Oh, Thailand... We Love You So

⛳ Post Script: Golf in Chiang Mai

Before we packed our bags for Bangkok, we decided to squeeze in one last adventure in Chiang Mai — a round of golf. Our hotel arranged a tee time at Alpine Golf Resort, about an hour outside of town. The drive itself was scenic, but the course was even better: rolling fairways, lush greens, and mountains framing the horizon.

What made the day truly memorable were the caddies — engaging, funny, and quick with a smile. They kept us laughing as we worked our way through the round. We hit some good shots, we hit some great shots, and, oh yes, we hit some shots best forgotten. But that’s golf, isn’t it? A mix of triumphs and mulligans, all wrapped in sunshine and laughter.

My caddie saying "hit there." I'm saying "I'll hit over there" and the other caddie just cracking up.

All in all, it was a perfect way to cap off our time in Chiang Mai — a reminder that travel isn’t just temples and food, but also finding joy in the unexpected, like a day on the links in Thailand.

Bangkok Beginnings: Sunrise, Chinatown & a Head Cold

The View From Our Room

After an hour’s flight from Chiang Mai and another hour’s ride through Bangkok traffic, we arrived at the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit — a five‑star hotel that feels like a palace in the sky. Our suite has wrap‑around windows framing the city, and waking up to the sunrise over Bangkok’s skyscrapers is nothing short of magical. And here’s the kicker: we’re paying less for this suite than we did for a motel in Moses Lake. Thailand, you win again.

But I have to wonder — what is it with Thailand and my health? On the flight I caught a head cold that’s pestered me for two days. You haven’t truly traveled until you’ve tried explaining symptoms to a pharmacist with Google Translate. After a few failed attempts, she looked up and said, “Would you rather we spoke in English?” Truth be told, her English was better than mine.

Despite the sniffles, we powered through our first day’s adventures. Last time we were here, we only had one day to see the major highlights like Wat Arun. This time, we wanted something more intimate, so we headed to Chinatown — one of the largest and oldest in the world, established in 1782. Think about that: while George Washington and Ben Franklin were still wandering around America, dim sum was already being served in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

The sounds, the smells, the chaos — walking down an alley barely four feet wide, with food and merchandise spilling out on both sides while a motorbike squeezes past — it’s an experience you won’t find in Tacoma. 

From Chinatown, we walked to the Chao Phraya River and boarded a boat to glide down the city’s main artery.

At the end of the day, it was a very good start to our Bangkok adventures — a mix of luxury, laughter, history, and the kind of sensory overload that makes travel unforgettable.

Bangkok Sunrises and Slow Travel

Mornings in Bangkok have been… well, I hesitate to use the word “surreal” because it’s overused, but that’s the closest description. It’s that feeling of disbelief, like you can’t quite process what you’re seeing. Every morning we’ve watched the sunrise over the city from our suite, and it feels unlike any sunrise we’ve ever experienced — with the exception of Haleakala on the Big Island of Hawaii. Just special.

One of the joys of being “travelers” rather than “tourists” is the luxury of taking things slowly. When we were younger, we traveled with a plan for every day. We’d wake up early, follow a predetermined path, and try to see as much as possible before the day was done. We don’t travel like that anymore. Slow travel gives us the freedom to pause, to take a day off when needed, and to let the journey breathe.

That freedom came in handy when my head cold caught up with me. Instead of forcing ourselves out into the city, we stayed at the hotel. I got some much‑needed recovery sleep, while Sonja put a serious dent into her Netflix account. Sometimes, the best travel memories aren’t about rushing to see everything — they’re about giving yourself permission to rest.

Breakfast, Markets and Memories

Yesterday was one of those days when we felt truly grateful to be able to travel. We left the hotel in search of breakfast and Sonja spotted a small restaurant with a Canadian flag and a sign promising all‑day breakfast. What a find! I had one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever tasted, while Sonja was transported to another place entirely with her eggs benedict. And, don't tell anyone, but we snuck in a little carrot cake to top it all off.

We met a young couple there — he from Miami, she from Thailand — along with their child. Listening to him talk about living in Bangkok versus the U.S., we understood completely. There was none of the “rush, rush, rush” that seems to infiltrate everything back home. Instead, you could feel the peace they carried as a family.

After breakfast, we hopped on the BTS Skytrain to the other side of the city. Bangkok is home to 11 million people — the size of New York City — so even on an elevated train it took 30–35 minutes. Unlike New York’s subways, the BTS is air‑conditioned, quiet, and orderly. Standing room only, yet no loud talking, no music blaring — just a comfortable ride.

We arrived at Chatuchak Weekend Market, billed as the largest outdoor market in Southeast Asia. With over 8,000 vendors, it lived up to the hype. Clothes, trinkets, carvings, street food — everything you could imagine was there. We saw so much we wanted to buy for our kids and grandkids, but U.S. rules on overseas packages make it nearly impossible. Either the gifts are rejected and sent back, or the kids would have to pay a 100% tariff. To quote Rodney King: “Can’t we all just get along?”

From the market, we wandered into Talat Noi, a neighborhood that’s a photo junkie’s heaven. Street art, cozy alleys, and locals cooking and living their lives. We ate at a restaurant that felt straight out of a Hollywood movie — an old warehouse on the river, with original décor and even a tree growing out of the dining room, reminiscent of Angkor Wat. The food was excellent, the view unforgettable, and the memory will linger.

I don't have words that will capture this area, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

A walk, a tuk tuk ride, a subway ride, and another Skytrain later, we were back at our hotel. Looking at each other, all we could say was: “Wow.”

Although we're not leaving Bangkok yet, I'm going to close this post out here.  In a couple of days, we're going to take a side trip out of the city and I'll pick things up then.   Love you kids!  We really hope you make it to Bangkok so we'll leave some good feelings here for you!