A Trip to Wireless Road in Bangkok-- Travel Thailand Series

 Taking a trip to downtown Bangkok from the Huay Kwang area on my own  is "old hat" for me now.  For years my son led me while I followed blindly and I missed many of the details and sights.  On  one of my early solo trips to Wireless Road I photographed my experience and so after taking hundreds of trips now,  I would like to tell about that trip along with  typical experiences on a trip to downtown Bangkok.  I would  hope that my experience could help readers feel more confident and informed if they stay somewhere that is further away from and less expensive than downtown Bangkok.

 The trip began with me walking a minute or so from where I stay to a street that is frequented with taxis. The taxi that goes my direction will be driving in the left lane.  The street is sometimes rather busy and I have to watch for my chance to cross so I can stand near that lane.   Eventually, or sometimes quickly,  I can see the taxi in the distance and get ready to hail the driver.

When the taxi driver stopped I opened the front door and gave him my polite greeting, "Sawadee ka" (hello) and then with my limited Thai said, "By rote, fi di den, ka" (Take me to the electric vehicle that goes under dirt, please).  He nodded his head and I got into the back seat.

On the way to the Mass Rail Transit (MRT)  subway the taxi drivers may speak to me in what is usually their limited English and I speak my limited Thai and we practice and learn more of each other's language.   At other times, the trip is made in polite silence.

I arrived at the nearest MRT station, which is the Thailand Cultural Center and paid the taxi driver. The trip usually takes about 10 or 15 minutes, depending on traffic, and the taxi fee is around 55 baht which is currently about $1.76 US.

Before I go down the escalator I pass thru security.  Security may or maynot check my purse and/or bags and usually I am waved thru. I sometimes see others with back packs or larger bags stop and open their bags for inspection.

 I went down the escalator and because it was one of my first solo trips I stopped to look at the map in the hallway before going to the ticket office.    Tokens can be purchased individually  for each trip at vending machines, but  because I used the MRT often I  purchased a discounted elder stored value addable card which I can add money to it when the meter at the gate shows I am about out of baht.   Trips are around 10 to 50 baht ( $ .32 to $1.60 US) depending on the length of ride. 

As I passed thru the gate I placed my card over the scanner, the gate opened, and I went down another set of escalators to the trains. I checked the route map again to make sure which line I should take. Because I wanted to go downtown to the Sukhumvit/ Asok Exit I took the Hua Lamphong line.

 I waited behind the yellow arrows pointing my pathway to inside the train once the doors opened.  I looked at a monitor and saw that the next train would arrive in three minutes.  Trains arrive every 5 minutes and more often in busy hours.  I looked at the clock and it was 9:00 a.m.  The official time of operation is 6am to 12am daily while stations usually stop accepting passengers around 11:30pm.  I waited for passengers to exit the train quickly and then I boarded just as quickly.

The train was full, as it usually is during the rush hours when people go to and from school and work, and so I stood. It is customary etiquette and requested of passengers to give their seat to children, pregnant women, handicapped or older persons.   Sometimes a student or younger person or man will get up and offer their seat to me. Monks are always given seats by the doors.

I watched the monitors and listened to the announcement given in Thai and then English in order to exit the train at the Asok/Sukhumvit station. I took the escalator up and looked at the sign that told me which exit to use in order to board the Bangkok Mass Transit System commonly known as the BTS Sky Train. The Asoke/Sukhumvit station is one of the three places where the MRT subway and BTS Sky Train connect and it is generally quite busy.

 I  took the escalator leading to the Mo Chit line platform.  On that particular day I wanted to go to an apartment complex called Center Point located at 100 Wireless Road.  I watched the monitor on the train in order to get off at the Phloen Chit exit.

I left the Phloen Chit station using the exit marked as leading to Wireless Road. As I step onto the walkway over Wireless Road I know that I'm close to my destination, Center Point apartments

My return home was reversed. Some differences were that I took the BTS Sky Train On Nut Line. When I walked up the steps to the On Nut Line Asok platform. I stopped and took pictures of one of the large buildings and the intersection of Asok/Sukhumvit Road beneath the BTS Sky Train.

I then took the Bang Sue line at MRT subway. When I exited at Thailand Culture center I hailed another taxi and asked him to take me to See Yak Min Jai (4 roads at the heart) meaning a main intersection that the drivers know. As we approached the intersection the taxi driver indicated that he wanted to know if I want to turn left (leo si) or turn right (leo qwai) and I say, "throng by, ca, meaning straight thru. As we approach my soi I say, " soi jet, leo si, ca", which is politely asking him to turn left on soi 7. I can see home.

 I entered the courtyard and took off my shoes, as is customary in Thailand homes.  I looked down at my tired but happy feet.  I had completed my round trip to Wireless Road in Bangkok.