Bantog Backpackers

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Bangkok, officially known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, is the capital city of Thailand. Its full name is Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahidilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, and listed as the world's longest location name in the World's Guiness Book of Records, which means " The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of Ayutthaya of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous royal palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."

Bangkok is a major tourist hub known for its temples (Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho), lively streets (Khaosan road), delicious street foods, sprawling markets (Chatuchak, floating markets), modern malls,and lively nightlife.

Thailand as a country, is leaded by a king, under a constitutional monarchy lead by Kinga Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuha, also known as King Rama X. He is the tenth king of the Chakri Dynasty.

Chatuchak is primary a weekend market open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 6pm, but also operates during weekdays with limited sections. Wednesdays and Thursdays for plants (7am to 6pm) and Fridays for wholesale.

the famous Poy-Sian

The 100 Baht Shop

We tried the MRT during our first day and the grab taxis on the following days

We spent our second day exploring Iconsiam and tried the Meridian Cruise. The boarding area for the cruise is at this mall. There are a lot of shops inside the mall but it will be more economical to shop at Chatuchak Market because the price difference is quite large. For example the bags at Chatuchak costs 100 baht but in Iconsiam it only costs 150 baht.

grilled crocodile at Iconsiam Mall

We spent our Christmas in Bangkok

the famous Iconsiam fountain

Netflix hosted a major Squid Game Promotion Season 2 in Bangkok

It was a lot of fun riding the Meridian Cruise. Though there were problems in boarding the cruise because of the ongoing event at the Iconsiam (countdown event) and a lot of us became confused in transferring piers. Nevertheless, our trip was amazing. There's our kababayan singer who sang songs in different languages in a great tune - magnificent. Buffet is great with a lot of choices. The trip is awesome going through different tourist spots from afar. Definitely you must grab this trip when visitin Bangkok. It costs us Php 1200 through Klook.

birthday celebrants for the month of December

Our accommodation is only 5 minutes walk from the famous Khaosan Road. It is the famous, bustling backpacker hub in the Bang Lamphu area, famous for its vibrant nightlife, cheap eats, street food, massage areas, hostels, bars, and market. We bought our shirts and the famous elephant pajama in Khaosan Road, the prices are also affordable.

we visited of Chinatown too!

During our 3rd day in Bangkok, my kids chose to visit the Bangkok National Museum instead of the temples. Bangkok National Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in Thai history and culture. The collection is impressive, with magnificent pieces ranging from royal artifacts to Buddhist sculptures, traditional painting and objects.

One of the best thing in Thailand also is the presence of several 7-11 stores that are so cheap than the prices in 7-11 Philippines. A Thai 7-11 is not just a convenience store, it is a heaven for us who are travelling on a budget. From snacks, noodles, coffee, shampoo, toothpaste, lotion (I bought one for 36 baht) to cheap meals to medicines (bought a lot) and all that you can think of.

Sawadee kah!!! I love Thailand!

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is the largest religious monument in the world, measuring 162.60 hectares. It is one of the eight wonders of the world and one in our bucket lists.

Giant Ibis Bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Our Angkor Wat adventure started with our bus trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap. We took the Giant Ibis Bus and booked online. And from our hotel in Siem Reap, we were picked up by the Klook tour guide by 4am and got our tickets at the official ticketing center for US$37 each. My seven year old is free from paying.

Bantog Backpackers in Angkor Wat waiting for sunrise

our super accomodating guide from Klook with our fellow tourists

An Angkor Wat tour guides visitors through Cambodia's most iconic temple complex, exploring its grand towers, intricate carvings, and vast courtyards. The tour typically begins before sunrise behind the temple's silhouette. Along the way, guides explain the history of Khmer Empire, the symbolism in the architecture, and the religious significance of the site

The second temple we visited is the Ta Phrom. Ta Phrom was built in 1186 and was originally known as Rajavihara or Monastery of the King. It is a buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jyavarman VII. Massive silk-cotton and strangler fig tress grow directly out of the stone towers and walls. Roots cascade over doorways, wrap around carvings, and split stone blocks apart, creating a surreal fusion of nature and ruins.

The third temple we visited is the BANTEAY KDEI temple. In contrast to Angkor Wat, Banteay Kdei is peaceful and quiet. It's name means "Citadel of Chambers". It has lots of passages and small chambers.

Bayon Temple

Bayon is famous for its over 200 massive stone faces carved into 54 towers. The faces are serene, with gentle smiles and half-closed eyes. They re widely believed to represent Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. It also stands out for its blend of artistic, historical, and symbolic richness.

Our trip to Angkor Wat was an unforgettable experience. Walking through the ancient temples felt like stepping back in time. The sunrise over the main temple was absolutely breathtaking, and exploring the carvings and ruins made us appreciate Cambodia’s rich history and culture.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

The Entrance to PH Euro Park

From Bangkok, we crossed the border going to Siem Reap for six hours (402 kilometers). From Siem Reap we again traveled by land to Phnom Penh for five hours (315 kilometers). We comfortably crossed the border from Bangkok to Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by riding the Giant Ibis Bus.

tuktuk ride from our hotel to PH Euro Park

Phnom Penh is the largest and the most populous city of Cambodia. Phnom Penh became its capital since 1865. It's former official name is Krong Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol, and it means City of Four Faces. The official language is Khmer. The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. The currency in Cambodia is Riel but the US Dollar is widely used. When you pay in US Dollar, the change can be a mixture of US Dollar and Riel.

Cambodia is known for offering budget-friendly hotel options. Our hotel in Siem Reap have 2 rooms paying only US$40/night and in Phnom Penh for US$40-50 per night. The food, transportation and tour entrances are relatively low. Cambodia when compared to Bangkok, it is much cheaper in the latter. But we had our unlimited breakfast in Phnom Penh at US$4/person.

Because of limited time, we choose the happiest place to visit in Phnom Penh than the usual Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. We went to PH Euro Park in Phnom Penh.

PH Euro Park is open to the public without any entrance fee. You can get here along National Road 1, about a 20-minute drive from BKK 1 (city center) accessible via tuktuk.

What to see inside the PH Euro Park are the reduced scale European icons like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, windmill, Sydney Opera House and Venus de Milo alongside the half-timbered buildings, a drawbridge, scenic canals, gondolas, and more. You can feel that you really are walking in Europe.