Top things I did in Bangkok, Thailand

A city that's busier than the million thoughts that run through your head at all times? That would be Bangkok. Never a dull moment, not a dull corner. I write this post now almost two years after I visited Bangkok so I do believe there might be more fun additions to this list and technological advancements (Chat GPT, I am looking at you) would probably whip up a list of those for you in under a minute. But here's what they can't do, share the little fun memories that I attach to each of these recommendations, the images from my personal albums that I share and let you in on my personal corner of the world. 

It's hard to pen down the essence of a city so vibrant and yet, rooted in its history and culture. There is always something around the corner and different itineraries could possibly be made for different travellers. It would help you to go into this travelogue knowing that this was a girls' trip I took with my sister and our agendas were aligned on checking out a little bit of the nightlife (home to some very cool speakeasies), explore the food scene, dip our toes into the art scene and a little bit of cultural exploration and shopping to top it off. Now that we have that out of the way, let's go.

We were in Bangkok September end and while we did not have the rains really play a dampener to any of our plans, it was exceedingly hot and the activities that we decided to save for the afternoons did require a lot of catching our breath and all forms of hydration. 

• Chinatown, Bangkok/ Yaowarat: I could IYKYK this whole section and most people will know. But really though, it is hands down one of the best, most expansive chinatowns I have visited around the world. If you are a foodie (or a food enthusiast, if you may) then look no further. It's your one stop shop to indulge in all kinds of amazing Thai specialties and some great Chinese fare too. I would definitely recommend going in the evening to make the most out of the experience of the hustle bustle of crowds juxtaposed with the over powering neon signages everywhere. It can get a bit over whelming but my advise would be to take it easy, walk around, enjoy the sights, sounds (and smells!). Pick a few things to try and do not take it upon yourself to do everything all at once (or do,  I mean it's not for me but you could be trying 7 different dishes all at once). We also had the good fortune (literally, it's supposed to bring good fortune) of witnessing the majestic dragon dance through the streets of chinatown while we were sitting at one of the hawker stalls, tucking in.  

• Lumphini Park: Where do you go when you have had your fill of the cityscape of Bangkok? The largest public park in Bangkok of course. It was not dreadfully hot and we had a lovely little walk around Lumphini park (that includes a little manmade lake in the middle). It's lush and green and like a little oasis in the middle of all the sky scrapers it is surrounded by. If you're lucky you might spot some interesting birds and monitor lizards too! And a little walk away is Siam Paragon if you simply must get a hit of consumerism right after. 

• Art at Warehouse 30: Warehouse 30 is a large creative space in the Bangrak district in a heritage building. With close to 30 vendors which include different artist lineups, installations, galleries doubling up as curio boutiques, artisanal coffee roasters and so on and so forth, it was hands down my favourite experience in Bangkok. While the art was interesting and the cafes with cool paraphernalia cool, the whole experience housed in an old heritage building in the middle of a busy city was essentially a very Bangkok experience! A great way to explore the cool, hipster art scene in Bangkok. 

• Chatuchak Weekend Market: If in the sea of all the shopping experiences Bangkok has to offer, I had to pick one that I would recommend for a) some unique Thai finds, b) a fun experience as a whole and c) easy on the pocket, I would pick the Chatuchak Weekend market. When I say it is ginormous, I mean it. Easily the world's biggest weekend market with up to 15,000 stalls, we didn't even cover half of it I am inclined to believe. We did however manage to score some cute cotton and linens bits, some fun accessories and souvenirs galore. There is also a very interesting furniture and woodwork market next door that you could check out. Most vendors are open to a little bargain but a word to please be respectful of others' livelihood.

• Wat Pho: Wat Pho or the temple of reclining buddha as it is also known is one of the Buddhist temples of 'the highest grade amongst the royal temples' in Thailand. Not going to lie, it was an extremely hot day to walk around the temple but its stunning structure the gold reclining Buddha inside more than made up for it. The paintings on the walls of the main temple compound are just as beautiful! Do not forget to cover your legs and shoulders as a sign of respect. They do provide skirts as covers for your legs at the temple. The Grand Palace of Bangkok is walking distance from Wat Pho if you would like to include that in your itinerary. I would also recommend the area of Thatien old town close by with wonderful little coffee roasters and juiceries. Ports Coffee and House of Juice would be my recommendations.

• Coffee, food and speakeasies: I love the thriving coffee culture in Bangkok and while the list I went in was several pages long, we managed to at least ensure we had a few good cups. My solid tip would be to look up 'specialty coffee' or 'coffee roastery' on google maps around your area and then base your decision off the images and reviews. That's how we had our first cup at 'Little Blue' in Sukhumvit. Top food recommendation would have to be 'Taling Pling' for excellent Thai food and is also a local favourite. Another more upscale restaurant that we absolutely loved was Mango Tree, Bangkok. Bangkok is also home to many a fun speakeasies but the one that I would recommend in the sea would be Teens of Thailand. If you are new to South East Asia or travelling around here for the first time then you would also be charmed by a rooftop establishment like Octave at the Marriott Sukhumvit. My tip: go for the views and your rooftop photos.

Additional info: We stayed in Sukhumvit which was a wise choice for us since we were close to a lot of fun markets  (there is a night market in Sukhumvit), places to eat and drink and also hair salons where we dropped in to get our hair done with the great Thai service. P.S: Tips are not mandatory but appreciated (in cash) to show appreciation of a job well done or a service provided. 

Safe travels. See you in the next one. x