Thailand Trip : Bangkok Day 1

Finally I had a chance to go on a trip again together with my boyfriend. Our trip route was Surabaya - Bangkok - Phuket - Kuala Lumpur - Surabaya on Oct 9 - 15. We got very cheap airfares from Air Asia promotion almost 1 year ago. All routes were only 1.3 million Rupiahs per pax or about USD 145 (1 USD = 9000 Rupiahs).

The flight duration from Surabaya to Bangkok was 4 hours. We reached Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 19.30 pm. From Suvarnabhumi Airport we rode ARL city link, which is located on B floor, and got off on Ratchaprarop Station. It was about 30 minutes ride. ARL operation hour is 6.00 am - midnight. To ride on ARL city link, you must buy a token first in the ticketing machine or ticketing office. The price is depend on your destination. The ticketing machine receives notes and coins. The machine's language is available in Thai and English. First, you have to choose your destination and the quantity of persons. The price will appear on the screen and then insert exact amount of money into the machine.

In case you don't have the exact amount, don't worry, the machine provides change. If you confuse or don't know how to use the machine, you can go to ticketing office and buy the token there. All you have to do is tell the officer your destination and he will tell you how much it costs. Before you can enter the ARL station, you have to tap your token on the machine available at the entrance gate. After you reach your destination, you have to insert the token into the machine at the exit gate.

ARL city link station at Suvarnabhumi Airport

We had booked a deluxe room with breakfast in Budacco Hotel for 3 nights stay. The room was quite small but clean. They have different colors theme for the rooms and ours was green. It took about 10 minutes to walk from Ratchaprarop ARL station to the hotel. We got a little bit difficulty because we have 1 big luggage with us and we have to dragged it all the way to the hotel. It was raining, the road was so crowded and quite bumpy. Budacco Hotel is located at the end of a small alley. The left and right side of the road was packed by some diner places, people sell clothes, bags and street foods. There were also some money changers and massage places nearby. No need to worry for the transportation, tuk tuk and taxi were all over the place.

Budacco Hotel

Green deluxe room

Only about 2 alleys away, we found a Thai food restaurant. The owner was so nice and he was so fluent in Indonesian. He said many Indonesian and Malaysian people eat in his place because he sells halal food. I ordered Pattaya Fried Rice while my boyfriend ordered Green Curry with rice and a jumbo Thai ice tea for two. The food was quite good but the Thai ice tea was a little bit bland.

Pattaya fried rice

Green curry with rice

Jumbo Thai ice tea

Bangkok transportation information : www.transitbangkok.com


Airport - Ratchaprarop ARL - THB 40
Pattaya Fried Rice - THB 100
Green Curry - THB 100
Rice - THB 20
Thai ice tea - THB 30