Singapore was initially my first choice, but considering the cost and the fact that I actually went there twice when I was a kid, I thought of going to Bangkok instead. Yup, it's relatively cheaper, and it's completely new for me. So off to Bangkok I went.. For 5 days and 4 night.
It was a great decision!
Money, Money, Money
Let's crunch some numbers. I brought 8000THB (that's around IDR 3.7 mio) with me; 6000 from my own pocket, 2000 from my mom for souvenirs shopping. The flight (with extra baggage) and hotel costed me IDR 3.9 mio. So the total of my 5d4n trip was around IDR 7.6 mio. Again, Bangkok is a fairly cheap country to travel to so you can still save up more in terms of accommodation (hostels are cheaper), flight (always on the lookout for airline promo!), and shopping (I kinda shop a lot). Maybe you can go with a total cost of just IDR 5 mio or even under if you're really thrifty. I strongly suggest you to save up beforehand and strictly manage your budget allocation, but that's goes without saying.
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| You will rely heavily on BTS and MRT, so expect a lot of walk under the sun |
The Climate?
I went there at the end of October, aka the beginning of rainy season for Southeast Asia. But believe it or not, during my 5-day trip in Bangkok, it was only raining once. It wasn't exactly heavy rain and it wasn't for long either. So if you're happened to travel on the same season as me, just pack your light clothes because one thing I noticed the most was: BANGKOK IS FRICKIN' HOT. All day long. Especially if you're traveling to touristy places packed with people like the market and going mostly on foot (you will, a lot). Put away your heavy denim jacket, parka, sweater, long sleeved shirt, and the likes. This ain't London, honey. Bring your light cardigan, airy outerwear, and short-sleeved or sleeveless top instead. Slap on some sunscreen. Get a collapsible umbrella if you have to; you know, for extra protection against the scorching sun and maybe the rain. You've survived Surabaya? You can survive Bangkok as well.
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| Pork skewers, 4THB each or around Rp4.600. What the heck? |
The Best Part aka THE FOOD
One of the most deciding factor in this trip was the cost. I was told that street food in Singapore would cost me the same as restaurant food in Jakarta. On top of it, no offense, I was told again that Singaporean food tastes kinda bland for us Indonesian tongues. Well, the food in Thailand was completely the opposite! Of all sort of meals I've eaten there, like 90% of them were DELICIOUS. I'm not lying, man. And even better, they come in an unbelievably cheap price. Let me list a few down for you.
- Prachak Pet Yang Roasted Duck: With just around Rp21.000, I can get myself a plate of steaming rice with tasty, succulent roasted duck. It's a heaven for duck lover like me. You can't find it for the same price in Jakarta.
- Salmon Sashimi at Ratchada Train Market: The market is full of food stalls, but one that particularly stood out to me is this sushi and sashimi stall. I bought their regular portion salmon sashimi for Rp40.000ish (100THB), with like 8 slices of raw salmon in a disposable plastic container. At first I was afraid of its freshness, I mean it's sold in night market which didn't have the best hygiene after all, but to my surprise it was fresh, with no weird smell or taste whatsoever.
- Grilled Scallop with Cheese at Chatuchak Weekend Market: One of my best discoveries in Bangkok. With only 100THB, I got 7 fresh scallops, grilled to perfection, with lots of melted cheese on top. Taste-wise and price-wise, it's definitely to die for. I don't know if it's even the same kind of scallop but I know some Japanese restaurants in Jakarta charge IDR 40k and above for just ONE scallop.
- Everything at 7-Eleven: I'm not kidding, their 7-Eleven is like on a whole another level with the one we used to have here. Their food selection is no joke; you can pretty much find anything from the staple hotdog and cup noodles to pastries and the convenience store version of Thai's signature basil chicken rice. Their range of ready-made meals is very, very varied. They have rice, noodles, burgers, sandwiches, novelty snacks, and many more. The staff will heat 'em up for you. How about taste and freshness? When I said their 7-Eleven is on a whole another level, I was also talking abot these two factors. I assure you, the food tastes as good as the ones from the restaurants. With cheaper price, too!
Shopping Time!
You have plenty of shopping options in Bangkok. As for myself, I went to both the traditional markets and the malls. I can save up a lot in the food department, but this is where saving gets harder. I've came across A LOT of cute clothes, accessories, and knick-knacks. For example, long sleeved shirt with artsy patterns (think of Cottonink etc) was under IDR 100k in the traditional market. While the malls can get a bit pricey, they also have a lot of unique and limited items that you can't find back home, such as official anime merchandise (Sailor Moon, Detective Conan, One Piece, etc), local brands with cool design (think of Goods Dept etc), and many more. I think I spent my pocket money mostly on these kind of purchase. So shop responsibly, buy what you really want to buy. If I can't control myself, I would've came home with illustrated phone ring holder and character stickers that I will never use.
My conclusion for this trip? Well uh, I don't really like to compare but Bangkok is like the hotter but much better version of Jakarta. In terms of variety of food, goods, and shops they have here, and especially the food price, Bangkok is definitely superior. I also like their integrated transportation and how it's easy to use even by foreigners. The only thing that I don't like is their hot as hell climate. But the rest is enough to make me want to come back, no matter what.
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| See you when I see you, Bangkok! |
