Things I Did in Pratunam, Bangkok for Two Days

Last month, I had a one-week training in a Southeast Asian country. I've decided earlier that before returning to the Philippines, I would stay for two days in Bangkok. Together with a friend, we made the most of our brief time to taste and see what Pratunam in Bangkok has to offer.

Shopping

Pratunam is a popular shopping district in Bangkok with fashion malls like Platinum Fashion Mall, and hundreds of stalls selling clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories. The tallest building in Thailand, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is also in the area. Pratunam Market is a shopper's delight because items are sold at very cheap prices. I was able to get a flared dress for 100 baht only, and a bracelet and necklace for 60 baht.

Open-air Pratunam Market

Eating

One never gets hungry in Pratunam as there are many restaurants in the area serving Thai as well as Asian dishes. There's an Indian restaurant a few steps away from the hostel where we stayed and a Filipino restaurant along Petchaburi Road. There are convenience stores too like 711, and of course ambulant vendors selling fruit juices, snacks, fruits, and other street food. On my last morning in Pratunam, I walked on a street serving a variety of breakfast dishes: porridge with meat, grilled sticky rice, rice with various dishes the names of which I don't know. After having slices of sweet papaya, I settled for rice with Thai chicken and cucumber as side dish. It was very tasty and I liked it very much that the skin was very crunchy.

My first time to taste pomegranate juice!

Thai Massage

I promised myself that when I get to Bangkok, I would get a massage. I often get a Thai foot massage back home, so I thought I'd try it too in Pratunam just to see if it's the same whether you're in Thailand or in the Philippines. It's pretty much the same, except that my leg and thigh got an extra stretching and beating. For 200 baht, that foot massage was a great relief, a perfect way to end the day after much walking.

Riding the Airport Rail Link

Since we didn't have time to visit other places in Bangkok, my friend and I took the Airport Rail Link to get a bird's eye view of the city. The Airport Rail Link connects downtown Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi International Airport. From Ratchaprarop station, which is walking distance from our hostel, the trip to the Suvarnabhumi Airport is only about 20 minutes. That was enough time for me to see Bangkok's skyline and traffic on the road.

Traffic in downtown

Sunset in the Land of Smiles

Shopping again

My friend told me there's a supermarket in Bangkok where items are sold in big discounts. So before heading to the airport, I stopped by the Big C Superstore which is behind the Platinum Fashion Mall. I was running out of time because I needed to check out of the hostel by noon, so I was only able to grab a few soap bars, a pack of seaweeds, and some snacks.

I also had a pleasant stay in Bangkok because of the friendly Filipino staff I met at Coop Hostel, especially Jenny. Filipinos really do bring with them a warm, welcoming spirit wherever they go. I hope to meet more of them the next time I travel again, whether it's only for two days or longer.

With  Jenny, Filipino staff at Coop Hostel