After months of anticipation, our journey finally began with the comforting reality of having checked into our hotel. The first order of business, after refreshing showers and a bit of settling in, was to explore our surroundings and gather some essentials. Our target? The nearest Seven Eleven supermarket.
The need for basic items like shower gel, toothpaste, razors, and mosquito repellent might sound mundane, but there’s something unexpectedly exciting about shopping for these in a new country. And here’s where the first wave of amazement hit us – the cost of living in comparison to the Netherlands is astonishingly low. Everything, and I mean everything, from daily necessities to the occasional indulgences, is about four to five times cheaper here. It’s a budget traveler’s dream come true.
With our shopping spree complete, we returned to the hotel to drop off our finds and ventured out again, this time with the aim to satisfy our growing hunger. Adapting to the heat and the humidity of Thailand’s tropical climate is a challenge I’m still grappling with, but it’s all part of the experience, right?
As we where walking through the streets of the neighborhood we were staying in, our senses were greeted by an array of sights, sounds, and smells unique to Thai street life. It wasn’t long before we stumbled upon a quaint little restaurant that seemed to beckon us with the promise of authentic Thai cuisine.
Seated at a simple table, we ordered Pad Krapao – my first real Thai meal in Thailand. The blend of spices, the freshness of the ingredients, and the skillful preparation offered a taste that was both exotic and comforting at the same time. It was a moment of simple pleasure, enjoying a meal that perfectly encapsulated the vibrancy of Thai culture.
