Waking to a Sunrise
September 29. I woke to a sunrise so vivid that I couldn’t resist pulling out my camera. Among the photos I took, one stood out—a silhouette that looked almost like a warrior standing tall against an unseen enemy. Small games like this keep the mornings light.
With breakfast finished and my bike packed, I set my goal: reach Bangkok by noon. The sky above me was clear, but heavy clouds loomed in the direction of the city. I tried to ignore the unease rising in my chest.
A Battle with the Rain
The road ahead darkened. “That cloud is dangerous,” I thought. My instinct was right. Soon, the rain came down hard, transforming into a torrential downpour. The street in front of my shelter flooded, water rushing past in a way that felt both surreal and intimidating.
I waited. An hour passed. At last, the storm eased, and I climbed back on my bike. My clothes clung to me, heavy, but I felt relief just to be moving forward again.
To refuel, I stopped for drinks—two bottles for 27 baht, about 119 yen. Even with something as simple as water, Thailand offers variety. Each brand tastes slightly different, and I began to see it as a small adventure to try them all.
First Glimpse of Bangkok
Finally, the skyline opened. I had arrived in Bangkok.
Just ten minutes of riding deeper into the city, and the traffic hit me—lines of cars, buses, and motorbikes crowding the streets. Strangely, it lifted my mood. “Yes, this is Bangkok,” I thought, my excitement pushing away the fatigue.
With only 10 kilometers left, the reality of my journey hit me. From Siem Reap all the way here, every challenge, every encounter, had brought me to this moment. I pushed myself to the finish line.
A Guesthouse and a Smoothie
Crossing the main roads, I finally arrived at Long Luck Guesthouse. With university starting, the place was almost empty. Quiet, calm, a perfect space to recover.
After a shower, I wandered the nearby streets and found a smoothie stall. A mango smoothie for just 40 baht—about 177 yen. The taste was incredible. Cold, sweet, and refreshing, it felt like life returning to my tired body.
An Evening of Encounters
Later, I met a Thai friend who guided me through the city. His first words were, “You must eat!” He brought me to a hotpot restaurant, where the food seemed endless. I ate until I could eat no more. Gratitude filled me more than the meal itself.
We then visited a temple with history reaching back to the 13th century. The quiet atmosphere contrasted with the chaos of the streets outside.
Near the temple pond, turtles moved slowly in the water. Then, something larger caught my eye. From a distance, it looked like a myth—a creature shaped like the legendary Tsuchinoko from Japan. Excited, I shared it on social media, only to be told by foreigners that it was a monitor lizard, known locally as “Hear.” Like a Komodo dragon, it prowls the city during rainy season. Harmless from afar, but still terrifying to imagine up close.
To end the night, we shared ice cream. Simple, sweet, and the perfect close to a long day.
The First Step in Bangkok
I had made it. Bangkok, at last. From a flooded road to a guesthouse shower, from a mango smoothie to a strange reptile sighting, the day held everything—struggle, laughter, fear, and deep gratitude.
For the next ten days, I will stay here. After so long on the road, Bangkok is not just a destination. It feels like a pause, a chance to gather strength for the paths ahead.
