3 Nights in Bangkok

1. Bangkok in Pictures Mar 17-21, 2021
2. Bangkok for Passport Renewal Mar 17-21, 2021
3. Bangkok with $19 Dec 8-11, 2018
4. 30 Days - Goodbye Bangkok Nov 8, 2018
5. Revolving Peoplescape of Bangkok Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
6. Food and Friendship at Dalad Vietnamese Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
7. Movie Review: First Reformed (2017) Nov 6, 2018
8. Doing Online Work at The Work Loft Nov 5, 2018
9. Window Seat [His Precious] Nov 1, 2018
10. Surreal Odyssey at Bangkok Float Center Oct 29/31, 2018
11. Bangkok Halloween with Rinna and Steve Oct 27, 2018
12. Push-Ups Oct 22/24, 2018
13. Pad Thai at Thip Samai, Bangkok Oct 16, 2018
14. Birthday Walkabout Oct 16, 2018
15. Coming to Terms with Donations Oct 14, 2018
16. Feelin' Da Blues at Adhere the 13th Blues Bar Oct 12, 2018
17. Visiting the Grand Palace of Thailand Oct 12, 2018
18. A Web Mandate in Bangkok Oct 8, 2018
19. 29 Days in Bangkok: Thank You and Goodbye Aug 27 - Sep 24, 2018
20. Calling the Bangkok Police Sep 23, 2018
21. Movie Review: Mindfulness and Murder (2011) Sep 22, 2018
22. Yoga Inversions at Now's Fitness Gym Sep 19, 2018
23. Flow Yoga with Teacher Kea at Now's Fitness Sep 18, 2018
24. Movie Review: Under Construction (2015) Sep 15, 2018
25. Walking Tour of Little India Sep 15, 2018
26. Vinyasa Yoga with Teacher That at Now's Fitness Sep 14, 2018
27. Abs Workout with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 13, 2018
28. Vinyasa Yoga with Teacher That at Now's Fitness Sep 14, 2018
29. Abs Workout with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 13, 2018
30. Exercise Ball Workout with Teacher Bie at Now's Fitness Sep 11, 2018
31. Exploring the Amphawa Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
32. Exploring the Tree-Engulfed Wat Bang Kung Temple Sep 9, 2018
33. Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train Sep 9, 2018
34. Exploring Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
35. Horse Racing at the The Royal Bangkok Sports Club Sep 8, 2018
36. Fight Class with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 7, 2018
37. Exploring the Bangkok Art Book Fair 2018 Sep 6, 2018
38. Circuit Training with Mild at Now's Fitness Sep 5, 2018
39. Gentle Flow Yoga with Nuch at Now's Fitness, Bangkok Sep 4, 2018
40. A Yogi Lost in a Modern Gym - Now's Fitness Sep 3, 2018
41. Abundance at On Nut, Bangkok Aug 30-Sep 1, 2018
42. Outside Looking In Aug 29, 2018
43. Back in Bangkok After 5 Weeks Aug 27, 2018
44. 15 Days in Bangkok July 10-24, 2018
45. Peoplescape: Bangkok July 10-24, 2018
46. Hatha and Yantra Yoga Fusion July 10-24, 2018
47. Revisiting Terminal 21 Mall, Bangkok July 23, 2018
48. Rope Skipping, 4mins Full-on July 22, 2018
49. Sunday Visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market July 17, 2018
50. Fork on the Road: Abundance or Poverty by Choice? July 16, 2018
51. Loving Bangkok All Over Again Feb 22-26, 2016
52. Hotel Review: Adventure Hostel Bangkok July 11, 2018
53. Hotel Review: Riva Surya Bangkok Oct 20, 2014
54. Exploring the Shopping Malls of Bangkok Oct 6-20, 2014
55. Bangkok's Street Food Delight Oct 6-20, 2014
56. Bangkok Revisited 3 Oct 6-20, 2014
57. A First Timer in Bangkok December 31, 2005 - January 3, 2006

as of Sep 4, 2018: US$1 = Baht 32 = Php 53

• Bht 60 sm, 90 big one mug draft beer
• Bht 13 1.5 liter drinking water
• Bht 220 one hour massage
• Bht 60-80 muesli breakfast
• Bht 60-80 tom yum soup in modest eatery
• Bht 25-30 coffee
• Bht 30-50 pad thai
• Bht 350 Adventure Hostel lodging
• Bht 20-30/load laundry, coin operated machine
• Bht 7 bus ride

1. Chao Phraya Express, MRT, BTS, Khlong boats, Airport Link
2. Bus Routes: 1-14
3. Bus Routes: 15-30
4. Bus Routes: 32-49
5. Bus Routes: 50-70
6. Bus Routes: 71-88
7. Bus Routes: 501-516
8. individual bus routes

For more train info: Bangkok to Chiang Mai trains - departing from Hua Lamphong - MRT (Bangkok)

(I'm using Bang Sue as a starting point because I was closer to it, but you may be closer to the Hua Lamphong station)

1. take the MRT train to Bang Sue Station. Take the #1 Exit to the north provincial trains
2. Proceed to Counter 2. You will see an information booth, a train schedule chart and the ticket counter. Choose the train and pay at the ticket counter.
3. daily train schedule:
   • 8:48am - #7 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:30pm, not sleeper, B638
   • 2:06pm - #109 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 4:05am, sleeper
   • 6:31pm - #9 Premium Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:15am, sleeper, B938 upper deck, B1038 lower deck
   • 7:56pm - #13 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 8:40am, sleeper, B768 upper deck, B838 lower deck
   • 10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck

This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.

60-Day Thai Tourist Visa

NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.

1. Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
   a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
   b) flight booking to Thailand
   c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
   d) filled-in tourist visa form
   e) 2 passport pictures
   f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
   g) passport with at least 6 months validity
2. After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
3. NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.

30-Day Extension

NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.

1. bring the following to the Immigration Office:
   a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
   b) Baht 1900
   c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
   d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
   e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
2. submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
3. when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
4. when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
5. when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes

Book Train Tickets in Thailand Online by Train36.com

1. arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
2. put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
3. avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
4. power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!