Archive for December, 2012

Just Realized! To Become A Tour Guide I Need to Know Everything!

December 31st, 2012

tons-of-books-to-study

Apr 7, 2012

Dear diary,

Do I need to know everything if I were a tour guide?

I just have time to check my study schedule, and I have just noticed that I have to study in different subjects every week. I got to know geography, geology, history, Buddhism, English, Sociology and etc . WOW! How can I remember them all?

I’m very excited to come to class because I feel like back to school again (without wearing uniform). I study from 9 AM to 5 PM, like an office worker. I have 15 mins coffee break twice, in the morning and the afternoon. It is free for hot coffee or hot chocolate. Sometimes I prefer to call it “Wake up time” more than “Break time”. » Read more: Just Realized! To Become A Tour Guide I Need to Know Everything!

The Same History of Thailand, But Not the Same Me

December 29th, 2012

lintel at a stone sanctuary, thailandLintel with narrative relief

Apr 1, 2012.

Dear diary,

Boring History!

I always felt asleep in History class and Buddhism study when I was in high school. I remembered my history-class teachers told us stories about the King of Siam and the battle between Siamese and Burmese. Boys in the class were so excited with the story, but not me. I was not blame to the teacher. I just thought that narrative of history was like a sleeping pill for me. » Read more: The Same History of Thailand, But Not the Same Me

River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi: Mirror of Golden Gate, Sanfran

December 28th, 2012

river kwai bridgeRiver Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi

Nov 17th, 2012

Hey Jane,

As I told you last time, I went to Kanchanaburi, my dad hometown. This city is not far from Bangkok. I could drive there just about 2 hours if we wouldn’t take it easy at gas station for getting snacks and a cup of coffee. You know, girls have never let their mouth empty.

This trip, I got a company, my sister. She took half day off on Thursday and full day off on Friday.  I spent almost an hour picked her up at the office and drove through the traffic in Bangkok and headed west to Kanchanaburi. » Read more: River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi: Mirror of Golden Gate, Sanfran

AirportLink – An Easy Way for Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport

December 27th, 2012

airport link trainAirport Link Train

Calling a cab to the airport is unreliable. I used to spend over 300 Baht for taking taxi to the airport due to a terrible traffic day. I then have never wanted to take a risk for getting to the airport anymore. Recently, for saving time and money, however, the best way for me to get to the airport is using public transportation, BTS sky train and airport rail link.

I don’t care about whoever says that the door of airport link train is noisy when it is shutting, or the train can be very crowded in a rush hour. This is because I spend only 45 Baht to get to the airport, and I will arrive in the airport within just 30 minutes also. I don’t think taxi can make it for me. » Read more: AirportLink – An Easy Way for Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport

Inexpensive Food at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand

December 26th, 2012

maagic food point at suvarnbhumi airportMagic Food Point at Suvarnabhumi Airport

      Every times I went to Suvarnabhumi Airport to wait for the flight and wanted to have a bite, it was hardly to find the cheap one. The restaurant on the 3rd floor seemed too expensive for me. It might not be too expensive for rich visitors, but how about the normal people who don’t want to spend money over 100 baht for a meal like me? Where should I get a cheaper food in the airport?

      After thinking so, I then tried walking around the airport in order to check if there is anything helping to save my cost. Finally, I found a good place to buy regular foods in a reasonable price. It is the food court at gate 8 on the 1st floor of the airport.

      After Getting inside, I bought coupons, and then walked around to find something to eat. At each counter of the food sellers, there were food displays at the front. It was easy for those who had no idea about the appearance of the food.  » Read more: Inexpensive Food at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand

The First Day Of The Tour Guide Class

December 26th, 2012

first day study

Mar 31st, 2012

Dear diary,

      This morning, I had a lot of energy to wake up early morning to get on the van direct to school.

      There were about 45 students in the class, and I liked this class because I was not the oldest one in the class. They all will be my classmate and friends for 6 months. However, I’m pretty quiet in the first day.

      Although there were a few games for helping us know each other, I can remember only some of them.

      So tired today, nite nite.

My Reason to Step in Thailand Tour Guide Program

December 25th, 2012

wat chaiwatthanaram ayutthaya thailandWat Chaiwatthanaram, a famous temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Mar 26th, 2012

Dear diary,

      I took the test and the interview for getting in the Tour Guide Program yesterday. It was fine and just made me nervous a little. They, the interviewers, asked me why I wanted to study for this program.

      I didn’t give them a direct answer, but I told them a story of 3 years ago. When I came visiting home with Korean girl friend, she asked me so many questions about Thailand, especially Ayutthaya. She was interested in Ayutthaya histories after reading from a guidebook. She wanted me to take her to Ayutthaya. » Read more: My Reason to Step in Thailand Tour Guide Program

Another Challenge Needed After I Came Back to Thailand

December 25th, 2012

step out of comfort zone

Mar 21st, 2012

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.
Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”
Pamela Vaull Starr

Dear diary,

Two days ago, it was a turning point of my life.

I sat next to my sister while I was thinking what I should do after I had gone from home for 6 years. Sitting on a couch with a mouthful of snacks and watching TV wasn’t me at all. I’ve been working so hard in US. Coming back home to do nothing might be a sweet long vacation for someone. For me, however, home is a comfort zone that seems to be too comfortable, and that’s why I feel like it has no challenge at all.

I seemed lost or maybe crazy to think that way. » Read more: Another Challenge Needed After I Came Back to Thailand

Go Around Koh Larn Island with A Rented Motorcycle

December 25th, 2012

sea water at ta yi beachClear Sea Water at Hat Ta Yai

Nov 15th, 2014

Hey Jane,

Finally, I have time to sit and continue my stories to Koh Larn.

Last time, I started to tell you about the beaches around the island. Let’s me drop that scene a moment because I forgot to tell you how I got around the island after I checked in a small resort. I rented the motorcycle. It was so cheap to pay 250 Baht (about $8 per one day and a half) with full tank gas. This was a fun part that you would love it. I hope you still remember how to ride motorcycle as you did in Cambodia. Motorcycles that I mention here are not a big bike as you seen in San Francisco, but smaller as scooters. You just speed up at the handle, no need gears. Very easy. If you come to Thailand, you will see that motorcycles and scooters have been used all over the country. I wasn’t only ride the scooter to check all beaches, but I also went to the view point on the top of the hill. It was beautiful. A panoramic view of the green hill, beaches and blurry background of Pattaya city made me think of San Francisco again. » Read more: Go Around Koh Larn Island with A Rented Motorcycle

Koh Larn – A Popular Island Near Bangkok

December 25th, 2012

tawaen-beachHat Tawaen at Koh Larn Pattaya

Nov 7th, 2012.

Hey Jane,

I was thinking, if you come to see me in Thailand I will take you to Koh Larn. Why Koh Larn? You can ask your brother about it, I think this name remind him a lot about Thailand when he was here.

A couple week ago, I went there. It was my first time to go to this well-known island. I heard people had been talking about it since I was young, but I didn’t care about because I thought it, nowadays, might not be as beautiful anymore.

If you were Thai, you would think of anywhere else when you wanted to go to a beautiful beach or island, not here in Pattaya. So, I try thinking out of the box and make myself like a tourist to find out why there are so many tourists in Pattaya. » Read more: Koh Larn – A Popular Island Near Bangkok