Feb 2014: Risky Affair

I forgotten how my secondary school classmates' chat group sparked a brilliant idea to travel together. It maybe because we ran out of topic to chat(?). There are nine of us, and by now I know the routine of each one of them and pretty much to sum up that our living as mother is boring and those singles are... boring too. Of course, we share more than just routine. Like old days, we argue sometime and piss off one or another, but we get to usual selves fast too. Certain days, we talk non-sense, we laugh crazily in front of our own phone; we give virtual hugs, we understand one's long silent without much asking. 

Sorry I digress. As majority of us supported the idea of  a weekend trip together, the destination has few criteria to meet: fun, safe and easy for us ladies to explore. I suggested Bangkok: cheap, exotic and not too far of distance, from both KL and Singapore. Truth to be told, I had not been to Bangkok! They all did, many years back. Lucky me, the travelling time and budget match most everyone, the food and shopping in Bangkok are already well known and attractive, they agreed unanimously to the Land of Smiles, again! Yay!!!

It's exciting, undoubtedly. No man, no kids, just us, ladies having lots of fun over a weekend. Just like old days. Since my friends were so accommodating, I volunteered to hunt for hotel and crafted the brief itinerary. I love doing it, I love learning about the city prior to the trip. It was overwhelming, too much resources, too big a city. 

Along the way, the news about the riot came in. We got worried. I doubled the reading about the city, about the situation. The news about the explosion near Central World shopping mall and at Lumphini Park protest rally site were just happened few days before our departure. 

To go or not to go?! We asked each other.

Travelling is one risky affair, as I was telling my friend. At that juncture, the risk was slowing approaching me to my face. I felt the threat, the fear of losing anyone of us while travelling. Apparently, buying one travel insurance was not secure enough to made one informed decision (to travel), getting all sort of information from various sources does. My friends had their own reliable sources telling them the real situation in Bangkok, whilst I had pertinent information via Richard Barraw. His map is amazingly helpful! If you are following the situation of Bangkok, you would have know that the Bangkok Shutdown is over and the protesters have moved away from the intersections. Hence the map now is "cleaner" look.  It was not the case prior to my visit to Bangkok, the earlier version of the map showed the protest sites were scattered at Ratchaprasong (Near Central World), Lumphini Park, Phathumwan (Near MBK & Siam Square), etc. I had an impression of a messy world there, but in orderly manner. While I was clicking on more information, I also learnt that I am allowed to e-register with MFA. It is a system of recording information about one's travel itinerary aboard. In addition, I received official updates about Bangkok from time to time prior to my departure.

I decided to take the risk. Without family, I reckon the decision made easier. On hindsight, I had a feeling that I would be alright.  

So we took the flights, landed safely, hugged each other and embarked our adventure in the capital city of Land of Smiles. 

Credits: FeiFei's stuff (aka My Little Happy Box), Anna Aspnes, etc

Coming posts, I will be sharing about the Grand Palace, Yaowarat and the street food of Bangkok.