I flew into Bangkok on the 15th of Feb. It was a pretty uneventful flight, so that was good. For WGN to SYD I managed to only share a three seat row with one other person. I didn’t get searched or scanned etc in Sydney!! This has only been the second time this has happened so I’m pleased. Must have been busy with more dodgy looking people for a change. I also bought the Lancome Absolu Voyage travel make up kit for cheaper than the duty free in NZ! I love how it has everything in one handy travel size! I’ve used it or the Dior version for years, it’s really great for travel or when you are running late for work.
On the flight from SYD to BKK, I used the new online Qantas system for choosing meals before you fly. I got the duck l’orange. It was as good as I’d expected… so “okay I guess?” for airline food anyway. My meal arrived way before everyone else, similar to if you had dietary requirements, so I would recommend using it if you travel on Qantas out of Aussie.
Qantas online exclusive meal order. Brussel sprouts a bit too soggy, but garlic bread bun was delicious.
Once at Suvarnabhumi airport I met up with my cousin Bang who I stayed with. Then I made the crucial mistake of exchanging money at the airline counters. I think there are reasonable exchange services there, but I couldn’t see them and went with a Bank. I knew better, and my cousin warned me, but I was tired and just decided to be stupid. A few days later I checked the cash I got and realised I was probably about a $100 stupid, since that is how much I think I lost in the crappy exchange rates. Never again! Especially as there are so many places to exchange in town, and the one I wanted to exchange at was roughly 20m walk away, but behind a ticket booth!
That first day we went out to Central World Rama 9, where Bang bought some comics and we had MK for dinner. I am strangely addicted to the complimentary ice tea they serve there. It’s like a weak oolong tea with a hint of Pandan. We ordered way to much food and ate way too much. This is pretty much what my time in Thailand is always like, just feeling either slightly peckish or completely full to burst. I just want to eat all my favourite foods that I won’t get a chance to eat for ages!
The next day we went and bought snacks for breakfast and headed off to my Aunt’s place for a day of catching up and roughly 3 hours of lounging in their compound’s swimming pool. Soooo nice.
We also ate a lot of seafood. I continue my trend of aiming for one coconut a day.
On the 17th I did some laundry, not a big deal.. but now all my bras are blue. 🙁 I’m not sure if it was the laundry powder or what, but the one blue sports bra that had never caused any trouble before somehow dyed everything else. I suspect it might be that even though I aimed to do a cold wash, air temperature water in Thailand is generally pretty warm! Luckily the rest of my clothes appear to be fine.
I also spent a good portion of the morning trying to sort out applying for some uni papers that I couldn’t apply for first time round. About a week before I left the country I found out that all the papers I wanted to apply for at Yonsei are not available for exchange students. They also have a really “unique” bidding system, then waitlisting system for papers that was a nightmare to figure out. Unfortunately the papers I wanted to apply for are part of their Underwood International College and because they were popular they never became available for me to apply for. I’ll go beg the professor to let me in on the first day of class.
Good news! I did manage to get into two papers I wanted, and my back up paper, so I can meet minimum course requirements for the exchange, but I might have to do another paper next year if I can’t get into the one I wanted (when everyone else in my year would have graduated).
Despite this, the rest of the day was good. Bang and I had lunch at one of my favourite food courts in Bangkok (MBK) then went to spend the rest of the day with my brother and his wife. We had a really lovely evening and it was so lovely to spend time with them again and see the renovations they have done to their house. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again when I come through in July.
This is obviously coming from a place of privilege, but it is so painful having no spare luggage allowance and therefore not being able to shop at any of the malls I am visiting. There are so many cute things that I don’t need but want!
Unrealistic beauty standards!! Also, does anyone else think they mixed up Pikachu and Raichu’s cheek colours?
On the 18th I just relaxed in the morning and caught up with my other cousin who came home for the weekend. Because they live near Suvarnabhumi airport I decided to catch the airport rail link there, and then use their free airport transfer shuttle bus to Don Muang airport! All you need is to your booking confirmation to show that you have a flight out of Don Muang that day! I did have to leave quite early though, because you can never trust Bangkok traffic.
However, Don Muang has seriously upgraded since I last came through over 2 years ago. They have finally done all their new renovations and it seems so much nicer now. More shops and restaurants, better aircon too! I used the free wifi to play Pokemon Go while I waited for my flight to Nan!