I made it! It feels great to be in this incredible city! It’s modern…yet steeped in incredible history – absolutely chaotic, but islands of tranquility and spiritual serenity. It’s a little bit of everything. My first few days have been focused on getting the basics nailed – settled into my airbnb (which is in a terrific neighbourhood close to the city centre and one of the largest parks), public transit pass purchased and buying a few groceries. What has not been nailed yet…jet lag..it is like a scene out of lost in translation. Oh well – I have 11 months of travel to try and get over it!
On day 2 in the city I did some of my first sightseeing – The Grand Palace. It was once the home of the Thai King (which hasn’t been the case since about 1950), but most importantly it is where the most sacred image of Buddha is housed – The Emerald Buddha. However, getting into the Grand Palace is my inaugural funny story of the trip – and trust me, there will be more.
When you enter the grounds of the Grand Palace, you must be respectfully dressed either wearing pants or in the case of women, a skirt or pants. Well, my pants were not quite long enough, so I was initially denied entry. So my problem solving brain went into action and I crossed the street and bought a $4 sarong to wear over top of my pants. The lovely shop keeper showed me the selection of sarongs and I immediately answered, “we have to go with the one with elephants on it” and wrapped myself in the sarong and proudly headed back to the Palace gates, and they let me in to enjoy the site. Well…in my haste to buy a sarong and get over to the Palace, I didn’t really look at the print on the sarong closely. After I had left the Grand Palace I took off the sarong and noticed the elephants were in fact surrounded by cannabis leaves – LOL. My elephants were stoned. I’ve added a picture of it in the Photo Gallery section of my website. I am not sure that sarong is going to find its way back into my backpack when it is time to leave Bangkok…
Pot leaves OMG so funny! Don’t you dare come back to Canada without that! You need that to bring out at parties when you regale people with your travel stories!!! Glad you got there safe. I’m still incredibly jealous!
I put a picture of the sarong in the Photo Gallery for you Jen – it might be the only way you get to see it – haha.
I agree, you have to keep it! It’s the proof and token of your first adventure. It‘s now your lucky charm for travel karma 😉 🧘🏻♀️
So funny 😂
Hope you are having fun!!!! Miss you
Becki, I’m so excited that you are finally starting your adventure and sharing it with us! I can just see you sprinting into action and buying that sarong only to look at it closely later – makes me smile.
Love the story about the sarong – that is a keepsake for life and I hope it makes it into the backpack. Sounds like the first days have been full of learning, laughter and food! Looking forward to keeping up with your travels – keep the great pics and stories coming at us 🙂
The color of everything, including the sky, is unreal! Love the blog. Keep it up and stay safe.