Bangkok

I arrived in Bangkok a week after the king had passed away making it an investing time to visit the city. The country was in mourning so people were dressed in black and tourists weren’t allowed within a several block radius of the Royal Palace since there was a viewing only for Thais. There was also a ban on celebrations or any type of music making the city feel strangely quiet.

There is so much to see and do in Bangkok ranging from temples to shopping and local markets and luxury malls. You can also eat street food to your hearts content or sip fancy cocktails. If you want the best pad thai head to Tipsamai. In the evening there’s about a 30 person cue waiting to get in of mostly Thais. If you get sick of Tiger beer, head to Sol Bar or Teens of Thailand for some fancy cocktails.

I enjoyed a bike tour with Co Van Kessel for an afternoon venturing through the back alleys of Chinatown and through the flower market. It was a really nice way to see Bangkok from a locals perspective.

A trip to Bangkok isn’t complete without visiting a few of the massive temples. I was disappointed that the Royal Palace was closed to tourists but visited Wat Pho and Wat Arun, which is home to the massive gold reclining Buddha.

The best mode of transportation in Bangkok is a tuktuk. It made me feel like such a tourist but I didn’t care! They’re so fun as long as you’re not scared off by the crazy drivers. We had one driver take us to an underground club one night that was located above a pool hall. It was smoked filled with EDM blasting and strobe lights from the 90s. Only in Bangkok.