by Katherine

          Being that we literally had a half day to explore Bangkok, I knew we weren't going to be able to see too many things. I so desperately wanted to go to this market with a bunch of good street food and full of locals, but it was just too damn hot to make it there, especially since the timing would have cut it close to its end time.

          I did research to try to figure out the "must do" temples. It seemed that Wat Pho was the one temple that you just can't miss while in Bangkok. And my Thai friend from college also said it was tops. It is known for its GIANT statue of a reclining Buddha. 

by Katherine

         Bangkok, or really Thailand in general, was a little pricier in terms of hotels. You can't really find a hotel for $10 a night and still get all the amenities like you could in Hanoi. We debated over several places but decided on Chern Hostel. Don't let the 'hostel' fool you; although there were dorm-style rooms, there were also private rooms with private bathrooms. We weren't in Bangkok for very long, so we didn't have a whole lot that we could actually do, but this place allowed us to walk to the major temples and to Khao San Road without being amongst swarms of tourists. We were also close to some great street food that is more frequented by locals than tourists - always a good sign! Unfortunately, we didn't get to try many places out because we just didn't have time.

          I really liked this hotel! The air conditioning worked amazingly, which I was so grateful for because it was really stinkin hot and humid in Bangkok. I actually got a heat rash there, something that's never happened before, so yeah, it was HOT! The hotel offered me a comfortable place to cool off and feel better. The atmosphere of the hostel also made it seem really fun and inviting. If we had stayed longer, this would have been a fun spot to meet other travelers. Only downside was that beyond the front desk, all of the other hang out spots did not have AC. 

by Katherine