Extension of Philippine Passports

For some reasons, some need to extend their passports. There are some Filipinos who travel often around the international world such that their 44 pages of passport valid for 5 years is not enough. When I claimed my new passport last month, I saw the announcement about the extension of passport posted in the bulletin board of the Consular Office as shown below.

For further information and specific needs it is wise to contact the Consular office personnel in the contact details indicated below the document or visit their website. Click this. 

2016 Renewing the Philippine Passport

  
  Five years ago, I wrote about the procedure and other details involved in renewing the Philippine passport in the Philippine Embassy in Thailand. The passport I applied for that time would be expiring in the first week of August this year 2016. I thought of renewing it later, about less than 6 months before the expiration, but I have plans to travel on April. It is advisable that passport be renewed at least six months before the expiration date as the international law states that the passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity when going international trips.

       The renewal fee in the Embassy website is 2,100 baht but the actual amount collected is 2,220 baht. I am glad it is lower than the 2,700 baht I had paid 5 years ago. The submission of my application was fast because I've downloaded the application form in the embassy's website and was ready for submission when I went to the Consular Office. There were not much clients that day as I arrived late morning. The requirements I've submitted were 1) original passport; 2) photocopy of the passport page 3 containing the information of the holder and 3)completed application form. That's all! Take note, no picture needed for this time.

      For those who haven't been to the Consular Office, to get inside the embassy compound, one must register in the guard and leave an ID. Therefore, an extra ID aside from the passport should be brought. When I went out of the compound after I've finished my transaction, there was a couple who submitted a photocopy of their passport in lieu of an ID. Upon entering the Consular office, there is a small touchscreen machine on the right side of the entrance door that prints the queue number. I got myself a number.

      When the cashier collects the payment, I was asked to wait for the next call, which compelled me to go inside a room adjacent to the call window for the digital passport photo and signature. Presto! Application is done. A paper shall be given to you indicating the application number and steps on how to check in the website of the availability of the passport. Passport is said to be ready 4 to 6 weeks.  

Thailand Driving License for Asians and Filipinos

"I want to drive but I don't want to buy a car!" But...I've got myself two Thailand driving license last year with a one year validity for driving a car and motorbike. Few days ago, I went to the head office of Land Transport to renew the said driving licenses. I have got a 5-years validity license.

The list of requirements

I have been residing for more than six years in Bangkok, and once, years ago a colleague suggested to buy a car but my reply "not in my plan". I had entertained the thought of buying a motorbike but never a car. As I am a practical spender who is more on saving cost or minimizing expenses rather than paying for convenience, owning a car is not necessary and would only be spending unwisely hard-earned money since Bangkok offers different kind of transportation for the public from free buses, air-conditioned ones, three types of trains, boats, motor taxis and taxis. One can choose from the fastest but cost more to the slow ones but cheapest.

Based on the Agreement of ASEAN countries namely Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines signed on 9th of July 1985 in Kuala Lumpur, domestic driving licenses issued by respective countries are recognized when in another agreeing country. This makes it easier for example to apply for a Thailand driving license for a Filipino owning a driving license issued in the Philippines.

Applying for a Thai Driving License is easy, fast and you can do it by yourself, just the same way I did. If you are a citizen of the countries mentioned above and have driving license issued from your country and not expired, you apply for a driving license that would not take a half-day. Make sure you've prepared all the requirements stated in the list as shown in the photo before going to the Department of Land Transport Office. Those residing in Bangkok can apply in the main office which is in Chatuchak area or the nearest DLT branch office nearest you.

If your driving license in the Philippines is good for car and motorbike,  you would be issued one ID for each and the documents to be submitted would be two sets. With the medical certificate, have it photocopied and it will be good for the second set of documents. After signing the application form, you would be asked to pass the Physical test that are in three types: 1) color blindness test; 2)reflex test and 3)Depth Perception test. There is no need to take the Theory and Practical test provide you have a valid driving license issued by your country. For the new applicants, temporary license would be issued for one year and 5-years upon renewal. The fees for two licenses for one year validity cost about three hundred fifty five baht (355 Thb) and nine hundred sixty baht (960 Thb) for the 5 years validity. Foreigner applicants have special lane or counter so the processing is fast. IDs are printed right away after taking the applicant's photo.

I don't own a vehicle but I applied for the driving license as it can be useful in some instances when identification is required. I don't bring my passport with me, and the driving license ID is usually accepted in the absence of passport. Having a driving license issued by Thailand adds personality factor while in Thailand. 

Catholic English Masses in Bangkok

    When I was set to come to Thailand in  May 2009 for a teaching job in a university, one question I had in mind is whether I could still be able to attend important celebrations of the Catholic church. Celebrations such as going to church every Sunday and on Holy days of obligation. I had this great concern knowing Thailand is a Buddhist country. I even asked my friend monsignor "do you think my soul would become rusty in Thailand?" (jokingly asked). Well, I am so glad to say finding a nearby church to go to every Sunday was not difficult at all and in fact there are many churches in most big part of Thailand. It's only an issue of distance and language.

Chapel of the Annunciation, Assumption University Ramkhamhaeng Campus

   Finding a church may it be Catholic or Christian groups in Bangkok is easy but due to the fact that Thais have their own language, a foreigner like me have to search for the church that have their celebrations in English. When I arrived, things became bit easy as I had a Filipina colleague who brought me to St. John Church at Latphrao Road Lane 2 were an English mass every 11:00 a.m. Sunday is being held.

Chapel of the Annunciation, Assumption University Campus Ramkhamhaeng

   When I shifted work and transferred my place of residence, the nearest church or rather chapel to me is the Assumption Chapel in ABAC (Assumption University Huamark Campus) at Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24 wherein the mass is at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday. They also have anticipated mass every 5:00 p.m. of  Saturday but only the the 3rd and 4th Saturdays are in English mass, first Saturday is Indian and second Saturday is Vietnamese or Myanmar. Whenever I am not able to attend the Sunday mass in Assumption Chapel, my last choice is in Mary Help of Christians Church at Krungthep Kritha, Srinakarin. However, the mass is intentionally for Filipinos as the celebration is mainly in Tagalog though the homily would usually be mixed in English and Tagalog. Majority of the church goes as well as the choir, commentators and the priest are Filipinos. After the mass, there is an agape or free food for all.

   However though, the most popular church is in the center of Bangkok which is the Holy Redeemer Church in Ruamrudee. This church is big and have mass schedules both in Thai and English in the morning and afternoon of Sundays as well as Saturdays. There are lots of church goers in this parish.

Finding a church in every province or town is easy. Whenever I will be going to another place on a weekend, a church with mass schedule is always one thing I do research on. As long as I am in control, I never fail to attend mass on a Sunday of obligation. Check on the parishes in the Archdiocese of Bangkok.

What To Do To Avoid Being Off-Loaded

     I saw the comments and questions of fellow Filipinos in Thailand in the post of the Philippine Embassy Thailand about the Immigration policies on tourists, OFWs, and the off-loading of passengers. I went through the comments and I wanted to reply on some of the queries but the thread was too long and addressing the reply specifically to the person who wrote the comment is not possible. Most of the questions I saw was about the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate), referred to also as "exit clearance" or "exit pass".      

     Five years ago, when I was offered a teaching job by a government technical university in Bangkok, I was only concerned of the cost of living and my life-to-be in Bangkok. I searched on the internet on places to stay in Bangkok, since the university will not provide accommodation. I also searched on some information about living in Bangkok, to have an idea of what kind of life I would have with the salary I would get from being a lecturer.  During that time I was not focused on my preparing for my overseas job as I was still fully employed as a lecturer in one of the prominent colleges in my hometown in the Philippines. Since I have international travel history for which my last travel was in China for 20 days international training, I thought it would be as easy as my previous travels to go out of the Philippines again. It did not occur to me that my going out would be different, that I would be an overseas contract worker. It never occurred to me those POEA issues since my work permit would be processed in Thailand. I bought a one way ticket without realizing that I would be going out of the country as a tourist and one of the immigration policies for Filipino nationals going out as a tourist is to have a return flight ticket.

     On my day of departure, when I was to pay at the airport for the travel tax, the guy personnel who seemed to be a supervisor told me that I might have a problem in the immigration since I did not have a return ticket. I had told him that I have a contract to teach in the university in Bangkok but he said the more would it be a problem passing through the immigration. He even said to his companions that there were some Filipino passengers who has been off-loaded earlier. "What should I do?" I asked him. "Shall I buy a return ticket?" His reply was not encouraging and did not give a definite advice. Instead, he caused me worries, enough to make me nervous. He referred to me a woman on another counter, but the woman passively just said I must show my old passports showing I have traveled outside the country before. Then I saw the name card "POEA" placed in front of the woman. What I did was to buy a return ticket instead (thanks for my credit card!) and I made sure I am not seen by the guy who had said something about the possibility of me being intercepted in the immigration. If I probably had researched more or had asked someone knowledgeable on this matter, I could have saved myself from the worries and the cost of the return ticket. 

     For those Filipinos departing from the Philippines to Thailand for a job contract, here are the procedures I suggest you do: 

1. Apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa B at the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila. It takes only 3 working days to get the visa, provided all the required documents are complete. No long queue and a representative can be sent to claim the passport with visa. Signed employment contract, letter of request from the company, photocopy of the Thai ID of the company owner or manager and other company documents are required aside from the passport of the applicant. 

2. Update your membership with Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth. At present, for OFWs the required membership fee for PhilHealth is 2,400 pesos, a 100% increase of the rate the past years.

3. Register for membership at POEA and OWWA. The membership is 25 USD. It shall be converted to the current rate of USD to pesos, then payment shall be in pesos. A certificate of membership shall be given after. Perhaps, as I have heard about it, first timers are required to attend an orientation seminar. I did not have this as I registered when I came back home after one year of working in Thailand. 

4. With the POEA certificate, pay 100 pesos for the OEC, known as "exit clearance". OEC is a simple receipt form that indicates the name of the OFW, nature of work, passport number and the country of destination. The validity is 2 months after the issuance. For those Filipinos who went to Thailand with a tourist visa and came back to the Philippines with a Non-Immigrant Visa B, do steps number 2 to 4 as discussed above. OWWA memberships comes with benefits and services not only for the OFW but to the dependents as well. 

What about the OEC? 

The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a requirement under the rules and regulations of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to help ensure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are properly documented and protected.

The OEC, sometimes also called the “exit pass,” is required to be presented to international ports of exit in the Philippines as proof that the holder is a bona fide OFW. It is thus necessary when a Household Service Worker (HSW), or any OFW, goes back to the Philippines for home leave, if he/she intends to return back to the country of employment.

OEC holders are exempted from paying the travel tax and the airport terminal fee.

Source:  Embassy of the Philippines, Singapore 

  Before proceeding to the check-in counter for the departure flight, the OFW must have the OEC authenticated at the POEA counter in the airport. Then the remaining process will go smoothly. No questions asked from the immigration and no off-loading chances.

Planning the Itinerary

A well-planned trip gives good result and avoids waste of time and inconveniences. A well-done plan is much needed when time is so limited and there is so much to explore in the place like Thailand.

Many friends had visited Thailand since I came here more than four years ago and almost all never did some researches on which place to go and how to go. This showed up my way of organizing things and mixing varieties. The first few visitors, I managed to accompany them but as more came, I run out of opportunity and time in accompanying them  as I have my work. I realized I need not accompany them anyway. 

What I did instead is to make an itinerary for their entire duration of stay with detailed instruction on how to go to places like a local resident would do at a minimal cost.

In summary, here are the tips for travelers:
 
1. Ask Mr. Google on what are the top 10 places to visit in the country or province you would visit.
2. Read blogs or reviews of the places. Reviews of travelers are very important because it gives you an idea on what to expect and also help you make the best choices.  
Tripadvisor is a very good website for travelers where one can read the reviews or feedback of fellow travelers. The reviews would give you then much information that can help you a lot in making choices on hotels, attractions and also restaurants to try.
3. Choose or list down the places you would like to visit.
4. Get more information about the prospective places  including the location, how to go to the place, the entrance fees if there are, dress-codes and other policies implemented. In Thailand, temples and other sacred places impose strict dress code.
5. Classify the places by location and divide them on the number of days you would stay.
6. Make an estimate of the time for each place and also the cost if possible.

For smart travelers, I recommend the following:

1. Use of smartphone with GPS or map.

2. Buy a local simcard. There are three major mobilephone network providers; DTAC, Truemove and AIS. To avail of internet service, cheaper international calls and other services for a short period, buy a tourist simcard. 
3. Make sure to get a business card of the hotel or place where you are staying.  English is a secondary language for Thais and so there is the communication problem. The hotel card would be a big help in getting a taxi when you need to go back to the hotel. If the taxi driver does not know the exact location, he can contact the hotel through the contact number indicated in the business card.

If you need some help and information on your itinerary for Bangkok or any part of Thailand, contact me for I might be able to help you. I can recommend also a nice place to stay but not costly and buy tickets on some tourist places at discounted prices.
 

Pattaya Attractions: Scam or Extortion?

Pattaya attractions are becoming "greedy" (I use the word of my friend) to foreigners/tourists. I had this thought after my last visit recently to two tourists places done on the same day; the Pattaya Floating Market and the newly opened unfinished Pattaya Dolphin World & Resorts.

Pattaya Floating Market now charges 200 baht entrance fee to foreigners but free for Thais. A place called per se as "market" containing shops with few activities, all with a cost. A very lucrative business no doubt, earning from both sides: the sellers and the buyers. Same thing with the Pattaya Dolphin World & Resort, it charges unreasonably extra high for foreigners but not worth the price as the place has not been fully developed yet and have only the 45 minutes Dolphin show as their front line and attraction.

I had been to Pattaya Floating Market for many times, my first was on December 2009 when it was just a small one and expansion was going on. There were already many people most specially tourists that came by flock and by buses but there was no entrance fee yet, maybe because it was not long time since it opened. 

With my last visit on December 9, 2012 I was with my Norwegian lady friend and we went to Pattaya Dolphin World & Resort to make use of the two vouchers I had bought from a discount website at a cheaper price. As I had not identified exactly in the map where the resort is located, I had been advised by the personnel when I called for direction that I rent a vehicle to bring us to the resort. So we did. To my surprise the place was underdeveloped yet, unfinished and the dolphin show was done in a small pool with a small stage. The dolphin show itself was not even extraordinary, performance was composed of 3 men and 3 medium sized dolphin. I have this observation because I had watched a dolphin show before in another amusement center in Bangkok. 

After almost an hour stay in the resort, I tried to find some vehicles to take us back but there was none. There are no public transportation on standby waiting for passengers as there were only few visitors. It is understandable as it is not worth visiting the place considering that it is unfinished yet plus the place is secluded. I inquired at the ticket booth and they arranged for a van to take us to the Pattaya Floating Market. I later on realized again that we were charged expensively for a fee of 300 baht as the distance between the two places was less than 10 kilometers.  

As I approached the entrance of the Floating Market, there were some personnel on guard but I just walked past them without saying a word. Take note! as I have mentioned above there is an entrance fee of 200 baht. Why was I not checked for a ticket? As an Asian, I am 100% mistaken as a Thai. But I noticed the driver haven't left and he followed us up to the entrance and he watched me get inside while he waited for my Norwegian friend to finish smoking.  As my friend approached the gate, the driver said something to the personnel at the same time pointing at us. Then there we were told about the entrance fee. At first, we thought it is 100 baht per person and the price was already unacceptable to me. Misunderstanding statements are very normal in Thailand due to language barrier. When my friend gave the money, it was 200 baht per person. 

Isn't it some people want to earn much money unreasonably at the expense of others? Don't they realize it that though for others the money that means much to them might not cost much to others, what matters most is the value of what being paid for.

 

(Update) Last February 2, 2014, I was in Chonburi province again with my friend and sister. We went to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden (my 3rd time), Khao Cheechan and Silverlake Vineyard. As the places can't be reached by public transportation, we hired a songtaew (taxi). On the way to our destination, while trying to be friendly with the driver and to get information as well, I have learned that half of the 200 baht entrance fee collected at the Pattaya Floating market is given to the taxi driver as commission, that is 100 baht per tourist. Same as in other tourist places, drivers are given commission from the entrance fees paid by their tourist passengers. Isn't it a double earning also? The taxi driver earns from the rent of his car plus the commission. The more tourists, more commission. Shooting two birds at the same time.

 

Thailand Visa and Re-entry Permits

     August 2012, I had to apply for the extension of my one year Non-immigrant B visa for the private company I am presently working for. I am the only foreign employee and the company is  owned by Thais. There were some difficulties when the one year visa was applied a year ago of the same month, but I thought extension processing would be much easier. I had informed the senior staff in the office in charge of processing my visa more than a month before the expiry date to give time for her to prepare the required company documents. The requirements on my side as an employee are easy to comply (copy of passport, last arrival stamp, departure card and last extension of visa) and so much of the bulk of the requirements are those papers from the company. In the list of 17 requirements, only 3 of which concerns me and the rest from the company.

      But I was wrong with what I thought. The Thai colleague who took care of processing my papers had to go back to the Bangkok Immigration Office  at Chaengwattana five times to complete the requirements and I had to be with her on the 1st, 2nd and 5th time of going to the Immigration. Perhaps it took a bit harder to process the papers because I am the only foreigner employee of our company. The Thai immigration officer carefully scrutinized each paper submitted and had to pay 1,900 baht extension visa for one week. Take note, 1,900 baht for one week extension of visa and it is the same fee for a one year visa.

      Upon application, I had told the Immigration officer that I want to apply for an extension visa with a multiple entry permit which I know costs 3,800 baht. She told me vaguely that it has to be done on another department pointing finger to another direction. My thought was that in applying for the extension visa, one can apply just for it with a  single entry or a multiple entry only to realize and learn later that it is not really the way as I thought. I had misunderstood the words used by others in referring to their visas, sometimes saying "single entry visa" and "multiple entry visa".

      Here it goes then. A visa (Non-immigrant B) may it be a first time visa or extension costs 1,900 baht for one year and one has to apply separately for the re-entry permit with two choices: single re-entry permit for 1,000 baht and 3,800 baht for multiple re-entry permit. Application for the re-entry can be done immediately after acquiring the approved visa since the expiration of the re-entry permit is the same as with the expiration of the extension visa. However, if one has to apply only for the re-entry permit, it can be done at every Immigration checkpoint and at the Suvarnabhumi airport. As a suggestion though, it is best to apply for a re-entry permit at least a day before the scheduled flight to leave Thailand rather than applying at the Suvarnabhumi airport on the time of departure because as indicated in the Immigration website, the granting of the re-entry permit at the airport would depend on officers approval as deemed necessary. Getting out of Thailand without an approved re-entry permit for those who got a visa would mean cancellation of the visa and work permit. Another thing, the re-entry permit at the airport has a service charge of 200 baht making it 1,200 baht instead of 1,000 baht for a single re-entry.

Happy Birthday to His Majesty the King

      Happy birthday to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej!

     
      Every 5th day of December is a very big and important occassion all over Thailand. All provinces from the biggest to the smallest community celebrates this day as it is the birthday of the so much loved and revered head and father of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). He is the longest reigning King who has been in the throne for more than 50 years. As a father is the head of the family, the birthday of the King is at the same time celebrated as Father's day, a special day to give honor to all the fathers in the country.

      Year 2011 marks the 84th birthday or 7th cycle of His Majesty the King. A grand 7 days celebration has been organized and prepared which was held at Sanam Luang area including the Grand Palace which started on the 3rd to the 9th of December 2011. The highlight was on the day itself at 10:30 a.m where His Majesty the King granted public audience to the Thai people approximately reaching 18,000 at  Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Watching the momentous event in a wide TV screen can make one feel the good feelings of love and great respect to the King by the Thai people and even those non-Thai who had learned to love the country as their own.

     Though much preparation was done it was simple as compared to the first birthday celebration I had witnessed. I had learned it was due to the wish of His Majesty to have a simple celebration considering the severe flooding calamity that has been experienced by the country. The first  one I witnessed before, in the night the whole street of Sanam Luang was closed and it was full of small shops representing the different private and government agencies. There were a lot of well lighted glimmering floats of different designs that showed the creativeness of the Thais for the love of their HM the King. Though this years celebration was simple but it was still festive with the light and sound show in the walls outside the Wat Phra Kaew and variety shows. People flocked in the Sanam Luang and many buses had changed their routes to better serve the people going to the festival. 

        One of the biggest attraction is the Grand Palace. It was opened for the public for the people to have the chance to see the Grand Palace at night. It was indeed a good opportunity to get inside the number 1 must-see tourist place of Thailand. Another attraction was the light and sound at the walls at the front of the Palace.

May the biggest event of Thailand had been celebrated lavishly or in simple way, one thing so sure, Thai people adore their King.
     
        Long live His Majesty the King!

Banrie Coffee and Restaurant

       A friend adores eating out as well as trying restaurants. Banrie Coffee Bar and Restaurant did not escape her eyes of interest. After watching movie, we walked the path going to Ekkamai BTS Station as she would be taking the skytrain to Ploenchit and I will be taking the bus back to my place. And there at the corner of Sukhumvit 63 along Ekkamai is Banrie Coffee and Restaurant, at the foot of one of the four Ekkamai BTS Station exit, opposite the Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal.

     The setting and ambiance of the restaurant is one of a kind, not the typical airconditioned restaurant with a well decorated wall and neatly arranged chairs, but rather it has a sort of of antique look design of a garden. The view when seen outside looks like an old place that has not been taken care of and the brick walls around had been left to crumble or they had chosen to ignore. The trees and plants look like it just grew up and left as the way they grew up, not trimmed or were not under the caring hand of a gardener. The picture of the restaurant as I picture it in my mind is warm lighted ambiance due to the warm type of lighting, color of furniture as well. But when sitting in one of the tables in the open area, the ambiance makes the diners feel relaxed with a garden-like feeling though the tables and chairs are not the expensive wooden ones. I remember I had to choose the table where the chairs have a back support as some are benches. There are areas of different settings to choose from including an air conditioned room that would be good for a touch of fine dining (but not really fine dining). Diners also have the choice to stay out in an open area or in a covered air conditioned one.

       The restaurant serves Thai foods for a complete meal as well as appetizers for those who wish to linger and pass the time while drinking some beer or other alcohol drinks while listening to the live music rendered by a Thai singer and a guitarist. The live music can be enjoyed in the open area as well as in the close room.

       As the name calls for coffee, they serve special coffee with their own style of serving.  It was evening that we dined and was not good for me to take coffee so I did not have the chance to try their coffee. However, my friend did and the serving was not the typical way of putting in a small cup for hot coffee but they put it in a medium sized drinking glass. I had learned the coffee came from the Southern part of Thailand, made of Arabica and Robusta beans which has been roasted to level 8. They described it in their website as bitter and make the drinker awake.

       As it is a Thai restaurant, same as typical Thai restaurants, not all waiters and waitresses can comprehend English language and if ever they can, some can only understand very few basic English. When we dined for the first time, we pointed out most of our orders on the menu book. But when we ordered rice, since I am familiar with the name of fried rice with seafood I volunteered to  tell the name "khao phad talae". A bit funny, at first they brought to us one cup of steamed rice in a white plate; second time, one cup of fried rice in the same type of plate. We were three and the dishes we ordered were for the three of us so it is common sense that the rice should be good for us three also. Finally, for the third time, they got it right. The second time we dined-in the restaurant, my friend ordered Pepsi but we were given a bottle of Coke. 

        There are many foreigners who go to the place and I do not understand why mistakes that can be rooted down to not understanding what the customers got to say. But anyway, if one can't speak Thai it is best to just pinpoint the food to be ordered in their menu list. As the Chinese saying goes, less talk less mistakes.

        Thai foods are good enough and they have variety of liquors to choose from. When one wants and feels like discharging after drinking or eating a lot, the toilet are nice and clean with a touch of uniqueness that compliments well with the entire perspective.

       By the way, do not be surprised if one says Banrai or Banrie... I think Banrai in Thai and Banrie in English. Even their website is confusing to what the real name is as it both contains the same name. Nevertheless, it is a nice place to dine if you are somewhere near Ekkamai area.

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The Splendor of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

        
     Splendid! It is the most beautiful place I have ever been when talking about nature, and the first time for me to  be in a vast botanical garden. When I visited the majestic Grand Palace (the number 1 must-see place in Bangkok) I admired it as such I uttered it was the nicest tourist place I had ever seen. However, when I was in the grounds of Nong Nooch Garden, I had the best time touring, my eyes feasting on the colorful surroundings, every moment admiring the landscape and scenery. My favorite was the French garden which held me breathless and in awe as I tried to take pictures in every angle. It is really a beautiful place worth visiting! Though we stayed overnight, still I think we were able to tour only about one-third of the approximately 600 acres (1500 rais).

       Approximately 155 kilometers from Bangkok, I got to know Nong Nooch Garden Resort when I saw one photo of it in an online Filipino Community in Thailand, the Siam Pinoy. From then on I had the strong desire to visit the place and included it in my list of places to visit. Opportunity came when there was a three day weekend vacation in July 2011 in celebration of Buddhist lent.  Three of my friends planned to go to Underwater World in Pattaya but I convinced them to go to Nong Nooch instead. Anyway, the garden is also in Pattaya.  One in the desire to go out of Bangkok City and have fun, six of us went for the tour.  But beforehand I had made inquiries and reservation at Nong Nooch. It is best to always plan and organize things ahead to make the tour enjoyable, hassle free and successful.

     
       When I called the office for inquiries the lady I talked to asked for my email address and sent the location map. Overall I found the staff very accommodating and friendly. The entrance fee for foreigners is 500 baht per person and 100 or 200 baht for Thais which includes touring around the approximately 600 acres area, entrance to the Thai Cultural show and Elephant show.  For Thais, the entrance fee of 100 baht does not include the cultural and elephant show.

     As I had inquired on details, I arrived to a conclusion that for foreigners it is more than worth the cost to stay overnight than just going for a day tour most specially if done by group of two or more. Why is it so? It is like this... if one stays overnight, the entrance fee is waived and one has to pay only for the room. They  offer different type of accommodations from the luxurious one to backpackers standard room. So far cheapest rate of a room good for two is 1,200 baht per night and it already includes buffet breakfast for two. I was with five of my friends and we rented a room for 5 at a rate of 3,000 baht plus 350 baht for an extra bed since we were six. Each of us only paid approximately 560 baht for an overnight stay. With the 560 baht each, for almost two days, we had more time touring the very big area, taking pictures with different poses with very nice backgrounds, dining in two of their restaurants, watch the Thai cultural and Elephant show.  We did not have a car to go around the place but it was not a problem at all because we just made a call at the reception area for pick up and after few minutes the shuttle service comes in whatever part of the resort we are waiting.

         There are so much things to see, different types of accommodations to choose from, exquisite gardens, restaurants, aquarium, activities to do such as biking, and two-storey building showcasing special cars, as such it is really advisable and wise to stay at least a night to explore the approximately 600 acres area. Nevertheless, if one wants to have a quick tour, there is a tourist bus inside the compound that goes around the area. The passenger have to pay 100 baht only for a round trip. The cultural show is very entertaining and so the elephant show. The elephant show so far is the best I have seen. Two of my friends had their pictures taken sitting in between the trunks of two elephants for a fee of 50 baht per person. I wanted it also but I was not ready with the bad smell from the elephant that might stick on my clothes. After picture taking with the elephants, four of them had pictures taken with a young tiger for a fee of 60 baht per person. 

          
       How did we go there? From Bangkok, we took a bus bound to Pattaya at the Ekkamai Bus Terminal. The bus trip took two hours. When the bus reached Pattaya bus terminal, we could have taken or rented a "taxi" (songtaew) straight to Nong Nooch but we decided to have lunch at the center of Pattaya at Festival Mall. From there we rented a songtaew to bring us to the garden. We had a bit of a guilty feeling as the songtaew driver gave as an initial price of 1,000 baht but we had hard bargaining and it ended up to a price of 200 baht. No one among us six had the idea how far we had to go, we only focused on the amount to be paid for the songtaew. Only to realize and have a guilty feeling when we were on the road as the driver traversed the Sukhumivit road to the garden, the longer we traveled than expected, we realized that the 200 baht is very unreasonable price and not enough for the driver to earn enough for the trip. After some sort of "deliberation" we finally decided to pay the driver 75% more. Maybe income was not good that time so he heeded to our very low price instead of having no income at all. Although as foreigners, it is always best to bargain at the lowest price one can think of to avoid getting ripped off.

        

          There are many tourist places that can be visited in Pattaya or Chonburi province but among all the places I had visited, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is the best place I had ever been so far and I enjoyed every moment being there. Just imagine, we had almost a thousand of pictures taken! See for yourself then...

          When we left the place, we dropped by and had lunch at Pattaya Floating Market. Another good place to visit.

Mum Aroi Restaurant

   

    I had been to Pattaya for countless times, had dined in some nice fine dining restaurants and as well as chain of restaurants that can be found everywhere in Thailand but this restaurant, Mum Aroi at Naklua Pattaya seemed to be one of the popular seafood Thai restaurants. It is located almost in the outskirt of the northern part of Pattaya and can not be easily found if one is not familiar with the location. But two times I had been there for dinner with Thai colleagues, the big restaurant has been full of diners composed mostly of Thai people in groups.

      As the name in the signage  is in Thai, it obviously shows that its main target customers are Thai people. However, there are few foreigners but they are accompanied by Thais. I had to ask my Thai colleague the name so I can write it in English. My engineer colleague told me it is a very popular restaurant in Pattaya. With the big area and numerous dining tables almost filled up, indeed the restaurant is one of the favorite and popular restaurants. Much as I can remember our way when we went to the restaurant, however I can not describe exactly the way to go there. 

        The first time, as we came from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel, being one of the exhibitors of TEMCA 2011, we passed through the center of Pattaya and then to Sukhumvit Road. There we tracked down the road till my colleagues saw the neon triangular signage of the restaurant giving directions which way to go. The second time, I was with another colleague engineer and he knew so well the way. We passed at North Pattaya to the direction for Sukhumvit. Without reaching the Sukhumvit road, he drove to the left then after few kilometers there was the restaurant. 

       The place is big and cozy. There are more than one air conditioned rooms with karaoke where those who want to have private gatherings can occupy the space. But the most interesting and cozy location is the open space. The open space is big and there is a live music. Diners can have the feeling of being in a garden or feel the sea breeze or hear the waves. I even saw a small pool somewhere in the open space.

      With regards to food, of course, they serve Thai foods. Their menu is in English and Thai but I did not bother to see inquisitively each food offered as listed in the menu book as I often leave the choice to my Thai companions of what food to order. One thing I only request to them is "mai phet" (not so spicy). Thai people always have the first choice of seafood when dining out and it is because of the love for seafood that made the restaurant to be popular. Mum Aroi serves variety of seafoods. So far, though I do not know the names of the food I ate, I can say they taste good. When it comes to service, I say it is the typical Thai way of serving in a restaurant.:-)

        

Filipino Restaurant in Bangkok

      

    Do you want to try Filipino foods? Do you miss Filipino foods? Are you craving for your favorite Filipino dishes?

       
    I have heard from fellow Filipino friends about the Filipino Restaurant here in Bangkok as well as grocery store selling popular Philippine products. But I just took those talks as information and had the minimal desire to visit the place and try their foods. After all I do not have cravings of my country's famous dishes as I was used to eating simple foods when I was in the Philippines.

Bulalo

Crispy Pata

   My two years and four months stay in Bangkok, Thailand marked two first time for me: 1)meeting fellow Filipino electrical engineers who had opted to leave our very own Philippines for a greener pasture in the Land of Smiles, just like me; and 2) dining at the New Mabuhay Filipino Restaurant at Soi 19 Petchaburi road. The ordering of food was left to the choice of Ayi who led us to the restaurant. There we had bulalo, crispy pata, chopsuey (pad pak ruam mit in Thai). Of course, for the guys the highlight was the cold San Miguel beer. Since I do not drink beer, canned Del Monte juice was a nice substitute.When there, I had the feeling of being back home in the Philippines as the food servers and customers were all kababayans, though there were a few of other nationalities having their dinner. The place itself have a Filipino setting showcasing the Filipino groceries for sale.

    With a short talk from the owner, we had been informed about the other services they offer such as  sending money to the Philippines as well as goods. He said that their rates are lower than the famous money sending agency, the Western Union.
     
     Would you like to go there and try their dishes?  The restaurant is easy to find and accessible as it is situated at Pratunam area, opposite the road where Platinum Mall is. Look for Street 19 or Petchaburi Soi 19, walk through the inner part of the street and turn to the left when you see a small street. There is the New Mabuhay Filipino Restaurant.
        By the way, I almost forget aside from serving Filipino foods, they also have some well-known Philippine products for sale. Of course the staff as well as the owners are Filipinos and speak in their native tongues. For sure when you are inside the place, you will not have the feeling of being away from home as it is just like being home. And as the famous saying goes "there is no place like home". If you miss home, I recommend visiting the restaurant. For non-Filipinos, try the Filipino restaurant so you will have the taste of Filipino foods.