Friends, do you understand that after three years, our travel company’s team-building event has finally gone international!
As per tradition, this year’s Xiyou team-building event was split into two groups. One group headed to Jeju Island for the “Facing the Sea, Spring Blossoms,” and the other group, including me, went to Bangkok to indulge in eating and drinking.
The reason we chose Bangkok is primarily because of its high cost-effectiveness. It’s genuinely high. My round-trip ticket to Bangkok, including taxes, was only 899 yuan.
I’ve talked about the ins and outs of these deals several times. They come from tail-end tickets (for certain charter or allocated flights, if there are unsold seats close to departure, they are heavily discounted).
These tickets are not available through regular channels. Xiyou has many tail-end deal groups. Recently, there have been excellent prices for round trips to Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Long Beach, and Bali. For example, a summer trip to Long Beach with airfare and hotel all-inclusive for 2799 yuan is phenomenal!
If you want to join a tail-end ticket group, you can add our assistant on WeChat who will add you to the group.
Secondly, Bangkok is great for strolling, eating, and not getting tired.
After all, half of my friends on social media checked in at Bangkok this year, and every one of them without exception posted “chill” tagged captions upon their return. It seems like it truly is chill.
This time, we decided to set the team-building location in Bangkok to relax thoroughly, which was a popular decision.
Let’s meet our Bangkok team. There were six of us: Leilei and Duobao, who acted as chief translators (our group’s two English experts); chief tour guide Lizi; logistic manager JJ; new hire Xiao Yin who just joined and was roped into the Thailand trip; and me, tasked with writing the travel log.
Leilei, Duobao, Lizi, and JJ are all old friends. For those who are not familiar with them, you can recap Lizi’s previous Yunnan team-building event. Xiao Yin joined just a week ago as a mini-program operator, and I joined a bit earlier, a severely socially anxious editor.
This Bangkok trip was a true spur-of-the-moment journey. From deciding on the timing to departure, it was less than a week. Leilei and I exchanged our Thai Baht just the day before departure.
Our six-member group was big-hearted and in sync, with no one making a travel plan in advance. Besides the flight and hotel, all we decided once in Bangkok. Our daily food and destinations were chosen on the spot, focusing solely on being chill.
On the first day, we nearly had a Thai embarrassing moment—our hotel booking got canceled. Traveling editors almost hit a career low, nearly experiencing a Haidilao-like adventure!
But fortunately, we resolved it smoothly. Not only did we find a highly cost-effective hotel, but we also discovered many delicious little eateries and enjoyed a Bangkok summer that was ten times cooler than Hangzhou.
### Translation
Reflecting on our carefree four days (excluding the travel time, we spent a total of four days in Bangkok, with all the eating, drinking, and playing well arranged), we enjoyed volcanic ribs, visited the floating market, experienced Thai massage, drank coffee at Factory Coffee, bought from the Blue Starbucks, and strolled around Siam Square… We also indulged in Tom Yum and curry every day, which was super fun!
However, this time we were a bit too free-spirited, and only realized upon returning that we didn’t take any group photos. So, please enjoy the beautiful photos of Bangkok instead.
It’s been almost half a month since we returned, and it’s time to share this belated Bangkok travelogue with everyone. Follow my perspective as a human observer and let’s virtually experience our Bangkok trip together!
### Delicious Restaurants Encountered During the Team Building
I must share these with everyone.
When traveling, eating is always the top priority!
The three daily questions: What to eat for lunch, what to eat for dinner, and what to eat for a late-night snack?
During these few days, although we found each restaurant on the day itself, fortunately, none of them were disappointing, and some were unexpectedly good.
My favorite was a restaurant we mistakenly went to. We were a bit confused and accidentally entered the restaurant next to the one we intended to go to, only realizing it after we finished eating. But the taste was surprisingly good.
The restaurant’s name is in Thai, which I really can’t type out. You can directly navigate to JaeKoy; it’s right next to it. The curry crab and Tom Yum soup are must-orders, and they go perfectly with rice.
We also went to the Train Night Market, where the flaming ribs tasted better than expected. Although we didn’t find the famous fruit vendor, many fruit smoothies at the night market were refreshing and perfect for cooling down in the summer.
We also tried the legendary “Factory Coffee,” but it only operates until 5 PM. If you go late, many classic options will be sold out. When I went, the two coffees I wanted to try were unavailable, which was a bummer.
How can you visit Bangkok without going to a Rooftop Bar? On the second day in Bangkok, after dinner, we went to Vertigo Rooftop & Moon Bar. It’s on the 59th floor of Banyan Tree and is a famous spot in Bangkok, offering a stunning view of the city’s nightscape.
Enjoying the breeze and the night view up there is incredibly comfortable, but make sure to go early, as it might be hard to find a spot if you go late.
We almost forgot, we also dined at a riverside restaurant along the Chao Phraya River, which had both great looks and taste. Special mention to their curry chicken, which made me, someone who doesn’t usually like chicken, finish more than half of it.
We originally planned to go to RONGROS BANGKOK, but they required a reservation, so we went to the restaurant next to it instead. The name is in the picture below.
We enjoyed our meal on the restaurant’s rooftop while watching the Chao Phraya River and the white pagoda of Wat Arun transition from sunset to blue hour, which was chill and romantic.
The best part is that even the outdoor rooftop had a cool evening breeze, which would be a stark contrast to the stifling evenings in Hangzhou, significantly enhancing the experience.
Lastly, here are some other decent Bangkok restaurants we tried:
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### Translation
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**Guang Seafood Shark Fin Restaurant**
**Under the Bridge Thai Hot Pot Street Food**
**Khao**
**Krua Apsorn**
Apart from the Thai hot pot, the dishes at other restaurants are quite similar. Besides the must-drink Tom Yum Goong soup and the must-eat curry, our table always has a staple dish—morning glory. This Chinese stomach that needs greens all its life.
**A Bangkok Trip Without a Plan**
The main theme is aimlessness and spontaneity.
Besides eating, the activities are also spontaneous. Many times, we decided where to go that very morning while still in bed, and sometimes we even changed our destination midway.
However, even though we didn’t make any plans this time, we almost didn’t miss any of the must-visit spots.
On the night we arrived in Bangkok, we visited the famous Train Night Market.
The next day, we strolled around the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun, and the Khao San Road Night Market.
On the third day, we took a 2-hour taxi ride to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. After returning, we enjoyed a Thai massage and a small drink at a rooftop bar.
On the fourth day, we spent the entire day shopping at Siam Square and searched for delicious food in the evening.
On our last day in Bangkok, everyone went to the Bangkok Museum, while I went off on my own to take photos. Details are in the paragraphs below.
To summarize, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Chao Phraya River, and Wat Arun are worth visiting. You can visit all three places together, and Wat Arun is the best for taking photos, so you might want to spend more time there.
When going from the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun, make sure to find the public boat pier (Riva Arun). It costs 5 baht to cross the river. You should know that the first pier we arrived at directly asked us for 1000 baht. Although there were other experiences on the boat, it was excessively expensive.
As for the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, it’s a place where you’ll regret going, but also regret not going.
We took a taxi there, and the round trip took 5 hours. Judging by the changing scenery along the way, it should be in the countryside of Bangkok.
The boat ticket costs about 800 yuan when converted to RMB. For the six of us, it was still worth it, but for two people, it would be a big loss.
After sailing for a while, the boat stopped directly in front of a shop, which felt exactly like a shopping stop on a group tour. We had to shout “go, go, go” before it continued forward.
There is a particularly bustling area where most of the online photos of fruit boats, banana boats, and food boats are taken. We also took quite a few “deceptive pictures” there.
Sometimes, when the boat speeds up, water splashes onto you. Be sure to keep your mouth shut tightly, as the river water is not very clean.
We originally planned to eat at the floating market, but upon seeing the local people on both sides using the black river water to wash dishes, we unanimously decided to skip a meal. We ended up solving lunch at a 7-Eleven on the way back.
After exploring the bustling center of the floating market, I fell asleep on the boat ride back to the pier. Besides having insomnia at home, I can fall asleep instantly anywhere else.
Later, we also found a great street full of massage parlors, with many shops offering high cost-effectiveness. Highly recommended.
This street is shown in the pictures below. I don’t remember the name, but you can search for it using keywords.
By the way, in Bangkok, be sure to make good use of Google Maps and Grab. Even if you don’t speak English or Thai, you can still get to most places.
Moreover, if you are in a group, taking a taxi is not expensive and is much more convenient than the metro.
The Last Day
It was my day of non-stop walking and taking pictures in Bangkok.
Our leisurely tour group didn’t have an itinerary, and everyone could arrange their own activities. As someone who loves to venture off on my own, after being a “walking corpse” for three days, I spent the last day wandering around Bangkok taking photos by myself.
I’m not fond of taking pictures of myself, but I love taking photos of sceneries, streets, and interesting or contrasting moments. Even though my skills are amateurish, my camera is filled with mountains, lakes, and seas.
On the last day, I roamed Bangkok for 10 hours, capturing everything from Chinatown to university, from coffee shops to Pratunam Temple. Finally, I left with a full memory card and a sense of satisfaction.
Let me share my day’s route with you: Chinatown – Chulalongkorn University – Siam Square – Pratunam Temple.
As the filming location of “Detective Chinatown,” Chinatown is absolutely a fantastic place for photography. On Yaowarat Road, large billboards are interspersed, and the architecture is Chinese-style, giving you a strong sense of time travel.
However, there are many cars in Chinatown, so be very careful when taking photos!
At Chinatown, I also discovered a nice coffee shop called La Cabra. This is a coffee brand from Northern Europe, advocating the roasting philosophy of “Brighter is better,” and their pour-over coffee is excellent.
While looking for recommendations in the coffee shop, I initially planned to visit Bangkok University and Pratunam Temple. But finding time a bit tight, I discovered that Chulalongkorn University, a campus near Siam Square, was right nearby. After finishing my coffee, I took a taxi straight there.
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and one of the top local schools. The campus is beautiful with many aesthetically pleasing buildings with clean lines, such as the teaching buildings, library, and auditorium, making it great for photography.
While strolling around campus, you might come across students in uniforms, full of youth and vibrance. If you get tired of walking, there are many pink buses on campus, which are said to be free to ride.
There are many delicious food options near the school, and I highly recommend Jeh O Chula. Their Tom Yum mixed seafood noodles and grilled pork neck are absolutely amazing. However, the line is always long. When I went, I took a number first, then walked around the campus, and went back to eat later, avoiding the wait. It was a great experience.
After leaving Chulalongkorn University, I took the BTS from Siam Square to Wat Wutthakat (get off at Wutthakat station). Maybe it was because the weather was so nice that day, but Bangkok from the BTS viewpoint felt like a fairy tale. I even saw a pinkish-purple sky while on the BTS. Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photos on the Skytrain, so I had to capture the memories with my eyes.
Despite rushing, I couldn’t make it to Wat Wutthakat before sunset and only had time to visit two photo spots. However, the giant Buddha after sunset was equally stunning, so it wasn’t a total loss.
