A girl in...Bangkok, Thailand (2013)

May 5, 2013 -- This is my second time in Thailand and it never ceases to captivate me. I'm not sure if it's the frenetic energy, crazy heat and humidity, or just the stark differences between life there versus my life back home that keeps me coming back for more. This time, our merry band of travelers (myself, my brother and my cousin), will be enjoying two days in Bangkok before heading to Siem Reap, Cambodia, coming back to Bangkok for one day, then heading off to Phuket and ultimately Bali, Indonesia.

For my brother and cousin, this was their first trip to the capital city and they were understandably excited. We stayed in a little budget hotel, the Bangkok Loft Inn located in the Thonburi area. It was simple, very budget friendly and clean.

Bangkok Loft Inn
55 (Near Soi Taksin 7, close to UOB Bank)
Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Rd., Bangyeerua

Near the hotel were places to eat to satiate any late night hunger pangs. On our first night, we heartily dug into some good noodles, Thai iced tea and some other crunchy snacks...

What we ate

 Fried meal worms, anyone?

Or maybe wok fried ants with scallions and lemon grass is more to your liking? Surprisingly, both these dishes were tasty, though we favored the meal worms more than the ants. They tasted like little french fries. :)















What we saw

We visited Wat Pho to see the magnificent golden Buddha and spent time wandering the grounds and sights in the immediate area, including the Grand Palace. We also took a nice ferry ride along the Chao Phraya river, which is a great and cheap way to get around while getting a feel for this busy city.

The ubiquitous tuk tuks.

Visa requirements and miscellaneous bits
Note: If you're a U.S. citizen tourist staying for fewer than 30 days, you do not need a visa when visiting Thailand, but your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand.

•  Visitors will also incur a departure tax when leaving the country, which is 700THB or roughly $21.50 U.S. as of 2/12/14.