My first week in Bangkok began familiarizing myself with the area as well as my workplace and surroundings so I did not explore very much these days.
The company where I work is located just outside the center of Bangkok, it is still Bangkok however it is not within the tourist area. That’s why it is surrounded by local neighborhoods being for some (that I have heard) something to fear since it is a bit hidden and with suspicious buildings around.
Artist for this picture here.
For me, however it’s something incredible. Being able to experience Bangkok like a local would… Walk from 10 to 15 min to the nearest metro station (when you have time, of course) and see how people in the neighborhood start their day.
I appreciate this very much because talking to friends who are also doing their exchange here, I noticed none of them had seen pretty details of Bangkok’s locals such as the abundant amount of plants and mini fish ponds that they usually have on the sidewalks (something that I’ve never seen in person before).
I not only had to familiarize with my surroundings really quick but since the day I arrived I started working so I had to learn a lot about the buildings we have and the system we manage, get to know the people with whom I would be working, the schedules, the work rhythm and everything but at the end I got it all together.
Here’s a picture of me with my uniform from one of my first days at work in the Hostel.
For the first day in town, Nick from World Wide took Fernando, Enrique (Mexican interns), Hadja (from the Philippines) and me to a quick gathering at Sendai Ramen Mokkori.
To be honest I didn’t love the ramen but it was maybe because I decided to not get one of the main (most popular) ones because I though we were are gonna share to taste but for sure, I don’t know why I thought this if I knew everybody was hungry and food is not something to full around, right?! What I loved tho was the gathering itself and the owner, who’s name I’d love to love for the record because he was an amazing guy, very used to taking pictures with his costumers and super funny!
Would highly recommend for the experience and I’d have to give them a second chance because I made the mistake to go for not very popular ramen variety so you’ll probably see me here again sometime soon.
For the second week, Nick took us once again for a nice trip to some of Bangkok’s most famous temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and a not so popular but very important temple called Wat Traimit for an interesting photoshoot for World Wide.
I haven’t got the pictures yet but soon so if you’re interested in whats coming don’t forget to follow me on Instagram at @cecyesparzatravel!
And now I’ll give you a little more information about each of the temples that we visited in case you’re planning for a quick trip around Bangkok:
Wat Traimit (Golden Budha)
Located at the end of Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Railway Station, Wat Traimit houses the world’s largest massive gold seated Buddha measuring nearly five metres in height and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco and plaster.
We walked around Wat Tramit, which is the house of the largest solid gold statue in the world, has a height of 3 meters and a weight of 5.5 tons. It is located very close to China Town and is one of the closest temples to the area where I live.
Wat Pho (Reclined Budha)
Wat Pho is one of the most famous and sought after temples in Bangkok, home of the recumbent Buddha which measures 46 meters long and is covered with gold, is one of the largest temples in the city. If you go to this temple try to go very early to appreciate the place without so many people because already inside the temple and with the paid ticket you have to stand in line to enter to see the recumbent Buddha. If it is one of your priorities to see it or appreciate the temple in general go with time.I let it go because I will return some time again in the year, but I will look for some guide that can help me.
Near the temple we ate local food at a stand and to be honest it is one of the best meals I have had, I love the noodles of this type with peanut oil, chili and sugar eyelets.
In the case of these noodles in specific the delicious taste of the pork and the peanut in piece is incomparable.
Near the temple we ate local food at a stand and to be honest it is one of the best meals I have had, I love the noodles of this type with peanut oil, chili and sugar eyelets.
In the case of these noodles in specific the delicious taste of the pork and the peanut in piece is incomparable.
Wat Arun (The Sunrise Temple)
The third temple we visited is the temple of Wat Arun. It is one of the most beautiful in my opinion because it’s located right off the pier so it can be seen when we retire through the light of dusk and dawn. It is something precious.
It is very nice to sit down after a full day touring the other temples, which is what many people usually do. It is a very quiet place.
Chinese New Year
In this third week although there were many things that I had to keep learning and getting familiar with, I could start to leave more freely.
In general February was a month of much exploration and you’ll see it when I tell it in the next post but as a preview I can tell you that I lived in Bangkok for the first time in my life a Chinese New Year.
This celebration is usually held between the last days of January to the first days of February and this year it was held on February 5.
I will not give you many details now to tell you thoroughly afterwards but in reception our uniform during the days of the celebration was painted red with blouses and qipaos to commemorate the dates.
Hey y’all! Or should I say… Sawatdee ka! My warmest greetings from Bangkok, Thailand! To wherever you read me, especially if they are fellow Mexican since I’m starting this incredible journey with the intention of sharing with family, friends and people interested in Thai’s lifestyle and culture.
For those who know me already you know what I’m talking about but for those who just found out about me, I am going to tell you a little about bit myself and my story: My name is Cecilia Esparza, I am a 21-year-old Mexican girl, who just graduated from a major on Tourism Business Management back in my hometown, Monterrey City (if you are interested in learning a little more about me in future for next posts).
At the end of my career I decided to take a 360 ° turn and embark on a trip that promised to be the first step to a world full of incomparable adventures and honestly, it’s being great.
One day like today, exactly a month ago, I arrived for the first time in Bangkok after a 15-hour flight from Monterrey to Korea and 5 hours from Korea to Bangkok.
My situation in Bangkok is perhaps a little different from what you might be imagining because although I plan for future adventures, I am not backpacking or on vacation but to work for a full year!
So much of what you will see in my blog will not be only tourist attractions or what to do in Thailand but the lifestyle and my first experiences of complete independence (you know, once out of the family shell)
** By the way, if you want to know more about how I got the exchange can leave me a comment or message and I will gladly talk more about it in another post. **
So far I have had the opportunity to explore accessible attractions of Bangkok such as some of the most famous temples, Khao San Road, shopping centers and night markets but we will talk about it little by little through the posts.
My first week in Bangkok began familiarizing myself with the area as well as my workplace and surroundings so I did not explore very much these days.
The company where I work is located just outside the center of Bangkok, it is still Bangkok however it is not within the tourist area. That’s why it is surrounded by local neighborhoods being for some (that I have heard) something to fear since it is a bit hidden and with suspicious buildings around.
Artist for this picture here.
For me, however it’s something incredible. Being able to experience Bangkok like a local would… Walk from 10 to 15 min to the nearest metro station (when you have time, of course) and see how people in the neighborhood start their day.
I appreciate this very much because talking to friends who are also doing their exchange here, I noticed none of them had seen pretty details of Bangkok’s locals such as the abundant amount of plants and mini fish ponds that they usually have on the sidewalks (something that I’ve never seen in person before).
I not only had to familiarize with my surroundings really quick but since the day I arrived I started working so I had to learn a lot about the buildings we have and the system we manage, get to know the people with whom I would be working, the schedules, the work rhythm and everything but at the end I got it all together.
Here’s a picture of me with my uniform from one of my first days at work in the Hostel.
For the first day in town, Nick from World Wide took Fernando, Enrique (Mexican interns), Hadja (from the Philippines) and me to a quick gathering at Sendai Ramen Mokkori.
To be honest I didn’t love the ramen but it was maybe because I decided to not get one of the main (most popular) ones because I though we were are gonna share to taste but for sure, I don’t know why I thought this if I knew everybody was hungry and food is not something to full around, right?! What I loved tho was the gathering itself and the owner, who’s name I’d love to love for the record because he was an amazing guy, very used to taking pictures with his costumers and super funny!
Would highly recommend for the experience and I’d have to give them a second chance because I made the mistake to go for not very popular ramen variety so you’ll probably see me here again sometime soon.
For the second week, Nick took us once again for a nice trip to some of Bangkok’s most famous temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and a not so popular but very important temple called Wat Traimit for an interesting photoshoot for World Wide.
I haven’t got the pictures yet but soon so if you’re interested in whats coming don’t forget to follow me on Instagram at @cecyesparzatravel!
And now I’ll give you a little more information about each of the temples that we visited in case you’re planning for a quick trip around Bangkok:
Wat Traimit (Golden Budha)
Located at the end of Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Railway Station, Wat Traimit houses the world’s largest massive gold seated Buddha measuring nearly five metres in height and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco and plaster.
We walked around Wat Tramit, which is the house of the largest solid gold statue in the world, has a height of 3 meters and a weight of 5.5 tons. It is located very close to China Town and is one of the closest temples to the area where I live.
Wat Pho (Reclined Budha)
Wat Pho is one of the most famous and sought after temples in Bangkok, home of the recumbent Buddha which measures 46 meters long and is covered with gold, is one of the largest temples in the city. If you go to this temple try to go very early to appreciate the place without so many people because already inside the temple and with the paid ticket you have to stand in line to enter to see the recumbent Buddha. If it is one of your priorities to see it or appreciate the temple in general go with time.I let it go because I will return some time again in the year, but I will look for some guide that can help me.
Near the temple we ate local food at a stand and to be honest it is one of the best meals I have had, I love the noodles of this type with peanut oil, chili and sugar eyelets.
In the case of these noodles in specific the delicious taste of the pork and the peanut in piece is incomparable.
Near the temple we ate local food at a stand and to be honest it is one of the best meals I have had, I love the noodles of this type with peanut oil, chili and sugar eyelets.
In the case of these noodles in specific the delicious taste of the pork and the peanut in piece is incomparable.
Wat Arun (The Sunrise Temple)
The third temple we visited is the temple of Wat Arun. It is one of the most beautiful in my opinion because it’s located right off the pier so it can be seen when we retire through the light of dusk and dawn. It is something precious.
It is very nice to sit down after a full day touring the other temples, which is what many people usually do. It is a very quiet place.
Chinese New Year
In this third week although there were many things that I had to keep learning and getting familiar with, I could start to leave more freely.
In general February was a month of much exploration and you’ll see it when I tell it in the next post but as a preview I can tell you that I lived in Bangkok for the first time in my life a Chinese New Year.
This celebration is usually held between the last days of January to the first days of February and this year it was held on February 5.
I will not give you many details now to tell you thoroughly afterwards but in reception our uniform during the days of the celebration was painted red with blouses and qipaos to commemorate the dates.
Cecy Esparza 