First impressions from Bangkok

Arrived in Thailand. Our flight was exciting in the sense that our first flight took off an hour late from Zurich! With concern, we board the plane and hope that not only we, but also our luggage will make it to the big plane transfer. After a sprint through the halls of Frankfurt Airport, we finally manage to make it on time (and without an oxygen tent, although we could use one). And we are really, really relieved when our backpacks actually appear on the conveyor belt in Bangkok. The journey into the city is quick thanks to the subway, except that we still have to get used to the conditions in Thailand (always watch what the locals do, line up in a row in front of the doors, one by one, let everyone get off, wait another 1-2 minutes until the conductor has checked all the cars, then a whistle through the whistle - THEN we can get on). Unfortunately, the first taxi driver we catch at the end station has to drop us off again soon because he doesn't seem to understand our destination. Taxi number two luckily takes us to our hotel on Khao San Road, which will surprise us very negatively in the evening. We spend our day walking and taking a short ride on Bangkok's river, where we get on and off at random after we managed to get a ticket in the absolute chaos at the pier in a one-by-one line of confused tourists. On the way, we catch glimpses of the outer walls and spires of the Grand Palace, which we will save for our second visit to Bangkok.

Our first Thai curry with mango rice and morning glory water spinach tastes heavenly good and already now we are looking forward to being able to enjoy such delicious meals more often in the future! In addition, we start our big journey with two very big Chang beers! When we then return to our street, with a strong fatigue due to jet lag, we experience our true blue miracle! Suddenly, there are many restaurants set up with tents, dozens of food stalls, even more bars and some open-air clubs that have already started the night with heavy bass. Since our hotel room has thin windows directly facing the street, it's as if we are sleeping in a club, or rather in several, considering that we can hear 5 party hits at the same time. In a half-sleep, we then read on Google that we actually live on a very famous street, in the middle of the "backpacker ghetto," on the "most legendary backpacker street in the world," in the "party universe" - well, wonderful. That doesn't speak well for travel planning talent! But we take it easy and still sleep very well when at 2.30 am all the clubs outside turn off the music at the same time. Good night Bangkok! All in all, the city has welcomed us in a friendly, exciting, lively, and loud manner - but we like it! The next evening, we board the night train that takes us to Chiang Mai.