The true heaven is here... Yes, I was not willing to leave the paradise!On 27th April 2008, Saturday, after working in office I headed to the Mumbai international airport with my friend at 6.40pm. That’s an official trip to Bangkok, arranged by the company in order to attend the VAS conference for 2008. Its by default I am being given responsibilities of others! I was assigned team lead of another 10 members and was to ensure that they too reach to the airport ontime and clear out the process before relaxing on flight. Best of being the team lead was, I got my cell phone internationally roaming free of cost.
After reaching to the airport, together we headed towards the baggage checking and boarding pass. Next to which, we stood in the long queue for immigration check. In my clock it was 10.30pm and the flight time was 12.30 am! Anyway when the time came we were on the flight of IC 693 ie. Indian Airlines. Yuck! No good looks anywhere. All aged airhostess. Now the plane was ready to take off towards the heaven! God! We had dinner at 3am. After 4 hrs of the cozy flight we finally landed on the Swarnabhumi Airport of Bangkok at 6am. Being on the east side, Bangkok is 1.30 hrs ahead of the Indian clock times. My My My! an awesome airport. In total we all were 140 people along with our big bosses and few others (who submitted their passports a bit late) who traveled via Thai airways. It was 28th April.
Now we started in the huge smart looking bus to Pattaya, which was a next 3 hrs journey from the airport. As usual I did not sleep at all being on flight, felt little dizzy because severe coughing caught me. Midway, we had breakfast too. Now slowly and steadily I was able to view a horizon sight of the ocean! WOW!!! What else is required now? Our bus stopped in front of a 4 star hotel, ie, A-One hotel. Its ambience is superb; opposite side is an absolute picturesque view of Pattaya beach. I felt as if this is a heaven. We just submitted our baggage’s to the hotel receptionist and went to beach, which was 1 min walking distance. The beach was utterly clean and I was able to see the underground corals. A huge water boat was called to take us to the Pattaya’s coral island. In batch of 20 we got divided and enjoyed the ride! The supreme part of my trip was Para Sailing (You are tied by the heighten parachute and the strings are joined with the person down who drives the motor bike on water; You are suspend on huge heights below the sea level; As the motorbike is rode you are flown in the air freely; Also, he decline its speed so that you make a breathtaking fall from such heights down in the water and again you are back on the same altitude) Yes, it was one of the fantabulous experiences while reaching to the coral island. I did the motor biking too!!! After playing with these we were taken to the Coral Island where we saw people relaxing on armed chairs. Many of my friends joined them. But I was utmost interested to get dipped in the vast ocean. Hence, without thinking any nano second I just dived in the ocean, where I was with many firangs. People yelled on me for the lunch, but I loved water very much. Watching me diving all alone, many others joined me later but all of them were men! KD was surprised that I am the only lady enjoying with the gang! Even he joined the water ball we played for next hrs.
I got drained after swimming and playing for so long. Then I routed myself towards the land and asked for the lunch. Well, the coordinator was able to arrange the lunch for me! After which I went in the first batch towards the hotel back. It was 4.30 pm now. The shopping in Pattaya, fascinated Chanda and me. We were sharing the beautiful lovely room. Despite of being so much tired we got ready for shopping. Now we asked the coordinator the places to be visited for our soul purpose. We went to the shopping mall BIG C and shopped till I finished all my 2000 bahts. I carried US dollars too. But it was very late to get currency exchange in the night at 11pm. I bought many things for my dear ones and forgot to buy for myself. Bangkok is also famous for the prostitutes. We found many on our way to hotel and felt a bit scary too! After reaching to the hotel we both were the last people to have the delicious dinner. We slept at 2 am after talking about the wonderful scenic views! It rained in the night and I thought to close the lobby as I kept it opened because of the high AC cooling inside. Somebody yelled my name, Ah! That was Suhail who was seated in the group of our colleagues and wanted me to join them. Well, I was enough exhausted but Chanda somehow took me along with her. There they were drinking beers and vodka. Since, that was also offered to me being in IC flight I remembered my best friend suggesting to have that to overcome my cough! But I declined in flight so was suppose to say no here too. Chanda, advised to at least sip it for once. So just had it and yuck!!!! I puked it. How people can love drinking such foul taste? Since I do not like to be at that place. I came back and slept.
Next day in the morning at 7 AM we were awake by the wake up call by the receptionist that Chanda booked in the night. We got up ready for the VAS conference at 9am (for the conference we were given a dress code of white t-shirt with some logo), before attending the meeting; I had good breakfast of juicy pineapple and other eatables. The conference ended till 5 pm. It was indeed a good boring conference.
After this we were asked to change the conference attire so that the buses could take us to the Gems and Jewellery mall. That was little boring but an eye catching precious stones and jewellery items. I did not buy anything. I got to know from the coordinator for some good shopping places. He suggested going for Mike shopping mall. And without thinking much for others, I went with few friends to the place. It is another good mall after BIG C. I was there till 8pm. Now coming back to hotel with shopped items was big challenge. We got into the tuk-tuk. Amidst of the way, I asked people who were interested in the dinner at 9pm to 10pm. One more friend and I got dropped to the BIG C again and the rest went for the dinner to the Blue diamond hotel. After getting the dollars exchanged into the bahts, I started the shopping again. Again bought many other items. Went to Tessco Mall too. It was 11 pm and thought going back to the hotel would be the safest decision! Now that was the last night on that land. In the night I slept so deeply and got up at 8am (date 29th April) when Chanda horned loud into my ears! Got ready for breakfast and also same time we checked out from the room numbered 2242. Yeah, incidentally I get the evens! During the immigration check I stood on number 8!
At 10.30am we started in the bus back to Bangkok airport for our flight that had the checking time at 1.30pm for the flight timing at 4.30pm. Later we got to know that flight is late by 1.30 hrs. The best time got ended when we landed Mumbai Airport at 8pm (Indian time).
I had best time out there and wish to visit again! And yes, I missed the Thai massage and actual Bangkok shopping at MBK mall!