Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, a group of us have been dreaming that we will take an overseas trip together once international travel restrictions have been lifted and we enter the brave new world of post-COVID vacations. Our dream is finally realised in 2024 when we are able to plan a trip to Bangkok. We literally spent many days talking about where we would go and what activities we would participate in.
We quickly agreed some ground rules - we would focus on food, sightseeing and shopping (not necessarily in that order, but that would be my personal priorities). The opportunity came when we realised plane tickets to Bangkok were quite reasonable (not quite pre-COVID sale prices but okay) and we all quickly booked our flights. We then scoured around for properties to rent so that we can stay together as a group.
We decided initially to just visit Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but then we realised there were a lot of things to see in Chiang Rai and it would be rushed to do it as a day trip. We hired a private tour driver who planned an itinerary for us. Cat, who is half-Thai, took charge of planning our itinerary in Bangkok.
This trip is so massive for the sake of optimising storage I have broken the trip to two parts. In Part 1, we fly from Sydney and arrive in Chiang Mai via Bangkok. We spent about a week in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, visiting a variety of locations and sampling food from many places.
In Part 2 the adventure continues in Bangkok as we fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and spent a week there including a side trip to Amphawa.
We bade goodbye and boarded Thai Airways TG105 from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
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We are staying at Mahatun Plaza near Ploenchit BTS Station, and had a late lunch at Madam Somtum.
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Photos from the apartment we stayed in Bangkok.
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We ventured to famous Yaowarat Rd via BTS and the metro to search for food.
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A morning spent at various places ending with lunch at Siam Paragon.
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In the afternoon we took a taxi to Icon Siam to explore Sook Siam - the amazing recreation of a floating market on the ground floor.
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Calypso Cabaret is a ladyboy show that has been operating since 1988. We attended a dinner plus performance at Asiatique the Riverfront.
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Belinda, Margaret and I opted to take a private city tour of Bangkok organised by BoardingPass. First stop is Wat Pho, which contains the giant statue of the Reclining Buddha.
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Our second stop on the private city tour is the Grand Palace, the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782.
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After the Grand Palace, we hopped onto a river boat to tour through Bangkok's canals.
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Our last stop on the private Bangkok city tour, Wat Arun has the romantic name of Temple of Dawn.
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At the conclusion of our city tour, we are tired and hungry, so elected to stop by and have lunch at the Kimpton.
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After lunch I elected to walk back to the apartment we are staying at Mahatun Plaza through the leafy street of Soi Ton Son next to a canal.
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Joined by two of Cat's friends, we are taking a girls road trip to Amphawa and staying overnight.
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We stopped by at this well known seafood restaurant on the way to Amphawa.
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This is a riverside property by the canal owned by a friend of a friend of Cat. We stayed here overnight.
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In the evening, we hired a river boat to take us to Amphawa Floating Market.
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Amphawa Floating Market is strictly speaking no longer floating market, since most of the stalls have moved into the riverfront.
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We woke up the next morning to have breakfast, and then checked out of Baankwaeom.
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On the way back to Bangkok, we made a stop at a nearby temple famous for their sculptures and the ubosot is covered by fig tree roots.
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Manpai Sainam is a very picturesque restaurant where diners eat in in huts or villas situated by a lake.
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Fá Plā Tahń is a noodle restaurant with a difference - they serve noodles made out of fish paste.
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Today we decided to visit Chatuchak Market, the World's Largest Weekend Market.
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In the afternoon I went out fo a walk and discovered an exhibition of art from waste by Wishulada.
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I visited various shopping centres within walking distance of the apartment.
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Our last day in Bangkok. We decided to take a Grab to Nhong Rim Klong - a place famour for the crab omelette.
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After lunch I was dropped off at a nearby BTS station and went to Terminal 21 - my favourite shopping centre in Bangkok.
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Unfortunately our holiday is now officially over so I packed everything the night before, and in the morning we made our way to the airport.
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