• Rita Yee
  • Rita Yee

To the East

Korea, Mongolia, Thailand and Bhutan Læs mere
  • From Paro to Bangkok

    21. juni 2023, Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    Travel day! Our group was split into 2 different flights. I’m the afternoon group and I realize that because we got in so early on day 1, I had the advantage of actually spending 10 days in Bhutan.

    The morning was lazy as we just went into town for last minute shopping before going to have rustic Bhutanese hot stone baths. Our bus pulled up to a farmhouse so the experience is probably as authentic as can be. My room had the wooden tub but you could clearly see how it protrudes through an outer wall where they can place additional hot stones. There is still sufficient privacy though as one would have to be obvious or make an effort to really peek in. It was definitely needed to help soothe our muscles from the hike.

    Paro airport is quite small and there were issues exchanging currency back before and after security. At least there’s a few shops and cafe inside to spend the last of your cash. Luckily we didn’t have too much after the bath.

    In Bangkok, smooth though stormy sailing to the hotel where a jacuzzi awaited in my hotel room.
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  • Eat Shop Drop

    22. juni 2023, Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    Full day in Bangkok for eats and shops. I headed to Thipsamui for bib gourmand pad Thai and it was really good. I got distracted and took the place a couple doors down for it though due to the line up. The other place Raan Jay Fai is also part of the Michelin recognition but the wait was hours. By the time I finished eating, the line had only moved 5 numbers and still 40 parties ahead of where I would’ve been.

    Next stop big gourmand mango sticky rice and Kor Pancit. The sticky rice is indeed fluffy but I’ve had sweeter mango. Still just a short walk and worth trying. Both food places where near Chinatown so I got a chance to briefly revisit old Bangkok - a striking but welcome difference to where I stayed this time around.

    Shopping next checking out Icon Siam and Asiatique. Bangkok sure knows its malls. Icon Siam is modern and super cool to wander through, the ground level is where you’ll find a faux floating market and souvenir shops as well as street food. A modern dining space is on level 6 where I had terrace views of the Chao Phraya from James Boulangerie.

    A fairly easy hop on the boat down river to Asiatique. I didn’t get a lot of time here last trip and didn’t stay too long this time as most stalls weren’t open yet since it is more of a night market despite the hours. Now that I have Grab I’m sure there’ll be a third visit. This year is Disney’s 100 here so the grounds have strongly been Disney-fied.

    Took a Grab back to the hotel and took care of laundry and more wandering in the neigbourhood to Terminal 21 before a scrub and massage at Viva Jiva Spa at Landmark Hotel. It was a really relaxing experience and the perfect end to a long trip.
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