Honeymoon Cruise Part 3: Bangkok

The first city on our actual cruise was Bangkok. Although it seems as though there is somewhat of a stigma against tour guides, especially with millennials who want "authentic" travel experiences, Ben and I knew that we could not see everything we wanted to without the help of an experienced and knowledgeable local so we went ahead and booked a private guide. Our guide Shah was a local Thai woman who had a passion for Buddhism and the Thai Kings Rama 1 through 10. Needless to say, Ben and I learned A TON. Shah was incredibly intelligent and taught us the backstories, cultural customs, and history of the city she loves and calls home. She seemed to know just about everyone in the city too which gave us some insight about the ​locals.

Our packed itinerary took us through the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha Shrine, the Reclining Buddha, we took a long tail boat through west Bangkok's canals, ate dinner at the trendy Tha Maraj waterfront shops, stopped by a local Thai persons country home and met their unusual array of animals which included a pet squirrel, visited the "risky" market (a market which has a train regularly run directly through it), saw the Damonen Sudak Floating Market (a market on the canals where people sell their goods in boats) and also travelled by boat through canals in the Mae Klong region. Ben and I could not speak highly enough about the city and all of the wonderful sites we got to visit.

We've easily agreed that Bangkok is our favorite place we've ever been and we are actually already trying to book a long layover there for one of our future trips so we can roam around some more! Bangkok is full of history and culture that's blended seamlessly with a modern and advanced feel. it has such an interesting vibe about it that made Ben and I want to stay forever. I highly highly highly recommend this city for anyone who enjoys the comforts of a western city but also wants to see the beauty of a historical, southeast Asian kingdom.

Crazy busy but beautiful!!! Glad we dressed appropriately, if you aren't you need to wear clothes provided by the temple-yuck!

Reclining Buddha

Our tour guide insisted on taking a million pictures of us, we weren't complaining though :)

Boarding a long tail boat on rough river conditions... Almost fell into the river getting in!

Bangkok's famous red light district. REALLY overrated!

Day 2 in Bangkok

Visiting the "risky market" which had a train that runs directly through it

Literally inches away from a moving train... definitely don't ever want to get this close again!

Thai milk tea, so sweet and realllllly delicious. I ended up getting this on several occasions!

Visiting a Thai home in the countryside

Making palm sugar the traditional way

The rooster inside the cage was on "time out"

So many nice pups!

Ben made a squirrel friend too...

Next up was the floating market

We ate pad Thai made in a boat a somehow lived to tell the tale

Hand carving an intricate picture from woods (as seen below)

Beautiful candle souvenirs

An intricate canal system. Who needs roads when you've got these beautiful waterways!!

Saying goodbye to Shah

Stay tuned for Part 4: Vietnam!