Day 1 - AirAsia and arrival in Bangkok
We took AirAsia flight AK882 from KLIA to Bangkok. Return airfare approximately RM553/- inclusive of all taxes, except Bangkok airport's THB500 departure tax (payable when we leave Bangkok). The flight was inevitably delayed, considering that it was the first day of the week-long Deepa-raya holiday and KLIA was jam-packed with festive travellers. Thankfully, it was only delayed an hour, and we arrived safely in Bangkok slightly more than 2 hours later.
During my first flight on an AirAsia plane, I was trying to observe everything. The flight stewardesses are actually really as pretty as those in the adverts. Maybe it's their red jackets zipped down provocatively, or their sexy red miniskirts. Or maybe, it's just that they look very modern and professional with well-groomed hair and make-up, as compared to MAS' heavily made-up and hair-bun-tied stewardesses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against MAS. In fact, AirAsia flights are nowhere as comfortable as MAS flights. But then again, you can't compare an apple and an orange :P
And because this is a detailed description of our trip, I shall put down every single detail I remember. Because I know I'll forget these details in a few months.
AirAsia planes do have full-leather seats and red-carpet. But they're definitely not "luxurious" or "plush". All look very worn. And it's free seating. So, by the time they've seated families with children and senior citizens, young people like us just have to squeeze in at the back of the plane or if you're really unlucky, between strangers in the aisle and window seats.
The plane we took (a Boeing 737 if I am not mistaken) had 6 seats separated by an aisle. Food and drinks served on board are an abominable price - RM7.00 for a Maggi cup noodle! But, if you compare to the several hundred ringgit extra you'd pay for full service on MAS, RM7 seems like a very minimal price to pay. Still, I didn't buy any food. Due to having an early lunch in McD's KLIA earlier on. And, apparently AirAsia has a "no outside food" policy.
The flight was actually really quite smooth. And, with due credit to the pilot and his co, it was one of the smoothest landings I've ever had, MAS or not.
And so, we landed at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok. While cruising along to the arrival terminal, we actually saw people playing golf next to the landing strip! A dangerous, if not unique, experience I think.
It was quite a walk from the plane to our baggage collection area. First, we had to scan the screens to know which Baggage Carousel our flight's baggage was due. Then we had to head to the right carousel. Before that, we'd have to clear immigration first - they have this little camera we have to stare into. By the time we go to the carousel, all our baggage had been lifted off it and lumped into a corner. I wonder if the airport is really that busy that it doesn't have enough carousels.
Anyway, next we were approached by a few people and we asked a few counters on taxi rates to Sukhumvit. We figured that since there was 4 of us, it'd be cheaper and more convenient to take a taxi straight to the hotel, rather than taking the airport shuttle which doesn't bring us to our doorstep. The "legal" taxis all would cost us at least THB700. We decided to step outside the airport and KF managed to negotiate for us a public taxi at THB500, which takes the highway and the taxi driver pays the toll. Cool.
From the airport to our hotel took about 45 minutes because of traffic in Sukhumvit. My first impression of Bangkok was : "Hmm, must be a really polluted place, all the buildings are all black with smog." I definitely didn't think that Bangkok property owners actually take care of their property.
Finally, we reached our hotel Sawasdee Sukhumvit Inn. My first impression : "Quaint!" and indeed it was. I liked it at once, and the lobby was really inviting - very home-like. A bellboy rushed out and helped us with luggage from that taxi. The receptionist was quite grumpy and did not smile. She looked really frazzled and the phone kept ringing. But she gave us our keys and issued us receipts for THB500 as key deposit per room. We then proceeded to our rooms, dumped our bags and headed down to reception again.
I called up A and F Tours to confirm our pre-booked trip to Ayutthaya. (It costs THB10 per local call, more for a mobile phone call). Apparently our tour was confirmed but they would call us back later to tell us what time they would pick us up. The receptionist in the lobby helped us to speak in Thai to the tour company, which was really nice of her. So, happily, we headed out to Suan Lum Night Bazaar for our dinner (we were really starving by then) and some shopping.
During my first flight on an AirAsia plane, I was trying to observe everything. The flight stewardesses are actually really as pretty as those in the adverts. Maybe it's their red jackets zipped down provocatively, or their sexy red miniskirts. Or maybe, it's just that they look very modern and professional with well-groomed hair and make-up, as compared to MAS' heavily made-up and hair-bun-tied stewardesses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against MAS. In fact, AirAsia flights are nowhere as comfortable as MAS flights. But then again, you can't compare an apple and an orange :P
And because this is a detailed description of our trip, I shall put down every single detail I remember. Because I know I'll forget these details in a few months.
AirAsia planes do have full-leather seats and red-carpet. But they're definitely not "luxurious" or "plush". All look very worn. And it's free seating. So, by the time they've seated families with children and senior citizens, young people like us just have to squeeze in at the back of the plane or if you're really unlucky, between strangers in the aisle and window seats.
The plane we took (a Boeing 737 if I am not mistaken) had 6 seats separated by an aisle. Food and drinks served on board are an abominable price - RM7.00 for a Maggi cup noodle! But, if you compare to the several hundred ringgit extra you'd pay for full service on MAS, RM7 seems like a very minimal price to pay. Still, I didn't buy any food. Due to having an early lunch in McD's KLIA earlier on. And, apparently AirAsia has a "no outside food" policy.
The flight was actually really quite smooth. And, with due credit to the pilot and his co, it was one of the smoothest landings I've ever had, MAS or not.
And so, we landed at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok. While cruising along to the arrival terminal, we actually saw people playing golf next to the landing strip! A dangerous, if not unique, experience I think.
It was quite a walk from the plane to our baggage collection area. First, we had to scan the screens to know which Baggage Carousel our flight's baggage was due. Then we had to head to the right carousel. Before that, we'd have to clear immigration first - they have this little camera we have to stare into. By the time we go to the carousel, all our baggage had been lifted off it and lumped into a corner. I wonder if the airport is really that busy that it doesn't have enough carousels.
Anyway, next we were approached by a few people and we asked a few counters on taxi rates to Sukhumvit. We figured that since there was 4 of us, it'd be cheaper and more convenient to take a taxi straight to the hotel, rather than taking the airport shuttle which doesn't bring us to our doorstep. The "legal" taxis all would cost us at least THB700. We decided to step outside the airport and KF managed to negotiate for us a public taxi at THB500, which takes the highway and the taxi driver pays the toll. Cool.
From the airport to our hotel took about 45 minutes because of traffic in Sukhumvit. My first impression of Bangkok was : "Hmm, must be a really polluted place, all the buildings are all black with smog." I definitely didn't think that Bangkok property owners actually take care of their property.
Finally, we reached our hotel Sawasdee Sukhumvit Inn. My first impression : "Quaint!" and indeed it was. I liked it at once, and the lobby was really inviting - very home-like. A bellboy rushed out and helped us with luggage from that taxi. The receptionist was quite grumpy and did not smile. She looked really frazzled and the phone kept ringing. But she gave us our keys and issued us receipts for THB500 as key deposit per room. We then proceeded to our rooms, dumped our bags and headed down to reception again.
I called up A and F Tours to confirm our pre-booked trip to Ayutthaya. (It costs THB10 per local call, more for a mobile phone call). Apparently our tour was confirmed but they would call us back later to tell us what time they would pick us up. The receptionist in the lobby helped us to speak in Thai to the tour company, which was really nice of her. So, happily, we headed out to Suan Lum Night Bazaar for our dinner (we were really starving by then) and some shopping.
posted by Amy W. at
8:19 PM
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