This was where my cousin and I went in 2023. Check right sidebar for Thailand/Malaysia Trip 2023 to see what we actually did at each stop. Quite a journey!
Depart USA June 1
Check-in Bangkok June 3
Check-in Chiang Mai June 14 Check-in Bangkok June 23 Check-in Sam Roi Yat June 29 Check-in Bangkok July 6 Check-in Kuala Lumpur July 10 Depart Bangkok July 17 Arrive USA July 18
This is what my cousin were able to do last year. Used only BTS and MRT. No taxis. Included miles we walked each day.
Saturday (June 3)
*Cafe Amazon - Siam Square *Siam Paragon - lunch *Siam Center *Siam Discovery *MBK Shopping Center *Pathuwan Princess Hotel pool & spa
7.5 miles
Sunday (June 4) *Benjakitti Park *Benjakitti Forest Park *Massage *Custard Nakamura *Emquartier *Emporium
6 miles
Monday (June 5) *Jim Thompson Home Museum *MBK Shopping Center - lunch *Central Embassy *Char Rooftop Bar *Custard Nakamura *Massage *Robinhood pub *Nana Plaza
After arriving in Bangkok and exchanging some currency at Super Rich (bottom floor of the airport), we hopped on the SRT (airport rail link) and made our way into the city. We then switched to the BTS, which would take us to our hotel. Good thing our luggage had wheels!
Since we were early for check-in, they stored our luggage while we went out to explore the surrounding area. I had a route in mind.
Cafe Amazon - Siam Square Mall > Siam Paragon - view of Wat + lunch > Siam Center > Siam Discovery > MBK Center > Pathuwan Princess Hotel pool & spa
The first of many shrines & spirit houses!
Made it to Kinokuniya bookstore, inside Siam Paragon. From this bookstore, you can look out a window and see a beautiful temple. It's always a nice view! Click here for a short video I made of it years ago.
Robert Greene & Osho
Teasing me!
We ate lunch at the Siam Paragon Food Court. I noticed these murals.
Yep, that's a DQ.
That's a great view!
Standing out by the pool at the Pathuwan Princess. In the distance is the National Stadium.
When you travel from the East Coast (USA) to Southeast Asia, there's about a 12-hour time difference. And they say for each hour of time difference, you need a whole day to feel like your normal self and to be in your normal rhythm. In essence, that means you need about two weeks to be at your best. To deal with jet leg and time-difference brain fog, I try to immediately take advantage of my day. In other words, I try to be very active. I also attempt very early or late night activities I might never do otherwise.
Since we were wide awake long before the crack of dawn, we were itching to go do something.
I was awake with the birds!
I took my cousin to Benjakitti Park and Benjakitti Forest Park for a sunrise walk. It was actually very pleasant - the temp, the breeze and lack of noise.
In Asheville, I spy bears. In Bangkok, I spy monitor lizards. This one is a bit small!
I wish we had these signs back home. I love dogs, but you need to pick up after them.
After the parks, we walked back to the BTS, then took it to Phrom Phong station. And can you believe it, we got our first massages at 10 AM in the morning?! This is another example of doing the unusual to deal with jet lag. Massages are also great for it anyway. And i think being the first customer might mean the best massage!
I got mine here. Looks like your typical massage shop in Bangkok, except it has a slightly worn-out facade.
When I was done, I walked over to meet my cousin at the massage shop, Phunnee, where he was getting his first traditional Thai massage. It was a place I recommended and have been going to for years.
When he was done, I walked him over to Custard Nakamura, a Japanese sandwich, pastry and sweet shop. It's a place I love. And it's always packed!
After that, we wandered around Emquartier, one of Bangkok's luxury malls. I know it may seem silly, but malls over there are pretty fantastic. They're not dying off.
I saw this US brand ice cream. Made me think of my Atlanta cousin's husband, Bud.
We walked up to a balcony. Had nice views of the BTS (skytrain) and city.
Look down there. That green multi-story shophouse is I Care Massage, where I had enjoyed a massage earlier.
I took this photo for an Asheville friend who loves Latin Dancing. She had actually checked out this very club two months earlier.
We actually had lunch at Emquartier's food hall. It's basically a super nice food court, and all the malls have them. Hard thing is deciding what to eat!
When we were done at the Emquartier - and we walked the highest floors - we then went across the street to the Emporium. I wanted to show my cousin another barber where he could potentially get his beard trimmed. He was impressed with it.
We walked to the Jim Thompson House Museum. Of course, I like to remind everybody, it's where I first met my wife Kade many years ago. She was working there.
This is the spirit house in the back garden of the house. You will see it one of the historic photos below.
This is the spirit house at the entrance to the Jim Thompson House property. I recall many times seeing Kade stop for a moment to pay respect, clasping her hands together and "Wai-ing" in front of the spirit house. Click here to learn more about Spirit Houses.
For lunch, we walked over to MBK Center. Locals call it simply MBK or its longer name, Mahboonkrong. It's been around a while. It's a massive shopping, entertainment & dining complex.
Back over at the hotel, I made my way to the rooftop garden, where I had great views of the city.
That's the National Stadium on the right. Can you believe Michael Jackson performed there in the '90s?
In the distance, left of center, the tallest building is King Power Mahanakhon.
These facilities were built for the Asian Games - I think, in the '80s. You can see the swimming pool on the left. In front of it, and out of view, is an arena for volleyball, badminton or basketball.
Over to the left, that long beige building with the hotel at the far end, is MBK Center. That hotel is the Pathuwan Princess. The day we arrived in Bangkok, my cousin and I walked to that hotel and checked out the views from the swimming pool.
That yellow boutique hotel is one I considered for this trip.
Over to left - way out there - is Iconsiam and the two residential towers next to it. It's on the Chao Phraya River.
My cousin took these two images from his hotel room.
In the evening, I took my cousin to Central Embassy to look around. Afterwards, we walked to Hotel Indigo. Their rooftop bar, Char, is one of my favorites in Bangkok.
Once we were done with drinks, we took the BTS to Phrom Phong station. We bought some take-home sandwiches and sweets at Custard Nakamura. We ended up at The Robin Hood, where I got a drink at the bar. My cousin to a liking to the pub and visited once or twice more.
The heat and humidity, combined with the very cool AC in the hotel and at malls, started making me feel a little sick. Strepsils are soothing.
Bought this snazzy phone case at MBK.
Taking care of business!
Walked another 6.95 miles.
Now you see why it's easy to lose weight in Thailand?
