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Khao Yai (考艾) is known as Thailand's mini-Europe popular for its vineyards, Tuscan-themed villages and National Parks. This idyllic area is about 2.5-hours' drive from Bangkok.
Leisure trip at a glance
Country: Kingdom of Thailand
Period: 26 to 29 Oct 2019
Flight timings:
26 Oct: CX 712, SIN-BKK, ETD 1325 ETA 1500
29 Oct: CX 619, BKK-SIN, ETD 1245 ETA 1620
Air tickets:
Return tickets at SGD 254.40 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodation:
The Berkeley Hotel, Pratunam (26 to 29 Oct)
Currency exchange rate:
THB 100 = SGD 4.54 (Oct '19 period)
Singapore is ahead of Thailand by an hour (Thailand time: GMT +7 time zone). Total damage was about SGD 450 including flight tickets, transport, food and hotels, excluding personal expenses.
Day One
Traveled to Changi Airport Terminal 4 by taxi in the late morning.
Changi Airport Terminal 4
Built on the area previously occupied by the Budget Terminal, the Changi Terminal 4 was officially opened on Oct 2017. The terminal is a two-storey building with a height of 25-meters high ceiling (left photo below).
Had my early lunch in the food court located on the second floor of the terminal. After which I began to explore this new terminal after custom clearance. Was impressed by its "Heritage Zone" within the transit area where there is the front façade of traditional Peranakan shop houses (right photo below). Managed to watch the short but creative 'Peranakan Love Story' show before boarding the flight.
Cathay Pacific AirlinesBooked the flight several months before the travel dates and we managed to get the tickets even at a lower price from the internet (left photo below). The flight CX 712 departed on time at 1325 hours. Flight meal was served on board and I was delighted to see a small cup of Häagen-Dazs ice-cream provided (right photo below).
The flight landed on Thailand at about 3 pm. Thereafter took taxi from the Suvarnabhumi Airport to the hotel which cost THB 500 (inclusive of toll charges).
The Berkeley Hotel, Pratunam
The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam is a 5-star hotel located in Pratunam area and just few minutes' walk to CentralWorld mall. Booked this hotel online at THB 10,598.43 for three nights per Premier Triple Room without breakfast. The premier bedroom was spacious with a double king bed and a single bed (photos below).
However, we were allocated to Tower 2 and had to interchange at the 11th floor of the hotel before able to proceed to the hotel lobby or our room.After rested in the hotel room for a while, we then walked towards the Erawan Shrine.
Nara Thai Cuisine at Erawan
After waited for our friend to complete praying, we proceeded to the basement of Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel to dine in the Nara Thai Cuisine restaurant.
Besides drinks, we ordered several of our favorite Thai dishes (photos below).
After inclusion of 10 % service charge and 7 % VAT, the total cost for this meal was THB 3,101.40.
| 🍔 Nara Thai Cuisine at Erawan | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 494 Phloen Chit Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330 |
| Access: | Chit Lom BTS Station of Sukhumvit Line |
| Operating Hours: | 1000 hours to 2200 hours; daily |
Big-C Supercenter Ratchadamri
We next proceeded to Big-C supercenter at Ratchadamri for our shopping spree after the fulfilling dinner. Perhaps had lesser things to get, I spent only about five hundred baht on those daily items there.
After which walked back to the hotel to rest.
Day Two
Took grab from the hotel to EmQuartier which cost THB 100.
Roast Coffee and Eatery
Had our breakfast in the Roast Coffee and Eatery outlet located in EmQuartier. Each of us ordered a "Roast Breakfast" set. Soon after taken our orders, we were served with a cup of cappuccino each (left photo below) and followed by some sourdough breads (right photo below).
My main dish came with scrambled eggs, bacon, pan-fried tomato, mushroom and potato, and smoked salmon (left photo below), while my friends gotten a similar set except the smoked salmon was replaced with seasoned ham (right photo below).
The restaurant had nice ambiance and good food, though the price was higher compared to other cafés in Bangkok. Total cost for our brunch was THB 1,412.40 (inclusive of 7 % VAT and 10 % service charge).
| 🍔 Roast Coffee and Eatery (EmQuartier) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 1st Floor, The Helix Quartier of EmQuartier |
| Access: | Phrom Phong BTS Station of Sukhumvit Line |
| Operating Hours: | 1000 hours to 2200 hours |
Walked around EmQuartier before taking the BTS to Mo Chit station.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Before walking to the overhead bridge towards Chatuchak, we each gotten a cup of iced drink from the kiosk located at the Mo Chit BTS station. This was the best choice we made as the cold drinks helped us to cool off from the hot weather at the weekend market.
Did not search for any item specifically in this market, except that I bought a pack of 'Triple-D' toasted sesame bread at THB 60.
Or Tor Kor Market
We then proceeded to Or Tor Kor market where we bought some semi-ripe mangoes (left photo below). The friendly stall owner even told us the consumption date when they were fully ripened. Bought two mangoes at total of THB 280. These mangoes were sweet and had lesser fibers compared to those common ones bought from Big-C supermarket. Had my lunch at the food court in the market and got myself a duck noodle at THB 60 (right photo below).
After which got some Thai snacks from an air-conditioned shop located inside the market (photos below).
Took a grab car back to hotel which cost THB 150.
Free and Easy Time
We then split up as we had different agendas. I went for one-hour foot massage at Silom which cost THB 300. Thereafter shopped around in CentralWorld before meeting up with my friends for dinner.
Dinner
Could not recall the name of the restaurant we went. Ordered a green curry rice set for myself (left photo below), and we shared a Tom Yam soup (right photo below), some fried crabmeat patties (bottom left photo) and fried chicken wings (bottom right photo).
Total cost was THB 929 for this meal. Taste was acceptable but not that good compared to the dinner we had on our first day.
After you Dessert Café
Went to have our sweet course in the After you Dessert Café located in the CentralWorld mall (left photo below). Each of us ordered our own Frappuccino and shared a plate of chocolate strawberry pancakes (right photo below).
Total cost was THB 650. Taste was good for the dessert.| 🍔 After you Dessert Café | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 4, 4/5 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330 |
| Access: | Phrom Phong BTS Station of Sukhumvit Line |
| Operating Hours: | 1000 hours to 2200 hours |
Day Three
Bought some toasted sandwiches from nearby 7-eleven convenient store and had them as breakfast while waiting for our tour bus to pick us from the hotel lobby.
Khao Yai All-Time Favorites Tour
Booked our day tour online at about SGD 160 which included transport to Khao Yai except for entrance fees to attractions and meals.
Reached our first destination of the day after 2.5-hours' drive.
Primo Piazza
Primo Piazza is a themed attraction in the Pak Chong district. It is a recreation of a rural Italian town with cobblestone streets, sprawling green fields, farm animals, and all the other trappings of a quaint Tuscan village (left photo below). Admission fee of THB 200 was required to enter this themed attraction (right photo below).
Vibe of a Tuscan Village
- Indeed, it had the vibe of a real Tuscan village in Italy that was perfect for taking 'instagramable' photographs (photos below).
Petting Farm Animals
- Another activity was to feed the farm animals such as the sheep (left photo below) and alpaca (right photo below).
Besides feeding the farm animals, the garden was well-maintained with constant bloom of flowers (photos below).
- As the outdoor heat was rising, we decided to take our break inside a restaurant. We were simply amazed by its interior decoration (photos below). If there was no descriptions next to these photographs, one would definitely think that the restaurant is located in a small Italian town instead of a tropical Thailand.
We left the Primo Piazza after an hour for the next sight.
PB Valley Khao Yai Winery
PB Valley Khao Yai Winery is the birth place of the Khao Yai Wine Region and one of the finest wineries in Thailand located at the edge of the Khao Yai National Park at 300 to 380-meters above the sea level.
Paid THB 350 per person for its popular 'Vineyard and Winery tour' (photo below).
Vineyard Tour- We began by taking a tram to tour its vast vineyard (photos below). Here I learnt that there were different varieties of grapes planted for white wines, red wines and even for dessert wines.
The highlight of this tour was to get close to those hanging grapes that were ready for harvest (photos below). No matter how tempting the grapes were, we were told not to pick them in this vineyard else had to pay few thousand baht for the mischief act.
Wine Making Process
- A brief explanation was conducted on its wine making processes using its huge fermentation tanks for illustrations (photos below).
- Finally reached our most anticipated part of the tour as we got to taste some of its famous wines (left photo below). Two red wine and one white wine were selected for this tasting session (right photo below).
Though not an expert, I had the fun of going through the wine tasting steps in appreciating these wines (photos below).
- Had our lunch in the winery restaurant. While waiting for the ordered food, I realized the climate outside the restaurant was a perfect weather with a bright blue sky and hanging clouds (photos below). This prompted me to take several more photographs.
We each got a cold soft-drink to combat the high heat (left photo below). We also ordered some spring-rolls (right photo below), Spaghetti Aglio (bottom left photo) and their signature smoked ribs (bottom right photo) to share.
Could not remember the price paid for the lunch but the smoked ribs were the best I had tasted so far. We left the winery for our next destination.
Palio Khao Yai
Palio is a Tuscan village themed as a shopping complex for local crafts, and gourmet food products and dining (photos below). It was very similar in concept with the Primo Piazza but without any entrance fee.
This themed village had its effort made to look like a Tuscan village with several 'instagrammable' corners (photos below).
However, the number of shops were limited of not more than 20 of them. The village layout was rather irregular and its path was uneven with steps and bridges that made it unfriendly to people with special needs (photos below).
Due to the hot weather during our visit, we even had to "seek refuge" in its air-conditioned 'TOPS' supermarket for half an hour before returning back to Bangkok.
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Palio Khao Yai was closed permanently on Mar 2020. |
Ended our tour to Khao Yai with a ride back to Bangkok.
Yentafo Krueng Song
Had our dinner in Yentafo Krueng Song located in Terminal 21 that specialized in Thai-style "yong tau foo" or known better as "yentafo" in Thailand. Ordered a Pomegranate bubble iced tea for myself (left photo below) and their standard bowl of yentafo (right photo below).
We also shared some dumplings (left photo below) and fried sesame chicken wings (right photo below).
Total cost was THB 831 (inclusion of 7 % VAT). However the food tasted average.
| 🍔 Yentafo Krueng Song by A. Mallika | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, Khlong Toei Nuea, Thawi Watthana, Bangkok 10110 |
| Access: | Asok BTS Station of Sukhumvit Line |
| Operating Hours: | 1000 hours to 2200 hours |
Artbox @ Chuvit Gardens
Went to the Artbox which was just few minutes' walk from Terminal 21 (left photo below). Artbox was a trendy container night market comprised of food, art booths, souvenirs and lifestyle shops (right photo below).
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Artbox at Chuvit Gardens was closed permanently on Sep 2020. |
Talad Neon Night Market
Went to this Talad Neon Night Market that was located next to our hotel in Pratunam district (left photo below). There were over 1,000 stalls selling flea market-type retro fashion, homeware, food and drinks. We managed to get some customized luggage tags for our common friends as gifts from one of its stalls (right photo below).
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Talad Neon Night Market was closed permanently on Sep 2021. |
Day Four
Fast-food Meals
Had our breakfast in a fast-food restaurant where I ordered a 'Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin' set at THB 189 (left photo below).
After checked out from the hotel, we then took a 6-seater grab car to the airport which cost THB 600.
It was a smooth immigration clearance for us at the airport. Ended up we had another fast-food meal as our lunch in the transit area while waiting for the flight. Ordered a BK 'Mushroom Swiss' set at THB 528 for myself (right photo below).
Cathay Pacific Airlines
Checked in our flight 48-hours before the departure and managed to confirm our seats online (left photo below). The flight took off on time from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1245 hours. During inflight meal serving, I selected 'braised chicken with rice' (right photo below).
The flight CX 619 landed on Singapore safely at about 4.30 pm. With this, it ended our four days trip to Bangkok.