Bangkok - After the Turmoil

It has been five long years since I last set foot on Bangkok.  I didn't expect I would visit Bangkok, just a month after one of the worst turmoils in Thailand's history.  The conflict between former prime minister Taksin & his red shirt supporters, and the incubent Thai government ended in loss of life and damage to many buildings in the city. 

Before I arrived in Bangkok, somehow I was expecting some kind of mess left after the red shirts retreated, and might feel some tension in the city.  However, the city is almost as normal as I could remember.  Students are crowded the trains and buses, hurrying to school; those dressed nicely in their office attire seem to only worry about whether they could get to work on time.  The streets are clean, shops are open for business as usual.  I was kind of relieved to know, at least on the surface, everything had returned to normal in Bangkok.

The Siam Discovery Centre, The Siam Square, MBK building, The Siam Paragon, are all standing intact.  No damage done to all these popular tourist hot spots.  When I was in Bangkok back in 2005, we left just a day before Siam Paragon was to open for business.  Wow, didn't know it would take me 5 long years to see it in business :)  Siam Paragon is chic, is expensive.  The shopping centre is grand on any scale that I have known of.  In addition, it is stylish.  It is more than just big in scale, it has its own characters that differentiates itself from other big shopping centres in the region, such as Vivo City in Singapore, the Mid-Valley in Malaysia. 

The only reminder of the month ago turmoil was the security check at many shopping centres.  Visitors were still asked to open their bags for a security check.  Metal detectors were also installed at many shopping centre's entrances, as well as airport train link stations.  However, such security checks were really lax.  If somebody wants to smuggle in something, piece of cake.  It is not really practical to check every visitor, every bag.  If they do so, the queues at the entrance will be miles long.  It will be worse at the train stations. 

In conclusion, it is safe to visit Bangkok now.  The turmoil is over.  It is perfectly safe, until the next turmoil comes.  If you ask me whether I will return to Bangkok, most probably not.  Not for its security conditions, but rather, the city has 'raised' its status.  It is no longer cheap, at least it takes quite a bit of effort for a foreign tourist to find cheap stuff.  The city of smiles does not really smile as much as it used to.  Ok, the city's transport system has improved tremendously over the past 5 years, I must agree.  Anyway, Bangkok is a city no longer on my list of cities I will visit frequently.  The charm, somehow, is lost.

Bangkok Airport Train Link

I have mentioned about the Bangkok Airport Train Link in my previous post.  Today, let's take a look at how good this train link is. 

In the airport, follow this long long long escalator, or moving belt, to the lowest level of the airport - Level 1. 

Then you will find the entrance to the train station.  It is still under trial, so please, ride the train on your own risk. 

This is how the Phaya Thai station in downtown Bangkok and the train look like.  I think the stations are modern, but the train is a bit too narrow in width, very much like those ancient metro trains you see in good old Paris. 

The length of the train only takes up about half the platform, so I guess you have some room for future expansion. 

Here is a closer look at the train. 

 

Below is a short video clip I took showing the scenary along the train route.  It is very enjoyable to take a ride on a sunny day. 

How to go to downtown Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok's new airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, offers a lot more options for travelers to go to downtown Bangkok than the old Bangkok airport.

1. Limousine Taxi/Public Taxi

Ok, these are for the more well off travelers.  I generally don't take this option, although it is readily available.  Take note you have to pay the metered fare plus 50 Baht as the airport surcharge, plus the whatever expressway fees.

2. Airport Express Bus

There 4 routes on offer, all of them will bring you to the major hotels and downtown Bangkok.  The cost is 150 Bahn one way.  For route details, you can visit this web page.

3. Airport Train Link

For the other transport options available at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can actually get more information from the airport's transportion webpage here, however, they miss the most convenient and efficient form of transportation - The Airport Rail Link.   The train service is currently still in a trial phase.  From Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, the service is FREE OF CHARGE for ALL PASSENGERS.  For weekends and public holidays, they do charge you. 

After you arrive at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the lift or escalator all the way down to the lowest level, Level 1, where you can easily find the entrance to the train link.  Get your free ticket from one of the staff, and then voila, you can get on your train. 

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, it takes 30 minutes to get to Phaya Thai station, which is just one SkyTrain station away from Victory Monument.  From Phaya Thain station, you can have different options to take again.  If you are heading to Siam Square, Siam Paragon, Siam Center or MBK, you can take the SkyTrain, or you can walk.  It is within walking distance, I just did it yesterday, it is a bit sweaty walking under the hot sun though.  Or you can always take a taxi. 

4. Public Bus

I guess this option will be more fun, as you will be rubbing shoulders with the locals.