buckets in bangkok
72 hours in Bangkok.
Bangkok was a grand time with the ultimate girl gang + Ryan. In the wise words of Dani Leung, “we love that for US”.
On Thursday (10/10), I completed my economics midterm and frantically headed home to do laundry, pack my duffel, and meet up with Dani to leave for the airport. Context: Dani is one of my favorite people that I’ve met at NUS. She’s an absolute badass and her confidence in herself is evident. It made me happy to see how well we traveled together - truly, the Damon to my Jo.
We landed in Bangkok past midnight, and I was ready to pass out. After circling Khao San Road three times, we spotted our hostel and I couldn't hold my excitement for the weekend ahead. Quick shoutout to our lovely grab driver who caught our mistake in requesting the wrong address. 5-star service.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
At 9 am, we were ready to tackle the day, but first, a coffee stop was required. The conversion of Thai Baht to USD is incredible, and I couldn't hold my excitement for $2 espresso and iced lattes. A huge contrast to the coffees I have splurged in SG.
Through any street, you'll find food EVERYWHERE. Meat skewers for 30 cents. Pad Thai for $1.50. Smoothies for $2. Fresh mango or any tropical fruit for less than a $1. I was pleased to discover that Bangkok was a walkable city. With my fresh mango in hand, we were off to Chinatown. Along the way, we strolled past the grand palace and found the loveliest flower market, bustling with locals purchasing their produce. It was a lovely surprise and a highlight of the trip. Also, we can’t forget about Dani dropping mango on her white tee resulting in a thot knot to cover the stain.
Chinatown was chaotic, but a shopper's dream. I then understood the hype about Bangkok and the many bloggers that advised individuals to pack light to make space for new purchases. With most items under $5, you could find everything you would want. My favorite finds included a white bucket hat for $1.50 (originally twice the price) and velvet scrunchies for 50 cents (equivalent to Urban Outfitters).
By 3 pm, we had walked more than 15,000 steps and consumed another round of coffee. Throughout the evening, Ryan arrived and followed by Izzy and Ros as we made our way for a night out. In short, Khao San Road is ridiculous. I met an exchange student studying in Bangkok, and I couldn't imagine going out every weekend because it's dirt cheap with $4 buckets. It was an evening of magical Thai food, dancing with my gals, taking a hit with cash, and accidentally releasing a ballon.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12
In Bangkok, when it rains, it POURS. It was a day of cultural experiences with the intent to visit the grand palace and temples. When visiting religious sites, there's a strict dress code. For those unaware tourists, such as Ryan, they fall into the trap of purchasing overpriced and tacky tourist clothing. At the Grand Palace, we encountered a guide who aggressively emphasized the importance of reading the brochure to appreciate our surroundings. To say the least, I was blown away by the beauty of the Grand Palace. Originally, it was built as the official residence for the royal family. It has become more of a tourist attraction, yet it occasionally serves ceremonial purposes. All over town, you'll find massive portraits of the royal family, and I was very much intrigued by their huge presence in Thailand. In terms of the palace itself, I loved the intricate details in the architecture. The palace complex was massive, and the temples and buildings often contrasted in its architecture with Thai and European influences present.
Afterward, we made the trip to Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn. Located on the opposite bank of the Chao Praya River, we took a short ferry, where we observed the immense amount of rubbish, and entered the temple ground during golden hour. The detailing in the porcelain at this temple was beautiful. It was vibrant with color. Once the sun began to set, it was stunning to see how the light reflected off the temple.
Call me basic but I live for pad thai and papaya salad. After dinner, I was stuffed and ready to experience my first ever massage. You can't go to Thailand without getting a massage because they only cost $8-10. I now understand why people rave about massages because I had no idea about the many knots in my back.
With another shake in hand, Dani, Izzy, and I bopped around Khao San, where we found a cute stall selling postcards, little trinkets, and books. With no shame, I purchased a Supreme sticker and postcards, while Izzy purchased a new book, which extremely excited the shop owner. As you would imagine, a book is an essential need when you're preparing a night out for drinks. At midnight, we were surprised to see all the restaurants and bars completely transformed. Music was shut off and everyone began to close for the night due to the Holy Day.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
On Sunday, we visited two floating markets: Taling Chan Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Everything was so darn cheap. The highlights included finding the cutest boutique, exploring the many stalls with Izzy and Dani, and purchasing gifts for friends. Dani and I had a late flight, and we were exhausted, thus resulting in being impatient with everything. After a power nap, we managed to snag our fifth mango shake of the trip and went for a long walk through Bangkok. At that moment, I was so appreciative of my surroundings - the beautiful sunset and liveliness of Bangkok.
A freaking great weekend in Bangkok and one of my favorite trips of the semester. So thankful to have made wonderful friends that I can share this experience with.
