"THE Bangkok Trip"

A Trip That Was Never Meant to Happen

This trip to Bangkok was never supposed to happen. Originally, my girlfriend and I had planned to visit Taichung—I had been there once with my bartending buddies for a guest shift, and I wanted to show her around. But things didn’t go as planned.

I had been so caught up with work that I didn’t realize my US passport had expired just before our flight. We landed in Taiwan, only to be barred from entering the country and sent straight back. It was embarrassing, frustrating, and I felt incredibly guilty for the whole ordeal.

Determined to make things right, I scrambled to find a new destination. After scouring travel sites, I saw that Bangkok was still an affordable option, so we booked it on the spot. It was a last-minute decision, but this time, it was purely for leisure.

With all that guilt on my mind, I was determined to make this trip perfect—pulling every connection, every resource I had, to turn it into something special for my girlfriend.

At the end of the day, though, all we really hoped for was decent weather (not Bangkok’s usual scorching heat) and a relaxing getaway. Living in Hong Kong is stressful enough—most of our trips are about escaping life for a bit. Hopefully, that’ll change one day. Maybe next year.

Landing in Bangkok – A Fresh Start

As soon as we landed in Bangkok, I could finally start shaking off the guilt of the whole passport fiasco. It felt like we were back on track with our vacation. The weather was amazing—still hot, but with a dry heat instead of the sticky, humid kind. Having been to Bangkok multiple times before, the sight of the city felt familiar, like stepping into an old routine.

We quickly ordered a Grab and headed straight to the hotel to drop off our bags and officially start our trip. But as soon as we arrived, déjà vu hit—another early check-in wait. We had gotten there before 3 PM, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We left our luggage at the front desk and went out to explore while waiting. There was even construction happening at the hotel again, just like our Danang experience. But overall, it was decent for a 4-star hotel—not as cheap as Danang, though.

Once we got out, both my girlfriend and I quickly settled into Bangkok’s chill vibe. We started reminiscing about our past visits and how relaxed the city always felt. Soon after, we met up with an old friend of mine, someone I used to work on overseas projects with. He invited us to lunch at a boat noodle restaurant inside a mall, which, according to him, was a famous chain known for its authentic flavors. He wasn’t wrong—the food was fantastic, and we had a great time catching up.

Street Food & Bar-Hopping in Bangkok

After lunch, my friend recommended that we check out Banthat Thong Road, a popular street food district. He knew I loved street food and told me it was the perfect spot to snack on different local delicacies. And he wasn’t kidding—when we arrived, the entire street was packed with locals and tourists lining up for various dishes. The energy was incredible, and we spent some time hopping from stall to stall, trying different snacks.

Of course, with my girlfriend being a bar-hopper and me being a bartender, we couldn’t resist checking out some bars after indulging in street food. The first stop on our list was Tropical City, a well-known cocktail bar. It had special significance for us since one of our close friends from Hong Kong had done his first-ever guest shift there when starting his bartending career.

We each had a drink, soaking in the tropical-themed atmosphere. The bar definitely had a distinct style, with creative cocktails and a laid-back vibe. I could see why it was a go-to spot for many. After our drinks, we called it a night—a perfect way to end the first day on my road to redemption.

Shopping, Street Food, and Cocktails – A Relaxed Bangkok Experience

With this being a last-minute trip, we didn’t have a strict itinerary. Instead, we went with the flow while my girlfriend mapped out a few shopping destinations. Luckily for me, as an Under Armour fan, I found some great deals that made the trip even better.

Since neither of us are Buddhist, we skipped the temples and focused on Bangkok’s bustling shopping scene. We explored Chatuchak Market, where the sheer size and variety were overwhelming. The major malls—CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, and Big C—were spread out over different days, giving us time to wander, shop, and soak in the city’s energy. Of course, we also aimed for one Thai massage session per day, but that plan didn’t quite work out. Prices for massages seemed to have gone up, or maybe we just didn’t know the best local spots.

Food-wise, we stumbled upon authentic street food gems near our hotel. Small portions, big flavors—it was exactly what you’d expect from Bangkok’s vibrant food scene.

And then, there were the bars. Each night, we made sure to visit at least one, checking out some of the city’s best: Vesper, Bar Us, 4th Wall, BKK Social Club, and FireFly. While all of them were outstanding, Vesper really stood out, especially since we caught a guest shift from Tainan’s Moonrock Bar, one of the best in Taiwan. Tasting both their signature cocktails and Vesper’s creations was a real highlight. Bar Us was another memorable stop, where the owner gave us a tour and introduced us to their beautifully designed menu.

Overall, this part of the trip was exactly what we needed—relaxing, indulgent, and full of little surprises that made it all the more enjoyable.

A Trip That Turned Out Better Than Expected

Looking back, this was easily the most enjoyable trip I’ve had to Bangkok. Unlike previous visits, which were mostly work-related, this was a pure leisure trip. And funny enough, the weather played in our favor. Before arriving, the forecast predicted rain all week. But as luck would have it, it barely rained at all. Just for the fun of it, we checked the weather in Taichung, the trip we were originally supposed to take—it had changed from sunny all week to raining all week. Maybe it was fate?

Even though the extra set of air tickets and hotel stays made the trip more expensive, the affordability of Bangkok’s food and shopping balanced things out. Overall, it was still a very budget-friendly trip, just not as cheap as it could have been.

And would I go back? Absolutely. In fact, my girlfriend and I are already planning another Bangkok trip later this year. Next time, I’d love to explore new neighborhoods, find even more authentic food, and, of course, visit more bars.

For a trip that was never meant to happen, this might have been one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made.