Bangkok, Thailand

After a long 10.5 hours in Economy from Amsterdam, we finally landed in Bangkok—although my suitcase didn’t quite make it, staying behind in Amsterdam for a few days. Given the mixed reviews I’d heard about Bangkok, I approached our time in the city cautiously. Known for being a major hub with one of Asia's busiest international airports, Bangkok is unavoidable if you’re traveling in the region, so we decided to spend just a week here to adjust to the time zone and visit a few key sights before moving on. Here's a recap of what we got up to...

Day 1-2: Jet Lag & Lost Baggage

I had a hunch about my suitcase the second it went through Schiphol's automated bag check. Whether it was a premonition or the fact that I accidentally tagged the wrong handle, my instincts were right. My AirTag confirmed it hadn’t made the flight when I checked and saw it was “last seen” in Amsterdam.

Thankfully, Jamie and I stayed in Sukhumvit, a neighborhood packed with shopping spots. We landed around 1 p.m., got a free taxi to the hotel thanks to our reservation through Booking.com, and, though we hadn't slept on the plane (seriously, how do you guys do it? I swear you're magicians give me all your tips), we ventured out to grab ramen at EmSphere. Then we headed to EmQuartier, where I picked up essentials to tide me over until my suitcase arrived.

Day 2 was more low-key: we spent time catching up on work and went for dinner around the corner at Makan Makan, where we both got our first taste of Malaysian cuisine. While the prices in the city were a little higher than we thought they would be, the food did not disappoint.

Day 3: Downtown Bangkok

After easing into Bangkok’s pace, we finally felt ready to dive into its sights. Traveling east seems to always throw me off; the time change had us sleeping in until nearly 11 a.m. for the first few days, which doesn’t mix well with Bangkok’s intense humidity!

We began our exploration with a metro ride downtown, leading us to Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. We got to admire its architecture for about 300 THB each (around $8.89). Students were sketching the temple grounds which was really fun to see the temple from their artistic perspective. From there, we started walking toward the Grand Palace but had a surprising detour: Jamie, standing under a tree, was greeted by “monkey luck” from above. To add to the adventure, he wasn’t fully dressed for the palace’s strict dress code, which requires shoulders and knees to be covered.

Instead, we regrouped over a cool drink at a nearby café, plotting out the rest of the day. We decided on a public ferry ride that took us along the Chao Phraya River, soaking in the city’s waterfront views until we reached Pak Khlong Talat, the bustling flower market. I’ve always loved markets, so it was a fun experience walking through and seeing all of the vibrant blooms and local hustle.

We ended the day in Chinatown, where we stumbled upon a lively parade complete with firecrackers. They were LOUD and not well contained - we got a surprise of some sparks on our skin. Afterward, we returned to our hotel neighborhood, grabbing dinner at Pier 21 Food Court in Terminal 21. The card preloading system there made buying from the many stalls easy and efficient, and it quickly became our favorite spot for trying affordable, delicious Thai food. From noodles to fresh mango sticky rice, it had every Thai dish we could want, all in one place.

Day 4: Muay Thai

We took things easy on Day 4 since I woke up with a bit of stomach pain, and Jamie was fighting off a sinus flu from the flight. Our morning was filled with in-room work, which let us rest until about 3 p.m. before we finally ventured out for lunch. I tried Pad See Ew for the first time and loved it—perfectly balanced noodles and savory sauce.

After lunch, we grabbed a ride (through Grab, which is like Uber) to Rajadamnern Stadium for our first Muay Thai fight, which is fitting since it's the first stadium for the sport with origins from the 1940s. Muay Thai, a traditional Thai martial art, is a form of boxing that combines kicks, punches, knees, and elbow strikes, known for its intensity and deep roots in Thai culture which includes a live band playing during the fight. We chose Club Class tickets in Sections 8 and 9, which cost 1800 THB each (53 USD) and offered a great middle ground between the lower seats and the premium area (priced at 4,500 THB per ticket). Our seats were eye-level with the ring—perfect for experiencing the action up close. The night featured nine bouts, each going five rounds of three minutes. Between the fights, the stadium entertained us with different competitions on the monitors including a beer-chugging cam, flex cam, and kiss cam. At one point, we even found ourselves on the big screen!

Day 5: Night Time Market & Siam Show

Jamie’s flu was still raging, so we took another easygoing day, prioritizing rest and work. Bangkok’s rhythm suited us perfectly—we’d relax during the day, then head out around 3 or 4 p.m. to explore. This time, we were inspired by the Muay Thai experience to try a night show, so we booked tickets to Siam Fantasy, a performance known for weaving together Thailand’s cultural stories and regional traditions from the North, South, East, and West. Held at the Asiatique night market—a lively area with rides, food stalls, and lots of shopping—the atmosphere was buzzing. We paid 600 THB (about 17 USD) each, which felt a little high, but not outrageous for the experience. The show lasted just about an hour, but the Broadway-like costumes glistened under the lights, and each segment introduced us to Thailand’s rich traditions and practices in vibrant detail. It was a memorable way to round out the evening and dive deeper into Thai culture.

Day 6: Market & Mischief

We wrapped up our time in Bangkok with a visit to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market, packed with everything from handmade crafts and clothing to countless food stalls. The cafes were incredible, and even though we left empty-handed, exploring the endless rows of unique items was a highlight. We meandered past colorful textiles, hand-carved trinkets, and aromas of Thai street food.

Day 7: Headed North - Chiang Mai Bound

After a slower introduction to Thailand, we were ready to hit the ground running and headed back to the airport to get into the mountains and experience the Northern territories flying from Bangkok to Chaing Mai.

More to come soon! For now, if you're interested, here's the podcast episode Ally and I did on Thailand: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/travelwithachanceofmurder0/episodes/6--Thailand-Temples--Thai-Ted-Bundy-ee5hjc