Recently I returned from my first ever visit to Bangkok. A seven day trip, with 18 hour stopovers in Hong Kong each way. I traveled solo, and planned to meet up and spend one day with a family member living in Thailand. I knew really nothing about Bangkok… Honestly, I found a great price on airfare ($600 roundtrip on AA!) and on a whim, decided that Thailand would be the new country I visit in 2019.
During one of my many Google searches to educate myself on the “Must See Things in Bangkok,” I stumbled upon an ad for Airbnb Experiences. Being in the biz, I knew “of” Airbnb Experiences, but really didn’t fully understand what they were.
Airbnb’s website simply labels their product as “One-of-a-kind activities hosted by locals.” It features compelling imagery and popular experiences in locations throughout the world that invokes a sense of wanderlust in even the most reserved and infrequent traveler. But if you’re looking for a deeper understanding into what exactly differentiates Airbnb Experiences from an old fashioned travel-tour company, you have to dig a little deeper to find their blog posting.
So, with my ticketed reservation from American Airlines resting comfortably in my inbox, I began to browse the experiences offered in Bangkok. I found a highly rated and “featured” experience that promised an exciting boat tour around an authentic local floating market, complete with lunch and tastings throughout. I looked at a few others (there are over 200 available for Bangkok alone,) but, I decided to book this first one I reviewed.
I woke up, bright and early, the morning of; in preparation of our 8:00am start time. Jet-lagged, exhausted, and still getting used to their winter-season climate (a morning low of 90°;) I was excited to meet our host and at the very least, spend some time seeing some sights I wouldn’t have seen on my own. Purposively, my expectations were set low, really not knowing what I would …experience… and certainly not knowing how it would influence my life.
Our group of four arrived at the meeting point. I arrived first, at the internationally strategic meeting place – สถานีรถไฟฟ้ากรุงธนบุรี ทางออกที่2 ร้าน 7 11ไกล้ตึกไทยศรี – which translates roughly to: “The 7-Eleven by Metro Station 2.” I could easily spot each of my co-experience-ees, as they arrived… We were wide-eyed, anxious, and slightly sweaty. Arriving either by foot, train, or tuktuk; we attempted to blend in but were easily identified as respectful and friendly visitors, certainly looking different from Bangkok’s over fourteen million people, purposefully moving quickly past us on their way to work.
The four of us connected, slightly awkward at first, as we waited for our guide to arrive. I was from Dallas, a woman from New York, a guy from Brussels, and (what are the odds…) our final group member from Dallas as well. We were all solo-travelers, and on our first voyage to Bangkok. And then she arrived.
With the warmest demeanor and friendliest smile, we met Pook. A Thailand native, who grew up accompanying her father, each and every day, to the very market we were about to visit. Pook took us on an experience to see the culture and history that makes up the tastes, sights, and energy of two local and authentic Bangkok floating markets. She began the journey with a river cruise that immersed us into the community that lives on the shores of the riverbank. Through personal stories, frequent stops to explore, and expert explanations around everything (from fruits to temples, and Buddhism to Thai history;) Pook masterfully equipped us (and fed us) along the way to better understand and experience our final exciting dash through the market stalls, stopping to chat about and sample everything along the way, and laugh with her friends who served us.
Most notable during this experience was the passion and guidance that Pook brought to the group. She brought us together in a way I’ve never experienced on a solo-trip. We all connected – but for real… about life, and home, and food, and Bangkok. We connected so well, that we all met up several additional times throughout our stay in Bangkok; to explore temples, restaurants, waterfalls, and just to simply enjoy each other’s company. To this day, we still stay in touch with each other in our “Bangkok Fantastic 5” WhatsApp group, and are chatting about our next destinations to explore.
I had such an incredible time because of the people who gathered, early that hot Saturday morning outside the 7-Eleven by Metro Station 2. The word “experience” doesn’t seem fit to explain what I encountered, but maybe there’s no other word. It’s difficult to describe, but I know I’m better because of it. Can Airbnb Experiences change your life? Wow, that’s a profound statement I know…but I think maybe they can. Stronger is my desire to visit new places, far away from home, where I can take part in something real, and local, and sincere. To learn about the culture, and the people, and the food. To take part in something that’s so wildly different from what I’m used to. To take me out of my comfort zone, open my eyes, and connect me with others who are seeking that thrill. That thrill of being totally engulfed, immersed in something that’s unlike anything you know. A new place, with new sights, tastes and smells; and new connections made from thousands of miles apart. At random, yet for some reason, perhaps by fate, that we all could be there together and create – A New Experience.