Bang Rok, Bangkok

Saphaipae Hostel was my home for the next two nights. Although I never took advantage of the local transportation, it was located close to the sky train and the water taxis. Instead I chose to just walk around. It is also walking distance to the train station if you're looking to take a train to Chiang Mai. There are a lot of options for food carts in the area as well. Expect to pay 35 to 40 baht for dinner if you stick to the simple dishes. You can also purchase bags of fresh fruit for 20 baht. Chinatown is also nearby if you want to take a look around at all of the items they have in the markets.

 Saphaipae Hostel was a good place to stay if you're unsure of other places in the area. I found it on the HostelWorld app and reserved a 4 bed mix dorm room for around $12 USD per night. The room and bathroom was clean with a large locker for storage. It also came with vouchers to get into the morning buffet where they have a very good spread available. The staff was friendly and helpful to all of those with questions. Washer and dryer is on site. 30 baht for the washer and 40 baht for the dryer. There is a clothing line outside to dry clothes if you want to skip the dryer.

 My short time in Bangkok was a fun experience. Typical city life though so not recommended for those looking for a down to earth experience with local traditions. I wanted to stay longer, but the availability on the night train to Chiang Mai was looking grim. I had to either choose the next day or wait at least another four days to leave the city. My advice is to purchase your ticket early if you have a specific date you want to leave. Some of the travel companies will buy out the tickets so you are forced to pay their price! My friend met some travelers in a cooking class who had to buy through the travel company. They said they couldn't buy their tickets unless they also purchased other activities. Like the cooking class 😄

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