Weekend Engagement - The Land Of Smiles

Which, of the countries you have personally been to, (other than your own), is your favourite and why?

This is such a tricky question, because every country has their strengths as well as "weaknesses" too. Some countries are well known for their scenic views (New Zealand comes to mind), some countries are popular for their food (various countries have their own cuisines!), and some countries are good for relaxation and chilling (I was at Bali not too long ago!).

But if I have to pick one favourite at this point, it would definitely be Thailand! (Sorry to the others!) And it's not a random choice, because I have visited Thailand, or more specifically Bangkok, 6 times over the past decade!!! And it probably would be more if not for the travel restrictions during Covid.

• Bangkok (May 2014)
• Phuket (Dec 2014)
• Bangkok (Nov 2017)
• Bangkok (Apr 2023)
• Bangkok (Aug 2023)
• Bangkok (May 2024)

Bangkok is such a colourful city because there's so many things to do, and whether it's solo travel, or as couples, or just with a bunch of friends, there's something for everyone in this city!

Personally, I enjoy visiting the malls for their local food and more! Here's some yummy stuff from my recent trip earlier this month - that's pineapple fried rice as well steamed fish with chilli and lime. Even though Thai cuisine can be commonly found in my country as well, I think the local ones over there are a notch better!

For dessert lovers, you can't miss mango with sticky rice! It's one of their quintessential desserts!

The interesting and amazing part about Thailand is that the cuisine over there is very international. You can find even Western restaurants such as Shake Shack and The Cheesecake Factory in their malls too. Being a matcha lover, over the recent years, they have opened many cafes which specialise in matcha drinks and desserts. Each time I visit Bangkok, there's always a new matcha cafe to try! For the recent trip, I was at Ksana! Totally impressed by the effort put in by the staff for the presentation.

Aside from food, there are many spas and massage joints for one to get a well deserved session of rest. The tricky part is because their price points can vary a lot depending on the ambience and quality but regardless, the prices are still very affordable compared to my country. I particularly liked the aromatic oil ones, and some more expensive places do use branded oils such as Aesop for the massage. Definitely a good way to pamper oneself without bursting the wallet!

Finally, it's the people there! I am not sure if it's because I am a tourist, but I always enjoy the hospitality of the Thais no matter where I am. They really live up to the label "The Land Of Smiles" and despite the slight language barrier at times (there's Google Translate and AI stuff these days to help), they are always so friendly.

Of course, every country has its not-so-good side as well. The weather at Thailand is generally scorching! As shared above, I was in Bangkok earlier this month and the daily temperatures were at least 40 degrees Celsius. This was the highest temperature that I managed to snap from hotel window. It's really not a joking matter if one is outdoors under the sun at such temperatures.

Aside from the heat, I believe most people would know that the traffic at Bangkok can be pretty bad. Sometimes walking or taking the train is way faster than the taxi because of the jams. My worst experience happened last year, I was on a Grab ride for a 6km ride to my destination which was projected to take 30 minutes, ended up taking 2.5 hours!!! (Come to think of it, one doesn't need 2.5 hours to walk 6km as well.)

But these are not major issues because there are always workarounds. To avoid the heat, stay indoors more often and minimise the time outdoors. As for the traffic, try to take the public transport or buffer more time for travelling (e.g. to the airport).

So that's my current favourite country as of now! What's yours?