Thailand Diaries: Sawasdee Soirée

Sawasdee ka! 🇹🇭

That’s Thai for “hello” (if you’re a girl)—and trust me, you’ll hear it everywhere. From airport signs to friendly shopkeepers, it’s the first word that makes you feel like the trip’s really begun. So here’s mine: welcome to Day 1 of my Thailand Diaries!

We kicked off the trip bright and early at 6:30 AM, running mostly on excitement (and maybe a bite of something sweet). Reached the airport by 7:15 AM, flying with FlyDubai. Our flight was scheduled for 10:30 AM, but in true dramatic fashion, it was delayed—finally taking off at 11:22 AM.

✈️ In-Flight Food & Flicks

The food? Surprisingly good. I got the Asian veg meal—peas pulao, paneer gravy, cucumber raita, a soft bread roll with butter and a delightful little mango mousse. My parents had the chicken biryani version, but we all got the mousse, so world peace was maintained.

Watched Enola Holmes 2, dipped into Encanto, and then drifted in and out of awkward airplane sleep.

🌏 Time Zones & Tropical Air

We landed at 9:18 PM local time at Krabi Airport, where the air felt like a warm hug (with a side of stickiness and newly hatched baby frogs). Thailand is 3 hours ahead of Dubai, which totally messed with my internal clock, making us feel more tired than we were.

🏨 Hotel Hop & Hunger Hunt

Checked into our hotel, Deevana Plaza, got refreshed in record time, and went straight out for dinner.

We landed at Rangoli, a nearby Indian restaurant, and wow—comfort food hits different when you’re jetlagged. Here’s what went down:

• Butter Chicken Combo – with garlic naan, salad, and pickle

• Dal Makhni Combo – 2 rotis, dal makhni, paneer butter masala, salad, pickle(Also ordered an extra roti because, priorities.)

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🛒 7/11 Runs & Celebrity Shampoos

After dinner, we strolled past a dozen glowing massage parlours and nail salons, all lined up like beauty pageants. Then came the ultimate Thai or should I say, Asian experience: 7/11.

We bought:

• A Milo KitKat (yes, it exists and yes, I inhaled it)

• Insect repellent sprays (you’ll see why)

• And plenty of bottled water—because hydration is key

Also spotted Thai celebrity faces on everything—shampoo bottles, snack bags, even canned drinks. Unbelievably flabbergasting.

🐸 A Whole Ecosystem Waiting for Us

Back at the hotel, we were greeted by… nature.

Frogs, lizards, insects, and even a mouse popped by to say hi. Basically, our balcony was giving National Geographic: Thailand Edition and I was one gecko away from narrating.

Unpacked a bit, sprayed bug repellent like it was perfume, and finally called it a night.

And that’s Day 1 of the Thailand Diaries, folks!