Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to embark on my first international trip outside of India and visit Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand. The purpose of my journey was to attend an exciting company event called A New Tomorrow organized by ONE Championship, a renowned organization I joined back in November 2019.
As I arrived in Bangkok, I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast in weather compared to my hometown in North India. While it was chilly there, Bangkok welcomed me with its sweltering heat, reminiscent of the scorching months of April and May back home. Although I had heard rave reviews about Bangkok's delectable street food, I must admit that the unfamiliar aromas left me yearning for the flavors of Indian cuisine. Consequently, I found solace in familiar fast-food chains like KFC and Burger King, opting for their offerings during my stay. However, if you have an adventurous palate and a fondness for non-vegetarian delicacies, Bangkok's local cuisine might be an exciting culinary exploration for you, though it wasn't quite to my taste.
Accompanied by a group of colleagues, I had the pleasure of staying at the conveniently located Ibis Hotel, which was situated near the event venue. While its proximity to our main destination was advantageous, the hotel's distance from the bustling heart of the city was quite noticeable. Nevertheless, attending a live ONE Championship event was an awe-inspiring experience. We were even fortunate enough to interact with some of the athletes, a few of whom hailed from India. Although time was limited, we aimed to make the most of our stay by exploring popular nearby attractions, indulging in local cuisine, and indulging in a bit of retail therapy. Bangkok's reputation for affordable electronic devices drew us to Iconsiam Shopping Mall, an enormous retail haven that dwarfed any malls I had previously encountered. The grandeur of the mall was truly impressive, with the notable presence of a striking Apple store among its countless shops. After our shopping spree, we embarked on a journey to Jomtien Beach in Pattaya City, situated approximately 166 kilometers away from our hotel. Despite Bangkok's notorious traffic conditions, we were fortunate enough to reach the pristine shores of Jomtien Beach in a relatively swift three-hour drive.
After a thorough search, we stumbled upon an Indian restaurant, and to my delight, I discovered that the owner hailed from my hometown of Delhi. Savoring authentic Indian cuisine after a considerable hiatus was a true delight, although I did notice that the dishes were seasoned with a tad more salt than I was accustomed to. Following a satisfying lunch, we bid farewell to the beach and headed back to Bangkok, as our journey had come to an end. Throughout the trip, I diligently captured numerous photographs, and within this photostream, I have carefully curated a selection of the most captivating stills from my Thai adventure.
Electronic devices are cheaper in Bangkok, that was the reason to visit Iconsiam Shopping Mall. This mall was bigger than the malls I have had visited till now. In Bangkok, there was just one grand Apple store in this mall.
