First Day in Thailand โ The Beginning of the Journey and Getting to Know Bangkok
My first day in Thailand began when we finally arrived at Bangkok Station after a fairly long journey. Upon arrival, my friends and I immediately got off the train and exited the station area. However, we didn't leave right away because we had to wait for instructions from our supervising teacher first. We gathered while carrying our respective belongings and ensuring nothing was left behind.
Not long after, the supervising teacher gave us instructions to head to a designated waiting room. We then moved together towards that place. Due to the long trip, I felt my body starting to get tired. I also felt my face was quite dull because I hadn't had the chance to clean myself properly during the journey.
I then asked for permission from the teacher to go to the toilet. Once there, I immediately washed my face and brushed my teeth to make my body feel fresher. After finishing, I returned to the gathering spot and waited for the other friends.
After all participants had gathered, we continued our journey to the MRT. We walked together to the MRT station and then took the train to Phetchaburi MRT Station. Traveling by MRT was an experience in itself for me as I could see how the public transportation system in Bangkok works. The atmosphere was quite crowded, but everything looked orderly.
Arriving at Phetchaburi MRT Station, our journey was not yet over. We then continued the trip using water transportation, specifically the Chao Phraya Express Boat. We walked towards the pier while carrying our respective luggage. After reaching the pier, we waited a moment for the boat we were to board to arrive.
Shortly after, the boat arrived and we all boarded in turn. I chose a spot that allowed me to see the surrounding views. During the boat ride, I could see various buildings and community activities along the Chao Phraya River. The breeze made the trip feel more pleasant after being inside the train for quite a long time.
After arriving at our destination pier, we disembarked and continued our journey. We then stopped at a mosque located in that area. Some friends took the opportunity to use the restroom, while others rested and performed prayers.
I also used that time to rest for a while. After the long journey, we could finally sit quietly before heading to the accommodation. Once all participants had finished resting and gathered again, we walked towards the lodging.
It turned out the distance from the mosque to the lodging was not very far. Before long, we finally arrived. Upon arrival, the supervising teacher gave us instructions to arrange our belongings in our respective rooms. I then looked for a place to store my bag and the equipment I brought from the trip.
Since my body felt very tired and uncomfortable after the long journey, I chose to shower immediately. After finishing my shower, my body felt much fresher. The fatigue that was quite noticeable before gradually began to fade. After that, I chose to rest and sleep for a bit.
Not long after, I woke up and saw the room was quite empty. It turned out most of my friends had already gone to the mosque to perform the Dhuhr prayer. I quickly got ready and followed them to the mosque.
Arriving at the mosque, I joined my friends and performed the Dhuhr prayer in congregation. After finishing the prayer, the supervising teacher gave us permission to explore the area around the lodging. We were allowed to walk around as long as we maintained communication and returned by the specified time.
I, along with a few friends, decided to find something to eat first because we hadn't eaten enough since morning. We walked down the streets around the lodging while looking at various shops and eateries nearby. Finally, we found a place to eat that we thought was suitable and decided to eat together.
After finishing our meal, we didn't go straight back to the lodging. We chose to walk around while observing the surroundings. This was my first opportunity to truly see Thai society directly. I noticed various shops, vehicles, buildings, and community activities that were different from what I usually see in Indonesia.
Many simple things caught my attention. From the shapes of the shops, the writing in the Thai language, the food sold by vendors, to how people go about their daily activities. Even though Thailand is also a country in Southeast Asia, it turns out there are many differences that made me feel like I was in a completely new environment.
After walking for quite a while, it was around 3:00 PM. Since it was close to Asr prayer time, my friends and I decided to head back to the mosque. Once there, we took wudu and performed the Asr prayer in congregation.
After the Asr prayer, we were given another chance to explore the surrounding area. My friends and I walked around again to look for typical Thai snacks. We tried to see various foods and drinks sold by vendors in that area. I was happy because I could see firsthand various foods that I had only ever seen on the internet before.
While walking around, my attention was drawn to a sports shop that was quite large. Out of curiosity, my friend and I went inside the shop to look at the items for sale. Inside, there were various sports equipment, clothing, shoes, and several types of sandals.
While browsing, I saw a pair of sandals that were quite interesting. At that time, I really needed new sandals because the ones I was using before were no longer wearable. Finally, after looking at a few options, I decided to buy a new pair of sandals.
After finishing our shopping, my friends and I walked back through the Thai market area. The market atmosphere grew busier as evening approached. Many vendors began offering their goods, and people looked busy shopping. I enjoyed the atmosphere while occasionally taking photos for documentation.
After walking for a long time, we finally decided to return to the lodging. We had to go back to the mosque first to perform the Maghrib prayer. Arriving at the mosque, we took wudu and performed the Maghrib prayer in congregation.
After the Maghrib prayer, I and several friends chose to stay at the mosque while reading the Al-Qur'an and waiting for Isha time. The atmosphere of the mosque at that time was quite peaceful. After a day of walking around and seeing many new things in Thailand, sitting quietly while reading the Al-Qur'an made me feel more comfortable and calm.
When Isha time arrived, we performed the Isha prayer in congregation. Afterward, the supervising teacher gave us permission to find dinner around the lodging. My friends and I then walked around looking for the food we wanted to eat.
After finding suitable food, we ate together while talking about our first day's experience in Thailand. We shared stories about the places we saw, the food we tried, and the items we managed to buy. I personally told the story about buying the sandals because my old ones were no longer fit for use.
After dinner and feeling quite full, we decided to return to the lodging. Back in the room, I cleaned myself again and prepared my things for the next day. After everything was done, I went to bed.
My body felt very tired because the day was filled with a long journey and walking activities. However, that fatigue felt worth the experience I gained. The first day in Thailand was a very memorable experience because I didn't just move from one place to another, but also began to get to know the life, transportation, environment, food, and the atmosphere of Thai society directly.
After reflecting on all the activities I had done since arriving in Bangkok, I felt grateful for the chance to have such an experience. I then closed the first day in Thailand by resting and sleeping, hoping to wake up feeling refreshed to continue the journey and new experiences the following day.