And I Was In Thailand! (Part I)

How Many Times Have You Planned a Trip but Couldn't Go?

The answer could easily be in double digits—or even triple! I feel sorry for you.

This trip is a perfect example of what happens when wanderlust has been bottled up for too long.

The Plan: Gangtok, Sikkim (September 2016)

It was September 2016. My friend and I were planning a trip to Gangtok, Sikkim. The Pujo season seemed perfect for a getaway to the hills—after all, who gets a four-day long weekend? Only the lucky ones. Sadly, my friend wasn’t one of them.

Just a week before our departure date, we had to cancel our tickets due to his work commitments. It was painful clicking the “Are you sure you want to cancel this booking?” button.

Destiny.

Then began the same old discussion: “Where next?” “When?” blah blah!!

A Change in Plans: Thailand

"Let’s go to Bangkok." I don’t remember which one of us suggested it, but it came after some obvious nonsense and a few beep-beeps. Suddenly, our enthusiasm was back.

We spent two whole days searching for tickets, stalking hotels, and marking tourist spots. But it all boiled down to the big question: “WHEN?”

Every Indian bachelor who has been to Goa has inevitably dreamed of Thailand as their next leisure destination. With its clean, sandy beaches, leafy jungles, affordable stays, amazing cuisine, and welcoming culture, Thailand is perfect for budget travelers.

Back in college, we had big dreams of traveling the world but no money. Now, as working professionals, we had the money but struggled to find the time. After Pujo, the only long weekend we could find was Diwali. But Diwali abroad? People go home to their families during festivals—not Bangkok! Had we gone mad?

'Then came the unexpected:

"Dear Zahid, thank you for using Goibibo. Your booking ID is [long alphanumeric code] for your trip starting October 26th.”

This is in an excerpt of the text I received on my cellphone next moment. That S.O.B. booked the tickets without telling me.

I hadn’t even spoken to my manager about taking leave, and here I was holding air tickets for a week-long Thailand trip. My first reaction? Panic.

But then, genius struck: What if I didn’t tell anyone? ;) The only person in the office who knew about this crazy plan was a colleague, who also happened to be my roommate. He’d help me cover during my “work-from-home” escapades. You'll see how :D

The Journey Begins

Finally, the day arrived. Bags packed, cab on its way, and excitement in the air. We were about to get our passports stamped for the first time, adding another layer of excitement to the trip.

Visa Process for Indians (subject to change)

When I am writing this blog, Thailand offers a Visa on Arrival for Indian citizens. You need:

- A valid passport

- Hotel reservations

- Passport-sized photographs

- Return flight tickets

- A bank statement or 20,000 Baht in cash

After a short flight of about 3 hours, we were there, at Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was massive. With all the documents ready, you just need to fill out a visa application form, submit it to the immigration counter, and pay 1,000 Baht to get your tourist visa.

Heading towards the VISA counter, I realized I hadn’t brought passport-sized photographs. Was I about to be sent back? Nope! There’s a tiny photo booth near the counter that takes just 10 minutes and a few bucks for six copies. Crisis averted.

After immigration, we grabbed foot-long subs from Subway and took the MRT(the metro) to our hostel.

Where Did We Stay?

We opted for a budget-friendly hostel, 1989 Cafe & Hostel, located in Sukhumvit. It was just a mile from the nearest Skyline station and offered comfortable accommodations with friendly hosts.

We booked a private room with a double bed, and breakfast was complimentary :)

What We Did in Bangkok

Our plan was to stay in Bangkok for 2 nights, so here's how we spent them all-

Day-1: Neighborhood Stroll

We arrived at the hostel past noon, quickly freshened up, and set out to explore the neighborhood. Communication was a bit tricky since not everyone in Bangkok speaks English, but we managed to find our way.

Tired from the day, we hit the bed earlier than usual to gear up for the days ahead.

Day-2: City Exploration

After the usual morning rituals, we set off to explore the city.