Au Revoir

Thank you for the memories magicandmirth but it's now time for a change. 

See you guys on the flipside!

All I want for Christmas is...

It's finally that time of the year again when we get all giddy with excitement, choosing wrapping paper, making lists and playing mind games with regards to Secret Santa. Anyhow, it is what has gotten me back on this little space because I want to make my Secret Santa's life a lot easier. Aren't I thoughtful? IKR. Okay, enough of the chit chat, let's get down to business. I haven't had the time to comb through the net and get specific products that I want/ need but here's a rough idea of what I reaaaaaally want/ need!

1. Pretty iPhone 5S covers

2. Laptop case for my 13" Macbook Pro 

3. You cannot go wrong with quirky jewelry

or ear studs

or necklaces

or bangles

or rings

the list is endless

4. I always appreciate candles and essential oils

and I am particularly partial to eucalyptus and bergamot

5. I welcome any appreciation of caffeine

6. P.S, I absolutely adore everything from Franc franc from their teacups to 

elephant printed laundry bags or their candles and tote bags.

7. If all else fails, I'd adore quirky things to pretty up my room with!

8. Bed sheets! I don't have any of my own since I upgraded my bed to a queen so...

anything white, navy, grey or pretty will suffice. Thanks.

9. Or really just random knick knacks such as a disposable camera!

Or passport cover 

Or luggage tag

etc.

I'm so easy to shop for guys, seriously. Stop whining that I'm tough. I would also appreciate the entire collection of Tolkien, Rowling or C.S. Lewis. Thanks. Or the more contemporary works of Murakami or Atwood. Or perhaps you would like to contribute to my "new tattoo fund".

Hehe. Happy shopping guys! <3 AND A MERRY X'MAS HOYEAH.

สยาม Pt. 2

It is essentially 6 floors of shopping. Yup. Get ready to actually get sick of shopping.

>$3 denim shorts

SAY WHUT?!

My damage done at Platinum VS.

Nik's damage hahahaha. I guess it's safe to say that I'm a little OCD.

Best buy of the day. Yay!

GIANT PRAWNS AND AWESOME CHILI SAUCE

Best Tom Yam ever.

Nik's new boyfriend

Well, here's something you don't see everyday! The homes along the river bank as taken from the water taxi. So awesome.

Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)

From this point on, all photos are from my phone because I so dumb as to not charge my camera for the most eventful day of the trip. Sigh sigh apple pie.

Look at that detail on the roof

It is just a short 2-minute walk from Wat Saket to Wat Ratchanatdaram so please do not take a taxi!

Wow.

Wat Ratchanatdaram

The iconic metal sphires

One of my favourite photos taken of Bangkok. This lady was sewing diligently away at her sewing machine that was set up just below a flyover. This is Bangkok for you. Unexpected people in unexpected places, doing unexpected things. 

Of course, what is a trip to Bangkok without a spanking new manicure?

Those swallows were all hand-painted on. That makes 30 painstakingly hand-painted swallows. 

"So fast the sign spoil already..."

HAHAHAHA

1. Platinum Fashion Mall
This is pretty self-explanatory. It is everything everyone has said about it and more. We started from B1 and worked our way up. By the time we were on level 4, I was positively sick of shopping and dying for some food. The fare at the food court upstairs is relatively decent but like the food courts we have in Singapore, they have some pretty sub-par food. Nik and Abby had beef noodles which were pretty damn awesome according to them and I had a prawn Phad Thai that was... so-so. I'll give it a B4.

Also, it would be good to take note that bargaining doesn't really work here anymore. They're so used to tourists going there that they honestly can't be fucked to haggle with you anymore. They usually just quote a price and it's up to you to take it or not. If you don't, they're not really worried about losing your business because there are so many customers anyway. Also, we did majority of our shopping on a Monday which got progressively crowded over time but that was nothing compared to Tuesday. I think Tuesday is when the new stocks come in or something because the amount of people queuing to buy stocks is absolutely insane. I'd suggest to stick to a Monday to do your shopping there.

2. Taxi ✓, BTS ✓ and Tuk-Tuk ✓.
Next up, the water taxi.
We took a water taxi along a canal near Chao Phraya to Maha Nak (if I am not mistaken) where Wat Saket and Wat Ratchanatdaram was. In any case, it is the last stop on the water taxi. They'll tell everyone to get off, don't worry. It was about 8-12 baht if I recall correctly... that's about 20-40 cents I reckon. So why would anyone spend about 300-400baht ($14-19) to take a taxi when you get to travel on the water for 40 cents?!

3. Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหารh AKA The Golden Mount
Finally, we were done with shopping and headed out of the city for some sightseeing. The Golden Mount is quite a lovely visit. It's pretty much as its name suggests, a little climb up a hill. Be sure to go all the way up if you get there. There's a really steep staircase to the "roof" of the temple. We almost went back down before Abby spotted a man on the "roof" so it intrigued us enough to find a way up. I promise you that the view is well worth the climb.

It is a functioning Buddhist temple that dates back to the Ayutthaya era and an annual candlelight procession is held there to the chedi every November so if you happen to travel to Bangkok then, do check it out!

4. Wat Ratchanatdaram Woravihara วัดราชนัดดาราม (Holy crap, that's a mouthful!)
My absolute favourite place in Bangkok. I know that I have only been there once but I love it. I simply have to go back to there when I visit Bangkok again. I don't care much about religion since I have decided to declare myself agnostic but this temple has an amazing calming quality. I would have loved to spend the whole afternoon there. Oh and did I mention that admission is free? ^^

Wat Ratchanatdaram is also a Buddhist temple and is the only Loha Prasat (Metal Palace) in Thailand. There are two more constructed in the world (Sri Lanka and India) but they're both in ruins now. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is the only functioning metal-sphired temple in the world. It has three floors; an interactive museum/ exhibition of sorts on the first, a walking meditation maze on the second, and a listening meditation maze on the third. There was a fourth level but it was under construction so we did not get the opportunity to climb up. Sad panda.

5. MBK
MBK was meh. It reeked of tourist traps but we headed there to take a look anyway (mostly because I'm a noob and haven't been there before) and to get our nails done. Abby's friend recommended the best nail parlour ever. Here are explicit directions on how to get there: it is not in the mall itself so you have to look for a "connector" to another building that's on the 2nd floor. The exit should have a tiny aroma therapy stall on your right and the "connector" should have a travelator in the middle. If you see all that, just walk straight and the nail parlour is the one on your left. There is another one of the right but that one is empty for a reason. Knock yourself out. It was $14 for my hand-painted manicure.

6. Asiatique @ The Waterfront
It was... okay. It was pretty and there were a lot of shops but the three of us were relatively broke by then so it was just rows after rows of stalls that we have seen before/ seen the better versions of. But if you're hunting for essential oils, don't worry because Asiatique has tons of stalls selling them. And they're pretty legit too. We weren't really keen on eating western fare in Bangkok so we were not that impressed by the restaurants either. It did seem like a trend that even the Thais enjoy patronising though. It's definitely worth a visit that one time for drinks by the pier or something but forget about shopping there because that's what we have Jatujak for.

And... that's it! That rounds up my four-day trip to Bangkok and perfectly encapsulates why I have fallen in love with the city. So much drive, excitement and character. I definitely will go back again!

Round 2 with me, anyone?
^^