My trip to Thailand
From Cochin Airport(cok) to DMK Airport Bangkok , after check in process, we went for some currency conversion, at the airport counter, after that we moved to Earth launch a superior launch, Visa/ Mastercard , Plantinum cards are available one person per card enter inside the launch, the launch is very spacious and 5* food and drinks will be available there free of cost, in many airports this facility is available, so before going check your card, at the time of Boarding you need to go to the Gate, till then you can enjoy the Launch by all means.
Photos
By 6am we reached there at DMK airport, rushed to the counter for stamping visa, we need to pay 2000Bath as visa fee, 1 bath =2.05 INR(approx), they accept only bath, and other currency, if you have dollars you can change it local currency, from airport itself. minimum amount of $500 also required for show money in the counter where final stamping done, altogether 4 counters you need to queue up, don’t expect a wonderful host from the authorities. They are very reluctant to issue visa for 15 days, if there is no show money, in Suvarnabhoomi Airport they are not so strict, but DMK, is very strict, apart from this we need hotel booking voucher also … For stamping visa we need one photograph, 2000bath cash and a filled up application. Thailand is 2.5 hours ahead than Indian time.
When we reached there just freshened up, and took a coffee and bought a vodka from the duty free, only one bottle is allowed per person, liquor available from Thailand is not so good as we compared to the duty free.
As a local guide buy a sim card with data, so that you can check with map and if possible you can update your photos, wifi will be free in almost all hotels.
Our agent has sent a cab for us, and soon we so the placard with my team leader name, we approached the driver and he shakehand with us and took us to the Hotel at Pattaya south, it took almost 4 hours and need to wait at the lobby till 2PM, ie the check in time no early check in is allowed. There also we need to pay refundable caution deposit. We just had our lunch from an Indian hotel, but it is very costly, better prefer Thali food, for 600 INR a lovely Lucnh is available, but if we go for thai food, it is available there for 50bath, choice is yours.
After lucnch we had a nap , by that time agent called me and asked us to get ready for alcaser Show, this show is very famous, and if we go for first time this has to be seen, because it describe the storey of thai’s, almost all the participant in the show are ladyboys, they look like beautiful ladies, but they are boys too (transgenders), mostly they work in dance shows and Bar, you have to be very careful in dealing with them.
If you pay 100Bath you can take photograph with them, the above pictures were taken after the show, it took two hours to complete the show, these are the dress code of the participants of the show, it is really mind blowing, the show ticket cost 600Baths, it is available with the agents only, if you go there straight away, ticket will not be available.
After the show we just walked over to explore the pattaya south, every stores and shops were illuminated, and we had a coffee, after paying around 40 INR, from a street shop, by that time most of our team members complained that they are tired and asked to go back to hotel, so one of our friend suggested for a foot massage, so that we can walk little more, there are large number of shops opened up and they are canvassing us for massage, we entered into a parlour, there are more than 10 ladies, who usually massage, no male members were seen present there except lady boys, they showed us a brochure , and asked us to pay 200bath for a one hour foot massage, that was really a pleasurable one, they took our foot to their lap and washed the foot and did some acupressure techniques etc, after that we had a very good pleasant feeling, even then my mind was searching for the cause of the absence of men, in the shops.
Trip to coral Island,
By 8am we were ready ,and get down to the restaurant, and had our American breakfast, foods of different continentals were available there, almost one hour we spent there, but it was worthy, such tasty food, started with fruits, and end up with a black coffee . what ever we ask they will provide us with no hesitation, we need to show our key before entering into the restaurant, by around 9am agent was ready with a Suzuki six seater cab, he dropped us near the sea shore, there a boat was waiting for us, since the boat is away from shore we need to walk into the sea ,for atleast 50 meters, there would be enough water , since we wore a short trousers ,we did not get wet, the boat went with 8 passengers, we were asked to wear life jackets, it proceeded towards a ship which was anchored far away, it took almost 20 minutes from shore, we boarded the ship there waiting for the tourists from different groups ,we were numbered as “D” and were stamped on our hand. When I enquired why they are stamping, then the guide told me that it is for identification of each groups. There were lot of water sports like walking down the sea with helmet , and parachute flying etc, after that they proceeded further to an island called coral island, there also lot of water sports were available on payment, we just preferred to take rest, and we had a chilled beer from the island, and watched others for a while under a shamiyana.
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We had returned from there by 2pm and had lunch from an Indian restaurant, at sea shore some photographers were waiting there with our photos, 100 Bath for a photo, they had taken it while we board the boat, I bought one, as a remembrance of the scenic beauty and experience.
We were droped at the Hotel after lunch, and after a nap we again proceeded to Walkers street besides the beach, actually this a redlight area, it will be live until 3am, In india we cannot experience such a street, very rush with different peoples from different countries, different colors with different styles and costumes, live music was flowing like a stream in the street, it has a length of 3 kms, with police security, we watched a lot of things there, and it was a life experience.
We had dinner from an Indian restaurant and returned to hotel, the street was busy with hawkers, and other merchants, agents etc. people are roaming around for nothing ,but for everything they want, night is still young for a walk, breeze was massaging us free of cost,
Hotel Lobby was empty we relaxed in the sofa for a while.
The next day we visited Elephant park, there instead of ladies elephants are massaging, on payment, and their games also very interesting, I wondered how they are training the elephants in such a fashion.
The safari world is another wonder land, where we move in a closed cab and animals freely grace at their choice, marvellous !
Dolphin and zeal shows also were mind blowing, after that we had a city tour there we could see a Golden Budha weights more than 5 tons of gold, no security was there, how can they keep it like that, Indian jewelleries were more guarded than that.
A four day 5 nights trip end there and we were dropped back to the Bangkok airport for ourreturn journey to India.
Thailand has made so much for the tourists, and in every 3 seconds there would be a flight take off, they have two international airports at Bangkok, the only country which is built up with tourism.,and Indian rupee has higher value appreciation compared to other countries like Singapore,Malaysia, Hongkong,Britain,arab countries etc.
Have a trip.once in an year that will stimulate your mind and body.