Bangin’ Bangkok

Made yet another spontaneous trip to Bangkok last weekend (Dec 19) for Charles Wright's birthday!

So this was how went down:
5.30pm - Decided to go to Bangkok (was watching 'All About Eve' - Classic!)

6.30pm - Got a taxi to pick up my friend, Lionel, who already got a tix for himself and drove to the airport


7.30pm - Got to the airport, went on the waiting list, waited for 30 minutes & finally got a ticket


8.40pm - On the plane to BKK


10pm (local time) - Arrived in BKK, took the taxi straight to the party at Metropolitan Hotel!

So he actually used the idea I proposed to him for a slumber themed party (can't go wrong with that) for his birthday at the Met in Bangkok. It was hella fun... (almost) everyone dressed up!

Flip Sandwich! With Nina Tinitigan (Charles' cousin; we met in Manila) and the birthday boy himself.

It was a crazy, crazy night... Went to bed at 5pm but was up by 9am...

I stayed at the Banyan Tree (right next to The Met) with a few of my friends. The next morning we all decided that it was about time to explore the real beauty of Bangkok.

3.15pm: Rushing to the Grand Palace. They close the ticket counter at 3.30pm and the palace closes at 5pm. A ticket costs 200baht.

"If there is one must-see sight that no visit to Bangkok would be complete without, it's the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark. Built in 1782 - and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government - the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people."  - Bangkok.com

You ever look a picture of yourself, and see a stranger in the background?

It makes you wonder how many strangers have pictures of you.

How many moments of other peoples life have we been in.

Were we a part of someone's life when their dream came true or were we there when their dream died.

Did we keep trying to get in? As if we were somehow destined to be there or did the shot take us by surprise.

Just think, you could be a big part of someone else's life, and not even know it...

Taking the tuk-tuk with my friends Ben Wei & Eduardo Saverin. Going to see the world's largest reclining Buddha!

Taking the public boat to the Temple of the Sitting Buddha (Wat Wat Trimitr Wittayaram). Tri means three, Mitr means good friend.

The story was told that this temple was built by three friends. They were merchants in the area.

Unfortunately, the temple was closed and would only be open again on Christmas day but I didn't leave without buying a little souvenir and making a small donation.

The rich and very different cultures, traditions and beliefs in SouthEast Asia never fail to amaze me. You learn something new everyday. This was by far the 2nd best most spontaneous trip of 2009 for me.

Manila comes first. The rest were just as memorable...

A quote I came up with from that weekend, that I'll live by forever:

"Live the moment. Make it worthwhile.
Take a chance. Make it count."