First Day in Thailand
Our second international trip was finally happening—Thailand!
After a successful venture in Vietnam a few months prior, we decided to keep the travel bug biting. We left right after Christmas 2023 and made our way to Thailand in January 2024. Unlike the Vietnam trip, which involved hopping from Guwahati to Kolkata and then onto Hanoi, this time, we opted for a direct flight from Guwahati to Bangkok. Efficiency, my friends!
Now, let me tell you, just before we booked, Thailand decided to scrap visa fees for Indian travelers. Jackpot! That alone saved us a chunk of money. Combined with the relatively cheap flight, things were already looking promising.
We touched down in Bangkok at an ungodly hour—3:30 am. The night was young, and Bangkok was waiting for us. Our flight had landed at Don Mueang Airport (not Suvarnabhumi—because who needs the fancy one, right?). The good thing? Our hotel, Tim Mansion, in the Khao San area, was equally accessible from both airports. So, all roads lead to our little three-star haven. Not to be confused with the wild Khao San Road—that’s the party zone. We were a 20-minute walk away from the madness, in a quieter yet central area. Perfect balance.
Immigration was a breeze, and we quickly got ourselves a SIM card for a cool 1200 Indian rupees. As experienced travelers, we came prepared—40,000 Thai Baht in our wallets. No exchange booths needed this time, unlike in Vietnam where we had to carry US dollars.
Taxi time! The first driver quoted 600 Baht. Yeah, no. With our newfound bargaining skills, thanks to Vietnam, I haggled it down to 400 Baht. Success! And off we went, speeding through the streets of Bangkok at 4 am, the city still shrouded in darkness but alive with the hustle of night markets.
The night market scene was something else. Even at that hour, people were wide awake, selling fruits, vegetables, and who knows what else. It was vibrant, chaotic, and, to top it all off, the majestic glow of Bangkok’s golden temples pierced through the darkness like some kind of ancient neon signs. Temples in Thailand aren’t just buildings; they are luminous works of art, and seeing them bathed in moonlight was surreal.
In no time, we arrived at our hotel. And here’s where things got interesting. I had always wondered, “What happens if you arrive at a hotel in the middle of the night? Do you just sleep on the pavement?” Apparently not. Hotels have this genius invention called a lockbox. The staff had sent me the code the day before, and voila! We got the key like seasoned pros.
Missy crashed out immediately, but I was too pumped to sleep. By 6 am, with the first rays of sunlight breaking through, I decided to go for a wander. It was warm—hot, even—but the city was coming alive. The streets were dotted with morning walkers, food stalls, and the irresistible scent of Thai street food. My obsession with all things oriental was kicking into overdrive. The sights, the smells—everything was just right.
I made my way to Khao San Road, the infamous party street. But at that hour, it looked like a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Litter from last night’s chaos was strewn everywhere, and the few souls awake were busy sweeping up the remnants of last night’s revelry. I chuckled to myself—this was the calm before the next storm.
On the way back to the hotel, I stumbled upon a bustling morning market. The sheer variety of fruits, vegetables, and exotic meats was overwhelming. I mentally bookmarked this as the spot for our first vlog. And then, with excitement brewing in my veins, I returned to the hotel to tell Missy about my find.
Fast forward to noon, after we’d caught up on sleep, we made our way back to the market. Much to my dismay, half the vendors had packed up and left—it was a morning market, after all. But that didn’t stop us. We grabbed some delicious chicken rice from a stall run by a charming Thai woman, who threw in a few complimentary fried chicken pieces after seeing our camera. That’s the travel vlogger life, folks—freebies!
The rest of the day was filled with sampling various foods, including betel nut, which oddly reminded me of Meghalaya. Though, in Thailand, it’s softer. We also found a street full of gun shops. At first, I thought they were selling toy guns, but when I saw the prices—50,000 THB and above—I realized these were the real deal. And yes, you can legally buy a gun in Thailand with a license. Who knew?
To escape the heat, we parked ourselves in a tranquil park for a bit, soaking in the beauty of Bangkok while sweating profusely in the tropical sun. And as we wandered back towards the hotel, we stumbled upon a temple. Missy, being ever-curious, insisted we explore. It was serene, quiet, and a perfect counterbalance to the frenetic energy of the city.
Oh, and a tip for all you future travelers—always buy your water from 7-Eleven. No MRP system here like in India, so the same bottle can cost double in a different store. Stick to 7-Eleven for the cheapest deals!
As the evening rolled in, we ventured out once again, this time to experience the nightlife of Khao San Road. The place is notorious for its party scene, as well as the more adult-oriented side of Bangkok’s nightlife—massage parlors offering more than just a massage. Of course, since I was with Missy, I had no interest in those activities, but it was interesting to witness the variety of experiences Khao San Road offers, from bars and clubs to more unconventional night ventures.
Just as we entered Khao San Road, we spotted a vendor with an array of exotic snacks—fried insects, to be precise. His tray was filled with all kinds of creatures—spiders, scorpions, little snakes, you name it. Since we were vlogging, we decided to step out of our comfort zone and try some. After some contemplation, I went for the scorpion. Missy was game too but opted for a smaller one.
As I bit into the fried scorpion, it was crunchy and surprisingly not as bad as I expected. The flavor was mild, almost like a crispy chip but with an odd aftertaste. Just as I was finishing, a curious Israeli man walked by and asked what I was eating. When I showed him the scorpion, he looked intrigued but hesitant. I encouraged him to take a bite, and after some convincing, he did. It felt great to help someone push past their initial fear and try something new!
After the scorpions, we wandered a bit more before Missy spotted some elephant pants. If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ll know these loose, comfortable pants are a must-have for tourists. They’re lightweight, often decorated with beautiful patterns of elephants or intricate Thai designs, perfect for staying cool in the humid weather. Missy picked out a pair, and they suited her perfectly.
Feeling a little hungry, we grabbed some chicken nuggets from a nearby vendor and also treated ourselves to fresh mango. The fruit in Thailand is unbelievably sweet and juicy, and it was the perfect snack to recharge us for the rest of the night.
To wrap up the vlog in true adventurous fashion, we decided to try one last thing—spider. The vendor initially quoted us a ridiculous price, something like 800 baht, but after some bargaining, we got it down to 200 baht, which was still steep for a single spider. This thing was massive, easily the size of my hand. We decided to share one since it was so expensive.
The spider was much more challenging to eat than the scorpion. It was fried, but the body was thick and gooey inside. The legs were crunchy, and the flavor was strong, with a spicy kick. Missy didn’t have much trouble with it—after all, she grew up in a place where eating grasshoppers and other jungle critters is part of the norm. For me, though, it was tough, especially the center part, which was downright slimy. Compared to the scorpion, the spider was much harder to stomach, but since we were vlogging, I kept up the excitement and powered through.
After finishing the spider, I needed something to cleanse my palate. We found a street vendor selling Thai noodles, and I quickly ordered a bowl with some iced water. The noodles were delicious and exactly what I needed to wash away the lingering taste of spider.
And that’s how we ended our first day in Bangkok. From exploring the morning market to eating scorpions and spiders, it was an incredibly eventful day. We checked off some of the biggest things we wanted to try right from the start, setting the tone for an exciting trip ahead.
Ready to Roll
Arrived in Bangkok
Missy in Bangkok
The Chicken-Rice Place
Missy at a Temple
The Evening Snack
If you enjoyed reading this post, watch the vlogs on YouTube: First Day in Bangkok, Spider Dinner in Khaosan Road.