Up and Away at Genting Highlands

Genting Highlands or more popularly known as Resorts World Genting, is an integrated hill resort consisting of hotels, casinos and theme parks situated 51km northeast of Kuala Lumpur. The resort is accessible by car, but we opted to ride the Skyway Cable Car which became the highlight of our tour.

From Gombak Station of the Kelana Jaya line, we bought a tour package which included round trip transfers of the Genting express bus and skyway cable car and lunch buffet at Coffee Terrace. The bus going to the main station of Genting Skyway leaves every 30 minutes. I suggest going to Gombak Station one hour before your desired schedule since tickets easily sell out. Worry not for the waiting time, you can drop by at Batu Caves before your bus arrives. If you also want to stay on a short queue at the Genting Skyway, better book your tickets at around 9AM.

The Genting Express Bus is properly maintained and has comfortable seats.

Travel Snapshots | Batu Caves

Located 13km north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is popular for the huge statue of the Hindu God. It attracts thousands of tourists and worshipers all throughout the year. One must climb 272 steps to reach the cave and have a startling view of the city.

To go to Batu Caves, board the train following the Kelana Jaya Line and alight at Gombak station. From there, hire a cab which should not cost you more than MYR10.

Bangkok, Thailand | 5-Day Itinerary

Sawasdee Ka!

The 5-day itinerary I have created here is a summary of the places I have been to while traveling to Bangkok on three different events. Some are must-see, some are forgettable but like any other experience, each of us has our own views so I included them all. Having read numerous travel guides, there are a lot of things to do in the City of Smiles other than what’s written here. Feel free to leave a comment for any Bangkok tourist destination you think is worth visiting. I have also blogged about some of the tours below, so click away for more details.

Bangkok guides we got from the airport which we didn't even use. Yes, these become a part of my souvenir collection. Photo Credit to my travel buddy, +Mc Santos RN

Where I Stayed in Bangkok: Suk 11, Best Comfort Bangkok Hotel, and Tune Hotels

Whenever I travel, the most important factor I look for in a hotel/hostel is its proximity to public transportation. For me, taking the train is the best way to save time and money. Secondly, the establishment should be near malls or restaurants. This is for the sake of my happy tummy especially during breakfast and dinner.

In the three occasions I’ve been to Bangkok, I stayed in different accommodations. Except for Suk 11 which was recommended by my cousin, I turned to Agoda for reviews and bookings for Best Comfort Bangkok Hotel and Tune Hotels. 

Suk 11

What I got: Basic Twin Room (Shared Toilet and Shower) for me and my friend for Php1,040* per night

What I loved about it: Suk 11 has a homey ambience. No wonder it is very popular among backpackers and long-term travelers. They also serve delicious breakfast comprising of bread, fruits and desserts. Their room is spacious too. One of our friends joined us on our third night and the hostel only charged her at a minimum price. We just joined the two beds together so the three of us could fit in. 

What I didn’t quite like about it:  There is only one common toilet and shower per floor with no exhaust fans.

Plus points: Suk 11 is just a 5-minute walk from the BTS Nana Station. There are also a lot of restaurants nearby.

Photo credit to my travel buddy, +Mc Santos RN

Impeccable Wood Carvings at the Royal Thai Handicraft Village

In-between our tour from Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Samphran Elephant Ground and Crocodile Zoo, we dropped by the Royal Thai Handicraft Village. The art center showcases  a vast collection of wood carvings created by exceptionally talented Thai artists. From small to huge art works, Buddha images to elephant statues, tables to cabinets, every piece is hand-crafted brilliantly.

Some of the busy artists at work

Fun day at Samphran Elephant Ground and Crocodile Zoo

Included in our Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tour was visiting the Samphran Elephant Ground and Crocodile Zoo.  The zoo wasn’t exactly a place where you can find or learn more about Thai culture or history, but it was entertaining altogether.

Kids and kids at heart loved watching the elephants worked like they were once used by Siamese and Burmese armies, and also had fun as they played football and showed some dancing skills.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tour

If you read Bangkok “must-see” or “must-go” places for tourists, the Floating Market is almost always on the list. Despite reading the posts of The Sole Sisters and Flip Travels, I still insisted on going to the very popular destination during my second trip to Bangkok with my family. I happily took care of the itinerary and booked a package via online which included a tour to the Samphran Elephant Ground& Crocodile Zoo.  

The Floating Market is situated 110km west of Bangkok. It took us about 2 hours to arrive at the station where we boarded on a long-tail boat going to Damnoen Saduak.

Photo credit:  Phil Parker

Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In Royal Palace Tour

Also known as the Ancient City, Ayutthaya is Thailand's former capital for over 400 years. Its rich history and impressive ruins make it one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country. It is approximately 80km from central Bangkok and an estimated hour-away drive. There are public rides available going there, but for convenience sake, I decided to book a full day tour for me and my friend via online. The cheapest package I found costs ฿850 each person which includes round trip transfers, lunch and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace tour.

We were promptly picked up by our tour guide at 6:15am as stated in the confirmation e-mail. But like any group tour, the other tourists were picked up as well in their respective hotels. We arrived in Ayutthaya at around 8am. 

Our tour started off with Wat Phu Khao Thong or the Monastery of the Golden Mount. And yes, unlike backing off  at Wat Arun, we eagerly climbed the steep stairs of this beautiful chedi. Getting down was another story. J 

Must-see Bangkok Temples (Day 2)

The morning after our first day in Bangkok was filled with much anticipation. We were hoping that the Grand Palace would already be available for tourists following an official event yesterday. There was no way we would miss it the second time. Missing the Grand Palace would also mean not being able to see the Temple of Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), one of Thailand's most significant temples. 

Entrance fee: ฿400

How to get there: We followed the same route going to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha yesterday. From the nearest BTS station from our hostel, we took the Sukhumvit line and alighted to Siam station, then interchanged to Silom line. If you're staying near the Silom line, then it would be easier for you since you don't need to change trains anymore. From Siam station, we got off to Saphan Taksin station.We took the 'Exit 2' and walked straight until we found the Central Pier. We no longer bought the One Day river pass  since we only intended of going to one station. Instead of buying from the ticket office, we just paid at the Chao Phraya Express boat. One-way ticket going to N9 pier station/ Majaraj Pier was around ฿13.

Walk straight from the pier station, until you will find the white walls of the Grand Palace.

First blog entry: Must-see Bangkok Temples (Day 1)

It's the year 2014! How time indeed flies too fast.

I still vividly remember back in March 2012, I was in one of my flights to Cebu for a work-related trip. I read an article in the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific, Smile, which featured two empowered women who left their corporate jobs, embarked on a 6-month trip to South East Asia, and set up the now well-known blog, We are Sole Sisters. I knew I always wanted to see the world, but reading the article inspired me to make travel happen for real. Few months later, I invited my friend to join me for a trip to Bangkok. So here I am, after encouragement and support from some of my friends, finally sharing my first travel diary to other fun-loving and adventurous travel enthusiasts out there!