Aurum The River Place

‼️WARNING: Older front desk lady may try to mess with you.‼️
I should have spent a bit more $$ on me in this case. I booked last minute as I was coming from Phuket. Phuket was mostly great except for food illness and some other challenges & extended my stay a day. I called the hotel to let them know I was still checking in, just only on my 2nd night (of 2 night stay). No cancelations/re-bookings.
I checked in. Front older lady was chatty. Seemed helpful in some ways, but in reality NO.
I had already paid for meals with my stay & of course had missed the day before's welcome plus the breakfast that morning. She gave me a little paper survey - I selected my welcome drink & sandwich (they have no veg options - I am shocked how much pork is everywhere in a Buddhist/Muslim country). THEN She let me know not possible to get my welcome drink (what?) & no on the sandwich because the kitchen was closed. ?Why did you make me fill out a form stating you will offer this & ask what I preferred?!? High Heat & humidity in the lobby are heavier & come to stronger attention to me now. The lobby is dark & there's only a few lights on in hallway with elevator. Instead there's just sunlight from the front door - the darkness is not my preference.

She asks my plans: I will take early taxi to airport which she offers to arrange for a pre-paid fee - great. She tells me I should walk Grand Palace & absolutely avoid paying for a taxi - ok thanks for information. We go to my room - I turn the AC on so that is better. Small older room but works, & seems clean.
This "city view" room in my case was the not nice alley in the back of the hotel with another building windows I can see into & I could toss a can at so close. Curtains shall stay closed. She goes after sharing a lot more of her thoughts & I settle myself.
I head back down stairs, "the kitchen" was not able to provide a snack but the welcome drink of butterfly pea tea is available - I drink it up like I have a pipe for a throat because I am so thirsty: I don't drink alcohol, soda, & stuff out of plastic bottles either, so was very thirsty. She comments on how I drank. I proclaim the tea delicious! She says "I made the tea ... myself." Ok … so all that about “we can't give you food or drink you paid for because kitchen is closed”, "not sure if I can get you a drink because kitchen is closed" stuff - what!?!
She gave me the receipt for the cab & let me know that I am going to have to start calling the “lazy Night lady” about 4:30am repeatedly so she can come unlock the front door. She will have a lunch box waiting for me on the front desk & describes what will be inside it - cool.
But mixed in . . . was other stuff - I did not need to hear about her various problems with the owner, the "lazy night lady” who is paid more, her personal challenges, her mother's hospitalization, the loneliness of it all, etc.
I checked into this hotel by myself so I am easier prey for this stuff, plus I am way too kind on too many levels. But hey this lady & many others are teaching me little by little to not care. I was an emotional wreck. Did not have energy to take more of others’ burdens.
Anyway, I go to the palace. Almost miss it entirely because of a very thorough & elaborate "different strangers" 3-person coordinated attempted scam while walking there. Scam seems specifically dependent on tourists who walk that back wall along Tha Suphan Alley. SO: Walk on the tourist shop side = get bothered constantly OR walk Palace side = possibly get completely derailed from ever achieving the goal of your journey.
Grand Palace & Jade Buddha amazing - I had tears during prayer. The love, care & attention to beauty in devotion is astounding.
I get back & old lady immediately asks how was my walk & I tell her that I was almost scammed into getting into a ride that would’ve been really bad for me. She is NOT surprised at all & asks for more details - repeatedly. Creepy grin on her face.
I don’t deal with Night Lady. 4:45am rolling my luggage, drop my key, unlock door, check for sandwich box (don't see it) & go to cab.