Visits and Glimpse: Last Year's First Solo Flight: Few Days in Thailand

I said hello to Thailand a year ago, some time in August.

I don't think that was a trip I could boast for its luxury and visits. No, it's not it because it wasn't a luxury, and the visit was very limited to two places, one that's touristy, and one that wasn't. The trip was not the typical tour a foreign visitor does to another country, especially with time constraints like 4 days. It was, however, something that I am very proud of because it was my first SOLO FLIGHT abroad. Main destination: ex-capital of Thailand. Details are as follows:

In Bangkok to a Journey to Phitsanulok

A warm welcome with my fave flower plumeria
on a wall of my humble accommodation
in Bangkok

Arriving solo in Suvarnabuhmi Airport wasn't that scary after all. The airport is first-timer friendly and the people in general are very accommodating. The best part, for me, is that I can have my phone loaded with affordable communication service. Before getting a taxi on the ground floor of the airport and after getting some of my dollars changed to baht, I dropped by at the communication service provider's booth in the airport and got the cheapest deal: unlimited mobile internet and call services that could last until I leave the country. Thumbs up for the communication service in Thailand! It made me less lonely right after. Calling my friend who's staying in Phitsanulok, it was like I was just back home, talking on the phone while waiting for a taxi.

The Airport Taxi Stand and the Rest of the Taxis in Bangkok
I'd like to make a special note on the quality of taxi service at the airport. Of course, being alone and first-timer, I opted for a taxi, convenience and all. And it was indeed convenient. I was impressed as it was organized and there were personnel to assist in each queue for the taxi. They carefully guide everyone and explain to the driver if needed. (I just hope we'll get that kind of service in our airports, so our tourists wouldn't feel so insecure upon arrival.) What's more interesting is that taxis in Thailand are very colorful. When I was out the following day, heading for my main destination, the sight of their taxis brought a smile to my face. It was a happy sight to see those neon colors moving along the roads of Bangkok. Thailand is colorful!

Some of the colors of Bangkok Taxis

Bus Transport
My arrival at Mochit Station was nothing special until I was on the bus. I mean, there was nothing special really about this bus station. It's just like any bus stations back home, except that their buses are way better than ours. They provide passengers with blankets and food. Isn't that amazing? And drivers drive according to schedule, not race to death like what most bus drivers do back in my country. So after five hours of religious driving, I arrived in Phitsanulok safe and sound.

their bus

Ticket to ride!

Free Snacks!

Experiencing the ex-capital of Thailand: Phitsanulok

Yes, it may be surprising to you that I headed for a place that's not a typical destination among tourists of Thailand. But the thing is, it was mainly for the sake of experience. With meager budget and very little travel experience, the best to go to is some place where you know someone very familiar. A college friend is working here, and that's why, I was here.

My Humble Accommodation
Finding an affordable yet decent hotel is easy with Agoda. With early accommodation, I was able to find a room here for Php500 a day with just the necessities for me: hot and cold shower, air-conditioner, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, complimentary bottles of water, and lots of peace and quiet. What's more, I was surrounded with my favorite flower: plumerias!

affodable and spacious enough, with the simple necessities,
this room is more than enough!

plumeria outside my room

my street there and the plumeria on it. ^^

Visiting a Typical Thai High School
It was lucky for me to be able to see a special day of a typical high school. There was a school celebration and it started with a parade around the vicinity of the school (so much like in my home country). I attended their school program and saw their practices in such events. True immersion. So glad for the visit. What I certainly enjoy here the most was the sight of Buddha's different positions, particularly the one in the photo below.

The high school I visited

the school parade before their short ceremony

Isn't she like someone we know back in high school?

This is one of the booths in the school
canteen.

you need this token to have a meal at the
canteen

and this is what I got with my
token worth 20 Baht. Cheap and delicious!

at the ceremony. and everybody is seated, even
on the floor

students sitting on the floor
during their ceremony. No need
for chairs, huh.

with fellow Asians. Three nationalities. Two Filipinos,
one Thai, and one Japanese. Which is which?

Truly Asian custom

the best Buddha position! comfy.

Mode of Transport
Motorcycle is a common sight on the roads and in parking lots. It seems that every household there has at least one motorcycle owned. And it seems that there are less cars compared to motorcycles. Of course, during my stay, I roamed around this seemingly rural city with a motorbike, not me driving but my friend.

This is what you see in the school parking

Malls have a wide parking area for these bikes

Checking out Phitsanulok
For me to feel Phitsanulok, I roamed around the area most of the time with my friend and at other times dared to check it out alone. After visiting that one high school, I walked to a nearby river park on the way to the famous temple, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, which is the home of the second most famous Buddha image of the country, Phra Puttha Chinnarat. The temple was a bit huge, and it took me more than an hour to really see everything. In the heat of Thailand afternoon, the shades of surrounding plumeria trees kept me cool.

at the river park

the main part of the temple with its many
visitors

locals praying to Buddha

a part of the temple

seems like a section in Temple Run
with its ruins

Later that day, my friend and I went to the biggest shopping mall of the area. It wasn't bad. It was not as busy as Ayala or SM, but its cinemas are way better than either of the two. Like really. And cinema experience is a vow I made to myself I should have whenever I travel. Satisfied!

Tamarind Shake. Thailand is
tamarind land!

I hope this is served in our local
KFCs. Spicy delish!

my authentic phad thai noodle. conclusion: i
still prefer Korean noodles.

my fave Thai soup, finally tasted the authentic one.

During the few nights stay there, I also had my night market visits. Going to night markets seem an integral part of visiting a foreign city. No wonder. Any night market offers cheaper prices for goods of the same quality you can buy at the malls. And the perks of night markets are the opportunity to see local forms of entertainment, try exotic delicacies, eat street foods, and of course, moving around with the locals themselves! The night market of Phitsanulok gave me the feel of Phitsanulok spirit. Or so I thought. ^^

Street food at the night market

Phad Thai along the street

dinner for busy shoppers at the night market

something I wouldn't dare eat

so they have an abundance of these?

The public market was truly impressive. I mean, come on, it's supposed to be a wet market. Only there's no sign of wetness. The ground's dry and there's no sight of flies hovering above foods which is a usual sight in a southeast Asian wet market. It's so clean for a market. And when we returned to the our parked motorcycle, the helmet and the umbrella were still there. No theft, huh. Well, petty theft like stealing helmets must be common only in my country. It's funny.

food section just in front of the wet market.
no signs of flies

I regretted I didn't splurge on this there. So expensive in my
country!

And what's a visit in Thailand without the authentic Thai massage experience? I just had to experience it, so I went to a small massage shop near my accommodation. Conclusion: it's simpler than the Thai massage offered in my country, with all the stretching and pulling. Funny. It's simpler and more relaxing. It seems that my country exaggerates Thai massage a bit, then.

at the massage shop

Back to Bangkok for a Day and a Goodbye

With one day left back in Bangkok, I got the chance to see the city with the presence of old colleagues who manage to squeeze a bit of their busy schedule for me. Shopping, gallivanting, dining, and a few others. Then came the parting.