Traveled last January 5-10, 2023
Here's how my recent Bangkok itinerary for 5 full days looks like.
Obviously, this is not the usual itinerary in Thailand since my initial goal for this trip was just to fan girl. I know theres's still so much to see! And since I was already travelling, I made sure to get a glimpse of this city's traditional and modern culture--even just bits of it in between the concerts. I am glad I was also able to meet a friend on my last day. I first met Butter during an epic bloggers trip in Hokkaido, and glad we kept in touch! A local's recommendation is still the best.
I haven't been in Bangkok in over 2 decades, and even old tourist spots are new to me again. It was the first country I've been to without adults (just Ate and my younger cousin), and the first country I visited with a friend! Creating my own itinerary now and adding in a good mix of everything was fun. Some I was able to achieve, but a chunk of the list I wasn't able to go to due to time constraints. I just crossed them out here for reference if ever I get the chance to go back, or YOU might have the time to go to them! :)
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| My latest BKK trip is a good mix of arts and culture, traditional and modern, etc. |
Anyway, here's my jam-packed 5 days in Bangkok! Traveling during January is also recommended, the weather is sooo good I was able to fully enjoy my sight seeing. :)
JANUARY 5, THURSDAY: HELLO BKK!
3:20am - NAIA T3 Airport for Check-in via Cebu Pacific Air (Travel Requirements)
7:20 am to 10am - MNL to BKK Flight 5J 929
Airport Errands:
Withdraw Thai Baht
Claim Local Sim and Rabbit Train Card via Klook Kiosk
12nn - Travel to Hotel via Grab or Airport Railway
2pm - Check-in The Richy Place, Pratunam
FREE DAY!
Things to do during free time:
ART:
❤ Bangkok Art & Culture Center (BACC) ✅
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
MALL:
❤ MBK - Muji Cafe, Donki✅
Siam Center
Siam Paragon
Icon Siam
Central World
Big C Supermarket
❤ Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC)
In search of modern local art, achieved! BACC offers a nice mix of photos, paintings, mixed media, film, and even artsy souvenir shops. Plus, entrance is FREE! It’s just around the city, and conveniently connected to a train station (National Stadium) and MBK mall.
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| One of the cool walls I wish I can have my pic taken! |
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| "Healing is Always Possible" |
JANUARY 6, FRIDAY: TEMPLES DAY
I think I overbooked this day by taking two different tours, one during the day and one at night. I was in a rush while at the beautiful Ancient City, which is a bummer. It would have been nice to spend the day there! Anyway, I guess I just tried to maximize my short trip.
Day Trip: Ayutthaya Tour (Had to let this go for this trip muna)
11am onwards - Ancient City and Erawan Museum Tickets: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/368-ancient-city-erawan-museum-ticket-bangkok/
❤ Ancient City
Ancient City turned out to be so beautiful (and huge!). Enjoyed checking out the different structures and monuments (both original and model) from across the region, it's like going driving around the biggest outdoor museum. The Ancient City's goal is to make their visitors feel as if they have traveled the whole Thailand in one day!
Golf cart is not yet included in the entrance fee that I paid via Klook. I rented a 2-seater for 350 Baht for an hour. They have corresponding extension rates if you go beyond an hour, which will be paid upon returning the cart keys.
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| If you see familiar areas or structures, it's because Ancient City "compiled" all these famous monuments in their country into this beautiful outdoor museum |
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| My first time to drive a golf cart added to the experience! So fun and exciting, haha! |
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| I wasn't even able to see half of this beauty! Will be back, promise! |
The Ancient City is outside Bangkok, around an hour and a half away from where I stayed. I took a Grab to get there, but I've read that there are commuting options too. Since it's a bit far, make sure to spend at least 2-3 hours in here. Or better yet, you can set an entire day just to explore both Ancient City with Erawan Museum, which is just 30 minutes away.
❤ Erawan Museum
Compared to Ancient City, you can go around Erawan Museum in less than an hour. I had my lunch here before entering the small compound, which only costed me Php 196 for a pad thai and iced coffee! Btw, Erawan is the sacred name of a white elephant with 33 heads representing abundance. In art, they only show a 3-headed representation just like the huge one that made this museum stand-out from the outside.
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| Elephants! |
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| The "Erawan" looks even more grandeur in real life! |
4:30-8:30pm - Bangkok Night Tour: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and Grand Palace: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/46079-4-hour-bangkok-night-join-guided-tour/
I joined a night tour to see common Bangkok spots ng:
~ Hindi kelangan gumising ng super aga
~ Hindi tirik ang araw, with all the walks!
~ Hindi karamihan ang tao, and
~ To see the common BKK tourist spots in a "different light".
Meet-up time was 4:30pm, so I had day-time pics too. Walking tour sya, so prepare your comfy shoes. Para syang "crash course" to BKK temple tourist spots, mixed with flower market, a tuktuk ride, and Chinatown. I enjoyed the tour coz we were only 4 in the group (isang American na mag-ina, me, and our tour guide), so I also had the chance to communicate and make new friends. Plus, BKK is so beautiful all lighted up!
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| Click HERE to see my old photos when I took this tour 2 decades ago! |
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| Love the grandeur of Thailand as you cruise at night |
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| Also enjoyed a tuktuk ride! |
JANUARY 7, SATURDAY: GOLDEN DISC AWARDS
8am-10am - Chatuchak Weekend Market 10am - Pratunam Market and Platinum Mall
12nn - Back in hotel to rest a bit and then freshen up
2pm - Leave for Golden Disc
1-4pm - Ticket pick-up with Trazy
Venue: Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
4:30pm - Gates Open
7pm - Golden Disc Awards
Featuring J-Hope, Seventeen, Stray Kids, Enhypen, New Jeans, Treasure, Le Sserafim, etc.
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| My main agenda in flying back to BKK after 20 years is to attend a Golden Disc Awards |
JANUARY 8, SUNDAY: BLACKPINK DAY
Morning / Lunch - Meet-up with Butter 11am - Pratunam Market and Platinum Mall
2pm - Go to concert, explore fan projects and merch / sponsors booths
Venue: Suphachalasai National Stadium
4pm - Gates Open
7pm - BLACKPINK Concert, Born Pink World Tour
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| A spur of the moment decision! I decided to buy that BLACKPINK ticket to complete my Thailand trip few days before my flight to BKK |
JANUARY 9, MONDAY: THAI MARKETS DAY
6am - Leave hotel for 6:30am call time
Meet-up Point: Siam Paragon
7am: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market + Maeklong Railway Market Tour: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/3020-floating-markets-day-tour-bangkok/
A truly Thai experience. I joined a tour to see two different types of markets in Thailand: Floating and Railway. I've been seeing this several times from friends who recently traveled to Bangkok, and thought it's something new. Amazing how they made tourism out of this, and at the same time keep traditions (& local livelihood) alive!
Travel time to first stop took us around 2 hours (with one stop-over). It is a market shopping tour so prepare cash, but highly likely price is higher because of the "experience". If you want to just take pictures, it's also fine.
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| Should have bought some fresh fruits while cruisin' Thailand's oldest floating market! |
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| When the train passes by, the railway market smoothly moves and folds before getting hit--then automatically arranged back right after. |
2:30pm: Back in Bangkok.
Drop-off: Icon Siam, Meet-up with Butter!
Free Time
Last Minute Shopping
Thai Massage
❤ Siam Square - Taking a Grab from Icon Siam, Butter brought me to a newly opened Korean Cafe in Siam Square called Dalmatian. Place is super cute and packed with youth locals, and food is good and worth the price. Feel free to take pictures of every corner and the rooftop, staff are very accommodating!
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| Thank you Butter for taking me here! She said she knows what I like, and got my back! :) |
❤ Jodd Fairs - After coffee, Butter took me to this popular and young Thai night market. She said that a lot of Kpop stars who recently visited the city go here. We were still full from our merienda, so we just had a fruit smoothie at Joinny's. It seems like a very popular stall at the Jodd Fairs coz I saw locals taking photos of the pretty owner/barista.
There are sooo many food and dry booths (clothes and knick knacks) in this market that I should explore more next time! Butter and I were so tired from the hopping, we just went inside the nearby mall, and availed a Line Friends photo booth for souvenir / to commemorate our meet-up in her city!
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| New memories since we first met in Hokkaido in 2019 (we both agreed it's the BEST bloggers trip we've had, yet!) |
JANUARY 10, TUESDAY: FLIGHT DAY
6am - Check-out Hotel for Flight
7am - Airport for Check-in
11:15am to 3:40pm - BKK TO MNL NAIA T3 via Cebu Pacific Air
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| Another memorable trip to start the year. ❤ |
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