It was the travel I needed most. The tickets were booked months prior and I was surely impulsive when I decided to go. Bangkok, it is. 

My last visit to Bangkok was right before the pandemic. In December 2019, I was just onboard a new firm, headquartered in Bangkok. I went there for the summit, meeting everyone from (almost) across SEA region. I was happy. Everybody was nice. Yet, there was always something and someone that bothered you and spoiled the fun. But overall, I was super happy. The city and the people (including my colleagues in Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam) were very nice. They left such a good impression that I couldn't wait to go back to Bangkok again.

And the pandemic happened. 

And, here I was in February 2023. Bangkok! A short trip after such turbulence in life. I only wanted to have quality talks and other than that... I just wanted to be alone.

I remembered having a night stroll like any other trip I had, in the foreign streets of Bangkok back in 2019, hoping to get into any market, buy local spices to bring home, and take some street pictures. I didn't find much but it was a beautiful and adventurous stroll. Fearful but rewarding.

On my visit in February 2023, I managed to have an accidental stroll in the afternoon after a long day exploring the cities and searching for Michelin places and Erawan Museum. It was Books & Belongings that made me find the maze of calm Soi Sukhumvit 95.

But snort not, maybe you won't find anything to do, to eat or anything. It's just a complex of housing, with Books & Belongings in the middle of it. Well, yes, like I have shared in the previous post, you might find some home grocery shops, homemade snacks sold in front of the house, etc. Quite a random scene that made me think... it might be only locals who know this place and who actually are the customers of those home shops?

I really want to try their snacks and have a chat but sadly I didn't have much time left to be in the area as I had to move on to another schedule. Well, seeing those houses and shophouses with their serenity enlivened, opened up another side of the city to me. Yes, I felt like a local like I always want myself to feel. 

Nevertheless, the stare of the habitants when they spotted me, the stranger, the foreigner, reminded me that I am not one of them.

My soul and the energy I gathered while I was strolling in the middle of the area then become halved into another kind of self-awareness that kept my strong façade stayed bold and thick, yet its safe vibe signaled my trust to slow down and look deeper through what has been shown to me.

There's openness and boundaries set among these houses and the people inside---something I couldn't explain.

Thus, the calmness allows me to feel a massive amount of different feelings and room for my thoughts.

I have always been thinking and rethinking about my life choices. Being alone, traveling alone, going out alone, having lunch alone, shopping alone. And the loneliness set me in a free mode of expressing myself in the most convenient ways. Yet, I cannot lie anymore that sometimes I yearn for warmth from the people surrounding me. I want people to be with me, to flock around me with surprises and support.

Candid Looks of Soi Sukhumvit 95

The moment takes me to take a deep look at myself, on how I put myself on others. And how I want to change things forward. 

The deeper it takes me... it leads me into branching thoughts about the mystery of the universe and re-learning what is happening in my life, cracking the answer. I can't help but ask myself, why am I always at the intersection of inconvenient choices?

Bangkok is full of gems and hidden gems of everything! It's so lively and it's like there's a place for everybody and their interest. The city is packed and crowded but as an introvert, Bangkok would still give you room and space for your serenity in an exciting way. Especially, when it comes to... indie bookstores! On my short visit last February 2023, I went to two bookstores. One of them is Books & Belongings, located in the middle of the housing area in Sukhumvit.

Books & Belongings Store Front

When I saw the shop front, the simplicity of the exterior says it all. Minimalistic, quirky, and bold characters. The three elements I decode have shaped a subtle eclectic progressive lit culture. I know I would find so many good titles in this place! With a cup of Thai Ice tea I bought from the Erawan Museum in my hand, I entered the bookshop.

The bookshop was ... also calming. Only the shopkeeper was there. No other visitor, but me. 

Books and Belongings Inside

I was greeted with lots of titles facing my way from their own places on the bookshelves. The shop was small, with enough space to go back and forth the aisle. There's a main table placed in the center, and the shelves stand surrounding it alongside the walls. The cashier's desk is on the right and a small table with two chairs on my left when I entered this candy store.

All of a sudden, to my regret, I asked why my luggage was already full at this moment. I am sure these books would add up to some kgs but worth more than anything else. Well, I put my cup and my bag on the table so I can enjoy every side freely. I felt safe coz literally there was nobody else. 

There are fiction titles and non-fiction ones. Most titles are the ones I have never seen before! That made the best moment of truth of the day. But on the other hand, that also made the shopping decision would be much harder coz I couldn't just buy anything that caught my attention. I had to choose for the sake of financial sanity and my luggage safety. 

When I spent my time checking these titles and peeked inside, I realized why visiting a bookstore when you travel is a must. Cultural differences and backgrounds have given us diverse perceptions that lead us to be mesmerized by different things. A different taste. Even for any similarities found, I would still find the beauty of how we are somehow connected by the same thing. 

However, Books & Belongings has brought more soul by bringing out more variety of topics through their selected titles. You'd know when a bookstore owner(s) has put his/her/their dedication into curating the titles, not just purely selling books, but selling art and ideas. Totally a bookshop that makes you giddy anytime you just remember the memory of you experiencing every corner.

To my disappointment is that they don't accept Card Payments. I was stressed out coz I've always been a cashless person and I thought this hipster bookstore would be the kind that has many payment options. I was wrong. Luckily I had the exact amount needed to pay! Or else, it would be a great embarrassment for me. Ha!

I paid and left. Feeling like a champion. 

For finally making it to this bookstore, and getting myself these gems.

Books & Belongings

502 Soi Sukhumvit 95, Bang Chak, Phra Khanong, Bangkok 10260, Thailand

Opens: 11AM - 7.30PM

Note: Bring cash money. No card payments.

With the recent interest in ChatGPT, I am intrigued as well. Unlike most enthusiasts who ask ChatGPT to ask about what the platform finds about themselves, I would use it for my own urgency, such as to help me list down a travel itinerary to Japan. My first attempt to have a simple travel itinerary with Ghibli theme. However, my travel plan is not going to be all Ghibli, as I would go for Doraemon, Super Mario, Hello Kitty, and other pop culture icons. Here's I use ChatGPT for travel itinerary:

I simply put:

Make a travel itinerary to Japan, personalized for ghibli fans

Here's the result ChatGPT gave me:

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

• Check-in at a hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya, two vibrant and trendy neighborhoods in Tokyo
• Visit the Ghibli Museum in the afternoon, which showcases the work of Studio Ghibli and gives an insight into the creative process of these legendary animators.

Day 2: Explore Tokyo

• Spend the morning at the Tsukiji Fish Market and grab some sushi for breakfast.
• Head to Akihabara, known as the electronic capital of Japan, where you can find Ghibli merchandise and anime figurines.
• Take a stroll through the beautiful Ueno Park and visit the Tokyo National Museum to learn about Japanese history and culture.

Day 3: Travel to Nagoya

• Take a train to Nagoya, known for its castle and unique local cuisine.
• Visit Nagoya Castle and explore the surrounding gardens, and then head to the Toyota Museum of Industry and Technology, where you can learn about the history of cars and manufacturing in Japan.
• In the evening, visit the Noritake Garden and shop for unique porcelain souvenirs.

Day 4: Visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka

• Take a train back to Tokyo and visit the Ghibli Museum again, this time to see parts of the museum you missed on the first visit.
• Enjoy lunch in the museum's café, which serves a variety of delicious and creative dishes inspired by Ghibli characters.

Day 5: Day trip to Kamakura

• Take a train to Kamakura, a laid-back seaside town known for its temples and shrines.
• Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Great Buddha of Kamakura, two of the town's most famous landmarks.
• Head to Yuigahama Beach in the afternoon to relax and soak up the sun.

Day 6: Visit Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi

• Take a day trip to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, located in Hakone.
• Take a boat ride on Lake Ashi and enjoy the stunning views of Mount Fuji.
• In the afternoon, take the Hakone Ropeway and enjoy the overlooking view of Mt. Fuji.

Day 7: Relax in Tokyo

• Take a break from sightseeing and spend the day exploring Tokyo’s many shopping districts, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya or Harajuku.
• Take a stroll in fluorescent-lit streets and neon-covered buildings of Tokyo to soak up the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the city.

Day 8: Departure

• Check out of the hotel and head to the airport for departure.