Sawat dii kha!
Also called the Land of Smiles, Thailand has most definitely lived up to it’s nickname. It’s hard to choose what made my two weeks there unforgettable.. the mouth watering food, the wonderful culture or the people themselves! Thailand offers tourists many different options from the city life in Bangkok to the numerous beaches down in the islands, to over 300 temples up north in Chiang Mai alone! With so many different activities to choose from, there was never a dull moment!

BANGKOK, Thailand

We flew into Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. If you plan on getting souvenirs, get it from the markets in Bangkok because it won’t get cheaper than this. And if you don’t plan on it, plan on it. I traveled to Thailand with one small suitcase stuck into a bigger suitcase and on my way back, I used up every pound of both my suitcases and carry on! The following activities were done in Bangkok, however I am sure it can be found in other parts of Thailand as well.

Visit the Temples!

There are so many Wats (Buddhist temples) in Thailand, its impossible to visit all of them. I highly recommend visiting a handful, to learn Buddhism (the main religion practiced in Thailand) as most of the culture and practices among the people are revolved around their religion. The picture on the left is from Chiang Mai, Other famous Wats in Bangkok include the Wat Pho, Wat Arun, What Phra Kaew, and Wat Suthat. The Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chaing Mai is also another well known Wat.

This may be because Buddhism originated in India, where Hinduism is common.

Tip: Be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and your knees, to be respectful for the religion and the people who are there. Its a good idea to carry a scarf with you at all times, it comes in handy!

Ride a gondola in a floating market and shop at the markets!

Float your way to the market and don’t forget to bargain! Even though the boat ride itself wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, the floating boats with goodies on them were interesting and fun! The weekend evening markets are great and not to miss if you are spending a weekend in Thailand.

Tip: Don’t bargain if you have no plan in buying something. Only if you like it and are interested in buying it, begin to bid your price.

Eat to your heart’s content!

Try out all the outdoor markets you can early in the morning and then have some fresh fruits for snacks.. Choose between all the delicious curry dishes for lunch…try a thai drink or coconut water, straight from the coconut. Have a crepe from an outdoor stand for a snack and pad thai for dinner! The choices are really unending, so if you’re on a diet, forget about it.. and expect to gain a few pounds while you’re at it!

Get a Massage… Every Day!

Though I don’t have any pictures to show for this, my friends and I got a massage almost every day! Its so cheap to get a quick massage; you’ll spend about 1/4th of the money to get a massage as you do in the US. Also, the masseuse/masseurs in Thailand are experienced as this is a common touristy vacation activity in any city you visit. After all the walking, touring and shopping, your legs will thank you for that break!

Visit Ayutthaya!

We booked a day trip to Ayutthaya, with an English speaking guide and it was a great experience. The day included a trip to the Bang-pa-in park and garden, a stop at a couple of temples, lunch and a visit to the Ayutthaya ruins, which is considered UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous tree with the Buddha head along with many other headless Buddha statues are located in the Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya, which was destroyed during an invasion centuries ago.

The ruins in the Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya.

PHUKET, Thailand

Our second stop was Phuket and this was for the beachy, water adventurers in us. We stayed at a resort called The Tree Residence, which was located near the Kamala beach and a long shopping strip with some amazing restaurants and souvenir shops. They had free rides from and to the resort every 30 mins to an hour, which was very convenient for us. We did not pre-book any activities in Phuket, we found a great stall on the street and booked all our activities through the lady there with just 1 day notice. It was perfect, as there were a variety of options.

Go Scuba diving & Snorkeling!!!

With so many great islands to choose from, you can never go wrong. We visit Phi Phi Island from Phuket for a day trip and loved it. If you are limited on time and have to pick between the two, go with Scuba diving! It’s an experience you will never forget and one that you will never really be able to explain. Needless to say, it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life!

Chaing Mai, Thailand

Chaing Mai was our last stop and we were there during the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festivals, which made it all that more exciting. We got lucky and found a great driver at the airport and we booked him for the next few days we were there! He was like our personal tour guide and arranged several visits for us upon request. Each day in Chaing Mai was filled with an adventurous activity and some leisure time.

Visit an elephant sanctuary!

This was honestly one the best experiences I had in Thailand. We went on a half day trip to an elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai and got to feed them, get hugs and kisses from them, practice a few commands, give them a bath and get a ride back to the station on their backs! I Loved every bit of it… my favorite part was that these elephants were not tied down or harmed. They were given plenty to eat and they were truly happy and we could see that from the way they interacted with us and their caregivers.

Tip: Avoid booking day trips with elephant rides on a cart and animal shows, which includes elephants and baby monkeys tied to chains and older monkeys performing tricks. This is tricky, because sometimes it comes as a part of the day tour and its hard to avoid. However those animals are being tortured, left hungry and possibly beaten to break their spirit. Instead book your trips with sanctuaries that treat and feed these animals well.

Pet the Tigers

My friends and I visited the Tiger Kingdom and picked to interact with the “small tigers”. We could not believe the size of the tigers and what they had considered small. These felines are such powerful, amazing creatures and I was just in awe of their beauty. Many people think they are drugged. However these animals were born and raised here and have a cause and effect training. They are fed plenty and most are in the same environment as their siblings/family. We saw three sisters and they were running around, playing and having loads of fun. Nothing about their behavior, interaction or appearance appeared questionable to us.

The Tiger Kingdom @ 51/1 Moo 7 Rim-Tai, Mae-Rim Chiang Ma
Open every day 8AM-6PM
Prices vary depending on which size tigers you want to see.

Fish Spa!

Fish spas are so much fun and excitement regardless of how many times you have done them. A particular type of fish, called the Garra Rufa is used for this fish pedicure which is common in Thailand, other parts of Asia and Europe. These fish eat away the dead skin on the feet, leaving new soft skin on your feet. Just after a 10 minute session, you can feel a difference!

See Muay-Thai Boxing

Our awesome driver got us some tickets to see a Muay-Thai boxing and oh boy, was it intense. This is one of the most common sport in Thailand; if you have the time, you can even take a lesson or two! For this event, the matches started off between boys as young as 12 year olds and then up from there. I don’t know the exact location of this boxing center, but being the most enjoyed sport to watch and bet on, I’m sure anyone can point you in the direction of a muay thai match.

Celebrate the Yi Peng and Krathong festivals!

The Yi Peng festival is the releasing of the lanterns into the air for good luck and the Krathong festival is the releasing of candlelight floats into the river as an offering. When these two festivals comes together, the results are amazing. The sky is filled with lanterns and the water with little lamps and its such an amazing experience to just be there. These festivals are celebrated mid November each year, which is a perfect time to visit Thailand, as the weather is not too hot at this time.

And there’s more to do in Thailand!

There are many more things to do around Thailand, like visit the Big Buddha in Phuket or enjoy the night markets. You can also learn some Thai by conversing with the monks. Then you can island hop in south Thailand and enjoy the nightlife OR wake up early to a beautiful sunrise and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Regardless of what you choose to do, Thailand is a place you’ll never forget!