After months of dreaming and planning, we’re back in Bangkok! Despite our very quiet rural life back home, we love Bangkok. It really is a city of contrast: urban but green, loud but peaceful, hot but refreshing. It feels great to be back!
We took the same flight as last year: YVR non-stop to BKK, 16+ hours in the air. It’s a long haul but we’re getting the hang of it.
We touched down a bit ahead of schedule and quickly made our way to immigration only to find a huge swarm of people lined up. We resigned ourselves to the wait and got into the lineup, then I remembered that our tickets gave us access to use the fast track line where there were only about 30 people waiting. Yes! Then something unexpected happened: a Thai officer approached and pulled us and one Thai man out of the fast track line and directed us to the Thai passport holders only line where no one was waiting! Just a few minutes later we were at the baggage carousel. The trip was getting off to a great start!
After exchanging some CAD for THB at a currency kiosk we made our way to the CABB desk to get a car. CABB is a great VIP taxi service that we used last year to get from ICONSIAM to our hotel. They have these super cute cars modeled after London cabs. They’re very clean, offer free wifi and the drivers are great. And did I mention that the cars are super cute?! You can ride the BTS from the airport to downtown for much cheaper but for $32 I think CABB is a great deal.
We got settled into our hotel room by 8am, then washed up and relaxed for a bit before heading down the street to Krua Khun Puk, the fantastic little Thai restaurant where we had our first meal last year. We ordered two coconut waters, two Som Tam Thai salads, Phad Thai Tofu and Phad Krapow Gai. Excellent fresh and spicy food to start the day right!
I picked up some Chang beer at 7 Eleven on the way back to the hotel and we spent the afternoon hanging out poolside.
We’d earned a couple of Hyatt Club Access rewards that I applied to this trip so we get free food and drinks up at the Regency Club. Normally, I’d strongly recommend that people get out of their hotels to eat because there’s so much great food to sample out on the streets, but the food up at the Club is fantastic! It’s also super convenient and the Club itself is chill with light music playing and a small terrace with a skyline view.
More importantly, two friends we know from last year are working up in the club this year instead of in the lobby. I don’t think Mei recognized me at first and was maybe even a little taken aback when I jumped up from my seat and excitedly gestured for him to come over. We quickly connected and Pear showed up half an hour or so later and greeted us warmly with “Welcome Home!”
The Green Mile
After our first day of relaxing and warding off jet lag, we were ready for our first adventure. Last year, we visited both Benchakitti Park and Lumphini Park and this year we chose to walk the Green Mile between the two parks. It’s not a long walk but it sure was hot! I loved looking down from the walkway to the sois below, with locals going about their daily tasks and the smell of grilled meat wafting through the air.
We walked through Lumphini and sat on a bench for a bit, just relaxing. We decided to hail a tuk-tuk for the return trip. I was looking at the map on my phone trying to remember how to say 13 in Thai. (Our hotel is on Soi Sip Sam–13). A young man approached and asked if I needed any help. I said “Sawasdee Krap!” and we exchanged some pleasantries. I told him I was just trying to remember my Thai numbers and again he asked if he could help in any way. He affirmed that I had my numbers correct then gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and we laughed. He was so genuine. I wish I’d snapped a photo with him.
The tuk-tuk ride was fun. I wish we could have these back home! We slapped on our N95s since the air quality isn’t great and the driver did the same. It’s refreshing to be in a place where masking isn’t a big deal. People are either doing it because of pollution or preventing illness. Hotel management here would like to have staff unmasked but it’s just safer right now to use the masks. Pear said, “Guests can’t see our smiles with the masks on,” and I said, “Smiles come from here!” tapping my heart.
Last night at the Club, we were presented with a little bowl of Prik Nam Pla, because they know how much I love the spicy, salty condiment. Nice touch! Then Mei brought out a full tray of mangkhud! I couldn’t believe it! I’d mentioned the night before how much I enjoyed mangosteen last year and even though they aren’t in season he’d sourced this just for us. Thai hospitality is amazing.
It’s time to head out on a beer run so that some cold ones are waiting for me when we get back from our adventure today.
