Scribbles Abroad

Tiny street market near Khao San Road

On our way to Sri Lanka we had an 8 hour layover in Bangkok.  To some this would be an annoyance.  Who wants to spent 8 hours cooped up in an airport?  I on the other hand was looking forward to this 8 hour opportunity to shop till I dropped in Bangkok.  Follow these simple steps to make the most out of your ridiculously long layover:

Step 1: Take any belonging that you don’t want to drag with you through the city to the Baggage Storage area on the second floor of the terminal.  They’ll keep your bags safe and sound while you rummage though the city.  It cost around $3 a bag for 24 hours.  Or check all your bags through to final destination.  We did that with our surfboards.

Step 2: Head down to the ground floor and buy a ticket at the Airport Express counter for the shuttle bus, number AE2.  This bus will drop you off a block away from Khao San Road and near the large open markets.  Keep in mind that there are many shopping areas thoughout Bangkok but of the ones we visited the Khao San Markets had the best selection.  Remeber where you got dropped off because this is where the shuttle will pick you up to take to back to the airport.  The bus ride into town takes ~45 minutes and cost ~$5 one way.

Airport Express, AE2

Step 3: Now that you’re in the main shopping area you have some options.  Walk though the streets and shot till you drop.  Remember to negotiate.  Take whatever they say and cut it at least in half.

One of the street markets

If you’re not into shopping there are many famous sites within walking distance from Khao San Road.  Check out the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew), Wat Pho, Sanam Luang (Royal Grounds), Wat Rajanadda and the Golden Mount (Phu Khao Thong).

Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew

Golden Monument, Phu Khao Thong

You can also go for a ride down the Khlong (canal) ferry which is a great way to see more of the city.

Kahi and I spent the first couple hours walking though the steet markets buying all sorts of goodies.  Here I am like Santa Claus.

These little ladies try to get you to buy everything and anything watchout they’re really good at sales.

Kahi made a new friend, her name was Frank.

Step 4: After shopping for a few hours its time to unwind.  Enter one of the many spas in the area and treat youself to a $5-10/hour long back and shoulder massage.  These spas are everywhere and offer a wide range of services ranging from full manicures and pedicures to full body massages.  They’re very affordable too!

So cheap the whole family can afford a little pampering

Fish foot spa, all the rage throughout SE Asia.  Sit back and relax while these little fish nibble the dead skin and bacteria off your feet.

There are also quite a few dental clinics that offer a wide range of dental treatments.  While I continued to shop Kahi got is his teeth whitened.  It was $150 for the whitening treatment plus a free cleaning.  The treatment took one hour and the results were great.

The lovely ladies that took great care of Kahi’s teeth

Original tooth shade on the right and the whitened on the left.

Step 5: Now its time to head back to the airport to mail out your box of newly purchased goodies and catch your connecting flight.  The Airport Express shuttle picks you up where they dropped you off.  At the Airport Express kiosk they have a list of departure times.  The ride is ~45 minutes back to the airport.

Airport Express kiosk near Khao San Road

Step 6: Once you get back to the airport head to the fourth floor of the terminal.  There is a post office in the far right back corner.  I want to say its open 24 hours but I’m not 100%, check with them before you leave the airport to begin your journey.  They have boxes for sale or you can try to get a free box from one of the vendors.  It cost us around $70 to mail 20K or 40lbs to the US.  They don’t take credit card so make sure you have enough cash, there is a cash machine right next to the post office.  Now all you have to do is catch your flight

You no longer have to pay the 750batt airport departure tax at the airport, they have included it in the price of your ticket.

In the end we were able to make the most out of our ridiculously long layover.  A little sight seeing, a little pampering, and a whole lot of shopping.  Everything got shipped off and we still had some time to relax before boarding our connecting flight to Sri Lanka.  Now we just cross our fingers the box makes it to Hawaii.