24 Hours in HK by Sarah Fung of HK Magazine

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Bangkok Thailand: Transportation

MTR/Subway MAP

• Underground Train (MRT) Bangkok, Thailand
• The recently opened underground train system (officially called MRT - Mass Rapid transit) reaches from the Northern train station of Bangsue to Hua Lumphong main railway station in a loop, connecting with the Skytrain on 3 different stations, namely : Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park (see below map).
• There have a similar ticket system as the Skytrain (BTS) but both systems are for the time being not compatible. All stations of the underground train can be reached via ramps and elevators, if needed, or alternatively via escalators.
• See combined Route map

The MRT Bangkok Metro Underground

• The 'impossible' became a reality in April 2004. It had taken seven years to build, comprising 21 kilometers of bored tunnels, with 18 simultaneously-built stations, using top-down techniques up to 30 meters deep under the city's major roads. The cost was approximately US$ 2.75 billion.
• Officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and in Thai as rot fai fah mahanakhon ("metropolitan electric train") or more often as the rot fai tai din ("underground train") the line operates from 5am to midnight, and extends in a wide loop from the main railway station of Hualumpong, then tracks back via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to the smaller rail station of Bang Sue (pronounce Seu) to the north.
• It has interchanges with the Skytrain at Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations (please see above map). To protect against periodic flooding, station entrances are elevated above ground, and equipped with built-in floodgates. To prevent accidents and suicides, a glassed-in Automatic Platform Screen Door separates the platform and track, and opens only when the trains pull in and stop. All stations feature lifts and ramps for disabled people.


• As with the Skytrain, there are a number of ticket types, which only need to be held close to the ticket barriers to operate them, thanks to a proximity sensor. Tokens are used for single journeys. An unlimited 1 day go-as-you please travel ticket currently costs Baht 120. A joint ticketing system for the Subway and Skytrain is planned.

Operating Hours:

• 06.00 am - midnight daily.
• Frequency - Less than 5 minutes during the peak hours 06.00 - 09.00 am. and 04.30 - 07.30 pm.
• Less than 10 minutes during the off-peak hours.
• Maximum 18 serviced rolling stocks and 1 reserved.
• MRTA prepares the parking lots for MRT passengers
• MRTA has prepared the parking areas and other facilities for the MRT passengers including two Park & Ride Buildings and seven subway stations. The parking lots, retail shops, and other facilities are available for the passengers who want to park their cars and take the subway for their destinations.

Two Types of Tickets:

1.) Contactless Smart Card

• Single Journey Token
• For Adult - Issued from both Ticket Vending Machine and Ticket Office
• For Child / Elder - Only issued at Ticket Office

2.) Stored Value Card :
Value addable: Adult, Concession (Child/Elder), Student, Business Traveller
Non-Value addable : One Day Pass, 3-Day Pass, 30-Day Pass, Premiere Pass

BTS Map

Bangkok, Thailand: Shopping and Maps

SHOPPING OPTIONS:

1.) World Central Plaza (GB, PP)

• Address: 4 Rajdamri Road Patumwan Bangkok 10330 Thailand
• CentralWorld is situated in the middle between Siam and Chitlom BTS stations, needing a small walk in order to get there. The best suggestion is to use the BTS Skytrain, get off at Chitlom station and walk a couple of minutes down the sky walk.

2.) Gaysorn Plaza (high-end)

• Address: 999 Ploenchit Rd. Bangkok 10330
• Tel: (66 2) 656 1149
• Hotline:(66 2)6561177
• BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line - Gaysorn has a direct link to Chit Lom Station, InterContinental Hotel, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, Holiday Inn, Erawan Bangkok, Amarin Plaza and skywalk to CentralWorld Plaza.

3.) Central Department Store (Rustan’s)

• Address: 1027 Ploenchit Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
• Tel: 02-7937777
• Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. everyday
• Bangkok Skytrain (BTS): - Chidlom Station
• Check out golf shoes/equipment

4.) Mahboonkrong or MBK (cheaper than Central)

• Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) - National Stadium Station; also within walking distance of Siam station. / MBK centre is connected to the National Stadium Station by a walk way
• MK is a chain of Thai/Chinese restaurants all over Thailand. You cook the food in a bowl on the table to make soup and have plates of duck, red pork, crispy pork etc. It’s a family restaurant and great fun, not to mention absolutely delicious!! [YAYOI by MK]
• Food court is great (Buy coupons at desk); explore though
• MBK Tourist Discount Card produced to not only get the shop’s promotion around MBK Center, but also are designed to worthy of collecting as a souvenir gift card. We provide the free card only for tourists when they visit MBK Center at information counter.

5.) Emporium

• Address: Sukhumvit Road Phrom Pong Skytrain Bangkok Thailand
• @SkyTrain: ticket vending machine, select Phrom Phong as your destination. You'll need coins - if you don't have enough, you can change a banknote at the window. The vending machine will give you a plastic card. Put that through the turnstile and pick it up again - you'll need it when you exit.

6.) Suam Lum Night Bazaar or Night Bazaar @ Lumpini Park

• Address: Lumpini Park Bangkok Thailand
• Tel: 2 252 4776

7.) Siam Paragon

• Address: 991/1 Rama 1 Rd Bangkok 10330 Thailand
• Tel: 0 2690 1000
• The station on the sky train network is "Siam". This will allow you to enter Siam Center and Siam Paragon.

8.) Chatuchak (Divisoria)

• If by MTK to Kamphaeng Phet Station. It actually exits inside the market.
• Ticket costs 45 baht each way. You take the train from National Stadium one stop to National Stadium. Change trains in the direction of Morchit (also written as Mo Chit), which is the station you will get off at - the market is signposted (short walk) and lots of other people will be going there.

9.) Patpong Market / Silom Night Market

• Address: Silom and Surawong Roads Bangkok
• In the evening, this lively market is a great place to shop for souvenirs, fake brand name items and cheap goods and to visit Bangkok’s infamous “adult entertainment area.”

10.) Jim Thompson Factory Outlet:

• Address: Surawong, 149/4-6, 149/38-40 Surawong Rd, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
• Tel: 02-235-8931-2
• Opening hours: 09.00 am - 06.00 pm
• The place near Sala Daeng BTS station (or Silom MRT station) is the main Shopping Outlet, which is at the start of Surawong Road just off of Rama IV.
• Go north from Sala Daeng station along Thaniya Road - bet you're now going to ask how do you know which is North! Well it's the right hand side in direction of travel when arriving at Sala Daeng station and you should use the exit on the forward right hand side.
• When you reach the junction of Thaniya Road with Surawong Road, turn right and there will be Jim Thompson's Thai Silk a short distance away.
• They have wonderful shirts, blouses, dresses (short and formal long), and very stylish children’s wear (cotton). Handbags and some very expensive silk scarves/pashminas with swarovski (sic) crystal embroidery! Also rolls of materials and a making service and advice.
• Also a great cafe so you can sit and consider your (expensive) options.

11.) Jim Thompson House Muesum:

• Address: Soi Sukhumvit 93, 153 Soi Sukhumvit 93, Bangchak, Phakanong, Bangkok 10260
• Tel: : 02-332-6530 ext. 13
• Opening hours: 09:00 - 12:00 hrs & 13:30 - 16:00 hrs
• Jim Thompson's House & Museum i.e. The tourist attraction which is a collection of Thai houses along with a nice coffee shop and a small shop, is up Kasem San 2 off of Rama 1 road.
•  The closest BTS/Skytrain is National Stadium and it is easily walk-able from there

12.) Thaniya Plaza Shopping Centre:

• Largely devoted to golf stuff. Thaniya plaza is next to Sala daeng Skytrain station - the station that goes down the side of Oeilly irish bar.
• On the ground floor of the plaza as you enter the shop on the left hand corner of the food court as you enter sells only such stuff - Big Betty drivers etc - but if you go diagonally opposite to the store there you can get a better deal on second hand genuine stuff.

Bangkok, Thailand : Attractions, Restos and Spas

ATTRACTION OPTIONS:

From several magnificent temples in Bangkok, the three most unique ones are Wat Traimit, Wat Pho, and Wat Benchamabophit. Wat Traimit houses a striking 3-meter tall Golden Buddha image - a gleaming, 5-ton figure of solid gold. Wat Pho, which features the largest reclining Buddha image in Thailand, and the Chedi of the kings, is Bangkok's oldest and largest temple. Finally there is Wat Benchamabophit, a fine modern Thai temple constructed from white Carrara marble with ornate crossbeams decorated with lacquer and gold.

1.) Grand Palace (Home of the Emerald Buddha)

• Add: Na Phra Lan Rd, Maharaj Pier next to Wat Phra Kaeo Temple Complex, city center Bangkok Thailand
• Tel: 02 224 1833
• Hours of Operation: Every day from 8:30 to 3:30, unless it's being used for a state function, which is quite rare. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace grounds are open every day when not being used for state functions, the audience halls in the Grand Palace are closed on weekends. You can only gain entrance to see the magnificent thrones on weekdays. The Royal Pantheon in Temple of the Emerald Buddha is only open one day a year, on 6 April.
• Suggestion: Palace complex is huge so allocate time in the morning to avoid being rushed to finish by 1530. Do try to see if you can view the Emerald Buddha so go on WEEKDAYS, NOT weekends.
• Free guided tours in English are available at 10:00, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:00. You can also rent an audio guide for 100 Baht (3.31 USD) plus passport or credit card to secure return.

2.) Temple of the Reclining Buddha / Wat Pho

• Add: Maharat Rd Bangkok Thailand
• Suggestion: Go after visiting the Grand Palace since it's on the way back to the Chaophraya Express Boat. It's a big temple that houses the Reclining Buddha but a quick enough visit to squeeze in before you head home.

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RESTAURANT OPTIONS as per friend's suggestions:

1.) Erawan Tea Room, Grand Hyatt (afternoon tea)
Add: 494 Rajdamri Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10330
Tel: +66 2 254 1234

2.) Baan Thai House (Thai)
Add: 199 / 19 Moo 4, Pailing, Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Tel: +66 035245555

3.) Celadon, Sukhothai Hotel (Thai)
Add: 13/3 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2344 8888 Fax: +66 (0) 2344 8899
Email: promotions@sukhothai.com

4.) La Normandie @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel (French)

5.) Spice Market @FourSeasons (Thai)
Add: 155 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: 66 (0) 2 126-8866

6.) Biscotti @FourSeasons (Italian)
Add: 155 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: 66 (0) 2 126-8866

7.) Sirocco The Dome @State Tower (Mediterranean; 360 view of Bangkok)
Address: 1055 Silom Road, 63rd floor, State Tower, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Phone: +66 2624-9555

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MASSAGE/SPAS:
1.) Depravni Spa @Dusit Thani Hotel

2.) Grand Hyatt’s Spa

Getting Hitched in HKG?

Getting married in HKG?
Although I got married in Manila, I did get civilly married in HKG and was also able to get a few HKG suppliers for the former wedding.

Before you jump into the wedding preparations, you might want to read the following first.

GovHK - Getting Married

AngloInfo - getting married in HKG

Basic Procedures - fast fact

HK Appointment Booking

After the above items have been sorted out, the best part is to come!
The below are some of the places I went to when I was shopping for my wedding items. I hope they prove to be as useful as they have to me. Happy wedding!

GOWNS
1.) Central Weddings - some information about the store is here. This is my wedding gown supplier. Love them so much!
2.) White - some information about the store is here.
3.) Gown Street in TST
4.) Prince Edward's Golden Plaza : one-stop-shop bridal building @ Mongkok; more info here.
5.) Dorian Ho
6.) Barney Cheng
7.) Lane Crawford - shoes

PHOTOGRAPHY
1.) Cloud9 Photography
2.) Venture Photography

INVITATIONS
1.) Papyrus HK

SOUVENIRS
1.) The Wedding Workshop
2.) Lladro

Others
1.) Wedding Bands - J's / Chan Kwong Kee Jeweler
2.) Registries - HK Wedding Registry (City Hall) / Eden Wedding Registry

Montreal

Montreal Guide from a McGillian...

• EAT:

1. Blvd St-Laurent is the food strip of Montréal
2. Crescent Street : The Victorian architecture of the buildings adds a touch of elegance to the luxury shops that line this avenue
3. Monsieur Felix & Mr Norton Biscuits (sells only cookies like Ms fields’ cookies)
   This is one of my fondest memories of Montréal and one of the best homemade cookies I’ve ever had. It's a bit pricey but quality and taste is to die for that I'd save up for a dozen of these back after exams. Each cookie is freshly made and they use seasonal ingredients so uniqueness is guaranteed. It’s a Montréal company that branched out a bit in Eastern Canada in Toronto and Ottawa. :P
4. Rockaberry – pies; a must try if you have the time. Super love namin back in the day
   4275 St Denis Street, Montreal, Quebec H2J 2K9, Canada
   TEL: 514-844-9479
   
   
5. Eat a Ruben Sandwich @ Rueben St. Catherine’s Street
   888 rue Ste-Catherine O, Montréal - (514) 861-1255
   OR
   @ Schwartz' Delicatessen smoked meat sandwich
   3895 Boulevard Saint Laurent, Montréal - (514) 842-4813
   

• SEE:

1. Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) – there’s also a walking tour of this area; there are also quays to check out
2. Biodôme de Montréal : The finest ecosystems of the Americas are recreated with stunning realism, complete with plants and animals.
3. Biosphère, Environment Museum : This environment museum informs, educates and raises the public’s awareness on major environmental issues.
4. Canadian Centre for Architecture : This museum and international research centre also includes the Shaughnessy House and a sculpture garden.
5. Champ de Mars : This public space is one of the few areas still containing physical evidence of the ancient fortified town.
   
6. Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art
7. Ecomuseum Zoo Indigenous fauna and flora can be observed in their own natural habitats.
8. McGill University – of course! :P
9. Exporail / The Canadian Railway Museum : It’s the most important Canadian museum of its kind, with a collection of more than 160 cars.
10. Chinatown Its narrow streets are lined with shops selling exotic foods and traditional crafts.
11. City Hall : Witness to Montréal’s history, this building becomes absolutely spectacular at dusk when it gets all lit up.
12. Complexe Desjardins : Home to a hotel and vast public square, this office tower complex also houses numerous boutiques and restaurants

• SHOP:

1. Ogelvy – high end dept store
2. Rue St-Denis – upscale/trendy street for food and shopping
3. Cresent Street – food and shopping

For other information about Montréal or if you need assistance when you are in Montréal, please refer to the below:-

• InfoTourist
  Website: http://www.bonjourquebec.com/
  Address: 1255 Rue Peel, Montréal, Quebec City CANADA, H3B 4V4
  Tel: (877) 266-5687
  Get directions
  Subway: Station Peel
• Traveller - Tourism Montreal