An exhilerating, enlightening and exhausting trip to Hua Hin, Thailand -- Part VI

After eating at Why 76 at Asiatique Waterfront which had a great ambience, live music but slow service, Sarah and I decided to stay on and shop for a couple of hours more at the market place. We had also spotted a massage parlour there, so when we were finally done we treated ourselves to a foot massage. We had our first experience of being taken for a ride -- excuse the pun -- by taxi drivers looking to trap innocent tourists but our Pakistani street smartness prevailed and we managed to fob off all offers to transport us to at 'bargain' rates till such time that we hailed a taxi that was willing to go by the metre -- and take us at a fraction of the price being quoted by the others.

Reaching the hotel past midnight, I quickly packed my shopping as we were to check out the following day, and then had a friend who had arrived from the US just that day, drop by to see me. We chatted till 2 am and finally called it a night.


The next morning after breakfast we left to see the Emerald Buddah Temple -- which is actually made of jade! Located in the palace premises there are no monks or priests at this temple which is used only for ceremonies. Comprising many buildings within a compound the temple monuments are all handmade. Interestingly enough, in Buddhism there are no gods, but they believe in Hindu gods, which is why statues and paintings of Hindu deities such as Ram and Vishnu are found at the temple.

The Grand Palace complex, established in 1782 and consisting of the royal residence and throne halls, government offices, and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddah (Wat Pra Kaew), Thailand’s most revered temple.

Temple of the Emerald Buddah – photography not permitted within.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, Rajkaranyasapha Hall, Dusit Maha Prasat Hall

 After the exhaustive tour on a hot day, we were all ready to cool off so went to the shopping mall, MBK. After shopping for an hour or so, we made our way to very interesting eatery by the name of Fifth Avenue located at the mall. Comprising large stalls selling food from different countries, it has an interesting concept. You get a credit card with 1000 baht credit when you enter and you use it at any of the stalls you wish to purchase an item from. After you have eaten you take your credit card to the cashier and they charge you for the sum total you have used up at the stalls. We had a field day trying out the different foods. Rejuvenated, we went back to the hotel where we were due to check out. Our bags packed, we met the hotel marketing communications staff at the foyer who gave us a tour of the highly impressive Thai Heritage Suites and Ratanakosin Suite at the hotel.

luxury suites and bathroom!


The tour done, we were all set to say our byes to the wonderful team at Dusit Thani and were once again on our way -- this time for the airport. But our unexpected pleasures hadn't come to a complete halt yet, for we discovered at the airport that courtesy the Thai Airways country manager, Polapat, who was travelling with us we had been upgraded to business class! A relaxing wait at the lounge and a delightfully restful night on board the aircraft brought our hectic tour to a perfect end.

An exhilerating, enlightening and exhausting trip to Hua Hin, Thailand -- Part V

Our stomachs full, and bodies rejuvenated we went off to a night market where we spent an hour and a half picking up bargains.
The next morning we were down for breakfast again at 7 am and checked out after breakfast to head for Bangkok. Enroute, we stopped at Plearnwan – a Living Museum. A reproduction of life in Thailand more than half a century ago, the amusing aspect of the Museum is that much of the quaint items on display are still in use in Pakistan! Divided into four sections, it comprises a coffee shop, retail shops and hotel rooms, games and movies, and the west of the ‘60s. With music from the ‘60s blaring as one takes a leisurely stroll, it is de ja vu all the way.

Retail shops of the days of yore

                                                   selfies galore!          

Coffee shop of the sixties


After a tour of all the sections we were on our way again and reached our hotel, Dusit Thani in Bangkok. A Japanese chain the hotel is luxurious and just what the doctor ordered if one wants to indulge and pamper oneself.

After being presented with welcome drinks, nuts and fresh flower bracelets, we unpacked in our respective rooms and reappeared to leave for Siam Paragon where we ate a massive American-size lunch at Sizzlers .way. Then we were on our way to the adjacent building of Siam Discovery which houses three attractions -- 5-D movie, Siam Ocean World and Madame Tussaud's.  After watching an enjoyable 15-minute 5-D movie we spent a relaxing time at Sea World, the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia and an entertaining hour or so at the wax work museum, taking photographs with our favourite celebrities while donning costumes at hand.

Back at the hotel we had enough time to change and freshen up before leaving again for Asiatique, a shopping centre that is highly recommended for tourists. We found it offered quality products at affordable prices and in an ambience that was clean, wholesome and upbeat.

An exhilerating, enlightening and exhausting trip to Hua Hin, Thailand -- Part 1V

Our next stop was Santorini Water Park. The only digital controlled Water Park in Asia to date, it offers amusements ranked among the top three in the world. Visitors are given a digitally-controlled wristband at the payment of a 100 baht deposit, which serves as a credit and can be used at all the rides. Also if you have a Facebook account and wish to upload pictures of yourself while you are in the water you just have to click on it, scan the wristband on their scanner, and upload pics instantly for free! Rooms can be rented for the day too, if one want's privacy. 


 

                                                                Santorini Water Park

 As usual, I was the most fascinated by the bathrooms at the park. There was not one public spot that I visited during the trip that didn't have a bathroom worth taking a picture of. Every restaurant and every hotel and shopping outlet had the most delightful nature-inspired washroom, complete with plants and pebbles.

 Cool washroom facilities at the Water Park.


Across the road from the Water Park is Santorini Park which boasts the recently opened Korean Trick Art Museum and Haunted House. It houses some quaint shops, lots of photo op spots and some wonderful attractions including a 7-D theater, ferris wheel, merry-go-round and flying swinger.

 Exhausted, we decided it was time to treat ourselves to a traditional Thai body massage -
after all, how could we go back without one?! So at the recommendation of Thai Airways country manager Polapat, we went to a massage parlour which was conveniently located at a stone's throw from where we were scheduled to have dinner. After four from our team of five availed the body massage -- not content with getting our whole bodies pressed Sarah and I also followed it up with additional foot massages as we had a half hour to spare! -- we made our way to the jetty where our restaurant Sang Thai was located. Teeming with people the open-air eatery was huge, and seemed to be immensely popular. We soon discovered why as the sea food was scrumptuous -- crabs, prawns, lobsters, oysters, the works. And of course, coconut juice served in its shell, and sarika, a lychee-type fruit served over ice-syrup. Joining us were Sareeya, assistant director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, who we had met the first day at lunch at Hua Hin Hills and instantly hit off with, and a few other officials.