Exploring Bangkok

We left Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, and headed to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. It’s almost a seven-hour flight, with a two-hour time difference. We were still a bit jet-lagged, but it was getting better—two hours is nothing.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, we had to wait a bit at customs since some travelers required visas, which took longer for the officers to process. Eventually, we made it through—fingerprint, picture, and off we went!

Getting to the Hotel

We had downloaded the GRAB app beforehand and decided to use it since it allowed us to pay through the app and input the hotel address directly—super convenient. If you don’t want to wait for a GRAB ride (we waited about ten minutes), there are plenty of taxis outside the airport, which might be faster.

It was warm in long jeans but not suffocating. We wandered a bit near the hotel upon arrival, grabbed some supper, and went to bed after a long day of travel.

First Impressions of Bangkok

Our first impression of Bangkok was that the air felt heavy and polluted. The AQI (Air Quality Index) was very high, fluctuating between 180 and 250. Because of this, we spent our first full day at the hotel pool, reading and working out.

Favorite Thing to Eat: Mangoes!

Mangoes in Thailand are absolutely delicious. Mango sticky rice? Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or honestly, anytime!

Another great breakfast discovery was congee—a boiled rice dish with added protein like chicken, pork, or shrimp. It’s easy to eat, filling, and most likely gluten- and dairy-free.

Bangkok’s Unique Sunrises and Sunsets

Capturing a sunrise or sunset in Bangkok is tricky. The sun appears red due to the heavy air quality, giving the sky an eerie glow. It’s difficult to photograph, but very cool to witness.

Visiting the Grand Palace

On our second day, we were ready to explore! We grabbed a taxi for a 30-minute ride (Bangkok traffic is intense). Our main destination was the Grand Palace, a UNESCO heritage site and former royal residence built in 1782 by King Rama I. Though the royal family no longer lives there, the Grand Palace remains a major ceremonial site for the Thai monarchy and a top tourist attraction. The architecture is stunning, especially Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Check out the slideshow!

It’s crucial to stay hydrated while visiting. It felt like 40°C, and after two hours, I was boiling hot—red-faced and sweating from everywhere, lol. My phone actually overheated, and I attempted to cool it down with a fan. I know, it's funny, but I wasn't the only one.

We walked around, took amazing pictures, and scanned a few QR codes to read about different spots in the complex. Unfortunately, I hadn’t gone shopping yet, so I wore jeans and a long-sleeved white linen blouse. Not ideal. Cropped shirts and tight pants aren’t allowed, so I was very limited in my clothing choices—my bad.

Despite the heat, I’m glad we visited, but after that, I needed to cool down in the hotel pool. The ride back took twice as long due to the crazy traffic. I used to think Montreal’s traffic was bad—guess not!

Bangkok in Two Days?

If you plan on visiting multiple landmarks, temples, and shopping spots, you’ll need way more than two full days. We didn’t do much sightseeing, but big cities aren’t really our thing. We were happy to relax at the pool and focused on studying for our OPEN WATER COURSE for scuba diving.

Bangkok is an exciting city, but after a couple of days (3nights), we were ready to move on to the next adventure!