Red Cross Fair

Well, you may have noticed that we have jumped a day, and the reason for that is that yesterday (14th), we were collecting our new guests, A&A, from the airport. They were arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and due in around 13:30 hours. We decided to go to the airport via public transport as a) we didn’t have any large luggage with us and b) it was a lot cheaper than getting a taxi there.

Travel to Suvarnabhumi

This was quite straightforward, although it still did take us about an hour to get there. We took the BTS from Phloen Chit (our nearest BTS) to Asoke. We then transferred at Asok to the Sukhumvit MRT station. We took this one stop until Phetchaburi MRT station, and then we transferred from there to the Makkasan train station. From Makkasan, we were on the airport link, and this took us directly to the airport. The train was busy, but mainly with Thai people, the majority of whom got off at the stop before the airport. We did have to stand for the 20-25-minute ride, but it was fine. All in all, the cost was about £1.60 each (compared with around £28 by taxi). We used a combination of our Rabbit cards for the BTS system and then our debit cards for the MRT and train.

Airport Food Court

Everyone talks about the airport food court being a ‘secret gem’, well, I sort of have to disagree with this. As we were going by public transport and a route we were not familiar with, we knew we would be there early, and we knew it would take ages for A&A to get through immigration (which, spoiler alert, it did). So, we aimed to get some lunch at the food court. Well, it was a bit of a rabble. Perhaps we just went at a bad time, or there was a host of people who also descended here, but I really would not bother in future, as there were groups of people with their bags and cases, folks coughing, some having just come off their flights, etc. In fact, it felt like a hotchpotch of germs just waiting to attack us. We of course used our hand sanitiser, cleaned our table, got some food and ate it as quickly as we could to get out of this area again. If we hadn’t been hungry and early, we would not have bothered with it. The food and the food vendors were fine, it was just the seating area and ‘the patrons’ that we were less enamoured by. So, depending on the time you go here, you might want to give it a miss – we won’t be going back there again.

Finally, we saw A&A emerge from the arrivals. Both looked tired and weary after the long journey, but they were here! We quickly got a taxi from the AOT area (costs a little more than the airport taxis and Grab, but is more civilised and relaxing). Then, before we knew it, we were back ‘home’. The ‘kids’ were tired but excited, and after getting their ‘faces scanned’ for accessing the apartment block, showing them the basics in the apartment, they had a quick shower, unpacked and then we went to the mall to get some groceries and dinner.

The next morning, we were delighted to hear that they both had a pretty decent sleep, and after breakfast, we set off to get them their Rabbit cards for the BTS, and once that was done, we walked back to the apartment (so they could drop their passports back again). We also let them go up to the apartment themselves (to ensure they knew how to access the apartment, which uses a digital lock – and they managed that fine), then we walked to the One Bangkok mall for part two of their induction. Once there, we gave them a bit of a tour of the place and explained what was nearby. We showed them how to use a food court and had lunch together, then we left/abandoned them to explore on their own, and we headed off in the opposite direction. Mainly because we had only just recently explored the whole of One Bangkok, so we weren’t that keen on walking around it again.

Whilst A&A were off exploring their first Bangkok mall, we made our way over to Lumphini Park to see what the Red Cross Fair, which runs from 11-22 December. This was cool and not too busy at the time we went. There were still lots of people and lots going on. Food sellers, clothing, other goods and amusement-type games were all taking place. We were there around 2pm, I would say, and after about an hour of walking, we had seen enough and then headed home.

Later, once A&A returned, we all discussed our day, and they had also gone to Lumphini Park too, so we compared notes. After dinner, we played some cards, and not to boast, but I think I won most games… #justsayin.

Days 20 & 21, 14 & 15th December 2025

Bangkok, Thailand