I was excited as my Singapore Airlines flight descended towards Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi
(pronounced as Soowanapoom) Airport. Excited was an
understatement, to be fair. Seated in the aisle part of the premium economy of
the Airbus A350-900, I couldn't see any landmarks from the window. My only
guide was the flight information map from my inflight entertainment system. Apart from finishing an entire movie of
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, I was entertained. Great movie, by the way. It took
our flight forever to taxi toward our assigned gate. Bangkok's international
airport is one of the largest in Southeast Asia.
Traveling will always test my patience. It was very challenging to keep my
cool while waiting for my turn at the immigration since this airport is
notorious for long queues at the immigration, next to Bali's Ngurah Rai International
Airport. As Thailand relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions, masks are no longer
required indoors and outdoors. However, wearing a mask is highly
encouraged, especially in crowded areas and public transportation.
See, there is a thin line between encouraged and mandatory. I removed my face
mask for a while, and it felt foreign.
As we traveled to our hotel in Sukhumvit, a wave of nostalgia hit me. The
first time I traveled to Bangkok was six years ago. Arriving from a red-eye
promo flight, there was nothing to see outside from our darkly-tinted van. My second trip to Bangkok would hit differently, in a good way. We
stayed at Avani Sukhumvit, one of Bangkok's busiest
districts. We checked out some of the night markets just right across the
hotel. These open-air stalls outside a shopping mall are quintessentially
Thai–different varieties of street foods on display, clothes, accessories, and
everything in between.
Walking around Bangkok feels like singing a familiar tune, like exploring an
already charted territory. The main throughways remind me of some districts in
Metro Manila–bustling, crowded, and modern. But instead of old catholic
churches, golden pagodas and intricately designed temples in traditional Siam
architecture stand out, screaming its Thai identity to foreigners.
Six years had passed, several colossal malls had sprouted like wild
mushrooms, the daytime population had increased by at least a million, and
traffic had gone worst, yet Bangkok's vibes remained the same.
When in Bangkok, remember to drop by Mahanakhon Skywalk, Bangkok's newest
and highest observation deck. Located at the heart of Bangkok's central
business district, this pixel-shaped architectural landmark was conceived to
reflect the ambition and excitement of one of the world's most dynamic cities.
Whether traveling to Bangkok for a solo trip or with family and friends, there
are many options to take for you to enjoy this vibrant city.
You can visit Pattaya and Ayutthaya for a day tour. Thailand is predominantly
Buddhist, so expect temple runs and visits within that area. Are you feeling adventurous? Drive to the famous Damnoen Saduak floating market.
Although this place is notorious for being a tourist trap, we're already here,
so why not try it, right?
I never thought I'd be back to exploring places. Two years felt eternity. As
the world tries to adapt to the new normal, I realize I should be
grateful even for the littlest and most mundane things around me. This
comes from a privileged standpoint, but I am thankful for everything. I am
truly blessed. I want to continue exploring new places, share stories, and
cherish these forever.
No destination is unworthy. All places, touristy or non-touristy, are
destinations that could help enrich your life, understanding, and perspective.
|
Selfie at Bangkok's tallest building. |
|
My ride to Bangkok from Singapore. |
|
First time trying Singapore Airlines' premium economy product. |
|
The best way to navigate around Bangkok is through their BTS Skytrain. |
|
Somewhere in Asok Station. |
|
Welcome to the pixelated Tetris building - Mahanakhon Tower. |
|
Crowded Bangkok. |
|
Dinner at Cabbages and Condoms. Quite pricey, but the food was all worth it! |
|
Typical Bangkok traffic. |
|
Sunset! |
|
Inside IconSiam, one of Bangkok's newest malls. |
|
Indoor streetfood! Everything is at THB 15.00! |
|
The lighting was perfect, hence the selfie. |
|
I ain't afraid of heights! |
|
Good thing I am not acrophobic. |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are highly appreciated. Spread love, not hate! :)