BANGKOK – Experience Thailand once in a lifetime and you will surely get your money’s worth – and more.
“Amazing Thailand, Amazing value,” quipped Thailand’s tourism executive Prakit Piriyakiet during a meeting with a delegation led by Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales of Pampanga at the Tourism Authority of Thailand office on Friday.
Piriyakiet said “our place is a paradise for shopping.” He added that “our goods are with high quality.”
The Mabalacat delegation was billeted at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the highest building in the 22nd largest city in world having 88 floors. It’s strategically located for ‘shopaholic’ – or those who want to extend to the max the purchasing power of their hard-earned dough.
Last year, more than 14 million tourists visited Thailand. The record topped other countries in South East Asia (SEA) in the total number tourist arrivals, including the Philippines which had some 3 million foreign visitors in 2008.
“I just bought this blouse for 100 baht (about P150 pesos),” proudly uttered Mabalacat School District East Supervisor Carmelita Sotto, wife of Councilor Ed Sotto, who sat beside reporters in the plane on the way back to Manila.
“In Greenhills (Mandaluyong City), they sell this brown blouse for P480,” she added.
At any time of the day, people can buy just about anything in this city where there are some 14 million residents.
The three-star Baiyoke Hotel sits at the heart of the Capital city where much-sought out malls and stores are. The night markets near our hotel sell really inexpensive goods, mostly clothes.
Best of all, the Thai vendors are open to giving discounts and they don’t cheat their customers ‘ala budol-budol.’
The delegation also noticed that street and mall vendors strickly follow the allotted time for selling their wares, allowing fair market competition benefiting them all.
Food Galore
Another reason to visit this country, formerly known as Siam, is their local food readily available everywhere – even in streets, rather more often in the streets especially during ungodly hours.
First timers should remind the cook to limit the chili flavor on their orders or otherwise you might not be able to appreciate it too much.
The five media delegates led by DWRW’s Dheng Pangilinan were too tired to try the “street foods” upon their arrival in Bangkok on May 21. So they tried the food in the hotel and three of them ordered the highly recommended Tom Yum soup.
“This is perfect,” said Pangilinan after finishing his soup, deciding to order one more to rouse his senses.
Alas, first impressions last and it lasted up to the very end of our stay in the devoutly Buddhist country. And take note it’s the best of both worlds for food lovers as the prices are unbelievably very friendly to the pocket.
This country advertises itself as the land of fruits. Indeed, it is as you will see fresh fruits all over the place sold in “cheap price.”
Anthony Pavia, a Filipino lead teacher at the American University Alumni Language Center, said the food on the Thai table comes from ‘in-land’ that’s why their prices are competitive. He added that the advantage of Thailand from the Philippines is that very seldom do typhoons hit this country.
Never mind the deadly tsunami that devastated the world-famous Phuket Island on December 26, 2004, killing about 5,000 people, mostly foreigners.
Some areas in Thailand had experienced typhoon 50 years ago.
Club 808
The boys’ vacation would not be complete without a night life. Pardon me but I have to let go of “intimate stories” in this article as the Philippines has yet to take a break at the Katrina-Hayden scandal.
Anthony, who has been based in this city for 11 years, showed to the media the RCA road in Bangkok. More than 20 different clubs are at RCA featuring either live band shows or DJ performers.
There are some other reasons to be proud as Pinoys – not just Manny Pacquiao. The 808 club at RCA had invited DJ Red-I of Manila to perform with other three famous artists from Germany on May 22.
Red-I was very good earning raves from everyone. But one thing we had observed is that “white, black and local folk” just enjoy dancing and drinking together – minus the worry of being hurt – at 808 and nearby clubs where the really party starts at 1 a.m. daily.
(to be continued)
“Amazing Thailand, Amazing value,” quipped Thailand’s tourism executive Prakit Piriyakiet during a meeting with a delegation led by Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales of Pampanga at the Tourism Authority of Thailand office on Friday.
Piriyakiet said “our place is a paradise for shopping.” He added that “our goods are with high quality.”
The Mabalacat delegation was billeted at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the highest building in the 22nd largest city in world having 88 floors. It’s strategically located for ‘shopaholic’ – or those who want to extend to the max the purchasing power of their hard-earned dough.
Last year, more than 14 million tourists visited Thailand. The record topped other countries in South East Asia (SEA) in the total number tourist arrivals, including the Philippines which had some 3 million foreign visitors in 2008.
“I just bought this blouse for 100 baht (about P150 pesos),” proudly uttered Mabalacat School District East Supervisor Carmelita Sotto, wife of Councilor Ed Sotto, who sat beside reporters in the plane on the way back to Manila.
“In Greenhills (Mandaluyong City), they sell this brown blouse for P480,” she added.
At any time of the day, people can buy just about anything in this city where there are some 14 million residents.
The three-star Baiyoke Hotel sits at the heart of the Capital city where much-sought out malls and stores are. The night markets near our hotel sell really inexpensive goods, mostly clothes.
Best of all, the Thai vendors are open to giving discounts and they don’t cheat their customers ‘ala budol-budol.’
The delegation also noticed that street and mall vendors strickly follow the allotted time for selling their wares, allowing fair market competition benefiting them all.
Food Galore
Another reason to visit this country, formerly known as Siam, is their local food readily available everywhere – even in streets, rather more often in the streets especially during ungodly hours.
First timers should remind the cook to limit the chili flavor on their orders or otherwise you might not be able to appreciate it too much.
The five media delegates led by DWRW’s Dheng Pangilinan were too tired to try the “street foods” upon their arrival in Bangkok on May 21. So they tried the food in the hotel and three of them ordered the highly recommended Tom Yum soup.
“This is perfect,” said Pangilinan after finishing his soup, deciding to order one more to rouse his senses.
Alas, first impressions last and it lasted up to the very end of our stay in the devoutly Buddhist country. And take note it’s the best of both worlds for food lovers as the prices are unbelievably very friendly to the pocket.
This country advertises itself as the land of fruits. Indeed, it is as you will see fresh fruits all over the place sold in “cheap price.”
Anthony Pavia, a Filipino lead teacher at the American University Alumni Language Center, said the food on the Thai table comes from ‘in-land’ that’s why their prices are competitive. He added that the advantage of Thailand from the Philippines is that very seldom do typhoons hit this country.
Never mind the deadly tsunami that devastated the world-famous Phuket Island on December 26, 2004, killing about 5,000 people, mostly foreigners.
Some areas in Thailand had experienced typhoon 50 years ago.
Club 808
The boys’ vacation would not be complete without a night life. Pardon me but I have to let go of “intimate stories” in this article as the Philippines has yet to take a break at the Katrina-Hayden scandal.
Anthony, who has been based in this city for 11 years, showed to the media the RCA road in Bangkok. More than 20 different clubs are at RCA featuring either live band shows or DJ performers.
There are some other reasons to be proud as Pinoys – not just Manny Pacquiao. The 808 club at RCA had invited DJ Red-I of Manila to perform with other three famous artists from Germany on May 22.
Red-I was very good earning raves from everyone. But one thing we had observed is that “white, black and local folk” just enjoy dancing and drinking together – minus the worry of being hurt – at 808 and nearby clubs where the really party starts at 1 a.m. daily.
(to be continued)
