Land of Thousand Smiles - May 14 (Day 2).

*Photo Intensive Post*

Ami has been to Bangkok many times but she never been to the tourist-y sites before.

We always go shopping only.

Ma, Pa, Michelle and I went on a group tour like 12-13 years ago.

Vaguely remembering the tour, we went to Pattaya, Dreamworld, Temples etc etc.

So, this time round, we took a day tour to Floating Market, Emerald Buddha Temple and the Grand Palace.

Our first vehicle and guide to the Floating Market.

Drinking cha-yen while waiting for the boats to start working.

First sighting of soldiers - more to come..

There were only 4-5 groups of 2-4 tourists for this boat ride.

Unlike last time when there were hordes.

Before heading to the boat.

Our guide - she had a really cold sense of humor.

Does this remind you of Japan?

Feeding catfish near a temple.

We stopped at this mini zoo.

I saw this monkey and wanted to take a photo.

Before I realise, he reached out for my camera and tried to snatch.

Dropped my camera on the floor.

Heng the lens didn't break or crack.

Taught me a lesson not to take photos of monkeys.

The usual snake show.

Wasn't even comparable to the Phuket one.

Back on the boat waiting for the rest.

Our guide was probably the only one who didn't bother upselling us with any further packages.

Arty-farty photo of the sky and temple.

At the Gems Gallery, waiting for other tourist to go for lunch.

A pretty normal stop for all tourist that go on a tour in BKK.

No $ to buy so we just sat there to enjoy air-con and free drinks.

We paid 200 Baht for a buffet lunch at a hotel.

Had a pretty full lunch.

Dim Sum - yum yum!

Dim Sum and Tom Yum soup.

Food = Happy!

Next, we waited for close to 1 hour at the hotel lobby for the mini van that was stuck in traffic.

If I knew, I'd have continued eating!!

We met with other tourist and talked about Pattaya and the shock they got when they went there.

It kinda went on and on..

Entrance of the Grand Palace.

There were some officers and diplomats visting thus the large amount of people.

It was really hot that day, waiting under the shade while the guide went to get the tickets.

Heading to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

I look ultra happy coz that's 18k gold plated tiles I'm standing next to...

The floors were marble!!!

The pagodas the are on the ground.

I don't really remember what they are but they aren't open to public.

The floor is marble.

And the blue structure behind was the shrine built for the Emerald Buddha but as it can't house the entire Royal family during celebrations, they are tearing it down.

Standing under the Bodhi Tree.

Another structure being supported by monkeys and demons.

The guide was telling us that you differentiate them by the feets.

Monkeys do not wear shoes and demons do.

The Emerald Buddha Temple.

The Emerald Buddha.

We can't take photos inside but it was real serene when we stepped in.

Was like a totally different world.

Our guide explaining the wall murals that were hand painted.

Grand palace.

Our guide and another tourist.

The guard - this one not that handsome.

I wonder if Buckingham palace looks grand-er?

Time to head back to the hotel when the guide told us that due to road closures we can't!

Had to go back to the Gems Gallery to put us in different mini-vans to get us back to our individual hotels.

At the gallery, no driver was willing to take us.

So back to the aircon waiting room.

When we finally heard news of heading back, they told us we need to walk some parts.

No idea how serious it was.

We were dropped about 4-5 streets away due to a jam.

2 other guides walked with us back to pratunam as they stay that area.

Really thanks to them for ensuring our safety until we reach the road to our hotel.

The streets were lined with soldiers carrying rifles.

There were also truckloads of them at the intersection as we walked nearer to our hotel.

The main road was totally deserted except for reporters.

No cars, taxis or tuk-tuks.

We went to Baiyoke Sky for dinner.

Wanted to eat at their grill bar on the 83rd floor but it was closed.

So we headed to the coffee bar.

Rice Biscuit with sweet curry.

This was my favorite of the whole meal.

Pad Thai and Green Curry with Roti.

Desert - Sticky rice with young coconut ice cream.

I only like the ice cream.

Over dinner we heard 2 loud boom.

It was grenades going off at the Pratunam area.

Land of Thousand Smiles - May 13 (Day 1).

After the delay for a month, Ami & I finally headed for Bangkok.

We got a little more than we bargained for this trip as the situation escalated while we were there.

Ami sms-ing ma (i think)...

My first buys - MAC (as usual) Liberty of London Shell Pearl beauty powder and Elizabeth Arden brush set.

The MAC concealer belongs to Ami.

Our lunch onboard the flight.

Chicken with Foccacia bread and Pringles.

The cookie lolly was from me to Ami =)

We moved to the last row so that we had the whole row of seats to ourselves.

Does the land look like a 'heart' shape?

We managed to catch a cab and head straight to the hotel to check-in.

Baiyoke Boutique hotel.

The price dropped from about 1,400 baht to 1,100 baht per night with breakfast.

This is right behind Baiyoke Sky.

Compared to Baiyoke Suite, this is a great improvement.

Photo before we head out to Platinum and boy was I glad we went on Thursday.

The mall closed early at 5pm with an announcement that due to traffic issue they were closing early.

Also, the mall won't be opened on Friday.

Everyone was scrambling out of the building.

We didn't know what this was actually indicating until the next 2 days.

Anyway, we headed back to the hotel and passed by this street vendor selling something that resembles fried carrot cake + fried oyster.

Nice with the chilli sauce.

I have no idea what's in it other than for seafood.

But it is yummy!

Think it was 20 baht.

Since everything was closed, we asked the front desk where we could go for shopping.

They suggested Emporium at Phrom Phong BTS station.

Was about 100 baht to get there from our hotel with no jam.

Guess what we saw?

Naraya!!

This store had 2 storeys!!

Since Centralworld was closed, we couldn't head to the Naraya there.

After spending $ here, we headed to Emporium for food.

Emporium housed most of the high end brands - LV, Gucci etc.

But they had normal shopping brands like Isetan.

Food and supermarket's usually on the top floor.

We ate Mos!

Tom Yum Pork Cheese Burger.

Waiting for our food.

Our meal costs less than 300 baht (S$13).

Food!

Yakiniku Rice Burger for me.

The rice was so soft. SG one's a tad bit harder.

There's Thai Sweet Chilli!

Yummy!

Supermarket's pet corner.

Suan Lum was the center of the protest site so it's a no-no there too.

Ami had to get some of Prada's stuff here.

Our best friend for the next 3 days in Bangkok.

Bought this and lugged it back to the hotel.

At the taxi stand, the taxis didn't want to fetch us as they mentioned that the roads were closed at our area.

This was after 3 hours of leaving?

The second cab was willing to take us but mentioned that we had to walk back from where he drop us.

The lucky thing was that the roads opened when he reached Pratunam area.

Heng I didn't need to lug the water!!

This was the street outside Baiyoke at around 9pm.

No taxis, no tuk-tuk.

This was only the beginning.