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mirabelle
Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 44
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:20 am Post subject: storage in bangkok |
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hi thailand esl cafe.
i was thinking of doing some backpacking in thailand (short, maybe two or three weeks, but no real time limit). some questions:
1. what's the country like post-tsunami? is it a good time to travel?
2. anyone know of some *reliable* storag places in bangkok? (i'm coming from china and i have a little extra luggage).
3. must-sees? interested in at least a few days of beach but not the whole time.
***4. about how much would a one-way ticket bangkok-new york or bangkok-san francisco cost if i bought it in the city? is it better just to buy online? know any good websites?
5. what's a good budget for three weeks? love thai food, would probably try to stay in hostels, etc.
thanks a bunch
m |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
1. what's the country like post-tsunami? |
The tsunami only affected a very small portion of the country, so the country's pretty much the same as before. The difference is that those areas that were affected, which were some of the most popular areas have experienced a drop in tourist arrivals. They would like tourists to return and are ready to receive them.
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is it a good time to travel? |
This time of year is the rainy season usually with near-daily downpours lasting several hours. Thus, it's the low season, so there a fewer tourists.
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2. anyone know of some *reliable* storag places in bangkok? (i'm coming from china and i have a little extra luggage). |
Almost all guesthouses offer to store bags for a small fee per day per bag. I'd say most are reliable, but at the same time I wouldn't leave any thing of real value in stored bags
i. e. passport, credit cards, traveller's checks, cash, watches, gadgets, etc. Take all that with you.
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3. must-sees? interested in at least a few days of beach but not the whole time. |
Not really, a guide book can direct you to all of the most well-known sights. There are numerous pleasant and interesting places but nothing that's going to change your life.
I'd recommend spending a few days in Bangkok, checking out the historical area with the temples & palaces, then going to your beach/island and stopping by some small town with something of historical interest on your way back.
For example, if you go down south you might stop in Petchaburi on the way back. Or if you go to Koh Samet/Koh Chang you swing up to Prasat Phanom Rung [Khmer ruins] on the way back. You might consider going all the way to Angkor Wat in Cambodia though if you're really interested in Khmer ruins and have the money & time.
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***4. about how much would a one-way ticket bangkok-new york or bangkok-san francisco cost if i bought it in the city? is it better just to buy online? know any good websites? |
Travels agents have this information. I think buying it from them would be cheaper than online, but of course you should check yourself. Do a websearch to find the websites. Search for the individual airlines themselves i. e. Thai Airways, etc.
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5. what's a good budget for three weeks? love thai food, would probably try to stay in hostels, etc. |
In my opinion you'll need at least $12/day but most likely you'll be spending more like $20. So that's about $252 - 420, so try and have about $500.[/quote]
Last edited by sigmoid on Sun Jul 17, 2005 6:53 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer

Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国
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joe beets
Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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sigmoid wrote: |
Or if you go to Koh Samet/Koh Chang you swing up to Prasat Phanom Rung [Khmer ruins] on the way back. You might consider going all the way to Angkor Wat in Cambodia though if you're really interested in Khmer ruins and have the money & time. |
Phanom Rung is considerably farther out there than Sigmoid seems to be implying, not to mention being in a completely different direction. Not exactly "on the way back" from those lovely islands.
Personally, I would more consider the Khmer monuments worthy destinations on their own merits as opposed to a side-trip, but then again I'm a dreary old fart who really gets off on history and clambering around ruins and all that boring stuff. Phanom Rung is dreamy, fantastic, and definitely worth visiting, but it's a bit more than a day-trip away from Bangkok. In fact it's a pretty tough slog/quite an adventure, first to Buriram, and then on another 64 km. toward the Cambodian border.
The Khmer monuments in Cambodia proper (Angkor Wat et al) make Phanom Rung look like some remote backwater outpost, which is pretty much what it was. If you have any interest in seeing one of the undisputed marvels of ancient architecture on the planet, you really can't afford to miss it. Still, piles upon piles of exquisitely carved sandstone with occasional bits of ficus tree sending said sandstone slabs into a sweet slow-motion tumble might not be everyone's cup of tea, and a trip to Cambodia might not be on your menu right now, so here's what I suggest:
Prasat Hin Phimai is another Khmer temple in the northeast region of Thailand (aka Isaan, "The Real Thailand"), but much nearer Korat, which is in turn only 2/3 as far from Bangkok as is Buriram. The monument at Phimai has been restored, so you're not getting the raw ruin experience, but you will be getting a kinder, gentler introduction to Khmer temple architecture/history.
If after this you find your boat floating, then you may be ready for a more extensive survey of Khmer architecture in Thailand, and with that some of the other wonders of Isaan, including Phanom Rung and Phra Viharn/Phreah Vihear (Thai name/Khmer name; on the border on the Cambodian side, but most easily accessed on the Thai side, bla bla, somebody stop me), which are both on tops of mountains and offer great views of nearly nothing.
Or you could just go to the beach and relax.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you enjoy your stay.
jb |
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kenkannif
Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:19 am Post subject: |
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If you trust me I'll happily store anything for you (for free), since I kil...I mean since the mother in law moved out we've got lots of extra room  |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Phanom Rung is considerably farther out there than Sigmoid seems to be implying, not to mention being in a completely different direction. Not exactly "on the way back" from those lovely islands.
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Good point JB. My wording doesn't really convey the fact that to go from the Eastern seaboard up to Issan is a separate trip from just going back to Bangkok, but that was the idea that I was trying to communicate.
Thanks for the clarification. Another interesting thing I might add about Prasat Hin Phimai is that it is located in a nice quiet small town of the same name so you can spend the night there. |
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