Bangkok- First impressions

The first thing that has become apparent after our first couple of days in Thailand- and specifically Bangkok, is that travelling with kids requires some adjustments of how one travels. Of course, this is something that we have been getting used to anyway over the past four years, but we probably still all had slightly different expectations when we set off on our “adventure” year- to a place one might still associate largely with backpackers.

As llka caught up with some sleep, which wasn’t possible in the same room as our sleep-deprived but also over-excited kids, I took both of them outside to have a look around the block. Our hostel was in a less-visited part of central Bangkok, i.e. to the north of the city near Thewet Pier, which gave us the impression that Bangkok wasn’t anything like we expected- traffic seemed well-behaved, everything very clean, pace completely normal for a big city.

Nevertheless, Niklas was instantly aware of the differences: warm, a bit humid, and strange people and sights. What hit him the most though, was the smell: as we reached the market on the corner, and made our way past the small food stalls, cooking everything from seafood to “animal innards”, it all got a bit too much for him. He expressed his concerns in the most Niklasy-way possible: “It stinks here really bad!”, and refused to go any further- demanding we cross the road in the opposite direction to where we had intended to go. Well, Niklas-demanding- which means sitting down somewhere and refusing mule-like to go any further before you comply with his demands. This is where the difficulties in being the adventure-parent come to the fore: Do you try and convince your whiny, or possibly over-stimulated child that he continue, with the potential to see other interesting sights, (most of which will although probably be similar to the aforementioned “stinkies”), or do you (probably correctly) realise that young kids in Bangkok might be a little overwhelmed with all the new sights and impressions.

What doesn't make it any easier is the attention that the Thais lavish on the two kids: and it's not at all subtle. The kids are normally not too shy but then again they normally receive attention for being "fresh" (Niklas) or adorable (Oscar), rather than for just "being". And attention in Thailand means anything from talking directly to the kids in coo-cooing sounds to grabbing onto any extremities that might be within reach. All very well meant, but pretty intimidating for two new arrivals. And I can just say that unlike in Germany, the kids don't enjoy all the attention.

This is not to say that Niklas (and Oscar) didn’t have their fair share of new experiences in the two days we spent in Bangkok. They both loved the little water-lily/fish-ponds that the home-owners had set up in front of their houses, as well as the koi pond in Wat Pho temple. We also got to see all the bigger fish (carp?) in the main river that flows through Bangkok, which people feed with bread crusts that they sell at the piers. As soon as he saw one, Niklas was keen for a ride in a tuk-tuk, which we took from the tourist district to Wat Pho. We also took a short ride due to impatient whinging from the hotel in a pink taxi, which was (for Niklas) just as exciting. So at the moment, Thailand is a country where “firsts” are important: first frog hopping across the street, first tuk-tuk ride, first time Niklas has cleaned his bottom with a “water sprayer”, etc. We’re still waiting to have our first coconut- although Niklas of course wants to have one he collects himself…

We are now in Ban Krut, a week on the beach- and we’ll see what else presents itself.

Love,

Tom, Ilka, Niklas & Oscar