The Travelling Mushroom: Thailand

Chatuchak Weekend Market

We were lucky that we still stay in Bangkok on Saturday and Sunday.
Because in Saturday and Sunday there is a traditional market and only open during weekend.
Based on the information that I got, this weekend market is the biggest in the world ! Which visited by 200,000 visitors every weekend and is called as the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

This market is very famous for its street food and also famous for its cheap prices. You could find merchatns who sell outfits in a quite cheap price. I really recommend you to buy your shopping list right here. But do not forget to bargain, because sometimes there are some merchants who sells some stuffs more expensive to get higher profit. You might could bargain about 20-40% cheaper from the price they offer you. But it does not always applicable.Sometimes they won't give you the stuff if you ask too low price as there are some merchants who had sells stuffs with thin profit.

Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of few traditional markets in Thailand which is still surviving. I really recommend you to visit this market because we won't know when this kind of market will be disappear as the time goes by. As nowadays people and tourists are not too interested with the traditional markets. This thing make the merchants also leaving traditional market and moving to the mall and modern market because they could increase their earnings in the mall. In another word, this market is a worthy place to be visited.

By the way, if you got a chance to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market, you should try Thai tea as it's tastes wonderful. You won't get that taste in your hometown. I had tried Thai tea in Thailand and I definitely gonna drink it again in another opportunity. So, this is some photos that I took in Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

Do and Don't in Thailand

I went to Thailand last Christmas. I visited many interesting places. Several of these interesting places are also known as temple. I realized that many of you gonna feel bored and doesn't feel interested with those places. But, for me temple is one of my best places to capture great moments.

When I went to Wat Pho temple I met a monk around the temple.He was moving around and around the temple. I took his picture because the monks have a strong relation with Thailand because majority of the Thai people are Buddhist. I can feel the atmosphere and recall my memories in Thailand by observing this photo. From this picture I felt that I wanna know more about Thai Traditions as we are in the same continent and Thailand is one of few countries that still hold their traditions firmly. So this is some tips that gonna be very useful when you are in Thailand.

1. Do dress appropriately and conservatively.

When you are visiting Thailand and planning to visit some temples. You should wearing conservative dress, a footwear that has a strap so that it isn't known as slippers.

2. Do step around People

If anyone is sitting on the floor. Do not step over him or even step over him. Instead, walk around. Because it is rude to step over people

3. Treat a book respectful

Thai people believe that books are a place where people could get education. Therefore, they believe that book should be treat respectful

Thailand Monk, Bangkok, Thailand

1. Don't do or even say something that disrespectful their king.

Thai people love their king. There is king's photos everywhere along the street. You could be arrested if you do or even say something that disrespectful and also to the royal family.

2. Do not point your feet to anyone.

For Thai people, feet are looked as an unclean part of human body. So, showing your "unclean" body part gonna be so rude for them. I suggest you do not do that during your holiday in Thailand.

3. Take off your shoes before come into the temple or someone's house.

This thing is happening in many countries in Asian continent. Indonesian people also do this due value politeness.

4. It will be better if you don't shake someone's hand.

Not all Thai people accustomed with this western customs. Thai people are used to put both of their palm together like in prayer.

5. Do not touch someone's head

For Thai people, their head is a sacred part of their body. Only the monk are allowed to touch their forehead to bless them. I didn't suggest you to this unless you have asked the person's permission before touching their head.

The Reclining Buddha

Firstly, we went to Wat Pho Temple to see the famous reclining Buddha. There was a little change on our itinerary because our driver predicted that the Royal Palace that should be our first destination in Thailand gonna be full of bus and of course a bunch of tourists around the world. This is one of the the advantages of having a local tour in your destination.

Before we enter the Wat Pho temple, of course we should buy a ticket first. You should pay 100 bath for the ticket. But as a return you could exchange your ticket after you went inside with a bottle of mineral water. You don't have to pay again for the mineral water. As an information, this temple is open at 8 AM and close at 5 PM in the afternoon.

It was quite crowded when I came there. Many people including us was busy to open our shoes and sandals because based on the temple rules that we should took of our footwear. Instead, they also gave us a bag to put our shoes in it so that we didn't have to brought our shoes with our hand that gonna quite annoying for some tourists.

So, what is so special about this temple ?
As I stated before this place is famous for its reclining Buddha. The figure is located inside a building and when you come inside you gonna found a 15 meters tall, 46 meters long Buddha and covered by gold leaf!

The Reclining Buddha between the Pillars, Bangkok, Thailand

Tips :

When you are going to this temple, I suggest you to wear an inappropriate outfit to respect the Buddhist and also it has become of of several rules before you entering the temples. If the officer/ employee find you wearing an inappropriate outfit such as short pants, sleeveless shirt and others they gonna ask you to rent a piece of cloth that you should pay to enter the temples. Moreover, I really recommend you to wear sandals when you are visiting Thailand because you must took off your shoes in many places, and I know that it is quite troublesome when you have to open your shoes frequently. I also gonna tell you some places where you should take off your shoes so that you gonna realize that slippers are really fit the tourists when going abroad to Thailand.

The Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand

Rating :

Fair

I rated fair for this destination as this destination has a huge area but they haven't be developed. This attraction just focusing on the reclining Buddha and become quite boring when you are going around. I hope they gonna developed the other area of this attraction.

First Day, First Impression

After four hours flight, finally we arrived at Bangkok,Thailand. Our flight was delayed for an hour and it really made me extremely bored that I should waited in the airport. I really eager to fly that day as it is Christmas holiday dudes, time to relax and time to travelling. Hahaha

We arrived at Don Mueang (DMK) around 9.30 PM and our guide has waited right on the meeting point that we have approved before. As an information that Don Mueang airport is one of two airports in Bangkok,Thailand. Don Mueng airport also considered as the one of several oldest airport that still operating till today.

"First impression gonna be very awkward". That was the only sentence that I said to my mom right before we went out from the airport building and met our guide. I was very touched when I saw her waiting for us while the airport has deserted as our flight was delayed till late night. We introduced each other and went in to a mini bus. Tadaaa, so this mini bus gonna took us went around Thailand for five days. Our guide also introduced our driver too. She told us that he was a professional driver that she usually work with. His name is El, as I am younger than him, I called him Phi El. Phi is use for calling someone that older than you in Thailand. This is Asia culture, we should respect the older people by a certain call. Every country has a different call. Right before I went home I really realized that what she told us on the first day isn't a mere illusion. But indeed, they are really professional. I really appreciate it.

From the airport to our hotel it took around half an hour. We took mandarin hotel as our choice because they have a great reputation. We haven't eat anything within the flight so that we asked her to bring us to a restaurant so that we could have our supper. Then, she brought us to a restaurant near our hotel. This is the first impression that I got from Thailand, they have thousands of delicious food! As we got inside, we directly ordered our meals. This restaurant sells everything that related with duck. The dish gonna be on our video in Thailand as I felt that this meal should be in our video as it is delicious.

After we filled our tummy with duck we went to our hotel to take a rest. As in Thailand, Mandarin hotel isn't as famous as in Singapore I want to show you the room, they have a clean and comfortable rooms. We enjoy to stay in this hotel. Not like what was happening in Pattaya. The hotel in Pattaya is really different with this hotel. But I am gonna tell you what happened to us in Pattaya in the next post. Happy Travelling !

Mandarin Hotel Room, Bangkok, Thailand

By the way, this post wasn't created for promotions. We just felt satisfied with this hotel service and want to share with you guys. Travelshroom didn't earn any money at all from this post. Thankyou

Thailand Trip Introduction

Sorry guys!
I just back from my latest trip.
I went to Thailand during my Christmas holiday. I went there for 5 days and 4 nights. We had a great time right there.

On our trip to Thailand we went to Bangkok and Pattaya which is famous in Thailand. We went to Thailand by a budget airline which is quite famous nowadays. We are lucky that we got a ticket with a fair price for high season period as we bought our ticket close near our departure date and it really against my tips. Actually there is a chance that you get cheap ticket near the departure date. But the chance is really small. So I didn't recommend you to buy ticket as I did because luck doesn't always come in the right time.

For the tour, I chose a local tour which provided us Indonesian speaking guide so that the information will be conveyed properly. I found that we could get cheaper price when you are taking local tour in your destination. The tour that we chose engaged in Indonesia and China market. Personally, I really felt very satisfied with this tour service especially their guide and driver which had serviced us well. In my opinion, our tour guide worked sincerely and being a guide has been her hobby. Even though we isn't traveled in a long period, our family has braid good relationship with her as she is very friendly. We hanged out together, and having a great time together for five days long. Secondly, our driver drove very properly. When we were delivered to some certain places such as gem factory that should be delivered by another driver, I found that our driver have a better driving skills and attitude. We felt very thankful to have both guide and driver as good as you guys that had brought us to several wonderful places and treat us so that we could have a pleasant time in Thailand. We are sorry if there some words that had hurt your feelings. Some of them are jokes and maybe some of them were came out from our mouth accidentally. I hope the bad memory could vanish and the lovely memories gonna still and stay forever.

Actually, we were really sad that we should go home after five days in Thailand as we could met one of our friends. This post is dedicated to our tour guide as our complimentary. We hope that we gonna meet her again in another opportunity. I really recommend her tour service and if anybody need to contact her you could ask me her contact details.

Travelshroom having a Great time in Thailand

Regard,
Travelshroom and family

By the way, Travelshroom and family also wanna say HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 for everyone. New year means new day. New day means new challanges. New challanges means the more mature we are. May God bless us all. Jesus Bless You!