Back at it in Bangkok
Bangkok was our first “miss” of the trip.
We had fully intended to spend at least a month in Bangkok, thinking it would be a great hub to explore and get around to some lesser known places. It took us less than 5 days to decide it was not really our vibe and start plotting our next move.
Thankfully we only initially booked 10 days at an aparthotel. We probably could have made it work had we been locked in long term but this was one time we were particularly thankful for our flexibility.
We did have to stay in Bangkok for a bit because we went through the arduous process of extending our 30 day visa to 60 days (so we could fit in more sights in the northern part of the country). The only government office you can do that at is in Bangkok so we had to stay there while we worked it out. That experience was an interesting one, and after some time, effort and $, we got our extensions taken care of which solidified our ability to spend more time in Northern Thailand.
Here is what we enjoyed about Bangkok.
We stayed in the Sukhumvit area which we learned is VERY trendy and touristy. We were well positioned to the mostly efficient public transit system, and had some great restaurants and bars very close to us. Ryan also got propositioned by ladies of the night every time he went outside, so. Fun.
We took a day to do the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat which was a very efficient and pleasant way to cover a lot of ground. This hop on and hop off boat covers all the main sights along the Chao Phraya river. It was funny though because they are so efficient they bring new meaning to hop on and hop off. You really have to jump on and jump off with the stops at the piers lasting all of 8 seconds so you better be ready!
Temples: We did several of the main ones, including Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Wat Arun was relatively small and compact but quite stunning. Worth a quick visit, especially if you do it as one of the hop-on hop-off stops. Wat Pho was more sprawling and while it’s known for its HUGE reclining Buddha, the rest of the temple is sprawling and beautiful. We recommend going in the AM though because it was HOT when we finally made it there in the afternoon.
The Royal Palace was also quite the marvel. Every inch of this massive grounds was intricately and painstakingly decorated and beautiful. There were also many different buildings and areas to explore so even with it being fairly crowded it never was too overwhelming.
We also spent our last three days in an actual hotel (vs. an aparthotel) that is worth shouting out. In some ways these three days felt like a whole different trip and really drives home the pros and cons of various accommodations and how location and amenities can shape an experience. We weren’t far from where we stayed initially, but the skyline views were more picturesque and most importantly it was WAY quieter than our stay in the trendy area. We can’t do long-term stays in a traditional hotel like this (we have to have at least a semblance of a kitchen and living area) but sometimes a hotel is what we need to feel comfortable and reset.
All and all we don’t have too much to say about Bangkok. It was the definition of a mega city with everything to see and do but to a point where it's almost too much. The food was delicious, and there was a great variety of authentic Thai and western food. We even spent a happy hour meal at a German beer house and Ryan got his fill of doner kebabs. Maybe we didn’t give it a fair chance since we had just come from beautiful and peaceful Krabi, but we would recommend visiting Bangkok, just definitely not staying for too long.