Bangkok Trip 17-20 Feb

A personal short trip has been arranged within a short time frame. I would attribute the success to our accommodating nature and the willingness to comprise and work towards a common goal. Our group is quick to agree to a budget of $500 for the flight and hotel, and another $500 for food and expenses.

Since the 6 of us came from different departments, taking 2 days off from work would not affect the company operation. The synergies is there and the whole trip was enjoyable.

Unexpectedly, all of us preferred to stick together and move on the same itinerary. I thought we would have split into sight seeing and shopping in small group, but instead, all of us move as a team. It is a day of shopping in MBK and platinum fashion mall, a day of shopping in chatuchak, terminal 21 and RCA, and the last day at platinum central and Chinatown for dinner.

We traveled by taxi most of the time and the pace was slow and easy without anyone being too demanding. After going through so many activities together, the bonding is already there. This trip is fun because of the travel companions.

Much different from my impression of Bangkok, a few of the shopping mall is actually more advanced than Singapore. The foodcourt is using tap card system, the entrance of the malls have sensors and security guards to ensure safety, there are theme toilets in the T21 with smart toilet bowls like Japan, and the chatuchak big market is offering free wifi and iphone apps to help tourist with the location map and shopping. As the land area is big, the shopping mall is more spacious with high ceiling and the club is less pack without compromising the fun. The food is delicious with affordable pricing. We spent $8 for the SIM Card with 10MB + 150bhat value of phone call (1bhat/min), $40 for 2 lunch, 2 dinners and 2 suppers, $10 for clubbing, $25 on 2hrs massage and $30 on the total cab fare through the 4 days. As the pace is slow, it may take some time in the queue for the airport service.