#2: Chinatown & Wat Suthat

January 17, 2020

The first 'real' day of the trip! After a restful night at the hostel, we start our first exploration tour through Thailand's bustling capital in the afternoon.

Our first stop is Chinatown. It is decorated in a typical Chinese style (from a tourist's point of view) and the market streets are extremely crowded. Here you can get everything: from food to carpets to jewelry. Attracted by the scent, we also grab our first 'deep fried pork' here. We do not question the storage of raw pork at 35°C in a plastic bag. It is certainly a particularly insulated and cooled plastic bag.

Afterwards, our first temple is on the agenda: Wat Suthat. Of course, here the customs are to be respected and shoes are to be taken off! The temple is not very big, but very impressive and not overrun by tourist hordes. The visit was free, although it could not be clarified until the end whether we accidentally entered the temple through the exit.

In the evening, we have dinner in Bangkok style by having our meal at a street vendor. We follow the locals' lead, as the food is likely to be good there. However, we decide against the most popular stand, as the tables are already fully booked until the end of March and there are at least 30 people waiting for take away. With the presumably third best stand, there is an acceptable waiting time. The food is excellent, as expected. For around 50 - 60 ฿ (1.50 - 1.90 €), you get a full meal.