We’re back in the always inspiring South East Asia again. Here to work for about a month on assignments that will include a few regional trips. At 9:00 a.m., we checked into a relatively new boutique property in Bangkok on Wireless Road with a sleek decor which kind of reminded me of what they have at The Siam – a homage to all things retro. The hotel has a cozy lounge with an outdoor pool, a fairly large fitness room and rooftop bar both with amazing views (see above image – shot on my phone this afternoon)

There is no better time to arrive in the Thai capital than on a Sunday morning when traffic is light – especially along the otherwise tormentingly congested Sukhumvit Road.

The weather is perfect right now. December is the coolest time of year in this part of the world, but that’s not to say it isn’t hot in the shade or scorching hot in the sun once you leave the city’s air-con comfort zones. But even if tomorrow’s forecast is dialed in to be 31C/88F, the season’s relatively low humidity makes outdoor activities so much more enjoyable. When we were living here in Bangkok for a few months a couple of years ago, I remember morning runs in Benjasiri Park when temperatures were hovering as low as around 15C/60F.

Both Charlotte and I feel so at home here in Thailand. For more than 2 decades this country, with its friendly people, great food and beautiful nature, has been one of our top 3 favorite destinations worldwide.

Even if it is a little disorienting with all the shiny new skyscrapers and sprawling shopping complexes that emerge from visit to visit, Bangkok is still as amazing today as it was when I was here as a backpacker for the very first time in 1988.

Whatever part of town we stay in, it still no hassle finding an authentic Thai restaurant, a decent foot massage place or a barbershop. Which is more or less all of what we managed to accomplish on this very first jet-lagged day in Asia.