Tuesday 13th August 2024

I left Langkawi on Sunday for what I thought would be a nice easy journey to Bangkok. Unfortunately it was not as simple as expected!

I arrived at the airport, which is nice and small and easy to navigate. Found the Malaysian Airline check-in and was then told that my flight was delayed by 1hr. This meant that I was unlikely to make my connecting flight to Bangkok! 

The guys at check-in were super helpful and managed to get me on a later flight to Bangkok! Phew 🙂 I chilled in the departure for a while then went through security, with just a small wait before my flight. At the time we should have been boarding they announced that it was further delayed! Once again making it unlikely that I’d make my new connecting flight! 

The staff were again very kind & helpful and assured me that I would make the flight, they made it sound like I wouldn’t have far to go the get to the Bangkok flight. To be fair to them they were dealing with a particularly angry woman who was really kicking off! 😬

I, on the other hand was surprisingly calm! 😌 Very unlike me!

The flight eventually arrived and impressively we were given a bottle of water and some peanuts, on a 1hr flight for free! 👍

I found myself sat next to Little Miss Angry, who was still very upset. She was apparently going to miss her connection to Phnom Penh, which meant she wouldn’t be back in time to start her new job, her nanny would have left the children unattended, they would be at risk, she had spent 20 years traveling and this was the worst airline, ever,  and she wanted to kill someone! 😬 Not a lot I could say, so I just offered her a Mento! 

We arrived in Kuala Lumpur and I was told that my next flight was leaving from gate H2 but first I had to go through Immigration! 

Oh Shit! I’d completely forgotten about the immigration part, internal flight then an international flight 🤦‍♀️ 

Things were very tight, time wise, and Immigration and gate H2 were obviously bloody miles away, so I legged it. Immigration a doddle. But still trying to find H2, whilst ignoring my need for a wee! Eventually found the gate, with just enough time to have a wee. Went through more security, sat in the boarding lounge and they announced that the flight was delayed!! 😂😂 

By now I was blooming starving, having had nothing but a mento and some peanuts since breakfast, it was now 6.30. I figured I’d just get something when I arrived at my hotel in 3 hrs! 

However, joy of joys, Malaysian Airlines gave us a full meal on our 2 hr flight to Bangkok. Happy Days. 😍😍

Arriving in Bangkok my next hurdle was going to be the Visa on Arrival. Having learnt from my experience in Kuala Lumpur. I had made a note of all of the pertinent details, Hotel names, addresses, my leaving date etc. 

I arrived at immigration and spoke to a staff member about getting my Visa, she asked what nationality I was and then said I could just go straight to immigration! It was an absolute breeze! 😍 

I headed to the Taxi rank, got a taxi, which looked like it was being driven by a 12 year old with a fake moustache! He also drove like a 12 year old, pulling alongside his mate on the motorway, winding down his window and having a chat at 60 miles an hour! Then chatting on his phone, which meant he nearly missed our turnoff and proceeded to cut across 2 lines of traffic and just about made it! I was swearing and sweating in the back! After trying to drop me off at 2 incorrect hotels we eventually made it to my hotel. After a mammoth 12hr journey. 😳

My Hotel, The Rose Residence, was a beautiful, calm, peaceful sanctuary after all the Taxi madness. ❤️

I dropped off my luggage and went out to explore. The hotel is very close to a night market, which in turn is very close to all the sex joints, with the ubiquitous Ping Pong shows! 

I grabbed myself a Chang Beer, some Spring Rolls and people watched for a while. 

I’m only in Bangkok for 2 nights but I do have a couple of things to do.

I need to get myself a Thai SIM card, a priority, especially as I need to use Grab. I also need to go to the Bus office and book my transport to Cambodia.

The wonderful staff and manager at the hotel, were so helpful. They printed off my Train Ticket for my journey to Hun Hin, then called the train company to try and get me a better departure time. Unfortunately there isn’t one. 

I got my SIM sorted at the nearest 7 Eleven, by 2 young women who didn’t speak any English and I don’t speak any Thai but between us all we got it sorted! 

I Jumped in a Grab, found the Bus office, which was open! 👍

The Giant Ibis Bus Company. I’m using them after reading a travel blog which said they were amazing, they also have great reviews. The bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes 8hrs. The company organises your Cambodian Visa, they also provide drinks, snacks and aircon all for the princely sum of £20. 😍

From the office I walked down to the river and jumped on a boat to the stop the Hotel Manager had suggested was the nearest one to the Hotel. 

It was still around 2.5k back to the hotel, so as it was very hot I stopped for an iced coffee then ordered a Grab. 

Well, this turned into another bloody saga. I was waiting at what I assumed was the pick up point, the app said the driver had arrived, I couldn’t see him so tried to call, not great due to the language barrier, I walked around a bit to see if I could see him, tried messaging him (they can be translated) Asked the guy in the coffee shop if I was at the right spot, he said yes, went back waited again, not sign of him, this went on for about 10 mins, he sent me a picture of the pick up spot, I was in the right place. I sent back a picture of myself in the right spot. Then I received a stream of stroppy rude messages from him. Basically saying, “I’ve been looking for you several times” “You’re never there!” Then “You people not prepared to get on a bus at all” “You should Stand and wait” “As for me I have to drive around as there is a lot of traffic” “You waste my time”  I was like, WTAF! I’ve been stood here waiting you knob! 

I sent a polite message back saying, “don’t bother, I’m going to walk, sorry to have caused you to have a bad day” then cancelled the ride. Which I now have to pay a penalty for, TBF it’s only 50p. 

I was very irritated by the whole exchange, so decided I would actually walk, that’ll bloody teach him!! 😂

2 kilometres and 20 pints of sweat later I’m sure he learnt his bloody lesson!! 😂😂

I got back to the Hotel and got straight into the delicious, cool shady pool! Heaven. 

I popped out for dinner to a little place just round the corner from the hotel, an Indian Restaurant. I had a gorgeous Chicken Biriyani and a Mojito. Everything was yummy. 😋 All the staff were lovely as well. 

When it was time for me to leave the city was in the middle of a huge storm with torrential rain. Obviously I came out without my umbrella! The guy on the door told me I should wait for a bit, but I explained I was just around the corner, so I’d be fine. He then got the Owner/Manager to walk me to my hotel under his umbrella! ☔️☔️ 😍 What a lovely, kind thing to do. ❤️

I’m now just sitting in the garden, watching all the hotel cats playing (there’s lots of them! 😍) and enjoying my breakfast. 

It’s been quite nice being back in Bangkok, especially as I’m not rushing round trying to see everything. 

The manager here told me that Hun Hin is lovely, I hope,so. 

I will let you know! 

Books Read

Cheater. Karen Rose. It was OK. A little predictable, and a little all American mom & pop. 

Thank you Laura for your recommendations. I’ve downloaded both of them. 👍❤️❤️

Have a great day.

❤️🩵🧡💙💚🩷