Through aerogbridge, I immediately headed to transit hall to waiting for next Thai Airways connecting flight. The time was 23:15 hours. I tried to find an information center location to ask about the most comfortable place to rest at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Me: “Hi, Ms. Where is a better place for rest and getting food ?, Transit hall or departure hall?“
Staff: “I think you will be better staying in transit hall. Departure hall is very crowded than you think. There is food court in transit hall, so don’t worry ”.
Me: “Oh, okay Ms. Thank you”.
Finally, her suggestion led me to immediately enter the transit hall. Smoothly passing a ticket and passport checking counter, then I quickly ended it through a x-ray screening.
Entering transit hall.
I would spend a night for 12 hours until Thai Airways flight TG 0319 went to Kathmandu. Arriving at transit hall, I immediately looked for the best spot to closing my eyes. The situation was still busy, it wasn’t possible for me to find a row of empty chairs to stretch out my legs.
Finally, it took about 1.5 hours to explore the entire transit hall.
Midnight began to pass, slowly the airport began to lose its visitors. The long row of blue benches seemed to be empty. Some cleaning services were seen starting to wipe that benches with perfume and sterilizer. They seemed to know my signs to immediately use that benches which looked like a springbeds in my eyes.
Finally I found an empty seat.
Really soundly asleep with backpack as pillow until dawn. Slowly, sound of passengers in their morning flight started to interrupt my “Nepal dream”. I woke up but still feeling sleepy, I decided to look for a prayer room and hoped to continue my dream.
Electric Information Board.
The prayer room was empty and tempting.
Fajr time in Bangkok was on 05:20 hours. While waiting for it to arrived, I swiftly took a sleeping spot at the back end of mosque. But this time, I had to curl up due to the coldness of room due to prayer room’s large AC.
A few hours later, congregation’s footsteps began to often be heard entering the room. Fajr time was approaching. It couldn’t sleeping anymore, get ready to do Fajr in congregation.
I was happy to be able to pray with Suvarnabhumi’s moslem workers in Bangkok. I mingled with security, immigration staffs until airport polices. After praying, I had a little conversation with one of immigration staff. A thing that I caught was that Bangkok’s moslems account for about 10% of total population of the capital. That percentage was ranges from 800-900 thousand people.
As dawn has passed, it was time to clean myself in toilet then got some snacks for breakfast before TG 0319 taked off on 10:30 hours to the capital of Nepal.
Finally, I repeated my journey to “White Elephant” Country after my last exploration in 2013. For four years, I waited for that opportunity. If in 2013, I flew with Air Asia to Don Mueang International Airport so this time I was very lucky because I was able to catch a cheap promo which was issued by Thai Airways in April 2017.
Waiting for 8 months before actually flying was something that was very unpleasant. Not because of Bangkok, but only because of my desire to taste premium wide-body aircraft. A year before, I had boarded in same type of plane belonging to Air Asia when I returned from Incheon.
—- **** —-
After Friday, I perfected my packing for 11 days trip which would certainly make you were curious. At exactly 15:00 hours, I hurriedly carried my backpack on “angkot” (a small public trasportation in Jakarta) which went to Kampung Rambutan Terminal. That angkot which took so long to arrive, punished me by taking a DAMRI bus in next- a departure schedule.
On 16:00 hours, DAMRI launched but not long after, toll road became stuck. DAMRI didn’t moved in a long time. There have been road repairing in a tunnel combined with an incident which a truck rolled over 400 meters in front. Even though, my flight was scheduled for 19:05 hours. That means, I have to be ready at 17:55 hours before actually boarding….Too tight time. Luckily, a Highway Patrol sirens began to sound in its way heading forward. Significantly, 15 minutes later DAMRI smoothly drove to Terminal 2-Soekarno Hatta International Airport.
Thai Airways finally became the 18th airline which I rode.
Started to boarding.
Luckily, Soekarno Hatta International Airport was very quiet and only needed 5 minutes for check-in process, and then I got a purple and white boarding pass. I passed all x-ray checkpoints very quickly as only a 45 litre backpack which needed to be screened.
I entered tAirbus A330-300 via its right-side cabin lane to find a seat numbered 52K. This time, it would be very relieved that I sat alone in three column seat. I was a plebeian….Just this time, I got on a plane with an LCD screen in front of my eyes….I pushed all button as I liked.
Jakarta-Bangkok is 3,000 km away and can be approached in 3 hours and 35 minutes with an average speed of 475 knots (880 km/hour). You can imagine how fast it is.
The moslem meal was served after giving a brown rice cracker and apple juice.
During flight, beautiful Thai-faced flight attendants were indeed captivating as far as my eye could see. Unfortunately, I was just a backpacker….If I was a top class businessman….. I would definitely propose to her….Hihihi.
Landing in the first time at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Arrival at 22:35 hours left me with no other option. It was impossible to leave the airport and heading for the city. If there was time, I might as well be reluctant. Because Bangkok wasn’t my destination….But, NEPAL.
Yess… .Nepal would be the 11th country which I visited.
Do you want to know about my next story to “The Land of a Thousand Temples”? Just follow my story when I explored it.
Scoot is 22nd airlines which I have ever used. Through flight number TR 457 on regular route Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN), I firstly used Scoot Air service on March 31st, 2018. On that time, I boarded an Airbus A320 aircraft with 168 passengers in capacity.
Even though I ever used Tiger Mandala Airlines on November 26th, 2013 while heading to Bangkok and Tiger Air on January 11st, 2015 when I returned from Vietnam. Now the two airlines have merged into Scoot Air.
Look that ! Tiger Air identity in Scoot Air TR 457 plane.
Ambiguity of terminal where I would depart (whether from KLIA terminal 1 or KLIA terminal 2) made me a little nervous because departure list usually publishes 2 hours before flight. And of course, it takes time to move from KLIA2 to KLIA.
For international flights, I always start towards airport on 4 hours before flight time. So I left Westree Hotel on 05:30 and rushed to Skybus/Aerobus shelter which located in KL Sentral. Because distance from hotel to shelter is only 40 m, I only needed to walk for 3 minutes towards shelter.
Indian descent hotel security sharply watched me in inner door of lobby….Because I stood for a long time in middle of lobby door….I was seriously watching around….So quiet, I had to make sure that there wasn’t suspicious thing along road which I would pass towards KL Sentral.
Yesss….There aren’t any people on road….Fast walking. Like an racewalking athlete, I started to stay away from hotel. I arrived in shelter when bus was ready to leave.
With USD 3.1, I arrived at KLIA2 on 6:30. I immediately headed to information center to ask about terminal where TR457 would take off. On early morning, I disturbed information center officer with some questions because departure board didn’t display yet an information about TR457, so She had to pull keyboard and searching information for me….very kindly officer.
God…..my eyes glared while chewing Nasi Lemak (original food from Malaysia) with fried egg in corner of NZ Curry House….Look like a goat which was ruminating. It was a sign that I wasn’t ready to get early breakfast.
Yes, there wasn’t other choice, it was better to have breakfast in Indian restaurant with cheapest price before heading to 3rd floor for check-in, immigration and departure processes.
Departure Board in Departure Hall
Information Centre in Departure Hall
Departure Hall Area
Check-in counter no Z2-Z3 for Scoot Air TR457.
After passing immigration counter, I headed to waiting room at gate L3.
I entered waiting room on 08:05. In boredom of waiting, Vietnamese came to me and ask something:
Vietnamese: “Hi, Can you explain to me about my cigarette (while showing a pack of cigarettes which have been smoked two stumps). Can I bring it when entering Singapore?“
Me : “Do you bring another one or just this opened pack?. If you just bring it, you can savely entering Singapore.”
Vietnamese: “No, I just bring it. So it’s savely. Thanks you.”
Me: “You are welcome”.
Waiting room in front of gate L3.
After waiting for 20 minutes, finally boarding process begins.
Where was seat 14D?
Scoot Air is identical with yellow. The charm of young air crews was very fresh when their appeaybrance is clad in yeloow t-shirt and shallow.
Fly over Malacca Strait
The sky is really clear, very comfort to fly without turbulence.
After fllying about 1 hour and 15 minutes, I landed at Changi International Airport Terminal 2. Trying to leave Changi as soon as possible to go to Greendili Backpackers Hostel in Race Course Road and then ready to explore Singapore for 7th time.
Searching MRT map before entering Changi International Airport immigration counter.
Catch the MRT ! towards downtown.
Let’s go to Mustafa Center for lunch before exploring.
If I am asked, how many times have you traveled to King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s country?… Ummh 3 times, guys.…Easy first level question.
Then if I am asked, what is the most memorable thing when visiting that “White Elephant Country“?….Tom Yam or its ladyboy (hahaha….kidding), guys….easy answer for second level question.
OKAY.…before entering next question
All of You have knew, how feel when do “crazy traveling” abroad in version of travelingpersecond.com….maybe, normal people will give answer “nothing nice”.
But, this time I was a little showing off….hahaha. Because I save one story of my bourgeois trip to Thailand.
This is the story….What will you do if you are given USD 740 by your boss and you were asked to spend it all for 3 days 2 nights in Baifern Pimchanok’s country?….This is a third level question.
That’s a lot of money. But, many people bring much money for traveling to Bangkok. Waaw.…I’m really tacky. But swear….USD 740 are very much for me.
It will be memorable thing if it can be spent to stay at expensive hotel in Bangkok.
Yes, I finally stayed at Baiyoke Sky Hotel.
Baiyoke Sky Hotel is 309 meters in height and it be 7th highest hotel in the world. So it doesn’t matter if you must to spend USD 110 per night for staying here.
Model of 85 storey hotel.
Its original building.
Baiyoke Sky Hotel located in Khet Ratchathewi (Khet means a district), Bangkok Province. Ratchathewi itself comes from name of an empress, namely Phra Nangchao Sukumalmarsri Phra Ratchathewi.
Besides having a Victory Monument as a landmark, Ratchathewi also has famous landmarks namely Baiyoke Sky Hotel which I am writing now.
This hotel is located in a famous area….Its name, Pratu Nam. It also has other well-known destination, namely Pratu Nam Market. You must visit it if you go to Bangkok.
The hotel itself has 2 main towers. Tower I is 151 meters high and is used for Baiyoke Suite Hotels. While Tower II is 309 meters high, it’s used for Baiyoke Sky Hotel
I paid USD 9 to airport taxi driver after he transferred me from Don Mueang International Airport to Baiyoke Sky Hotel.
Before entering hotel’s door, I observed busy trading activities in commercial shops which located on ground floor of Baiyoke Sky Hotel.
Entering ground floor lift, a queue is so long in front of it. I stood in a tail of queue.
Oh Donny….a bumpkin man. A doorman was approaching me, apparently He knew I had just taken queue behind.
He: “Excuse me, Sir….Do you want to stay in or just go to observation deck?”
Me: ” I want to stay sir ”
He: ” Oh Okay, sir … This queue is for observation deck only. You can use that to go to lobby
Me: ” Oh thank you sir “. Hi Donny, please read the instructions (my heart murmured). Then I began to move to other lift with few queue.
The lift finally drove me to lobby.
Classic reception hall.
Finishing check-in process and get a access card. I immediately went to my room in upstair for a short break. There are three lift corridors on the floor where receptionist is located. The first corridor is used to go to exit door on ground floor. The second and third corridors are used specifically for guests towards their rooms and several interesting places in hotel, such as Baiyoke Floating Market, Bangkok Sky, Observation Deck, Stella Palace, Bangkok Balcony, Crystal Grill and Roof Top Bar.
Walked through a corridor to search my room.
I finally entered my room.
Soft mattress
I didn’t have a guest.…
It was just a little backpack.…
Took a bath in bath-up every morning and afternoon.
For meals, I didn’t need to eat a toast as usual. Because it’snt dormitory.…keep calm, Donny.
Ate as much as you want….
Appetizer, main course, dessert everyday
Bread and various jams.…made me confused.
Besides that, you can also eat in a floating market concept. In this case, It’s no water in 75th floor where floating market is located. All buffets are in a boat style and there are traders at each boat.
Because of second tallest building in Bangkok, it will be very disadvantage if you don’t enjoy Bangkok from 360-degree revolving viewpoint in top floor of Tower II.
Scenery fare is about USD 14,8 for public. This time, I can enjoy it for free as a guest guest.
On first night, I went late and 360-degree revolving viewpoint on 84th floor of Baiyoke Sky Tower had stopped spinning. I wasn’t long at revolving roof deck and I decided to get off. I only get this:
Surprised, Peter Parker is very strong. It was 3 days, he hanged at 83rd floor….hahaha.
There were also champion photos of Baiyoke Run Up International (running race up stairs to top of Baiyoke Sky Tower).
I was able to get view of 360 degree-Bangkok view on second night. The 360-degree revolving point made me stunned when saw beauty of Bangkok at night.
Sirat Expressway toll road from above.
The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam from above.
Hunting photos in a 360-degree revolving viewpoint.
Baiyoke Sky Hotel also provides a mini museum to display several Buddha statues and artifacts.
there are many more statues in mini museum.
Nearby Culinary
Precisely across hotel, you will find Indra Square Shopping Mall. Open from 10am to 9pm, like most shopping malls in general, you will easily find lots of clothes, accessories, souvenirs, shoes and bags which sold through a bargaining process. Many Indian descents become traders here.
Back to culinary, you can find Indra Food Square on top floor.
Buy coupons to be exchanged into food
What is your choice ?
Want to Shop on the Street?
Along street in front of Baiyoke Sky Hotel presents a night market which attracts hotel guests to visit it. Try to eat Bangkok durian on left front side of hotel !….really nice.
My first post about Thailand isn’t about Bangkok as a capital city. But I will make you curious by presenting Phuket.
Imagining beauty of Phuket since 2013, I could really see it by naked eyes in 2019. For six years I could only see Phuket from a photo which was posted on my desk. Many reasons of course, why I must wait very long. Because of time, bustle and of course about budget….hihihi, I think the last one is my problem.
OK, by the way….
PHUKET….is an island-area province in south of Bangkok. If it is measured, its length is along Jakarta-Cikampek (about 70 km) and its width is only along East Jakarta to West Jakarta (about 36 km).
Phuket is indeed famous with its beach tourism. But for your information, 70% of its area are hills. That’s way, you can see the beauty of downtown and its beaches from above.
Based on this, before enjoying all beaches in Phuket, I did one thing that other tourists rarely do.…Yeah, I started to climb its hills to do ” Phuket helicopter view “.
That afternoon, Nok Air airline landed me at Phuket International Airport. Connected by airport bus, I was really dropped off in center of downtown. After checking in at Fulfill Phuket Hostel and lunch around it, I immediately rushed to rent a motorbike and went to a hill in northwest of hotel.
1.Khao Rang Viewpoint.
Khao Rang or Rang Hill is a viewpoint which located in north of Phuket. According to Khao Rang officer who I asked, Khao Rang usually visited by Phuket residents at night after work or on weekend to celebrate their holiday after 5 busy days at work.
Very lucky that I was there on Sunday afternoon, so it was very easy to find Phuket residents who were going back and forth
Needed about 10 minutes from Fulfill Phuket Hostel to actually get into Khao Rang through its south gate (there are two gates to go to Khao Rang, one in south and other one in north).
Parking my motorbike in a hurry because of my impatience to saw how Phuket face, I don’t care about many young couples who are seen sitting in every corner of Khao Rang.
I immediately looked around to determine from which point I will see Phuket. Yes.…that was the viewpointthat I was looking for:
A European style building is displayed at end of Khao Rang.
Oh God….Phuket which is bordered by coastline and insulated by small hills on each view sides makes me stunned for a long time and beat the sun heat.
Nice?….Why are you stunned?….hahaha
How nice is it?
Me and the view.
If you want to stay longer in Khao Rang, You can enjoy Phuket view while eating Thailand foods in Tunk Ka Cafe. If you don’t want to enter cafe because of expensive price, You can enjoy some snacks or coconut water in some food stalls outside restaurant.
Then what did I?….I didn’t buy anything….I prefered to go to next viewpoint.
2. Phuket’s Big Buddha
Out of Khao Rang parking area, I directed my motorbike to southwest. I would explore as far as 20 km towards Big Buddha statue by motorbike.
Through heat of Phuket’s streets, I stopped by in a traditional market in middle of trip. Sightseeing market to see local people trade, slowly I heard faint sound of Sundanese language (Sunda is other name of West Java, Indonesia) among boisterous tone of market.
“I have to find this person”, I thought. Approaching sound until I found two teenagers from Sukabumi (a district in West Java province) who are undergoing students exchange which become their Tourism Vocational School program. They were assigned in a resort at Phuket and were shopping at behest of resort’s head chef.
Leaving the market, I resumed my journey up winding hill to its summit.
I saw Chinese tourists rejoice on ATV to same place, even some European tourists could be seen heading to top of hill by jogging and walking.…It was crazy, that’s really far away.
I can say that it’is “combo venue”. Because besides getting a higher viewpoint, you will also enjoy beauty and sacredness of this statue.
Finally I arrived in Big Buddha.
Located on top of Nakkerd hill, this 45 meters in high statue was built in 2004.
Walk to end of giant statue plaza !, this is what you will get:
Guys.…that’s exotic appearance of Ao Chalong Bay….exotic like Jennifer Garner (upsss….You know my idol….hahaha)
Big Buddha became a closing trip of all my climbing on that Sunday.
I had to be patient to climb again next day.
3. Kao Khad View Point
Next day….
I would longer sit in Kao Khad, so I decided to enter Family Mart across my hotel to prepare some packed beans and soft drinks to enjoy beauty of Phuket.
Heading to south, I went through Phuket’s streets. I would cover a distance about 8 km now. Passing through traffic jams at several points of road which were being renovated and also through underpass project, I enjoyed local faces who were moving towards their respective livelihoods.
Viewpoint which isn’t so high made my motorbike easy to run faster and reached my destination in just 12 minutes.
Here is it, Kao Khad viewpoint :
Seeing from everyhere, the whole island really spoiled my eyes
Kao Khad beach….beautiful
So….after seeing some little scenery that I gave….Will you go to Phuket?
