One Night in Bangkok and...

Hello, Bangkok! It’s finally happening—I've made it! After over a year of saving, the grind is over, and I’m standing in this vibrant city, feeling the pulse of it all around me. My first impression? I’m mesmerized. The chaos of the traffic, the wild dance of scooters weaving in and out of the cars—I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. The excitement of being in a brand-new country, a place so foreign to me, fills me with wonder and a bit of nervousness. The unknown is thrilling but also a little intimidating.

After clearing immigration, my first priority was food—how could it not be? But here's the thing: I was completely lost when it came to deciding where to eat. At home, I knew all my favorite spots, the hidden gems that felt like my secret corner of the world. But here? I’m a stranger. Everything is foreign, from the language to the smells wafting through the air, to the food stalls calling out with their meats on a stick. The choices are endless, and I don’t even know where to begin. I’m in desperate need of coffee too, and it feels a little overwhelming.

Luckily, we meet up with a friend of my "tour guide" (a.k.a. my friend from home, who’s helping me navigate the city for the next six weeks). We hit the streets in search of something to fill our bellies. I’m thrilled to be outside, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin! I’ve been working the night shift for a year, rarely seeing daylight, so this feels like a gift. But I quickly realize just how pale I am, and my skin starts to tingle with the sensation of a sunburn creeping in. It’s warm here! Back home, it’s cold, gloomy winter. Here, I’m rocking a tank top, light pants, and my trusty Chacos—like I’m channeling my inner river hippie again. Still, being exposed to the elements for the first time in so long makes me feel a little... uncomfortable.

We finally find a place to eat. I have no idea what I’m ordering, but I point at a few things that look promising. I still don’t know what I ate, but I do know it was absolutely delicious. I devoured every bite. And so begins my new obsession with Orange Americanos. They're everywhere! I’ve never been so excited about a coffee before.

Getting around Bangkok is an adventure in itself. From walking and taking the BTS to hopping on the MRT, boat rides, taxis, TukTuks, and Grab—it’s a city built for exploration, and you don’t even need a car. Thank goodness, because I’m pretty sure traffic here moves at a snail’s pace, and the scooters seem to know some secret choreography I haven't learned yet.

Bangkok is an enormous city, where modern, sterilized malls and gritty nightlife collide in the most unexpected ways. I feel like this city has it all. If you’re a tourist, you can dive into the well-known attractions, explore gleaming malls, or wander through lively night markets. If you're looking for luxury, you can dine in high-end restaurants, or if you're craving something more authentic, you can sit on little plastic chairs at street stalls and enjoy grilled meat on a stick (which, by the way, has a name, but “meat on a stick” is just easier to say to your travel companions when you don’t know what it’s called).

We also ventured into the red-light district, which, from what I’ve heard, isn’t as seedy as it once was, but still carries a certain vibe that I can't quite shake. I don’t judge the workers; it's just a job, like any other. But there’s a darker side that no one talks about—the aggressive foreigners pushing drugs and selling women in the shadows. It’s troubling, and I hope Thailand addresses their toxic behavior in their country sooner than later. It's the reality of the trade and is the true representation of what people are perceiving immigrants to be back home. Which, back home, they are not. This however, is the true ick and is doing no favors for people from their country.

But beyond all that, Bangkok is a place of contrasts, and that’s what makes it so fascinating. As a city, it offers everything you could possibly need or want. As a tourist, I’ve gotten my fill and loved every moment of it—especially the food, the wet markets, and the malls like CentralWorld. And yes, seeing photos of my favorite actors on the BTS was a surreal joy! The Squid Game promo was the icing on the cake—even though I missed it by a day, I was there the day before, so I can pretend I saw it in person, right?

I’ll definitely be back, but next time I’ll have a plan. I’m thinking of returning to look for a job, get some dental work done, and maybe even indulge in some cosmetic treatments that I can actually afford here. Also, I really need to go back and buy more of my new favorite pants, because I haven’t found anything like them anywhere else and I really hope they’re still available.

So, with Bangkok behind me, I’m off to my next adventure: Laos! Stay tuned for more of my journey.

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