Finally! A little escape from life that I’ve long been waiting for. My husband somehow pulled off getting my Indian visa conversion (from the 10 year tourist visa to an entry visa) done in the nick of time for me to travel to Bangkok. My best friend from Massachusetts was taking a family vacation in Thailand and it was a perfect opportunity for me to see her; just a 3.5 hour flight from Bangalore and the exact getaway I needed. The visa conversion was an extremely frustrating process and it took many visits to the e-FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office), lots of pleading, begging, and trying to find the right contacts. I was feeling so defeated and frustrated but the hard work ended up paying off and we got the visa in the nick of time. At 4:15PM on December 31st, the e-FRRO sent me an email with an attachment of the document I needed in order to travel. Just in time for my flight the very next morning at 6am! Until that very moment, we were unsure if I’d even be able to go. The suspense!

So off I went to Bangkok to spend 4 nights away from family responsibilities. I have solo traveled a lot in my life but it hit me on my way to the airport that this would be the first time flying alone in at least 6.5 years! I’m no longer used to being alone and I wasn’t sure how I’d cope with the stillness and loneliness of being on one’s own. It turns out, I really needed this time to myself; to step away from life full of chaos and responsibilities. The trip came at the right time as I had been going a bit mad after moving to Bangalore. I did miss my husband and children a lot in the 4 days but I really needed this opportunity to miss them. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

So Bangkok. Wow! Bangkok felt very organised which was a stark contrast from the chaos I had grown accustomed to in Bangalore. I landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the public taxi service was so easy to navigate – from the information counter, to the automatic vending machines, to finding the correct taxi assigned to me by the machines – it felt good to navigate a system that worked as per design.

As I gazed out the taxi window, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why I felt such relief but it made me reflect on how the move to Bangalore must have affected me. On that taxi ride to the hotel, l felt the muscles in my body relax and a sense of freedom came over me and I could finally feel excited to be reunited with my close friend. The anxieties of traveling alone, leaving my husband alone with the three boys, and being away from my children all subsidised and finally I could be in the present moment.

I absolutely loved everything about my trip to Thailand but what I loved most was the friendly, welcoming nature of the Thai people. Did you know Thailand is called “The Land of Smiles”? Because they sure do live up to this! The people I met were extremely polite and hospitable and I was greeted with big, welcoming smiles wherever I went. It felt very different from the hospitality I’ve experienced in Bangalore. Not that people in Bangalore are not warm, because they can be very warm and welcoming, but this felt different. Perhaps I felt less like an ‘outsider’ in Bangkok than I do in Bangalore. It doesn’t help that we moved to a neighbourhood in Southern Bangalore, an area quite far from the centre where I haven’t encountered many non-Indians (I’ve seen maybe 2-3 in the 8 months I’ve lived here). But I digress…

I stayed at Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit and the stay was very comfortable. There is a swimming pool on the hotel terrace that I did not try but was told the water was very cold and enjoyable. The restaurant on the terrace was no good and the mojito I ordered was terrible (they let me swap it for a local beer). I would recommend skipping the terrace since there are so many other great options in the area but the hotel was great otherwise. I didn’t try the hotel breakfast (my friend said it was nothing special) and instead went to the Beyond Bread bakery across the street for an oat milk cappuccino and egg croissant sandwich.  

MASSAGES

When in Thailand, get a million massages!! Oh, how I LOVED every single massage I got. I made sure to get a massage every day that I was there (except for the last day) and every massage I got was superb. I love the balm that they use (I’ve always had an obsession with tiger balm…) and my muscles felt so wonderfully relaxed after each session. From their foot massages, to Thai massages, to their oil massages, I recommend everything they have to offer. The massages I got ranged from 250 baht to 800 baht for 1-1.5 hour sessions. The prices were reasonable and the massage therapists I had were all highly skilled. Honestly, the massages were way better than any massage I have ever gotten in Boston (which all start at $120/hr) or anywhere in the world really.

If you stay at Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit, make sure to stop at Sumalee Thai Massage & Spa for a massage. It’s quite spacious, is kept very clean, and the staff was wonderful. I went 2 days in a row and would’ve gone exclusively to this place if I had stayed longer. I can’t wait for my next visit to Bangkok and will definitely stay at the same hotel so I can enjoy the massages here again!

MARKETS

When in Thailand…markets markets markets! The first market I visited was Khaosan Market, a night market that goes along the Khao San Road, a road that is just about 400 meters long and turns into an insane party scene at night. Almost every restaurant along the road had open air seating with DJs playing different genres of dance music. The energy level on this street was off the charts and though I couldn’t match the energy level, I absolutely loved being a part of it. My friend and I sat outside at Tom Yum Kung restaurant where I had the tastiest Pad Thai while we enjoyed listening to the music and watching the crowd pass by. There were people from everywhere, of all ages, dressed in every way possible. 

Another must visit market is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the world’s largest weekend market. It’s massive (15,000 stalls over 26 sections), it gets crowded, and you’ll need a ton of time for it but it’s so worth it. The main paths of the market get quite crowded but if you weave your way away from the main roads, you can find yourself in narrow pathways with very few people in sight. They have all sorts of things for sale so plan ahead and decide which sections you want to cover on your visit because it’s doubtful you’ll have the time (or energy) to cover all of it.

SOME OTHER PLACES I HIGHLY RECOMMEND

1. The Grand Palace: The Grand Palace truly lives up to its name and, despite the crowds, it is a must visit place if you’re in Bangkok. The Grand Palace spans 218,400 square-meters and is made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions, and temples arranged around lawns, gardens, and courtyards. The architecture is absolutely jaw-dropping.
   
   My favorite part of The Grand Palace was the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist located inside the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I entered the temple and was completely caught off guard as my gaze fell upon the Buddha. Something took over me and I found myself almost in tears, like something was being pulled out from the depths of my heart and mind. It was heavily crowded in the temple but it was as if it was just me in front of the Buddha. I wanted to stay for hours and sit alongside the tourists and visitors who were seated on the floor facing the Buddha, but I didn’t want to keep my friend waiting.
   
   The temple has a dress code so make sure to read up on that before going but you’ll find local vendors outside the palace in case you are not allowed in. We bought tickets onsite and the ticket lines moved efficiently so planning ahead was not required. Make sure to grab yourself a bottle of water at the cafe next to the ticketing office because it gets quite hot and there isn’t much shade. I’d recommend going as early as possible (opens at 8:30AM) in the morning to beat the heat and crowd then you can go get yourself a nice brunch/lunch at an air-conditioned restaurant nearby.

2. Heng’s Kitchen: A small mom-and-pop authentic Thai restaurant that’s located around the corner from Radisson Suites hotel where I stayed. I loved the vibe there and the food was really tasty.

3. Terminal 21: Terminal 21 mall is designed to be like an airport (hence its name) and is a perfect oasis if you’re traveling in Bangkok with children. They have a movie theatre, grocery store, food court, and basically everything you need in an air-conditioned space.

Here, I tried mangosteen fruit for the first time, a tropical fruit that I had never seen before. It was sweet and tangy, juicy, a bit fibrous, with fluid-filled vesicles (like the flesh of citrus fruits), with an inedible, deep reddish-purple colored rind. Make sure to give it a try because it was delicious! It’s sold everywhere from grocery stores to small street vendors.

4. Asok Pethouse Cat Cafe: Located right next to Terminal 21 and is a nice spot to dine and also see and/or pet cats! They had a Japanese inspired menu and I had their Japanese style spaghetti bolognese that really hit the spot. My friend’s kids had a blast petting the cats and spent a good chunk of time there. 

5. centralwOrld: Another fun mall with a huge food court and many restaurants. They have many of the typical chain stores (I later saw they have a Kinokuniya and so wish I had gone since Bangalore wouldn’t have one) and other fun activities for families (including a cinema). My friend’s husband took their kids here and they enjoyed all sorts of activities, many of which were free. 

6. Asiatique: the Riverfront: This is a large open-air market in Bangkok which I unfortunately didn’t get time to visit but I am including it here because I wish I had gone. It has beautiful views of the river, amusement park rides, restaurants, bars, and market stalls and is a nice spot for a family outing or for a romantic date.