Saturday, July 26, 2008

Thailand - Bangkok Part 2

The next day, bright and sunny, we began our exploration around Bangkok city. Luckily the place we stayed is near the Sky Train Ratchathewi. Moving out to our next destination (base on the map we surveyed last night), Center World and Siam Paragon.

Sky train station, Ratchathewi.



Looks just like normal LRT station.

This is how the sky train looks like. (with decoration too)

Next, we finally arrived at one of the shopping complex.


The view of the shopping complex from the Sky Train station at Siam Paragon.

One of the decoratin inside the Center World shopping complex. (I think so. Actually I'm so confused with the 3 shopping complexes that day. It's like walking through a puzzle room)

The first two shopping complexes were too posh and high class for our standard. =P Our next destination is MBK shopping complex. Now, we talk about real shopping paradise.

One of floor at MBK shopping complex. All the stuff inside is cheap, and you can use your bargain skill to get stuff you want at a very cheap price. A disadvantage will be there's no suiting room.

Some weird bottles that I saw along my shopping spree at MBK.

Around 6pm in the evening, we went to Patpong for the infamous night market. At Patpong, there's a stretch of street filled with open stalls that sell almost everything, almost, but not everything. Bargaining is a MUST. Else the seller will try to make a big money out of innocent tourist. One of the proudest barganing that I managed to seal is a fake Tiffany bracelet where the opening price offered is 1300 bahts. But I managed to cut the price to 350 bahts, it's like a 75% discount. (oh, i'm so proud of this)

TIGER SHOW

However, the most miserable part at Patpong is that we are being CONNED to watch a SUPER LOUSY and PUKING tiger show ever. We were approached by this man while we were walking around and he sweet talk us that we can have a trial see for the tiger show at 100 baht plus drink per person. And if we do not like the show, we can go and no extra pay is needed. So, as any tourist being lured by this offer.

However, when we are being bought to this small little, dark and eerie bar at the second floor, there's a round stage in the middle of the shop. Beside the round stage, were seats for people to enjoy the "show". But when we were seated and ordered our drinks, we noticed all the girls on the stage were ugly and mostly naked. Besides that, nearly 90% of the girls got a big pot belly. And we even suspect some of the girls are NOT really girls.

After we finish our drinks, we decided to leave as the show really SUCKS. Imagine how shocked are we when we see the bill. At first we expect the bill to be 100 baht per person but it turned out to be 3900 baht in total!! The bar owner actually demand that much from us. We try to reason at first but to no veil. In the end, we paid them 4000 baht and expect 100 baht balance return to us. But this lady owner insist that 100 baht was for her tips. I GOT TO ADMIT WE WERE BEING SLAUGHTERED BLOOD THIRSTILY. (No more tiger show for me definitely)

My first day shopping "victory". I didn't take much photo of Patpong cause I was afraid there might be snatch thief who might steal my camera.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do u keep some of your Thailand bank note??? or coins?

Anonymous said...

Any problem communicating in english over there?

RaiNboW said...

Yupe. I still keep some of the notes and coins. Will take a photo and show it here..

But be patient. I need to finish my vacation trip first before I make a summary of the trip. ;)

RaiNboW said...

Depends on the place u go.. If it's the shopping complex or tourist spot, then most ppl can speak English. But if it's normal street/housing estate/coffee shop, then most can't speak English. Only Thai language.

So, preferable try to learn some Thai (like numbers or necessary questions just in case). It's useful for bargaining too. ;)

Anonymous said...

So, u know how to speak? how do u bargain at place where people dunno english?

RaiNboW said...

Before I went to Bangkok, I print out the basic Thai language and memorize some of the important words and sentences. Hehe..

And if still can't, use sign language. Or they will give u the calculator and ask u to key in the value u wan to buy the thing.

eskay said...

I heard people said Thai Language are kind of like easy (not sure coz I personally haven't experience it). Some people even mention that if they have a new born baby, they will go to the kitchen and break some plates or bowl. Then according to the breaking sound (e.g., Ping, Piang, Pong, Plang, Peng, Ping Pang etc) to give name to the newly born baby. funny huh?

RaiNboW said...

Yupe, it's true. Thai language is kinda easy. Armed with the basic words, you can stay at Thailand already.

Eskay, are u sure abt this culture of giving name using the sound of the breaking plates/bowl? But it does sound so alike the normal Thai's name. Hehe...