Bangkok: City of Surprises
December 2016 & January 2017
During our time in Thailand, we hit Bangkok a total of 3 times. We've always been told that it's a crazy party city and repeatedly received the advice of "get in and get out".
In fact, we were pleasantly surprised! Bangkok is a city of many sides. There is the pulsing energy of the Khao San Road, where each bar and club competes to see who can turn the bass up loudest, and who can offer the most insane bucket cocktails.
We also found ourselves wandering the narrow paths of Chinatown, wide eyed, and assaulted by smells and sounds we had never encountered before. Parts of it even felt like the kind of Chinatown you see cropping up in 80s classics, like Gremlins or Big Trouble in Little Chinatown.
The area we stayed in was different again. Although quite central, it had more of a community feel to it. Our hotel was right beside a small park, that I felt would have been at home in Dun Laoghaire or Notting Hill. Every evening, the streets here were lined (but not crowded) with street food vendors.
Hopping on the sky train, we reached the vast, sparkling malls of Siam Discovery, Central, and Paragon. These huge malls had everything, including a Maserati showroom, 2 self-playing grand pianos, and luxury dental spas.
Other neighbourhoods had quiet, pretty side streets, cosy cafes, and craft beer bars hidden away.
I left Bangkok feeling like I had so much left to explore, so it's definitely on the list for a return visit in the future!