Bangkok: Sunflower Fields at Saraburi, Dam Pasak Chonlasit, Ayutthaya, Petchaburi Road

For this trip we hire a driver to take us around Saraburi and Ayutthaya. This is my second time seeing sunflower in this Bangkok trip. This time we went a bit far off the main road and the driver took us to a sunflower field at Wang Muang, Saraburi. Address is Rural Road 4016, Wang Muang Salaeng Phan 18220 Thailand . GPS Coordinate: 14.7507586,101.1183219. Farm entrance fee is 10 baht.

The sunflower is quite small compared to the one I visited two days ago. There's quite a big gap in between the rows as well. However this is perfect if you are travelling with kids and since the flower height is around waist, your photo frame will surely be filled with the sun flower. This place is definitely not accessible by public transport. Hence if you are taking minivan, refer to my visit to sunflower farm at Patthana Nikhom, Lopburi.

In front for the field there's stall selling farm products such as sunflower seed, honey, fruits, juice etc.
Be sure to buy the roasted honey coated sun flower seed. I have never tested a crisp and fresh sunflower seed as good as this. Then our driver took us to visit Dam Pasak Chonlasit. If you took the train trip to Saraburi, the train will stop inside sunflower field and Dam Pasak Chonlasit as well.

The dam is so big, there's wave. We stopped by for a while to enjoy the visit. We didnt take the tram to go around the dam, instead we took a short break. I cooked fried rice that morning out of fear if we can't find halal food at rural area.

I quite enjoy going through the rural road. You can see a lot of crops along the way. On our way back we passed by the same sunflower farm that I went to at Patthana Nikhom. Next we headed to Ayutthaya.

It was close to 4 PM and were so hungry. First thing is mind is lunch and halal food is mandatory. We stopped at a halal restaurant, approximate location is here. There are a lot of halal restaurant along this Uthong Road. When the food that we ordered arrived, we ate rampantly. Then our driver, Ismail, bought this kuih for this. It is almost similar to Malay's kuih ketayap. The fillings were sugar floss wrapped by crêpe. Along the Uthong road, they were selling colorful sugar floss. 

Before departing, we had to performed our prayers first. The shop owners are so kind to let us perform prayers at her house. The house layout is almost similar my grandparents village house at Alor Setar.  

Once our stomach is full and our duty fulfilled, we were ready for our next destination. There are plenty of historical Wat during Ayutthaya kingdom. The famous one is Ayutthaya Historical Park. It is closed to sunset, we headed to Wat Chai Watthanaram which is located at the river bank of Chao Phraya. Entrance fee is free on that day.

The sunset is beautiful and as always I didn't bring my tripod when we almost need it. The site visit didn't take that long. 30 minute is enough to wander around and 1 hour if you take a lot of photo. Then we headed back to Bangkok and along the way we stopped by at a mosque for jama' Maghrib and Isya's prayer. The sunset is beautiful that night. 

This is a sign for praying area for female. I sighed at the Jawi writing, which read perempuan in Malay which means female. Then we saw this little kids were queuing up in the line waiting for imam to start congregational Maghrib prayer. That is so sweet. It is quite a rare sighting in my local mussolla back at home which is filled my elder generations. I am so proud of these kids. Their parents teaches their children right. 

Reaching Bangkok, we asked Ismail to dropped us at Darul Aman Mosque, Soi 7, Petchaburi Road for dinner.  There are plenty of halal food at this area. I met my friend there and we had dinner at Phaya Thai restaurant. Then we hailed a cab back to The Plim Place at Phahon Yothin Road, Soi 26. The cab driver refused to use meter and it costs 300 baht. We were too lazy to hail for another one and just take it. It took around 40 minute to reach home due to bad traffic, so it is worth the fare that we were paying.

Travel date: 27th December 2016

Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Express Boat

On my second day, 26th Dec 2016, I took a bus from The Plim Place to meet my sister and her friends who were staying nearby Khaosan road. Surprisingly the bus is quite  frequent.  I use Google map and it will list out the bus & the routes. It is super easy. I can't read Thai language so I just hop in the bus and show the destination to bus conductor and he/she will tell me the fare. I cant remember exact fare but I cost me around 20 baht or less for one hour trip. Due to road closure there might be a slight difference on the bus route, but fret not, you'll get to your destination safely.

The Grand Palace is just a walking distance from Khao San Road, around 15 minute walk. The road heading towards palaces are well decorated with flowers such as white orchids. There were thousands of Thai citizens wearing black attires who were visiting their late King Bhumibol every day to pay their respect. Therefore please dress appropriately. Do not wear flashy and revealing clothes. As a foreigner you will be required to go through security check and show your passport to pass through. Luckily I brought my passport that day.

Coincidentally the palace guard were changing their shift when we came in. 

Entrance fee to the palace is 500 baht.

Below is the Great Chakri Palace and beyond the bonsai trees were hundred, if not thousands, of citizen queuing up to pay respect for their late King. 

Walking out palace we can see tents, from the start until the end of the field in front of the Palace, where the citizens are queuing up to enter the palace since morning. Drinks and food were provided along the way. I salute Thai citizen for their dedication and love towards the royal family. 

We walked to find halal food for lunch and we passed by Information Centre nearby Phra Pin Klao Bridge. Over there we took a few map. One of the booklet is Halal info for Muslim that comes with a map of Mosque and halal food. One simple tip, if there's a mosque, there will be halal food in its surrounding. We walked until we reached Chakkaphong Mosque (มัสยิด จักรพงษ์) and there's a small alley leading to the mosque. We had mixed rice and some of us had biryani and ox tail soup from SMJ Okhanday. I had white rice with 3 dishes (green curry chicken and vegie, bamboo shoot yellow curry, sweet and sour chicken)  and it costs 50 baht. I also bought 2 grilled chicken sticks that were sold in front of the alley, 10 baht/stick. It was so delicious. Then we had our jama' prayer for Zuhr & Asr at the mosque. 

Next we headed up to Phra Arthit pier to ride express boat to Wat Arun. The boat trip costs 14 baht. 

Reaching Wat Arun, we went to quench our thirst with coconut drink first before continuing our exploration. Wat Arun is under repair and entrance fee is 50 baht.

Looking closer at the wall, I can see intricate details of ceramic piece used for the flower motives. The stairs were very steep and it is kind of scary to climb up and going down is scarier.

From top, we were able to view the Grand Palace across the river. 

Going back we took a boat to cross Chao Phraya river to the other side, Tha Thien. It costs 4 baht and we laughed because it was so cheap. How did the boat operator earn a living with 4 baht? Then we got more surprised that it took just a blink of an eye crossing the river. 

Tha Thien is a walking distance to The Grand Palace and Wat Pho. 

We wanted to go to Petchaburi Road for dinner but the taxi cost is too high. It was quite close by but the taxi refuse to use meter. Instead he wanted to charge 500 baht. Therefore we changed our plan to take bus to go there. However the bus that we wanted to get on (Bus #2) didn't passed by at the bus stop. My sister and her friend decided to walk back to their hotel to get some rest before going out for dinner. While I decided to go back to Chatuchak by bus.

I walked ahead until the next three bus stops trying to find another bus to go home but to no avail it didn't come. I asked around for way to get home. Luckily I met a local who is so generous and she guided me all the way from Charoen Krung Road, until Hua Lumphong Station. Her name is Soiladda. We took bus #1 and it cost 9 baht. There we walked for a bit to Hua Lumphong MRT station and I then I bought ticket to Phahon Yothin Station. She got down at a station before me, Ladprao.

There I met my friends and we had our dinner at Ramazan Doner Kebab, Central Plaza Ladprao. It is located inside the food court in front of Tops market. Own our way back home we dropped by Tesco Lotus and bought some groceries. I love going to the fresh section. There we found giant squid sold at a cheap price so we bought it. The triangular piece that this lady is holding is part for the squid wing/flap/tail. The white flesh on its right is the body and the tentacle on the left side.  I could imagine how big the full size squid is. 

Total steps of the day:  22,939.

Lesson Learnt

As a Muslim, I find myself being unable to appreciate visiting the house of other religion. Therefore take whatever that is good that we could learn from others and discard those that is opposing to our belief. 

Also remember that a prayer invoked by a traveler is mustajab. Use this golden opportunity to ask Allah to protect you in your journey and guide you safely to your destination. Therefore whenever I am stranded by myself I am never afraid because I know His help is near. Alhamdulillah to me I think my journey was made easy by Him. 

Thais are very friendly and generous. They go beyond language barrier to help others, especially to a foreigner like me - be it in giving direction, giving guidance/brief on stuff that we wanted to buy. I really admire them. 

Bangkok: Sunflower Field at Lopburi & Chatuchak Market

A day before arriving Bangkok, I persuaded my friend to try our luck backpacking to see sunflower. From my reading I know that we can find sunflowers at Saraburi or Lopburi province but I am not too sure the exact location. Initially we wanted to rent car but it was fully booked due to peak holiday season. My trip to Bangkok was an unplanned last minute one. 2nd option is to hire private car with driver but the cost is too high, around 3500 baht for a day for trip to Saraburi. 3rd option is by train, but then again we haven't had time to go to Hua Lumphong Train Station to check out the ticket. I know that when reaching there, we have to hail taxi to bring us to see sunflower. 4th option is to travel by bus/minivan from Mo Chit Bus Station. We chose option 4.

On Sunday morning 25th December 2016, we departed early at 6:30 am from The Plim Place to Mo Chit Bus Station. Taxi cost is 70 baht. There we asked around bus operator for ticket to Saraburi as we wanted to see sunflower. It was quite challenging to speak with non-English speaker. As last resort, I showed them picture of sunflower. Then they nodded and told us to go to Lopburi instead.

We walked down the stairs to ground level and continue looking for minivan ticket counter. The first counter that we saw does provide minivan services and the fare to Sara Buri costs 90 baht while Lop Buri is 110 baht. Then we tell again our story to the lady at counter about wanting to see sunflower at Lopburi. She typed in her calculator, it cost 130 baht. That's higher than quoted in above signboard. Then in our ticket, she wrote Pattana. Then another lady came and escorted us to the place where we have to board the minivan. She waited with us for around 30 minutes until the designated minivan came.

Since I don't really know where we are headed to, I turned on my GPS along the way just to check out the route chosen by the van. I quickly googled nearby sunflower farm at Lopburi and found a guide for Khao Jeen Lae. I thought the minivan will take same route as Lop Buri railway station. However it took a different direction to Patthana Nikhom. Then panic attack started. The passenger next to drivers asked us where do we want to stop (in Thai). Then another passenger took out Google translate which read, "May I help you?". I took out my phone and tell them we want to go to sunflower field, namely Khao Jeen Lae . She said this minivan route doesn't go to Khao Jeen Lae.

Along the way we passes by few small sunflower field and I told them we wanted to go to big one. Coincidentally there's a sunflower farm signboard and we passed by a big field. So we decided to stop there. 

Before unboarding the minivan, I took out my Google translate and ask her, "What is the name of this place?". She told me the name but I forgot. Then I typed in Google Translate, "How do we go back to Bangkok?". Then the driver took out the business card and ask us to call the number when we want to go back. Then the driver went to talk to the sunflower stall merchant to help us call them when we want to go back. All communication in Thai. The van departed and we started grinning in awe seeing the beautiful sunflowers.

It took around 2 hours to reach there and distance is 135 km from Mo Chit Bus Station. It is worth the travel. GPS Coordinate: 14.836517, 100.910146

Entry to the farm is 10 baht. 

We know that it will be hard to find halal food so we packed our lunch. We had a picnic inside the sun flower field eating sandwiches. Then we bought roasted sunflower seed, honey and unpeeled sunflower seed. Then we went to Arissa Cafe (ร้านกาแฟสด) nearby to quench our thirst. The drink is so cheap: 45 baht for ice blended mocha. 40 baht for Cha nom yen, Thai ice milk tea.

Around 12 pm we asked for help from the stall merchant to call the minivan driver. The next minivan to Bangkok arrives at 1.45 pm. So we decided to perform jama' prayer for Zuhr and Asr while waiting for the van. Then we continue sitting at the cafe until around 1.20 pm and we walked back to the stall. The stall owner even arranged 3 chairs for us to sit while waiting for the van to come.

After few minutes delay and few calls we managed to board the minivan across the road. Along the way, the van driver made few calls to his passengers and there was a passenger boarding from another sunflower field. Minivan fare to go back to Bangkok is 120 Baht each.  On way back, the minivan stopped at Mochit BTS station and we walked to Chatuchak Market which is just nearby.

We had our dinner at Saman Islam (Section 16 Soi 7). I had Kai Pad Kra Pao (basil chicken with rice). Price is 150 baht, which I considered quite expensive. Cha yen 50 baht. A plate of seafood Pad Thai costs 200 baht and a bowl of Tom Yum is 300 baht. Around 6 pm lots of shops started closing business and it is time for Maghrib prayers. We went to a prayer room which is next to a halal stall. Problem is for women, the ablution place is at open spaces. So I decided to look for a more secluded place nearby the closed shops and take my ablution there using water bottle.

Heading back to the Plim Place, we hailed a taxi but the driver refused to take passengers to our place. Then we boarded MRT from Kamphaeng Phet Station to Phahon Yothin station, then walked back for 1.7 km. My total step that day is 17,245 steps.

Lesson Learned

• Alhamdulillah, I would consider that our journey are smooth. Allah had found us friendly  locals that endlessly cared for us and helping us that day.
• Do pray Safar prayer before departing from home when you are travelling. In sha Allah, you'll find your journey easy.
• Upon arrival at sunflower field, call up the minivan driver right away to check out return time to Bangkok then only adjust your schedule for farm sightseeing, lunch etc.

Bangkok: Arriving at Don Mueang International Airport & Buying Prepaid Plan

،السلام عليكم

I used to write about DIY & travelling in my previous website but I stopped due to change of priorities and time limitation. During my trip to Bangkok, my sister encouraged me not to stop writing. Last time when I wrote about daily trip to Singapore by train, it was number 1 search result in Google. With the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the most Merciful, let me begin this with an intention to share my experience with hope that it would benefit my Muslim brothers and sister and fellow travelers. 

Night 1 - 24th Dec 2016

I took an Air Asia flight from KLIA2 to Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok.  Just that it is my first time travelling at KLIA2 and I am alone, so I fidgeted for a long time in front of the check-in/printing machine exploring on how to print the luggage tag and printing out the boarding pass. It appears that since I've done check-in via AirAsia app, I'm not required to print the boarding pass as I have gotten my E-boarding pass via the app. I proceed to queue for luggage drop and the staff asked for my passport. Then they printed out the boarding pass for me.

After 2 hour and 10 minute journey, the flight landed at Don Mueang International Airport. Journey was smooth, الحمدلله. The queue at custom clearance is quite long as the date I came is peak holiday season. Exiting the arrival gate, I bought a prepaid SIM card. There ae three major operators in Thailand, AIS/AWN, Truemove and DTAC. Since my friend is using Truemove so I bought Truemove visitor package that comes with 1.5 GB internet with free 20 minutes call which is valid for 7 days. It costs 199 Baht. 1 minute call is charged at 1 Baht. I wanted a 30 days plan but they only sell this package. Later I ended up topping up 100 baht for call and daily internet subscription.

Then I proceed to the aiport taxi counter in front of the exit. I'd be staying at my friend's place, The Plim Place at Phahon Yothin Road, Soi 26. The distance is just 15 km away from airport and I would expect the taxi fare shouldn't be more than 200 baht. I was quite shocked when they told me it cost 500 baht to get there. That's way too expensive. Then again, it is almost midnight. I thought perhaps that is the reason of the price hike. When the taxi came, it was a Camry! OK now it begin to makes sense - it is an executive coach! When I have reached my destination, the driver asked for a tip. I don't bother to give one since I paid a lot for fare.

Lesson Learned

• Try to walk outside the arrival hall and hail a metred taxi. My return journey only from the Plim Place to Don Mueang Airport only cost 125baht using taxi. That's a whopping 300% overcharge.

Truemove Tips

• *833# to check your line number. 
• *123# to check the balance. 
• *900*1965# for unlimited 1 Day internet at speed of 512kbps (22 Baht)
• *900*8952# for 1.5GB 7 Days pass at speed of 512 kbps (79 Baht)
• *900*3110# for 200 minutes local call for 30 days validity (90 Baht)
• Free WiFi 30 minutes/day
• *900*82# for unlimited 1 Day WiFi (69 Baht)
• Free 2 hour WiFi at Don Mueang International Airport