A Massage a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Bangkok, it’s MASSIVE. Google Maps deceived us, making everything seem closer. No NYC strolling here, so we embraced Grab scooters (Asia's Uber on motorcycles!) and TukTuks. Fast and cheap (around $1.50 per ride). I clung to the back, always requesting a helmet (Mom would be proud!).

Now, here's a fun fact: Thailand boasts the world's lowest unemployment rate (0.8%). And let me tell you, it's obvious why. Everywhere you look, restaurants, massage parlors, nail salons, coffee shops, you name it, they're packed with workers who seem to have more people than necessary just sitting around on their phones. It may not be the most efficient setup, but hey, the people we met were incredibly friendly!

After 5 nights in Bangkok, I grew to love the city. It’s so vibrant, with food stalls on EVERY block, filled with locals seated on small stools, consuming everything from soups, noodles, fish balls, and skewers.

Initially, we booked a hotel on Sukhumvit Road, thinking it would be super convenient. But surprise, surprise, it turned out to be farther from the center than we anticipated. So, we made a swift change and switched to a more central hotel in Sala Daeng.

Our days were a delightful mix of sleeping in (yes, we treated ourselves), feasting on Michelin-recommended street food, enjoying daily massages (it’s the Thai culture!), and exploring night markets + surrounding areas. We wanted to dive into the local scene before delving into temple visits (which, by the way, were stunning!). Priorities… Priorities… hehe

Here are a few highlights from our time in Bangkok:

Bangkok’s “Green Lung” aka Bong Kachao is a must-visit! It's a sprawling jungle oasis just minutes outside the city center. We stumbled upon it in a YouTube video and decided to explore it. After a quick ferry ride and renting bikes, we discovered a different side of Bangkok. It's a peaceful escape with narrow winding pathways and the occasional random trendy restaurant. Locals love biking here away from the city traffic. Highly recommended for a day trip!

Khao San Road, the backpacker hub! We wanted to explore local nightlife first, but eventually embraced Khao San Road's hype. Elephant pants, henna tattoos, and unbeatable drink deals made for a fun-filled night. We consumed too many sand buckets of mojitos and made friends with a sweet Swiss/South African couple in their 60s (our new "cool parent" friends!). We bar-hopped with them for a while and stumbled home.

Meeting young locals- After Koh San Road, we had a cheeky nightcap at the hotel bar (although we definitely didn't need it!). The bartenders were hanging out with their friends, playing poker. We struck up a conversation with them and they invited us for late-night food so we happily joined. Finally, we got our answer to what the Thai youngsters do! We enjoyed whisky ginger ales, and local thai food, and they gave us insider tips on the best spots in Bangkok. Our Grab bike ride back home was a bit wobbly, but we made it by 4 a.m.

Last day, we temple-hopped. Our top picks were Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha and Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn. Although we skipped the guided tours (maybe not the best idea in hindsight), we roamed around these massive structures and marveled at their beauty. At Wat Arun, a monk blessed us and gifted us with bracelets, which we'll have to Google later to understand their significance… And yes, Sam couldn't resist buying elephant pants to ensure his legs complied with the temple dress code.

And now, our world tour continues to stop #2! We're riding an 8-hour train (only $15!) to Chumphon in Southern Thailand to stay in a fisherman’s homestay for the night (more on that later!). From there, we'll venture to the island of Koh Tao to get scuba diving certified!

xoxo,

Laura

P.S. Thai word of the day: "Kop Khun Ka" (Thank you). Sam learned the hard way that it changes depending on your gender. The local Thai girls had a good laugh when they corrected him. Lesson learned! Sam now avoids the word or adds a "Krap" to be on the safe side 🙂