Day 2 – Uneventful Trip to Chatuchak Market
After breakfast, we took some time to do a little market research with the tour agents around our apartment. Various agents quoted us from 1k to 600 baht per person for a half-day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (situated 110 kms west of Bangkok). We decided in the end to charter a private bus from First Hotel at a more reasonable rate and included a trip to Ayutthya Province for Day 3 and 4.
Since we had some time for the morning, we took a walk out to BTS Ratchathewi and headed for BTS Mo Chit intending to have a go at Chatuchak before we were too tired on the weekend. Alas, our information proved inaccurate as the place as still closed at 11am!
In the end, we took a cab back to Platinum Plaza along Petchburi Road as the gals wanted to do some shopping since Pratunam Complex was a stone’s throw away. We had to content with Bangkok’s traffic as it soon was 12 noon and taking the highway (with additional 40 baht) didn’t seem to help make the journey any faster.
Interestingly, we encountered something unusual at Platinum Plaza’s food court when we tried to make orders and realized that a stored valued card system was in place at all the stalls. Seems like a pretty good idea since staff don’t have to handle currency and easier accounting? Had a bowl of noodle soup with stewed duck for 40 baht and in all, we spent only 200 baht for a pretty good lunch.