Thailand#

Visa on Arrival#

I flew into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. After disembarking, I followed the crowd straight ahead, with signs overhead guiding me all the way to the Visa on Arrival counter. There are two lanes for Visa on Arrival: a regular lane and an express lane. The express lane costs 2200฿, while the regular lane costs 2000฿. I recommend taking the express lane; it saves a lot of time.

Airport Bus#

After coming down the escalator, I believe it was to the first floor, where I saw the bus ticket counter.

You’ll then see the bus ticket counter, which looks like the picture below. There are buses to Pattaya and Hua Hin, departing approximately once an hour. To the left of the bus ticket counter, there’s a dining area, located here.

The food inside is very cheap. You need to exchange tickets to enter. For one person, 100฿ is enough. You can eat a lot; I had a bowl of noodles and a can of Coke, and still had 15฿ left.

Bangkok -> Pattaya#

After buying my ticket at the bus counter, the salesperson said the bus would depart at 1<30>. I asked where it was, and he pointed to a spot, saying someone would lead us there at 1<30>. The journey from Bangkok to Pattaya takes about two hours. There are several drop-off points in Pattaya, including North Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Road, South Pattaya Road, Thepprasit Road, and Thappraya Road. There are actually quite a few stops, especially the North, Central, and South Pattaya Roads (all near Beach Road), which are in the heart of Pattaya. Getting off at any of these three locations is very convenient. I got off at Central Pattaya Road, and a motorbike taxi driver immediately approached me for a ride. I asked for the price, and he said ‘one two zero’. At first, I couldn’t understand what he meant and thought he was saying ‘three hundred’ (300฿). So I took out my calculator and showed him the number. He said no, and typed 120. I thought that was acceptable, so I got on. For women, I wouldn’t really recommend this, as it doesn’t feel very safe.

Pattaya#

The motorbike taxi took me directly to the hotel. Something interesting happened when I paid. I handed him a 50฿ and a 20฿ note, thinking the 50฿ was a 100฿ note. The driver kept saying something in a language I didn’t understand, and I thought he was trying to scam me. After a long, confused exchange, I realized I had given him the wrong amount and quickly added another 100฿. After checking into the hotel and dropping off my bags, I immediately took a nap, haha.

I slept until past five o’clock, woken up by hunger. I went out to find food, just looking around nearby. There was plenty to eat, and it wasn’t very expensive; the dish below cost 200฿.

After eating, I took a walk by the beach, then headed back.

Transportation#

Transportation along Pattaya Beach is very convenient; you can just take a Songthaew, but they operate on one-way routes. They run north-south: 1st Road goes south, and 2nd Road goes north. Songthaews stop when you flag them down. As long as you don’t ask the driver for a specific destination or extra money, the default fare is 10฿. Keep an eye out for your stop, ring the bell to get off, and pay after you alight. If you ask the driver if they can go somewhere, it’s assumed to be a charter price, but remember to haggle.

Anecdotes#

On my second day in Pattaya, I spent the whole day wandering around the beach. At noon, I booked a Western meal on Dianping (a Chinese review app) and headed from the hotel to the restaurant.

The waitstaff inside were very polite. I went up and, in my broken English, said ‘I have a preorder’, but they didn’t understand. Just as I was about to open a translator to see how to say ‘I have a reservation’, a waiter came over with a stack of orders and asked for my name. I said ‘ab’, and they looked confused, then pointed to ‘ba’ and asked if it was me, haha. I had completely forgotten that in English, it’s usually first name then last name. Then something very interesting happened: they brought out a huge burger, just like in the picture: Seeing how big it was, I hesitated for a long time, unsure how to eat it. Then I did something quite ridiculous: I called over a waitress and asked, “How to eat it?” The waitress immediately laughed and told me to cut it with a knife and fork. I, like an idiot, went to get a knife and fork and started cutting. Just as I cut a piece, the manager came over and said, “You can eat it however you like, it’s up to you.” So then I just used my hands. I can’t believe I asked such a question as ‘how to eat it’, haha.

Midway through, a few Chinese tour group members came in, and I even helped them out as a translator, with my broken English, haha. But I have to say, Chinese tourists do tend to be quite loud when they enter, which felt a bit off. Perhaps it’s because they’re mostly older folks who are used to it.

After eating, I walked around, bought a belt at the mall, and also picked up some face masks for an online friend. Then I returned to the hotel to rest.

People#

In the afternoon, I went for a walk by the beach and met two girls from China. We had a great chat.

That evening, I planned to go for dinner, but the girls pulled me along for a walk through Walking Street (the red-light district). In the red-light district, if they see you’re Chinese, many people will approach you with inappropriate signs, asking if you want to see certain shows or similar things. It’s best to just ignore them. Even if you’re genuinely curious, I don’t recommend following these touts, as you can easily get ripped off.

However, we had a bit of an unpleasant experience during dinner. We walked a long way from Pattaya city center and then took a taxi to a restaurant, planning to eat seafood. As soon as we entered, the staff said a bunch of confusing English that none of us three understood. Then they told us we were in the wrong place, led us outside, and pointed in a direction, saying it was ‘over there’. However, there was absolutely nothing in the direction she pointed. It seemed we were inexplicably refused service by the restaurant. It was the restaurant pictured below: Maggic Restaurant. In the end, we had no choice but to take a taxi back to the city center to eat. After dinner, I parted ways with the girls.

Koh Larn#

On the third day, I booked a Koh Larn day trip. It was a blast! There was pickup and drop-off service throughout, so I didn’t have to worry about a thing, haha. Parasailing, sea walking, snorkeling, and all sorts of other activities combined cost less than 400฿, which is incredibly cheap. It was a very comfortable experience, though the boat driver was quite fast, so those prone to seasickness should prepare medication in advance. I saw some people on the boat who were really struggling with motion sickness. During this trip, I met another girl who was incredibly impressive. She was traveling alone and even went skydiving! I was so impressed. I had originally wanted to try it too, but in the end, I chickened out. Firstly, it was genuinely expensive at 3000฿, and secondly, jumping from three thousand meters is still quite terrifying. I admit I was a bit of a coward on my own, haha.

Pattaya -> Bangkok#

On the morning of the fourth day, I traveled from Pattaya to Bangkok, again by bus. The hotel front desk helped me find a motorbike taxi driver to take me to the station for 80฿. After entering the station and buying a ticket, I waited in the waiting room. The ticket showed the departure time and seat number, so I just followed the instructions.

After another two-hour journey, I got off at the bus station and went to find the BTS. I just followed the map, and the picture below shows the entrance to Ekkamai station. Once inside, I bought a ticket and waited for the train. For tickets, you can use the automatic vending machines, but they only accept coins. Alternatively, you can go to a manned counter, hand over banknotes, and tell them your destination station. While waiting, I asked a Thai girl which direction to take for my station, as I was afraid of going the wrong way. She told me it was right there. However, after getting on the train, I was still worried about making a mistake, so I kept an eye on the indicators and listened to the station announcements to make sure I was going in the right direction. Thankfully, I was correct. Beautiful ladies really don’t lie! Since I was staying in the old city, the BTS didn’t go directly there. After getting off, I took a taxi to the hotel, and there was a small incident on the way. A quick tip for taxis: always insist that they use the meter (‘by meter’). If they refuse, make sure to agree on a price beforehand, otherwise, you might get overcharged. Alternatively, you can use the Grab ride-hailing app, which I used for the rest of my stay and found very convenient. However, make sure to confirm your location accurately, as there’s a language barrier, and if the driver calls you, you won’t understand what they’re saying.

Bangkok#

After settling into the hotel, I met up with a friend I had recently met in Pattaya who was also in Bangkok. We had dinner at Siam Square and wandered around for a bit. The mall was full of luxury cars, but I probably won’t be able to afford one in this lifetime, so sad.

That evening, I went with a girl I had arranged to meet to Khao San Road. We literally just walked around; we didn’t even sit down for a drink to soak in the atmosphere.

Floating Market#

On the second day, I booked a floating market day trip. It included pickup and drop-off, and I leisurely explored the area, which suited me perfectly as there was no rush. You can buy some small souvenirs there, which was nice.

Although the itinerary was relaxed, it was still quite long. After watching the fireflies in the evening, it was already past 8 PM. I rested a bit at the hotel, then got a foot massage nearby before heading back to sleep.

City Center#

On the third day, I explored the city center of Bangkok. There was an area with many Japanese people; the menus in the shops were in Japanese and Thai. Perhaps many Japanese people reside in that vicinity.

After exploring from phone, I originally planned to take the BTS and then a taxi back. However, on the way, I encountered a row of motorbike taxi drivers, so I went up and asked how much it would be to Khao San Road. One driver said 200฿. I said it was too expensive and asked if 150฿ was okay. He said no, at least 170฿. I was too lazy to haggle further, so I decided to go with him. What was interesting was that the driver who quoted me the price didn’t take me; another person did. I was puzzled, and then my driver said that both of them would take me there. I was completely bewildered, thinking, ‘Am I that important?’ Then I put on a helmet and got on. The driver who quoted the price left first, with my driver following behind. Riding a motorbike taxi truly feels very dangerous, weaving between all sorts of vehicles. Several times I was scared, thinking, ‘What if we crash?’ I was glad that wearing a helmet was a very correct choice. On the way, I also saw a BMW motorbike that had been in an accident, hit by a car. Fortunately, everyone was fine because they were wearing helmets.

At a red light, the driver who quoted me the price and my driver were talking in Thai, seemingly giving directions.

Then the driver who quoted the price told me, “I am teacher, I teach him.” That’s when I realized they were brothers; the younger brother was driving a motorbike taxi for the first time, and I was riding with him. The older brother told me that the motorbike I was on was brand new. I looked, and indeed, it was a Honda scooter.

In Bangkok, it’s mostly Honda and Toyota, whether cars or motorbikes. I’d estimate over eighty percent are these two Japanese brands. When the light turned green, a swarm of motorbike taxis buzzed off. The new driver kept saying something to me, but I didn’t understand a single word, unsure if he was speaking Thai or English.

Shooting#

On the fourth day, I went to a nearby army training ground to try shooting. It was really exhilarating; the recoil of the pistol went ‘bong~ bong~ bong~’. After I finished, the officer asked if I wanted to try a rifle. Of course, I did! After all, Taobao (a Chinese e-commerce platform) only offers pistol packages. However, 50 rounds for an M4A1 cost 3200฿, which is equivalent to over ten RMB per bullet. It was quite expensive, but I thought, ‘I’m already here, so why not?’ So I intended to pay by card, but they only accepted cash, and I only had a measly 500฿. Reluctantly, I had to go back.

Unexpectedly, it started pouring rain just 200 meters after I left, and I hadn’t brought an umbrella – how embarrassing. I squatted by the roadside for an hour waiting for the rain to stop. Once it did, I quickly ran back. It really goes to show I should check the weather forecast before going out!

Transportation#

Let’s talk about transportation in Bangkok. There are many motorbike taxis here, and they’re very convenient because Bangkok traffic is extremely congested. If you take a regular taxi, you often get stuck in traffic for a long time, but with a motorbike taxi, it’s different; they can navigate many routes.

However, if you’re a woman traveling alone, I don’t highly recommend motorbike taxis; they’re not very safe. If you must take one, remember to look for these vests; these are legitimate drivers, and each one has their name and code written on the back. If you take a motorbike taxi at night, you can take a photo and send it to your family just in case. Always wear a helmet when getting on, as I saw people involved in accidents on the road, and it’s very dangerous without a helmet. Regarding prices, motorbike taxis are similar to regular taxis. Always ask for the price before getting on, and always haggle, as there’s a lot of room for negotiation.

In Closing#

On the morning of the fifth day, I used Grab to hail a taxi to the airport and returned home.

Overall, the trip was about 9 days and 8 nights, costing approximately 12,000฿. Most of it was spent on hotels and flights. Since I was traveling alone, I booked relatively good hotels, as safety comes first. Overall, I had a very enjoyable time. The people were all very friendly, as it is the Land of Smiles. And it was quite cheap; I didn’t really have a concept of how much I was spending there, basically just splurging, as it was much cheaper than back home.

Now that I’m back home, it’s time to get back to the grind, haha.