'Mai Pen Rai' means 'never mind' in the Thai language. It is the only Thai we know, a phrase learned ages ago and used infrequently, serving as a fond reminder of that Southeast Asian country.
During our two-day stay in Bangkok in February we found ourselves using it on several occasions.
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| Street scene in Bangkok - portable eatery heading to its set up spot |
In fact, it came to mind during our first couple of hours in the country, beginning with the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. Our driver spoke as much English as we did Thai. Not a good combination, we decided, as we set off while he was trying to tell us something:
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| Rooftop restaurant and bar at Marriott Sukhumvit |
We were headed to the Marriott Hotel in Sukhumvit (the name of both the street and the neighborhood where this Marriott is located) when the driver, -- by then, speeding down the freeway -- finally got across to us that he needed an actual street address to get us there.
Our mobile didn't work in Thailand and the one thing I hadn't jotted down on my somewhat anal-but- useful, handwritten list of hotels and flights, confirmation numbers and details, was the street address for this hotel. After all, there is only one Marriott Hotel in Sukhumvit.
Oh, mai pen rai, problem solved when he handed us his phone and a Google search got him the address and Google maps got us there.
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| Thai flower garlands - offerings to Buddha |
Arriving at the hotel, we had no baht (Thai currency) and the driver didn't take credit cards. We uttered another mai pen rai as the hotel's doorman assured us the front desk would provide payment and simply charge it to our room. It apparently wasn't the first time that travelers have arrived baht-less in Bangkok.
Bangkok Revisited
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| Our room with a view - Sukhumvit Marriott |
Bangkok is where we boarded the cruise ship that took us to other ports of call in Southeast Asia. It was a perfect departure port as Bangkok is near and dear to our hearts. It was here -- many decades ago -- that we first considered having an expat experience. And for many years our expat daydreams were of a life in Thailand.
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| Electric wires drape sidewalks and streets |
Bangkok, like New York, is a city that never sleeps. It's almost 13 million residents fill sleek, modern high rises and mid-century structures that stand side-by-side throughout the city.
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| A mix of old and new |
Massive numbers of electrical wires droop and drape overhead as pedestrians make their way along congested sidewalks lined with mom-and-pop businesses and eateries that spill out onto the pathways.
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| Eateries line the streets |
The mix of smells and sounds that assaulted our senses awakened our Thai love affair.
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| Street eats across the street from our hotel |
As we made our way along neighborhood sidewalks the smells of street food cooking on small portable barbeques combined with the heady aromas of spices and fruits offered for sale. Car exhaust, honking horns, flashing traffic lights, passing bicycles all contributed to the kaleidoscope of sensory experiences to be had just outside the hotel.
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| You snooze, you lose on Bangkok streets |
Rolling on the River
Our two nights in Bangkok were divided between the hotel and the cruise ship. Many cruise lines are now scheduling overnight stops in ports of call, and such was the stop in Bangkok. We boarded the ship on a Sunday afternoon, and we didn't depart until Monday afternoon, which allowed almost another full day of exploration.
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| We could see our ship in the distance docked on the Chao Phraya |
We were aboard Oceania's Nautica, a small ship of just over 600 passengers. Because of its small size it was able to dock in the city on Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. It was so close we could see it in the distance from our hotel's rooftop. Large cruise ships - those that carry thousands of passengers -- dock at a port some two hours from Bangkok.
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| Morning coffee on the Chao Phraya |
One of the selling points of cruising for us is our cabin's deck. I had thought there could be nothing better than sipping room service delivered coffee and watching the morning's river activity in Bangkok. But I was to find out that actually being on that deck and traveling down that river toward the Gulf of Thailand was even more fun.
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| Tugboats accompanied us just in case we needed them |
Our river journey was three hours long and provided one of the best sightseeing opportunities of the trip. We had a flotilla of tugboats escorting us as we made our way to the gulf, ready to assist should our ship have lost power.
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River scenes on the Chao Phraya River
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The scenes we passed were a series of contrasts.
Our minds wandered and pondered about the purpose of each place and its occupants.
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| Thai Buddhist temple |
The purpose of some places was quite evident, such as this Buddhist temple with a large Buddha gazing towards the river. Thailand has the second largest Buddhist population in the world after China.
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| River scenes along the Chai Phraya River |
We'd pass rickety, weather-beaten structures barely above the water's surface and seemingly accessed through acres of undeveloped groves. Within minutes we'd be passing a suburb with high rise buildings and a most modern network of highways and bridges.
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| Modern freeways and bridges contrasted with other river structures |
Our journey to the sea was a slow one, beginning in mid-afternoon and ending as Happy Hour was ushering in evening's activities on the ship.
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| The Scout and The Scribe - a toast to Thailand |
As the sun set, we were entering the Gulf of Thailand. The next morning we'd be arriving in Cambodia. . .and that is where my tale begins next time. . .
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We were entering the Gulf of Thailand
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As always, thanks for the time you spent with us today. Safe travels to you and yours ~
