I visited Starbucks during my Chiang Mai and Bangkok trips recently.
Now, there's absolutely no reason for me to visit Starbucks in Thailand. The iced milk tea and coffee from the street hawkers are good enough, if not better. And why drink something that I can get easily in Singapore?
But the two I visited were different. Not that the drinks tasted better.
I remember visiting the Starbucks in Chiang Mai near the night bazaar. I was feeling hungry and wanted something substantial and hot to warm myself in the cool night. And getting a hot drink at street hawker is a pretty difficult task in Thailand. It seems the Thais don't drink hot beverages at night.
The lady who attended to me was exceptionally friendly and strike up a conversation with me in her fluent English. She even offered tips where to go for dinner.
The Starbucks I visited in Bangkok was located in a shopping mall and the staff seemed so happy and enthusiastic. But what made it real fun was how the staff shout out the name of the drinks.
"Iced chocolate Frappe"
It's almost like she is singing. Her jovial nature rubbed off on me.
I could just stood there and watch her.
Let me know if you have come across similar experiences.