"Travel with Flexibility"

The 8-day trip to Thailand during recess week was filled with hearty memories, mistakes, and many life lessons.
Thanks to my journal I'll be able to recollect some stories to blog about.

Day 1
Missed the flight. Very first shocking experience (my tendency to believe that everything will work out smoothly eventually in all situations was broken). Had to pay 100sng to book the next flight...and spend 12 hrs night in Changi freezing our asses off........ lessons learned: 1) don't ever be late for flights 2) wear long pants to the airport/airplane 3) Changi budget terminal is NOT where you board most budget planes

Day 2
7am flight sin>bkk, 2 hrs. Check into WE<3Bangkok hostel (awesome staff and clean). Check out some malls and the train (called BTS here hahaha *i miss koreans and burritos). Pad Thai and Thai Iced Tea! Thai Massage after!!!! Intensely got unknotted and entire body stretched. Blood's flowing well now.

In the evening, friends and I went to Bangkok's red light district (place to visit checked off), and it was crazy. CRazy I tell you! Grabbed Mojitos with the girls in a conservative bar at the end of the road haha...

Day 3
Friend ventured out on his own for the day. The rest of us shared a cab to the Central Pier to riverboat to the Grand Palace, a top tourist attraction. The driver jus dropped us off in the middle of the bridge o_o what in the world!! Had to hop over the boulder to get to the side away from cars. "Western" breakfast that came in all different styles at a family cafe.

Rivercruising. Lake was very dirty.. Bangkok kind of reminded me of the times I was in China. The other day when I was pushed by a lady at the BTS station, I knew something seemed strangely familiar. China all over again!! T_T

Rented long skirts for $1usd and toured Grand Palace. Temples in Thailand are amazing! By far the most intricate, glamorous, and glorious-looking. In the evening, we headed out to Khao San Road, best known to attract backpackers. Shopping and drinks are incredibly cheap here. $4 usd for a bucket of cocktail! Yvo and I shared and lost the race with our friends x(

Day 4
Woke up at 12 :D Booked a hotel for pt.2 in Phuket. Then we walked (to save a dollar each) to the BTS. Grabbed Tom Yum Ramen and off to Chatuchak Weekend Market! This market was recommended by all the former travelers I talked to. It's a huge outdoor marketplace, like an oversized swapmeet, that has more than 15,000 stalls open on weekends. Regret: Should've bought more souvenirs for all you! T_T

Learned how to say thank you in Thai- kahp khoon kah :D

Evening, we got tricked by witty locals on tuk-tuks. These vehicles have an entire system they run on; help each other and rip off tourists!!

Day 5
Woke up at 6am for a tour package we booked the night before. Driver didn't come, no one answered the phone. Asakfdj;sdf $100usd thrown away? Lesson learned: 1) sometimes it's good to be cynical 2) try to stay positive T_T

Ended up going to Terminal 21 shopping mall, recently opened October 2011. This mall is designed to display globalization of 21st century? The bottom floor looks like an airport, and the levels theme Japan, Rome, Caribbeans, and so on. Food court was amazing! Legit noodles priced as low as $1 usd. Too bad this was our last day in Bangkok.

Day 6
Turns out the package we booked wasn't a fraud. So we woke up at 6am again and got picked up by a private party van we booked. First destination- 2 hr drive to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, another place recommended by many. It is a must-see in Thailand! Just floating through the market on engined boats, getting fresh guava samples, coconut drinks for $1usd, mangos, and jipped on souvenirs!

Second destination with tour- Elephant riding at Kanchanaburi. Another activity on "to-do list while in singapore" checked off. Exhilarating ride because our elephant was a bit of a competitive rebel...

Third destination- Tiger Temple at Kanchanaburi. Felt like wild-animal park, but I mean .....real wild. Got a kiss from a deer! Oh and...shiet. I stepped on tiger poo. Got too excited over tigers fighting in the water.

Another 2 to 3 hour ride to Bangkok. Straight to Bus Terminal, where we hurriedly grabbed fishball noodles and 711 snacks, washed ourselves (no showerT_T), and ran AGAIN to catch our double-decker bus. Dejavu but this time we got on! Man why always rushing?? Lesson learned: 1) when you're in a hurry, just RUN 2) try to allocate leisure time to avoid rushing

Saw a pet elephant cross the street and create traffic with its owner.
Ate some pork intestines soup late night; menu said pork =_=
Bumpy and squished 12 hour bus ride with SEA ahjummas chattering away....

Day 7
Sunny 7:58am in Phuket. Find out taxis don't exist in Phuket, so took a tuk-tuk for a 40 minute ride to Karon Beach. Uh oh... plan to sneak in people to hotel challenged. Lobby saw us already haha o_o Grabbed breakfast buffet for $10 usd (everything's so much pricier in phuket T_T) cause nothing else was opened. Bikes were out for rental.

Sneaking in success! Strangely nostalgic upon traveling w family years ago. Shower felt so good! (Were covered in sunscreen, tiger/elephant dusts and dirt, sweat)

Tuk-tuked to Patong Beach, a heavily touristy area in Phuket. Vibe was definitely different... Lesson learned: bargaining on anything in Phuket is TOUGH.

Evening, grabbed some mangos and chilled by the seashore. Bikini run, scary sand formations, heart lanterns floating into the heavens ....good times Cherry!

Day 8
Last full day in Thailand. Booked a day tour package to Phi Phi Island! Woke up at 6, grabbed buffet bfast again, and ferry ride to the islands. Snorkeling at Maya Bay was so fun!!! Don't htink I swam since hk. Fed colorful fish and petted them too hahhah weird feeling.

Buffet lunch at Phi Phi Island. Jeez really gotta watch the weight. Then chill by the turquoise waters at the beach watching people parasailing~

Evening, returned and got Pad Thai and mango juice as last dinner for the trip. Perfect!! Laid on sand and watched stars...


What a touristy trip.