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)