Raising happy kids: Shop. Eat. Massage

Finally! My hubs and I have been planning for this trip. Initial plan was to travel in May but it's never easy to plan a couple getaway when you have kids and you need to make childcare arrangements before you can proceed.

The chance finally came when my friends asked if I was keen to join them in BKK during the August long weekend hols. So I asked my hubs, he said should be able to get away from work, then I have to ask my dad (check if he is able to return home early during our absence so that he can fetch Janelle from school and help to look after the lil monkeys), check if my mum will be comfortable with Jayven alone when my dad is at work and lastly, book the flight and hotel. Frankly, help and support from family really means alot.

Initially, we planned to travel via Jetstar Asia but the online booking process really gets on my nerve. Well, that is another story for another day. Eventually we realised that the fare difference for SQ is minimal compared to Jetstar Asia so SQ is the choice with the convenience of online check-in, baggage check-in and meals on board. Afterall, it is a holiday so the journey should be comfortable, hassle-free and enjoyable.

The day finally arrived! Though my girl was feeling upset about us being away from her for a few days (The Sensitive Child), I can't help but feel excited about the trip. It was the first trip that we are travelling without the kids. And it has been 8 years ago when I last went to BKK.

We reached T2 early and enjoyed coffee at Starbucks before we board the plane. When we reached BKK, we enquired about the limousine fare to our hotel and the price is exorbitant as compared to a public meter taxi. They quoted us 1,600 baht and they lowered to 1,100 baht. We decided to take a public taxi and the fare was 300plus baht. That is a very huge difference.

We checked in to Amari Watergate (I stayed there when I was in BKK 8 years ago too) and we did video call with my kids first before we crossed over to The Platinum Fashion Mall to eat and shop. I met up with my friends at the food court and I wasted no time in savouring the tom yam soup. Yums! On my way to food court, I passed by level 6 which is Children's level and I can't wait to shop for my children. Hence after we satisfied our tummy, it was time to shop!

Platinum Fashion Mall is a wholesale fashion mall with more than 2,000 shops. Yes, it is really huge. We shopped in the mall for 3 days and we have not covered the entire place. Most shops offer wholesale prices if we purchase more than one or two items.

However, I have no idea that the mall closes at 7pm so we were pretty disappointed when we saw the shops packing up especially when I was still in the shopping mood. Luckily the hotel is just opposite the mall so we can continue shopping in the mall the next day.

We returned to the hotel to drop our shopping bags, did a video call with the children again and we went out for massage. All of us opted for thai massage and enjoyed 60mins of massage. After that, we went in search for night market and street food along the stretch at Baiyoke Hotel. I was delighted when I saw a hawker selling pad thai (my fav!) and the taste did not disappoint me.

Thereafter, we went back to hotel to rest and recharge for the next day.