Get Lost !

[NoshowJones]

1 minute ago, Argus Tuft said:

Not wrong, just being pedantic.

Take change with you before you go to the BTS, then you don't need to queue twice.  Simple.  Cost of my helpful advice = free.

Or get a stored value card, and then you don't need to queue at all. :)

I do not live in Bangkok, but so many times I have see queues at both the change booth and the ticket machine, and I'm not just talking about the busy periods. anyway I am getting a Rabbit debit card from my bank. That will be really handy when I am in Bangkok.

[JaySonic]

Some people are just plain stupid regarding transport. So often in my city I see peolle getting on a bus and trying to pay the driver with a 20 or 50 dollar note ! Or demanding their uber driver pick them up on a busy clearway in peak hour

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, possum1931 said:

I do not live in Bangkok, but so many times I have see queues at both the change booth and the ticket machine, and I'm not just talking about the busy periods. anyway I am getting a Rabbit debit card from my bank. That will be really handy when I am in Bangkok.

I don't live in Bangkok any more either, but travel there regularly.

One of the best things is being able to arrive and get on any of the train systems without queuing at the ticketing machines (I have the SRT Airport Link card and MRT cards also).  I keep a few hundred baht on each, and they don't expire for years.

 

Well worth it to grab the Rabbit Card mate, even if you don't live in Bangkok. You'll appreciate not having to queue again on future visits :)

Can even use the Rabbit for food/cinema tickets/McDonalds etc, and they can be used in places around Thailand for those kinds of purchases.

[JaySonic]

You guys don't have preloaded cards in your home city? Its incredibly convenient. In my city I can use the same card for train, bus and ferry services. The total distance calculates a whole trip fare, even if you change transport methods. 

 

Whats the verdict on Rabbit amd MRT? Is the info on Wiki correct, as the official rabbit page doesnt say it covers MRT

[Argus Tuft]

JaySonic - have you been to the BK Weekend website?  They have regular new articles on quirky and interesting places in and around Bandkok, neighbourhoods, arts/bars/cafes etc.  Worth subscribing to.  Bangkok 101 mag also great for tips on going around and getting lost.

Agree with bumping in to locals and talking to them - happens less in Bangkok less than other cities in SE Asia, but still worthwhile.

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, JaySonic said:

You guys don't have preloaded cards in your home city? Its incredibly convenient. In my city I can use the same card for train, bus and ferry services. The total distance calculates a whole trip fare, even if you change transport methods. 

 

Whats the verdict on Rabbit amd MRT? Is the info on Wiki correct, as the official rabbit page doesnt say it covers MRT

Rabbit doesn't cover MRT "yet" AFAIK, its been in the planning for years.

They are moving towards a single-card system for all 3 major networks, but from what I have read its stuck on a revenue sharing agreement until now.

 

I keep stored value transit cards for the major cities I travel to regularly for the same reason:  MyRapid and Touch N Go for KL/Malaysia, Singapore MTR, and the Octopus for HK etc.  I find the benefits extend beyond just convenient travel.

[JaySonic]

Thanks I will take a look. "Quirky and interesting" is right up my alley. I find I get a bit of 'temple overdose' after visiting the same old sites as every tourist (Seam Reap scarred me for life hahaha)

 

Also keen on finding some 'unwestern' food if thats possible in Bangkok (bats, snakes, dog, whatever). 

[Argus Tuft]

1 minute ago, JaySonic said:

Thanks I will take a look. "Quirky and interesting" is right up my alley. I find I get a bit of 'temple overdose' after visiting the same old sites as every tourist (Seam Reap scarred me for life hahaha)

 

Also keen on finding some 'unwestern' food if thats possible in Bangkok (bats, snakes, dog, whatever). 

 

There was a great yet controversial topic a few years back on this forum, someone was asking what exotic types of food had people eaten. It got a few folks riled up if I recall.

You'll definitely be able to get a few 6 and eight legged meal options in the local markets, they grill them on skewers :)

Not sure about bats and snakes though.  Plenty of Soi Dogs if you're up for some cheap meal options locally 555

[JaySonic]

I fell in love with the deep fried crickets, larvae, frogs and other creepy crawlies back in November. The perfect beer snack. Its hard to go back to peanuts now. 

 

It is a controversial topic to speak of eating cat and dog, but to my mind if we wilfully slaughter lets say a pig, then a dog is no different, if yiu remove the ingrained association westerners have of 'man's best friend. And Im a cat lover myself but would give that a go if I were in a place where it was the norm. 

 

Not sure why, but Ive always had it in my mind that eating bats was not uncommon. I think thats a memory from that old documentary "Shocking Asia"

 

Note to self. Download Shocking Asia when I get home

[louse1953]

1 hour ago, ThaiWai said:

MRT and BTS are packed all day long now.  Be prepared to be packed like a sardine and forget about sitting down.  

Taxis will not take you anywhere if the ride is either too short or too long which seems to classify all destinations.

The riverboats are obviously confined to the rivers but are at least open air and more fun to take once you learn them.

All the tuk tuks sitting outside the main shopping areas also play the "too far too close game" and have no meters so it's "spin the ripoff wheel" even if you get one to take you.

Taxi motorbikes are a fast trip to the hospital.

Walking is hot and dangerous as even the sidewalks have motorbikes racing in both directions.  

The busses are not too bad if you can figure them out some have ac some don't but they are cheap or even free, and good for people watching.  

So...If you live there, you are screwed.

However if you are just visiting, and can plan an actual itinerary I would recommend hiring a taxi for the day at a fixed rate.  Most cabs have a "menu" of destinations hanging in the back seat and you will see the daily or half daily rates printed there.  Make sure you get the drivers phone number or he speak at least some of your language.  

Last bit is don't book a hotel for the whole six days.  You may want to stay in another part of the city after you get here.  You can always find a room but can't always get out of a reservation.

BTS and MRT are not packed all day and can usually get a seat,except when Thais go to and from work.

[JaySonic]

Just now, louse1953 said:

BTS and MRT are not packed all day and can usually get a seat,except when Thais go to and from work.

 

Either way, it can't be as packed as some trains or busses in India, where you might have to ride on the roof !

 

[fordguy61mi]

On 1/19/2017 at 6:39 PM, JaySonic said:

Oh and how's the spirit of the city's locals lately? I was in Phuket in November when the month of mourning concluded. A lot of the grieving shown on Thai TV was in Bangkok. In Phuket, not really any big deal, apart from every sexond store selling black attire and the govt buildings adorned in billowing black amd white sashes.

 

Are there any sights, wats etc that I should respectfully avoid? I've got no problem steering clear of venues to give people their time to mourn. Plenty of other stuff to see and do, right.... no need for me to be the nosy falang tourist watching people cry

I'm in Bangkok now for 2 weeks and I haven't seen any evidence of mourning. I asked my girl and she says it's pretty much over. Haven't really noticed much dark clothing either. Enjoy your trip.

[JaySonic]

2 hours ago, fordguy61mi said:

I'm in Bangkok now for 2 weeks and I haven't seen any evidence of mourning. I asked my girl and she says it's pretty much over. Haven't really noticed much dark clothing either. Enjoy your trip.

 

Cheers fordguy, for some up to date info. I usually wear a lot of black clothes anyway.

 

This didnt even seem mandatory in November for locals in Phuket though (still within the first month) and at a guess I would say only around 30% observed this. Slightly more in Phuket town though. 

 

[hawker9000]

When the BTS is very crowded, particularly in the Siam Sq area, be wary of pickpockets.  Both on the station platforms and on the trains.  Be especially on your guard when "unusual things" are happening around you (e.g., a blind person coming through with people bunching together to make room);  distraction and people already mashed together are circumstances pickpockets take advantage of.

[steven100]

You can catch a bus or the BTS and get off at soi Nana, then walk down the soi 100m and plant yourself on a bar stool and sit back and enjoy the sites.

[JaySonic]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

You can catch a bus or the BTS and get off at soi Nana, then walk down the soi 100m and plant yourself on a bar stool and sit back and enjoy the sites.

 

Why do I need to go to Nana, when there are thousands of bars and restaurants all over the city where I can grab a cold beer and watch the world go by ? 

 

I feel no magnetic attraction pulling me to spend my days in Nana or Cowboy. It all seems incredibly fake, like one big neon circus for perverts. 

 

That said, I am likely to head down to Queens Park Plaza one night and rustle up a game of pool with some girls. Thats more my style than gogo bars. And anyways... I have a lady friend in Phuket that I'll be spending a week with after Bangkok so I don't feel the need to sniff out the local talent in the city

 

Of course that may all change after a few beers ! And if it does, i'd head to Angelwitch for some tame s&m show against the backdrop of metal music :)

Edited January 22, 2017 by JaySonic

[mogandave]

Gotta love the rabbit card. Can load it with your credit card and use it at lots of places, with may offering a 10% discount.

 

Don't know if it works on the MRT 

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, mogandave said:

Gotta love the rabbit card. Can load it with your credit card and use it at lots of places, with may offering a 10% discount.

 

Don't know if it works on the MRT 

Doesn't work on MRT, as per my previous posts in this thread.

[Argus Tuft]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

You can catch a bus or the BTS and get off at soi Nana, then walk down the soi 100m and plant yourself on a bar stool and sit back and enjoy the sites.

Why would anyone want to go to sit in Nana, especially when the topic was about getting lost in out of the way places and exploring off the beaten track??

[JaySonic]

Apparantly there's plans to release whatvwill be called the 'Spider Card' in June 2017 that will allow use on Skytrain, MRT and Airport line. However judging by some of the comments here and elsewhere, there's beem a lot of talk for a long time so it remains to be seen if it ever gets launched I guess

[bkkcanuck8]

24 minutes ago, JaySonic said:

Apparantly there's plans to release whatvwill be called the 'Spider Card' in June 2017 that will allow use on Skytrain, MRT and Airport line. However judging by some of the comments here and elsewhere, there's beem a lot of talk for a long time so it remains to be seen if it ever gets launched I guess

 

They could just hire the same group that did Singapores system and it would be already running (i.e. same card for metro, road, parking, etc.).

[Argus Tuft]

2 hours ago, JaySonic said:

Apparantly there's plans to release whatvwill be called the 'Spider Card' in June 2017 that will allow use on Skytrain, MRT and Airport line. However judging by some of the comments here and elsewhere, there's beem a lot of talk for a long time so it remains to be seen if it ever gets launched I guess

Yah that's the one - the "Mangmoom" card.  keeps getting pushed back, but we live in hope.

[jerojero]

MTR BTS packed always , no sitting......? Not quite so. Was I BKK last week for a week, many trips... Some crowded, some not so much. Seats available perhaps 40% of the time. Depends also where and when you get on off.

[steven100]

9 hours ago, Argus Tuft said:

Why would anyone want to go to sit in Nana, especially when the topic was about getting lost in out of the way places and exploring off the beaten track??

 

Because if he goes to nana he could get absolutely sloshed and hitch up with some honest bar filly

and he'll forget all about his planned travel, no buses, no hassles, no queues, just enjoy his

sexual desires all holiday.

[JaySonic]

53 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

Because if he goes to nana he could get absolutely sloshed and hitch up with some honest bar filly

and he'll forget all about his planned travel, no buses, no hassles, no queues, just enjoy his

sexual desires all holiday.

Uh... what? 

 

You have COMPLETELY missed the spirit of this thread ! 

 

How is a bus 'a hassle' when I *want* to use my time in Bangkok to explore the city? 

 

Step back for a moment and imagine this... not every male traveller to Bangkok wants to sit in a girly bar and pick out a numbered 'filly' for cheap meaningless sex. If that's your thing, then more power to you. But you're contributing to the wrong thread. I'm not sure you have even been reading along. 

 

That said, I am at the mercy of no rules. Maybe I will do that one night, but perhaps I wont. Maybe I'll even set up some dates on thaifriendly.com. One thing is for certain, it's not high on my list of must do's. I'm not a teenage boy who can't manage his urges. 

 

Besides... I'll have a week in Phuket after my week in Bangkok with a Thai lady friend that I know, so it won't be a dry holiday for action, that's for sure. Again... that's not what this thread is about. 

 

In fact, I don't think I've once asked on this post for suggestion on where to go in BKK. My whole point is... I want to drift around, free as the wind, with no destinations in mind ! 

 

Get it now?