Selamat Tinggal, Indonesia! Sawadi Kap, Thailand!

And Here We Go—A New Adventure Begins!

Leaving Indonesia was a mix of nostalgia and excitement. After two months there, Thailand was calling, and honestly, we were excited to finally experience the famous "Land of Smiles."

A Rocky Start at Denpasar Airport

Thailand offers a 60-day visa-free stay, but there was one problem—our round-the-world ticket showed that we were staying until March 17. Do the math—that’s way more than 60 days!

The immigration officers wanted proof that we’d leave the country before then. No network, no way to pull up documents quickly—the tension was real. Thankfully, our Vietnam flights saved the day, but it took a long and stressful back-and-forth before we were cleared.

Finally, On Our Way!

Once on board our Thai Airways flight, we could finally relax.

Martin, on the other hand? He celebrated takeoff like it was a party, then promptly fell asleep for four hours. Considering the flight was only 4.5 hours long, he basically slept through an entire trip across the equator—effortlessly. 😆

Bangkok: Welcome to the Buzzing Energy

We’ve arrived in Bangkok. Our first impression? The heat, the noise, and the feeling that everything is in constant motion. But surprisingly, the heat is more bearable than in some parts of Bali.

We drop our bags at a well-located hostel, perfect for exploring the city. And then, our first real Thai street food experience—stir-fried noodles, sticky rice… The flavors explode in our mouths, and we instantly understand why Thai cuisine is ranked among the best in the world. Even the kids love it.

A Dive into Spiritual Bangkok

The next day, we immerse ourselves in Bangkok’s spiritual side with a visit to Wat Pho, home to the famous Reclining Buddha.

This 46-meter-long statue, covered in gold leaf, is stunning. Its feet, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, depict the 108 Buddhist symbols of perfection. Surrounding it, the Chedis—bell-shaped towers adorned with colorful mosaics—hold relics and ashes of monks. It’s fascinating and impressive, even for the kids.

Tuk-Tuk Adventures

Since we’re in Bangkok, we just have to try the tuk-tuks—motorbikes with a small cabin, weaving their way through cars, scooters, and pedestrians.

The kids love it, and of course, after one ride, they’re already asking for more!

Exploring the Canals

After a delicious meal, we hopped onto a boat on the Chao Phraya River—a practical and budget-friendly way to travel—and ventured into the city’s canals.

Here, the atmosphere is completely different: quieter, more local, with stilt houses and everyday life unfolding before us.

An Unexpected Encounter

A surprise moment: we spotted a crocodile in the distance. Don’t worry—it was far away.

What was less reassuring, however, were the chopped-up crocodile parts we saw in some street markets. Let’s just say, these stalls aren’t for the faint of heart… #Anaïs

And that wasn’t our only reptile encounter. One morning, while waiting for a taxi in front of our hostel, a huge monitor lizard casually strolled past us.

He definitely looked way more comfortable than we did!

Little Pleasures and Local Surprises

Bangkok is a city where modernity and tradition constantly intertwine.

We took advantage of our time here to visit Siam Paragon, a massive shopping mall, perfect for finding small gifts for Saint-Nicolas and Martin’s birthday.

A huge thank you to our friends who sent surprises by mail for Saint-Nicolas—the kids were so excited to receive their packages at the hostel! ❤️

And then, there are the hidden treasures of 7-Eleven—those 24/7 convenience stores where you can find just about anything.

From mystery snacks and exotic drinks to ready-to-heat meals (#croque-monsieur), every visit is an adventure. Some of the products are so good that we can’t help but wonder, why don’t we have this back home?!

Khao San Road and Other Discoveries

We couldn’t resist checking out Khao San Road, the legendary backpacker street.

It’s loud, bustling, and lined with food stalls, souvenir shops, and bars packed with travelers. Definitely not the most kid-friendly spot, but still an experience in itself—a mix of chaos and celebration, where you see people from all over the world.

Bangkok: A City That Deserves More Time

In just three days, we got a taste of Bangkok’s many faces—but that’s nowhere near enough to truly explore this sprawling, ever-changing city.

We could have spent weeks here and still barely scratched the surface.

Next Stop: Heading North!

Our next adventure takes us to northern Thailand. To get there, we’ve booked a night bus… but not just any bus! We’ll tell you all about it in the next episode.

After 10 hours on the road, we’ll have the amazing opportunity to meet some much larger mammals. Any guesses? Stay tuned for the surprise!

Bangkok was an intense first glimpse of Thailand, and we’re already excited to see what the rest of the country has in store for us.

Hugs from here, and see you soon for the next adventure! 🌏