There are steps that we prepare for months, and others that are almost self-imposed. Bangkok was in the second category. We had a somewhat hesitant week ahead of us, with nothing set in stone, hesitating between heading directly to Indonesia or spending a few more days in the Philippines. And then we realized it was Bangkok Pride time. We always dreamed of experiencing a pride march in Asia, so we didn't think about it for long. We readjusted our itinerary and left our bags for a week in the Thai capital.
What a joy to be there. We love Thailand deeply, and after so many weeks on small islands, returning to a big city did us a world of good. The comfort of a metropolis, transport at all hours, cafes, constant energy, we almost missed all of that.
We took the opportunity to explore. We strolled along Song Wat, this artistic street wedged between Chinatown and the Grand Palais, a district of old warehouses converted into cafes and galleries, with street art everywhere and a really cool atmosphere. We also went to Lumphini Park to observe the large monitor lizards relaxing at the water's edge, always so surreal in the city center. And we were finally able to see the Big Buddha, this large Buddha that we had not been able to admire a few years earlier because it was under renovation, and which today stands above the city, truly impressive. On the food side, an evening on Banthat Thong Road, which has become the den of gourmands, delighted us, with its stalls as far as the eye can see, its smells everywhere and this slightly student energy which makes you want to taste everything.
And then there was Pride Sunday. The morning was drowned in rain, and we thought for a moment that everything would fall apart. But as soon as the clouds cleared, the party exploded. The colors, the music, this crowd that takes to the street and never lets go, we experienced it with an emotion that we had not anticipated. Walking together in this procession, in a part of the world where being openly yourself is not always easy, touched us much more than we had imagined.
We also spent a lot of evenings in the gay district, near Silom, and more precisely in Silom Soi 2 and Silom Soi 4. That's where we met the most people, and that's undoubtedly what touched us the most. People from everywhere, sometimes from countries where we didn't imagine them, from Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, all gathered to celebrate freely. We came home almost every night around four in the morning, exhausted and with full hearts.
We also finally tested the Grab scooters, these motorbike taxis that you order from the application. We had always wanted it without ever having the opportunity to do it, so this time we took advantage of it. There is a real feeling of freedom in speeding through the city like that, even if you see your life passing by several times as they drive so haphazardly. And basically, nothing goes faster in Bangkok traffic jams.
We ended the week with an evening of Muay Thai fights at the legendary Rajadamnern stadium, and it was quite spectacular. Whether you are a fan of this sport or not, it remains above all a show, with its animations and 360-degree lighting effects which really set the mood.
We came to Bangkok a bit by chance, without really knowing what we were looking for. We left with the feeling of having experienced one of the most powerful moments of our year of travel.
