Days 8 to 10
30.03. - 01.04.2024
Singapore and Bangkok
Saturday, March 30th, 2024 Day 8
After a very short night for most of the participants of our excursion our journey to the next destination commenced promptly at 10:15 a.m. from the Citadines Connect City Centre Hotel in Singapore. A smooth 30-minute drive brought us to the bustling Singapore Changi Airport. Upon arrival, we proceeded directly to the check-in counter to complete the necessary formalities.
With our check-in completed, we had the opportunity to explore the renowned facilities of Singapore Changi Airport. Noteworthy among our activities was a visit to Bacha Coffee, an establishment originally from Marrakech. We got some pistachio croissants and a coffee as we had a long journey ahead of us.
At 12:15 p.m. we we boarded for our first flight, VN650 bound for Ho Chi Minh - City Tan-Son-Nhat Airport (SGN)*.
Our aircraft A 321 departed from Singapore at precisely 1:15 p.m. carry-ing us towards our next destination.
Touching down at Ho Chi Minh - City Airport at 2:45 p.m. marked the successful completion of the first leg of our journey. Transitioning seam-lessly, we boarded VN607 at 4:50 p.m. for the final stretch of our voyage, destined for Bangkok (BKK)*.
*IATA code
Our flight touched down at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport at around 6:30 p.m. Following standard airport procedures, we collected our luggage before proceeding with our onward journey.
By approximately 7:30 p.m., our group departed for the Amari Hotel, where accommodation awaited us. Upon arrival at 8:30 p.m., we swiftly completed the check-in process and were allocated our rooms. Taking a moment to familiarise ourselves with our accommodations, we inspected our rooms before regrouping for the evening's activities.
Our group convened for a delightful dinner at the esteemed “Prego” restaurant within the hotel premises. Very tasty Italian food coming out of a brick oven!
Energised by our meal, we ventured out to explore the vibrant street markets surrounding the hotel, immersing ourselves in the local culture and flavours. As the day drew to a close, we indulged in a rejuvenating massage, a fitting conclusion to a day filled with travel and exploration. As we retired for the night, we anticipated the academic adventures that awaited us in the days ahead, enriched by the experiences of today's journey.
Bangkok
Easter Sunday, March 31st, 2024 Day 9
Easter is not celebrated in Thailand due to the prevalence of Buddhism. Nevertheless, most international companies are closed. We therefore had the opportunity to explore Bangkok on our own on Easter Sunday. The students separated into individual groups to explore the city as they wished.
After breakfast, the day began with a visit to the Grand Palace.
In 1782, the new king decided to move the capital to the left bank of the Chao Phraya for strategic reasons and used the canals to the west as defenses for the new city. A palace was built, the grounds of which currently cover an area of 218,000 square metres and are surrounded by 19,000 metres of high crenellated walls. Similar to palaces in the former capitals of Sukhothai and Ayudhaya, this palace is also equipped with residential and throne rooms as well as administrative buildings and a temple that serves as a royal chapel.
The entire complex of the old royal palace follows the construction plan of the recently destroyed Wang Luang surprisingly closely. The complex consists of an area of around 260,000 sqaure metres on the east bank of the Chao Phraya near the royal square, Sanam Luang. Various buildings and complexes are arranged here, the most important of which is Wat Phra Kaeo, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The current buildings on the site are the result of construction activity that has been ongoing since 1782, since when construction started, buildings extended, rebuilt, renovated or demolished to make way for new facilities.
After visiting the Grand Palace, we made our way to the Golden Mount. The Golden Mount is a sacred temple that offers a breathtaking view of the city of Bangkok.
Wat Saket, better known as the Golden Mount, is a Buddhist temple located in the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. It is 79 metres high and is one of the most famous temples in Bangkok. There are 318 steps to the top of the Golden Chedi. On the way up, you will pass exotic plants, beautiful Buddha statues, small streams and some bizarre figures. The bells of Wat Saket are part of the prayer ritual.
From the terrace you have a breathtaking view over Bangkok.
The large Golden Chedi stands in the middle of the upper platform.
The dress code at the Golden Mount is not quite as strict as in other temples in the city, but nevertheless the knees and shoulders should be covered. In the Grand Palace, you were not allowed to show any skin on your shoulders, knees or stomach. Everything had to be covered here.
After an eventful morning, we decided to spend the afternoon by the pool at our hotel.
For lunch, we ordered traditional Pad Thai at the pool bar. Pad Thai is a traditional Thai noodle dish. It mainly consists of rice noodles, whisked eggs, fish sauce, garlic, chilli powder and mung bean sprouts. Depending on the recipe, tofu, meat or fish is often used. The traditional dish is garnished with crushed peanuts, coriander leaves and a lime.
In the evening, we drove to the waterfront by Tuk-Tuk to take a water cab to Iconsiam Mall. In between, we took a quick selfie with our Tuk-Tuk driver.
When we arrived at the mall, we looked for a restaurant outside for dinner. Our dinner tonight was noodles in bowls. While we were eating, we watched the impressive water fountains.
After dinner, we went for a walk around the food market in the mall. Here, we were able to enjoy the traditional dessert Mango Sticky Rice.
After visiting the market, we made our way to Skybar Lebua. There we ended the evening with a spectacular view over Bangkok and a cocktail. After a day full of unforgettable experiences and impressions, we took the Tuk-Tuk (with a different driver) back to the hotel at around midnight.
Bangkok
Easter Monday, April 1st, 2024 Day 10
After breakfast in the hotel lobby, the bus was ready at 8:00 a.m. to take us to the canned fish factory "Thai Union Manufacturing Co. Ltd." in Bangkok. The bus journey there took about 1 1/2 hours, as the factory was at the other end of Bangkok.
When we arrived at 10.00 a.m., we sat down in a large room and a lady gave us a warm welcome and introduced us to the company.
She told us that the company has 900 employees and they work a 6-day week. They have 13 days holiday per year. Most workers come from Myanmar, which is a neighbouring country. The common border is 1,800 km long.
Before we went into the processing halls, each of the students had to put on a bonnet, a face mask and a headset for emergencies, for example if a fire broke out.
When we arrived in the halls, everyone first disinfected their hands and then we walked past glass panes in which the workers took the tuna apart on large and very long metal tables.
The employees` clothing, such as rucksacks and jackets, were stored on the other side behind a glass window.
After the tour of the factory halls, the masks and bonnets as well as the ear headset were collected again.
Afterwards, everyone gathered for a group photo
The fish, mainly tuna, comes from Norwegian waters. It is imported frozen to Bangkok and taken to the factory in refrigerated trucks, cut up, cooked and packaged. The customers are located all over the world. REWE sells the products under the “Rügenfisch” brand.
The remaining bone content is considered a measure of quality and price.
It was strictly forbidden to take pictures at the production lines. Attempts in this regard were immediately stopped. We had the impression that the working and production conditions, which were "unusual" by our standards, should not be documented - perhaps the German supply chain law even played a role here.
Afterwards, the bus was ready for the trip to a seafood market, where there were lots of different types of fish to see as well as fruits and vegetables.
Our bus took us to a restaurant called Krua Lung for lunch, not far from the market and the sea. The restaurant is surrounded by fish ponds, where shrimp are farmed. The location was recommended by our local hosts. Guess, what was the main course on the table?
F I S H !
Warning: Beware of sauces and soup, if you do not like it hot!
Around 01 p.m. the bus took us to King Mongkut`s University of Technology in Thonguri (KMUTT). The drive took about an hour, during which most of us reminisced over the last few days (and nights) ...
At 02 p.m. we arrived at the university and were warmly welcomed by Prof. Dr. Charoenchai Khompatraporn. He accom-panied us all day and "threatened" to be our host tomorrow too.
From 02 p.m. to 03:30 p.m. the presentation of the university took place in one of the lecture theatres at KMUTT.
The university had planned a boat tour through the mangroves for the afternoon. Some faculties are participating in a programme to reduce the enormous erosion of the coastline near Bangkok by planting mangroves. However, due to extremely low water, the boat was unable to leave. The boat trip turned into a bike tour as plan B.
Our hosts had provided enough bicycles and even a delivery van followed the bikers to "sweep up" the stragglers.
Ironically, our tour guide Mr. Tham fell behind in the first stage because of a flat tyre.
During that bike tour we stopped at different locations.
The first etappe led to a nearby lake. There we fed the fish with white bread. However, we had the impression that the fish weren't particularly hungry or that they didn't like the toast.
In a shady part of the tour, where the temperature had already exceeded 38° C, another attraction awaited: the local students had prepared mangrove planting for us. Documentation of planting mangroves and measuring their contribution to stabilising coastal erosion is part of the university's nature conservation programme.
There were flower pots on long tables that had already been filled with silt. Next to it, in buckets, mangrove seedlings were waiting to be planted.
Did you ever plant a mangrove somewhere in the world?
We did!
Not only one, We "worked" a lot, as you can see.
That was a lot of fun for everyone. It was not only a good idea, but also profound, sustainable and gave us a common ecological consciousness.
As the last stage, we circled the lake on our bikes and stopped again at a small, floating jetty to watch water birds.
Our Vietnamese fellow students lived their “Code of Honor” for us. We felt integrated from the first minute. We could feel their genuine respect for us. The agenda of our visit was full of continuous surprises. we couldn't do this better. They really did their part:
Many, many thanks!
There was heavy rush hour traffic on the way back to the hotel. Lots of traffic jams annoyed our bus driver. However, we were able to do interesting studies from the bus...
Back at the Amari, everyone headed to the pool for refresh-ments. Others still not had enough sun. They occupied the lush sun loungers
Later that evening, after another (home cooking) dinner at the hotel Italian restaurant Prego, we took another Tuk-Tuk to Chinatown. There, the wide range of culinary delicacies, like grilled scorpions or mealworms ... tempted us to a final portion of mango sticky rice, which we would like to recommend to all vistitors of Bangkok and Thailand.