My relationship with Thailand goes back to 1989 when my family of five lived in Chiang Mai for a quarter year while my former husband completed a research project for the UN and I attempted to establish myself as an importer of Thai giftware.

Leaving Melbourne one October morning in 1989 and arriving late afternoon the same day at Don Muang Airport in the local year 2532, was the first of many culture shocks we took onboard with relish. Since then, I’ve returned many times as a tourist or to teach English in Bangkok, known to locals as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon – Krung Thep for short. I’ve travelled the south, north, east and west of the kingdom, and although mostly on shoe-string budgets, I was never forced to skimp on essentials. Thailand remains a very affordable destination. In fact, I’m writing this at the end of my third month in Chiang Mai in 2022.

The Ancient City just south of Bangkok is an open-air museum featuring stunning, historical buildings, wats, stupas and Buddha statues. The hotel, Nasa Vegas below is a relatively inexpensive place a few train stops from the airport at Ramkhamhaeng. It’s not far from the water taxi commute into town, competing with the Skytrain as the fastest way to get in and out of central Bangkok from the direction of the airport.