If you are reading this post, you are reading my first ever blog post about my first ever solo trip as a traveler. The reason I chose Thailand (after reading a gazillion blog posts, of course) is that it is safe, traveler-friendly and cheap. I arrived in Bangkok on an early August morning. The national airport Suvarnabhumi Airport is a huge, state-of-the-art airport. Immigration was easy although the queues were loooooooong. Here’s a not-so-good click from my taxi.

Suvarnabhumi Airport from my taxi

Morning traffic in Bangkok is crazy. It took me an hour and a half to reach my hotel that was just 34 km away.

The signature neon colored taxis in Bangkok

I slept off half of my first day in Bangkok as I was tired after a more than 10 hours long journey. I strolled around the area in the evening and just absorbed Thailand in. I stayed in the Sathorn area. The pier was at a walking distance so I just walked there after having my first meal in Thailand. Tom Yum soup and Thai green Papaya salad.

Tom Yum soup

Thai green papaya salad

My first stop in Bangkok was the Asiatique-The Riverfront. It’s a night market that opens around 4 pm. I was lucky that my hotel was nearby so I just walked to the pier and took a ferry. You’ll find Asiatique tourist ferries at thet piers too but they are usually very crowded. A good bet is to ride tourist boats (blue flag) for a nominal fair.  For more about ferries and boats in Bangkok, Here is a useful link. 

Asiatique is a boutique market, It’s not one of those authentic night markets Bangkok is famous for. The warehouses in this market once belonged to East Asiatic freight company. Once you arrive there, you see the iconic ferris wheel that you can ride for 200 bahts. As for a motion-sick person like me, no thanks!

You will find several food options here. You might also strike some good deals here but if you are looking to buy souvenirs, this is not the place. It’s a small fancy market. I enjoyed strolling through it. Here are some clicks from around the market.

Chaophraya River and Bangkok skyline

A visit to this market marked the end of my first day in Thailand. Posts on Grand Temple and Ayuthaya are on their way.

Love xx