August 6, 2017

Bangkok, Thailand

We have officially arrived! At last, after almost two years of planning we have made it to our first stop – Bangkok, Thailand.

Getting there

We flew from Dublin Airport to Istanbul and from there a connecting flight to Bangkok. The flight from Dublin to Istanbul was only 4 hours, and the layover wasn’t too bad either. Although, Istanbul airport is pretty disappointing. The flight from Istanbul to Bangkok was 9 hours and unfortunately we were delayed a further 2 hours sitting on the plane. I kept dozing off and waking up still sitting on the runway. We were exhausted.

When we arrived at the airport we changed some currency to Thai Baht and headed for the immigration desks. The queue was about 45 minutes long to get through to get our bags, but it was ok. We were just happy to be standing for a while! Once we got through we got our bags and exited towards the taxi rank. We got a taxi straight away that took us to our hotel. It was a 1 hr 45 minute drive but it only cost us 600 Thai Baht, which is about 15 euro. We were so surprised at how cheap it was!

Staying There

We decided to stay at the Lebua at State Tower in Bangkok. This hotel was made famous by The Hangover II, where they completely trashed the suite. I have stayed in this hotel before, so I knew the hotel was amazing and that the area is safe. As it was only three nights and we booked it so far in advance we got a pretty good deal. On arrival they even upgraded our room for no extra cost to a higher floor. We took full advantage of this for plenty of photos of the skyline.

Places to eat

Rocket Coffeebar

This place is a hidden gem but definitely worth it. They serve all sorts of brunch foods us westerners are used to, and the coffee is delicious. I got the pancakes which were topped with almonds and caramelised banana and Andrew got the scrambled eggs. Both were so good and total cost for our full breakfast was the equivalent of €12! Chilled atmosphere, the friendliest staff and coolest interiors. Lady Brett is right next door which is owned by the same people and I would highly recommend either.

NAlin Kitchen

This cozy, casual restaurant is right on the main street and opposite Robinson Department Store. It is pretty cheap and understated but the food is really good. Definitely worth a visit if you are on a budget.

Tealicious

Just across the street from our hotel, we found this small place. Again, it is definitely not up market, and reminded me a lot of my grandmothers kitchen, but the food was really tasty and quite cheap. Definitely one to opt for if you are on a budget.

Things to do

Visit Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market is the largest market in Thailand with over 8000 stalls divided into 27 sections! The place is gigantic! We took the skytrain to get here which is so handy as it drops you right to the door. At the market you will find almost anything from plants, to food to beauty products and clothes at ridiculously cheap prices. They also offer a DHL service to ship any purchases back to your home address! We spent a few hours just wandering the stalls. I picked up a bracelet and Andrew tried some of the famous coconut ice-cream. As we will be coming back to Bangkok before we head home, we decided to limit our purchases until we are on route home.

Have a drink at the Sky Bar, Lebua

We were lucky that the sky bar is in our hotel. However, you don’t need to be a guest at the Lebua to visit. The views are breathtaking and the drinks menu is top notch. Be prepared to pay a premium price for your drink, but for the view, I would say it is definitely worth it. Get the Berry Mint G&T – you will thank me later!

Khao San Road

On our last night we ventured into the infamous Khao San Road for a bite to eat. It is definitely how people describe it. Packed full of stalls, street food, hustlers trying to get you into their bar, street performers, blaring music, buckets and scorpions on a stick. We had so much fun! We walked up and down the street a few times stopping off wherever took our fancy. First up was this really cool bar called The One. We stopped here for two bottles of Chang and a fried duck appetiser. Following this, we hit the stalls and shared some Pad Thai from one of the street vendors. One last lap up to the top where we got Roti – a salted pancake – and this time we got one each!

khao-san-road

All in all, Bangkok was just how I remembered it. Fast-paced, crowded, and vibrant. Our next stop is Chiang Mai. I have my fingers crossed for a little bit of sun and taking it very easy!