It's been a while since I last explored Bangkok; I liked the city during my first visit. The bustling and vibrant city was a mix of old and new. The towering buildings and the neon lights of the shopping centers mixed with the old and royal structures. The tuktuks raced with the latest cars, and the old neighborhoods were next to the commercial districts. Walking around Bangkok was like entering a time warp.

For this trip, our group was shown a different side of the city that I didn't see in my previous trips.

Thailand is a backpacker's haven because of the affordable accommodations, food, tours, and shopping. Here is a breakdown of the expenses I incurred during and before my trip to Thailand:

Eating and shopping in Bangkok is not a problem because of the cheap prices and different offerings. Honestly, I'm not a big shopper but I can seriously say that the items were cheap and definitely affordable.

The lights dim, and the shadows rise from the streets for a moment the city of Bangkok is shrouded in darkness. Then out of the darkness shards of light glimmer and release their luminescence lighting up the skies and brightening up the streets.


 

Thailand can be the best place you visit but it can turn into one tourist trap if you are not careful.



As soon as you get to the city there are plenty of tuktuk drivers promising to take you anywhere you want. Beware of these drivers because they are trying to pull a fast one on you. They will charge you an exorbitant amount of money just to bring you to a place that is 5-10 minutes away.

After exploring the temples and the city on my first day, I decided to book a tour for the ancient ruins in Ayutthaya. The tour I got cost me, as far as I can remember, 500-600 Baht for a day tour that comes with guide, van transfers, fees, and food.

Ayutthaya was the former capital of Thailand. Ayutthaya faced many wars and changed hands among the Burmese, Thais, and Khmer empires. The city was founded by King U Thong in 1350. Upon seeing the city, I felt the sense of history permeating through the old ruins and Buddhist statues within the complex. 

I got up early during my first REAL day in Bangkok. I decided to visit the famous temples around the city, but first I went back to the airport to switch to another hotel. I booked 2 nights in Nappark Hostel in Khao San Road. Nappark Hostel is a pretty well-known backpacker hotel in Bangkok. I booked a dorm type room for 920 Baht (approximately P1,225) for 2 nights.

Before I got to Khao San Road, I had to take the train to the city. I took the free airport transfer back to the airport to try the subway. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a good distance away from the city center. The train ride took 45 minutes to the station I was supposed to get to.

Train Ticket

I bought my ticket to Bangkok, Thailand WAY in advance, close to a year in advance to be exact. My motto as a traveler is that hindi uso ang spontaneous sa nagtitipid I don't know how to put that precisely in English. But my thinking is that to get the lowest prices on airfare is to get them early, unless you know someone from the airline you avail you won't be getting tickets for cheap.The ticket I booked lasted for 4 days and 3 nights during the second week of November, 10-13 to be exact.

The tickets I got to Bangkok were from Cebupacific's weekly promo fares. Unfortunately the ticket was form Clark to Bangkok and back and not from Manila. I had to endure 1-2 hours of travel time just to get to the airport for my flight. I took the Philtranco bus from SM Megamall A to Clark. The fare cost me P400 one way.

Clark Airport