So Now You Know … !

Dear Readers,

The business trip was ended successfully, manager & I met clients and had dinner with them at Coca Thailand. I made friends like Thai suppliers, Singaporean organizers, clients from different countries. Seeing so many new stuffs in exhibition.

Thai people are just simply, helpful!

I’ve just stepped off from the plane last night, it is a 2 hours flight from Bangkok. The Thailand’s Air Asia plane is an old-style plane and you can image how it look like, when you are thinking of the movie - Lost.

Bangkok is a very dusty place with friendly Thai people. They don’t really know how to speak English and you will have to use your hands to either draw, or to point, in order for them to get the meaning. If you don’t know Thai language, communicating will be a problem.

Currency
In Malaysia, you can get the currency exchange rate of about RM1000 to 9780 Baht. For a ‘Free and Easy’ Business Trip with some visits to the famous places, probably you will need about RM2000 for 7 days. Please be careful of your wallet, passport and belongings. There are a lot of snatch thiefs at the city centre. Please bring along your credit card, you will need it, just in case of emergency.

Internet Technology
It is available at major shopping centres, major hotels, major convention centre. What you need to do is to purchase a package at the price of Rm60.00/600 Baht with the limited usage of 5 hours. Bring along your laptop if you need to Work-On-The-Go. It’s useful. To learn more about their Internet Technology, surf www.truewifi.net.

Communication
In Thailand, you will need to learn for a few Thai languages before you arrive. Few examples are : -

1. Kop Khoon Khrap/Kah : Thank You
2. Kap : Yes (Man)
3. Kah : Yes (Lady)
4. Mourn : Turn
5. Ya-iK : Move
6. Sait : Side
7. Hello : Sawadikrap / Sawadikah
8. More examples, please search the google. There are plenty of them.

And worry not, most of the Thai people are friendly, they will help you if you know how to ask politely.

If your phone don’t have any international roaming, good to get one. If not, please get a prepaid service called “DTAC”. You will need it. Trust me.

Taxi & Transportation
Remember, Thailand is an attraction of tourists. Do not board on a taxi which they offer you a price. Opt for a taxi with a meter. From outskirt to the town center will cost you about RM20.00 / 200 Baht only. Don’t let the taxi drivers offer you the price of 500 Baht. If to reject a taxi driver, just say “Kop Khoon Khrap” (Thank You) and walk away politely.

Alternatively, you can take the Skytrain at the maximum cost of 400Baht.

Food & Beverages
You can purchase mineral water at the price of RM1.50/150 Baht. Don’t drink their tap water, it wasn’t properly filtered! Eating seafood in major restaurants is affordable. They have big crabs or prawns at the affordable price. In major famous restaurants, communicating in English will not be a problem. Most of the restaurants will not give you any receipts so that they can skip the government tax of 7% (They call it as VAT 7%). Anyway, you can ask for it.

Places to Go
If its the first time you are visiting Thailand, the places that it’s a must to go are : -

1. Central World Shopping Centre : It’s like a Starhill with expensive classy stuffs
2. MBK : It’s like a Sungei Wang with cheap stuffs
3. Grand Palace : It’s a famous temple
4. Wat Po
5. Wat Arun
6. Pat Pong : A place with night markets and carabat show.
7. Suan Lom Night Bazaar : A place with items, remember to bargain to at least 10-40%.

This is the summary of my Bangkok trip, for the reading pleasure of the readers of benghan.com.

Detailed places will be blogged every 2 days, please come back for more.

2 Days Later: Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport

Blank is good.