Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Finally during my third visit in Bangkok I got to experience their so-called "floating market" and I chose to experience this on the largest floating market community. It's about 1.5-2 hours travel from Bangkok downtown. On this trip, we hired an airport cab for a day for not more than THB2000, we are a group of six people. We have been picked-up from our hotel at around 7am-7:15am since the floating market lasts only until noon time. On the site, we were dropped off to a boating wharf (actually there are a lot along the road). I forgot the exact prices but as far as I could remember we paid THB50 each for the entrance fee/environment fee plus THB300 per person for the boat. And the tour starts from here...

sometimes our ride gets tough and speedy so better hold on to your seats!

this is our first stop..it's a coconut factory where you could also buy some souvenirs

a lot of stores along you way, and boats too!

you may hail floating vendors and buy from them

I even saw some tourists eating their noodle soup on their boats, cool!

the busiest part of the market

this is the final stop of our tour, a temple (forgot the name of it though)

nothing much to see here except for some dancers practicing their craft

before hopping on your boat, try to feed the huge kois, you'll be amazed on how big they are

After the floating market, we planned on going to an elephant show but instead our driver took us to a different one - Elephant Village (only about 15 minutes from the wharf). Here we paid THB600 for an elephant ride which everyone of us enjoyed. It's only a 30 minute bumpy ride but worth the experience.

this is how high I am

they have made a village track with vegetations on the side for this ride

you'll even pass by a small body of water which scared the oldies

chained mother and child captive, kinda felt pity for them here

We were back in Bangkok downtown at around 2:30pm. Pretty cool and experience-packed half day for me!

Centre Point Wireless Road

We got their Three-Bedroom Suite for two nights. Our stay was awesome! Everything is clean and well-maintained. It felt like we have our own flat unit in the center of Bangkok. We also got spectacular view of the city. Follows are my first-hand experiences:

• Wireless Road is one of Bangkok center business districts so expect to have traffic here especially during peak hours.
• They have ample space for parking and waiting area for vehicles.
• Upon entering the lobby, you can smell the aroma of their special scent. Very soothing! They have huge lobby as well. You may also get maps and guides from the reception. Their staff are well-accommodating too!
• They have ample elevator (about at least six) to service all of their floors. Nice and new elevator too!
• One complaint we have is that their corridor (on the rooms floor) are not air-conditioned so it may be hot during noon time.
• (may I reiterate?) Their room is spectacular and classy and huge! All of us were amazed upon entering the suite.
• Our suite have 3 bedrooms (2 each with queen-size bed and one with single bed), each with ensuite bathroom.
• I got the smallest room (good for one person) but I am still impressed. I want to have a room like that too!
• Their breakfast is pleasing too! Though not really comparable with those from five-star hotels but they are more that enough for me. I got tasted my first macaroons here!

the bathroom of the single room, this one has a door from the living room

the single-bed room, with city view

the kitchen/utilities section, with provided kitchen utensils and appliances

the dining area

the living room with access to the balcony

the room with queen-sized bed

view from the balcony door

city view at night from our balcony

Legacy Express Bangkok

Stayed here for two nights last March 2013. Two major reasons why we chose this hotel is that it is very close to the BTS Station (and is along the main road) and it is very affordable. Well, it didn't failed us! Reviews I've read for this hotel are true and all of my family was impressed with it. Here are some of my insights and observations:

• Taxi drivers might have difficult time understanding the address, just show them the full address and mention that it is at the corner of Soi 1.
• Only about 3 minutes to the BTS Station and is along the Sukhumvit Road (one of the busiest road in Bangkok)
• They just don't have parking and waiting area for your taxi/van pick ups.
• Their staff are very helpful, don't hesitate to ask for assistance especially in getting a cab. Trust me on this!
• Maybe it is not mentioned on their site but they now have buffet breakfast that comes with your accommodation. Not that a lot of choices though but it will keep your stomach full.
• Small and slow elevator though, it only fits around six people without travelling bags.
• First impression upon seeing the hotel is that they are very chic and contemporary. This applies even on the hotel interiors and rooms.
• Rooms are well-kept and simple. You would just have a small window to view the outside. All the basic amenities of five-star hotels are also provided. Great!
• Their WiFi works pretty good anywhere you are in the hotel. Impressive!

hallway facing the back of the hotel

hallway facing the front of the hotel

our standard room

the comfort room

Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

For this tour, we opted to do it ourselves and not get any group tour packages to save on expenses. We hired a van for pick-up and drop-off the wharf going to the Honda Bay for Php1300. We asked to be picked-up at 9am from our hotel. We passed by a rental shop for snorkeling gears and booties first. I think the booties are Php150 a pair and Php100 for the snorkels. You could also buy hear bread for fish feeding. I saw some also whom encased their cameras for water-proof protection. Arriving at the wharf, you first have to line up to their tourism office and they will give you your boat number. As it was already the peak time, we waited for about 30 mins on this step.

Here are the chronological order of our island tour..

COWRIE ISLAND. Entrance is Php75 per person. Very few people were here when we arrived. It was quiet and I can find solitude here. It has also a bar in the middle of the island were you can order drinks and food.

PANDAN ISLAND. Entrance is Php100 per person. This is the famous spot for eating lunch. Various cottages may be rented out but make sure to be here before noon time as all the cottages gets filled up very fast. We only got an umbrella cottage just enough for four persons for Php300.

PAMBATO REEF. Entrance is Php50 per person. This ain't an island but a station for drop off to their reef. I think this is the main reef sanctuary of the area.

LULI ISLAND. Entrance is Php50 per person. An island with picturesque view and long stretch of sand bar, at least for this Honda Bay islands.

For the complete list of our expenses on this tour, you may go to this link:

Puerto Princesa City Itinerary with Budget