Thailand is Awesome: Day One
To say we were eager to get to Thailand would be an understatement. Finally, a country where our champagne tastes matches our beer budget. It is, without question, the mecca for budget travelers. I have never seen a round-the-world itinerary that didn’t include Thailand. When I’d read about Thailand in other people’s travel blogs, I was sure it had to be too good to be true. There had to be embellishment to the stories of cheap prices. The rooms really couldn’t be that nice. The street food had to be sketchy. The people couldn’t be that friendly. The sun couldn’t shine that much. It didn’t take long for us to realize that everything we had heard was true. There’s a reason Thailand is on everyone’s list and it is because it is awesome.
I knew it was going to be awesome right from the start. Our day started with watching the most amazing sunrise over Thailand on our overnight flight. Although I couldn’t accurately capture the colors of the sunrise in a picture, I will always remember the way the sun created bands of light in order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. I stared at the colors until they were out of sight.
When we landed in Bangkok, the sun was shining and everything looked clean, bright, and modern. Our taxi driver took us straight to our chosen hotel (Roof View Place) without any detours or trouble. We spent some time just marveling at how clean and bright our room was. While this particular room at $26 was the most expensive we’d have in Thailand (not counting Santa’s upgrade on Christmas), it had anything we could want – free wifi, a big, filling free breakfast, free water, and free information about travelling around. As we’d come to learn, you get a lot for your money in Thailand. Nice rooms can be had even for less than $10, and spending just another $5 or $10 can really up the ante.
By the end of our first day in Thailand, we’d discovered our favorite hole in the wall pad thai place serving the tastiest pad thai we’ve had to date for under a dollar (yes, it is true – dinner for under a dollar!), ate fresh tropical fruit, also under a dollar (cut right before you under sanitary conditions!), and had a neck and shoulder massage for $4 each. Yep, Thailand had us at day one, and still has us. We exhausted our 30 day visa and plan to return later in our trip – we suspect as good as it was so far, the best may be to come. There’s still beaches to sit on, after all. The only knock on Thailand is that it can lull you into a routine* and you have to share the country with all those other tourists and ex-pats who love it too.
*(I know, I know. Isn’t that what we wanted after India? During our travels, it seems when things are uncomfortable, they are usually more exciting. When things are comfortable, boredom can creep up – albeit a different type of boredom from the work/eat/sleep/lather/rinse/repeat routine at home. Just goes to show – no place is perfect, whether you are home or away, and you have to enjoy and appreciate the good parts no matter where you are. Luckily, in Thailand, there are a lot of good parts.)
Relaxing in our room at Roof View Place, basking in the clean sheets and sunshine
Despite eating it multiple times, I didn't get a great photo of our favorite pad thai. Don't worry, if our travels route us through Bangkok again as I suspect they will, we'll be back. This is a similar glass noodle version by the same lady.
Not us, but you get the point: cheap massages are everywhere. We preferred to not get ours right in public though.
I’d LOVE to go to Thailand! I wish we could join you on your next trip there!!! My Aunt says it was her FAVORITE place she’s been to yet! Sounds like it was yours too!
Miss you but I’m sure you don’t miss the snow. We got a nice storm here last night and are snowed in. Enjoy that sunshine where ever you are now!
Glad to hear you guys enjoyed Thailand! 🙂
I know all too well that push-pull feeling while traveling between thriving off of the unknown and longing for routine. And you’re totally right: it’s a great reminder to always appreciate the good parts no matter where you are. 🙂
Hi Amy & Sean! I’m sad we didn’t cross paths in Thailand. Amy, after you left your comment on my last post re Thrillable Hours, I thought I’d start a ‘lawyers having fun’ section of my blogroll and I’ve put you guys on it. If you know of other lawyers doing interesting, unconventional things – photography, travel, ngo work, etc – please let me know!
Safe travels!
Jodi
Hi Jodi! So sorry we didn’t cross paths either – I would have loved to have met you in person. Thanks for adding me to your site, I really appreciate it! Happy travels.
Jessica, stay tuned – elephant post to come! We thought of you guys when we were there.
Wow, Thailand sounds awesome! Seems like a great place…would love to be there. Another snowstorm tonight here. Hope all is well.