bangkok adventures continued…
Day 4: Floating Market, Siam Shopping
If you’re researching what to do in bangkok, a floating market is one of the main things to do that pops up in every travel guide. I asked Vichida if we could go to one and she suggested Kwan Riam Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำขวัญ เรียม). The market isn’t a typical floating market but it’s close to the city. The other more popular markets are a bit farther and harder to reach.
When we got there, I was surprised to see that most of the shops were on land and not on boats. But despite this, it was a lively market filled with lots of locals and great food stands. We tried so many things and I’m so glad I was with locals to help choose the best stands! We ate thai sausages, deep fried wontons with chili sauce, thai chicken, mango sticky rice, other snacks, and of course thai tea! I would highly recommend a floating market if you love to eat and try new foods. There were so many thai snacks that I’ve never heard of or seen before. So it was nice to get a taste of the local foods!
After the market, we went home to change and then made our way to the Siam Hotel for High Tea. If you’re looking for a great insta moment, definitely add this to your list! The hotel itself is stunning. Technically, if you’re not a guest of the hotel you cannot go into the hotel grounds past the main lobby area. But its pretty easy to sneak past and blend in. The high tea is about $25 USD and comes with your choice of tea, finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts. Since it was so hot outside, we opted for the iced tea. The food that came with the set was okay but not amazing. But for the pictures and atmosphere was worth the visit. We were so full so we couldn’t finish everything…come with an empty stomach! After finishing, we explored the hotel and took some pics. While they aren’t very strict to enforce their rules, you should dress a bit upscale and pretend like you are a guest of the hotel! It’s a five-star resort and the decor definitely reflects that!
To end the night, we explored the malls in Siam specifically to visit the Editors Market (https://www.theeditorsmarket.com/home). Editors Market is a super cute Singaporean brand with cute basic pieces with modern style. The sizes run similar to American sizing and come in S/M/L, but might be a bit on the smaller side. You definitely have to try each style on to find the perfect fit!
Day 5: Ayutthaya
The next morning, we headed out early to go to Ayutthaya. We drove from bangkok but you can also take a train or join a tour. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO heritage site with breathtaking temple and palace ruins. It was once a booming area but was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century. What remains today, are the ruins of the beautiful city. If you’re going to Ayutthaya, plan ahead which temples you want to go to. The weather was above 90 degrees when we went and can be miserably hot. So plan to drive around or rent some bikes!!
After driving for a couple of hours, we stopped to get the famous grilled prawns for an early lunch. The restaurant is กินกุ้งเผา ที่ ร้านต้นน้ำริเวอร์วิว, in all honestly I have no clue where it is, but you definitely need a car or bus to get here. While a bit expensive, the prawns were delicious, juicy, and worth the price. We also enjoyed some papaya salad and thai chicken wings. If you’re going to Ayutthaya, the prawns are a must!
After stuffing our stomachs, we headed to see the temples! Our first stop was to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. I really wanted to find the famous reclining buddha - this temple holds the smaller one of two in the area. All the main temples have entrance fees. We were lucky as the office was closed when we got there, we just walked in. Out of all the temples we visited, this one seemed very well preserved. The grounds were huge and there was a lot to see. This one in particular had a bunch of buddha statues lining the main temple area. They are strict about covering up so make sure to wear modest clothing or bring a thin jacket to throw over!
Next, we went to Wat Phra Ram, which is apparently featured in a popular bangkok film! The grounds were deteriorating way more and had many headless buddha statues…we didn’t brush up on the history beforehand so mainly just went to admire the architecture. We were lucky with sunny weather, perfect for enjoying the red brick tiles and greenery growing around. My favorite part of buildings were the weeds and plants that have started to grow out of the red bricks. It truly is a beautiful area.
On our search for the real reclining buddha, we google mapped to a gated community and were frantically trying to find it. You should map to Wat Lokaya Sutha, which is the actual site where the buddha is resting! Its way farther than the other temples, so I would highly recommend a car if you want to visit here as well. This was probably my favorite, and the most photogenic stop of the day. The grounds are free to enter, so you can enjoy the buddha in all its glory for free! There were many Japanese tourists, but also a few locals who came to pay their respects. Make sure to catch the buddha against the sunny blue sky.
Our last temple stop was Wat Mahathat which many people know for the buddha head in the tree. This temple was the most strict on dress code. They were even turning some tourists away for shorts and tank tops. I cannot stress enough, to plan ahead!! They have tourist shops selling sarongs and coverups, but its much cheaper to be prepared with your own shawl or cardigan. While the buddha tree was one of the main attractions of this temple, the area is roped off so you cannot go close up to it. To me, it was a bit underwhelming and my least favorite of all the places we had been to. There was also a bit of construction going on during the time.
After sweating all day, we decided to enjoy a ice cold drink at Busaba Cafe. The cafe is connected to the Busaba hotel. They have english friendly menus so it’s a great place if you don’t speak thai! We tried the butterfly pea smoothie, fries with dipping sauces, and a thai tea granita topped with thai tea ice cream, coconut shavings, grass jelly, and thai cotton candy (yummmmmm). We also stopped at Sala Ayutthaya which was a short ways down the street. They had a free gallery with paintings of the old emperor of Thailand. Sala Ayutthaya is a fancy restaurant and hotel, but we went in just for the pictures. If you’re looking for an upscale meal, you can consider here! It lays along the river which would probably have a great view. The architecture of Sala Ayutthaya is modeled after the ruins in area but has a slight modern twist. It was a great photo opportunity if you’re interested! Before heading back to the city, we stopped to get some thai cotton candy, one of Vichida’s childhood favorites! It was so fun to try new local foods. The thai cotton candy looks like colorful strings. And they come with a side of flour tortilla-like pancakes. Sooo good! We also stopped to get our nails done on the way home nearby Vichida’s place. For a mani-pedi, it was equivalent to $20 USD…IM AMAZED. And finally, to end the night, I tried some thai noodle soup, that resembled Oxtail Soup but with braised pork and a bit of Thai vinegar taste.
Day 6: Silom Cooking School, Last day
My final full day in bkk started off slow. We tried to go to Platinum, a major mall, but ended up not having enough time as bangkok traffic can be horrible. After getting into the city, we caught a train to head to our cooking class at Silom Cooking School. This school is made specifically for foreigners but Vichida was able to accompany me even as a Thai national. I HIGHLY recommend booking a class here. The interior was decorated to perfection, and the staff was so nice. For around $30 USD, you get a full on five-course menu that you cook yourself! The total class took around three hours to finish. At the start of the tour, you go to the nearby market and learn about thai herbs and veggies, and pick up the ingredients you will cook with. They provide you with a cute apron, and perfectly arrange each dish and portion for you at the table. We made tom yum soup, pad thai with shrimp & tofu, green papaya salad, red curry from scratch, and of course mango sticky rice! What a way to end my trip. After making each dish, you sit in the dining area to enjoy what you’ve made. We were stuffed by the end of the course and it was such a great experience to enjoy with friends or your family!
We met up with Vichida’s friend after dinner to stuff our faces for one last meal. This was truly an all-day eating adventure! We went to a michelin star recommended restaurant that has hong kong and thai infused dishes. Honestly still full from the cooking class, but we powered through and had some seafood curry, wagyu beef rice bowls, and river prawn with glass noodles. For dessert, we went all out and enjoyed some cream-filled buns from a shop in chinatown AND tried some dessert shave ice from a famous chain called “After You”. I can safely say, I left thailand full and probably ten pounds heavier.
Day 7:
I had an 11 AM flight, so sadly I left Vichidas house around 7 AM to head to the airport. My trip to Thailand went beyond expectations. The food was to die for and I definitely see myself visiting again! Hopefully in the near future :)
Trip Costs:
Flight- $250
Money Exchange - $270
Extra Spending - $60
Lodging: Free
Total - $580 USD
Individual Costs:
Siam High Tea - 750 baht : http://www.thesiamhotel.com/afternoon-tea
Ayutthaya Temples - 50 baht each
Silom Cooking School - 1,000 baht : http://www.bangkokthaicooking.com/2018/main/index.php
