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Travel

Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Thailand: Phayathai Food Center and Bangkok’s Gundam Base

By Mithun Divakaran
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Mar 12, 2024
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Bangkok, Thailand, Travel

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.

Continue reading “Thailand: Phayathai Food Center and Bangkok’s Gundam Base” »

Flying AirAsia from Manila to Bangkok

By Mithun Divakaran
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Feb 06, 2024
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Bangkok, Thailand, Travel

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” »

Philippines: Getting a glimpse of ITZY in Manila, and the shocking cost of fresh food

By Mithun Divakaran
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Dec 20, 2023
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Philippines, Travel

I know. That’s such a weird mix of a title for the blog post but I didn’t have enough photos to dedicate a blog post for each topic. So since this is the final post in this Philippines series, and I’m going to squeeze in a mixed bag of photos from different dates and talk about different things.

January 9, 2023

After finishing my work, I decided to head to Ermita via Pasay.

Malate river Manila Philippines — I took the MRT to Taft Avenue station

Pasay interchange walkway Manila Philippines — TAFT Avenue/EDSA interchange is a very busy junction

In 2011, when I first arrived in Manila, I stayed in the Pasay area at the famous Kabayan Hotel. Although a hectic area to be in, due to its proximity to Manila’s airport, Pasay is a convenient location if you want to get around via the city’s metro network; you can hop on the LRT 1 (Green line) and MRT 3 (Yellow line) from Pasay.

Taft Avenue EDSA MRT station — I walked towards the LRT1 line to take the metro to get down at Pedro Gil station

Since I arrived in Manila, I was hoping to catch the sunset by Manila Bay. But unfortunately, since arriving in mid-December, the skies in Manila had been grey and cloudy. Manila Bay — and the Philippines in general — offer some of the best sunrise / sunset views!

Ermita Robinsons Place road Manila — But looking at the clouds today as well, I dropped the idea

Al Noor restaurant Ermita Manila Philippines — As I was walking around the area, I came across a few Middle Eastern restaurants in Ermita

Al Noor restaurant menu Ermita Manila — This is the menu of Al Noor restaurant

Shawarma snack center White Palace Condotel Manila — Also nearby was Shawarma Snack Center, which is adjoining a hotel Whit e Palace Condotel

I was drawn to their shawarma section:

I was craving good shawarma from people who knew how to cook it right, so I went in. What I mean is, I had shawarma once from a Filipino chain and found the chicken meat mixed with some sweet-ish sauce — bleh!

Continue reading “Philippines: Getting a glimpse of ITZY in Manila, and the shocking cost of fresh food” »