Day 17: Bangkok, Monday 24th June 2024
24 June 2024 – Bangkok
Cloudy, 32°
NZ$1 = THB22
THB1 = NZ$0.04
A quiet day off from the travel rush today. We find that every now and again, especially in the heat, you need to have a day off to recharge and not burn out.
Up at 8:30am, downstairs for breakfast at 9am ( this was provided in the Saffron Restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel). We needed to get a voucher first from reception, and while we were there we got 2 tokens for the washing machine/dryer (located on the top floor ) THB240/$10, which included some washing liquid as well.
Had breakfast ( nice enough, with the usual range ) then back to the room. Headed upstairs to the washing machine at 10am, put a load on then back to the room to chill, then back to move the washing into the dryer after 1/2 hour.
With that done we headed out at 12pm, walked to Nana BTS station ( BTS is the Skytrain system, with elevated tracks, and is a separate system to the Metro underground ), bought tickets to Siam Station ( THB28/$1.30 each ) then caught the train 3 stops along the Sukhumvit Line heading west. Got out at Siam, and walked along the walkways that are suspended under the Skytrain network to Centralworld Mall. Most of the BTS system has elevated walkways under it which makes it easy to use to get to buildings that are connected ( many hotels and office buildings have connections ) but also to avoid the noise and traffic ( and rain ) at ground level. Centralworld is a massive mall that we have been to before on our last trip to Bangkok 7 years ago. It is 6 stories and hundreds of shops, but is just one of many malls in the Siam area.
We walked around, had some lunch at a Japanese Restaurant ( edamame beans, tempura chicken, bowl of corn/bacon and 2 drinks: THB600/$27! ), then walked around some more. Bought a charging unit ( battery pack and cables and plug for the wall in a single unit, 20000mAH, THB1700/$85 ) as we keep running out of charge in our phones etc whilst travelling.
Left Centralworld at 3:15pm, and walked to Siam Paragon Mall next door ( another massive mall ). Liz bought a dress at H&M for THB1000 / $45 ( while I sat upstairs in the H&M Café drinking coffee ).
Left at 4:15pm, walked back to BTS and train back to Nana Station, then 7Eleven, then back to hotel at 4:30pm
Relaxed, then out at 6:15pm, walked to Terminal21 shopping mall ( about 15 minute walk east of Soi 11/Nana Station ), and had tea in the food court ( Pier21 ) on level 5. We returned many times to this food court as it was large, had a good variety, was cheap and had a simple system of payment. All food was paid for using a stored value card and there were 2 counters to add money on the the card. The card then just needed to be scanned when ordering the food at one of the 20 or so outlets. Tonight we got 2 dishes ( duck & rice, chicken stir, a bottle of water and 2 desserts ( black jelly, and Mango sticky rice ) for THB125/$7. The hardest part was finding a seat/table as the place was always busy, mainly with locals.
Wandered around the shops on our way back down the 6 storeys of shopping mall and then walked back to our Hotel at 8pm, detouring down Sukhumvit 11/1 Alley on the way.