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Published: December 14th 2007
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Sydney International Airport
What else is there to do while waiting for your delayed flight? Well I am finally here - one of my friends Roman came to pick me up for the airport the phone rang, It was Qantas - "your flight will be leaving at 9.30pm out of Sydney because of an unexpected plane change in Singapore" whatever that has to do with Sydney I am not sure but I decide to take the 12.15 out of Adelaide still as I wanted to make sure I made it to Sydney with the baggage handlers striking the day before in Adelaide. So it was along break in Kingsford Smith International terminal before my Bangkok flight. Qantas gave me a $15 voucher which buys a ham and cheese roll, a danish and a zero coke and I still owed the shop money. Numerous cuppucinos and snacks later and lots of walking around the airport pushing my trolley it was time to board my flight which left at 9.45pm.
By the way the luggage limit on Qantas is 20kgs - I really struggled to fit my gear in at 22 kgs and they didn't say anything at check in. Don't bother taking heaps of toiletries as you can buy that stuff for half the price or
less in a 7/11 here.
I made sure I had an aisle seat in cattle class as I had been locked in to the window seat like a prisoner on my last flight back from Bangkok in October. Sitting with me were a nice Irish guy and a lovely French lady who were leaving Australia after extended visits with fond memories of Australia and New Zealand. After an uneventful trip we made it into Bangkok at 2.30am. It's always good to land and get off the plane, I picked up my luggage and was through customs and into my taxi in 20 minutes, Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is a very efficient airport from my experience anyway. And at 230 am most of the taxi touts were in bed - very good thing when you are tired after a long, delayed flight.
Taxi Sir 700 baht OK, if your catching a taxi from BKK go to the "way out" and turn left into a carousel on the same floor, walk straight ahead and turn left and you will see a sign and find a meter taxi rank where you give an official your hotel address and they
Sydney
Lonely airport in turn give you a form with the name of your taxi driver etc. This might be the only time you get a taxi that will use the meter and pay the proper fare. After this they make every excuse not to use the meter and you just barter with the driver, I am learning but still get ripped off sometimes, probably my own fault.
My first offer out the carousel vefore getting to the rank was 700 baht which is a total rip off, or is it?
My driver Mr Sutichai flew along and we were at the "Silom Residense and Trinity" Hotel in 30 minutes, Silom is fairly easy to get to at that time of night especially. The fare was 360 baht plus 105 in tolls, we stopped at two toll stations. Take my word for it, use the toll express way as it will save you heaps of time. Total was 465 baht which is 100 baht nore than I paid last time I was in Bangkok but I gave him 500 baht as I had no change, Another rule, keep change for taxis and tuk tuks. Anyway 500 baht is A$20 which is
Silom Road
Busy as always but I like it still good value and Mr Sutichai was a nice guy. I probably could have bartered the 700 baht guy down to 500 as well but I would rather have the document from the official desk with the taxi driver's details in case something happens.
I stayed at the Silom Residense and Trinity Hotel beacuse it suited a travel gift voucher I was given for my birthday. At Oz$45 it is quite good, the rooms are large and clean and I had a seemingly oversized King size bed. The staff are friendly, fixed up some lights immediately and I had a great breakfast today with a nice view from the restaurant. The air con always seems to be extra good in the hotels I have stayed at here, the Thais love their air conditioning in good order. The hotel is fairly quiet at night and in the centre of Silom, close to night life and shopping. If you dont need 4 star I would give this place a go - I have just been for a walk and my hotel is right next to the most amazing market and collection of food stalls and mainly dress/clothing/jewelry/nick nack type shops. I
was here for nearly 3 weeks in October and never ventured into this part of Silom, really worth a look if you come here.
The Patpong market is more towards the Rama 1V road end of Silom and is best to see at night although most of the goods are fairly average compared to the market in a night bazaar lke they have at Chiang Rai where you will find more authentic Thai goods.
I will be returning to @Home Silom Hotel tomorrow, place I stayed last time in Bangkok, feel really comfortable there and they have free internet, better Foxtel type TV channels and a safe in each room. They don't have a restaurant which doesn't bother me as I prefer to dine out but if you need a breakfast you'll need to go for a walk, plenty of options nearby.
Well it is very hot in Bangkok - was 38 C at 300am today and I reckon it is at least 35C at 1100am, so much for the cool season but I am used to the hot weather here and take my water bottle everywhere I go. Number one rule is to stay hydrated at
Xmas time again - Silom Road
Hey I am not going to critisice the spelling - er lol all time. I am getting used to that distinctive Bangkok street smell and smog although it is not too bad today.
Today I am going to check out "BTS Chong Nonsi" (about 500 metres from my hotel, very handy) and work out the skytrain system and just generally take it easy on my first full day here. Might organise some day tours at the "Tour East" desk at the Narrai Hotel on Silom Road. Tour East have great guides and very good tours although they usually drop you at that gem factory on the way back. I usually just hop in their free taxi and get back to my hotel after a short wait. The Narrai Hotel has a very good buffet for 300 baht if you want all you can eat and a good range of food with a nice view of Silom Road.
I'm also going to buy an umbrella as they are very handy when you are touring to keep the hot sun off your face. I won't be on here everyday blogging but it is relaxing to do this while I am settling back in to Bangkok today and it's nice and cool in
Big Fish - Silom Road
My dinner tonight? This fish is nearly a metre long and very old - display only here too at Ocean Net on Silom Road.
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