“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster,” goes the famous song. But for us as crew, it’s often a bit more: two nights in the city that never sleeps, where every moment promises adventure. After a ten-hour flight, we step into the tropical heat with two days ahead of us—filled with street food, temples, and markets waiting to be explored. Join cabin crew member Tanja on her stay.
Sawatdee Thailand!
Bangkok is one of the favorite destinations of the crew, and now it is on my list. There is palpable excitement among the 17 crew members-14 cabin and 3 flight crews aboard the SWISS Boeing 777. I started flying with SWISS as a cabin crew in 2019, and to this day, just before landing, it’s still magical calling from a distant land. Shortly after breakfast, the crew announces, “Cabin crew, prepare for landing.” With a six-hour time difference, the flight crew manages to get on the runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok welcomes us with its special mix of tropical warmth and sweet-and-spicy immediately conjuring up thoughts of adventures, aromatic Thai curries, and exotically sweet fruits. The hours until the return flight feel like a race against time. But this time, I have a plan—thanks to the “Local Tips” from our four Bangkok-based SWISS crew members who travel on our flights to and from the city and enthusiastically support the Zurich-based crew.
Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun temples
   Temples are to Thailand like mountains are to Switzerland. For lunch in Saphan Taksin, we use the Skytrain and onwards by boat down the Chao Phraya River, directly to the Grand Palace. The former residence of the kings of Siam also offers great gardens, temples, and palace buildings. The drawback with this palace is that it closes at 3:30 meaning latecomers like myself had to go to the next tip.
Located 15 minutes on foot away from it, Wat Pho hosts the famous 47-meter-long Reclining Buddha. The serenity the gold Buddha exudes invites a short-term rest from city turmoil. If the tank still has energy in it, take a river crossing to Wat Arun to enjoy a stunning view of sunset with golden temple spires. Or take in Chinatown or Flower Market detours. Grand Palace and temples- clothed appropriately, shoulders, and knees to be covered. Wear light and breathable clothing.
Floral Delights – Pak Klong Talat and Chinatown
       The biggest flower market of Thailand is an assault on the senses: bright colors, cacophony of the chatter of vendors, and the hum of action make for one heady aroma. When hunger strikes, Chinatown is a 20-minute radius away, calling out for the best street food: Spicy Shrimp Dumplings, Pad Thai wrapped inside an omelet, for dessert sweet Mango Sticky Rice – outstanding. The night gets quite lively into the evening at the marketplace, accompanied by rhythmic traditional drumming.
No visit to Bangkok is complete without a massage. In Thailand, massage salons are found everywhere, and from a traditional Thai massage to aromatherapy or a soothing foot massage after a day of walking, it’s almost a necessity. The Thais have perfected the art of relaxation, leaving you to wonder how they achieve such serenity and joy in life .A rejuvenating oil massage enlivens my day in preparation for the morning flight back home.
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