I wrote last year about my memories of Bangkok from Netcore’s international sales meet: “Bangkok was a destination Bhavana and I visited frequently in the late 1990s and early 2000s (before Abhishek was born)…Bangkok, just a 5-hour flight away, offered a completely different world from India. We stayed at the Riverside Marriott. Bhavana enjoyed the shopping experiences, while I appreciated the break from work. Taking the boat ride across the river was such a calming experience. I also loved the Kinokuniya bookstore with its extensive collection of English books. Bangkok, even with its traffic, showed me what Indian cities could have become.”
This year, we scaled up by combining both domestic and international teams for a comprehensive “revenue meet.” Bangkok proves ideal for multiple reasons. For Indians (and citizens of many countries), there’s either no visa requirement or visa-on-arrival. We breezed through Thai Immigration as effortlessly as passing through our own borders. This “visa-free” advantage significantly enhances tourism – one can decide, book flights and accommodations, and simply travel without any delays.
The availability of direct flights from numerous global destinations shortens travel times considerably. The combination of reasonably priced hotels (we stayed at Hotel Rembrandt in Sukhumvit) and abundant shopping opportunities remains unbeatable. Though my shopping time was limited, I managed to purchase five high-quality collared T-shirts with pockets – each costing under ₹1,000. Two downsides persist: daytime traffic (it took 50 minutes to travel just 4 kilometres for a customer meeting) and the relentless humidity.
We discovered excellent Indian vegetarian restaurants near our hotel serving outstanding Jain cuisine: Saras (directly across from Rembrandt) and Dosa King. This solved the food challenge that often accompanies our international travel.
India needs more destinations like Bangkok to attract tourists. Discussing this with colleagues, one mentioned that while Goa could become such a destination, hotels and local transportation are becoming increasingly expensive.
On a curious note: the Indian Rupee and Thai Baht maintained an almost 1:1 exchange rate around 2000. Now, one Thai Baht equals ₹2.50. Wondering what changed, I consulted Perplexity, which explained: “The rupee’s depreciation against the Baht stems primarily from India’s economic vulnerabilities—trade deficits, inflation, and capital outflows—while Thailand’s stronger fundamentals, especially in tourism and exports, have helped the Baht outperform the rupee over the past two decades.”
Worth mentioning: India’s Trusted Traveller program is truly excellent. Immigration has become a breeze.
All things considered, it was a rewarding experience, and I’m inclined to say that Bhavana and I will likely return sooner rather than later!
