Matt’s take on Bangkok

Alright so here is my own take on our Bangkok experience (a week overdue!). I think we really made the most out of our time there. Although it was a very busy city and not quite our vibe, we still found ways to really enjoy ourselves.

Our very first mission was to get our first plate of pad Thai. There was a small mom and pop shop around the corner from our hostel, and made a beeline for it as soon as we had checked in. It did NOT disappoint and 2 weeks into the trip it still stands as one of our favourite meals so far!

Khaosan Rd
The fabled tourist paradise, Khaosan Rd. Where you can eat fried insects (including scorpions and tarantulas), drink at a number of different bars, get a tattoo or a Thai massage, and purchase a multitude of knick knacks from market vendors. It felt like an Asian NYC, all on a single street. I did try a stick of friend insects – it had crickets, grasshoppers, bamboo worms, bigger crickets, and even a frog at the end (didn’t eat the frog). My first entomophagy experience in Thailand was a disappointing one – everything was so deep friend they all tasted exactly the same, like a below average oil. I think I was sucked into the tourist trap, and should have held out for more authentic snack insects in the North. Oh well! Still fun to try.

Still on Khaosan Rd we met a friendly middle aged Australian couple and sat down for a beer with them. During this time, a street vendor approached us to try and sell Jack Daniels themed tasers – yes TASERS. He gave a quick zap-zap, and we said no and he was on his way. What a city.

Of course we also did some sightseeing. We went and saw Bangkok’s iconic giant swing. We also took a trip to the National Museum, where we learned of the Terra Cotta. It was a fun and interesting way to cool down.

Our hostel was located along a canal, and we were able to walk up and down the canal to get to some of the more main streets for food and transit access.

During breakfast one morning, Kylie spotted a couple monitor lizards climbing up the wall of the canal! The bigger one was at least 3 ft in length. Monitor lizards are either good or bad luck in Thailand; calling someone a monitor lizard can be the ultimate insult!

On our last day in Bangkok, we took the city bus to the Jatujak market, where there are hundreds of street vendors selling clothing, trinkets, and food. Nearby was a free butterfly conservatory that we had a lot of fun in.

Our time in Bangkok ended with a 14hr night bus trip to Chiang Mai. City transit in Bangkok was surprisingly very easy to use and also pretty cheap. We spent 3 days in Bangkok, but that was more than enough city time for us.

Stay tuned for updates on our time spent in Chiang Mai, and for a special post about our 4 day trip to an elephant sanctuary!

– M