Bangkok - 30th April - 2nd May - Part 2

Our Day 2 start early as I got a deal from Groupon to go Maeklong and Damnoen Floating Market. Me & my girl enjoys and love  hotel buffet and the hotel we stay has quite a good spread! My little toddler also enjoys his breakfast in his high chair 

Our tour bus came at 0720 sharp! And I would consider 'unlucky' to have some 'youngster' on the bus. I was carrying my toddler in the carrier and it is not possible for me to squeeze through to go to the back seats and end up I got to wait for my hub and my girl to settle before I could get a seat near to the door. Well, I was actually hoping the youngster could offer to change seat with me but unfortunately not 

The journey took us about 1 hour 45mins and it was very very hot in the mini bus (seems like the aircon has broke down), my boy is sweating like mad! Our first stop is the train market and we have around 30mins to roam around. It was so crowded that I had to ask my hub to squeeze into the crowds to get some picture!

Crazy crowds!

After which we went to the floating market which seems to be more 'lively' and more 'touristy' comparing to another one which I went before. Also very crowded and hot till I 'pek chek' (frustrated in hokkien ) I got to tried the Coconut Ice Cream which I find it 'so - so'. 

Coconut Ice Cream

It was time to go back, the weather was seriously hot (38 degree) and the youngster was chit chatting with the tour guide and I couldn't board the bus. Because I was sitting near to the door and carrying my boy I had to be the last to get up. Is just my unlucky day! We requested to alight at Platinum Mall to grab our late lunch at the food court, have some shopping before heading back to hotel to get some rest. 

I think this Sashimi cost less than $6SGD

Our dinner at Central World and we took a walked outside the street before we end our day!

Bangkok - 30th April - 2nd May - Part 1

Went for a super short trip on the long weekend to BKK! Ever since I deliver my boy, I really missed this place alot! I booked my flight with Air Asia before the tragic accident happens! I usually don't buy travel insurance but I did it for this time round since I can't change my flight. Thankfully we are all safe!

We arrived at Don Mueang Airport which is a smaller airport and we got to transfer by bus after we touch down to the arrival hall. The taxi counter is at lane 8, cheaper than the airport taxi who quote us 700baht!

For the accommodation I booked Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok , is wonderful! The best thing was the free upgrade! Who don't love good things that comes free?  We got their Family Deluxe room which comes with bunk bed and a king sized bed, perfect for families with kids! Their lobby is located at level 9!

Nice lobby!

What I like:
Friendly helpful staff especially the security teams
Clean room, non carpeted flooring
Many toiletries provided
Spacious room
Good breakfast spread
Good location
Good wifi (individual room network)

The not so good:
King sized bed can feel bits of 'sandy' 
Stay in room 1019, which is directly above the lobby and the music was too loud on the day where they had some event going on. I have a toddler so this can be disturbing
Bath tub was a little too high for the kids
Pillow was too soft
For short stay I usually don't require housekeeping but their switch goes off when you take out the room card which defeat the purpose of having the switch

Tips: Some cabby doesn't know the location, please always carry a map or hotel card ALWAYS ASK FOR METER WHEN YOU TAKE A CAB! We were asked for 400baht from Siam Square back to hotel
Turn right from the hotel main entrance, head towards to the main road and turn left, cross the bridge and platinum mall is just opposite
Platinum mall - 10 mins walk
Big C / Central World - 15 mins walk
Childom station - 25 mins walk

Some wear and tear

After checking in and settled, we went to search for the famous Wanton Mee which is just beside us!

Directions: Wanton Mee - SabX2 Pratunam Wanton Noodles 4/32-33 Soi Petchburi 19
Glow Pratunam Hotel (Glow Pratunam is also the same building where they call the Shibuya Shopping Mall). On the lane where you see Mcdonalds, walk in, it is around 6 to 7 shops in the lane and on the right side of the lane. Pretty easy which you won't missed!

We reach at around BKK time 2pm, no queue and their popular braised pork trotter is already sold out 

Please note that they are closed at BKK time 3pm!

We ordered 2 large and 1 small bowls of noodles and the total damage was around SG$10. Hub was commenting it is expensive and not really that super de duper fantastic  

After which, we went to Platinum to walked (I am not really a shop-alcoholic) and didn't realize they have a 'extension building' next to it. This prove how long I have not been here lolz...

As for dinner, we went to their famous restaurant chain, Somboon Seafood! There is a newly opened outlet at Siam Square one which is the closest for us. We ordered their 'must ordered' dish, Fried Curry Crab, Steamed Fish (for my toddler), Vegetable and Tom Yum soup!

Their baby chair with no safety harness or anything to 'locked' my toddler. Thankfully I brought my 'Todseat'

I specified not so spicy and didn't expect it still turn out to be so good!

Best! The sauce is not spicy, 'eggy', creamy and yummy!

Disappointing because of the stinky fishy smell 

Crunchy and fragrant!

Spot Hello Kitty Cafe when we exit from the back of the mall!

Total for the dinner: $80SGD with drinks, beer and rice for 2 adults and 1 child and 1 toddler. Is costly but we felt is worth it. 

You don't really need any itinerary in BKK unless you heading outskirt. That the end of our day one and we head back to rest early for tomorrow day trip!

Seoul + Busan 14th March - 21st March- Day 7 & 8

I will sum up Day 7 & 8

Day 7:
Tosokchon
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Hondae - Hello Kitty Cafe
Namdaemun Market

Day 8:
Prepare to go home
Last minute shop at Lotte Mart

On Day 7 we woke up early to go Tosokchon, the famous place to have their Ginseng Chicken for breakfast lol...

To get there:
5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu,near Gyeongbokgung station, Exit 2, reach a cross junction, turn left. Is located at a corner of the street, quite easy to locate.

Link: Gyeongbokgung Palace

Seafood Pancake - every food is just so yummy

Black Chicken Ginseng

White Chicken version

The crowd when we are leaving at 11am

Is worth the trip, their soup is light, tasty and nutritious. They can speak chinese too. After this we head to the Palace which is just across them.

We didn't stay for the ceremony which is held at 1pm. After this we head to the station which is conveniently located at the back of  the Palace to get to Hondae. 

Is quite a long walk to Hello Kitty Cafe. Sorry I have no direction for it as I am getting very exhausted after so many days of walking, sick and carrying a toddler I simply follow my hub as he went around to ask how to get there. A nice and pretty cafe for you to relax and take many photos. After this we head back to Namdaemun Market as my friend wants to do a spectacle there. Is cheap, the spect is very flexible too! On the way there we took a cab as I am seriously too tired to walk. We got cheated by the taxi who brought us round and round!  Well, dishonest cabby, you can find it everywhere. The fare was 15000 but hub just shoved him with 12000 and we got off, so pissed off!

My friends head back a day earlier than us and all I wanted is an early rest for tonight, packed up and ready to go home tomorrow. I seriously missed home, I never had such a bad holiday which I didn't get to enjoy, sadly.

Anyway my last day, we went to Seoul station for breakfast, went Lotte Mall to grab more goodies to bring home. We booked a taxi from our hotel to send us to airport.

In case you need a taxi, you may consider the. Friendly and huge cabby!

Photo credit from: http://cavinteo.blogspot.sg/2014/10/hotel-manu-near-seoul-station-namdaemun.html

Seoul + Busan 14th March - 21st March    Seoul Day 1 Seoul Day 2 Seoul Day 3 Seoul Day 4 Seoul Day 5 Seoul Day 6 Seoul Final Wrap Up