My trip to Thailand wasn't entirely holidays, in fact most of it was work. At the time I just started my new job as an in-house content producer for a startup called Yousician. The company decided to take its employees to Thailand for the gloomiest month of the year - November. Like most, I managed to take a few days off and travel a little a bit and not only see the screen of my laptop. Before my plane would head back to the slushy Finland, I took a day off to visit Bangkok.
Although I'm usually not a fan of arranged tourist sight seeing trips, I decided to book one and surprisingly... still didn't become a fan. The idea seemed very nice - biking through the streets and districts of Bangkok. However, I quickly realised that I should have just spend the day on my own and not get tricked by excellent Tripadvisor reviews. I love strolling around a new city, make my own decisions, stop for a photo or a snack and look for places where locals hang out. The tour didn't leave any room for that - obviously. It just wasn't for me, but I'm sure it's great for the right minded people!
Leaving the little disappointments and the struggle of taking photos with one hand while biking on a narrow path through the crowded alleys of Bangkok , we got to see many facets of the city, which I couldn't have done all in one day by my own.
We cycled along the river Chao Phraya, which wrings itself through the city and the suburbs of Bangkok. The houses are built right next to the river and connected with a narrow unfenced concrete jetty. I made sure to have one eye always on the path while taking photos with the other - I really wasn't much game for an unexpected bath in those dark waters.
The day ended with many kilometres on the clock and my white shirt having turned ochre from dust and spices in the air of Bangkok. My hostel was located in China town, which prides itself with shark fin soup and an endless scape of indistinct smells and sounds.
Any experience is an experience worth having. See you again Bangkok, I'm not finished with you yet.