Monday 17th July 2006

 

From my new place, I walk for 5minutes to take a bus in Thamassat University to take van ride going to Bangkok. Its an hour and a half of travel, the sacrifice I have to make in finding a cheap place but a convenient one since I have company who could help me with there.

I went to look for BIG C's main office. I have an address that was given to me in Phuket. The address I have is Rajdamri Road but cant be found in the map. Flip explained to me that there were changes in how Thai streets were spelled nowadays. Rajdamri is Ratchadamri road and I was able to get to the place riding the MRT (subway), BTS (skytrain) and walking to BIG C Supercenter in Ratchadamri Road. I consumed a lot of time locating it and asking for directions within the BIG C SuperCenter. I was passed on form people to people because most of the time I was asking for directions to Thai who cant understand my pronounciation.

Again, my agenda is to walk the front door and ask for a presentation. I did this before with Family Mart last week and went well. Khun Penwipa (Family Mart) was interested to take in the product but they will entertain us only if the product is under a Thai company. I felt the same thing would be requested by BIG C, but then again my purpose of visit is to ask for their referrals of possible distributors for Beach Hut here in Thailand. I was given an appointment for tomorrow.

After that, I went in search for 7eleven. I have with me is their address(in Thai language). With the what I got, i consulted cab drivers and asked them to take me to the place written down. I was surprised that they have no idea where the address is located. So I dropped that strategy since I believe that 7Eleven is just the same with Family Mart who have a centralized distribution of products.

From thereon, I went to DHL to ask the location of the shipment sent to me from Manila. I gave them the House Airway Bill Number and told me that there should only be 10 numbers for them to locate it. I called Mara for the update and later on learned that there was a confusion on information that were sent/given to me.

Due to this, I have to change plans immediately and ride back to Phuket for the shipment. I have to settle my bill with the apartment I just booked, get back to Khaosan Road for a daily rate rental and acquire my leads within a few days before setting forth back to Phuket.

My travel back to my place was not the end of it. After 1.5hours of travel and the whole day searching for places I am not familiar with, that night I have to negotiate for the rented apartment. I did not bother my friends since I know that they were always busy during weekdays. I found it difficult negotiating the 2000baht downpayment I gave with the land lady. I was requesting for a dialy rate since I have to cut short my lodging. The land lady was not going to give me back the money. Its a good thing that a Thai student helped me out epxlaining, interpreting and begging for a cheaper price. We settled for 1000baht for two days. I am very thankful for the Thai student to helped me out.

Its was long and exhausting day for me. And tomorrow is another adventure searching for a new place to stay and searching for a possible carrier of Beach Hut sunblock.