Bangkok work trip - Day 4

It was the last day in BKK and I only had a few hours to pack up and leave the hotel. I checked out and left an appreciation gift for our event sales manager. His team was excellent and we were indeed very pleased with the service received.

I met my guide who took me to the airport and assisted with my heavy luggages. With more than 2 hours before the flight, I spent a good deal of time shopping for food and souvenirs for friends and souvenirs to make up for the time that I didn't have to shop in BKK. When it comes to shopping, I'm as good as any tourist.

Say hello to my new friend from Thailand!

Afterthoughts: I am still not a big fan of shopping and eating where Thailand is concerned but I know I'll be back for work very soon. To come for a holiday, it might take quite abit to convince me to come back again but I really appreciate the hospitality, generosity and helpfulness of the Thai people. On my first work trip, I was glad to know that I was able to push my comfort level to another degree. To see the event take place is really satisfying. On my first solo travel experience, I was pleased with myself that I am able to navigate places on my own and didn't get lost even though it was my first time there. I am sure I'll be able to travel to places on my own in the very near future.

Bangkok work trip - Day 3

16 Oct 09

I have omitted all details of the event as you can bet that it was nothing but tiring. Even on the dinner table, I was literally still working till the last guest leaves. What was even tiring was all the packing up after the event and then another round of final touches back at the hotel venue (till past 1am in the morning) for the event the next morning.

It was so hectic that I didn't realise I slipped into a deep sleep without setting my alarm. I was supposed to be up and running at the function at 7am to ensure things were all ready before the first guest arrived at 8.30am.

While all plans were made to ensure things were running, my body clock didn't work till my boss rang me up in the room at 8.30am. I woke up in a state of surprise and quickly get dressed and down at the event in 15 minutes. Luckily everything was prepared beforehand and I had some assistance from the local co-organisers. Everything was under control except me in my just-awake state.

I skipped breakfast and lunch totally except for a few macarons that I couldn't resist from the coffee break spread.

Again, I was mistakened as a Thai several times during the function that sometimes I felt that I was a little rude when people were trying to just say "Thank You" and I couldn't respond.

It was work after work with all the packing up and while I found an hour to freshen up in my room before heading down to prepare for the next function in the evening.

All was well after I returned to the hotel to pick up the delegation for dinner. We were stuck in the jam for quite awhile and the rain was heavy but we enjoyed the dinner nevertheless.

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I would have gone for some last minute shopping after the dinner if not for the rain.

But it saved me that little time I had to re-pack all 21kg of weight into my luggage and in bags that I could carry by myself before the flight the next morning.

Bangkok work trip - Day 2

15 Oct 09

The second day in Bangkok marked the 2-day work marathon that kept me constantly on my toes to make sure all potential slips and falls are avoided or minimised.

Waking up in the cityscape of BKK!




The morning was already packed with phone calls and work that I had to miss the buffet breakfast that I would have enjoyed during every of my holiday trip. But, obviously this was not one of them.

I was grateful that the hotel team was always happy to help and they were already quick in action without me having to lift the boxes like I had to back in the hotel in Singapore. They were done in an hour and all my transfers were arranged.

At 13h00, I met the hotel chauffeur and went off to Aubergine Restaurant at Sala Daeng. It was not a place that was easily accessible; even the locals have problems locating the restaurant. Even with the hotel chauffeur, he dropped me at the wrong point and I had a Thai postman to tell me that the entrance was at the other side of the restaurant. I met with the restauarant owner who was a middle-aged Thai lady and we had a 30-minute discussion before I head down to my next stop.

My next task was to collect 80 delicate chocolate eiffel towers from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School located near Dusit Thani Hotel. This was the confusion point as the driver dropped me off at the hotel and the school was actually located right next to the building. I waited for a good 15 to 20 minutes to receive the items and luckily I had 2 Thai persons to assist me. They called the driver for me and I waited for another 15 minutes for the driver to appear at the right place.

After that, it was constant work back at the media venue which lasted through the night.

Bangkok work trip - Day 1 - part 5

14 Oct 09

After grabbing a drink from Starbucks, I resumed work even though it was already near 7pm there. I was pleased with myself that my directional instincts worked perfectly and I found my way to the venue in no time. I met up with my contact at the venue who was a young Thai lady. She brought me around and the rooftop scenery and setting over there was electric under the night sky. Definitely a must-visit. She showed me the bar tender who showed off his acrobatic bottle-throwing skills. Then we discussed work over the bar. All those emails and phone calls finally made sense when you are there physically to see the place.

The Thai lady was nice and she offered dinner or lunch the next day which I politely refused as I knew just what I had on my plate for the next day. What was funny was that almost all her colleagues have heard of my name - from my constant calls and emails - and they all thought I was a mature, bespectacled long haired lady. Well, I turned out to be just a young little girl and they thought I was Thai too.

It was nearly 9pm when I left the place and I decided to make a return to Siam station since I didn't have the luxury of the time earlier, I made another few tours in the malls but still didn't manage to get anything. I carried on walking in the street markets but I figured my inability to speak Thai won't get me anywhere to get a good bargain. I tried to figure what the locals were saying but I gave up eventually.

I ended up with a packed dinner from Auntie Annies and a 200 baht top from a kind-looking Thai auntie. I visited a handicraft shop before heading to the train station.

The night in BKK was consumed in total darkness except for the minimal light from the passing cars and traffic lights.

Bangkok work trip - Day 1 - part 4

14 Oct 09

I took quite awhile to unpack my luggage, make some phone calls for work and then I met my hotel event sales manager again to inspect the function venues. Knowing that I was completely clueless about navigating my way through the other venues, I quickly asked him if he could help me with the transfers as I would need to transport some cartons and banners from place to place. He agreed readily and it took quite a load off my mind.

Thereafter, I made my way out on the streets with some simple but clear instructions from the concierge, I found my way to the nearest BTS train station - Nong Chongsi station. I didn't want to take a cab since I barely speak Thai. I was glad to see that the stations are well indicated in English too. My first stop was to National Stadium to check on my venue for a media event the next day.

One remark I had about my first time walking in the streets of Bangkok was that it has a distinctive Thai scent everywhere.

Little did I realise that I had simply followed the crowd out and alighted one station earlier. I found myself in the midst of huge shopping malls so I decided ask around. One Thai led me to another Thai who tried to explain to me patiently in Thai - the only English word I could make out of is that she asked me to take a taxi.

After figuring out by myself, I finally realised I was one station away but I decided to do a quick tour around the mall since I was already there. oops.

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Bangkok work trip - Day 1 - part 3

14 Oct 09

The 45-minute journey to the hotel was not that long afterall thanks to the guide's continuous explaination of the roads and buildings and the Thai conversations between him and the driver. He also pointed out that there was a road closure due to some Thai royalty making their way in the city. It was a massive road closure, in my opinion, as it seemed like they closed the whole of an expressway just to make the road safe for the royalty. The roads there were mainly raised roads that twirled above the height of the buildings with many huge advertising billboards up in the air to catch the attention of the Thai drivers (because they are written in Thai). On the road, I noticed that there were several gates/stops to make manual road tax payment - when I spotted my guide passing some Thai Baht to the driver. This was indeed visible everywhere - including Hong Kong.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I was greeted by everyone standing at the hotel entrance and was quickly escorted to the reception. Even though I didn't understand a word of Thai, I could make out that they were alerting my event sales manager that I have arrived at the reception. Very shortly, I spotted the familiar face and we briefly spoke about work.

Thereafter, I entered my room on the 25th floor. I was delighted to see the huge glass window, the plush bed and the luxe bathroom. The hotel also offered a complimentary mango nicely plated with a knife. I was beginning to like this hotel already.

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Bangkok work trip - Day 1 - part 2

14 Oct 09

Part of the reason of the non-excitement on setting off for this trip was also because I was not particularly fascinated by Bangkok itself. I never contemplated of visiting the city for my holiday as I was not a big fan of Thai food nor the night markets that my friends and sisters have been raving about.

On the plane, I was seated at the aisle with an Indian uncle next to me. They were rather pleasant neighbours with very little toilet visits which would have troubled me during the flight except for the fact that they had problems switching on the TV and the repeated fiddling with the remote did get on my nerves for a bit. Otherwise, the inflight experience was a pleasant one - at least I get a decent meal - though I feel Cathay has a better offering in terms of the food and ice cream. The only difference is that they do provide hot towel for the passengers to freshen up before the take-off. And the best part, after my experience on UA, is the inflight entertainment. I caught "My Sister's Keeper" though the flight was too short to finish watching the entire story.

When I arrived at the airport, I found that it was easier to navigate to the customs area as compared to HKG or SIN airport. At the immigration counter, they even made the passenger stand to take a picture at the counter. Thereafter, I waited for quite awhile to assemble my luggages and found my local guide carrying a big sign with my name at the exit area after a short search. He was very helpful and assisted with my luggages to the car. He was also very friendly and shared many stories during the ride to the hotel. He said that he was told that he was expecting a V.V.I.P (that explained why they prepared a coach) - I bet that he never thought that I was just a little girl in tee and jeans.

One thing I had noticed about Thai people is that when they laugh, they laugh out loud and heartily. Tell me if I'm wrong.