Our journey to the South East Asia to the 'land of smiles'. From clear water, golden sand beaches of Phuket to hill tribe trekking in Chiang Mai, grand palaces, night markets of Bangkok to Buddhist temples and monasteries in ancient city of Ayutthaya, there's something for everyone in this captivating country.
Last updated May 2020
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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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The sweetest kids
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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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Key Information
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Destination no. 1
Phuket
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.
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Must Visit
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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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Attractions
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Destination no. 3
Ayutthaya Kingdom
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. 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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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.
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 commentHave 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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