Short Stint in Bangkok

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Wed, 11th June 2008

Left KLIA and arrived at Suvarnabumi Airport at 9.00 am. Arrived in a taxi to the PROPAK exhibition hall in Bangkok. Along with our luggages, we browsed the packing machineries booths for 2.5 hours. After dinner at night, I joined a colleague wandering around BKK city i.e the street markets, Central World and Siam Paragon. What I enjoyed most was getting to feast on dukong for only RM1.50/kg. You'll know how cheap it was if you're a fruit fan like me.

This pallet stretch wrapper captured my attention. I had only known the circular stretch type wrapper until I witnessed this hood-type wrapper which was claimed to wrap 150 pallets/hr. I find my conversation with the exhibitor annoying and crappy. As a result, it's mute now. *LoL*





The grand Central World at night and busy traffic under this pedestrian bridge.

Thur, 12th June 2008

Went to our office at Navanakorn, approximately 1 hour by van from our stay at Langsuan Street. Day started and ended at regular office hours but basically more of snapping pics and info gathering for works back home. Dinner was nice sumptious Thai Cuisine under company’s expenses with some of the superiors. No wandering for the night, too full to move and thus discovering what the hotel has to offer i.e the pool, gym, pool and mags room. Then, headed back to room to enjoy the luxury serviced apartment I had all by myself.

Fri, 13th June 2008

After breakfast, we checked out and headed to the convention at a hotel. The convention was an annual event which the Thailand management organized to encourage its production team to contribute on cost saving ideas. Translation was made available through headphones for us simultaneously as the presentation was in progress. Though, I would say the translation did no good as there were even whispers behind. When it finally ended, I joined a colleague to our modest guesthouse at Saphan Kwai which we booked for the duration of our extension in BKK. Finding it wasn’t a breeze as we had to walk quite a distance and asked for direction. The map provided was not helpful. Checked in and yeah, life as travelers began here. This place typically accommodates young budget travelers/backpackers with basic amenities, bar, a common tv, reading room, social and internet room for use. All in all, we were satisfied to find it clean.

After checking in, we set off to discover the town. It’s a small town compared to BKK but only a station away from Mochit where the Chatuchak Weekend Market is. We surveyed the night street markets and tasted some of the street snack. I went for more dukong and crispy pancake while Aaron with porky snacks i.e grilled pig’s ear/tongue and crispy pig fat. I discovered that though we both like traveling, we do not concur on food. Then, headed to Big C(popular hypermart in Thailand) for so noodles. The street noodle stalls didn’t appeal to me. I was surprised to find there weren’t any tom yum noodles around but beef/ pork/duck soup ones.

As it was the EURO 2008 season, the travelers were staying up with beer while catching the match on the tube as we returned.

Sat, 14th June 2008

From the Saphan Kwai Skyway Station, we took the train to Victory Monument. Basically, we found out that the Monument stood right at a roundabout near the station. Next, headed to Phaya Thai to check out Panthip Plaza, the place equivalent to Malaysia’s Low Yat Plaza. I got my hp to PC’s USB/mini USB cord for only RM 5 instead of RM 25 here. Next, Silom for Lumphini Park, a place equivalent to Taman Tasik Perdana or Titiwangsa with lakes, exercise amenities, great sceneries and picnic sites before going moving on next to Saphan Taksin. Here at the pier, we took the express boat to Ta Tien Pier. Somehow, we shot past to the next pier and we took the opportunity to check out the Grand Palace. Then, crossing the river to Wat Arun, our desired destination.

Having tried the train, taxi and boat, we tried the bus at Ta Tien Pier to National Monument and walked shortly to Khao San Road, the so-called traveller’s street with lotsa backpacker’s inn, bars, street markets and convenience stores. Indeed, it was happening with foreigners around us.

Here, one can find various food, clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, street barbers, you name it. Phad Thai, the Thai style fried noodle was seen being prepared and sold here. I like it as it’s light/dry and not oily with lotsa nuts and dried condiments to nibble on. Without the additional chilli flakes, nuts and sweet sour sauce, I would say it’s quite bland. The noddle are the flat rice noodle mixed with some crispy fried one cooked to perfection with pork and lotsa beans sprout.

A trip to Thailand wouldn’t be perfect without a ride on the tuk tuk. Set a price before getting into it and firmly object on making in between stops at jewellery stores as they earn fuel coupons this way. Our stop at MBK (National Stadium Station)did not last long as it was nearing the closing hour, so we strolled the sky walkway before calling it a day.





Managed to fit in 3 tips of the Wat Arun.

Chao Phraya River from the top of Wat Arun.

A closer look at the structure.

Khao San Road on a Saturday evening.

Sun, 15th June 2008

Set off early in the morning to Chatuchak Weekend Market. It’s really damn big. Our last day was spent here alone before setting off to the airport. I managed to purchase a Deuter travel backpack for THB1000 though not the globetrotting largest. Somehow was happy with the purchase as one will never find one at this price back in M’sia. Though it’s an imitation made in Vietnam but the quality’s surprisingly good for 1/4 the price here.


All in all, my trip here was one not without language blunders.

So whenever

Stranger: Sawasdee… @#@$@$%$%

ME : Mai Khao Jai

Stranger normally repeated after me, smiled, mumbled herself, tried in Eng or body language, gave up

Me when I stopped by at a stall

ME : Tao Rai ?

Stranger: …..baht

ME : Lot noi dai mai?

Stanger : Mai dai.
Seeing me leaving for other stalls..

Stranger : OK ..baht OK? Want how much? Ow tao rai?
Sometimes, handing me his/her calculator.

and so the bargain continued...

Asking for directions

ME: Khao San Road yo ti nai?

Stranger gave a blank face.

ME: Khao San, KHAO SAN, KHAO san, khao SAN..(I tried in different pronounciations)

Stranger finally got it and repeated the right pronounciation.
He then gesture a straight line and right.

ME : Dtong bai, leo kwar. (I said to show off my Thai skill)

Stranger nodded eagerly: Dtong bai, leo kwar ..

ME : Krob khun kaa. ^Thanks^

Pre-Travelling is Tough

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Do you do exactly what I do before setting off travelling??

I've been scanning webpages after webpages on stays, things to do, transportations, tourist traps, directions, maps, rail routes, general tips on prices, so on and so forth.

Wow..it's indeed tough work. I prefer to print and scan the pages instead. However, definitely gotta control though it's office expense. What I do is only printing essential pages using used papers. Conscientious employee, huh?

Having already grasped and made notes of Thai vocabs, I can be safely assured on the communication side in case people I meet don't speak English. Stay wise, have just booked a budget guesthouse for 2 days extension from the 3 days work purpose.

Will try to explore the Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chao Phraya River boating to Wat Arun for the sunset, MBK Mall for some shopping, people & events sighting, a movie experience as well maybe, and of course genuine Thai street food.

During work purpose, the stay we are to check in would be pretty luxurious with fully furnished studio apartment per person. However, during the extension, my colleague and I would be trying the more adventurous and low cost traveller stays. We agree that we'll be spending most of out time exploring the city instead of staying in the room. Thus, a clean private room with shared bathroom will do the job. I even stayed in a mix dorm(c/w bunk beds) among international backpackers before.

I really salute the long term travellers/backpackers. They're always going to new places and researching ahead while on the move. Fuh... "Can I do that?" I asked myself. I'm starting to imagining myself doing the scanning again and again and again for the next destination. "Maybe...yes...with lotsa practice as I move on, it's gonna be a breeze..and relax, explore as I go..let things flow, loosen up on your plans," I advise myself.

Ok, info is pretty sufficient now. I'll scan through my print-outs at home and prepare our exclusive itinery. Read up on types of tranportation scams and tips to avoid them. Learn the get arounds better from the map, things to look out for at the destinations I'm heading so on and so forth.

Thus, for now... Sawasdee

Sleep Ler

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Why it's past 12 midnight and I'm not yet in bed. Tomorrow's a Friday but still is a working day. Why am I not tired? I don't know but I always feel that sleeping is not for me. Unless if I'm sleepy, I would rather do something else. Sleeping is just too time consuming.. I might as well use the time spent on other things I haven't got time doing. And yet, I can also spend time nibbling non stop thinking and contemplating bout my life, how's it going, where's it leading me, am I happy in my current situation....i can just nibble... give me a bag of chips. I can finish them..give me a tub of guava cubes you can watch me emptying it up in front of you, give me a 400g La Boheme walnut bread, I can tear and indulge in the fluffy soft bread bit by bit and tada...gone in a matter of minutes.

See, even a sports enthusiast like me finds it hard to loose weight these days. I'm already very happy I don't put on. Things just get out of hands when I'm by myself and start pondering on things. It's like I need the energy or nibbling to keep me in deep thoughts.

I just hate it but things will get me depressed when I start comparing myself with others. And when this starts. I feet myself lacking a lot and envy starts crawling in. Shall I talk further. I feel like I'm ranting. Bah!

Tomorrow... I can imagine what I'm gonna do again. Just like any other days, call/mail to follow up on proposal by vendors. Get the info and feed them to somebody else. Basically, sort of a middle person sandwished between the 2.

Well, well...is life worth staying on this way? I'm not progressing much and I coming close to a year here. What shall I do? Look further? Starts planning? Bah... too much things to think of. I'm starting to lose faith in working life. Read lots of rants on it. Seems like everywhere's the same. What to do if not work? Study? Blekkk...I finally get to escape, no... not going back so soon. I like the fact that I'm workin in a food company(my line of study) and not confined in the manufacturing plant but not very happy with certain factors. It would be difficult to get a position like this from what I've discovered so far. The grass might not always be greener unless I fall right into a position I like as much and satisfy me advancement wise as well. That's when lady luck strikes, otherwise ..disappointed I'll be. I'm being vague..and lame...I'm confused myself, but I'm gonna get things sort out soon, for sure! "First and foremost, what am I really after in life?" I should ask myself.

Working environment especially the people, the way they interact is something i haven't gotten used to. You see a lot of masks around you. Conversations would sound friendly with laughter and humour but the meaning might not me. Also, people working in the same company can be broken down by politics or previous misunderstandings whatsoever. I know this happens in every company. I'm just taking working environmento too personally. Working is not just about getting your responsibilities done...but to get there you've got to source info from others and that's when the people interaction skill is important be it internal or external sourcing. You've gotta be determined to get ur point across to make the person understand why it is important you get the information. Most of the time, people do not want to take responsibility of the info they provide and thus push you ding ding dong dong everywhere.

And that's when you start to see stars above your head.

What're your gadgets?

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Sat, 24/05/2008

It's another lazy weekends which I just didn't feel like going anywhere, meeting anyone. Felt like doing something to kill the boredom. Didn't want to stay in the room any longer. It's damn too hot these days that I can be cooked up in the room with only a ceiling fan.

I looked from corner to corner of the room. Tennis and squash racquets were leaning stealthily against the wall untouched at one and my swimming attires laid out at another(only there a moment ago). Frankly speaking, I'm the proud owner of these gadgets. Swimsuits's bought late last year. Cap's silicone made, not those cheap latex or nylon made that I used to own.

How about accessories a lady should have? Errmm... Bah.. Useless stuffs. Come on, investing in sports gadgets is much more advantageous!

Went to the balcony to check out the weather. Looked down to the pool. "Nice... people are swimming leisurely and why am I here? Am I not supposed to be on my mission to fix my fly?" On the other hand, I had a solid reason not to. Do find out why in my next post.

Shifting my focus further....can you locate the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and Times Square? The weather's no good, it's normally easy to locate on a clear sunny day.

"It's OK to be home today. Tomorrow's gonna be tiring. Tennis game at 7.15 am, then MV for a gadget replacement. My tennis shoes! It's sales time and I should get them now."

I'm back!

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Harlow everyone, sorry for the long disappearance. Nope, I haven't been anywhere, just a lil busy with stuffs surveying on new hp. Neh, just a budget one without 3G is more than sufficient for me. Also, my eyes're getting all watery due to long PC usage. So, I make myself look away as much as I can when I'm not working.

Okie, here are the only pics deemed suitable to share on my Gua Tempurung trip. Not so much to give you a picture of the trip, I admit. No faces as I haven't gotten agreement to show others on the WWW. I as well don't have a pretty face to show. Hahaha...

That's the tracking map ... I'm being redundant, am I not?

And these...are 2 pairs of ladies' feet after the adventure. The lady on the left ignored my repetitive warning on her footwear. Slippers are indeed a no-no for places with high water level and slippery rocks(though mostly gravels here). Suitable footwears should be either shoes or strapped sandals. One can easily slip and fall chasing after their float-away slippers. Fortunately, that didn't happen. She only ended up with one slipper and a sock contributed by a good Samaritan. In fact, she walked in these right from somewhere near the beginning of the 4 hours' adventure harrowing the rough gravels and muddy grounds.

The lady with long pants apparently did not expect the shoes she sacrificed expired so much earlier in the adventure. The soles came off creating an innovative jaw-like footwear. During the trip, again this good Samaritan helped to tie plastic strips to salvage them. Yes, it did came loose, but he stayed close by and retied them for her. This made me ashamed of myself for just being a bystander. Hehe..