Let me begin by discussing the weight of this trip.
1. This is my first trip abroad.
2. This is my first trip abroad. Alone.
3. This is my first time to ride an airplane.
4. This is the trip that marked the first stamp on my passport.
5. This is the first overseas trip I went to to attend a concert. Yep. That’s everything about this trip: To Attend A Concert. Now, on to the story. ^0^
WARNING!
This is a loooooooooooooooong post! You okay with that? Go on then. Hehe!
Nothing was planned. Everything was done on a whim. When I saw the schedule of the concert, the idea went inside my head: “Why not? Bangkok is so near. Just three hours on the plane, plane tickets are cheap, and so is the concert ticket.
I searched for seat sales for November 23, 2014 – the date of the concert. I want to fly in on the day of the concert itself, use the following day to tour around, and then fly back home on the third day. And so, that’s what I did.
This is an adventure for me. Everything is a first. First time to book a ticket, first time to do all those grown up things like navigating on my own inside the airport, asking for directions and information from security guards, one after the other. The back packer in me loves everything about it. It’s so fun!
The day I saw the schedule of the concert and the ticket prices of the concert and that of the plane as well, I asked my mom about her opinion. By this time, my mind is already set that I will go. But even so, I want to hear what my mom has to say. One part of my mind prays that she’d say no. I don’t know. I sorta wanted someone to tell me that I’m being reckless or something. But I know my mom. She’s always been supportive in everything I do. I really love her for this.
And so, as I expected, my mom said yes. I asked my brothers as well. They know how crazy I am over Teen Top. Yep. My family knows this and supports me greatly. During those times when I would whine about my money going out to Teen Top’s albums and other merchandise, they would tell me, “Eh masaya ka naman eh.” For that, I love them more and more. ^0^
I saw a lot of real cheap seat sales for my trip to Bangkok but didn’t booked until I’ve secured my concert tickets which was all thanks to a generous Thai Angel, Mild (Angel is the name of the members of the fan club of Teen Top) and a Singaporean Angel, Joyce, who was coordinating with Mild through Twitter. Once our tickets were secured, there are no more seat sales from Cebu Pacific so I went through another search of flights to Bangkok for November 23. I ended up booking with PAL which is the best deal I could find that time.
That done, on we march to The Day! Haha!
Originally, my flight is at 9:30 a.m. but it was delayed to 11:05 am. You have to keep in mind that all of these are new to me so I kept on asking my mom since she’s a pro in flying because she’s been working overseas for almost 15 years now. Her words to me were, “Wag ka mahiyang magtanong.” That, and I’m off to my first trip abroad. She told me that I have to be at the airport 3 hours before my scheduled flight. Check. I was in the airport before 7am so I am REALLY early.
The thing is, I went to the wrong terminal. I thought I was to embark from Terminal 2 which, I learned, only assists domestic flights. Ugh! Having a few knowledge about the airport, I know that there is a shuttle service that takes passengers from one terminal to the other but that day, I was told to take a cab. I didn’t ask if I can take the shuttle. I don’t know why. Maybe because at the back of my mind, I’m thinking that if that option is available, then the airport official could’ve told me so. So, on I marched towards the exit and to the taxi hub right outside the terminal.
I was only carrying two bags. 1 backpack and one travelling bag. I originally planned to carry just one bag because I’ll only be in Bangkok for 3 days but because I was carrying the shirts I made for my Angel friends, an additional bag was needed. I also used that bag to carry the few I managed to buy and bring with me for my family on my way back. *wink wink*
I know that this story will stretch on for few more pages because well, my fingers can really talk a lot sometimes. This is also the reason why this has been long overdue. It’s September 2015 and I’m only writing this now! Talk about procrastination. So anyway, getting back to the story.
My flight got delayed but PAL has informed me of this through text message and email. That night, I also secured my online booking and chosen my seat. Of course, I picked the window seat! I wanna see the clouds! Boy, were they beautiful! It’s one thing to see them while you’re on the ground. Seeing them so close while you’re up there though you still can’t touch them is another. I spent most of our flight time staring out the window.
Now I’m at the correct terminal. I asked around, as my mother instructed. I passed the immigration and was now inside the terminal, waiting for my flight which is still in 3 hours’ time. Good thing though, there are computers with internet in the terminal so I logged on to Facebook and Twitter and talked to people. I posted about me being in the airport already and just waiting for my flight on Facebook. This is for my mother, who’s in the US to know and for my brothers and our grandmother at home to know. I posted on Twitter and talked to my fellow Angels who I will be meeting in Bangkok as well. I don’t have mobile internet so I’m resting my fate on wi-fi connection in Bangkok to communicate with them when I land, which, I learned, is not available for me. Ugh!
Two hours before my flight, I realized that I’ve been soo stupid! I didn’t get to withdraw the money Mama gave me for this trip! Now, I told her multiple times that I have funds for this trip but she insisted on giving me so I accepted. Hah! Who would say no to $500? Hehehehe. So there I was, walking from one end to the other of the terminal, looking for ATMs and/or Money Exchange AND I FOUND NONE!!! WHAT KIND OF AIRPORT TERMINAL DOESN’T HAVE ATMS AND MONEY CHANGER??!!! COME ON! PEOPLE ARE ENTERING AND LEAVING DIFFERENT COUNTRIES FROM HERE! YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT HERE!!
I asked a man in uniform and he told me the news. Brace yourselves because I didn’t and the news shook me! He told me that ATMs and Money Exchange are all situated OUTSIDE!! So, can I go out? No! Once you’re in, you’re in. Immigration won’t let you out unless it’s an emergency. ME NOT HAVING MONEY TO BRING WITH ME IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY IS NOT AN EMERGENCY?? Sadly, no. It’s not. Dammit!
By this time, I was sulking and blaming everyone. Hahahaha. Why hasn’t anyone told me about this? Ugh! So yeah. I tried talking to other airport officials but they parroted the same speech. Defeated, I accepted my fate that I am to enter Thailand without any money. Yep. I only have a few peso in my purse and that’s all. I planned to withdraw and exchange currency in NAIA which, clearly didn’t happen.
It’s 10:30 am and it’s boarding time. Despite my disappointment, I am giddy with the thought of walking towards the airplane and actually boarding one! Woah! I am such a kid, I know. Haha. Now seated by the window, I couldn’t wait until take off. And when it did, well, can you imagine the smile that spread wide on my face? It feels the same as riding a roller coaster with the tracks designed to go up. Yup, just like that. Although I felt it when we left the ground, I didn’t experience the ringing in the ear but I surely marveled at the thought that WE WERE PIERCING THE CLOUDS as we ascend. It’s SOOO COOL!!! Hahahaha!
For almost two hours, we fly above the fluffy white clouds and blue and vast ocean. I looked at the map through the magazine available right there in front of me and saw that I will be seeing nothing but water until we reach Thailand. So when I started seeing land, I knew that I am in another country! I am in Thailand! And that the time here is late by an hour. Giddy little girl once more. Bow.
I want to mention that the food in the plane is good. I always hear people saying otherwise but for me it’s good. It’s filling and with just the right flavor. ^0^
It was past 2 in the afternoon when we landed in Suvarnabhumi (pronounced as Suwanaphum) Airport. I always had difficulty pronouncing Suvarnabhumi when it’s Suwanaphum! Ugh! Hahahaha!
Upon arrival, one airport personnel asked me to remove my CAP which I immediately obliged. I don’t know why, but yeah. On to immigration. But before that, I just wanna mention that I did two trips with filing out the arrival form before being allowed in. Hehe.
Oh oh! Before I forgot! I enjoyed the walkalator and didn’t miss the chance to take a photo while on it! Hahaha. The airport is expertly labeled with directions in Thai and in English so it’s really easy to navigate. And might I add that Thai Landers greatly resemble Filipinos! I got a little weirded out yet amazed at the same time when I hear them speak in a foreign tongue. Well, shouldn’t I say local? Because in there, mine is the foreign tongue. So anyway, back on track.
Immigration is okay. Thankfully, they didn’t ask any questions because although they can speak English, their pronunciation is a little different so I had a little difficulty understanding them. Like, they pronounce English as Englit. Yes, with a ‘T’! And BTS, (the train line) as bee-tee-et. Takes some getting used to but I managed. ;)
Getting passed the immigration, I walked and search for the belt where our luggage is at. I immediately found it thanks to the LED board that states which belt contains our bags and upon getting there, I immediately found my bag. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN I GET BACK IN THE PHILIPPINES! We waited for almost an hour, widening our eyes for the sight of our bag on the belt but either the same unclaimed bag would go on and on or nothing at all! We waited, staring at the empty belt. So yeah, what a great welcome greeting. Way to go, NAIA!
When I decided to go to Thailand for the concert, I already asked a lot of help from a Thai Angel, her name is Anny. I asked her directions on how to get to my hotel and to the concert venue as well. I owe her big time because if not for her, I wouldn’t know how to navigate around Bangkok at all! Haha. So yeah, I decided to commute around Bangkok which is SOO MUCH FUN!
From the arrival area, I asked where the Airport Rail is and they directed me to the ground floor. The airport is so neat and clean. From the polished floors to the well-maintained escalators, direction signs, and even their Airport Rail Link. Boy was that soo convenient! Their airport is just a train away! Wow!
I purchased the coin ticket and I know, by the way I pronounced Phaya Thai, that the ticket officer already know that I’m a foreigner. Hehehe. She told me the amount in English. That’s what confirmed it. It’s 45 baht, if I remember correctly. Now down and waiting for the train to come, a lady guard was saying something in the local dialect but she also tried to say that in English. That’s how I got the message that we need to wait for a minute after the passengers alight because they would be cleaning the train first. How’s that? *beaming*
Here's the coin ticket. Hehe.
Here's the coin ticket. Hehe.
The train ride went for about half an hour. The train looked very much the same as what we have here in the Philippines although it’s easy to spot that theirs is much more well-maintained than ours. I have a lot more to say about the difference between the two countries as this story go along.
After alighting in Phaya Thai (pronounced as Phya Thai), I transferred to BTS train and alighted in Victory Monument station. It really pays to listen to the overhead announcer. I learned how to pronounce the stations though I failed to remember what they call Victory Monument for surely, the locals wouldn’t be calling it in English. No, sir! I learned this when I was asking the taxi driver to take me to Victory Monument station on my way home. More on that later.
Now in Victory Monument, I was instructed to take the taxi to my hotel. Walking along the pathway, I saw something that’s definitely the same in the Philippines: traffic! My mind raced with thoughts that if I board a taxi in this traffic, I will definitely pay more! So what I did was, I approached uniformed men and asked which direction goes to my hotel. They don’t speak English at all! Huhuhu. It’s a good thing that I have the address of the hotel ready. Written in Thai, of course. Anny told me about this and yes, it made everything easier! I showed them and asked “Where?” while pointing in the direction in front of me. They understood and were soon pointing the direction to me. I thanked them in Thai which I made sure to learn before leaving Manila. Kop Khun Kha.
Finding a taxi is another challenge. One, they don’t speak English and two, they know I’m a foreigner so they tried getting more from me. But Anny told me that I should insist on using the meter so I did. Finally, one man agreed and I am now sitting inside the right-hand drive taxi. I find this cute. Haha. Another reminder that I’m in another country.
He speaks some English so we were able to talk during the almost an hour drive. Traffic has been kind to us because, as the taxi driver said, it’s weekend so thankful for that. I reached my hotel with some difficulty because I kept telling him that our landmark would be the Chevrolet business center. So I keep telling him, Chevrolet, Chevrolet. Apparently, they don’t pronounce Chevrolet as Chev-ro-ley but as *drum roll* Cheb-ro-let. I laughed when he told me, “Ah, Chebrolet.” Hahaha. I laughed not at him, but at the silliness of the situation. I remembered this piece of information when we head out in search for midnight snack later that night and had to ask the taxi to take us to the hotel beside Chebrolet.
I’m late. I know I am. I expected to be at the hotel by 3.. 4pm tops. But it’s almost 5 and I’m still on the road! I have no internet connection to contact Aen, the Malaysian Angel who booked our hotel so I couldn’t tell her that I’m on my way. I prayed and prayed that she’ll wait for me because I don’t have the key to the room and I can’t carry my bags in the concert venue now, can I? So I prayed and prayed and alas! My prayer has been answered.
When the taxi pulled over, the driver called out to the first person he saw, probably thinking to ask if we were in the right place which I am certain of by this time because the name of the hotel is clearly signposted outside. But still, I found this such a nice gesture. Thank you, Mr. Taxi Driver!
He greeted that someone in Thai but she answered with “I’m not Thai. I’m Malaysian.” This time, I squealed and asked, “Are you Aen?” The smile on her face confirmed it so the next thing I knew, I was screaming and squealing because SHE WAITED FOR ME!!!! I wanna cry out of too much gratitude. I wonder if I’ve thanked you enough for this, Aen. Have I? Scold me if I haven’t because YOU REALLY SAVED MY ASS!!
So, uhm.. maybe you’re wondering about the setup? I stayed with two Malaysian Angels whom I haven’t met. Yep. They’re basically strangers but it doesn’t feel like that to me, or to them, because we are in the same fandom. Yes, people. Kpop fandoms are this great! Hah!
I feel like I’ve really known her, aside from how she looks like and how does her voice sounded like because I was merely talking to her via Twitter. But the bond was there. Unique and rare, but it’s there. I hugged her and we started talking until we get to our room. I met Anis this time too and I learned that though they’re both Malaysian, they also only met on Twitter and because they are both flying to Bangkok for the concert. How beautiful is that, right?
I gave them their shirts – a personal project of mine for this concert. ^0^ I also changed to my C.A.P shirt and we strutted out of the hotel and onto the concert venue. I wasn’t able to go online and tell my family that I arrived safely in Bangkok until the next morning.
I’m going to cut this story here and write a Part 2 because this story has dragged on for too long! Part 2 would be about my one whole day trip in Bangkok, my adventures commuting in a foreign land that doesn't speak much English, and how much I missed my bed back home. ^0^
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