It wasn’t until late this afternoon that I had my first true encounter with Bangkok as a hectic, crazy busy Asian city—reminiscent of my time in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It was such a stark contrast to how my day began.
I started the morning in Ayutthaya, staying at a villa associated with the tour company. I’d arrived with no real expectations, though I was slightly concerned at first when I realised I had to navigate several flights of stairs to get to my room. It was a bit of a struggle, but once I made it, I basically hunkered down until today.
The room was lovely in its simplicity—it almost had the feel of a monastery. It was basic but comfortable, with two big beds, comfy sheets, and great air conditioning. I slept extremely well; waking up feeling truly alive made me realise just how tired I’d been from the last few days of travel.
The bathroom was huge. It had a massive bathtub that I didn’t dare use for fear of not being able to get out again, but the shower was excellent. I was able to stand up in there and, even though my leg got a little bit wet, I felt steady and secure. Breakfast was perfect: fruit and yoghurt, just like I have at home. Afterwards, I went for a stroll. The area felt like the outskirts of the city, almost rural. I poked my head into some basic local shops—one was so packed with stock it was fascinating.
Being a bit of a “radiohead,” I found myself looking for a small transistor radio. I don’t even use one at home—I listen to everything online—but there’s something about travelling that makes me want to see what’s actually on the local dial. It wasn’t to be, though. I did, however, find a great little coffee shop. I’m learning that Thai food and drink can be very heavy on the sugar, so I’ve kept a note on my phone to ask for “no sugar.” My iced coffee was spot on.
I caught a 90-minute ride back to Bangkok with another tour group. We stopped for lunch where a musician was playing 70s, 80s, and 90s hits—classic male vocalist stuff.
The guide dropped us off at MBK (Mahboonkrong). It’s a massive discount mall, definitely not high-end, but perfect for what I needed. I only brought one shirt with me, planning to buy more on the way to Sweden so I’d have some light luggage to pack into my heavy bags later. Mission accomplished: I picked up a couple of shirts.
Instead of taking the train, I decided to call a Bolt. The guide told me how to use the train, but I thought, “Oh no, I’ll just get a Bolt, it’s cheap.” Well, it took nearly an hour to get to the hotel! It only cost a few dollars, but it provided a front-row seat to the legendary, chaotic Bangkok traffic I hadn’t seen until now.
I finished the day at the hotel’s rooftop pool with a beer. It was blissful until a loud group of 30-somethings arrived with their own music, at which point I beat a retreat to the quiet of my room. Tomorrow, I head to the airport. I’ll either take a Bolt or navigate the tuk-tuk to the train. Whatever happens, I’ll work it out in the morning.