Bangkok Day 4 - Sealife Aquarium

I have decided to give the morning market a miss and slept in until 8ish. We had been discussing about the last day activity the night before. Even with the late check out at 2pm, we had 4 hours to burn before the taxi picked us up for the airport. Our flight was at 9.10pm.

We eventually decided to head to the Sealife Aquarium. It is located at the basement of a huge shopping mall - Siam Paragon, that is not too far off from our hotel. Their website is lousy and we couldn't exactly tell how much is the entry price. There was some up to 35% discount if we booked the tickets online but it had to be done 24 hours prior to entry. We missed the deadline. We read reviews about expensive tickets. Nevertheless, it was important to find something to entertain the kids. Coincidentally, Lil Isaac pick up a BTS map at the station the day before and insisted that I kept it. I had that map in my bag and while I was cleaning my bag, I saw that there was an advertisement for the Sealife aquarium and offering 25% discount. We didn't know if that promotion worked given our encounter with Dream World but brought along the map regardless. Daddy Lim posing with all our balance $. Haha.

We had bfast in the room again. I bought some authentic Thai food that didn't go well with our taste buds. Daddy Lim had to buy MacDonalds bfast for round 2. Lol.

After bfast, we went to Platinum Mall again for some last minute shopping and it of course didn't go well with the kids. There are 5 levels of shopping at the mall but we barely skimmed through 3 levels and we had to leave before the kids killed us. Lol. We did some efficient shopping though and bought some stuff.

We rested in the hotel while I did some last minute final packing. We check out at about 1pm and headed to the aquarium. Siam Paragon is about 15 mins walk away. We decided to be tourists and caught a tutu instead. The kids were so excited. All 5 of us squeezed into a tiny tutu. I had to sit on the floor. It was probably not a smart choice to take a tutu amidst the traffic jam and afternoon sun. My butt was burning from the hot floor but the kids were so happy. Lol.

Luckily the ride didn't take that long. However, the driver dropped us at who-knows-where and there was some fair bit of walking before we arrived at the mall. At that point, I also realised that Lil Isaac was warm and seemed to be coming down with a fever. He was still active just that he demanded to be carried a lpt for the rest of the trip.

There was a long q to the aquarium. Whilst at the ticketing counter, we were told that the 35% discount was for package tickets with add-ons and we were glad that we didn't buy those bcos there was long q to those add on attractions within the aquarium. The best thing? The promotion on the BTS map worked and we enjoyed 25% discount to 4 tickets and paid full price for the last child ticket. The tickets were priced at THB 990 for adult and THB 790 for child.

Tanks with different fishes and crabs greeted us upon entry.

We took our time to walk the aquarium. I am quite sure that it wasn't as crowded as the one we had in Singapore.  I heard people queuing for hours back home. There were 2 levels and different theme stations.

In my opinion, it was quite worth the expensive entry. There was this huge tank.

We saw feeding. I thought it was quite scary to swim with the fishes. Haha. I know, it is me.

There was also this tunnel and we saw fishes all around us.

What I was really impressed with was how the tank was structured such that we can really see some of the fishes swimming right next to us, the sharks heading for us and at such proximity that we could see its teeth clearly.

We left the aquarium 2 hours later and headed to Central World. Daddy Lim wanted to visit this guitar shop. We had coffee and snacks while he ran off to check his stuff out. He returned empty handed and we headed back to the hotel via the tutu again. 

We flagged down a 1st tutu that quoted us THB 200, which was doubled of what we paid to get to Siam Paragon. He claimed that there was traffic jam. The 2nd one asked for THB 150 and we agreed thinking that there was really traffic jam and the journey to Siam Paragon did take a while. To our surprise, we arrived back at the hotel in less than 5 mins. What traffic jam?

 We had one hour to burn at the hotel lobby but they have 2 computers with Internet connections in their lobby. The kids were glued to the computer while the adults stoned. We also gave some medicine to Lil Isaac, hoping that it would help him feel better.

The ride to the airport was very smooth. The airport didn't seem so far and we arrived safe and sound in 30 mins. We checked in, had a light dinner and headed to the gate, hoping to get on the plane ASAP and start using the entertainment system but there was quite some waiting.

We stuck to the same seating arrangement as we came. We requested for kids meal and they were served 1st. This arrangement works fantastic. Lil Isaac's fever broke and he had a great appetite having not taken much for bfast and lunch.  All of us also enjoyed the in flight entertainment very much. It was an enjoyable journey home.

We touched down at 12.20am and the kids settled into bed at almost 1.30am. We would be sending them to school the next day. Hehe. Evil grin.

Mummy Lim

Bangkok Day 3 - Chatuchak and Art of Paradise

I got out of the room again at 6 am for the morning market. It was probably the weekend and the market was more crowded than the morning before - crowded with Thais. It takes some skill to survive the market. Rule no. 1 -avoid the people delivering huge trolley of goods. They suddenly appeared in front or behind without warning. Rule no. 2 - avoid being knock down by motor vehicles (usually motorcycle) that again appeared from nowhere. Rule no. 3 - squeeze through the human mountains. There were some pushing and there was no need to say sorry, just move, dont block the way, while making sure that their not-so-mini trolley bags don't go over your fragile feet. Rule no. 4 - not get lost in the maze. After the 1st morning training, I am an expert already. Haha.

Though there were probably 100s of stalls in  the market, most of them sell about the same things. I had bought mostly what I wanted the 1st morning and only manage another 2 bottoms and a jacket on the 2nd morning. Nevertheless, I was happy, happy to do shopping quietly without having to man noisy kids. Hehe. I arrived back at the hotel at 7 am and they were still in lala land. We bought bfast and had it in the comfort of the room that morning. We mainly had MacDonalds bfast and some normal sandwiches.

We left the hotel at 8.45am to head to Chatuchak. This was one of my to-go list. We wanted to cab there but there was a terrible jam and we couldn't get a cab. We walked to the BTS instead and realised how far it was. It was a good 10 mins walk and cost us about the same to get to Mo Chit station. Along the way, a tutu offered to send us to Chatuchak at only THB 150, which is cheaper than taxi and that is strange bcos usually tutu charge tourist more than taxi. When I probed more, the driver admitted about sending us to go to this honey place 1st. I read about such tactics shared by other travellers. We decided to continue with BTS. Daddy Lim was left puzzled and while I tried to explain to Daddy Lim, Lil Isaac sort of understood and was so funny when he said, "We only wanted to go to Chatuchak but tutu uncle wants us to eat his honey." Sounded so wrong. Lol.

The BTS ride was fairly comfortable and fast. Upon alighting from the train, getting to Chatuchak was really easy - just follow the crowd. Finally, we had arrived. I had been dreaming about coming.

There were so many things to see. Unfortunately, the kids started making noise barely 30 mins after arrival despite all the shopping for their stuff.  Win already. The highlights for them must be the ice lolly.

We decided to leave after 2 hours and didn't see so many shops. We all bought something though. I call this efficient shopping. Lol. The things at Chatuchak were more expensive than the Pratunam market but I think it is an experience to browse and look, which we unfortunately didn't really quite achieve. The morning market did me fantastic bcos I got my shopping fix and was happy to keep the kids entertained while Daddy Lim and Nainai shopped.

Moving on, we took the MRT to the Thailand Cultural Center. The Esplanade Mall, which houses the Art of Paradise (AP), is right next to it.  I am quite sure that the MRT is a new thing and it wasn't there during our last trip. Travelling to Esplanade Mall was again easy. We had lunch at the mall and headed to the AP, which is like a trick eye museum. The kids were so much more excited than Chatuchak. Haha. These were some of the nicer pictures that we took.

The kids, especially Lil Shauna are so good with posing now and were so naturally without us having to tell them what to do.

We spent about 2 hours at AP and ended our trip with coffee and this hard candy biscuit that required some smashing. It tasted not too bad.

We took a cab back to the hotel and Lil Isaac fell asleep. He continued napping back in the room and what did Lil Shauna and I do? Massage! We had 30 mins of foot massage given the lack of time - the little girl's 1st and she loves it.

The kids swam again in the evening while I happily relax one corner. Haha.

A pretty picture of our hotel in the evening.

Dinner was at this seafood stall set up only every evening right on the pavement beside our hotel. The food was not too bad but pricey. It cost us about SGD 50 for 4 dishes.

Ice cream at the Platinum Mall opposite the street completed our dinner. 

Most of the shops were closed by then and we headed back to the night market for Nainai to spend some money. She hadn't done much shopping. The kids needed help to get back at the end of the day.

The best about traveling with another adult? We tucked the kids in and got Nainai to help us watch over the sleeping kids while we went for an hour of body massage. Woohoo! 2 massages in a day! Most of the massage places were full and we had to wait a little. The massage could be better but overall was still great. 

Mummy Lim

Bangkok Day 2 - Dream World

One of the main reasons to stay at PG is its proximity to the Pratunam market. The notorious Prarunam morning market opens as early as 5 am. It is mainly a wholesale market and the Thais shopped here to get their loots to sell somewhere else. Having walk past the market to get to the night market the night before, I knew exactly where it is. However, I was still a little jittery to have to leave the hotel room that early. I was out at 6 am.  I was much comforted when I see many people on the streets and I definitely wasn't the only one heading to the morning market.

The morning market was already busy when I arrived. To get good price, I have to buy a minimum of 3 pieces and some shops insisted on 3 pieces of the same design. Otherwise, the individual pieces may be 50% more expensive but still very cheap in absolute terms. Imagine buying a top at THB 150 or wholesale price of THB 100 each if minimum 3 pieces. I was over the moon SHOPPING! It was heavenly to be shopping and buying without having to think too much bcos they were all so cheap. Hehe. I bought some bottoms and some t-shirt. Their non t-shirt tops are a little too interesting for my liking.

The kids were awake when I was back to the room at 7 am. We paid for the hotel bfast that cost us about SGD 50 and it wasn't fantastic. The kids had a good potion and that was good. They often take some time to get used to food whej we travel.

After bfast, we set off to Dream World - a Thailand "home-made" theme world. I read reviews about it being pretty old but good enuff to entertain kids for a good day. We got a taxi with the help of the hotel staff and were quoted THB 500. When we boarded the cab, the cab driver told us that the hotel staff actually charged him a fee of THB 100 to ferry us. What an interesting industry. The kids, while waiting for the taxi. Both of them were wearing new clothes that we just bought. 

It took us about 1 hr to arrive at Dream World and we saw schools of children at the entrance.

 Apparently, many Thailand schools decided that it was a great day for school outing to Dream World. The foreigners had to buy entrance tickets at the information counter and foreigners can only buy unlimited rides ticket at THB 650 each regardless of age. The locals had option to buy single ride or just entrance tickets. So we also paid THB 650 for nainai who didn't take a single ride. Sob.

The kids were very excited even though we had been to much more interesting theme parks previously.

Unfortunately, the exciting rides had a height limit of 140cm, even viking. Lil Isaac loves the viking and had went on the viking many times in other theme parks. So the kids were reduced to kiddish rides. Luckily Lil Shauna didn't complain.

For some of the rides, they took on their own and I had the opportunity to capture this lovely scene. They do take care of each other when their parents aren't around.

The theme park had quite some titam games as well. Winning is probably 20% skill and 80% luck. Lil Isaac was lucky and he won this with his 1st THB 100.

I had to restrict the kids to only 2 games of such bcos our last visit to Taiwan theme park saw us came back with plenty of such small, cheap soft toys and we have kept most soft toys in the house in attempt to combat Lil Isaac's possible sensitive nose issue.

We stopped for lunch and it was either us not used to the food or the theme park served lousy food. We had an outdoor seating initially and I think I actually sat on a bee and got stung on my butt. I felt this sharp pain and brushed off this struggling little creatures with wings. Then I saw a small black speck on my butt but it was so painful. Daddy Lim plucked out what appeared to be a thorn and before I could truly decipher the struggling creature's identify, Daddy Lim averaged on my behalf and smashed it with his foot. Win already. The pain was bad and I went to the 1st aid station hoping to get some help.

At the 1st aid post, I was greeted by a man in his 50s, who cannot speak English. I had to reenact the scene and then rudely showed him my butt. Lol. But my acting must be quite there bcos he eventually understood that I was stung by probably a bee. It probably wasn't serious too bcos he gave me some alcohol to clean the wound and sent me off. The pain did subside  after a little while.  See, I was pretty much alive.

Maybe bcos we couldn't take the exciting rides or maybe bcos the park wasn't big, the kids and I were bored by early afternoon. We decided to leave after some pictures.

We left the park at about 3 pm and found a meter cab easily. Inclusive of the toll, it cost us about THB 500 to back to the hotel and all of us knocked out in the bus.

Back at the hotel, the kids had fun at the pool!

We ended the day early with a dinner at a pizza delivery place.

Mummy Lim