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Our journey in South East Asia takes us to the 'land of smiles'.  From clear water, golden sand beaches of Phuket and Phi Phi Islands, to cave exploring and hill tribe trekking in the higher climes of Chiang Mai.
Marvel at the wonders of Thai culture in grand palaces and traditional night markets in Bangkok, to ornate Buddhist temples and monasteries in the ancient former capital city of Ayutthaya, there's something for everyone in this awe-inspiring country.


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Last updated May 2020
Jono and I flew in to Thailand in December 2018.  We travelled to the capital city of Bangkok, the island of Phuket and Phi Phi Islands (where 'The Beach' was filmed) and the old capital Ayutthaya.

For me, this was my third visit to this country.  As with the above places, I have also stayed in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and visited lots of great places in between.

There's lots to see and do in Thailand.  Golden sand beaches, ancient temples and if you fancy going back to nature, stay a couple of nights (no hot water and electricity) with the hill tribe community.

Great Thai food is aplenty.  We've tried a lot of great places, from family run restaurants to market stalls and food halls.  Thailand is a food haven.

Explore why I love this country so much, read on for some of the best experiences Thailand has to offer.
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Top Activities
Hill Tribe Trek

We hiked for five hours on the outskirts of Chiang Mai,  Northern Thailand.  Encounter wild snakes in the Chiang Dao Cave.  We stayed in two villages, both hill tribe communities whom rely solely on harvesting crops.  Baby Piglets and Chicken roam free.  There is no electricity or hot water. 
The kids played with us in the fields.  There was plenty of trekking through the mountains and fields.
Our trek involved Bamboo Rafting.  It was incredibly fun albeit scaremongering to control the rafts down the steep valley.  The water is calm in most parts, with strong currents every now and again to raise blood levels.  Water seeps through the gaps of each bamboo raft, it feels like you are standing on water.
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The sweetest kids

Destinations
Phuket / Phi Phi Island / James Bond Island
​Bangkok / Ayutthaya / Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai

As mentioned earlier, this is my third trip to Thailand.  And the locations above are the places I have visited to date.  I have also included places I've stopped in between such as the Thailand to Burma 'Death Railway'.
Thailand is a foodie's delight, there is something for everyone.  We've had lots of tasty food so I've tried to narrow it down to a few.  I know for sure I have missed a lot of great eateries but these ones below have definitely stood out.  I've tried to pick eateries from each destination we've stayed and foods considering different categories from classic curries to staples like Pad Thai.
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Tip
The Rabbit Card

The Rabbit Card is your passport to most things throughout Thailand.  Not only does it work as a travel pass, its pays for your shopping, dining, in fact it is accepted as a main method of payment in virtually everywhere.

Key Information

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Nov - Feb
Best time to travel
Coolest (yet still hot) weather
Thai Baht
See latest exchange rate here

Destination no. 1
Phuket

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Escape to the island of Phuket and enjoy all round beautiful crystal sea and golden sand beaches.  Sunbathe and stay at quieter hotels around Karon and Kata Beach, both worthy of a visit and have quieter beaches.  There are great restaurants and cafes which I've listed in our top eats.  For a busier resort, head to Patong Beach where the night life is buzzing.  There are also good eateries and plenty of shopping.

Old Phuket Town is a quiet break from the seaside with charming streets of colourful, quaint, townhouses.  There are nice tea rooms and cafes to rest from the heat.  Songthaews (buses) are an easy way to get between towns and beaches,

From Phuket you can take boat excursions to Phi Phi, James Bond Island and more.

Thai Food | Our Top Eats

  1. Mama Jin
    418/8 Patak Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand (website)
    Mama Jin is just a short stroll from our hotel and is very popular and buzzing in the quieter end of inner Karon Beach.  Plenty of seating with an open front and a big menu to choose from.  Lots of great dishes (we ate here a lot) including the aromatic Massaman Curry.  Friendly service and great value, it's no wonder this place is packed in the evenings.

  2. Pinto
    1/10 ซอย, โค้งวัดกะรน Patak Soi 20, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, 83100, Thailand
    The restaurants sits on top of a small hill just off the main road in Karon.  It's a comfortable retreat with informal seating and air con.  But what really stands out here is the food.  The dishes we ordered - Thai Curry and a Peppered, Garlic Chicken dish really hits the spot.  Beautifully presented.  Arguably one of the best ​food we've had in Thailand.

  3. Mee Ton Poe
    214, 7-8 Phuket Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
    Popular restaurant in the Phuket Town.  Famous for it's noodles.  The diner has been here since 1946.  I had stewed pork sausages, egg and rice whilst Jono has Chicken Egg Noodles.  The raw egg was a little off putting for him but in general, the food here is good.

Must Visit
Phi Phi Islands

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On the boat ride to Phi Phi Islands you will pass the scene of 'The Beach'.  The island has no roads and is accessible by foot.  We walked around the island and dipped our toes in the crystal clear waters to cool down.  There is quietness and hip vibes in certain parts of Phi Phi.  Just find the perfect spot to suit your needs.

Transport
Songthaews

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These cheapest (40/50 bahts) way to get around, although many journeys start and finish at Phuket Town. This means in order to get to a neighbouring town, you have to go to Phuket Town first.  There are no bus stops, simply hail as it approaches.

A newer alternative is the Smart Bus which goes direct to neighbouring towns (and airport) or tuk tuks.

Top Activities
James Bond Island

This little gem is the famous James Bond Island and is part of the
Ao Phang Nga National Park.  Originally known as Tapu, it changed its name since appearing in the 1974 James Bond movie 'The Man with the Golden Gun'.  The limestone karst tower sits within the island of Khao Phing Kan surrounded by clear water, blue seas.


A trip to Phuket Island should definitely include a visit to this magnificent, unspoilt, natural masterpiece.
​Our boat trip included a tour of monkey caves and fishing villages. 

Destination no. 2
Bangkok

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Bangkok is the epicentre of Thailand.  It heaves activity with markets, temples, nightlife and all the food and shop you can handle.  We arrived on a day where the city became a standstill as the royal family was making a presence.  We were told to sit and wait on the street floor as the royal family chauffeured by.  Thailand respects the royal family and this is precedent on the pictorial displays throughout the city.

The city is awash with temples, Wat Pho being the most popular.  There is the giant reclining buddha and ornate temples amongst the serene gardens.  I previously had Thai massage here from the Thai Massage School.  There is also the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace.  The grounds, as always, is very warm in the sun.  You need to carry a bottle of water with you at all times.

I've delved much in to the Thai culture and love it.  Attended a Thai Boxing match, and learned a bit of history at Jim Thompson House, a Thai Silk King.
Lots of shopping to be had in central district including the almighty MBK mall - it's not as pretty as it's neighbouring malls but have a lot of great stalls and a colossal food hall.  We'll go more in detail about food later.

A visit to Bangkok is not the same without a stroll down Khao San Road.  This is backpacker's central.  I've stayed in hostels here.  Millions of travellers gather here to start the Thailand travels.  The area is packed in the evenings with market stalls, food, bars and clubs.  It is a little craziness to experience.  You can also find decent Thai massage here, there are a few lined across the walkways on the street.


There are many ways to get around the city including the infamous tuk tuks, sky trains, express ferries, taxis, air-con buses or travel mega cheap with no air-con buses at only 4 bahts a ride, that's like 10p a ride.  The metro is efficient except it doesn't run all the way to Khao San Road.
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Thai Food | Our Top Eats

  1. MBK Food Island
    444 Phayathai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
    The food courts in Thailand are amazing and MBK Food Island is one of the best in Bangkok.  Set on the 6th floor of the MBK Centre.  There is a varied choice of food stalls to choose from.  Simply buy or top up your Rabbit Card to spend at each stall.  You can grab a bit of everything from Pad Thai to Barbecue Roasts.
    There is a separate stall for drinks.  The place is huge and very busy.

  2. Talad Rot Fai (Train Night Market Ratchada)
    Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
    As night food market goes, this place is immense!  Huge area, packed with locals and tourists alike, there is a wide array of street food to choose from.

  3. Bonchon Chicken
    various location
    This beaut of a chain (controversial?) dishes up Korean Fried Chicken.  Fillets of Chicken fried to a crisp, battered coating with dusting of sesame seeds and lashes of sweet, garlic sauce.  It is absolutely delicious.

Attractions
Our Must Visit Places

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  1. Grand Palace for the Emerald buddha.
  2. Wat Pho for reclining buddha.
  3. Siam Square
    Buzzing streets and shopping centres.
  4. Khao San Road
    Backpacker's strip of markets, bars and hostels.
  5. Jim Thomson House
    Tranquil house and garden musuem.
  6. Thai Boxing
    Experience the national sport and arena.
  7. Talad Rot Fai
    Massive night market mainly for food.
  8. Chatuchak Weekend Market
    Giant evening market for all your needs.
  9. China Town
    Impressively big with lots of places to eat.
  10. Silom
    Shops and major night spot.

Top Activities
China Town

The largest China Town in the world.  It is expansive.  This place is buzzing in the evening.  Neon lights glow the streets below.  There are lots of restaurants and shops including food stalls.  It's really busy and popular with the locals.  It's really hard to pick one restaurant out of the many on offer.  We picked somewhere that was fairly busy but they had already ran out of some of the popular dishes.  The food stalls seem a lot more interesting here but was too busy.  Visit early in the evening to avoid disappointment.
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Destination no. 3
Ayutthaya Kingdom

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Ruins of the former Siamese capital.  Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The train journey from Bangkok took 2.5 hours.  This quiet, sleepy town has lots of history within the old city.  
The island sits in between three rivers.  A great escape from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. 

There is a short river crossing boat ride to the island.  Here, we hired our bikes and mapped out the ancient ruins and temples on our tour (maps are provided with hire).  It is a fun and relaxing way to get around the park.  The temples and monasteries are magnificent.  You get a real feel of what this ancient city used to be like.
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The area is surrounded by lush greenery and lakes.  The air is fresh and the grounds are quiet.  Ayutthaya makes a superb day trip.
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Top Activities
The Death Railway &
​Bridge Over The River Kwai

We travelled further north to Kanchanaburi.  Here lies Hellfire Pass, a railway cutting, linking Thailand to Burma.  Both the railway and bridge were built by POWs (Prisoners of War) at insufferable conditions.  It is named after the large number of prisoners and conscripts who died during its construction. 
Despite its difficult past, the area is now tranquil.  Beautiful, scenic routes with lush greenery.  It was mesmerising to be able to walk over the bridge by foot.

Destination no. 4
Chiang Mai

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Chiang Mai is in Nothern Thailand and is the second largest city.  It is by contrast a lot calmer and smaller than Bangkok.  With lots of farm and countryside, it's a nice to walk around.  We noticed a lot of kids playing about in the streets.

Our hostel is situated within Tha Phae Gate, the eastern side of the city walls which guards the city.  Little much has changed since my last visit apart from the commercialism which is taking place all over the country.  We visited the Night Bazaar where you can buy knock-off Diesel bags for 500 baht (£7.90) and flip flops for 250 baht (£4).  We steered clear from this.

For dinner, we continue to indulge on Thai food, trying different Northern varieties.  The spice levels are increasing every time and I don't know how much longer I can handle it.  We had local Chiang beer in what tastes a lot bitter than Singha.

Leave a comment

Have you tried any of the places mentioned above?  Perhaps you would like to suggest further recommendations.  Let us know what you think. Drop us a comment below.

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About me


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About me

Ever since my first proper backpack back in 2004, I have craved new experiences and cultures from around the world.  You can follow my journey through the videos, photography and journals all captured here online.

Read my latest blog post here.
Learn more about me here.
Contact me here
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