3 reasons why Bangkok should be your runcation and vacation destination

This episode of runcation: Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2019!

What is a runcation? Runcation is a combination of the word “vacation” and “running”. It is a term coined by runners who travel to attend a marathon or running event, and have vacation at the same time. Usually, the running event is the highlight for a runcation so your itinerary needs to revolve around the timing and venue of the event. For this runcation, I travelled to Bangkok to attend the Amazing Thailand Marathon 2019 and it was amazing. Here are 3 main reasons why – before, after, and during the run:

  • Before running: Food heaven!

Over the years, I have seen Bangkok developing to be more Muslim-friendly to cater to an increasing number of tourists from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Middle East. This means more halal food outlets and increasing conscious to state the ingredients used. This also means more variety of food for carbo-loading!

Personal recommendations:

  1. MBK Mall (Nearest BTS Station: National Stadium)
    • Clean, comfortable with air-condition facilities.
    • Food selection at restaurants in level 5 and 6 includes:
      • Thai staples like Tom Yum and Green Curry.
      • The foodcourt at level 5 has a wide selection of International flavours too like Chinese, Indonesian, and Arabic food.
      • There is an affordable steak house at level 6
      • Enjoy some dessert and coffee at a halal-friendly (but not halal-certified) café called After You at level 3

Don’t be scared to try the spicy local flavours

  1.  Saman Islam at Chatuchak Market (Nearest BTS Station: Mo Chit)
    • Street food with local ambience.
    • Food selection is mostly Thai staples. There are also some Southern Thai dishes too.
    • Enjoy Thai sweets and desserts that are mostly halal-friendly (but not halal-certified) such as Mango with Sticky Rice, Coconut Ice Cream, and Thai Ice Tea.

I think this dish has some Southern Thai influence, the rice tastes like a briyani rice and hainanese chicken rice at the same time

The nearest landmark to this stall is the Clock Tower

  • After running: Recovery at the spa

time to relax and reward those hardworking legs

Legs are feeling sore after a run? Head to a spa for a massage, aromatherapy, or an herbal compression.  Thailand has a long history of alternative treatments using herbs and natural ingredients, making the treatments more effective.

Herbs, spices, and plants with medicinal properties to cure that aching muscle

Note: Spa and massage houses have a bad reputation for illegal ‘services’ in Bangkok. How to ensure the spa conducts legal business with no hanky-panky ‘services’? Ask for recommendations from the locals, make it firm that you are strictly looking for a medicinal or aesthetic spa. The proper spas are usually more upscale and expensive too, but they are still cheaper than Malaysia’s rate. Proper spas also clearly display their zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment.

Personal recommendations:

  1. Health Land (Nearest BTS Station: Asok)

Try their body scrub therapy, leaving you smelling heavenly and squeaky clean. Service here is top-notch too, with comfy bathrobes, unlimited ice told mineral water or tea. Protip: do call them in advanced to set for an appointment, as they are always full

  1. Crystal Spa (Nearest BTS Station: Phra Khanong)

Try their foot and head massage, relieving aching muscles and leaving you in total relaxation. Protip: Do not forget to tip the masseuse after your treatment. They do not expect much, 20 to 50 Thai Bhat goes a long way for these local women.

  • During the run: Cross-cultural observations

Do you know that Thailand is also known as “The Land of Smiles”?

Despite having similar roots to Malaysia, there are some notable differences in Thais culture. This might affect how an event is organized. Although it is a well-known international event with participants from various countries, it is still very Thai-centric.

Personal observations:

Thais are very proud of their language and culture. Most signage are still written in Thai, so collecting the race kit and getting to the race site was not very well-organized. Mitigate that by collecting the race kit early, and heading to the race site early too. But don’t worry, Thai are very friendly too. They will be happy to help if you ask nicely.

Get to the race site early

Cheering is not a culture in Thai. There were not many supporters or spectators along the way, and most people weaved between the running event venue like nothing happened. I can’t help but to notice that poverty is also very apparent in Bangkok, as there were beggars eating leftovers from the runners. I feel sad for them.

Are small bottles more practical than disposable cups? At least bottles are reusable and handy

Thais are such hospitable people. They want to make you feel welcomed and comfortable, and nothing is more comfortable than a clean toilet. Their portable toilets were equipped with a bidet, flushing toilet, and even air-condition. It puts Malaysia’s porta-loo to shame.

Check out that 5 star toilet!

Do’s and Don’ts when travelling in Xi’an, China

If your New Year Resolution is to travel more and explore the great outdoors, then Nashata’s blog is the right page to follow. For 2019, I am delighted to share my experiences. Traveling and the great outdoors not only enriches our lives – it is also encouraged by our religion to explore: “It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection.” – Surah Al-Mulk, 15.

So exploring did we go. For this episode of traveling, we went to Xi’an to experience winter in China. As one of the few Muslim-friendly places in China, I highly recommend for anyone to come here. To make your traveling experiences easier if you want to come here, I have summarized a list of Do’s and Don’ts:

DO’S

  1. Go to the historical sites
  • As one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi’an has witnessed various dynasties, with emperors trying to outdo each other with their palaces, defense structures, and tombs. A historical place that you must not miss is the Terracotta Army.

  • Xi’an is also said to be the starting point of the Silk Road. So immerse yourself in the unique local culture that is a product of thousands of years of intermingling with India, Mongolia, Persian, Arabs, and Greeks. A cultural place that you must not miss is the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque of Xi’an.

2. Thorough research

  • Read on historical sites to gain appreciation of their significance
  • Find a reputable hotel with a strategic location, preferably near landmarks in the city centre like the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, or Muslim Quarter.
  • As China is moving towards a cashless society, credit cards and debit cards are phasing out. Ironically, travelers will need extra cash because we could not use the cashless system as we do not have a local bank account. So make sure you budget accordingly.

3. Try the local food

  • The Muslim population in Xi’an is sizable, thus, there are many halal options. Most of the items listed are easily found in the Muslim Quarter, but there are many halal restaurants out of the city too. Top 5 food you must not miss are:

    Dumpling soup

    Lamb Kebabs

    Yangrou Paomao

    Biangbiang noodles

    Roujiamao

DON’T….

  1. Go shopping
  • Most of the products is not that unique and mass produced. In fact, I saw the same handicraft that was available in Bangkok, Phuket, Indonesia, etc, It looks like everything produced in this world really are “Made in China”!

2. Never forget to bring tissues

  • Always pack wet tissues and dry tissues
  • Soap is not widely available at most toilets

3. Don’t expect everyone to understand English

  • Unfortunately, I don’t speak and read a word of Mandarin. And English is not widely spoken in Xi’an. There will be moments of frustration when people don’t understand. To overcome the language barrier, download a Mandarin-English translation app.