Thailand,
on my own.

Starting alone, surrounded by familiar faces.

I began in Bangkok with three nights in a hotel close to the centre. I was travelling on a budget, but after a long flight I wanted to give myself a comfortable start: a proper room, a pool and a little space to reset. On the first evening I unexpectedly ran into a good friend from the Netherlands who was travelling through Thailand with his girlfriend. Bangkok already felt a little less lonely.

Because I knew the city from earlier trips, I spent my days wandering through familiar streets and finding corners I had missed before. In the evenings, another coincidence appeared: two more friends were also in Thailand, including a former roommate from my earlier months in Thailand and Bali. The plan had been to travel solo, yet the city gave me some of the people I knew best at exactly the right time.

One night back in Bangkok, before heading north, I stayed in a hostel and finally felt completely on my own in the best way. I spent the day sightseeing, then headed to Chinatown for food. It was a small reset before the part of the trip where I knew nobody at all.

A return that felt personal.

In Pattaya, I visited a friend who had chosen to stay in Thailand after our minor. I checked into Harry’s Hotel, a place I already knew from my earlier time in the country. Over three months I had become friendly with the manager and staff, so coming back felt more like seeing people again than simply checking into a hotel.

I also met two Dutch travellers who had unexpectedly crossed paths even though they already knew one another from home. The nights that followed were the kind people summarize with a smile: what happens in Thailand stays in Thailand. The best part was the reminder that travelling alone still leaves plenty of room for shared stories.

One small favour turned into a travel friendship.

On the flight to Chiang Rai, I helped a French traveller with his backpack at the airport. The next day, I saw him again while exploring the city’s temples. It was such a random moment that we had to laugh. We spent time together around Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, the Chiang Rai Clock Tower and Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known as the Blue Temple.

We ate near the Blue Temple, exchanged contacts and later met again at the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar. The night was simple: food, a beer, pool and the local way of going out. It was proof that one friendly moment can change an entire stop on a journey.

Choosing local moments over the obvious plan.

I finished in Chiang Mai at Mad Monkey. Even in a party hostel, I was more interested in finding the local rhythm than joining every group plan. A rented scooter gave me the freedom to head out during the day and see places including Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Baan Tong Luang.

The moment that stayed with me most came at Lanna Elephant Care. After a long scooter ride I arrived near closing time and thought I had missed my chance. Instead, after a long conversation with one of the caretakers, he arranged a small private visit. I could walk beside the elephants, feed them, help with their bath and simply spend time around them. Later, he even took me for food at a local roadside spot. That generosity was as memorable as the elephants themselves.

If you do not try, you never know.

I met the French traveller again in Chiang Mai too, and our conversations continued over drinks and pool. Along the way I met many more people, swapped contacts and made connections I might cross paths with again somewhere else in the world. That is one of the things I love most about travel: the map gets bigger, but so does your circle.