Day 14: Bangkok

This may sound like heresy, but I’ve decided I hate hotel buffets. The endless spread of food, much of it wasted, feels excessive. Worse, it’s like a giant germ factory—everyone handling the same serving spoons, and let’s be honest, how many people actually use that little knife and tongs for the cheese without touching it?

Beyond that, buffets create a disconnect from the real culture of a place. I’d much rather enjoy a simple cup of coffee and a great pastry while having a conversation with the person at the next table, the waiter, or the local baker. That feels far more authentic.

We started the day with a trip to the local market to buy ingredients for our cooking class. Nearly 20 years ago, when I was last in Thailand, our family took a cooking class in the backyard of a man who worked in a restaurant. Today, cooking schools have multiplied—ours had six different classrooms across three stories, its own line of merchandise, and a strong social media presence.

Our chef was a natural comedian, keeping us laughing while teaching us countless practical skills. Now, I just hope we can find all these ingredients at home!

Taking a boat ride down the canal was a fun experience. We all agreed it felt a bit like Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise—slightly touristy, but still quite enjoyable!

The last stop on our boat ride was at a beautiful orchid farm.

Our hotel is connected to a four-story mall, and that’s where we had dinner. Since we’re in Thailand, my friends—naturally—chose a Japanese conveyor belt hot pot restaurant. (Rolls eyes.) Plates of ingredients passed by on a belt, giving every diner a chance to breathe on them before they reached our table. At least everything was boiled before we ate it.

But the company made up for it. My nephew Ezra, along with a few others, kept us laughing the entire time—they’re natural comedians!