Travel
by Lennie Chua

Off to Bangkok

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2019 Thailand Fly & Drive Blog Series – Part 2

It had been an exhausting 5 months for me from July to November, working 5 jobs simultaneously to pay the bills and to save up for this trip. I was really looking forward to this, to get an extended time to spend with my family, to make it up to them for not being around much. Especially to my kids. I do feel a sense of guilt sometimes, that I spend so much of my life and time and energy sowing into the lives of other people’s kids. Yet for my own, they always seem to get the short end of the stick from me. These long family vacations are my way of getting back close to them, to let them know that Daddy is around, Daddy cares.

This is also why I enjoy blogging about these travels, even though it takes up a lot of my time and brain power. Just last night in the hotel room, my kids begged me to read the blogs of our previous trips together. Seeing them read through what I’ve written and laughing and reminiscing about our past travels together, it gave me a great sense of satisfaction!

(Laughing) Daddy, you are very funny in writing your blogs…

Little Lioness

Up, Up and Away on Singapore Airlines

The kids were really looking forward to this trip, because it is rare that they get to go on an airplane ride. Additionally, we get to go on Singapore Airlines and not a budget carrier, so the kids really enjoyed having time on the in-flight entertainment system, while enjoying their tasty meals. The adults also enjoyed their time, because with the kids occupied, we get to watch what we want too!

Thank God for a smooth flight, save for an initial scare before we took off when the pilot announced that there were some technical issues that they were getting the maintenance guys to take a look at, causing a delay in our taking off. Thankfully, that issue, whatever it was, got resolved very quickly, and we experienced no discomfort during our flight.

We touched down at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, clear the immigration, pick up our luggage and head towards the taxi queue. The taxi queue system has become more organised through the years. There are now three lines: (1) Short-Distance Rides (2) Small Taxis (3) Large Taxis.

Take your queue ticket from this machine, which will tell you which lane to head towards.

We beat the long queues at the other two lines and head straight to the line for Large Taxis. With 5 people plus luggage, we really do need that extra space. As it was getting late, we were extremely grateful to quickly get our cab. Our destination for the night – Ibis Styles Sukhumvit 50.

Keep this print-out, in case you run into any problems with the ride.

The cab ride is not cheap, coming up to THB450 including the cab fare, maxicab surcharge, and highway tolls, especially considering our hotel isn’t exactly in the heart of the city. The most important thing though is safety, and so we are just grateful for a smooth journey, getting to our destination safely and swiftly, without any hiccups!

Blog Menu

  1. 2019 Thailand Fly and Drive
  2. Off to Bangkok
  3. Review: Ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 50
  4. Sara Jane’s @ the Empire Place
  5. Amazing Young Musician on the Streets
  6. Drive from Bangkok to Khao Kho
  7. Review: Tonkho at Home, Khao Kho
  8. Sunrise at Khao Takhian Ngo
  9. Temple on a Glass Cliff
  10. Tea @ Pino Latte
  11. Visit to the Weapon Museum
  12. Amazing Dinosaur!
  13. A Tale of Two Dinners
  14. Drive from Khao Kho to Chiang Mai
  15. Review: Ibis Styles Chiang Mai
  16. Chiang Mai Tribal Museum
  17. Wacky World of Insects!
  18. Driving the Mae Hong Son Loop
  19. Drive from Chiang Mai to Pang Mapha
  20. Pai Historical Bridge
  21. Pai Canyon
  22. Pai Land Split
  23. Review: Ban Keawmora, Pang Mapha
  24. Drive from Pang Mapha to Mae Win
  25. Long Neck Village
  26. Car Woes on the Way to Mae Win
  27. Day Trip to Doi Inthanon
  28. The Royal Twin Pagodas
  29. More Vehicle Misfortune and an Angel on a Motorbike
  30. Review: Mae Win Guesthouse and Resort
  31. Another Flat?! Drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khan
  32. Review: Phu Chiangkhan Hostel
  33. Chiang Khan Walking Street by Day
  34. The Majestic Mekong
  35. Chiang Khan Walking Street by Night
  36. Drive from Chiang Khan to Khon Kaen
  37. Review: Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid
  38. The Problem of Laundry
  39. Birthday Day Out!
  40. The Nine-Storey Stupa
  41. Aura Farm
  42. King Cobra Village
  43. Khon Kaen City Museum

Blog Series

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