From Unplanned to Unforgettable: Eight Hours in Bangkok

One of the greatest privileges of living overseas was the ease of travel around Asia and the affordable price of airfare, hotels, and other vacation necessities. When I moved to Japan, I started working quickly, which didn’t give me much time to travel. Once I learned I would be moving back to the U.S., I knew I had to take the time I had left to explore other countries while I had the chance. 

I took the time to research which destinations I should visit and asked my friends what their favorite places to travel to were so I could make a list to jet off to before leaving Japan. Many options included Bali, Thailand, Taiwan, Kyoto, and more. Thailand stood out to me. I had about six months left in Japan and took the time to see when would be best to visit Thailand. In my search, I read about Loy Krathong, Thailand’s floating lantern festival. It is one of Thailand’s most loved festivals, held in November, and I quickly booked my trip, which seemed like the perfect experience.

Thailand was my first solo trip ever. I was so anxious about this trip that I got to the airport three hours too early. The flight took about four hours from Naha, Okinawa, to Bangkok. We landed at midnight, and as excited as I was, I was also exhausted. Then, I had to wait at customs, which felt neverending. Luckily, I made the right choice to stay close to the airport. It took 15 to 20 minutes to get to the hotel, Casa Narinya. The WIFI was spotty, and the room was bare but livable. 

I barely slept because it was my first time alone in a foreign country, and I was on edge. But I got a little sleep before my crazy next day.

Here is where the fun began!

I planned to take an 8 a.m. train to Chiang Mai, so the front desk called a taxi to pick me up at 7 a.m. I didn’t think Bangkok traffic would be so bad, so I didn’t get to the train station until 8:30 a.m. I overcompensated the day before, so I figured I would be okay with an hour that day. I was wrong!

I had to shell out more money for an overnight bus to Chiang Mai, which was a minor deal. At first, I was relieved I would get to Chiang Mai within the time I wanted! But then I realized I had eight hours to wait for my bus since it left at 4:30 p.m. I hadn’t planned to be in Bangkok for that long, so I had no plans. I know people love Bangkok, but I was so set on being in Chiang Mai that I didn’t look up anything in Bangkok.

How I Did Bangkok in 8 Hours

Delicious Food

Since I missed my train, the best thing was to eat and find a place with WiFi to find activities to fill my day. I found this cozy café called 511 café, right across the street from the train station. I sat near the window as I connected with my family to give an update and browsed the incredible offerings on the menu. Honestly, I would recommend this cafe to anyone visiting Bangkok. I ordered the green curry and enjoyed it so much! It had the right amount of spice I like, not burning your mouth hot but leaving a satisfying heat. 

Long Tail Boat Sightseeing 

I found a temple to visit, but it was closed. My taxi driver suggested the long-tail boat ride, as it would be a great way to see multiple places in one tour. 

As the boat traveled up and down the Chao Phraya River, I could see different temples on the way to the Grand Palace, a temple I decided to visit. The Long Tail Boat was fast and rocked to the point that I was a bit worried at some points, but I figured the driver did it all the time and was used to it. I had the opportunity to capture photos of the various temples we passed and other stunning landmarks. 

I enjoyed the ride, but it was also a pretty penny, so it works for someone with the funds and limited time in Bangkok.

The Grand Palace

My favorite stop during my time in Bangkok was the Grand Palace. Before entering the temple, I was advised to get a cover-up since I was wearing leggings, which were too form-fitting to wear at the temple. I bought one of my favorite cover-ups, which I still use today: a black wrap embellished with gold elephants draped in blue, red, and yellow dressings. 

The Grand Palace was busy when I arrived, but it was breathtaking. I wandered around the grounds, admiring all the temples and sculptures. My favorite was The Demon Guardians, statues standing at the gate of the gallery. They all face the chapel of the Emerald Buddha as if they are guarding The Emerald Buddha against all evil spirits. According to the information pamphlet received at the entrance of The Grand Palace, these demon statues were built during the reign of King Rama III.

The Grand Palace has gorgeous architecture, which visitors can admire. I spent almost two hours roaming around the grounds. I highly recommend visiting the Grand Palace while in Bangkok. 

MBK Shopping Center

With an hour left in Bangkok, my phone was dying, so I knew I had to find somewhere to buy a portable charger since I lost my previous one at my first hotel. I took a taxi to the nearest mall, the MBK Shopping Center. The mall was huge, with a lot of stores and kiosks. Knowing I had plenty of time, I explored the mall and found an affordable portable charger and a stylish hat. The coolest part of the shopping center was the taxi system. You get a number for a taxi, and they place you in a marked taxi to ensure safe arrival. It was not only amazing the lengths they went to ensure the safety of their visitors, but it was nice to see how organized the system was. 

Once I got back to the bus station, the other passengers were setting up to head to Chiang Mai. We were going for an overnight trip to my next Thailand adventure. 

Have you been to Bangkok? Share your favorite attraction in Bangkok in the comments below.