Bangkok

It was a short trip.

Stayed in the Pathumwan Princess Hotel in Bangkok.

The hotel rooms are quite large, modern and well kept. Breakfast is a very good buffet. This hotel is located in central Bangkok and is attached to one of the largest shopping centres in BKK. All you need to do is walk through the lobby and you're there! Shopping was made easy & super convenient. We could  make  trips back to the room as our shopping intensity builds up & bags getting heavier and we could no longer carry them!

Hotel is also connected to the mono rail station at National and a short walk across the footbridge to the upmarket Siam shopping area. In bad weather there is everything you need to enjoy a day wondering around MBK or adjoining shopping malls and the mono rail attached to MBK means you can travel to various locations very easily.

We didnt have much time & since the traffic was really bad, we decided to visit only one place.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The Emerald Buddha is smaller than I thought but it’s amazing, I could feel it’s energy even though it’s pretty far up in the altar.  To try and describe the Emerald Buddha would be like trying to explain how chocolate  tastes... You need to  see this absolutely beautiful Emerald Buddha for yourself and hopefully you could feel it’s energy as well.

So, If you only have one day in Bangkok make it count, go to visit the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace. 

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Chiang Mai

Took a 4D3N trip to Chiangmai, Thailand sometime back

I'm pleasantly surprise at how clean the streets were. But due to the wheather (it has not been raining for a while) the streets were dusty. Stayed at the Imperial Maeping, not bad, though a little tired. Location was excellent, as it's walking distance to the Night Baazar.

The night Baazar is probably the main attraction. But you have to bargain alot. They have the latest movies, games in privated VCDs, but do not buy them as they are often faulty.

The conducted tours to the temples are not worth the money. Cos' the one temple worth going to is the one at the top of the hill. It's cool up there. The rest are very near each other in the city and quite typical. You can actually take a slow walk and visit each one with the help of a map.

 Do not waste your time visiting their 'home industries'. It's not well organized and they only want you to buy the stuff there, which is often dusty and expensive. You can get better/newer things and at lower prices at the Night Baazar. Do not be mislead by the tour guides. Mine actually told me that the things are more expensive in the night baazar!

The tuk tuks, a form of transport is quite useful. It's cheaper then the taxis, but again you have to bargain before you get on. If you stay in town, everything is close by, so it'll probably cost about 40 babt per trip. Dont have to pay more.

One hotel that's really nice is the Chedi, if you have the budget, please try it. Even if you dont, at least go and take a look, it's beautiful. Not a very large hotel, by the riverside, minimalistic design, it gives one a very tranquil feeling. It's near the baazar as well!

The wood carving, sculptures are really cheap and popular and would make great decorating pieces. Highly recommended, again dont forget to bargain.

Overall my stay was enjoyable. Will I come back? If I do, I'll stay at the Chedi next time!

http://diarywhiteningjab.blogspot.sg/