I know it has been a while, but wanted to pick up from the overall trip report to Thailand in December 2018. In this post, I want to share my impressions on Bangkok itself and some of our experiences.

You can find some earlier installments of the trip below:

• HK Airlines LAX – HKG – BKK
• HKG Autus Lounge
• St Regis Bangkok
• Gaggan (Asia’s top rated restaurant)
• Exploring and Activities – Bangkok
• Thai Airways – 777 for 40min flight
• Le Meridian Chiang Mai
• Elephant Sanctuary
• Exploring and Activities – Chiang Mai
• BKK Miracle Lounge
• Thai Smile and way home

Overall thoughts

Bangkok is huge. Bangkok is loud. Bangkok is colorful. Bangkok is dirty. Bangkok has something for everyone. Bangkok is inexpensive. Bangkok has so many temples/wats. Bangkok is one big shopping mall. Bangkok is known for their tailors. Bangkok is definitely something you should experience at least once.

Excursions

Getting around Bangkok is super easy and we mostly took the BTS skytrain. The station was right by our hotel and the trains run frequently and are super nice and clean. The system was very easy to understand and it certainly helped having experience with big city transportation. A day ticket was 140 bhat or around $4.50 to use all over Bangkok.

We also explored Bangkok by boat. We booked Pandan Canal Tours. This was a small boat tour through the canals of Bangkok away from the most touristy places. We booked a private boat tour that just included the two of us, plus the tour guide and boat driver. The difference between a shared tour and private tour was about $10, so we splurged for that. It was totally worth it. I would recommend this to everyone visiting Bangkok. Our tour was 6 1/2 hrs long and included a local lunch, an English speaking guide, and unique visits to floating markets and temples. You certainly get a different vibe of Bangkok then if you just follow the normal tourist trail.

Grand Palace a sight not to be missed

No trip to Bangkok is complete without a visit to the Grand Palace. They charge a 500 bhat entrance fee. They are very strict with their dress code. Men need to wear pants. For women shoulders need to be covered by a top, as well as your knees need to be covered. We thought a shawl around the shoulders would be acceptable for Elli in 90 degree weather, but no such luck. We were sent back and bought a shirt at one of the many vendors around the corner for 150 bhat to meet the requirement. Yes, it was very fashionable and a great quality material. Not.

Otherwise, the whole palace and temples are incredible. The architecture and the detail that has been put into all the buildings is breathtaking. They also used an unbelievable amount of Gold for all the buildings. It must be seen for sure. As you would expect, it is packed with tourists and crowded so you might have to wait in line before getting in.

Pro Tip: Ignore the hagglers outside that want to sell you something or promise short cuts. Do your research before and follow the directions.

At the end of each of our hot tourist outings or whenever we needed a break, we had our hotel pool. This was the place to just relax and cool off, as further described in the review of the St. Regis.

Food

I think everyone has heard both nightmares and at the same time amazing stories about Thai street food. You’ll find it everywhere, but you probably want to be careful from which vendors to actually buy food. The safest way we experienced was with our boat tour guide at the floating markets. He pointed out great vendors to try and which one to stay away from.

We also had some nice dinners that were recommended to us. I have written about our Gaggan experience before. Our first night dinner on the other hand I don’t really remember. I was so jetlagged and actually falling asleep over the food.

Another outstanding place was Issaya Siamese Club. This restaurant is inside an old house and otherwise pretty unassuming. The food was very good, but it certainly had an expat vibe to it. While I would recommend it, there might be more local options available and preferable.

Things that make you chuckle

It will always have to start with Tuk Tuk rides. These tricycles are such a big part of Bangkok and I feel everyone has a story if they ever visit. We took it around a few times and every time, you are equally terrified and having the best time of your life.

Lots of old white man trying to find “love”. It seemed like a stereotype, but we saw a lot of it. The funniest thing was when a couple checked out in front of us and she loudly proclaimed: “Thank you daddy!” Not sure how to really feel about it.

If you wondering what about night markets? We were too jetlagged and tired from our packed three days there that we never made it that far into the night. We made up for it in Chiang Mai.

Bonus Tip

Bangkok is also known for their awesome tailors. Shoutout to my man Eric Prigot for the tip to check out Rajawongse clothier. The walls are lined with famous people that have visited the store, including Presidents Obama and Bush. Ultimately I got myself four shirts tailored for $55 each. They do this at an incredible speed. I was measured in the morning and picked the fabrics for the shirts. The same day, in the evening I came back for a first fitting. Then two days later you can pick up the final product. The whole experience was so seamless and pleasant. You were also offered refreshments while you were in the store, including beer. Once they have your measurements on file you could also order online if you need anything else after your return.

Summary

Bangkok was an interesting experience. Packed full of sights and food and noise and history. There are parts that are similar to other metropolitan cities and at times, it felt a bit like one big shopping mall. Overall I enjoyed the few days we spent and was excited to move on to experience a chiller vibe in Chiang Mai.