Back to Bangkok

Sawadee Kha! 📿🛕🐉⿓

Eight months have gone by and we are back in Bangkok Thailand.🌄In my previous blog, "More Thank One Night in Bangkok", this bustling city had just reopened. Bangkok is still the 'Same, Same' as Thais say often. However, I have noticed some changes. Two years ago, Thailand closed its borders during the Covid 19 Pandemic. We saw the first Chinese tour bus return eight months ago when we were last in Thailand. The Chinese borders are wide open now. When our plane landed at midnight nights ago at the Bangkok Airport, there were long Custom lines and additional lines had to be opened. At our previous visit, the only places open in Bangkok were Starbucks and McDonald's. Last night, this resilient city was full of lights, loud music, and street crowds. I felt overwhelmed when I got out of the taxi at our downtown hotel. I just looked around in shock! Bangkok is back with a vengeance. It is almost too crowded for me. 

It is still the "Land of Smiles" with a few blips. We decided to walk into the midnight madness and get a burger and fries at a parking lot stand. I was excited and looking around at the blinking light night show. It was hot, humid and felt like a sauna. We sat in the parking lot perched on plastic stools and ordered our food from a food truck. All of a sudden, an elderly Thai lady with wild hair and a strange look in her eyes hobbled up to us. I don't know if she was begging for money or just ranting, but I instinctively turned away. She got angry and told my husband that I'm a 'bad lady' and that she doesn't like me. Wow! Then she told him that I turned away when she tried to talk to me. I say, "Don't engage crazy!"

Taking the Sky Trains and mass transportation eight months ago was much easier. Yesterday, we had to push onto the crowded trains and stand crushed against the door. It took a lot of work to get a taxi and they wanted to overcharge us. The sidewalks and modern malls were a mob scene. The tourists and tour group tours are back in full force. Although I am happy for the Thai economy, but it is a bit overwhelming. Only two people stood up during  the Thai National Anthem at the movie theater. So there are still some political issues going on here. Face masks were mandatory when during the Pandemic. However, many Thai people wore facemasks before the Pandemic when they were sick. Now there are quite a bit of locals still wearing masks, but not so many foreigners. So we are enjoying more than 'One More Night in Bangkok' and a few nights before we leave. However, we will return to this magical Thai Capital City during this trip. It draws us back with memories of fun times with family, friends, jobs and magical moments. 💓