I'm going to Thailand this week!

[skateboy]

I'll be taking my first ever trip to Asia, leaving for Thailand this Wednesday night for a week, returning home the following Thursday. Because it is a short trip, I plan to stay in Bangkok, for the most part.

Any FSUers from Thailand? I'd love to hear any tips or suggestions from anyone who has visited.

 

[manhn]

The Chatuchak Weekend Market, a restaurant called Cabbage and Condoms, all the malls, go outside somewhere like a park at 8am and see people stay still for their national anthem, and the Jim Thompson House. Try street food! And a Thai Massage!
Have an awesome time!

 

[skateboy]

The Chatuchak Weekend Market, a restaurant called Cabbage and Condoms, all the malls, go outside somewhere like a park at 8am and see people stay still for their national anthem, and the Jim Thompson House. Try street food! And a Thai Massage!
Have an awesome time!

Thanks! I really want to try the street food but I've heard stories about food poisoning, cooking with contaminated water... should I be concerned?

 

[manhn]

I was never sick but eat their grilled and cooked stuff. To be safe, maybe try one of the food courts in the mall. They are good too.

 

[skateboy]

I was never sick but eat their grilled and cooked stuff. To be safe, maybe try one of the food courts in the mall. They are good too.

Thanks, will do!

 

[genevieve]

Thanks! I really want to try the street food but I've heard stories about food poisoning, cooking with contaminated water... should I be concerned?

Every report I've heard is that the street food is safer than more tourist-friendly restaurants. I had no problem with any street food that I ate in SEA.

Make sure to take the canal boats! Very handy for getting different places, but also just fun to ride. One of the canal boats will take you to the Jim Thompson House, very worthwhile. the walkway between the boat dock and the Jim Thompson House has a neat cafe that connects to a cool art cooperative. I think it's called Yelo Cafe/Gallery.

Have a GREAT time! I loved Bangkok!

 

[skategal]

I’m envious! You will love it there.

We‘ve been there twice. Our most recent trip was in July.

To add to what @manhn said, go to Asiatique night market on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. We found that Asiatique was a good place to try the street food vendors. The stalls looked super clean and the food was well cooked.

There are also many shops and restaurants at Asiatique as well as an eye ride.

Make sure to take a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River as well. The River is the heart of Bangkok and so interesting to see the boats zipping up and down all day long.

Also visit some mega malls. Malls in Asia cannot be missed.

The newest one is IconSiam. It is on the other side of the river from the Asiatique Night Market. It has light shows every evening and the basement has an Asian market in it. The whole mall is Asian inspired and it has many very nice Asian restaurants in it in every price range.

Our favourite mall is Siam Paragon. It has an aquarium in it as well as a bowling alley and a HUGE food court with all of the American fast food favourites in it.

Definitely take a Tuk Tuk ride. They are so much fun. They all charge the same rate so no need to shop around. We took one around Chinatown and it looked amazing. For sure worth a walk around there when we go back again.

The main park is called Lumphini Park. It is in the centre of Bangkok. And yes, if you are there at 8:00am make sure you stop, stand and pay respect while the anthem plays.

Just soak up the city and enjoy.

Bangkok is a wonderful city filled with friendly people.

 

[skateboy]

I’m envious! You will love it there.

Just soak up the city and enjoy.

Thanks for the great tips!

 

[moebius]

Get roasted coconut. It's basically roasted young coconut (more light brownish/tan in color than non-roasted ones). The best coconut juice I've ever had. The juice is not very sweet. The best part is after all the juice is consumed, eat the meat. It's very tender and milky sweet. Delicious!

 

[skateboy]

Just checking in to say I'm having a great time in Bangkok. Arrived yesterday (feeling jet laggy, of course), so got checked into my very nice hotel room, took a shower, ordered room service, surfed the internet, forced myself to stay awake until 11 pm, slept through the night and woke up at 7:15 am. Jet lag over and done with!

As some of you mentioned -- yes -- people here are very welcoming and friendly. Spent this afternoon doing the shopping mall thing. (Took a taxi there... really heavy traffic so it took 25 minutes... and the fare, including tip, was just slightly over 3 US dollars!) The malls really are incredible and it was an experience just taking it all in (along with some shopping). Great restaurants, had a delicious lunch. There's something unique (at least to me) about walking around in sunny and humid 92 degree weather, with everyone in t-shirts and shorts, hearing a piped in chorus singing an energetic rendition of "Frosty the Snowman." Took the subway back to my hotel, which was easy and convenient.

Resting a few hours now before going out to do the nightlife thing on a Saturday night. And there's a very good chance I might be meeting up here with a fellow FSUer on Monday! I'll keep you posted.

 

[skateboy]

Well, it's already three hours into 2020 here in Thailand... Happy New Year everyone, let's hope it's a great one for us all!

I've been having a blast. And -- totally by coincidence -- I met up tonight with fellow FSUer UMBS Go Blue for New Year's! He lives about 12 miles from me at home, and hadn't seen him in awhile... so we had to travel halfway around the world to get together again, lol. Had dinner, drinks and watched the fireworks on the Chao Phraya River, took a ferry boat back to our respective lodgings.

One day left here before I head back to the states, so I plan to make the most of it! (Especially since my flight leaves Bangkok at 2:10 am, with an 8 1/2 hour layover in Wuhan, China... which is gonna suuuuuuuuck... )

 

[genevieve]

I was going to see if you went to Chiang Mai and saw Evan Lycacek with his new bride

Also: I met up with UMBS Go Blue when we just happened to be in Porto at the same time almost 3 years ago. Guy gets around!

 

[moebius]

Good to hear u having fun Skateboy. I had fun ringing the new year in Bangkok at Asiatique in 2016.

 

[skateboy]

Good to hear u having fun Skateboy. I had fun ringing the new year in Bangkok at Asiatique in 2016.

Yep, Asiatique... that's where we were!