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Thailand

My travel experience and tips for this great destination

The Gundam base Bangkok Thailand

Thailand: Phayathai Food Center and Bangkok’s Gundam Base

Date: January 17, 2023

After arriving yesterday, and resting well, I stepped out for the main reason for coming to Bangkok.

Ratchathewi BTS Bangkok Thailand
I took the BTS from Ratchathewi to Phaya Thai

Back in 2019, I picked up my DJI drone just before leaving the city on that trip. Unfortunately, since I picked it up just a day before leaving, it was only once I landed back in India, did I get a chance to properly test the drone and everything that came with it. Upon testing, I found the two batteries that came with my pack were dead upon arrival. Fortunately DJI support managed to ship new ones to me before COVID hit — but I always wanted to go back to Bangkok to see if the service center could try to revive the two dead batteries.

So after nearly 3 years of COVID lockdowns, I managed to return to Bangkok and went to the DJI service center at KSL Tower on Chaturathit road, which was a 10 minute walk from Phaya Thai BTS.

DJI service center inside KSL Tower Bangkok
This image is a screenshot from Google Maps. I thought I had taken a photo on my phone. Anyway, the red arrow points to where the DJI service center is.

Unfortunately, the technicians took a look at the battery and since it had been more than 3 years since I purchased the drone, they said there as nothing they could do. They could not replace them or even try to repair them as it could have been dead for so long. I was disappointed but there was nothing more I could ask from them.

Unicorn skyscraper Bangkok Thailand
So I walked back to Phaya Thai BTS
Phayathai railway track under the bridge Bangkok
This was right underneath the BTS metro line
Food stalls by railway track Bangkok
There were a bunch of small eateries by the train tracks

But just under Phaya Thai BTS station was a food court, chock full of food stalls.

Phayathai local food court Bangkok
It was very crowded for lunch
Thai food Phayathai food center Bangkok
A lot of the stalls were selling local fare

But there were also vendors serving Japanese and Korean dishes, and other types of food — including Halal food run my Muslim vendors. Here’s a brief video:

I found vendor selling some Japanese food.

Chicken katsu curry rice Bangkok
I had a chicken katsu with Japanese curry over rice. Cost ฿79 (₹180/$2.19/€2)

The katsu was nice and crisp but since everything pre-cooked and served, the food was room temperature at best. I would have tasted a lot better if the dish was served hot or fresh.

After my inexpensive lunch, I headed back to my room.

Spring tower Phetachburi Bangkok
This nice-looking building is called Spring Tower

Disappointed I could not repair the DJI batteries, I had no choice but to throw them into the dustbin. What was the use of carrying dead batteries back to India? I looked online for solutions to fix them myself but it required soldering work and taking apart the casings — but all that’s too risky for me to work on.

DJI Mavic Air battery
It was kind of heartbreaking for me having to dump these batteries, considering they cost around ₹4000 each!

After doing some work, I decided to step out again. But instead of taking photos, I chose to a shoot a walk through down Phetchaburi Road.

I had to stop recording video as my phone was getting hot.

Indra Square Bangkok mall Thailand
Indra Square maybe suitable for Indian tourists who don’t wish to eat anything but Indian food while on holiday (such people exist)
Happy Singh Indian restaurant Bangkok Thailand
Plenty of Indian restaurants, in and around Indra Square, where you get your “pure veg” options

As I walked through Bangkok, one key change I witnessed since my last visit was seeing how many marijuana shops had opened up since its legalization in 2022.

Weed vending machine Bangkok Thailand
Even vending machines, selling cannabis-infused coffee!

But smokers must note before rushing to fly to Thailand, this may not last long — the Thailand government is thinking of reversing the legalization of cannabis for recreational use.

Novotel Bangkok platinum Pratunam Bangkok
Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam — if you want a 4-star hotel right next to the popular clothing heaven, Platinum Mall, the Novotel is right next door. Across the road is the Amari Bangkok.
Saen Saep canal Bangkok panorama
I got on the Ratchaprasong Skywalk
Market Big C supercenter Bangkok Thailand
I decided to hop on over to the Big C Supercenter and check out the prices of some things I intended to take back home
White prawns Big C Bangkok Prices
Coming from Manila, I was stunned to see how much more reasonable seafood prices were in Bangkok!

See my Manila post about prices there but just for comparison, a kilo of similar white prawns cost ฿165 per kilo, around ₱257 or ₹380, which is about the same in Kerala (my home state). But in Manila’s Robinsons supermarket (an equivalent to Big C), the same costs ₱818 — or ฿520! And unlike Bangkok city, Manila city is right by the sea!

Fish prices Big C supermarket Bangkok
Prices in Manila for most seafood were all 3 digits long. Not the case in Bangkok.
Onion price Big C supermarket Bangkok
Meanwhile, onion prices, albeit higher than India’s prices, cost ฿55 per kilo or ₱85. Whereas in Manila at this same time, small onions were sold for ₱600 per kilo — ฿380!

And mind you, Thailand is an ASEAN nation much like the Philippines with similar demographics and geography. But the difference in prices between the two nations is alarming!

After making a list of things to buy, I left Big C and walked over to CentralWorld mall.

Japan Expo press conf Bangkok Thailand
There was some media event going on for an upcoming Japan Expo
Thai girls Japan cosplay Bangkok
Which meant promoting the event using girls dressed in anime and idol cosplay of course

After making a quick stop by ZARA, Uniqlo, and H&M at CentralWorld, I made my way to Siam Paragon mall. I headed down to the food court to have an early dinner.

KFC Bangkok meal Thailand
For those wondering why I eat KFC abroad, it’s because KFC India stopped selling the Original Recipe variant years ago and only sells the Hot & Crispy versions now

Not to keep comparing, even the KFC I had at this Bangkok location was better quality compared to the KFC I had from a Cubao franchise in Manila. The chicken there was… disgusting, for some reason :/

Ferrari 296 GTB Bangkok Thailand
Outside, Shell had some media event and showcased a Ferrari 296 GTB on display

Also outside was…

The Gundam base Bangkok Thailand
Woah, what’s this? I had to check it out!

Turns out, Thailand recently got its first exclusive GUNPLA (Gundam Plastic a.k.a Mobile Suit Gundam plastic model kit) store in Bangkok. The Gundam Base Thailand is located in Siam Center mall, which is adjoining Siam Paragon (Siam BTS station for easy access).

The Gundam Base Siam Center Bangkok Thailand
The Gundam Base is not only Thailand’s first, but South East Asia’s official GUNPLA store
Gunpla store Siam Center mall Bangkok Thailand
The store is open daily 10AM to 10PM
Official Gundam base Bangkok Thailand
For those wondering what these boxes contain…
Gunpla RX 78 Gundam model kit Bangkok
Each box contains colour-coded sheets of plastic components

You read through the instructions manual, cut out each piece and assemble the parts to create the model of the robot character.

Gundam shows generations of Gunpla
Mobile Suit Gundam’s universe is expansive and spans decades of manga, anime, movies, and video games
Grades of Gunpla Gundam model kit Bangkok
These are the various grades of GUNPLA

I had bought three HG sets from Tokyo back in 2015. The HG range — or High Grade — are perfect starter sets.

Gunpla Perfect Grade Gundam model kit
This is an example of MG, or Master Grade — a more advanced line of GUNPLA
Gunpla Gundam base Bangkok Thailand
The prices for many sets were reasonable

Maybe Japan is still cheaper but I picked up mine in Tokyo way back in 2015. Obviously, prices would have risen by now.

The Gundam Base Thailand Bangkok official store
The Gundam Base is still worth visiting if you’re an anime fan, let alone a GUNPLA hobbyist

Of course, if you want to see the life-size Gundam robots, you’d have to go to Japan.

Spring Tower at night Bangkok
I head back to my room once I was done roaming around

Since I walked a LOT today, I craved a body massage.

Ruenkanok massage Bangkok Thailand
There was a massage place right near my hostel so I had a regular 1 hour Thai massage for ฿300 (₹700/$8.5/€7.7)

Feeling relaxed, once I took a warm shower… it didn’t take long for me to fall asleep.

Previous post in this series:

Flying AirAsia from Manila to Bangkok

Thailand coastline border from sky

Flying AirAsia from Manila to Bangkok

Date: January 16, 2023

After spending nearly a month in (mostly) Manila, it was time to say goodbye and fly out.

Air Asia Manila airport morning
I checked in at Air Asia
Ninoy Aquino International Airport morning check-in
This was NAIA Terminal 3 early in the morning
Manila NAIA airport food court
I was upstairs checking out the food court
McDonalds hershey Manila airport
There were some gift shops as well, such as a Hershey’s store

Once I was done wasting time (I checked in early), I went back down and cleared immigration.

Kate Spade Manila NAIA airport
NAIA Terminal 3 is currently the largest airport in Manila but isn’t very impressive by today’s standards
Manila NAIA airport gates Philippines
I moved to my gate after browsing the duty free shops
Manila airport morning Sheraton Marriott
It was gloomy skies as the sun came up as it had rained in the morning

Manila’s NAIA is notorious for delays but fortunately my flight departed on time.

Continue reading “Flying AirAsia from Manila to Bangkok” »

MedConsult Clinic – a ‘cheaper’ private clinic to get RT-PCR test in Bangkok

Date: 21 January, 2023

I write this one day after taking my COVID test (my results came back negative) and the night before I head back to India. I was in the middle of my vacation in the Philippines when the news broke late December that the Indian government announced those visiting Thailand, would have to show a negative test results from an RT-PCR test and fill out the Air Suvidha form as a requisite before landing in India. (Children under 12 years of age are exempted; see rules)

Considering I was going to be spending 6 days in Bangkok — not transiting — I had no choice but to find a clinic from where I could get an RT-PCR test done. I thought of going to a government hospital but when I tried making some calls, the answers or voice recordings were only in Thai, so it didn’t help and I had little time to run around.

I was staying near Phrom Phong BTS station but the private clinics near me were charging obscene amounts of money for RT PCR tests. Pulse clinic, 3250 baht (Rs. 8k!), and Pathlab, 2800 baht (Rs. 6940). I had no inclination to spend that much for a COVID test, so I searched on Facebook and a few Indian travelers in some groups suggested a private clinic called MedConsult. And as my luck would have it, they were located just 1.2kms from my hotel!

Their website was advertising RT PCR test for 1000 baht (Rs. 2400). Still not as cheap as the prices we pay back in India for the same test but way better than paying three times more elsewhere.

Even though their promotion rate says 1000 baht until January 21st, as of this writing you can still book an appointment for the same rate

If you are taking the BTS metro service, you need to get off at Phrom Phong station.

It’s a 15 to 20 minute walk, or a short taxi ride

I decided to walk it after booking my appointment online. By the way, you don’t have to pay anything online. You only pay at the clinic on the day of your visit.

Continue reading “MedConsult Clinic – a ‘cheaper’ private clinic to get RT-PCR test in Bangkok” »
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