Back in April we finally left the Philippines. It’d been 9 months since we’d left that country! That’s the longest I’d ever been in one place without traveling outside a state or country since we’d moved to DC in 2008! We were ready.
Our dear friend, Elise, was traveling with us. She was a huge help with the kids and a great travel companion as well. I highly recommend having an 18 year old fly to new countries with you and help with the kids! Because of Elise Patrick and I were able to get out and about more and just have that much more freedom when we were out with the kids.
We flew into Bangkok and our good friend, Andrew, met us at the airport. We taxied back to his apartment. Things we noticed: 1. They drive on the left. 2. They have a real king and queen (something Aydan was so thrilled about) 3. The roads and traffic were much better than Manila 4. It was cleaner than Manila and there didn’t seem to be as many homeless people on the streets (Andrew told us that’s because they push them outside the city.
Andrew’s place was perfect for us. We walked around the neighborhood, got some food, cleaned up and put the kids to bed. That night we left the kids with Elise and went out with Andrew. We went to Gramercy Park’s rooftop bar. The view was stunning and the company and mojitos were perfect.
I’ll just post a bunch of pictures for the rest of our time there. Things there are amazing. I would never be able to write well enough to explain the amazement that is Bangkok.
Chatuchak Market:
We only survived the heat because of these cheap fruit drinks and popsicles. YUM
Somehow they made these popsicles from 7Up and other drinks in this tub. It was magic.
Sleeping on the way home.
Amazing street food for lunch.
Dinner on the street. We found a little spot in the back of the stalls and sat down. Andrew ordered us a bunch of food and in no time a ton of random people from different stalls were bringing us some of the most amazing food I’ve ever had… all for so cheap!
Even Drake was amazing by all the food.
Our day through the canals:
This lady was just sitting by the side of the canal like a little 7-11.
Our lunch spot:
Lunch music on the floating market.
Wat Pho:
This huge, gold, reclining Buddha
We left for Phuket the next day. When we arrived back to Bangkok we went to the Grand Palace:
Even though we were told, we forgot to bring our covers. Elise, Patrick and I all had to borrow clothes to cover ourselves while we walked around the Grand Palace in 104 degree weather. It was hot and miserable. BUT beautiful.
All in all our time in Bangkok was great. We also experience all the mall food we could want. It was all amazing and all that people say it is. We hope to go back again soon!
A Diplomat's Wife 
I so enjoy reading your posts from abroad…I am the daughter of a career diplomat and I left the US after my 3rd birthday and I did not return to live in the US (outside of summer “home leaves”) until I graduated from high school. Last month I had the opportunity to return to Guatemala…my entire family’s favorite assignment. I was part of a dental team with Global Dental Relief and we treated over 600 kids in a small village in the Mayan Highlands. I stayed in Guatemala City about four days after the team left to go find my house and visit my school. My dad began his assignment to the embassy in Guatemala City in July 1973. Things had changed! It was fun, though, to be back…visit with classmates who still live there, eat familiar foods and speak spanish! But, as the saying goes…you can never go home! — diane
That’s a sweet story, thanks for sharing!!