Oyen offered to find us a hotel in Bangkok. She wanted us to stay at Okura where the two of us stayed at last year. Okura is nice but it’s a far walk to where we would like to go. It’s at the farthest end of the street where the main shopping malls are.
Edmund thought we already booked a hotel. I thought we’ve already booked a hotel. Two hours before midnight of August 25, we realized we didn’t have a booking yet so Edmund went online and searched. Our choice was between Grand Hyatt and Hotel Intercontinental. We’ve stayed at the Hyatt before and we found it dark and not impressive. I suggested that we stay at Intercontinental Hotel this time. We booked four nights with buffet breakfasts and chose a room with two queen beds and a city view. Edmund asked me if we would also book a limo from the hotel. I said no need, would just take Uber or a taxi.
August 25, Sunday
When we landed, I approached the limo transfer counter.
They told me it’s Thai Baht 1,700 from the airport to our hotel. 1,700 Baht is around 2,900 pesos. My husband said okay na daw yun. Parang medyo mahal. We went out of the building looking for the taxi stand. We didn’t see taxi-looking cars but we saw a fleet of gray AUVs. When I inquired how much it would cost to bring us to Intercontinental Bangkok, they gave me a price list ranging from 1,400 to 2,000+ depending on the size of the vehicle. I asked how much if taxi, the receptionists looked at each other I redirected my question to a guy standing beside me who looked like one of the dispatchers. I asked him where the taxi stands are and how much is the estimated fare to the hotel. He looked at the receptionists but his honesty ruled. He said Baht 400 – 500. He also told me where the taxi stands are, one more flight down.
I was just here less than a year ago but I had no recollection whether Oyen and I took a bus, a shuttle, a car, from the airport. But after I saw the queue ticket machine, it was like de ja vu. I told Edmund “now I remember, we took the cab!”
It was heavy traffic when we reached the city. Even with that, the taximeter registered Baht 300. Add the Baht 75 we paid for toll fees, it was only 375. Edmund gave the taxi driver 400.
We only have one medium-sized luggage. No plans to buy heavy and bulky stuff.
The hotel is big and impressive although a little old.
The front desk receptionist is very tall and pretty. Her nameplate has a very long word I couldn’t even read.
She has a striking resemblance to my son’s former girlfriend. I asked her “what is your nickname?”
She said “kachoon”. A—“kaaa..choo? choo? She repeated “kachoon, kachook, like katchoon netwo..k”
Edmund and I chuchuwa —-“Ohhhh. Cartoon network. That’s cute”.
Newlyweds need no bed. Sa sahig lang okay na. Those married for 1 year to 2 years need one twin bed 36″ x 75″. Those who’ve been married for 3 years to 5 years need an extra-large twin– 45″ x 75″, Those married for 6 years to 10 need a double-sized bed 54 x 75. After 10 years of togetherness, couples need a wider bed, they now book a room with a queen-sized bed 60″ x 75″. The 6″ addition makes a big difference in your temper. After 15 years, couples look for a California-king but hotels don’t have this bed-size so couples have no choice but to get a queen-sized bed or a King bed. After 25 years of marriage, you go back to a twin, not one but two twin beds. Hotels have lots of rooms with two twin beds, either they are conjoined together to form one big bed or they are separated by a night table. When you’ve been married for 35 years like us, a King bed suddenly becomes too narrow and intimate. Too close for comfort ika nga. We now prefer two queen beds other placed side by side or with a barrier for privacy and clear delineation of territory.
Our view for the next 4 days. Not bad at all.
