Bangkok

Finally tried the boat noodle stalls around Victory Monument. The ones under the BTS are packed by noon — get there before 11:30 or you wait 20 min. Small bowls on purpose so you can try 2-3 styles. I liked the pork blood one more than I expected.

Chinatown after 7pm hits different. Went last night — so much going on it's hard to pick a stall. Tip from someone at the hostel: walk the side sois off Yaowarat Rd, not just the main strip. Found a crab stir-fry place with no English menu and it was 180 baht.

Working from cafes in Thong Lo this week. Roast is solid for calls, % Arabica always packed, and a tiny place called Factory Coffee on Sukhumvit Soi 49 has fast wifi and actual plugs. BTS Thong Lo + 5 min walk beats sitting in traffic.

If you want Bangkok without the tourist volume: Ari BTS, walk Soi Ari 1. Coffee at Nana Coffee, lunch at Baan Somtum, then just wander the sois. No tuk-tuk guys, no pad thai touts. This is where my friends actually live.

Chatuchak Saturday tip: arrive 9–10am. Section 26–27 for food, but the good stuff sells out by 2pm. After shopping, walk to Or Tor Kor next door for mango and coconut ice cream — quality is insane compared to the market stalls.

Jodd Fairs moved to Rama 9 area (near MRT Phra Ram 9 / Thailand Cultural Center). Still good for a casual night — lots of food stalls, less chaotic than old location. Grab back to Sukhumvit was 90 baht at 10pm.