Something about the Floating Market

My first two days in Bangkok consists mostly of meeting and discussions with my SEA counterparts.  On our last day (where most our flight back home will be at the afternoon), it was decided to have some sort of "team building" activity.. at the floating market.

Our bus picked us up at around 7:30 am.  I had to wake up very early to pack my suitcase and for the last day or our breakfast buffet.  It'll take us around 2 hours to reach our destination.

Our first stop is at a coco product seller. Most of their products are similar with what we have in Manila, but what caught my attention is the coconut flower (which I have never seen before).  The fresh coconut juice tasted different with what I am accustomed to.  I find it nutty, whereas the coco juice at home is milder and sweeter.

  

The market caught me by surprise. I thought that it will just be stalls near the river, but it is more than that. It was bustling with tourists, vendors, shoppers. It was amazing!

      

   

I am very fortunate to have been invited to this trip, but I can help but think that next time I visit Bangkok, it will be for leisure

Something about my First Business Trip

A lot of first happened during my Bangkok trip

It was the first time I travelled alone internationally via our country’s flagship airline (and it’s free)
It was the first time a chauffeur is waiting solely for me
It was my first ever business trip (and I’m hoping it won’t be the last)

I am known to have some sort of panic attack when flying.  It all started during my Kota Kinabalu trip, where I felt a sudden drop while still on air, and further magnified to the Iloilo trip, where I spent an hour without any peace of mind due to a bad weather condition. When I found out that it will take me around three hours to reach Thailand, you can just imagine the anxiety I felt.

I was surprised on how comfortable our flight is.  The on-flight movie, the food served, and the newness of the experience deviate my attention to be bothered by the slight turbulence during the flight.  Yes, I still have my “Our Father” moment, and yes, there was a time where I was still scared, but not as much as I thought I would.

I reached Thailand around 1pm, and there was a chauffeur waiting for me. When I reached the hotel, I met a Filipina (from my hometown) who has been working there for around two months. My room, is magnificent.  It is how I imagined my dream room would be.  It’s all white - the bed, the linen, the desk, everything.  I was really happy.

I spent the afternoon taking a stroll at Si Lom, which is the CBD of Thailand.  It is quite similar to Ayala in Philippines and I was surprise how prevalent 7-11 in the city.  I was aiming to buy my pasalubong on my first day, but since I am not thoroughly prepared in this trip and I was kind of scared roaming around a city that I am not familiar with at night time, I decided to go back to the hotel to relax and prepare for my big day the next day.

 

The next few days passed slowly, consists of meetings and discussions with my colleagues.  But of course, despite this trip is made primarily because of work it didn’t inhibit us to have fun a little (photos at floating market will be separately posted)