Our first full day in Bangkok: Chatuchak Weekend Market & more

A weekend in Bangkok would be incomplete without a visit to Thailand’s largest market, containing more than 15,000 stalls of goods ranging from clothing, furniture, antiques, food, plants, anything really!

Passing out early from the heat and jet lag. The next morning would be our first day trip outside the city for temple hopping.We arrive bright and early to avoid the crowds. Roaming the dozens of indoor and outdoor rows, dodging the blazing sun, we picked up a few items - a belt, a sarong, a shirt, a satchel, and a most refreshing bag of MANGO!

After spending a couple hours in the market, we walked to MBK Food Island to pick up lunch. Food courts in SEA are quite different than their American counterparts; you’ll find delectable, no-frills local dishes at cheap prices. We enjoyed more noodles, and a bit of coconut ice cream with loads of toppings for Deana.

As many of you know, walking is our mutually preferred method of transportation. Home to more than 8 million people, Bangkok is not the most walkable city - the air pollution is quite thick and crosswalks are few and far between. Even sidewalks can be sparse in certain areas of the city. We learned early to be extra vigilant of cars and motorbikes - you sort of just have to sprint across the traffic and pray.

Still alive, we explored the city on foot for the rest of the afternoon, making our way in the evening to Lumpini Park for some much needed green space in smoggy Bangkok. We relaxed on a bench by the water, and witnessed a mass dance-meets-tae-bo dance class en plein air, attended by more than a hundred locals of all ages and genders. A fun taste of the local culture.

Passing out early from the heat and jet lag. The next morning would be our first day trip outside the city for temple hopping.