DAY 1 THAILAND (Pattaya)

We were excited as this was our first International trip after marriage. Our flight was @ 1:30am. So we decided to start from our place around 9:00pm(we need 1.5hrs to reach airport) we had booked a cab to drop us to airport.We came early from office,took shower and got ready.(Had finished packing previous day)Around 8:30pm my parents came to send off us,she had got chapati n curry. By the time we finished eating cab driver called us.We reached Blore airport by 10:15pm.

All set to fly Thailand...

We finished check-in formalities and waited for boarding time.(There was no much queue we were done by all formalities by 11:45pm).  We had to wait almost an hour to board the flight...

Sleepy..

Shot b4 boarding the flight.

Around 12:45am we boarded the flight, it was Bangkok Airways which is also called Asia's 'boutique airline'flight timings was pre-poned half hour early, as all passengers had arrived, and they took off around 1:00am....Seats are comfortable enough if not posh.(I have nothing to compare as this was my first International Flight, but Ramesh was saying its quite small and less posh compared to Lufthansa).We could manage to get only an hours sleep, as its only 3:35 hours journey from Bangalore to Bangkok...

Bangkok Airways...

We arrived Suvarna Bhumi Airport(Bangkok airport)  at 6:10am Local time(1.5hrs time difference).We finished our formalities and went in search of Bell Travels, which is located on Level 1, Gate No 8.(The Arrival Terminal is on Level 2 we need to  go down one floor to reach Bell travels). Bell travels offers an Air Bus from Bangkok to pattaya. (Charges 400 bahts for 2 of us) We reached Pattaya Bell office by 9:20am. From there we were transferred to mini bus based on the locality of our hotels.)

We reached hotel Riveria in Pattaya around 10:00am(I chose this, as its just 2kms to Coral Islands and Alcazar show).As soon we reached we saw a person holding print outs in hand saying its Suma Ramesh correct,(in broken english). I was happy, as our bookings were confirmed and there was a person to welcome.Later learnt he was one of agents from Sun Leisure world.Before we could check-in he started asking us to pay for package trips we had booked. I was not very sure of him, also there are no receipts for our payments. So i just decided to pay only for Alcazar show.. And paid 900bahts for Alcazar show. (Which was next day).(As other package sightseeings were in Bangkok). He insisted us to pay complete (4 packages) money, and made me  talk to someone over phone, i told them for now i would like to pay only for tommorrow's show, rest i will pay Only once we are in Bangkok.


Once we paid him, travel agent immediately vanished, and we had tough time communicating with this Hotel staff as they hardly understood/spoke English. Hotel staff showed us a room,  we were not very happy with room (It was very clean, but not posh/luxury as seen in photos). We asked him to show much superior room, he took us to 4th floor(No Elevator). We realized its same kind of room with only tiny water tub as difference.(That restroom is tooo small to have tub i would say). We decided to take the first room as it dint made sense to pay more, and climb 4 floors, just for extra tiny  tub. It was around 10:45am, when we finally checked in. We took shower and took rest for couple of hours.

Room we finally decided to stay...

Around 12:00pm. We  came  to reception to ask them, for getting us a cab to travel to our first destination "Truth of Sanctuary"(4kms from hotel). He told it would cost around 300B. By then other guest of the Hotel came by. He told us we can walk 2/3 mins to reach main road and hail a cab from there. We reached main road in 3mins and waited for cab. No Metered taxi turned up. (Only next day we learnt Metered taxi concept is only in Bangkok, In pattaya common means of transport is  tuk-tuk). We saw couple of people using tuk-tuk.( Similar to auto in India). We finally took a tuk-tuk and reached "Truth of sanctuary"  around 1:00pm...

Entrance of room we stayed

Entrance of Riveria resort.. (Ready to visit places)

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PREPARTIONS TO FLY THAILAND :)

We were planning on a International trip from Long time, it was postponed due to lot of constraints..Finally we decided a trip for our 3rd year wedding anniversary. We discussed about  couple of places and zeroed on Thailand. Once we decided the place, the next question was, to go with a package trip or go on our own, initially Ramesh said we will go with Tailor made trips from Travel Agents..I  checked few packages, but was not satisfied, as it was only for 3/4days and they had included very few places...I started checking forums & blogs on thailand trips, and spoke to couple of friends who had visited, and found its feasible to go on our own, as long as we have proper planning. And yes i was able to convince Ramesh on this.(We have completed several trips successfully, with my Custom Itinerary :).

I started with planning the Itinerary,for 5 days,and realized there is simply too many things to visit. I asked ramesh if we can we extend it to 8days, when he gave green signal, i did lot of research and shortlisted few places and came up with a final Itinerary.(http://www.sightseeingbangkok.com  to get an idea of places to visit and suggested time for each place). Once Itinerary was ready,i arranged on below things.


1. Book Air Tickets
2. Visa stamping
3. Transportation from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya Hotel and Vise versa
4. Hotel booking in Pattaya and Bangkok
5. Sight seeing Booking from Local travel Agents
6. Shopping and Money Exchange


Book Air Tickets:-

Once we were ready with Itinerary and decided it was 8 days, booked tickets through  Yatra.(http://www.yatra.com).(It cost'd 27K for To/Fro for both of us [We booked tickets for weekday, as its bit costly on week-end flights)

Visa stamping:-

There is On-Arrival Visa policy, initially we decided we will go there and get visa, but my first day plan involved traveling from Bangkok airport to Pattaya city. So i dint want to spend more time waiting for Visa, and loose first day in visa and traveling.

I started checking out for agents, who can get us Thailand visa, and came across this url http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/contactus.html.) This process needs visiting the office twice in week-days,we dint have time for this.

Finally got our visa stamped through Travel desk from my office.(It costed 6K for both of us). Below are the requirements for Visa.The applicant must have passport valid for six months beyond intended stay in Thailand;
   * One completed visa application form (Form 14, photocopy allowed);
      * Two recent passport-size photographs
      * Confirmed return/ onward air ticket;
      * Covering letter from the passenger
      * Hotel confirmation or invite letter
      * Forex endorsement for USD 500
      * Processing time is three working days.

Transport from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya Hotel and Vise versa:-

I checked for couple of means of transport from Bangkok Airport to Hotel in Pattaya, and found Bell Travels. Bell Travels is not only economic, but  door drop.(Drops you directly to your hotel.)(http://www.belltravelservice.com/)


Hotel booking in Pattaya and Bangkok:-

I shortlisted few hotels in Pattaya and Bangkok,and finalized discussing with Ramesh. [we decided by checking for  reviews/pics from Trip advisor and virtual tourist sites)].  Sent a mail to Hotels in Pattaya and Bangkok and got a confirmation, saying it is reserved and we can pay while check-in). Lot of sites like Agoda, Asia hub offer rooms at little discounted rates, but i chose to book directly from hotel.. I feel safe to pay directly..


Sight seeing Booking from Local travel Agents:

Most of the "sight seeing places" , we decided to go on our Own.. But  for one day trips from Bangkok,  decided to arrange through  "Thailand Local Travel Agent". So we had booked
two "one day trips and  2 shows tickets through "Sun Leisure World."(http://www.sightseeingbangkok.com/). (He had sent mail confirmation, saying we can pay on arrival).


Shopping and Money Exchange:-
Once Air tickets, Visa, Hotel Bookings were ready. We spent 2 week-ends in shopping. And for Money exchange, We wanted to carry Money in Dollars, as its very easy to convert there(also its less number of notes compared to our rupees).We located Thomas cook near by to our place, and exchanged Rupees to Dollars (Thomas cook charges 150rs for this Exchange, dont forget to carry pan card and ensure you get Forex endorsement attested on passport)


Check List:-

3 days prior to travel,i made a check-list of Documents i need to pack..
    1.   Photo Copy of  Passport
     2.  Photo Copy of  Marriage certificate
    3.   Photo Copy of  Pan Card
    4.   Bank Statements (need only for visa on arrival)
    5.   Air Tickets (2 copies)
    6.   Hotel Confirmations (2 copies)
    7.   Confirmation of other tour packages and Bell Bus
    8.   Guide Book (I had prepared a guide book )....

 
DAY 1 THAILAND (Pattaya) 

DAY 1 : Dest 1: SANCTUARY OF TRUTH (Pattaya) 

DAY 1: Dest 2 : MINI SIAM (Pattaya)

DAY 2 : Dest 1: CORAL ISLAND (Pattaya)

DAY  2: ALCAZAR SHOW (Pattaya)

DAY 3 : BANGKOK WATS TOUR

DAY 4:  SAFARI WORLD

DAY 5 - Dest 1: SIAM OCEAN WORLD

DAY 5 - Dest 2 : SIAM NIRAMIT SHOW

DAY 6 - ERAWAN MUSEUM

DAY 7 : AYUTTHAYA  

DAY 8 - ANCIENTY CITY OR MUANG BORAN 




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DAY 8 - ANCIENTY CITY OR MUANG BORAN (Bangkok)

Muang Boran (Ancient city)
296/1 Sukhumvit Road
Bangpoo, Samut Prakan 10280
Thailand Timings: 9am – 5pm


This was our last day in Bangkok,Thailand. Today we opted Ancient city, which is around 30kms from our hotel. As usual we took sky train from Saphan Taskin station (2mins to this station from hotel we stayed) to Bearing station. From there we took taxi to Ancient city. Localites doesnt know if you tell ancient city, so better tell them Muang Boran...

Entrance of Ancient siam/City OR Muang Boran

It was already 10;30am by time we reached Ancient city. We dint know about Battery operated car, and thought tram would stop in all places. But later learnt that tram operates only in fixed hours, and covers only few places. So we decided to use battery car..

Time table of Tram.

Multi seater tram, but we opted 2 seater for our ride

There are 4 options to go around Ancient city.

1. Drive in your own car/Rented car.

2. Use Ancient cities tram (but this covers only main places)

3. Use Ancient cities bicycle (not feasible in that hot sun).

4. Rent Battery car, and drive around yourself


Since this was last day, we dint exchange much Bahts, and ensured we have bahts for skytrain/Cab/Food and Entrance fees to Ancient city...I wanted to use Battery car and see more land marks which is not covered in tram. Ramesh immediately took taxi to nearest Atm to exchange dollars, but this took 30mins. Next tram was at 1;00pm. So we decided to take battery car for 2hrs and cover as much as possible and return back to tram for 1;00pm ride...

Thailand Bahts..

We rented a two seater battery car and went around, its a wide area and very easy to get lost, better to have  a map and  110 Destinations List..

Its impossible to cover all this, unless you have 1 full day

We just went in battery car and saw this land marks. There were simply so many things to see,  I just dont remember there names. So here's a photo of what all we see....

This is starting point of 110 land marks

Here is  Idol's of Buddha in different postures, Standing,Sitting,Lying down...

 

 

                                     


Here are some more  idols, depiciting various  stories from Indian and Buddhist Mythology..

 

By then it was  12;30pm, we  left the Battery car ( You can leave battery car in car stands, there are multiple stands in every 2kms..) We then went to  Floating market, Ram nam restaurant, this is where next Tram picks people to  Round around Ancient siam.. Floating market is the place where you have many restaurants, better to finish lunch here..

Floating market, where you can buy food and fruits

                                     

 

We had lunch in floating market and went to ram nam restaurant  for Tram...Tram stopped only in main places, below are the places we saw in the tram stops. We first stopped by Village side market..

Village side market

Wood is very good here, i bought some spatula's

We then stopped by different Model, palace of Thailand...Some palace are allowed, while some palace are private and not let to visitors...

Here are some model furnitures used by Thai royals..

 

                                      


Here are some more palace and royal buildings..

   

                                    

                                    

 

It was 3;30 by time we finished tram round and reached the entrance, we decided to go back to hotel. As we had flight to Bangalore in night...We took  Taxi till bearing station, and  From bearing took sky train to Saphan taskin station.. We reached room by 4;45pm...We had already  vacated room in morning, and kept our luggage in Reception..

Receptionist, offered we can use restroom near  Swimming pool, freshen up and then head to Airport. So nice of them, we immediately grabbed new dress from luggage, headed to pool.We decided to spend an hour in pool as we had lots of time for flight.. We spent an hour in pool, and took shower and around 6;00pm we were ready to say Good bye to Thailand..

Ramesh in pool, i took this snap and joined him:)

We took cab to reach Suvarnabhumi airport.. We finished check-in formalities and we had lots of time.. We went around airport and took this pictures..

All set to come back to Sweet home..

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