Best Money Changers at Bangkok

Thailand’s currency is in Baht (B), the bills are denominated in One Thousand (1000), Five Hundred (500), One Hundred (100), Fifty (50) and Twenty (20) and the coins are in Ten (10), Five (5), Two (2) and One (1).

Should I bring USD? Peso? or Baht?????

In my case, I brought some Philippine Peso with me and majority of my money are in USD, which I bought in the Philippines.

I arrived in Bangkok with only US Dollars and Philippines Peso in my pocket. So my first order of business is to find a money changer with a reasonable exchange rates. According to Mr. Google, exchange rates at the airport are uniform with little or insignificant differences. But upon reading more from the internet, I learned that a specific money changer has more favorable rates than the others. It is located 3 floors from the arrival area; it is near the entrance to the Airport Rail Link. 

It's the green one on the left side!

The name of the Money Changer is Kasikorn Bank (Green in color). I only exchanged a hundred dollar since the rates offered outside is a lot favorable than those that can be found in the airport.

So where and what is the BEST Money Changer in Bangkok?

What: Super Rich Thailand

Super Rich (Thailand) Co. Ltd.

Super Rich Thailand near Big C at Ratchadamri is the best place for money exchange in Bangkok. The exchange rates are the best in the city. It has its own building and dominantly GREEN in color. The currency exchange process starts with taking a copy of the customer's passport. (Photocopy machine is available on the right side of the entrance). The customer is then asked to write his/her phone number on the passport copy and sent on to stand in one of the queues. At the counter, they will count the money in front of the customer (in original currency) and give a token to that customer and wait for his/her number to be called. The place is air conditioned, and cool drinking water is also available.

You can visit them from Monday to Friday, exchange hours is from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. They are also open during Saturdays and Public Holidays from 9:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.

Where: Read below for the directions on how to get to Super Rich (Thailand), Ratchadamri

Getting to Super Rich Thailand is easy. You can either get down at Ratchadamri or Siam BTS stations. Ask someone for directions to Big C. It is walking distance from both stations but Siam is a bit closer. From Siam Station, Super Rich Thailand can be found before crossing the bridge going to Pratunam. Walk past Big C and at the next street, turn right and again ask someone for Super Rich Thailand. It is very close from there.

Important Note

On your way to Super Rich Thailand you will pass by the Super Rich (1965), it is also a money changer but it should not be mistaken for the real Super Rich Thailand. The Super Rich (1965) is dominantly orange in color and also offer better rates than the others but Super Rich Thailand is still the best!

Here is their exact address and contact information:

Super Rich (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

45-45/1 Soi Ratchadamri 1,

Ratchadamri, Patumwan, Bangkok

Tel No.: 02 254 4444

Website: www.superrichthailand.com

Border Crossing via the New Direct Bus from Thailand to Cambodia and vice versa

A few years ago, border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia was a real nightmare for tourists! Thanks to the direct bus plying Bangkok-Siem Reap, the border crossing got a lot easier and safer!

The New Direct Bus From Bangkok to Siem Reap (vice versa)!

The first step is to purchase your ticket.

There are two ways for you to do this. You can directly purchase tickets from Mochit Bus Terminal but remember to do it in advance for a safer bet and to ensure your seats. The alternative and more convenient way of purchasing a ticket is online through Thai Ticket Major. Between the two, I chose to book my ticket online through Thai Ticket Major weeks before my trip to Bangkok. This method is more convenient since my estimated time of departure to Siem Reap is the day after my arrival at Bangkok, hence, there might not be enough seats left for me if I personally purchase the ticket at Mochit. If you prefer to purchase your ticket online, like I did, here is the website where you can book ticket and process payments: http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/bus/index.

A Review of NapPak Hostel: The Perfect Place to Stay at Khao San Road

Months before my trip to Bangkok, I have been really busy finding the right accommodation. 

The reception area! Welcome to NapPark Hostel!

Here are the criteria I used in choosing what hotel/hostel I will be staying at.

Affordability. Travelling alone, affordability comes first in my list. The hostel needs to be budget friendly and should cater to the needs of a solo traveler.

Accessibility. My ideal location for a place to stay is it should be accessible from the major tourist sites, shopping districts and major transportation hub in the city.

Hospitality. When looking for a place to stay, I really look at how the crews and personnel accommodate their guest. Especially when you’re travelling solo and you don’t have anybody to depend on (talk to) but the staff at the hostel you’re staying at.

Other Factors. Since I am not a choosy person, other factors I consider (though not that important) are cleanliness, facilities, services offered (laundry and charter services) and ambience/vibe.

Dining and Shopping (More of Panic Buying and Eating) at Bangkok

Eating and shopping goes hand in hand! Especially at Bangkok where there is food available in every street and items can be bought at cheap prices. 

Shopping at Bangkok
Here is an illustration from Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on a Shoestring book for your reference:

Type of Business	Business Hours	Exceptions
Bars	6:00 PM until Midnight (officially)	Bars are close during elections and certain religious public holidays. Closing times vary.
Banks	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Mon to Fri	ATMs accessible for 24 hours
Clubs (discos)	8:00 AM – 2:00 AM	Clubs are close during elections and certain religious public holidays. Closing times vary.
Live music venues	6:00 PM – 1:00 AM	They are close during elections and certain religious public holidays. Closing times vary.
Restaurants	10:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Some restaurants specialize in morning meals and close by 3:00 PM
Stores	Local stores: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Department stores: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM	Sometimes they are close due to certain events (Protest).

Source: Lonely Planet - Southeast Asia on a Shoestring

Night Food Trip in Chinatown, Hua Lamphong

Chinatown is a famous location for a walk tour! Aside from the mouthwatering dimsums and Chinese cuisine there are lots of things to do there!

How to get there:

The easiest way to get to Chinatown is to take the MRT to Hua Lamphong Station - the last station for MRT from Bang Sue. Alternatively you can take bus number 113 or 99 from Siam Area, MBK and Pratunam. You can also try the Chao Phraya Express boat (stop at Ratchawong Pier and walk to Sampeng Lane or Yaowarat Road). Or If you are coming from other city, the train will be the perfect way to get to Chinatown (Stop at Hua Lamphong Train Station and cross the bridge to reach Chinatown). If all else fail, take a Taxi, or Tuk-Tuk, but do some calculation first and make sure to agree with a fixed price first, before boarding the tuktuk.

My trip to Chinatown happened on my 3rd night at Bangkok. I fetch my friend Ate Nika from her hotel near BTS Nana Station before going to Chinatown. I accidentally found her check-in status at facebook and offered to meet her for dinner. She’s with Agoda and currently attending seminar training from Agoda Head Office at Bangkok. 

Samphran Crocodile Farm and Elephant Show

Tour Fee:                      750 Baht (500 for the Crocodile Farm + 250 Baht for the Floating Market)

Duration:                       Full Day Tour

Attraction & Sites:         Damuern Saduak Floating Market, Free Lunch at a Floating Restaurant and Samphran Elephant Grounds and Crocodile Farm.

Like my tour at the Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-InSummer Palace the other day, I was directed by our guide at the floating market to another vehicle – a Nissan Sentra latest model. There were 5 of us inside the car including the driver, a mother and daughter from Korea and Emily from Czech Republic. And Yes, I instantly became friends with Emily since we have a lot in common. By a lot, I mean – we have the same waist line and she was fun to talk with.

Before going to Samphran Elephant Grounds and Crocodile Farm, our driver took us first to a floating restaurant (too much floating for the day, LOL) somewhere around Bangkok. The ambience was good and the food was satisfying. But the conversation with Emily was the most memorable during that lunch. She was a college student at Czech and currently on break to tour around Thailand for a month.

A Unique Shopping Experience at Damuern Saduak Floating Market

Located 104 kilometers southwest of Bangkok between Nakhon Pathom and Samut Songkram is where you can find Damuern Saduak Floating Market. It is one of the most heavily promoted floating markets at Thailand.

Tour Fee:                      750 Baht (500 for the Crocodile Farm + 250 Baht for the Floating Market)

Duration:                       Full Day Tour

Attraction & Sites:         Damuern Saduak Floating Market, Free Lunch at a Floating Restaurant and Samphran Elephant Ground and Crocodile Farm.

The main attraction at the floating market is the wooden canoes laden with multi-colored fruits and vegetables, paddled by women wearing wide brimmed straw hats. It has become an iconic and alluring image for Thailand tourism.

Like my Full Day Tour to Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-InSummer Palace, I also availed my tour to Damuern Saduak Floating Market at Canary Travel and Tour Agency. The van picked me up at NapPark hostel at around 7:30 in the morning.

Sunset at Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn

Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River just a ferry ride across Wat Pho and the Grand Palace is Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. It is named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna.

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 50 Baht

Open everyday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

How to get there:

From Wat Pho you can get to Wat Arun through the Chao Phraya Cross River Ferry that can be found at N. Pier 8 or the Tha Tien Pier Station.

The cost of riding the cross river ferry from Wat Pho  to Wat Arun is three (3) Baht per person. Since I was feeling tired from the tour of Grand Palace and Wat Pho, I decided to sit first at the café near the temple. They serve pastries and coffee. I ordered a grande size Iced Caramel Macchiato as it is still hot even if the sun is about to set. After resting for about 30 minutes, I started my tour of Wat Arun. Firstly, I visited the surrounding areas of the temple.

Interesting Fact: Wat Arun is a Khmer-style temple with four prangs (also known as prasat) and one larger one in the middle. This layout is a representation of the five sacred mountains which were home to the gods according to Khmer, Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. The central prang represents Mount Meru, the center of the universe. When the heights of the central prang was extended, Rama III ordered that colourful ceramics and porcelain should be used to form elaborate motifs and designs. This unusual design feature makes the prangs shimmer and shine in the sunlight and give the temple a unique appeal that has to be seen close up to be fully appreciated.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

The Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho!

The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, it houses the country’s largest reclining Buddha, and it has the biggest collection of Buddha images in the country. Wat Pho is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage.

Wat Pho!

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 100 Baht

Open everyday from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM

How to get there:

If you're coming from the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is just 5 to 10 minutes walk. It is near N. Pier 8 or the Tha Tien Station. You can ride a tuktuk from the Grand Palace to Wat Pho but beware cause you might find yourself in a different temple. Haha.

My tour of Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace ended at noon, in time for lunch. I went to Ta Chang Pier to look for cheap eatery where I can escape from the hot weather and to pacify my growling stomach. Since I love watching Running Man (Korean Action-Comedy Sunday Variety Show), I went to the eatery featured in one of their episode shot at Bangkok and was satisfied with what I ordered.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace

On the 7^th day of my backpacking trip, I decided to visit the famous temples at Bangkok. My first stop was the Grand Palace which share grounds with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or locally called as Wat Phra Kaew.

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 400 Baht

Open every day except during special occasions

How to get there:

The most comfortable as well as the cheapest way to get there is through the Chao Phraya River Express. Get off at N. Pier 10 (Ta Chang) and walk to the gate of Grand Palace where Wat Phra Kaew is located.

From Ta Chang Pier, the gate of Grand Palace is just a hundred or so meters away. You can immediately spot the entrance. You just have to look for the busiest and most crowded area/wall/fence of the grand palace. The gate is named Viseschaisri Gate, that’s according to the pamphlet of grand palace given upon purchasing the ticket.

Tra-Abel Guide on Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Finding Your Way From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Khao San Road

I arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport with little knowledge about the transportation system of Bangkok. Based from the information I gathered from reading different travel blogs and sites, I only had a rough imagination of how I can get to my reserved accommodation near Khao San Road and it goes this way: Airport Rail Link-BTS Sukhumvit Line-BTS Silom Line-Chao Phraya River Express.

Just follow the signs and don't be afraid to ask and ask more!

Finding the Airport Rail Link was easy, there are signboards everywhere leading you to it. It was located two floors down from the arrival floor. Near the entrance of the rail link, there was a Kasikorn Money Changer which rate was a little bit higher than those located elsewhere in the airport (for the complete guide on money changers at Bangkok, click here)

The airport rail link looks deserted early in the morning, but don’t worry because there are guards and personnel roving around the station. I bought a ticket from Airport to Phaya Thai, the trip was really fast and stress free. The BTS Sukhumvit Line was a few walk away from the Phaya Thai Station of Airport Rail Link. I bought a ticket at a vending machine located at the entrance of BTS Phaya Thai Station. I rode the BTS Sukhumvit Line from Phaya Thai Station to Siam. There is an interchange at this station from BTS Sukhumvit line to  BTS Silom Line. From the Siam Station of BTS Silom Line, I bought a ticket to Saphan Taksin Station where the Chao Phraya River Express is located. Using the Chao Phraya River Express, I bought a ticket for the Tourist Boat going to N13 or Phra Arthit Pier where Khao San Area is just a walking distance.

If ever you find yourself lost, don’t hesitate to ask questions. The BTS personnel were really helpful as well as those personnel of Chao Phrya River Express.

Getting around

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. 

Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. (Source: Wikipedia)

Like any other wanderer, Thailand is my country of choice to start a solo backpacking trip for my Tra-Abel adventures. Based on lonely planet and other trusted travel sites, Thailand is one of the most backpacking friendly countries in the world. So after a month of planning, I found myself mingling with other backpackers there in Bangkok, Thailand. Read my entry on First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land here.

Although my 11 days backpacking trip to Thailand and Cambodia was not enough to really experience what these countries has to offer, the time I spent there was really a time well spent.   

Let me share with you the adventures and misadventures I had when I was in Bangkok, Thailand.

Getting Around

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. You can ride a boat, the train (BTS/MRT), taxi, bus or tuktuk! It's your choice! Read the full entry on getting around Bangkok here.

Activities and Tour

You will never be bored! There are lots of activities to do and sights to see at Bangkok. You can also try the organized tours offered by the different agencies to various tourist sites outside Bangkok! Here are some of the places I went to when I was in Bangkok, click on the picture to learn more about them.

Tra-Abel En Route: First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land

Angkor Wat with Mr. What?

Early morning of February 11, 2014, I was at NAIA Terminal 3 preparing for my departure to Thailand. I was in front of this Miss Minchin (in Sara: A Little Princess) looking immigration personnel. She looks so strict with matching tight lips and eyebrows stretching as high as it can go (Ang iyong kilay na mapagmataas at laging namimintas!). I gave her my passport and she asked me the following questions:

Her:      Is this your first time to go out of the country?

Me:       Nope, this is my third time. It just so happen that I have renewed my passport recently.

Her:      Do you have your old passport with you?

Me:       [I handed her my old passport, I was lucky to have brought it with me]

Her:      What is your work? And how much do you earn?

Me:       Senior Internal Auditor, Php(!@#$%) monthly

Her:      Why are you travelling alone?

Me:       [I just smiled at her (but at the back of mind, I wanted to tell her “I was also asking myself the same                    question”)]

Her:      Why are you alone?

Me:       [I smiled at her again (I was about to sarcastically tell her “why don’t you come with me, so that I won’t                be alone. LOL”)] Hmmmm... I just want to try it.

Her:      [Stamped my passport and gave it back to me]

Me:       [Got my passport and left her without saying thank you]

Thoughts on Solo Backpacking: The 'Solo-Traveling-Jitters'

How I actually got into this craziness?

Sunday, February 9, 2014, it was past midnight (1:25AM), but here I am, still awake with plenty of thoughts running through my mind. This has been the case for a few days now. I am two days away from getting on that plane to Bangkok where this craziness was about to take me. I’ve been having sleepless nights, wondering what will or will not happen to me, thinking if should go or not go on this trip and weighing if this is the sane or insane thing to do. So how did I get into this mess?

Wondering where my next destination will be! Czary 101

Let me take you back on the day I booked the plane ticket. It was late night on July 12, 2013; I was a little groggy from the bottles of red horse (a local beer) I drank during my friend’s birthday celebration earlier that day. As usual, I went online to check my Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts before going to bed. That was when I came upon the “piso fare” promo for all domestic and international flight of Cebu Pacific Air posted in their Facebook account. I randomly search for international flights bound to anywhere. I did not have any plans of purchasing a ticket anyway, since I have a scheduled trip to El Nido, Palawan on July 26, 2013. But when I checked the travel period; it was from January 1 to June 30, 2014. So on a second thought, the trip will not be happening in the near future and that will give me enough time to plan and save for my trip. I immediately booked a roundtrip ticket to Bangkok for 10 days thinking that the trip will be easy peasy since Thailand is a backpacker friendly country.