Thailand 🇹🇭

My dear ones, I finally have the time to tell you about Thailand, specifically Bangkok and Pattaya.

My backpack was bothering me a little because I didn't want to carry so many things with me, so I left it in Singapore since I would be there again a week later and it's better to travel with light luggage.

Arriving in Bangkok, I felt like a foreigner, which I am, but I don't want to feel that way. Very little English, but a lot of foreign characters.

I changed my money and found my way to the subway smoothly. When it came to paying, I was confused... "Where is my ticket?" I thought to myself and stared at that black token. Well, I thought, I'll just use the token then.

In Singapore, I already got a Thai SIM card, which I'm really glad about. I spent the last three days without mobile data and everything went fine, but let's be honest, we rely on our phone/internet, especially when exploring a city.

Anyway, I was happy to have internet.

I received very poor directions to the Airbnb accommodation and felt more than lost. After searching for ages, I ended up in a rather strange area and thought to myself, "This will be interesting with the accommodation." After a phone call, the woman was kind enough to walk towards me and after check-in, I went to the container. After being so excited about my last extraordinary accommodation, I thought I wanted something like that again and I was glad to have found this accommodation.

When I was at the Grand Palace, some students interviewed me. One of the questions was about my favorite place/country in the whole world and without thinking twice, I said New Zealand.

I mostly took the subway towards the city center and decided along the way where I actually wanted to go. Then I would be asked by a scooter driver, a taxi driver, or a tuk-tuk driver where I wanted to go.

I always clearly stated where I wanted to go, and then usually received a response in broken English that, for example, it's cheaper to go by boat, so I agreed to this deal and then realized at the harbor that it costs about 10 times as much.

Apart from that, you are often approached near tuk-tuks with the pretext of "I'm waiting for my sister or someone else..." and then you are addressed about the nearby sights, where there is always an attempt to sell you a tuk-tuk.

I have the feeling that everyone is in cahoots and working together. I really enjoyed riding in a tuk-tuk, but if I say I want to go "there," I don't want to end up somewhere else due to poor English skills and I don't want to hear a thousand other suggestions.

Speaking of English. The calculator was always ready on the markets to enter the price since English doesn't get you far.

So here, communication often takes place with gestures, and even a Namaste 🙏 came unconsciously after a while, because I wasn't sure if my "Thanks" was understood.

The Airbnb hostess (such a sweetheart) almost always asked me where I was going, and I always told her, but honestly, I think she didn't understand a thing.

I have two brothers and have now also met great friends from Dubai who speak English very well, which I really needed.

The Grand Palace is undoubtedly beautiful, but I don't like crowded places. I want to take my time, take pictures in peace, and enjoy the quietness of a temple. It's an incredibly beautiful and large temple, but in my opinion, the Buddhist temple next to the Grand Palace is much more beautiful because it's not well visited, and a temple is even more beautiful because of its tranquility.

Anyway, the Grand Palace was way too noisy. Have you ever listened closely to screaming Asians? It sounded like a battle, and you were bombarded by tour guides from every direction. One voice worse than the other, and I had to suppress my laughter. So I didn't spend much time there and quickly left the temple.

What I find particularly interesting about nightlife is the fact that around 3/4 o'clock in the morning, so many children come up to you to sell something or beg for money.

I always find it shocking to witness such things, but somehow it also makes you feel good because in these moments, you always realize how well off you are and how much you appreciate your own life situation.

We had the company of a little boy for at least half an hour one night (at 4 o'clock), and during that time, I also noticed again that you don't have to speak the same language to understand each other well. Laughter is and remains the most beautiful language on earth. :)

One day, I took the bus to Pattaya, a city two hours away from Bangkok. My reason for changing locations was the fact that two cousins of mine live there, and I wanted to say hello. In Pattaya, I met nice people from France, Italy, Turkey,... and had a great night with them in the clubs of Pattaya, and the next morning, I headed back to Bangkok.