After Malaysia, my travels took me north into the tropical lands of Thailand. This part of the journey was different—rather than going solo, I joined a tour. A friend had recommended IntroTravel after her great experience, and since I’d done enough planning on my own earlier, I figured it was time to let someone else handle the logistics.
Bangkok and meeting my new group
Day one was all about settling in—hotel check-in, meeting the new group, and realising these were the people I’d be with for the next three weeks.
Bangkok itself? Honestly, not my favourite city. It’s crowded, chaotic, noisy, and smoggy—an urban jungle of traffic, shops, and relentless energy. But it does have layers: lively markets, nightlife that never sleeps, and temples tucked between the concrete. If you love parties, Bangkok won’t disappoint. For me, the best part of that first night was simply breaking the ice with the group over drinks, music, and a messy night out.
Some areas that I would recommend seeing are: The Grand palace, and Khao San Road.
The grand palace
This is the crown jewel of Bangkok – a magnificent complex which is the official home of Thai kings from 18th-20th century. There are numerous ornate halls courtyards and temples filled with mosaics and hosts intricate details. The main beauty is the Wat Phra Kaew housing a Buddha statue carved out of Jade. It is rather touristy, so ensure to get in early.
Khao San road
This chaotic and thriving scene is a backpackers paradise. Neon lights, loud music, food and cheap drinks. You can find all sorts of shenanigans happening on Khao San road from fake ids to people selling insects (a place we went to in the evening). Its a great place to meet people and enjoy a crazy night out. But it does get messy and there are no personal boundaries. So proceed with caution
Boats & Temples
The next day, we saw a calmer side of the city by long-tail boat. Cruising along canals gave us glimpses of daily life, temples, and quieter corners of Bangkok.
We visited Wat Pho—the Temple of the Reclining Buddha—where the 46-metre golden statue fills the space with a surreal glow. The walls are covered in intricate murals and carvings, while outside, the temple’s gilded details shimmer in the sun. We also stopped at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, a historic temple dating back to the 16th century, famous as the birthplace of Thai massage.
After a tour and a short prayer ceremony, we drifted back on the boat for a relaxed afternoon. The classic wooden boats have noisy engines and amusing hosts which take you up and down the canvas. They are there to tell you more about Bangkok, some of the architecture and crack jokes. It is a mix of heat and traffic, but enjoyable enough! Make sure if you do go solo/in a small group you are going to be taken advantage of! – For us everything was included so we knew all would be okay!
Nights out
Remember when I previously mentioned Khao San road? Well that is exactly where we went after our tour. That night? Another round of bars, karaoke, and—for the first time in my life—eating a scorpion. Crunchy outside, chewy inside, with chili and garlic overpowering any real taste. Not exactly a delicacy I’ll crave again, but definitely a story to tell.
It was a first great night to break the ice and share buckets of alcohol or non alcoholic drinks in a vibrant environment. Great memories with great people set us up for an exciting next 3 weeks!
My Take on Bangkok
After a couple of days, I knew Bangkok wasn’t exactly my scene. The heat, humidity, traffic, and smog felt suffocating. Despite being a city dweller, I had started to miss the fresh air and trees. It has pieces of architecture and modern areas that are certainly worth seeing. But for me, I had wanted to see more authentic and historical parts of Thailand. You can certainly enjoy the river boat rides, markets and palaces as well as the night life.
That said, the city isn’t without charm, and I wouldn’t tell anyone to skip it just because I didn’t vibe with it. It’s worth experiencing—just be ready for sensory overload.
Our time in Bangkok ended with a new challenge: the overnight train.
The Overnight Train
How do I describe it? Cramped, noisy, questionably unclean—but unforgettable. The setup is simple: rows of bunks separated by thin curtains, packed with travellers. Sleep is nearly impossible with the rattling tracks and constant movement. Its endless rows and rows of bunks, which honestly felt like a prison. But an exciting and crazy prison!
Yet, despite all that, it was fun. With good company, a few laughs, and even just two hours of sleep, it became one of those “bad but great” memories you can only get on the road – or in this case train tracks! If you ever do it: bring an eye mask, earplugs, and your own toilet paper. Safety concerns aside (do your homework if you’re solo), it was the kind of chaotic side quest that makes travel stories worth telling. with 8 hours of sleep deprivation, avoiding the bathrooms and an uncomfy bed, we were headed to our next location.
Destination: Khao Sok.
Khao Sok
Khao Sok, in Surat Thani province, is home to a rainforest older than the Amazon. At its heart lies Cheow Lan Lake, surrounded by limestone cliffs and thick jungle.
We stayed one night in floating bungalows on the lake—kayaking, swimming, eating, playing games, and soaking in the silence after Bangkok’s chaos. The atmosphere was serene, almost meditative.
Khao Sok is the perfect antidote to the city: calm, private, and deeply relaxing. You can go on boat safaris, explore caves, or just float in the water with nothing but jungle sounds around you. Our time there was short, but it felt like a reset button.
Wrapping Up
Khao Sok was just a taste of what Thailand has to offer, and the adventure didn’t stop there. The journey continued with new destinations, new challenges, and plenty more stories—so stay tuned for more of this travel series.
NOTE!: If you are interested in more of my adventures, I have started a YouTube channel named: Intrepid Trails & Tales . Here I Vlog my 2025 and onward adventures! (in video form:) ).
So as always, Thank you for reading my post—I hope you enjoyed.
Until my next blog of intrepid tales on my trails…!
Intrepid Trails & Tales⛰️ 
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