It’s a late post but i have to post it. This time i got an opportunity to see Bangkok, Thailand in respect to Thai PBS’ invitation to attend Regional Workshop on ASEAN Media Ethics last November 2013.
I went with my other three colleagues from Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), LKBN Antara, and Singkawang Communication and Transportation Office. For two days invitees from other nine ASEAN countries gathered to give insights and inputs on ASEAN Media Code of Ethics draft.
It was planned that the final result will be submitted to ASEAN Secretariat in hope that it will be adopted as a guideline for all journalists in ASEAN region. Thai PBS is also plan to hold ASEAN Media Ethics Conference in 2014.
Thai PBS was also took us to ASEAN Media Ethics and Self Regulations Conference today where 12 institutions signed to commit self-regulations to their media. So glad i found new knowledge since i never heard media self-regulations before. Might digging it up on Google more often then.
The Airports
Bangkok has two airports; Don Muang Airport (DMK) for Low Carrier flights such as Air Asia (international flights), Nok Air (domestic flights), and One-Two-Go Airlines (domestic flights) and the other is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for all of the rest airlines. Since we travelled by Air Asia then we landed in DMK. It’s quite small airport and it supposed to be less lavish that Suvarnabhumi i guess. For more information about DMK and BKK Airports you can check in http://www.donmuangairportonline.com/ and http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en.
The Hotel
It didn’t take long time to arrive at Chaopya Park Hotel but the route was quite far from the airport. We even passed Thai PBS first on the way to it. It’s a great hotel with big rooms. There is mini market in the parking area for you to buy snacks and drinks. Unfortunately i didn’t find halal instant noodles there. Chaophya Park Hotel located near Ratchadapisek MRT subway station so you can go to the central of city easily. Drop by to www.chaophyapark.com to see their services and location.
The Restaurants
Al Tara Restaurant
The organizer was so meticulous to pick hotel with halal restaurant in its complex. Thanks to Thai PBS. We regularly bumped up with participants from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam during meal time. So nice having new aquaintances during break time. Located across the hotel, Al Tara Halal and Vegetarian Restaurant serves Asian and Middle East cuisine.
The interior is cozy and the ambience is quiet which is nice. It has small praying room in the corner. One of the female chefs, Sabariah comes from South of Thailand and understand some Melayu words. She’s so friendly and sweet. The food is delicious especially its Thailand’s signature Tom Yum with its big prawns was so perfect for me. You can take a look inside the restaurant here.
I went with my other three colleagues from Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), LKBN Antara, and Singkawang Communication and Transportation Office. For two days invitees from other nine ASEAN countries gathered to give insights and inputs on ASEAN Media Code of Ethics draft.
It was planned that the final result will be submitted to ASEAN Secretariat in hope that it will be adopted as a guideline for all journalists in ASEAN region. Thai PBS is also plan to hold ASEAN Media Ethics Conference in 2014.
Thai PBS was also took us to ASEAN Media Ethics and Self Regulations Conference today where 12 institutions signed to commit self-regulations to their media. So glad i found new knowledge since i never heard media self-regulations before. Might digging it up on Google more often then.
The Airports
Bangkok has two airports; Don Muang Airport (DMK) for Low Carrier flights such as Air Asia (international flights), Nok Air (domestic flights), and One-Two-Go Airlines (domestic flights) and the other is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for all of the rest airlines. Since we travelled by Air Asia then we landed in DMK. It’s quite small airport and it supposed to be less lavish that Suvarnabhumi i guess. For more information about DMK and BKK Airports you can check in http://www.donmuangairportonline.com/ and http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en.
The Hotel
It didn’t take long time to arrive at Chaopya Park Hotel but the route was quite far from the airport. We even passed Thai PBS first on the way to it. It’s a great hotel with big rooms. There is mini market in the parking area for you to buy snacks and drinks. Unfortunately i didn’t find halal instant noodles there. Chaophya Park Hotel located near Ratchadapisek MRT subway station so you can go to the central of city easily. Drop by to www.chaophyapark.com to see their services and location.
The Restaurants
Al Tara Restaurant
The organizer was so meticulous to pick hotel with halal restaurant in its complex. Thanks to Thai PBS. We regularly bumped up with participants from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam during meal time. So nice having new aquaintances during break time. Located across the hotel, Al Tara Halal and Vegetarian Restaurant serves Asian and Middle East cuisine.
The interior is cozy and the ambience is quiet which is nice. It has small praying room in the corner. One of the female chefs, Sabariah comes from South of Thailand and understand some Melayu words. She’s so friendly and sweet. The food is delicious especially its Thailand’s signature Tom Yum with its big prawns was so perfect for me. You can take a look inside the restaurant here.
Cili Padi Halal Food
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| Source: http://zlynn17.blogspot.com |
We had difficulties finding this restaurant at night and had to take long walk from the station. Once we got there, its surrounding looked quite scary and dark since most of the store along the alley had already closed.
Our new colleague Mr. Minggu Simo, Bernama Correspondent in Bangkok has been so kindly took us to this place. This is another halal food restaurant that you can choose. Located around Silom 13 this restaurant opened in 2005 by Malaysian and since then become one of the restaurant choices for people craving halal food. The restaurant can be found near the Surasak BTS station.
They serve typical Melayu-Middle East dishes like fried rice, curry, roti cane, and my favorite for dessert is sticky rice with mangoes chunks. The mangoes are sweet and sour perfectly mix with coconut milk savory from the sticky rice. Check below for Cili Padi address and for other halal food restaurant around Bangkok check this blog. She features many information on mosques, prayer rooms and halal restaurants and foods around Bangkok.
Cili Padi Authentic Malaysian Restaurant
107/3, Thanon Pan(Soi Wat Khaek),
between Silom Soi 13 and 15.
Silom Road, Bangrak,
Bangkok 10500.
The Thai PBS Compound
Well what can i say to this public television office that has fitness center, spacious canteen, merchandise store, park equipped with its benches, and museum? Aside from its studios of course. It’s like you can never get out of that building. It’s a lavish television office for i haven’t seen that kind of well-decorated television offices in Indonesia. Would love to work in that kind of office someday.
Our new colleague Mr. Minggu Simo, Bernama Correspondent in Bangkok has been so kindly took us to this place. This is another halal food restaurant that you can choose. Located around Silom 13 this restaurant opened in 2005 by Malaysian and since then become one of the restaurant choices for people craving halal food. The restaurant can be found near the Surasak BTS station.
They serve typical Melayu-Middle East dishes like fried rice, curry, roti cane, and my favorite for dessert is sticky rice with mangoes chunks. The mangoes are sweet and sour perfectly mix with coconut milk savory from the sticky rice. Check below for Cili Padi address and for other halal food restaurant around Bangkok check this blog. She features many information on mosques, prayer rooms and halal restaurants and foods around Bangkok.
Cili Padi Authentic Malaysian Restaurant
107/3, Thanon Pan(Soi Wat Khaek),
between Silom Soi 13 and 15.
Silom Road, Bangrak,
Bangkok 10500.
The Thai PBS Compound
Well what can i say to this public television office that has fitness center, spacious canteen, merchandise store, park equipped with its benches, and museum? Aside from its studios of course. It’s like you can never get out of that building. It’s a lavish television office for i haven’t seen that kind of well-decorated television offices in Indonesia. Would love to work in that kind of office someday.
Thai PBS is the first and only public media in Thailand that was established in 2008 when Thailand was in political crisis. As a media that serves the public, it is financed by Thailand government from alcohol and tobacco taxes that can reach to U$65 million every year.
What i want to highlight is its Thai PBS Museum. It’s englightening and providing valuable knowledge with an artsy and comprehensive dioramas. It’s not very big but portrays Thailand’s media development during ages very well. This is what i have to appreciate. Indonesia hasn’t has any museum about media particularly.
What i want to highlight is its Thai PBS Museum. It’s englightening and providing valuable knowledge with an artsy and comprehensive dioramas. It’s not very big but portrays Thailand’s media development during ages very well. This is what i have to appreciate. Indonesia hasn’t has any museum about media particularly.
I like the words in its’ brochure, “Experience media power to develop media literacy. Just as the media can change the world, you too can change the media for the better”.
As the overall, Thai PBS Museum accentuates the history of media, the power of media, and the need of public media for fair reporting to create awareness of the importance of human rights and freedom of expression. Definitely must visited place in Bangkok. For further information visit here.
Patpong Red Light District
We bumped in here in our way back walking from Cili Padi restaurant. People said it was famous for its street market that still open until late night but then i’m suspicious that this place famous for it has been known well as one of Bangkok Red Light Districts.
Along the street there are many souvenirs you can buy; typical Thailand bracelet (which i bought), magnets, t-shirt, decorative lights, key holders, clothes, etc. Bargaining is allowed, the sellers are nice and patient but you have to be nice to them too. But uncomfortable interference occured when there are some people offering porn dvds...like they just thrusting it to you to buy while you’re passing the street. And if you look thoroughly into the alleys there are many night clubs advertised variety shows. Me, dun wanna even know what it is.
The Shopping Center
MBK Mall
What i can remember from this mall is two big Bata stores. Seriously its stores located strategically near the hub that will connected you to the station. It’s just like ITC mall here in Jakarta but neatly arranged so tourist can easily reach this mall by public transportation. I hooked to jewellry store that sells affordable brooches with various models: red elephant, white elephant, traditional Thai house, etc. Another famous souvenirs is Thai silk but i can’t find any that suit to my budget . Other more expensive shopping center is Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza and many more which i didn’t have time or source to visit.
We bumped in here in our way back walking from Cili Padi restaurant. People said it was famous for its street market that still open until late night but then i’m suspicious that this place famous for it has been known well as one of Bangkok Red Light Districts.
Along the street there are many souvenirs you can buy; typical Thailand bracelet (which i bought), magnets, t-shirt, decorative lights, key holders, clothes, etc. Bargaining is allowed, the sellers are nice and patient but you have to be nice to them too. But uncomfortable interference occured when there are some people offering porn dvds...like they just thrusting it to you to buy while you’re passing the street. And if you look thoroughly into the alleys there are many night clubs advertised variety shows. Me, dun wanna even know what it is.
The Shopping Center
MBK Mall
What i can remember from this mall is two big Bata stores. Seriously its stores located strategically near the hub that will connected you to the station. It’s just like ITC mall here in Jakarta but neatly arranged so tourist can easily reach this mall by public transportation. I hooked to jewellry store that sells affordable brooches with various models: red elephant, white elephant, traditional Thai house, etc. Another famous souvenirs is Thai silk but i can’t find any that suit to my budget . Other more expensive shopping center is Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza and many more which i didn’t have time or source to visit.
Special Notices
• Try local transportation like Tuktuk. The way they drive it almost like in Jakarta with its Bajai. You can arrive at the desire location faster than taking taxi or bus. Make sure to bargain but don’t torture the driver by bargaining too mean.
• Sometimes Tuktuk driver will pressure you to visit shopping stores and ‘entertainment’ places that you don’t even want to. They pushing you by saying it will be a great help to them by just visit the store so they can get free gasoline coupons from the stores. We decided to visit two souvenir stores but finally called it off when he pursuaded us to hop on another shop. While Tuktuk driver in Patpong area might persuade you to visit ‘entertainment’ places that might not really entertain you...but well i don’t know if you are really want to go to red light district place.
• Beware of pick-pocketing and bag snatcher. Our tuktuk has sticker warning this crime glued on it. There is also Tourist Police number but haven’t made sure yet whether it is the right number they’ve posted. For further information on Thailand police visit http://www.royalthaipolice.go.th or http://www.thailandtouristpolice.com.
• Keep your belonging especially passport safe with you. There’s rumours about passport-theft syndicates. They might prefer Caucasian passports more but still you have to be aware.
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