THE DATE: May 1, 2012
THE TRIP
09:00-09:30 The receptionist told me that unlike going to MBK or Chatuchak, there are no buses that will pass by the guesthouse to take us to Central world directly. We have to take the bus from the main road which will take us near Platinum Mall. Transportation: 12 THB each
09:30-10:00 The first mall we saw when we got down the bus is Shibuya 19. Like Platinum and the many buildings in the area, it’s a shopper’s plaza. We decided to window shop and have our brunch there. On the top floor is the food court and the mall’s own radio/music station. I’m not sure if it’s broadcasted only in the mall or if it really is a radio station. I think it’s pretty cool either way. In the food court, you have to exchange cash for a card which you will use in purchasing food. You can redeem the remaining amount from the card before you leave the food court. We found out later that foodcourts of the malls we’ve been to have the same system.
First time I saw someone make hand-pulled noodles. It’s freakin’ awesome! And delicious too! Customers can also see how they make siopao buns. The buns have no filling but they will give you a dip which I think is condensed milk.
10:00-15:00 Before heading to Central world, we went to different malls/buildings near the area, including Platinum. Like Chatuchak, if you want to buy something, buy it. You may not have the time to go back for that item again. However, most clothes have the same style and several shops sometimes offer the same clothes so if ever you had a change of heart, there is a big chance you will come across the same (if not similar) item, e.g. I found this printed top in Shibuya for 100THB, and found the same top in another mall for 120THB.
We didn’t stay too long in Platinum since we spent most of our time in the lesser known malls near it. I find the shopping experience in the other malls/buildings more enjoyable than in Platinum if only because Platinum, for me, is too crowded that I get stressed after one hour of window shopping.
15:00-16:00 We passed by two shrines in front of Central world. According to Wikipedia, one shrine is dedicated to Trimurti and the other is dedicated to Ganesha. This time, we were early for Naraya and people should still be working in their offices. I crossed my fingers and hoped that it will not be as crowded as yesterday so I can leisurely take my time in choosing the sets I want to take home. To my surprise, the store is as crowded as yesterday. I grabbed the pieces that I like and held on to those items I’m having second thoughts about, just in case I change my mind. Also bought a Starbucks tumbler for my sister’s collection.
16:00-17:00 We went home early because we have to pack our bags for our flight tomorrow. Again, we took the bus. Several travel agencies in Khao San offer rides to the Suvarnabhumi airport with fares ranging from 100THB to 160THB. We booked the cheapest we found. If your hotel is accessible/near, they can fetch you on the day of departure so you won’t have to carry your bags to their office. Transportation: 12 THB each
THE EXPENSES
For consistency’s sake, 1 USD is 30 THB and 1 USD is 43 PHP.
