Off to Bangkok

Living in Asia is fabulous. Because regional travel is easy. Places that folks in the West can only dream of visiting once in their lifetime is considered something close to a “backyard of the Philippines.” And for many places, on need not even secure a visa if you are coming from an Asia or Southeast Asian nation.

What’s the process? If one already has a passport, just buy a cheap ticket and book accommodations online, and go!

I am off to Bangkok for a week — and I am hoping to tell you al about my trip when I get back. Of course, if I my 3-star hotel accommodations (hey don’t knock the $153 for 7 days / six nights for 2 persons with American breakfast rate) in what my sister says is their equivalent of Makati City has internet access in the hotel room (that does I not cost an arm and a leg) I will be blogging about my adventure from there.

I haven’t been to Bangkok in about 10 years and am excited to see what has changed and what remains the same — for I had only good memories of that company trip we took then. But this time, I am equipped with a digital camera and a laptop and a backpack and I guess I am all set.

My most recent trip was to Kuala Lumpur 2 years ago at this time of the year, so my hard drive is full of photos that I never had the time to publish much less blog about. I have been asked to write for an Asian blog and I guess I should post my articles about traveling around Asia there instead.

What about currency — oh they accept US Dollars and even Philippine pesos! Usually there’s no need to even exchange your money into the Thai baht anymore.

And I can expect the food to be fabulous as usual — and cheap! I love Thai food, by the way, all that spice and those different flavors that pop the taste buds. We also timed out trip to be able to visit Chatuchak, which is a flea market that is on on weekends only that has hundreds (thousands?) of stalls selling the best handicrafts and products that Thailand has to offer.

During my last trip there, I wanted to buy so many things but was worried about shipping. I am told that Thailand has fixed all that and that the government itself is facilitating shipping to help the manufacturers and artists export their work. Ah, if only our departments of trade and tourism would do that for the local artisans…

Ok, gotta go for a bit. This mobile woman who lives in one of the best places in the Philippines that makes her feel like she’s on vacation every time IS finally taking a real vacation.

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