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Kicking off my 2026 travel diary with a family trip to Thailand because starting the year with good food and familiar places just felt right. I have been to Thailand quite a number of times back in my high school days. My dad has a house in Kedah right by the border of southern Thailand, so weekend drives to Hatyai for proper Thai food were a very normal part of life and possibly the reason my spice tolerance is still intact.

This trip felt a little different though. Instead of quick border crossings and casual food runs, I decided to bring the whole family to Bangkok and even managed to fit in a day trip to Pattaya. With that said, let’s dive in.

After landing at Don Mueang Airport, we took a Grab straight to Pattaya. There were other options like taking a bus, but I have reached a stage in life where long bus rides are simply not part of my personality anymore. The journey took almost three hours, and Bangkok traffic proved once again that patience is not a virtue I naturally possess.

Thankfully, we eventually arrived in Pattaya and checked into our hotel with a beach view. Timing wise, it could not have been better. We made it just in time for sunset, when the sky decided to show off and reminded us that the long journey was, in fact, worth it.

Pattaya is mainly known for its beaches and its nightlife. I was genuinely surprised by how clean and well maintained the beaches were, which was a very pleasant discovery. The only downside was the struggle to find good halal Thai food near the beach, which meant a lot of walking, a lot of Googling, and a lot of settling.

Beyond the beach, Pattaya is also very famous for its nightlife, and this is where it starts leaning firmly into adults only territory. There were shops openly selling all kinds of questionable items and miracle pills that promised far more than they probably could deliver. Safe to say, it is not exactly a family friendly destination.

They also have a place called Walking Street, which truly lives up to its reputation. People were handing out brochures advertising things that made me look away very quickly and pretend I suddenly found the pavement extremely interesting. It felt like a city that never sleeps and also never feels the need to explain itself. All in all, Pattaya was basically a sin city, and while it may not be my scene, it was still quite an experience for my supposedly innocent self.

The next day, we took a Grab back to Bangkok city centre and yes, straight back into traffic. At this point, it no longer feels like congestion. It feels like a lifestyle choice. After surviving the journey, we stopped by The Quartier Mall to admire their indoor garden. While it may not rival Changi Airport, it had its own charm and was a pleasant place to wander around. We were only there because it was close to our hotel and we had some time to kill before check in, but it turned out to be a nice little detour.

Nearby, we also found an excellent Thai Muslim restaurant called Usman Thai Muslim Food. The food was genuinely authentic and absolutely delicious, which immediately improved everyone’s mood and confirmed that good food really does solve most problems.

At night, we headed to Asiatique. It feels like an uptown area, but more organised, with proper stalls and a nicer layout that makes walking around far less chaotic. By this point in the trip, I had completely lost count of how many cups of Thai tea I had consumed. Hydration is important, after all.

Asiatique also has a few other attractions like dinner cruises along the Chao Phraya River, Jurassic World, and the Asiatique Sky. That said, my family and I kept things simple and focused on what really mattered, food and a bit of shopping. Sometimes that is more than enough.

The next day, we went on a day trip to Samut Songkham, which is about two hours from Bangkok. As usual, we took a Grab because it was the easiest option and by now, clearly our preferred mode of transport. There were two places we specifically wanted to visit, the Maeklong Railway Market and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

To be completely honest, what makes these two places special is mainly their location and concept. A market built along an active railway track and another floating on water is undeniably unique. Beyond that, they are still just markets at the end of the day. Interesting, busy, and slightly overwhelming.

I would say they are worth visiting once, purely for the experience. After that, you probably will not feel the urge to return. Trust me, once is more than enough, and your curiosity will be fully satisfied.

Then we took a Grab to Wat Arun, a beautiful Buddhist temple known for its stunning and intricate architecture. We decided to dress up in traditional Thai costumes and took some photos around the temple grounds. It looked great in pictures, but in reality it was incredibly hot. I was basically boiling under the sun, questioning all my life choices, but anything for the gram, right.

After that, we stopped by ICONSIAM, which is iconic in its own way. The mall was massive and had so many different sections that it felt like a small city. One area was dedicated to high street luxury brands like Hermes and Rolex. There were plenty more, but I honestly cannot remember most of them since that kind of shopping is really not my thing. I admired from a safe distance and moved on.

At night, we headed to a halal Muslim friendly night market called Ramkhamhaeng Night Market. It is located next to a stadium and a university, which explains the lively atmosphere and the endless food options. The food was amazing, and this time it was fully authentic and completely halal, which made the experience even better.

There were so many choices, from comforting bowls of laksa to an impressive variety of desserts that required serious self control. There were also some rather adventurous insect options that I admired from afar and very politely declined. And of course, Thai tea made yet another appearance and by now, it has completely won my heart. At this rate, I may need to start blaming this trip if I ever get diabetes.

On the last day, we did not do much travelling because we were truly done with the traffic that continued to haunt the streets of Bangkok. At that point, taking things slow felt like the best possible plan. So we kept it chill and made our way to the airport to head home.

For some unknown reason, I could not find any shops selling postcards in Bangkok, apart from the one in Samut Songkham. This meant there was no postcard from Bangkok itself, which was mildly tragic for someone who clearly cares about these things more than necessary.

And that brings me to the end of this travel diary. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed reliving the trip while writing. Stay tuned for my next travel adventure, and thank you for reading.