Cebu-Clark-Bangkok-Siem Reap-Bangkok-Clark-Manila-Cebu trip!
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| beautiful sunset view on our flight going to Clark |
Since I love to travel so much and aimed to visit all ASEAN countries, I planned my trip December 2010. But due to business needs, I cannot file for a vacation leave. February came and as I was checking airline websites and compared the prices, I came across Cebu Pacific's promo fare from Clark to Bangkok. So I immediately booked a flight from Clark to Bangkok and Bangkok to Clark and made a separate booking for a flight from Cebu to Clark. But since Cebu Pacific does not have daily flights from Clark to Cebu, I opted for a Manila to Cebu flight. All scheduled in May.
Friday came- May 13th and we had our flight bound to Clark and it was a good thing a fast one. No delay at all! :) When we arrived at DMIA/Clark airport, we had a hard time asking people for directions since I am not good in speaking in Tagalog neither my boyfriend. We were even hesitant to listen to the advises from the people who worked in the airport for taxi fares since it was too high not knowing that they don't have metered taxis and they have flat rate based on your destination. 400 pesos going to Balibago- where Vistillana hotel is located. Hoping that there will be another cheap alternative, we rode an airconditioned jeepney going to SM clark for 50pesos. we were under the impression that it will pass along or drop us at casino/PAGCOR pampangga since the driver said he will. Geez! to our dismay, we have to ride a jeepney going to Balibago and We don't even know when to stop. So with the help of other passengers, we were able to finally reach our destination. We were so tired that we just went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant and then slept.
The next morning, we were so excited because we will be going to zoobic Safari but we don't know the direction and we don't even know where the bus terminal is. So I asked the hotel's owner and he was kind enough to teach us where to go and what to ride. Yes, we were able to ride in a Vhire going to Olongapo and the ride took us about an hour. I really though it was near! I have to text my friend James to ask for the number of Zoobic since the vhire driver told me that I have to ride a taxi going to that place and would cost 800 per way. waahh!! I wasn't expecting it will be that expensive. I was fishing for more information if there are jeepneys or buses that will go there but unfortunately there isn't. when we reached Olongapo terminal, we were looking for a cab but I can't see one. We then learned that there taxi is like rent-a-car like and they don't run on meters. They have a flat rate of 500 pesos going to Zoobic. It was a good thing that we found a group of friends who shared the taxi with us and we split the fare. We have to ask the driver to wait for us since we have to catch a flight in the evening to Bangkok. We was nice enough to wait and give us advices on the traffic times and even told us to enjoy. Yes, we enjoyed the Zoobic safari and it reminded me of my childhood years. Seeing animals and riding in a jeepney where tigers would come to you.
It was 3 o'clock when we decided to leave Olongapo so we wouldn't be late for our Bangkok flight. We arrived just on time and we have to pay for 350pesos for a van going to the airport.
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| Suvarnabhumi International Airport |
It was 11pm (Bangkok time) when we arrived in the airport. we were so tired and sleepy that we decided to sleep in the terminal. Well, who cares? Nobody knows who we are! We stayed there for 2 hours while I was charging my celphone. Our original plan was to ride the free shuttle bus that would take us to Bangkok's bus terminal and from there will ride a bus to Hua LampongTrain station.The hard part is, we don't know where to locate that free shuttle bus and the people we asked don't seem to understand what we were talking about and seems as if they don't have a clue. They were thinking that we were talking about the Airport Express Bus. So desperate, we decided to ride a metered cab. We spent 270 Baht going to the train station + 70 Baht for the toll fees (yes! it's the passengers obligation to pay) + 50 Baht surcharge. That's a total of 390 Baht! That's a whole lot of money!
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| Hua Lampong Train Station |
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| Thai Seafood Fried Rice |
We arrived before 3 o'clock at the train station and we saw people sleeping outside waiting for the station to open. It was raining and I pity some of the people who were so wet and clothes and feet with mud. Now since we were so hungry. We walked around and found this food stall beside 7eleven and we tasted the best fried rice ever for just 35 Baht. I was so ignorant that I placed in a chili powder for my rice. Noticing what I have done, the owner gave me a fish sauce with chili. I so love it! Now for the drinks..we ordered Pepsi and to our surprise..it was a big bottle. so as usual, we took a picture of it! We stayed there until 5am chatting and bought wet tissues and some snacks at 7eleven.
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| Buying tickets |
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| Station 6- economy class train |
We went inside the train station around 4:30AM where other people have already been queueing to buy their train tickets. It was an enormous station which reminds me of Serena from Gossip girl walking in New York's grand station. To document my experience, I took a picture of the station and asked my boyfriend to take a picture of me while waiting for my turn. The people were looking at us yet we didn't mind them. I know I belong..I know I just look like them but I'm not from there and I love to document my travels. It was my turn and paid 48 baht only going to Aranyaprathet - Bangkok's border to Cambodia. We then boarded the train in Station 6. It was an economy class train that will take 5 hours to reach it's destination. There were a lot of passengers at that time since it was a Sunday. People of different colors, languages and nationality. The best part was to see Thailand's country side, feel the cool breeze and to observe people. I was enjoying the time of my life while Jes (my boyfriend) feels it was the ride to hell. It was dusty and despite the cool breeze, the sun's heat was pricking on our skin. Since we don't know where to stop, stupid of us to go down not in Aranyaprathet but in a stop prior to it. I just can't recall what it is but it's near Rong Klua Market. I so want to cry at that time. No one knows how to speak english and tuktuk driver would ask us 200 Baht and no internet cafe around. We have to walk to the highway and ask people if there is a bus going to the border. Lucky for us that we were able to meet someone who understands and speaks a little english and instructed us to ride a mini bus (a vhire in the Phils) and paid 30 baht which will take us to the border.
When we went to the border to have our passport stamped, there were people who approached us where we come from, where we would go and offered taxi services. Since I researched thoroughly about the process and the scams, we just ignored the people and their questions and just hurriedly went to the Thailand immigration and had our passport stamped.
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| Welcome to Cambodia |
We have to walk a bit going to Poipet Immigration. And yes, one can really see the difference between the two countries. It was a mess to see beggars and street kids all over. It's really like Philippines. After being stamped, we rode the free shuttle bus going to the terminal. Inside the bus, there was a gentleman who asked us if we want to ride a taxi so I started negotiating.Now since I am poor with numbers and I don't have haggling skills, I asked my boyfriend to do it. But it turned out that he was deceived causing me to freak out. But since it was alreay a done deal..I just have to accept the fact that we were ripped off. I know that taxi going to Siem Reap is just for $40-$45. But what happened was, we paid $13 each ($26) and this Japanese girl paid $13 also since we will be sitting at the back seat and the Japanese guy only has to pay only $10 since he will seated at the front seat. To our surprise, the driver asked the Japanese guy to sit at the back and let the local girl sit in front. If only I was the one negotiating then this would never happen! It was a 2 hour ride and since I was so sleepy, I managed to take long blinks. We were taken to this terminal and rode a tuktuk that will take us to our guesthouse. Per recommendation from a fellow blogger, we stayed at Bou Savy Guesthouse and took advantage of their package. When we went there, we have to be transferred temporarily to another guesthouse since the room where were supposed to stay ain't vacant yet.
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| View of Angkor Wat |
The following day, we visited the temples and I feel like Angelina Jolie in Tomb raider. I was amazed with the magnificent beauty of the temples that despite the heat, we still manage to walk and roam around, discovering each of the temple in the small circle. fFrom South Gate of the Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of Leper king, Takoa, Ta Prom.After Lunch we visited Banteay kdey, Srah Srang and Angkor Wat. We had so much fun and we took a lot of pictures. We then asked our driver to take us to the market where we bought some souvenirs. I bought a tshirt with Angkor Wat print and key chains. We went straight ahead to our guesthouse to rest and never got the chance to see Siem Reap at night. I will surely come back to visit the other temples.
We asked the guesthouse owner about transportation from Siem Reap to Bangkok and they were able to sell us ticket for $8 only that will go straight to Khaosan road. Amazing! we took advantage of that and rode a bus where this gentleman (steward I may say) placed a sticker on each of the passengers. After entering Thailand's border, we have to walk for about 200 meters to wait for the ride going to Khaosan road. It was a Grandia van. Nice it may sound but it was not. We were seated at the last seats and I feel so uncomfortable. It was a 2-3 hours ride and my legs really hurt. I couldn't rest nor move. The airconditioner was not that good and I don't like to way the driver drives.
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| Khaosan Road |
It was around 6pm when we arrived at our hotel in Khaosan road. We stayed in New Joe Guesthouse for 2days and transferred to Mom's budget guesthouse and checked in for 2 days. I feel sort of disappointed with my Bangkok trip to be honest. I wasn't able to go to the places I want to go. No dreamworld, no Safari land and I wasn't able to go to all the temples that I wanted to visit. I was just able to visit the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha and the Reclining Buddha. The rest, I spent my time going to the malls. Though I love shopping, I still would want to visit the country's tourists spots first, no Safari land and I wasn't able to go to all the temples that I wanted to visit. I was just able to visit the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha and the Reclining Buddha. The rest, I spent my time going to the malls. Though I love shopping, I still would want to visit the country's tourists spots first. We spent our time walking and walking around the malls from Siam district to Pratanum..imagine that! I have sores on my right foot while jes had on both. But since I wanted to check the stuffs for sale for my business,I have to endure all the pain. To reward myself, I had a good Thai massage for only 180 Baht and gave 20 Baht tip. lol.. I know.. I'm such a tightwad (Philippines peso has lesser value than Thai Baht!). On our last day,we went to the famous Chatuchak weekend market. Oh boy! it's a very big market. Clothes, pets, shoes, furniture..name it, they got it all! We even got lost. There were lots of people from all walks of life. Around 5 0'clock we went back to the guesthouse to claim our things. Good thing that the owner is nice enough to let us take a bath for 30 Bath and availed of the 130 Baht mini bus going to the airport. Bangkok was a nice experience and was worth all my money and time. I will surely come back and visit all of the other tourist destinations.
We arrived in Clark Airport around 3 o'clock, paid 250 pesos for a shared taxi going to Dau terminal and boarded a bus bound to Manila - Cubao-Pasay Rotunda. The fare was 150 Pesos. It was an airconditioned bus and I slept comfortably for 30 minutes while passing through the expressway. when the steward shouted that it's Cubao already, I was paying attention to the streets since we don't know where to stop. since our flight going to Cebu will still be at 3:50 in the aternoon, we planned to check in at a cheap hotel and then stroll around manila. Relying on my memory from my last Manila trip, I asked the driver to stop us at Pasay Rotunda. We were still so sleepy and dead tired! We went to Shogun hotel first and unfortunately they wouldn't accept 12 hours stay. They prioritize short time. So we went to Sogo hotel which is just across the street. We were on the wait list- number 8. So we ordered breakfast from their menu and waited for about an hour until we finally got our room. We slept for 3 hours and had our alarms set at 10:30. We rode a jeepney and took us about 30 minutes to Divisoria. Yes, we were not contented with our shopping spree in Bangkok. Jes was the one who wanted to go buy some shirt and I was just tagged along. I also enjoyed going there to look at some stuffs for sale.
Time to go back to Cebu. Waaahh! flight delayed! Scheduled Flight was 3:50 PM and We were able to board the plane around 6:00PM. Imagine all those hours waiting! Jes was sleeping while I was busy playing angry birds. Yeah..I was so bored. No internet connection..no wifi! we arrived in Cebu around 7:00PM.
My 2011 Asian Trip was a blast! I am looking forward for my next Asian tour, aiming to complete all the ASEAN nations.. so where's the next stop? Just tune in.
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