One Day in Bangkok

Sa-wa-dee-kaa! I’ve just come home from an exhilarating three week trip to Thailand and Vietnam with my sister, Kelsey, and I can only say that Southeast Asia is truly a remarkable and very special place that I would very much like to continue to explore.  Our trip began in Thailand….

After a slight travel delay, forcing us to spend a night in Narita, Japan just outside the Tokyo airport, we were more than too happy to finally arrive in Bangkok, Thailand for a brief stop (just about 36 hours) to explore this wild city.

On our first of two nights we set out to one of the night markets after grabbing one of many excellent meals. The food in Thailand was certainly a highlight (more to come on that) as it was delicious and cheap!  I also learned that I have an appreciation for rather spicy foods, especially the flavorful Thai curries and soups. As I mentioned to Kelsey during one meal, “I don’t think I can consider it a positive Thai meal if my mouth isn’t on fire…” After gathering a few souvenirs and receiving plenty of invitations to attend a “ping pong show” we headed back to our hotel so we could wake early for our only full day in the city.

Our jam-packed morning included a self-guided walking tour of the major tourist and Buddhist destinations in Bangkok, including the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun before we took a break for lunch. (Side note: Wat means Temple).  We stood in wonder at the Grand Palace and neighboring Wat where the intricate décor of each building, temple and statue is an ornate work of art, we were amazed at the 46m long reclining solid gold Buddha and we huffed and puffed up the steepest stairs I have ever climbed for a breathtaking view of the entire city. Visiting the temples, viewing the most beautiful religious statues and watching people bowing their heads deep in prayer was a very spiritual experience and the perfect start to a trip in such a special country.

Grand Palace

Reclining Buddha

 

steps up to Wat Arun

typical...

If one were just to experience the crazy night market surrounded by nude bars or only to experience the majestic beauty of the holy Buddhist temples, you would think you were in two completely different cities. The dichotomy of a rich history and sacred religious sites against a modern, bustling, sex-infused chaos is what makes Bangkok such an interesting and inviting city. We collapsed after  an afternoon at the Chatuchak weekend market (a must if you are in Bangkok over a weekend) and prepared for our trip the following morning to the northern Thai city, Chiang Mai.