Thailand – Laos Travel: Day 15 – Bangkok We’re Coming Again & Hotel In Lat Krabang

Continued from Thailand – Laos Travel: Day 14 – Part 3 – Halal Restaurant In Nong Khai & Return Trip To Bangkok. For pre-travel, please refer here.

The train at this time is already at 12.00 midnight. And Aqif still has a fever but has partially subsided. Anyway, we keep putting a wet towel on the head to further reduce the temperature.

This is a risk to be faced by family travelers. We are more willing to bear all the children by bringing them on a trip together than to bother parents or in-laws to take care of our children while we are happily having fun abroad.

As far as I remember, we arrived at Hua Lamphong railway station a little late compared to the printed schedule at 6.00 am. At this point, it is already 7.08 am. The location of the train stops is right below this station and not at the terminal or any other area. So, this facilitates our mobility to the surrounding area.

Due to the dwindling amount of money on hand, I searched for CIMB Bank through Google Maps. Prior to this, we were aware through a group of backpackers from Malaysia who said that there was CIMB outside the station. We had to walk and cross a small river and continue the walk for 850 meters.

Arriving at a stall selling Thai -style breakfast cakes, I saw a monk with bare feet. Then I asked to photograph Tatie with the monk in the background. His purpose to the stall was a normal morning routine for any monk to give a blessing on a business that had just opened for the day.

What is interesting about this monk? In order to seek the “One and Only”, they are willing to let go of worldly lusts and desires. Live in a simple state only. I suddenly remember of my religion where the religious practitioners make use of the religion, the talk allowance requested is also high, even cars are expensive like the Toyota Vellfire which costs MYR250 thousand and so on. It is not wrong to want anything, but be modest and be an example to the community. However, each branch of religion has its own problems because this life is only temporary.

While stepping to CIMB Bank, we also prayed in our hearts that the ATM machine can be used as early as 8.00 this morning. Any CIMB branch even overseas does not charge any additional charges when withdrawing money. I can just swipe the ATM card at any MEPS machine but will be charged an extra MYR25.00. That amount is enough to eat lunch or dinner for our family here.

For those of you who come from the direction of Hua Lamphong railway station, you can click this link for Google Maps.

The reflection of morning light from the sun makes the roof shine golden.

In this area, there are religious activities in the morning. I’m not sure if this is a regular routine or a special ceremony.

Alhamdulillah, the ATM machine works in the early morning. After withdrawing the money, we returned to Hua Lamphong railway station.

Suddenly Tatie saw a stall selling roasted sweet potatoes. In my mind, this could be a great addition to the variety in breakfast for today.

That’s the river we crossed earlier. When I think back, our journey for the whole family to CIMB was a bit unwise. Ideally, my son and wife just hang out in Hua Lamphong while I walk to the bank alone.

But in a foreign country, who is willing to leave children and wives even for a moment? Hehe.

Earlier, we could actually have breakfast first because I still have 200 baht (~ MYR17) left in my hand. While still energetic, first settle the outstanding things and then enjoy the food.

For those of you who are here, the location of the halal stall is inside the station.

After eating, at 9.07 am, we headed underground to board the MRT (Blue line). The purpose of the MRT ride is to stop at the interchange station to the MRT Airport Link known as the SRTET City Line (in Google Maps ). SRTET City Line can go directly to Suvarnabhumi international airport.

Remember our last post about how we walked underground from MRT station to Hua Lamphong railway station? That is the second torture we are facing at this point.

Travel on the MRT Blue Line from Hua Lamphong railway station to Phetchaburi station.

Arriving in Phetchaburi, we had to walk again to Makassan station which felt very far and the location was multi-story.

350 meters walk, up and downstairs and so on.

Eventually, I surrendered due to extreme fatigue but my wife and children were still capable. We had to lean for a while on the side of the sidewalk next to the cafe which was still unopened. We’re here for 10 minutes.

But we don’t want to lay out mats, sell paintings or travel photos while collecting donations like travelers who embarrass the image of backpackers. We also have our own dignity. If you don’t have the budget to travel, don’t pretend you have a lot of money. Just save money for years until it is enough to travel.

Look at the length of the corridor…

Haa look, there is another long corridor. This is why I felt low in energy.

Take a break on the bridge while watching the colorful Bangkok taxis.

Look, there is another long corridor…

Finally, we arrived at Makassan station!

Bro, what are you staring at that phone until you frown. Our situation at the moment is very tired despite getting enough sleep while on the train last night.

MRT Airport Link or SRTET City Line is similar to the MRT in Kuala Lumpur. The platform is high above. Here, many tourists or travelers are seen heading to Suvarnabhumi international airport.

The man in the black shirt on the right side of the picture is dark-skinned, but if you look at his face, he is a Siamese. Not all Siamese are bright-faced.

What I love here, no one looks weird at us.

MRT Airport Link that we boarded stopped at Lat Krabang (or Latkra Bang) station. It is the second last station before the Suvarnabhumi MRT station.

For this last stay in Thailand, we chose to book a more comfortable hotel. Usually, this method is made in the last days during the travel period. So, we booked the Grand Pinnacle Hotel in Lat Krabang for an overnight rate of MYR68/night.

To get to the hotel, the distance from Lat Krabang station is 3.5 km. So we better take a taxi with a fare of THB120.

The hotel is only 4.0 km from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Our return flight the next day was 6.00am. And this facilitates our immediate access from here. After all, during the last days of traveling, there are no more exciting activities for tourism that can be made. Time for us to relax!

Hotel Grand Pinnacle. Images from Google.

We arrived here early before 11.00 am. At first, we hung out in the lobby and suddenly the reception said we could check in early. I also thanked her and promised to give the best rating in Agoda.

Upon entering the room, its condition seemed suitable to be given a high rating. Only the price is a little expensive maybe because it is close to the airport and is often used as a transit hotel.

Great street view in front of the hotel.

Overall, the place is just a dense town with housing and shophouses. Almost the same as my residential area in Cheras (Kuala Lumpur).

Next to the hotel, there are also apartments and a parking area.

By noon, our stomachs were starting to get hungry. I went downstairs and out of the hotel to look for food. The Lat Krabang area is the most difficult place to find halal food. I walked 300 meters to the east of the hotel and then turned back and continued 300 meters to the west to find any halal stall that is available. Strangely, 7E is not here.

I finally relented. My eyes were moved to see the stall in the picture above. It looks like the cook is grilling a rather large catfish on a barbecue stove.

I think it looks good to eat. After all, it is a plain grilled fish without any filling stuffed in its stomach. Without further ado, I ordered a catfish and two packets of white rice without soup, gravy, vegetables and so on.

Of course, the barbeque iron to grill the fish is also used to grill other foods. At that time, I could no longer think deeply until I frowned like a professor. I took the approach that, all germs and cells from non-halal food will be burned by the fire from the stove.

Take a break, my son. The time now is 4.32 pm and we have a lot of time here to spend.

At night we went nowhere. Tomorrow is the last day on Thai soil.