17. Leaving Bangkok Behind

Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) — where the next part of the journey was about to begin.

PLEASE NOTE: Before continuing, make sure you’ve read the earlier parts of my journey. Click here to view all chapters.

17. Leaving Bangkok Behind

I woke up feeling different.

Lighter. 

Clearer.

The weight from the day before had lifted, and in its place was something much more familiar — a sense of direction.

I knew what I was doing next.

I was heading to Krabi that evening.

An overnight bus. 

My first real journey within the country.

That alone made everything feel easier.

I took the morning slow.

No rush. 

No pressure.

I packed my things properly, checked out around midday, and left my main bag at reception. 

It meant I could head out with just the essentials — my passport, money, and my mini iPad — nothing more.

After exploring more of the city the day before, I found myself drawn back towards the river.

There was something about it.

I grabbed a coffee at a small spot near the pier and sat there for a while, just watching.

The river was busy. 

Constantly moving.

Boats passing through, locals commuting, tourists drifting in and out.

It was chaotic in its own way.

But at the same time, there was a strange calmness to it.

You could sit there for hours and not get bored.

There was always something happening.

I found myself reflecting on the last few days.

Everything that had happened since arriving.

The highs. 

The wobble. 

The shift.

And how quickly it had all changed.

After about an hour, I decided to move again.

I jumped back on one of the boats and headed down the river towards Saphan Taksin.

From there, I took the Skytrain to Siam.

A place I’d heard about.

The shopping district.

A completely different side of the city.

And it didn’t disappoint.

The energy there was something else.

Massive malls, one after the other — CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, MBK.

It felt endless.

I’m not really a big shopper, so I wasn’t there to buy anything.

It was more about taking it all in.

Walking through, headphones in, just observing.

Watching how the city moved.

MBK stood out to me the most.

It felt more local.

Less polished.

Less designer.

More market-style.

Stalls packed with clothes, accessories, bags — a lot of it fake branded, but full of character.

It was easy to get lost in there.

But the real surprise was upstairs.

The food court.

It was my first time experiencing something like that.

You load up a card with money, walk around, choose from dozens of food stalls, and whatever you don’t spend, you get back at the end.

Simple.

Efficient.

And the food…

Next level.

I ordered a Pad Kra Pao — minced pork with Thai basil, served over rice with a fried egg on top.

One of the most popular dishes in Thailand.

And I could see why.

It was incredible.

Another one to add to the list.

I spent a few more hours wandering, taking it all in, before eventually checking the time.

Around 3 p.m.

I knew I had to head back soon.

By 6 p.m., I needed to be ready to leave.

So I made my way back.

Collected my bag.

And waited.

Right on time, the minibus arrived.

They called my name.

I grabbed my bag, loaded it in the back, and climbed in.

A mix of travellers and locals already inside.

Then we pulled away.

Leaving the familiar behind.

Heading towards the Southern Bus Terminal — Sai Tai Mai — where the next part of the journey would begin.

You can read more about my Journey by clicking here.

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