Celebrating Hogmanay in Bangkok

TRAVELTHAILAND

Liz

1/10/20264 min read

It’s Hogmanay today – how on earth did that happen? I mean, where exactly did 2025 go?

Yesterday we had quite a chill day, and R, S and I all managed to get our hair cut in a lovely little salon in the complex. The total of all of our haircuts is less than the normal price S pays for a cut and blow-dry back home.

We are all acutely aware that A, A & S are in their last week of Bangkok, and the days are starting to get limited for the remaining things they want to do before they go. However, today’s plan is for A&A to take us out for a Korean Buffet as a thank you for their trip. We have been doing a little bit of research on where to go, and we all decided that this place gets great reviews compared to some of the other buffet places around. We are going to Myeongryun Jinsa Galbi, which is located on Rama 4 beside the Big C supermarket. We will get the BTS to Asoke, then the MRT to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and walk to the buffet place from there. Now this area is very close to the Khlong Toei wet market, and R and I went there last year. It’s not a place for the weak or faint-hearted, as you see all sorts of items for sale, and the market is really busy. A&A are keen on having a nosey at the market, and S and I are happy to do some shopping and meet up with them afterwards. So that is exactly what we do.

When we meet up with the others later, they are glad they saw the place, but agree that once is enough. Following that, we head into the buffet. We are quickly seated, and we have 2 hours (I think) to enjoy the buffet. The servers quickly set our coals, and we were able to go up and choose all our items. There were marinated and unmarinated meats (mainly pork and chicken) in trays. The self-selection area also had various vegetables, noodles, soup, fried food items, sauces, etc. There was also a variety of soft drinks available and included in the buffet price, but of course, you could add other items on if you wished. Oh, my goodness, did we have a feast! We were so full by the time we finished – A and I even managed to sneak in a little shaved ice dessert at the end (also included!).

You can get an idea of the buffet from the video below:

After dinner, we all managed to waddle home to the apartment. Passing through One Bangkok, though we noticed an older ferang wearing the American-style baseball shorts and oversized shirt. The side of his shorts had the inscription "Let's hit the road" down the side of them. The only problem was that his shirt hung over some of the writing, namely the "let'" bit...so we all had a bit of a giggle at what his inscription was actually saying.... None of us had the heart to tell him, but that was some clever/evil designer....

Once in the apartment, we all managed to have a little rest ahead of the New Year celebrations. We later played some games – mainly cards and watched some television.

For R and I, NYE is not as special a time as that of Christmas, and our habit is to stay up for ‘the bells’, have a wee toast to family and friends and for the new year, and that’s it. We are not big on parties or the like, and I even missed last year’s celebrations completely as I was not well at the time. However, I was looking forward to seeing in the New Year in Bangkok and especially as we had our kids (and Ms A) with us this time. In addition, as we were high up in the apartment with a good balcony, I was hoping that we would see some fireworks or shows. Well, I did not need to fear as we certainly heard and saw some of the Bangkok celebrations, and it was fabulous! Even more so as we were happily sitting in the comfort of the apartment without having to get around the city, which was mobbed with people celebrating.

The only slight downside was when I gave the balcony glass patio door a Glasgow Kiss – for anyone who doesn’t know what this is, it’s a head butt! Yes, I did have a few wines in me, but I didn’t know that my stupid husband had closed the door behind us, and I turned around to go and get something from inside and BANG! I’m sure that is going to result in a nice shiner of a bruise in the coming days. Hopefully, this is not a sign of my New Year's fortune!

So, here’s to a belated Happy New Year to all our family, friends and readers. We wish you all good health and a fantastic 2026!

If you want to see more of Bangkok's New Year celebrations, check out this video...