An unexpected invitation to Bangkok (Kingdom of Thailand)
At the beginning of December, right on my birthday, an invitation landed in my mailbox to visit Bangkok in January 2024 and complete my studies in colored gemstone grading. I had received a scholarship from the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) for the practical part of the colored gemstone grading course — the laboratory work — specifically in Bangkok, the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, and right in January. Bangkok is also considered the mecca for colored gemstones.
Planned, done, and off we flew — Captain Trumm and I — toward the Kingdom of Thailand. The classes were held in a Bangkok-style high-rise, specifically on the 19th floor, offering a stunning view of the city through a surreal haze. Everyone locally wore masks. The course was very thorough, combining theory with hands-on practice, and concluded with an exam on the third day. Our group consisted of about 15 people from various corners of the world, though the majority were from Asia. My dear neighbor on the bench was from Mogok, Myanmar/Burma. I also chatted with girls from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore — all gemstone enthusiasts like me. Some were studying for their family businesses, while others were freelance designers. In any case, it was a fascinating and exciting group. The teacher, also of Thai origin, was very friendly but thorough and strict.
On the last day, while talking with the teacher, I got inspired to visit Thailand’s important corundum (sapphire, ruby) mining region called Chanthaburi, located about 250 km from Bangkok in eastern Thailand, roughly 100–150 km from the Cambodian border. Naturally, we used local transport again to see, interact, and truly experience the place. But I’ll share the story of that exciting adventure separately.
Before boarding the bus, we took a day to explore the Bangkok Jewellery Trade Center, checking out the place and maybe finding a few interesting stones to take home. The scene was impressive: in the large high-rise, the first four floors were entirely dedicated to markets of polished and rough colored gemstones, with various market stalls and shops filled with beautiful stones. Seeing this, Captain Trumm realized that one travel companion could easily lose their head here and worried whether we’d make it to the last bus to Chanthaburi — so he kept a careful eye on the situation.
Since we only had about 4–5 hours to explore, there wasn’t enough time to see everything. I followed where my feet and eyes led me, making a few spontaneous quick purchases of rough stones and sapphires. One stall, in particular, caught my eye — filled with beautiful spinels — and we immediately connected with the seller. It turned out he had also graduated from GIA and had now dedicated himself entirely to spinels. Knowing that spinel is one of my favorite stones, he showed me a rarer piece called the **Burmese “Jedi” spinel**. Oh my… I was instantly captivated by its purplish-pink hue — completely irresistible. It’s amazing how stunning a single stone can be. After chats and purchases, we hopped on the bus, ready for the next adventures.
By the way, we stayed in a delightful 3-star hotel in Bangkok called **Rose**, which could easily be described as a little oasis amid the city’s bustle, complete with Thailand’s beautifully blooming plants and a pleasantly cool pool. A major bonus was the location — right in the heart of all the local nighttime activities. Just a couple hundred meters away was the Patpong night market, where you could find trinkets and delicious, affordable Thai street food. There was also a street lined with red lanterns for ping pong shows 🙂 and a separate street for drag queen shows. We even got to watch a **Muay Thai** match — Thailand’s national sport — which was an incredible experience for me. The fight was supposed to start at 10:30 PM in a strip bar. Entering, it seemed impossible, as the entire hall was full of bar tables, poles for pole dancing, and novices. We sat down, curious and waiting — and exactly 10 minutes before 10:30, the staff arrived, removed all the poles and tables, and set up a proper boxing ring. We were slightly stunned. Three solid rounds followed — just an amazing experience. So here’s a little tip: if you want to experience Bangkok street life and interact with people authentically, choose **Rose Hotel** — a small, peaceful oasis right in the middle of it all.
