Our trip to Bangkok (part 3)

Part 3

Before I start we initially took over about 1500baht each and the rest in AUD which we changed into Baht at the Money Exchanges which are just about everywhere. We did rceive a very good exchange rate. For those of you intending to stay at the SGS they have a marvellous walkway attached to the lobby which takes you to Skytrain (which I hear is terrific鈥?.) the walkway also takes you across the other side of Sukhumvit Road to where The Westin Hotel is also, Robinsons Department Store, Money Exchange a bottle shop and supermarket all of this takes about 1 minute of walking. Just terrific.

Tuesday Night

Caught a taxi back to the SGS and went for a swim in their absolutely stunning pool. It is a pool that is surrounded by dense foliage with twisting and turning directions with little waterfalls and water jets sprouting out of nowhere. That lovely dark blue tile look which makes you feel like you are really in a topical oasis. There is a reasonabley sized spa a large open cabana type of set up where they serve drinks etc and for us there was an abundance of lounges (22nd Nov) We had a drink or two then went upstairs to change for our cocktail hour (we were told semi formal etc) so that is what I packed taking up quite a bit of room in the suitcases, we were going to have this (complimentary) cocktail time each evening for 5 nights. Now whilst we were dressed up like fools, everyone else was in shorts and sandals etc. (oh well) the next 2 hours were comp. for drinks and canap茅s whilst the drinks were forthcoming in a period of an hour the canap茅s consisted of a slice of salami on a toothpick and a cube of cheese with a tomato either side. Naturally disappointing in regards to what we were led to believe would be involved.

So after an hour the plan was to have dinner that night at the La Sala venue which is outdoor dining by the pool (just like a scene from the Bold and Beautiful, well we were dressed for it) It was an all you can eat seafood buffet with a very good array of uncooked and cooked seafoods. We used our Sheraton card and it worked out to about $26aud each. We both had the bugs and prawns and sea bass which they barbequed for us and had some salad. We didn鈥檛 eat too much because there were so many days ahead of us for eating.

With our meal behind us we went to change for our trip to the Suam Lum night market just a short distance away from the SGS.

At first I thought he had dropped us off somewhere else but this night market is really a section of streets and shops with street front vendors very big and very good. There is a section in the middle (really huge) where there are all table and chairs with a stage of sorts. Where it was very busy, extremely hot but lots of fun. I did read where you should wear sensible type shoes because of the uneven path ways etc (and yes they are) but I navigated in thongs (flip flops.....hello Maz1)) and sandals quite efficiently and I believe it would have been too hot for runners. All the shops were pretty much selling the same things except in different locations around the market, I bought an Omega ladies watch and paid about 300baht I hope it lasts about a year (you get what you pay for) designer bags once again varied from 200baht (LV etc) to Chloe bags which were wrapped in plastic and obviously a lot more. I did notice that a lot of the LV type bags were the correct colour etc but without the LV on the bags believe it or not I did not pick up on this but my boyfriend did. Purses you can buy everywhere for about 100-200baht, T shirts once again for about

100-200 baht as the evening or day winds down you can get things cheaper still because there packing up. There are bargains to be had all over the place.

We had been here about half an hour or so when I started to feel really sick so I found the toilets right next to the stage (thank goodness for the decibels), it was then, that my past Bangkok memory kicked back in鈥︹€?.hole in the floor toilets鈥︹€︹€︹€?what鈥檚 a girl supposed to do鈥︹€︹€︹€︹€?.plus no toilet paper鈥︹€︹€︹€he next words that come to mind is a scene from鈥? the exorcist鈥?.plus I must have resembled from behind a giraffe drinking from a waterhole鈥︹€?this was not a photo that I wanted. Throughout the evening this scene was repeated a couple more times and when I knew that I was not going to feel better, we only just made it back to the SGS. My boyfriend then took over from me and this problem was with us for all of Wednesday as well. Very disappointing.

Management sent a bouquet of flowers and comp. our seafood poolside dinner. But that didn鈥檛 alter the fact that instead of wondering the streets of Bangkok we were utilizing the 5 star facilities up close and personal, not what I or anyone had waited a year for.

Thursday arrived and we were pumped up with Imodium and nauseously waiting for Tong for our day tour at 6.30 in the Lobby.. What a delightful person she is. Cheerful, humorous speaks English very well and a joy to spend time with. She is a walking encyclopaedia about Thailand and its customs what a wonderful choice we had made. She took us to the porcelain factory, woodcarving factory both of which were very interesting she was very mindful and considerate of our condition. She had an abundance of cold face washers cold water etc for our comfort. We then went to the Floating Markets where she had a car park and a boat reserved for her at all times very handy indeed. This was as you would imagine cruising through the waterways looking at how people also on their boats sell their produce basically a market on water. It is very interesting, great photos to b had and if you have not been before then a must for th first timers. We had previously organised for Tong to take us to a good Thai Restaurant on our way back to Bangkok for lunch (would you believe) I had a soup broth which was actually just what the Dr. ordered and everything went well. We then went onto do the Palace, Temple etc albeit very quickly I still must say that a wonderful day was had by all (even though I slept on the way back to Bangkok, something I never do in a vehicl, I felt very rude actually) Im so pleased that I didn鈥檛 cancel the Tour. What we saw was enough to satisfy our curiosity we were back at the hotel by about 4pm. It was still a relaxing day. This tour in total with all expenses cost about 4500baht. Tomorrow Friday we are going to go to Chinatown.

Our trip to Bangkok (part 3)

Hi Chezepops,

It%26#39;s been wonderful to read all of your trip reports so far. We arrived back in Australia on 2 Nov and I still haven%26#39;t gotten around to posting a trip report yet. However reading your reports is only helping me to re-live my memories. I loved Bangkok and everything about it and wish I could%26#39;ve seen more when we were there. And also wish I had%26#39;ve been a little bit wiser to the price of things, but this is what you learn first time around. We too enjoyed every single moment with Tong, she truly is a wonderful lady, so easy to get along with and worth every penny. I%26#39;m dreaming of the day when I can return and still can%26#39;t stop myself from visiting this site nearly every day just to feel as though I am still planning my trip even though it%26#39;s well and truly over. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Our trip to Bangkok (part 3)

Great reading, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. I%26#39;m no Doc, but I%26#39;d venture to say the salad got you. I had a friend that had the same thing happen - when asked what he ate, he said ';all I had was salad!!!'; - not good.

This would make sense , but my boyfriend did not have the salad

that was the only variation betwen our meals....oh well..

hey chez-

thank you so much for taking the time to write these great reports- really really enjoying them but sorry to hear about the upset stomachs- (even though I giggled when I first started reading your report, til I realized, in reality it%26#39;s not so funny - i remember the same thing happening to me on my first visit to BKK many years ago- now, I am so careful of what and where I eat- which leads to my next question-

do you seriously think it happened at the SGS? if so, that is more than a little scary!

don%26#39;t feel bad about sleeping on the way back from the day with tong- we did exactly the same - so if we all did, surely everyone does? :--))) -

laughed about the thongs- i couldn%26#39;t even continue wearing mine cause even though I covered my feel with bandaids, they rubbed every part of my fee that could be rubbed (must be the heat)

Don%26#39;t forget to visit the food hall at MBK 5th floor- (if you%26#39;re up to eating again) it%26#39;s excellent

I didn%26#39;t get to see Chinatown, so am really looking forward to hearing what you think about it.

How many more days are you there? doesn%26#39;t the time fly too quickly! -

righto- just read your report 2 again and see you%26#39;ve already been to MBK food hall so disregard my comment about- i%26#39;m an idiot! :-(

Hi Maz1

The thing is that were back, I guess I have been referring to everything in the present tense, but the thing is I am reliving each day as it happened. These reports take such a long time to do that I have been doing them over a couple of days but referring to them in the days that they happened. Apologise for misleading.

My thongs were clear plastic over the foot and very supple maybe this is why they didnt irritate me (on my foot)

We left on Monday the 20th and came back Monday 27th . Actually I have done them on spell check because as you hav prob. noticed in the past my keyboard drops its e%26#39;s. Should have brought one over there.

Yes definately at the SGS without a doubt...sad but true.....but thes things happen....its just really dissapointing about the timing.

I will give my description about China town tomorrow. However we were only there for about an hour. But I remember it well.

What is the SGS ?

That stands for the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel on Sukhumvit Road.

hi again chez- thought it was a long trip- was going to check out all your old posts today to see what you mentioned about your leave-date so you%26#39;ve saved me a job.

Talking about Sheraton and starwood- did you book through the site? I am a member too but always find it is so much cheaper to book on asiahotels.com so, sometimes I make my booking just to be on the safe side, but then cancel it and go with the cheaper option. When I was looking at the SGS I happened to see how many new resorts they have opening all over thailand and the one in Cha-Am looks amazing and very well priced too- it%26#39;s very tempting.

maybe next year :). The other thing I wanted to ask you - you mentioned using the starwood card for dining options (at least I think I read that somewhere) how does that work? I%26#39;ve never used it for that. and talking about dining options - I just cannot get over that - what a shocker.

Must also add, not in Sheraton, but when I was in vietnam we opted for the club room with the evening coctails and canapes (or whatever) and it was useless there too (in a very good hotel) -

It would be very interesting to know which hotels have a good spread - I personally would never book club level again cause anyway we%26#39;re not big drinkers so it%26#39;s a real waste.

Hi Maz1

With the Sheraton dining card which you get when you purchase your package from Sheraton all Meals in participating hotels automatically give you 50% off the dining and this last for a period of one year. We use the dining card at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast all the time it applies to breakfast, lunch and dinner also when w wnt to Fiji last year and also at the SGS in Bangkok, although we only used it twice here........

I did originally book direct with the Sheraton Starwood (international) for the SGS the accomm for 6 nights, breakfast, club priv. etc were only going to cost 600aud each this to me was a bargin. However the airfares would have had to have been paid for within a month. After having just returned (back then) from 2 weeks in Fiji we didnt have that kind of extra on us so did it through Creative Tours (oz) and didnt have to pay till Oct. (that was the diff.) but if it had of been different would definately have used the 50% accomm. off through Sheraton Starwood (same thing). Im certainly not a drinker but I dont mind the odd Canapes.

My sister went to Bangkok for her Holiday and stayed at the Sofitel, Club Priv. etc. and she said that there Canapes were terrific so much so that they didnt have dinner a couple of nights.