S1 E31 | First Impressions of Bangkok and Visa on Arrival

After an overnight flight from Kolkata (AirAsia – INR 13,545), we arrived in Bangkok at 4:30 a.m. The airport was surprisingly quiet—quite different from the usual bustling DMK! We took a cheap ride into the city for a couple of dollars.

Exhausted from no sleep, we checked into Ploy Hostel (THB 352) and caught some much-needed rest before heading out.

Our first stop was Wat Saket (Golden Mount), a beautiful historical site that offers panoramic views of Bangkok. The climb up the mount is a mix of steep stairs and peaceful paths surrounded by greenery. At the top, the golden pagoda and 360-degree city views are simply breathtaking (Wat Saket entry: THB 100). We loved the mist, the greenery, waterfalls, and quirky statues dotted around the paths. The peaceful prayers and chanting added to the serene experience.

For lunch, we grabbed a simple meal of veggies and rice (THB 40) and pad thai with water (THB 72) at a local spot—perfect fuel for exploring.

Later, we explored a local night market popular on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This spot was full of vibrant restaurants and street food stalls—Thai, Indian, Korean, and more. We enjoyed a passion fruit juice and coconut shake (THB 55) while soaking in the lively atmosphere. For dinner, we had a delicious falafel meal at Shoshana (THB 150) on Khao San road.

Since this was our first international trip in nearly three years, we also shared our experience with Thailand’s visa on arrival (VOA) as of 2022 – this has now chnaged with Thailand offering 30 days visa-free entry to Indian passport holders. We were pleasantly surprised: the general lane was almost empty, and the visa process took less than five minutes! Meanwhile, the priority lane was packed. Lesson learned: patience (and a general lane) can save time.

First impressions of Bangkok? Amazing! The city feels lively, colorful, and full of energy. Even after a long journey, exploring the streets, temples, and local spots reminded us why we love travel so much.

It’s also a reminder that vlogging takes practice—after a short break, we realized we needed to get back into the rhythm of capturing moments and telling the story in real-time.

We also bought international travel insurance (INR 8,500 for six months) before leaving India – its something we always get before travelling overseas. 

Bangkok is just the beginning of our Thailand adventure, and we can’t wait to share more from the city and beyond!