So I found an older travel diary and thought I’d share some of the fun stories! This is not only from my first time in Bangkok, but my first time in Asia and one of my very first times traveling as an adult! It’s great to look back on the things that were new and exciting to me. It’s also a good reminder for me to keep a travel diary because I lose so many of these little details if I don’t write them down!
Sunday (Bangkok):
We got up on Sunday and walked to the new BTS Skytrain and headed toward the weekend market, which, as you could guess by the name, is only open on the weekends. We arrived as the market was opening around 10am grabbed two Thai iced teas and took in everything that was being sold which ranged from jewelry to restaurant supplies to doll house furniture. It progressively got busier (and hotter) and we cruised around. There is an area of food stalls where we got our first (of-many) papaya salad and a bowl of noodles followed with another first (also of-many) banana pancake. Tillman grabbed a Thai sim card on the way out and then we hopped in a tuk tuk to take us back to where we were got off the Skytrain. We decided to cruise over toward the grand palace, so we walked toward the Chao Phraya River and got tickets for a long tail boat. There is a public transport on this river as well, a water bus, that would have been cheaper, but not as charming or fun for a first timer.
The guy who picked us up blasted down the river, no idea how the long boat drivers can see anyone coming toward them or steer these things! He dropped us off somewhere near the Grand Palace. From there we walked to Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha and pretty grounds. There was a fee to walk around and it’s totally worth it to pay to see. After we stopped for a beer and decided to walk toward china town next. On the way we walked through fruit stalls, an incredible flower market, and some sort of garment district before going into the full chaos of china town. It was great just to walk through and see everything. We grabbed some chicken satay in a back alley and decided to head back to the hotel and take a break.
What we didn’t know is the Ride for Dad was going on, which was a bike ride in honor of the kings 88th birthday. This means the road shut down and we couldn’t find a cab or tuk tuk for the life of us. We ended up walking back, going through Lumphini Park on the way, it was a trek and felt long at the time but it was our own little adventure. From here we took full advantage of our hotel’s pool, cleaned up, and asked the concierge for a Thai massage recommendation.
Tillman told me we’d get a Thai massage every day we were there. Having never had a massage Thai or otherwise, I was a skeptical, I didn’t think I was going love it or that I’d want to spend an hour or more at a massage parlor every day, but let me tell you. Get one. Every. Day. Our first massage was a foot and leg massage, and the place was AMAZING. We made sure to go back the next day for a full Thai massage. T and I both agree it was the best! From here we walked down the street and had an easy Thai dinner and then headed to the rooftop of Hotel Muse where they have a swanky, speak-easy style bar with vintage American style cocktails. This place was cool and I would have loved to hang, but I was starting to feel the jet lag big time (T adjusted right away but it took me a day or two). Next we decided to run a 10k and climb to the top of a temple… kidding, next we went back to the hotel and slept.
Massage: Jasmine Thai Massage (on the second floor of a shopping center) https://www.facebook.com/Jasmine-thai-massage-435477723210913/
Speakeasy bar: Rooftop of Hotel Muse https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/hotel-muse
Monday (Bangkok/Chiang Mai):
Monday morning we took our time getting up and decided to explore another temple and then get another Thai massage at our new favorite spot. Our flight to Chiang Mai left this night at seven so we wanted to do some exploring but were careful leave enough time to get to the airport which was outside of town. We checked out of the hotel before taking off for the day but left our bags with the front desk so we could travel empty handed and come back to get them and a cab to the airport.
T suggested we take a boat down the Saen Saep Canal to our next spot, which I would have never even known about without Tillman. Let me tell you, I thought this was SO COOL. It is a completely different way to see this part of Bangkok using a method of public transport where people still commute by boat in their daily lives. This is not like the main river that is filled with long boats and yachts and lined with hotels. Far from it. These are small boats that travel on the canals which run along apartments and docks showing an older side of Bangkok. The boats seat about 40 people and stop at various piers which are mostly wood with some tires strapped to the side. Be prepared to use a little effort and speed climbing in and out, this is a functional public transport, not a tourist cruise and there are people going to work/carrying groceries/etc. Once we got on the boat there was a young boy working who walked around the perimeter and took fares (10-20B, less than 1$) in exchange for a little paper ticket. Hold on to it, you’ll have to transfer boats at Pratunam Pier if you go that far.
I quickly learned this is a “rustic” form of travel, when the boat goes under a low bridge the driver and the ticket collector pulled the roof of the boat down. They literally just brought it down forcing everyone to lay down and then let it back up. This got a big WTF from me the first time it happened before I realized what was going on. I know it sounds silly but I loved all of it and its quirks. This little trip made my whole day.
From there we grabbed a bite when we got off at our destination and walked over to The Golden Mount (Wat Saket). After visiting the temple we hopped back on the canal, and went back to the massage place from the day before for my first real Thai massage. Have I said do this yet? Because you totally should. Every. Day. After our massage we grabbed a cab at the hotel headed off to the DMK airport. We flew Nok Air, which advertises with their flight attendants in tiny yellow bikinis (lol!) They did a great job, it was a very easy and quick trip. When planning we considered taking a train on this trip so we could see more of the country, but only having so much time it was a good decision to take this super short flight over a 10 hour train ride. We’ll save that for when we go back and have more time.