Monday, June 27, 2011

Tho Teng Yun Chinese Temple,Brunei

Located in the city centre of Bandar Seri Begawan,KH Soon Services and Rest House is the only cheap guesthouses to be found along Jalan Pemancha.

The room price noted is Brunei Dollar 30 per night. It's just a 5 minutes walk to the central bus terminal,less than 5 minutes walk to Tamu Kianggeh morning market,10 minutes walk to the boat pier and 10 minutes walk to Sultan Omar Ali Saifudeen grand mosque and one stop Yayasan Bolkiah Shopping Complex.

During the weekend,the shopping complex area is swarmed with migrant workers from Philippines,Thailand,Bangladesh and Indonesia.
There were Thais operating mini markets next to the bus terminal building on the 1st floor and this should be a good platform to promote Thai products beyond the shores.








In the Yayasan Bolkiah Complex,one local artist displayed his creativity in painting the Kampung Ayer.(Water Village)

 This water colour painting reflects the daily life of the waterfront village people travelling to and fro with the speed boat taxis.

 Way back in September of 1998, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Britain made a tour of the Kampung Ayer and there's a pier named after Her Majesty.

A visitor to Kampung Ayer will be amazed by the good infrastructure within this community.In addition to houses, there are mosques, restaurants, shops,schools and even a kareoke lounge on stilts over the water









Just a short distance from the Tamu Kianggeh morning market is a Taoist Chinese temple.

The temple is called "Tho Teng Yun"(Temple of Flying Clouds).
Most of the Hokkien dialect speaking Chinese lives around the town centre.

Tao means path,a belief in living in harmony with nature and hence with the cosmos and the Universe. The ‘Three Jewels of Tao’:- 1) compassion, kindness, love 2) moderation, simplicity, frugality 3 ) humility, modesty At the main altar were three main deities.They are actually ancient legendary heroes.










A pig is being offered on thanksgiving day ritual.












A goat makes a good pair.















This festival tribute was further enhanced with prayer paraphernalia such as the paper sedan chair for the emperor god and joss papers which will later be burnt as offerings.








On both side of the temple's wall tiles were paintings of pictures of ancient Chinese warriors history.
 This is something very unique and very educational for those who want to learn about ancient China.
The paintings were just like an abstract from a history book.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Haadyai Kim Yong market

After 13 hours of journey from Bangkok,the bus finally reached Haadyai bus terminal closed to 10:30pm.

 Haadyai is the 3rd largest city in Thailand and a more popular weekend destination for both Malaysian and Singaporean travellers.

Hardly do you see westerners(thai people will call "falang") except those on transit to Phuket or Penang spending their time in Haadyai.

Haadyai bus terminal(off Sripoowanart Road) is about 6km from town and is about 3km walking distance to DIANA shopping centre.
Another 1km straight ahead is the Florida Hotel,cross the road and you'll be near to town centre.

Just beside the DIANA complex is a man-made lake where during weekends there is an open air food bazzar surrounding the lake with live entertainment by local popular singers and is usually packed.
Most of the local people prefer to shop at this complex leaving those in town to the tourists.
DIANA complex is also a more popular hangout for the youngsters.








Haadyai Railway Station is just right in the middle of town and very convenient to all travelers.

If you were to stay at Cathay Guesthouse,it's just less than a kilometre walk.
 Hat Yai Train Station is the southernmost Major Rail 'Hub', Depot, and Junction on Thai Railways Southern Line for both passenger and Freight trains.

 The State Railways of Thailand's International Express leaves Hat Yai for Butterworth near Penang daily at 05:50, going via Padang Besar.

In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30.
The train then continues to Bangkok.






Kim Yong market(thai:"talad")is also in the town centre and a very busy morning market.
One can witness interesting activities ongoing and also savor some of the cheap food in the area.

Inside the building on the left were many stalls selling all sorts of items be it the wet market categories,groceries,footwears,garment,electronics and lots more.

It's quite a large market and a shoppers paradise to hunt for good quality made-in-thailand products.
 If you love stainless steel and silverware cooking utensils with the popular brand "ZEBRA",you need to cross the road to the otherside where there is another wholesale market(less than 2km away).

Thai vegetables name:-onion(hua hom),white onion(hua hom yai),carrot(hua phak kat daeng),cabbage(ga lam),basil leaf(bai gra phao),ginger(khing),chilli(prik),lettuce(phak gaat haawn),cucumber(dtaaeng gwaa),bean sprout(thua ngaawk),sweet potato(man thaeht)
 



The beautiful garland called"dookmalai" is part of the Thai society.
Each and every household on the prayers altar,temple statues and even in cars or buses will hang the garland which depict good luck.
Flowers are traditional at Thai Weddings as well as Western Weddings and make the big day very colourful and special.
They make the room, garden or hotel in which you have the ceremony, dinner and party very attractive and fragrant flowers can fill the area with a lovely smell. If you would like to get some artificial dook malai as souvenirs,there are small ones that cost 25baht




In fact dook malai(phuang malai) is a charming way to honor any festivals or occassions.

One of the most commonly used flowers are the yellow chrysanthemum which are skillfully tied with a banana stem fibres and some red ribbons.
White jasmine flowers with its sweet scented aroma adds to its transquility.
 Thai street vendor is selling her homemade delicious cakes like eggtart ,pineappletart,Thai milk cake,Thai mango cake and some exotic cake pudding.There is also the Thai cake(pui fai),a kind of wheat flour made dessert cake where the chinese also used to make as offering to chinese gods at the altar.


Inside the building ,the market stalls are plenty with a variety of stocks to cater to the masses.

Bargaining is a necessity here.The passageway are very narrow so you need to squeeze through.

Muslim traders seemed to be many here dealing with a variety of businesses.They were very hardworking and have a good sense of entrepreneurship.

This is the place to get fresh sea harvest which were very cheap.
A Muslim shopper walking pass the pork stalls. Thai Muslims also respect other religion rights and have a great degree of understanding. 


Muslim chicken vendor stall beside a pork stall.
This is something very unique to be found in Thailand where no other countries in Southeast Asia ever has such harmonious citizens interacting and mixing freely among themselves without the need to talk about religious segregation.
Though Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country with multi-cultural and multi-ethnic population,Muslims conservatives are found all over Thailand and there are also mosque in every provinces.
The only exceptions are those hardcore deviantionist who thought that they have a big brother in a neighbouring country in the south where the present ruling leaders will sponsor their mischief by putting on a mask and pretending to be peace brokers...read here.


There were couple of pork(thai:muu) seller stalls around this huge Kim Yong market. The Chinese like to eat pork especially the famous dish called "bak kut teh" (meat bone tea).

It consists of meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of herbs and spices for hours.
Bak kut teh is usually eaten with rice or noodles and often served with youtiao / cha kueh [yau char kwai] (strips of fried dough) for dipping into the soup. For lunch menu,maybe can try 'rice with barbeque pork on top' (thai:khaao muu daaeng), pork chops(thai:chin neuua muu),minced pork soup(thai:ba chaaw),sliced pork(thai:muu phaen),pork fried rice(thai:khaao phat muu)





Monks on morning alms round near Kim Yong Market.
It was the 3rd day of the Thai New Year(Songkran) and tourists can witness  this street scene.
 Buddhist monks and novice on morning alms round chanting video




Rice and dried food are normally being offered as alms.
This has been a Buddhist custom which has sustained for thousand of years. The person who offers the morning alms will get the effects as follow.
1. He will reborn during the Buddhist time every lifetime.
2. He will have a lot of properties.
3. His properties will not be ruin by any disaster.
 4. Most people will love him.
5. He will have many good friends.
6. He will be well–known from his good deeds.
7. He will have self–confident in public.
8. When he passes away, he will go to the fortunate realm.
9. He will attain Nirvana easily.




A newly refurbished temple monastery near the market.There was a small shrine on the 3rd floor near the roof top and this building has quite similarity in architectural design to those seen in Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sai Tai Mai buses to central and southern Thailand.

A minibus ride  from Yaowarat Road drop me off near an expressway exit road near another 300metres from the main entrance to the bus terminal.

The front building is the SC Plaza and that's where on the 3rd floor were all the long-distance buses ticketing counters.

The washroom(thai called "hung nam")here is free to use except those outside the building where it will be 3baht and 10baht if you wish to have a bath("up nam")

Towards the left along a pathway are the taxis outside the fenced terminal while the local provincial buses will be on queue at the respective platforms.

To get buses and minivans to Bangkok area,you need to walk along the fence perimeter close to the inner building and walk through a narrow gate.

The local Bangkok buses are not within view if you're first timer here,it's across the fence. This terminal in Thai language is called "Sa-ta-nee Bau-Kor-sau Sai Tai" but the locals called it "Sai Tai".

Buses to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market are only available in the morning near the platforms between the terminal building.The floating market is 80 km away in Samut Sangkhram Ratchaburi province.





The front of the terminal faces Borommmarat Chonnani Road with an overhead expressway bridge that connects to Bang Bua Thong and Nakhon Pathom.

Bang Bua Thong(*18km) in central Thailand is one of the 6 district of Nonthaburi apart from Muang(city), Pak Kret(10km), Bang Kruai(27km), Bang Yai(18km) and Sai Noi(30km).(*distance from Nonthaburi city)
As Nonthaburi is only 20 km from Bangkok and both cities lie on the Chao Phraya River, the best way to get to Nonthaburi is via boat, though it is also accessible by car, taxi, or bus.

 Bang Bua Thong is notably a great place for long stay visitors in the suburb of Bangkok with a mix of modern housing estates and industrial areas.
Nakhon Pathom,an old ancient city 36km from Nonthaburi and 58km by road from Bangkok.

It was well known as a center of cultural development and prosperity due to the existence of historical and archaeological findings such as the Phra Pathom Chedi, the world's tallest Buddhist monument.
The 380-foot-chedi dominates the provincial capital and marks the spot where, it is believed, Buddhism was introduced to the Thailand-to-be more than 2,000 years ago.
 The orange-tiled chedi dates from the mid-1850s, and encases an earlier chedi attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world, and hosts each November a ten-day fair which combines merriment and traditional entertainment with solemn religious merit making

.Aircon buses 83 and 997 leave from the Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal(in Thonburi) for Nakhon Pathom, buses go every 10 minutes from 4:10AM until 9:30PM.

 Buses to River Kwai in Kanchanburi are quite irregular but also available in the morning.In the event can't get it,another option is to get a bus to Nakhon Pathom and get a local connection there.
Minivans is another alternative.



This is the inner building facing the long distance buses platforms.
The blue buses are run by private companies as well as the government.
They are air-conditioned, don’t stop as often except for lunch break or dinner break and are more comfortable.
They go to bigger cities. First class blue buses have toilets while the others don’t.

Finally, there are “VIP” buses. They are recommended for longer trips and have better legroom.
VIP buses fares will include lunch coupon as per ticket,mineral water and a piece of snack.
At the end of trip will be provided with cool facial paper towel.



 On your bus ticket will be printed the platform number.
Only ticket holders will be allowed into the waiting platforms. On the way near the exit of the building are about 3 stalls selling food,snacks, drinks and packed rice with simple dishes for 25baht.
 The waiting hall is an open concept and user friendly conducive environment.





Since the waiting area is out of bound to non-ticket travelers,you'll find the atmosphere here very relaxing Bus destinations available in Sat-tha-nee Tai Mai:

 Phanga(12 hrs) Ranong(8 hrs) Phuket(11 hrs) Krabi(12 hrs) Nakhon Si Thammarat(11 hrs) Trang(11 hrs) Yala (14 hrs) Satun (12 hrs) Koh Samui (11 hrs) Koh Phangan(11 half hrs) Haadyai(12 hrs) Songkhla(12 half hrs) Sungai Kolok(15 hrs) Narathiwat(14 hrs) Lang Suan(9 hrs) Surathani(10 hrs)




The local bus platform to surrounding Bangkok. Normally for buses to Southern Thailand,the VIP and 1st class category are either early morning or late in the evening whereas the 2nd class buses can be available 3 times a day.(early,mid & night) Bus on the way out of the terminal.






 The serthanee(bus station) Sai Tai has been upgraded as at mid 2012 so there's no more open air rest area for those thinking of spending an overnight here at the benches.

Individual push cart stalls have been phased out including restaurants only to be replaced by fast food outlets and the ususal 7-eleven store.

Seating areas have now been limited.


Connecting Lines to the Southern bus terminal:  19, 124, 125, 127, 146, 149, 511, 515, 516, 556

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Minibus passes by Wongwian Yai.

As early as 5:00am,Bangkok buses were already on the move from their respective depots.
Being an early bird,I was near the Wat Traimit area bus stop joining a handful of Bangkokians waiting to catch our respective buses.

 Since this bus stop is near the corner road,it's quite difficult to see the glaring bus number as it was still very dark.You need to lift your hand to hail it otherwise they just zoom by.

My destination is the Sai Tai Mai Southern Bus Terminal and usually waited for Number 507 bus. There were many Number 1,4,7 & 8 buses passing by.

Buses are either red(non a/c-free of charge) or yellow(air cond) .
 Bus Number 1 route:-Grand Palace,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Harbour Dept,Si Phraya,Oriental,Sathorn/Saphan Taksin,Menam Riverside Hotel.  

Bus Number 4 route:-Klong Toei market,Klong Toei,Lumphini,Silom/Sala Daeng,Chulalongkorn Hospital,Sam Yan,China Town,Hua Lamphong,Charoen Krung,Little India,Itsaraphap Rd,King Thaksin Statue  

Bus Number 7:-Klong Kwang,King Thaksin Statue,Little India,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Klang Hospital.  

Bus Number 8:-Big C ,Lat Phrao,Ratchadaphisek,Phahon Tothin,Chatuchak Park / Mo Chit,Saphan Kwai,AriSanam Pao,Victory Monument,Mahidol University,Uruphong,Bobe Market,Little India,Memorial Bridge(depot)

 Having waited for an hour half and couldn't find any sign of Bus 507 so I enquired around.
I was given to try Bus Number 5 or 7.Happily I hopped into one Bus 7 but was booted out after a short distance,"rot may(bus) pai(go) Tai Mai(southern terminal),mai mee(no)"
 It was getting brighter now when I walked to Yaowarat Road which had a more vantage point to see the buses numbers.
Rather than waiting any longer I decided to hop in any buses that will take me to the Thonburi side across the Chao Phraya River.
Got hold of a yellow mini bus No:104-40 and I mentioned Tai Mai with a sigh of relief to be allowed in.
Bus Fare:7baht.That's so cheap to travel using public transport.  

Simple Thai phrases while taking a bus.
1) Where is the bus stop?(bpai rot may yoo tee nai)
2) Which bus goes to Silom Road?(bpai tanon see-lom bpai rot may sai nai dai bahng)
3) Does this bus go to Pin Klao?(rot may nee bpai pin klao rue bplao)
4) Does this bus stops at Chinatown?(rot may nee ja jort tee yao-wa-raht reu bplao)
 5) When is the next bus to Morchit?(rot may bpai Mor-chit kan dtor bpai ork ghee mohng)
6) How much to..?(bpai.....thao rai)
7) How much is it?(thao rai)
8) Where is this?(tee nee tee nai)
9) Is this near Wat Pho?(tee nee glai glai Wat poh mai)
10) Could you please tell me where to get off?(chuay bok hai pom/dichan long noi)
11) I want to get off at Sanam Luang.(pom/dichan ja longtee Sanam Luang)




The minibus ride passed the Phra PinKlao bridge across the Chao Phraya River into the other side of old Bangkok district of Thonburi.

Practically at every bus stop,the minibus will pick up passengers in the morning rush hour.There was not much of a heavy traffic and the flow was very smooth.
As the bus move slowly near the Wong Wian Yai big circle roundabout which is at the junction of Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Road and Prachathipok Road,I could see a group of people doing their morning exercise workout in this beautiful landscaped greenlung of old Bangkok.
Though Thonburi is on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, it's still administratively part of Bangkok.




Wong Wian Yai's major landmark is the King Taksin Monument at this traffic roundabout.
Nearby Somdet Chao Phraya Road in Khlong San district is the Princess Mother Memorial Park which was built to preserve the area where the late Princess Mother resided during her childhood.
The park next to Wat Anongkharam lies a building housing exhibits of the Princess Mother familiy history.
Further up at the end of Tha Din Daeng Road is a pier where one can take shuttle boats across the river to Ratchawong and Sampheng market in Chinatown.






At the roundabout is a huge photo portrait of the beloved monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand,His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The Wong Wian Yai train station is just less than a kilometre from this roundabout and the whole area was bustling with various kinds of activities.
This is a place where one must also explore when in Bangkok to get a real taste of the life of the local communities here.
Not forgetting also are the infamous bamboo flute makers around Bang Sai Gai in Itsaraphap Road. Near the BTS Wong Wian Yai station is the Aiya Residence & Sport Club budget hotel.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Hualampong rail station near Wat Traimit.

Arrived at Hualampong railway station to make a last minute night train booking to Haadyai but unfortunately no seats were available.

The last train leaving the station was at 22:50 hours. There were many local travellers still hanging around the ticketing hall while some were sleeping on the floor.

An announcement was made when the last train leaves that no one is allowed inside by 12:00 midnight.

 Met a guy who has just came back from his hometown in Sisaket and will be reporting for work at the Bangpli Industrial area in a silverware factory.
Since it was already midnight,cheap transport via the songtheaw is no more available other than the expensive tuk-tuk and taxi,he opted to spend a night here and catch the first songhteaw at 4:00am.

So I joined him to experience the atmosphere here.Surprisingly all available floor space surrounding the rail station corridors were occupied with local people already sleeping and some snoring away.
The station security personnels also made a half hourly interval scrutinity of the area.  

About Hualampong Railway Station:

Bangkok Grand Central Railway Station is located at Rama IV Road,Rongmuang Sub-District Pathumwan District Bangkok. (outskirts of Bangkok Chinatown).
This is the railway hub for the whole country.
All Northern, Southern, Northeastern, and Eastern Train Lines have Hualamphong Rail Station as their first or final stop.
Trips on Thailand's Western Routes depart from Thonburi Rail Station, across the Chao Phraya River.
All North / Northeast-bound trains also make a stop at Don Muang Rail Station (opposite Don Muang International Airport) for convenient air/rail transfer.
Bang Sue is the Main Thai Railways Junction in and out of Bangkok for all Lines N, S, NE, W.

For Eastern Line Train Services, Chachoeng Sao is the Main Junction out of Bangkok, and Makkasan Station is the main SRT Depot.

Many types of Train Service can be found in and out of Bangkok.[ordinary train(ord),diesel railcar(drc),rapid train(rap),express train(exp),special express train(sp exp) and special express diesel railcar(sp exp drc)]  

Time table Southern Lines. 

 1) BKK(08:05) - Nakhon Pathom(09:17) -Ratchaburi(09:55) - Petchaburi(10:28)Hua Hin(11:11) - Prachuap Khiri Khan(12:08) -Chumphon(14:28) - Lang Suan(15:16) & Surat Thani(16:30)----sp,exp,drc. (2nd class)

2)BKK(09:20) -Hua Hin(13:35)----drc(3rd class)

3)BKK(13:00) -Hua Hin(17:10) - Chumphon(21:01) - Surat Thani(00.05) - Hat Yai(05:36) - Yala(08:42) - Sungai Golok(10:45)----rap(2nd ,3rd class)

 4)BKK(14:45) - Hua Hin(18:21) -Chumphon(21:47) - Surat Thani(00:40) - Hatyai(06:27) - Padang Besar(07:55) - Butterworth(11:55)----sp exp(1st 2nd class)

5)BKK(15:10) - Hua Hin(19:08) - Chumphon(23:22) - Surat Thani(01:53) - Hat Yai(07:13) - Yala(09:25) - Sgungai Kolok(11:25)----sp exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

6)BKK(15:35) - Hua Hin(20:11) - Chumphon(00:35) - Surat Thani(03:18) - Hat Yai(09:07) -Yala(11:20)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

7)BKK(17:05) - Hua Hin(20:43) - Chumphon(01:10) - Surat Thani(04:02) - Trang(07:55)----exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

8)BKK(17:35) - Hua Hin(21:37) - Chumphon(02:29) - Surat Thani(05:14) - Nakhon Si Thammarat(09:35)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

9)BKK(18:20) - Hua Hin(22:02) - Chumphon(03:05) - Surat Thani(05:51) - Kantan(11:05)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

10)BKK(19:30) - Hua Hin(23:19) - Chumphon(03:47) - Surat Thani(06:27) -Nakhon Si Thammarat(10:35)----exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

11)BKK(22:50) - Hua Hin(02:08) - Chumphon(05:47) - Surat Thani(08:11) -Hat Yai(12:27)- Yala(14:25)----sp,exp,drc(2nd class only)  

Southern Lines train fares(Thai Baht):

1st class air cond sleeper:-Hua Hin(1,022Baht)-Chumphon(1,234)-Surat Thani(1,379)-Hat yai(1,594) 2nd class sleeper(up,low,a/c up,a/c low):- Hua Hin(352,402,522,622) Chumphon(440,490,680,770) Surat Thani(498,548,758,848) Hat Yai(555,605,855,945)

2nd class seat(a/c,fan):-Hua Hin(382,292), Chumphon(480,380), Surat Thani(578,438), Hat Yai(675,535)

3rd class(a/c,fan):-Hua Hin(294,234), Chumphon(342,272), Surat Thani(397,297), Hat Yai(439,339)

 Eastern Line Timetable(all are 3rd class seats): 

 1)BKK(05:55)-Phaya Thai(06:10)-Ratchaprop(06:15)-Makkhasan(06:20)-Asoke(06:26)-Khlong Tan(06:36)-Hua Mak(06:43)-Lat Krabang(06:55)-Phra Chom Klao(07:00)-Hua Takhe(07:03)-Chachoensao(07:40)-Prachin Buri(08:58)-Kabin Buri(09:48)-Watthana Nakhon(11:06)-Aranyaprathet(11:23)----ordinary

2)BKK(06:55)-Phaya Thai(07:08)-Mkkasan(07:16)-Asoke(07:22)-Khlong Tan(07:40)-Lat Krabang(08:06)-Phra Chom Klao(08:10)-Hua Takhe(08:14)-Chachoengsao(08:59)--Chonburi(09:49)-Si Racha(10:13)-Pattaya(10:35)-Yanasangwararam(10:57)-Suan Nongnut(11:04)-Ban Phlu Ta Luang(11:20)-----ordinary

3)BKK(06:55)--Chachoengsao(08:56)----drc(9 station stops)

4)BKK(08:00)--Kabin Buri(11:35)----ord(11 station stops)

 5)BKK(10:10)--Chachoengsao(11:45)----drc(10 station stops)

 6)BKK(12:10)--Chachoengsao(13:30)----sp,drc.(9 station stops)

7)BKK(13:05)--Aranyaprathet(17:35)----drc(13 station stops)

8)BKK(15:25)--Kabin Buri(17:35)----drc(12 station stops)

 9)BKK(16:35)--Chachoengsao(17:55)----sp,drc(8 station stops)

 10)BKK(17:00)--Chachoengsao(18:50)---ord(10 station stops)

11)BKK(17:40)--Prachin Buri(20:32)----ord(11 station stops)

12)BKK(18:25)--Chachoengsao(19:40)----ord(10 station stops)  

Train fares(Thai Baht):

 Makkasan(2Baht), Hua Mak(3), Chachoengsao(13), Chon Buri(23), Pattaya(31), Aranyaprathet(48)

 Bangkok - Kanchanaburi - Nam Tok Train(3rd class seats only)

 BKK(Thoburi Sation)(depart 07:45/13:55)- Talingchan(07:59/14:10) - Salaya(08:16 /14:24) - Nakhon Pathom(08:53/14:54) - Nong Pladook(09:15/51:11) - Tha Rue Noi(09:50/15:47) - Kanchanaburi((10:45/16:19) - River Kwai Bridge(10:55/16:26) - Wan Yen(11:15/17:03) - Baan Kao(11:23/17:20) - Thakilen((11:37/17:33) - Tham Krasae(11:41/17:51) - Wang Pho(11:52/18:01) - Koe Mahamongkol(12:05/18:13) - Nam Tok(12:20/18:30)  

Getting in or out of the station:-

Airport Express Bus AE4 runs directly from Hua Lamphong to Departure Floor of Suvarnabhumi, THB150. Non air-cond Bus 29 to Victory Monument, 30 minutes, THB8.

Local Bus: 4 7 21 25 29 34 40 53 73 109 113 and Air-con Bus: 4 7 29 73 501 507 Mb 5 4

Passenger Boat: Hualampong Pier (Phadung Krung Kasem Canal) MRT Hualampong. 

  Hotels and Guesthouses nearby: At One Inn, The Chilli Bangkok Bangkok Centre Hotel Baan Hualampong Sri Hualampong




Wat Traimit is a very beautiful and remarkable temple located between the end of Yaowarat Road(1/2 km) and Hualampong rail station(1km).

 In the still of the night,the temple looks like a glittering fairyland.I can't resist seeing this temple whenever I'm in Bangkok.





Inside the four storey marble temple complex housed the Golden Buddha.
This temple is opened from 08:00am till 5:00pm except for Monday.
The entrance fee to see the Golden Buddha which was perched on the highest floor is Baht40 .
The museum entrance fee is Baht100










A portrait of the King of Thailand,His Royal Highness King Bhumibol.

 The temple's location is along Wanit1 Road(Sampheng Road) in the Sampanthawong District.

(Bangkok has 50 sub-divided districts"khet")
Along here was a 24hours convenience store and also a water dispenser in front of a shop nearby. For 1baht,you can fill your pep bottle container(1.5 litre) and save you money if you tend to drink a lot of water. To catch a local bus,wait near the bus stop in front of the convenience store.





The Bangkok Chinatown Gate in the Odeon Circle is less than 3km from Hualampong rail station just after Wat Traimit.
Walk further up keeping to the right is the Yaowarat Road.  

Chinatown area hotels in sequence from Chinatown Gate:
 New EmpireHotel ChinatownHotel Shanghai Mansion BoutiqueHotel White OrchidHotel Check Inn Chinatown Grand China Princess Hotel.

For guesthouses,there are some along the Sois off Songsawat Road.(opposite the shark fin restaurant)