Third times a charm! My first time in Bangkok, I saw a few markets, rode a water taxi, and got to visit the Grand Palace. The second time, I saw more markets, rode the sky train, and visited Wat Arun. Now, after my third visit, I feel like I’ve finally seen enough of Bangkok to claim I know what Thailand’s huge (population 8.3 million) capital has to offer.
Bangkok is a very cosmopolitan city, with a big emphasis on shopping. Excessively large shopping malls with high-end brands, tech gadgets, and lots of windows are a part of the culture there. Being the budget traveler that I am, I wasn’t really planning on checking out that part of the city, but after destroying my phone in Erawan Falls, Jackie and I started the search for a replacement. There are no Apple stores in Thailand, so we started out at MBK, a shopping mall that seems more like an indoor market, with the entire fourth floor dedicated to hundreds of vendors selling every type of phone, tablet, and accessory available, with varying degrees of authenticity. After an hour in the chaos, we decided to try to find an Apple Authorized Seller rather than try our luck with a questionable stand. All of the shopping malls in the Siam neighborhood are connected through intricate skywalks and escalators, so we walked through Siam Discovery and Siam Center to get to Siam Paragon, each mall more luxurious and high-end than the last. At the apple authorized seller in Siam Paragon, I was told that they only sell phones, not fix them, so I had to take yet another skywalk to Amarin Plaza (another mall), where I was finally able to exchange my phone. Although I could’ve done without having to buy a new phone in Thailand, it did give Jackie and I a chance to see the expensive side of the city. And after a long day of phone shopping (yes, it took all day) we stopped into the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center, which is also connected via skywalk.
Bangkok traffic 
Sunset at a skywalk in Siam
Later we stopped at Chinatown for a dessert of sesame balls in hot ginger tea (it sounds weird but tastes hot like Fruit Loops).
Chinatown! 
Doesn’t quite look like your average dessert
Day two was for the temples! While there are hundreds of temples in and around the city, a few stand out. Jackie and I visited Wat Pho, a temple famous for being next door to the Grand Palace and housing Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha and Wat Saket, AKA The Golden Mount, with its panoramic views of the skyline. We also stopped by Wat Loha Prasat, which happened to be right across the street from our hostel.
Statues 
Colors 
Pagodas at Wat Pho 
More Wat Pho pagodas 
Wat Saket 
The stairs at Wat Saket 
Bangkok! 
Wat Loha Prasat 
Staring into each other’s eyes
At night we explored the center of the backpacking universe (Khao San Road) and the slightly less hectic Soi Rambuttri next door. Jackie discovered the joy of roti (see description in this post about Thai food) and haggling prices for elephant pants and Chang beer tank t-shirts, and the absolute lack of joy in eating a scorpion.
90 baht buckets 
Khao San Rd at night 
Khao San Rd in daylight
Before sending Jackie off back to America, we spent her last day getting Thai massages and exploring Chatuchak Weekend Market (also known as JJ Market), where she finally got to try my favorite Thai food, Tom Yum Noodle Soup, and loved it as much as I do.
So. Many. Hallways. 
Popsicles! 
When the kitchen looks like this, the food is going to be good. 
Jackie loving her To. Yum Noodles. 
Me loving my coconut ice cream but Jackie’s allergic but still having a good time.
I had one more day to kill in Bangkok, so I spent it looking for water monitors in Lumphini Park. After almost 6 months in Thailand, I still hadn’t seen one of these carnivorous, alligator-like creatures, but I was determined. It paid off and I saw FIVE wandering around the park! I celebrated with a trip to the Unicorn Cafe in Silom!
Silom neighborhood 
A water monitor at Lumphini Park (I got yelled at by Thai women whenever I tried to get closer for a photo) 
The Unicorn Cafe 
This cupcake was delicious 
So much pink and glitter
😀