Bangkok, The Commons. 

Ya Allah tapi tempatnya jauh betttt dari BTS! Akik jalan 1,5 K boooo! Ngga Nemu Tuk tuk, tidak ada bus besar. Ternyata ada model kopaja gitu. Tapi tetap, berhentinya di tempat tertentu, ngga sembarangan berhenti. Oh ya dekat The Commons ini ada Mesjid. Saya numpang Sholat Ashar di situ. Dan rasanya parkir pinggir jalan di Bangkok bebas preman berbalut tukang parkir modal priwitan.

Lagi ngopi di sini, teman saya Haris, teman saya orang Malysia yang tinggal di KL (kita kenal waktu habis Berlin Marathon) kasih kabar kalau mau ke Bangkok juga.

Dia liat IG story saya. Katanya sampai jam 7-an, sampai city center jam 8 malam.

“wait for me, let’s have dinner together”

Ya begitulah kalo overshare jajajhahahhah.  Pas jalan balik ke BTS, back to City Center, lewatin jajaran ruko ruko yang menawarkan Thai Massage. Harganya sekitar 300 Baht. Duh, tergoda banget karena emang pegellll banget. Cuma kata adik saya,yakin ngga tempatnya bersih. Lagian karyawannya ya..gitulah,,,you know what this country famous for. 

Akhirnya cuma strolling around, lihat-lihat Mall Platinum yang macem ITC itu, terus di nunggu Haris di Central Mall. the biggest mall in Bangkok. Dan bagusnya BKK, BTS station and mall have been integrated. Jadi ngga naik turun tangga lagi. But at that time rasanya kaki saya mau copot…janjian sama si Pak Cik ini.

Beliau nongol jam 9 malam! Pengen gw selepet :)) TAU GITU GW BALIK HOTEL DULU MALEEHHH! 

so, between Jakarta (Tangsel) and Subang (Kuala Lumpur-dekat airportnya KLIA bukan Jawa Barat ), met in Berlin, we met in Bangkok again, coincidently! yah…akik anaknya emang internesyenellll – regional gitu dehhh! 

mendadak reuni!

Bangkok trip : bloody tourist

Day 2

Everytime I travelled to a city famous for its food, I refused to order breakfast at the hotel. I go where the local do. well ya…sort of 😀

We had breakfast near by the hotel, served  American Breakfast (Pancake, banana, capucino and orange juice), it cost Baht 120! (less than around IDR 60,000). Expensive, probably yes compare to nasi uduk or lontong sayur. But the place was nice. In Jakarta probably it would cost IDR 80,000, at least.

Well, anyway, our intention was to visit touristy spots, places that we visited decades ago.  We took Grab Car service to the Grand Palace. The driver was an old man, Chinesee-Thai and speaks English very well. Thing we barely met in Bangkok. We had chit chat, I told him we were re-visiting this city again…bla…bla…then he told us:

“Don’t be so nice to Chinese Tourists! They’re very rude! If they cut your line, go punch them!I hate them. They are very noisy”hahahahhaahha

These Chinese (mainland) Tourists had became issue, in some extent, however, we cant blame them, they have THE money.

I told Mr. Jed that we wanted to see Wat Po as well, then he said.

“You know, they’re 7 types of Buddhist which represent the day you’re born. The reclining Budha represents people who born in Tuesday, the laid-back ones!”

bet the old Buddhist weren’t Triathlete nor Runner! Otherwise, Monday will not be a rest day! 😀

Grand Palace opens at 8.30 am. It was cloudy at first then slightly rain. Entrance Fee Baht 500, free for Thai. Quite expensive compare to Indonesia Tourism Site, but…you pay for what you expected.

The Palace was very clean, public toilet like ones in shopping center and even free flow drinking water.  It is nice, considering Bangkok lies near equator as well. So, here we are again, reminiscing our trip when we were teen! A 17 yrs old me vs 27++ yrs old me. I didn’t change much, did I?

We were here on New Year Holiday in mid 90’s, so we roam around, not only admiring the beauty, but wonder were was our picture taken. I somehow can hear my late mom said to my dad “Pa, fotoin mama di sini donk sama anak-anak” 🙂 of course, having a self portrait is a privilege in rolled-film camera, wasn’t it?

Then we proceed to Wat Po by foot, it’s 1 KM apart, under one hot sunny day in Bangkok. Enterance Fee is Baht 100, the condition of the tourism site is as good as The Grand Palace, yes, including the toilet. (Saya tuh suka parno kalo ke toilet umum di Indonesia, WC di Keraton JOgja ajaa…ya gitu deh. Kompensasi Harga Tiket Masuk yang murah kali ya 😦  ) we wanted to hire a guide, but it was Saturday, cant find one.

then and now

We forgot the idea that we wanted to see Wat Arun! next visit then! we didn’t came here either years ago.

In Wat Po, ticket fee includes free a bottle of mineral water, the are is  clean, provide free drinking water, and even ATM inside the complex in case you want to buy sorvenir yet run out of cash! Now I understand, why Thailand is Amazing! hal hal kecil untuk memajukan parawisatanya benar benar diperhatikan! Saya sih tidak masalah bayar situs sejarah agak mahal tapi terawat! 

We took rest in restaurant near by, had of course the manggo sticky rice, cost Baht 80. Yummy! then we took public bus.

note: Sekali lagi, di sini saya merasakan ketinggalan Jakarta dalam menyediakan transportasi umum yang nyaman, untuk tourist sekalipun. Their public bus serves better service. 

we took bus to of courseee……The famous Chatuchak Market! the journey took 45mins.

Mango Sticky Rice

Bus Ticket

Welcome!

muslim food stall at Lot 12

Tips from Iqbal, get in from Lot 23. It offers better tenants. So we did what he told us. we were hungry, saw so many Indonesian moslem , I asked them where can I find HALAL FOOD and one of them said  LOT 12! Just ask any Indonesian you met where to find this or that! :)) Seems most of them know this place by heart with closed eyes.

I’m not a shopping person, I  fed up cleaning my parents old house and get rid of their stuffs that made me  hate shopping. It’s wants more than needs. I was puzzled, why (Indonesian) fly to Bangkok only for shopping. On my second day here, I understand! Ya emang pengen dibeli aja rasanya semua barang-barangnya! Murah-murah bet! lucu lucu banget! harus kosongin isi lemari kayaknya ke sini! 

In case you wonder, I came back  empty-handed. I didn’t come to Bangkok for shopping, yet I do find this place is interesting. Saw many buyers come with big luggages.  I bought a lot of snack, drinks, snack, drink, repeat! It’s heaven!

We took BTS back to Siam Area. Chatuchak, being new point of interest offers better rapid public transportation (there’s also MRT near by). Came back to hotel, I needed a rest. Although the night is young ,  I’m not! :))

Main Expenses

• Grab from Siam to The Grand Palace  around Baht 100-150
• Grand Palace Enterance Fee Baht 500, Wat Po baht 100
• Bus Fare from Wat Po to Chattucak Market Baht 18 (30?) lupa. Murah lah. Kalau naik Grab 100Baht++