Day 6: Ayutthaya Day Tour!

Today, we woke up really early so we can catch the schedule for the Rapid train going to Ayutthaya which is 6:40 AM. Before 6 AM, we were ready to go out. So we just rode Sam Yan Mrt going to Hua Lamphong station. You have to follow the directions going to exit for the train station. Upon arrival there, we had to buy a ticket at any booth located at the left side of the entrance. You make sure that you inform the ticketing person where your exact location is. So the fare was 20 THB each. And the travel time was 2-3 hours. It was a free sitting also. They have an open view outside so you can either sleep or watch the scenery. Before the arrival at the place, a train attendant would actually shout 'next stop is ayutthaya'. So we were pretty confident that we arrive at the correct place. Lol.  

Upon arrival, there are a lot of tuktuk drivers who would give you an offer. For us, we were offered 1,200 THB. We find it very high so I haggle it to just 900 THB. I know it's still expensive but yeah, we just wanted to enjoy the place and get going. 

Here's the places we visited and their entrance fee:

1. Wat Mahathat - 50 THB .
2. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon - 50 THB.
3. Wat Chai Watthanaram - 50 THB.
4. Wat Phra Si Sanphet - 50 THB.
5. War Ratchaburana - 50 THB.
6. Elephant Village - no entrance fee. 

Actually, we were really annoyed with the Tuktuk driver because he kept on offering us the elephant ride. We told him, we just wanted to see real elephants but he insisted that he has a friend that offers cheap elephant ride. The regular price for the elephant ride was 1,000 THB for an hour. So that would be 500 Thb for 30 minutes. We told him that let's just skip the elephant ride instead. I thought he understood it but instead of bringing us to the next ruins, he brought us again to another elephant ride. The offer was actually 400 for 15 minutes. I was really annoyed and about to blow up. I told him," let's skip the elephant ride. You are wasting our time. Let's go to the ruins here". I was really pissed off. And he was like "okay okay. I take care of you". So he brought us to the next ruin and he was not talking that much anymore. Lol. I really didn't care so long as he bring us to the promised destinations. When we went back to the vehicle, he offered again the elephant ride for 300 thb for 15 minutes. Darn!!. So I said, okay bring us to that place and get this done! So we went back to the elephant ride and wasted  more traveling time since it was kind of far.

When we arrived at the place, his smiles were all over his face. He was so happy because he got his commission. Tsk. Only me and my sister took the ride because my boyfriend ran out of money. So we just paid 300 THB each for a 15 minute ride. I felt pity for the elephants. I know we are heavy and he had to carry 3 persons at the same time including the heavy metal chair. And if he doesn't follow instructions, he will get a lash or a spank. The elephant driver was actually talkative. Even though we don't understand each other but he kept on talking. Sharing information about 'Pepsi', the name of the elephant which is 73 years old already. He offered to take pictures of us for 100 THB. A good offer though because they don't have a cameraman to take pictures while you are riding it. The ride was worth it but of course, we don't want to prolong the agony of Pepsi.

Our driver brought us to different ruins but yeah it's seems like you can't really differentiate each ruins because their colors are actually just the same. We just took some pictures and off we go. The driver then sent us back to the train station. We gave him 1,000 Thb for the payment and he was pleading if we can give the 100 Thb change as a sort of tip for him, I declined it. In my opinion, I know my companions would have the same words to say. I didn't really like how the driver manage our 4 hours ride. I felt like he didn't send us to all the promised ruins. I brought my list but unluckily I lost it during the trip so I could not remember the places I listed but I know it was like 8-10 ruins but he only brought us to 5 ruins. 

At the train station, you just have to buy a ticket there and just inform them that your destination is Bangkok. The fare would be the same. We only waited for 30 minute at the platform 3. Make sure that you ask if that is the correct one because there are 3 platforms with the 3 different locations. When the train arrived, we hopped in and just show the tickets to the attendant.

We went straight back to our hostel to rest because we will be going home tomorrow. We need to prepare our stuff and bags. Well, if you want to see the ruins of the previous temples of Thailand, you can definitely visit this place. 🚇

'Till we meet again Thailand! 💪

Day 5: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Today's weather is a bit cool. We woke up very early like 5AM in the morning so we would arrive early in the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. I've read blogs that you have to be very early there so you can enjoy the place with less tourists. :)

We rode a taxi going to the Southern Terminal where we rode a bus. Even the taxi driver was not familiar with the terminal, he really tried his best to check on the google map I was showing him. We paid 145 THB from Sap Road going to the terminal. It was a bit far, maybe 30 minutes without traffic. When we arrived there, there was a lady who asked us our destination. When we told her about the place, she then directed us to a booth to pay the bus fare for 64 THB each. Then we just waited for the bus to arrive. While waiting, we bought and ate bread in 7/11. They have a lot of cheap foods there. :)

At around 7:50 AM, our bus arrived. The travel time would be roughly 2 hours. The bus would stop at a market. So here's what happened when we arrived at the place, a lady approached us telling us that we can rent a boat for 300 THB each in the market. I've read blogs saying that the offer was actually a scam because you can actually find a cheap offer at the Damnoen Saduak market itself. So we declined her offer, instead, we went out from the market to look for a vehicle we can ride going there. The floating market was actually 1-2 KM away from the bus stop. It was so hot at that time, good thing, a van stopped and asked us to ride so he will send us off to the market. We were hesitant because that would might be another scam and we might pay a big amount. So I talked to the driver, and he said it's for free. So we hopped on the van, praying that everything will be fine. He actually stopped in a house with a sign board saying 'Boat Rent for 1,000 THB'. So I was like, waah he sent us to another boat rental booth so he can get commission. Anyhow, we still declined the offer. We walked away from the place and decided to just walk following the directions going to the market entrance. Well, for me, I wouldn't suggest that you walk from the bus stop to the main entrance of the floating market because it's s really far. You can check for a motorcycle or a Tuktuk going there. Good thing, there was a tuktuk who stopped and told us that he will send us to the market for 10 THB each. Thanks God! :)

When we arrived at the floating market. There were a lot of tourists already. So we decided to just walk around the place. My sister wanted to rent a boat so we can feel the Floating Market. I was really hesitant because I find it really unattractive. Unfortunately, we gave in to my sister's plea. We rented a boat for 200 THB each for 30 minutes. The place was actually full of mini stores just like the Chatuchak market. To be honest, I really did not enjoy much about it because all the boats there are just bumping each other. It took our boat a lot of time to move out. We didn't enjoy the ride at all. I felt like it's really overrated. It would be nice though if there were less tourists and boats. After we passed through the crowded place, the boat driver led us to a place with no view. Ugh! Since our boat do not have a cover, we were exposed to the sun the whole time with no good scenery and she was like driving really slow. All of us were no longer in the mood and wanted it to finish.

After exactly 30 minutes, our boat arrived. So we decided to eat in the area because we were really hungry and thirsty. We usually eat the same food choices for a 100 THB. You can also buy some coolers in the area. We stroll a bit to check some stuffs but then later on, we decided to go home since it's already noon. Another dilemma came up, there's no vehicle we can ride going to the market where the bus usually stops. We had to wait for a couple of minutes to see if we can find any tuktuk, but there was none. We were so exhausted already and really tired. We walk from here to there, hoping we can find someone we can talk to who can provide us a clear details on how we can find a vehicle going back to Bangkok. Good thing we found someone who said that we can ride a motorcycle to send us to the bus stop. We tried to haggle but it seems they have a fix rate which is 25 THB each. We decided to just go for it because we didn't have a choice. The motorcycle drivers though did not send us to the bus stop but instead to the van terminal which is way better because the van is aircon and the fare was just 85 THB only. 

It took 2 hours before we arrived at the southern van terminal. We were actually worried that we rode the wrong vehicle because as per google map, the van went farther away from Bangkok but we realized that the van would actually go to another floating market which is the Amphawa to pick up more passengers. It was quick though. Since the travel was smooth, we were asleep the whole time. When we arrived at the terminal, we just rode a taxi going to MBk mall. 

Mbk mall is actually a huge mall. You had to ask for a map from the information booth. We enjoyed our time there. They have several cheap stalls just like in Chatuchak but I noticed that most of their designs for clothes are actually the same. Also, we were so excited to see that finally we found two famous fastfood chains. It's the KFC abd Mcdonalds. We ate at KFC because there were a lot of people in Mcdonalds. Their chicken and drinks were huge. We had a great time there and decided to just ride a taxi outside the mall. They have a taxi waiting area where you only have to get a priority number and wait there. So again, the taxi didn't know where our location was. And I felt like the taxi driver was a bit annoyed because our place was just near. Maybe 500 km from Mbk mall. 

Anyhow, today is a success! Though it was exhausting and tiring but still we were able to go home safely! 

See: Day 6 Ayutthaya Day Tour!