Bangkok
Bangkok
Korat to Bangkok
Sorry - it’s been a while. I took rest for several days in Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) and I will update as usual from now on!
Bangkok is almost there and I decided to use train from Korat to Bangkok. This time, I bought ticket online, not at a ticket counter. The journey from Korat to Bangkok was around 4 hours and the ticket was about 200 Baht (=1,000JPY). Actually, Korat has two main stations and I chose the closer one from the hotel. The train came on time and the journey started.
Last time I used Thai train was less than 2hours but this time 4hours. I chose a 3rd class seat same as last time so my butt and back were quite tired...I will try other class next time! I found a good page to compare seat classes of Thai Railway so please check this if you want to know more.
URL：https://www.thailandtrains.com/seat-types-on-thailand-trains/
The train arrived in Bangkok safely - Krung Thep Aphiwat Station. This is my 4th time in Bangkok, so just a heads up, I didn't go to major spots in Bangkok this time lol.
I was so thirsty after the train trip so I rested for a bit at the station and moved to my hostel by metro.
Stay in Bangkok
As I mentioned above, I did not go to many landmarks this time but tried new food and cafe a lot. The hostel has co-working space and restaurant so I was also able to stay productively in the hostel too.
One of the best foods I had in Bangkok was “Khao Soi”. Khao Soi is a noodle with coconut base soup and it's famous in north Thailand (not Bangkok actually lol). The soup is very rich and amazing if you eat it with basil. Now I regret why I had this on the last day, otherwise I could have tried more Khao Soi restaurants.
Also, I went to Chinatown which is called Yaowarat for the first time. I didn't know that but Yaowarat is one of the oldest Chinatowns in Southeast Asia and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I had Hainanese Chicken Rice near there and it was so great.
Yaowarat is one of the oldest Chinatowns in Southeast Asia. When King Rama I built the Grand Palace in 1782, he relocated the local Chinese community to this area. Over the following century, waves of immigrants from southern China came for trade and work, and Yaowarat grew into a thriving commercial district.
Bangkok Economy
I stayed in Bangkok for 4 nights and the biggest impression in this stay was that Bangkok is expensive. I went to Thailand for the first time when I was 19 but it's changed a lot. If you eat local food, it costs 60-70Baht (=2-3USD) per meal and is still reasonable, but mid-to-high-end restaurants including Japanese restaurants are very expensive now. Ramen is more than 10USD (nearly 2000JPY). I didn't care much when I went there as a student but I do now - something is wrong lol. I asked AI why the Baht is strong now.
## Why Bangkok Has Become So Expensive
### 1. Strong Thai Baht
The biggest factor. The Thai Baht has been one of the strongest currencies in Asia in recent years.
Why the Baht is strong:
* Tourism recovery
— After COVID, tourists flooded back. Tourism accounts for about 12-15% of Thailand's GDP, bringing in massive amounts of foreign currency.
* High interest rates
— The Bank of Thailand has maintained relatively high policy rates, attracting foreign investment.
* Large foreign reserves
— Thailand holds some of the highest foreign currency reserves in Southeast Asia, giving the Baht strong credibility.
For Japanese travelers, this is a double punch — the Baht is strong while the Yen is weak.
### 2. Domestic Inflation
* Rising energy costs
— Global oil prices have stayed high since the Russia-Ukraine war.
* Minimum wage increases
— The Thai government has been gradually raising the minimum wage.
* Post-COVID demand surge
— With tourists returning, prices for food and accommodation have gone up.
### 3. Tourist Area Premium
* Central Bangkok and areas like Khaosan Road have established "foreigner prices."
* The spread of food delivery apps like Grab Food has also pushed restaurant prices higher
The journey in Thailand ends. It started from Laos by land and I had many good food and met nice people. I moved to Ho Chi Minh after this and now I'm in Penang Island, Malaysia. Please stay tuned!
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