One weekend in November, my friend Erinn and I decided to head to Bangkok for some exploration, shopping and good eats. It was a great idea, and we were really surprised at how many experiences we could pack into a single weekend without feeling rushed and overwhelmed.
Our first night we visited the upscale Asiatique Market. So many beautiful stalls to browse, too bad it was almost closing time when we arrived, but at least we didn't do much spending!
When in Thailand...ride the tuk, tuk.
We stayed at the Buddy Lodge on Khao San Road. We later learned that the reputation it has of being backpackers' party central in NOT exaggerated. The entire street is market by day, and massive street party at night.
The quiet after the storm on Khao San Road.
Restocking for the next night and carting away the empties...lol...
Susie X's delicious breakfast baguette.
So proud that we figured out the canal system and transportation. There is a great network of canals in Bangkok and these waterways provide the infrastructure to a very cheap and efficient mode of transportation, functioning as a water bus system.
Huge food market outside the mall. The food alone is enough to justify a trip to Bangkok...feast your eyes...
Mango sticky rice and mango smoothies.
Fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice.
Lime juice.
The biggest and juiciest squid I have ever tasted...I want more!!!!
NOODLES!
Shrimp and crab.
Fresh fruit....soooo fresh!
The Central World Mega Shopping Complex in Bangkok
Crispy sticky rice...yum.
One of our faves...Thai crepes, or Thai tacos??? Both sweet and savory.
Water bus stop.
One of our plans for the weekend was to do the Best Eats Midnight Food Tour by tuk tuk with Bangkok Food Tours. It was an evening tour (from 7-11pm) with 6 stops including culture, sights and lots of food.
1st stop - many Thai dished to try...we were a group of about 10 people, and it was fun getting to know some of the other travellers and hearing their stories.
2nd stop - Chinese raw egg noodles. All the cooking was done in the back alley behind the tiny restaurant. This was one of my favorite dishes of the night. It was so unique and tasty.
Who needs a fancy kitchen...
So simple, yet so delicious - once again proving that less is more.
Stop #3 - the flower market. This is allegedly the 4th largest flower market in the world. Outside the market, and throughout the city were many dedicated shrines to the King of Thailand, who had recently passed away. It was incredible to witness the entire city/country in mourning. Large posters and billboards everywhere, and Thai citizens all wearing black. Even shops were selling predominantly black clothing, some displaying a black and white theme. It was impossible to overlook that this was a really major event affecting the entire nation deeply.
A shrine dedicated to the king beautifully decorated with flowers.
It is impossible to convey the beauty of the blooms and the fresh smell of the market through photos...but I did my best.
Outside the flower market we stopped for some crispy, crunchy insect snacks...
Didn't think I could do it, but with my motto..."try everything", I tasted one of these...it was ok, except for the legs scratching the inside of my cheeks as I chomped down on it.
It started to pour, but it was ok...our tour guide had ponchos for everyone.
We learned how to fold the lotus flower to prepare it for an offering, and then we headed to stop #4, Wat Pho.
Beautiful and serene by night, even in the rain.
We learned that all the porcelain used to decorate the Wats around Bangkok came from a huge shipment from China. The porcelain arrived in Bangkok and it was broken and shattered, so rather than throw it out and waste it, the pieces were used to decorate many Wats and buildings around the capital.
Stop #5 - cocktails at a rooftop bar with a 360 view.
Stop #6 - allegedly the best Pad Thai in Bangkok. The entire kitchen was situated on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. There was a standing line, and we could watch the assembly line style that was used to cook batch after batch of pad thai.
Inside the restaurant.
They served 2 dishes: pad thai with shrimp.
and original pad thai.
The next morning we set out to visit the Grand Palace. We managed to take the water bus down the river, providing us with some great views of the city.
The Grand Palace (Thai: พระบรมมหาราชวัง, rtgs: Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang[1]) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resided at Chitralada Royal Villa in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.
People dressed in black, mourning the death of the King were flocking to the palace and lined up for hours to wait any pay their respects.
More broken Chinese porcelain.
Taking the river bus back to our part of town, and getting ready to head to the airport...weekend is almost over.
One last stop at the Chatuchak Market. That is where we ran into this super stylish pup...lol...
Chatuchak Weekend Market (or Jatujak Market; Thai: ตลาดจตุจักร) is one of the world's largest weekend markets covers area of 70 rai (27 Acres) altogether divided into 27 Sections, contains more than 15,000 booths selling goods from every part of Thailand. Needless to say, we did not even scratch the surface of this place, but we did get a good taste of what it had to offer, and I put a major dent in my Christmas shopping here, which was great. This is a place where you can shop 'til you drop...and even then there are little massage booths all over the place ready to help get you back on your feet. I was dying for a massage, but with limited time, I pushed through knowing that we wanted to see (and shop) as much as possible before heading to the airport. I loved the parts of the market offering very unique items with an artsy feel. It really felt like we were at a Thai version of the One of a Kind Show. Not sure how they let us on the plane with our bags...travelling here we never check baggage...only cabin luggage...Erinn and I were both carrying AT LEAST double the allowed weight. What a great girls weekend...already looking forward to the next one!
