In a city that is filled with bright lights, loud noises and never-ending cars comes a place of serenity. A place where the hustle and bustle has been replaced with tranquility. A place where you can finally take in the beauty of the culture without being overwhelmed by all the other distractions surrounding it. this was my experience visiting Bangkok for the first-time last January, and I would highly recommend anyone looking to escape from their everyday life should do so as well! The energy of the city is exhilarating but it can also be overwhelming for newcomers like me. Fortunately, my parents and I met up with some locals who showed us around their favorite spots and they even shared their personal stories about how they ended up living in one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.
We were on a tight schedule when we were visiting Thailand. spent about 2 days in Pattaya relaxing and enjoying the beach. the last day we were there, we decided to get up early in the morning for one final adventure – visiting Bangkok. we had booked a taxi and off we went.
Early in the morning, we got picked up by our driver who was an amazing woman. we talked the whole way there; she was so lovely and told us about her family. She shared a lot of interesting stories with me that I don’t think anyone else would have been able to tell me because they had never experienced it; like how Bangkok is changing every day due to the influx in population and tourism. and as we got closer to the city, we saw more and more of these mega-skyscrapers.
The original plan was just visiting a few spots in Bangkok including the Grand Palace, but our driver suggested that we head over to Khao San road before going back home for lunch because it would be worth it once we were finished seeing all. we stopped by the hotel, got dressed up and headed over.
The first thing we noticed is that there were loads of vendors selling all sorts of items, some touristy and others more traditional. and the second was how diverse it was with so many different types of people – Thai locals, tourists from Europe and Asia (mostly Chinese), backpackers looking for a cheap place to stay in Bangkok. lucky for us we were staying in a hotel near the subway station.
It was a really cool experience to see the street food, clothes and other items being sold at such low prices. we also loved all the people we encountered in Khao San road – they were so welcoming and friendly. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who’s looking for an immersive cultural experience! One of the best ways to get a taste for Bangkok is by visiting Chatuchak Market. This large market has nearly anything you could imagine, from handmade clothes and trinkets to fresh produce and exotic meats. If you’re looking for something more traditional, head over to Wat Pho- one of Bangkok’s most famous temples where visitors can watch an outdoor performance in front of the temple at sunset.
The next day was all about China town. we heard that in order to truly experience China Town, it’s favorable to go there at night or at least in the evening. and I can’t recommend this enough! While exploring something caught my attention, I saw colorful banners and decorations all around the city. Chinese New Year was around the corner and the city was preparing for the celebrations. There were many people dressed up in traditional clothing too, but they weren’t from China as there are so many different cultures united together here now that make Thai culture one of their own with influences from all corners of Asia and beyond. I love experiencing new places like this because not only do you get exposed to something new, but also become more aware about what else is going on around the globe at any given time. We spent some time around the city to see the preparations for the New Year up until the evening.
We reached China Town in about a couple of hours. Even though it was really hot, all the different lights and pretty colors of the shops made for an amazing atmosphere. If you think it’s busy during normal days, you should visit it before and during the New Year. I was amazed as to how crowded it was there. You could see all the colorful buildings and bangles in every shop window. wish I had more time to really explore China town, but we still got a good idea of what’s there. the streets were filled with people bustling around as well as huge street food vendors lining the sidewalks, which smelled amazing. it’s a fusion of Thai and Chinese culture literally!
And the food, oh my god, the food! I had the best mango sticky rice ever while we were there. for the first time, I was able to show my chopstick expertise to my parents. even though they weren’t that impressed, hey, at least I got to enjoy Asian food the authentic way, right? the version of duck broth soup available there was a bit too salty for my taste, but everything else more than made up for it considering I had about four plates of it.
Also, if you want authentic pad Thai, this is the place to visit. period. I’m not a food aficionado per se, but after having about eight different versions of it, you could say I know my way around pad this exciting affair with the street food was perfect. it almost felt like the food, and I were one in this journey. it was just that pleasant.
Probably the most visually pleasing moment of that trip was visiting the grand palace. we visited that place on our last day. this was the former residence of the Thai kings from Rama I to Rama V. It takes about 300 baht for the tour which I have to say seeing the huge size of the whole area, is pretty logical but a tad bit expensive. being a bit of a history geek, it was something that I’d been looking forward to the entire time. a word of caution, there is a lot of walking here, if you’re up for the true Thai history experience, you should definitely visit this place. Again, while there are some coffee and small shops around here, the weather in Bangkok is extremely hot and humid, so it’s best to have some refreshments before the start of the tour. I learned it the hard way.
I loved the way it was set up in a series of structures so you could really get an idea of how much time and effort went into building this immense place. it’s also just as amazing to think about all the people who were rulers and lived there before, I can only imagine what life would have been like. we visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is the most holy and iconic temple in Thailand. it was especially beautiful at night as it lit up with spotlights, so much that I felt like we were standing on hallowed ground. the royal residences were another highlight for me as I love old architecture and the intricate detailing was fantastic. the grandeur of this architectural marvel is a testament to the grandeur of Thailand.
Bangkok is a city that has something for everyone. It’s rich in culture, the people are welcoming and friendly, there’s plenty to do during the day and at night, it never feels crowded (despite being one of the world’s most populous cities), and you can eat your heart out without breaking the bank. Plus, with all these reasons why visiting Bangkok should be on top of your travel list sometime soon- I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time too!