My Thailand trip!!
After over 24 hours of traveling, My friend Susie and I arrived in Bangkok at 4:30am. We went to our hotel at the Courtyard Marriott to shower and start exploring. On our own we walked to Lumphini Park where they had a run for the former king's birthday taking place. Our next stop was the flower market, where they had elaborate displays of flower shrines for the king. We explored China town and ate lunch at a place called Cabbages and Condoms which had figures and light fixtures made of condoms. Also, instead of mints after dinner, they give you condoms. Then we had a tour of the Ayutthaya temples, including Wat Panon Choeng (oldest Buddha figure), Wat Mahthat, Wat Yai Chai Mang Kohn (one of the reclining Buddhas). Next we took a sunset river boat on the Chao Praya, followed by a family style Thai dinner. After the tour, we got dropped off at Khan San Road to adventure out into the backpacker's night life, complete with cooked Scropions, laughing gas, street foot massages, and lots of shopping and drinks.
Lumphini Park
Flower Market
Chili peppers
Tuk Tuk
Santa made out of condoms
Wat Panon Choeng
Wat Yai Chai Mang Kohn
Thai family style
Tuesday:
We were awake early for a quick breakfast and to meet our private tour for the day. We checked out the remarkable local train market, a delicious coconut farm, unique Damnoen Saduak floating market, and a sketchy tiger zoo where we took pictures with baby tigers and got very up close to a teenage tiger. In the afternoon, our tour guide took us to the breaktaking grounds of the Grand Palace, specifically Wat Phra Kaew which houses the Emerald Buddha. Emerald Buddha is a 26 inch statue made completely of one piece of jade and clothed in gold clothing that is changed every season only by the king. Unfortunately no pictures are allowed to be taken inside the temple, only from the outside looking in. We next went to Wat Pho with the 46m reclining Buddha and the oldest public education in Thailand and birthplace of Thai massages. After lunch at a local place, we went back to our hotel to drop off our shopping finds for the day and then headed back out for some salt floats. We didn't know what to expect with the salt floats, but the goal is to just float with no mental or physical stimulation other than the surrounding water in the pod.
We were awake early for a quick breakfast and to meet our private tour for the day. We checked out the remarkable local train market, a delicious coconut farm, unique Damnoen Saduak floating market, and a sketchy tiger zoo where we took pictures with baby tigers and got very up close to a teenage tiger. In the afternoon, our tour guide took us to the breaktaking grounds of the Grand Palace, specifically Wat Phra Kaew which houses the Emerald Buddha. Emerald Buddha is a 26 inch statue made completely of one piece of jade and clothed in gold clothing that is changed every season only by the king. Unfortunately no pictures are allowed to be taken inside the temple, only from the outside looking in. We next went to Wat Pho with the 46m reclining Buddha and the oldest public education in Thailand and birthplace of Thai massages. After lunch at a local place, we went back to our hotel to drop off our shopping finds for the day and then headed back out for some salt floats. We didn't know what to expect with the salt floats, but the goal is to just float with no mental or physical stimulation other than the surrounding water in the pod.
Train Market
Floating market
Tiger zoo
Grounds of the Grand Palace
Emerald Buddha
Wat Pho/Reclining Buddha
Pad Thai
Salt Float pod
Wednesday:
In the morning we were off to the airport for our hour flight to Phuket. We had an adventurous morning with my friend being sick, our flight being delayed an hour, our tour telling us a different time then planned so we ended up missing it (luckily we got a refund), and an upset taxi driver when she couldn't find our hotel and then asked for more money. After our confused taxi driver finally got us to our hotel at Kalima Resort and Spa, we found out we were upgraded to a honeymoon suite that overlooked Patong beach. We decided we wanted a relaxing day so we got lunch at hotel, followed by some time at the pool while watching the sunset on the ocean. We completed our night with an incredible Thai massage.
Thursday:
With much excitement for the day ahead, we again got up early for a boat ride tour to the unbelievably beautiful Phi Phi islands, monkey island, bamboo beach, two snorkeling spots, and another family style Thai lunch. The water was incredibly clear and the fish were so colorful, that I could only wish I was diving in that water. Some of the creatures we saw underwater were: Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, angel fish, red sea raccoon butterflyfish, yellowtail surgeon fish, lined butterflyfish, golden smooth trunkfish (rainbow fish), giant clams, and many others. Between my friend and I, we had two Gopros and an underwater camera, all of which unfortunately died (the camera completely broke), so we didnt get any pictures of the colorful fish. That night, we ventured out to experience the craziness of Bangla road. If you put Bourbon street, Miami beach, the Vegas strip, and Duval street together, you then might understand the insanity of Bangla road.
In the morning we were off to the airport for our hour flight to Phuket. We had an adventurous morning with my friend being sick, our flight being delayed an hour, our tour telling us a different time then planned so we ended up missing it (luckily we got a refund), and an upset taxi driver when she couldn't find our hotel and then asked for more money. After our confused taxi driver finally got us to our hotel at Kalima Resort and Spa, we found out we were upgraded to a honeymoon suite that overlooked Patong beach. We decided we wanted a relaxing day so we got lunch at hotel, followed by some time at the pool while watching the sunset on the ocean. We completed our night with an incredible Thai massage.
Kalima Resort and Spa
Thursday:
With much excitement for the day ahead, we again got up early for a boat ride tour to the unbelievably beautiful Phi Phi islands, monkey island, bamboo beach, two snorkeling spots, and another family style Thai lunch. The water was incredibly clear and the fish were so colorful, that I could only wish I was diving in that water. Some of the creatures we saw underwater were: Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, angel fish, red sea raccoon butterflyfish, yellowtail surgeon fish, lined butterflyfish, golden smooth trunkfish (rainbow fish), giant clams, and many others. Between my friend and I, we had two Gopros and an underwater camera, all of which unfortunately died (the camera completely broke), so we didnt get any pictures of the colorful fish. That night, we ventured out to experience the craziness of Bangla road. If you put Bourbon street, Miami beach, the Vegas strip, and Duval street together, you then might understand the insanity of Bangla road.
Monkey beach
Bangla road
Friday:
Our agenda on Friday included the Big Buddha, Patong beach, shopping, and some dinner all before catching our 11:55pm flight and traveling back for the next 32 hours. We were worried we were going to miss our flight from Beijing to Washington DC because we only had an hour and 45 minute layover which included customs, so we rushed our way through the airport only to discover our flight was delayed due to volcanic ash in the air with no estimated time of departure. We ended up being delayed two hours and finally took off on the very long and irritating 14 hour flight back (arrived at 4:30pm on Sat).
Our agenda on Friday included the Big Buddha, Patong beach, shopping, and some dinner all before catching our 11:55pm flight and traveling back for the next 32 hours. We were worried we were going to miss our flight from Beijing to Washington DC because we only had an hour and 45 minute layover which included customs, so we rushed our way through the airport only to discover our flight was delayed due to volcanic ash in the air with no estimated time of departure. We ended up being delayed two hours and finally took off on the very long and irritating 14 hour flight back (arrived at 4:30pm on Sat).
Big Buddha
We has such a great visit to Bangkok and Phuket. The diversity between the two places was remarkable and definitely a site to see. The weather was in the 70-80s compared to the cold 50s at home. Next time I'd love to go to Chang Mai, but unfortunately time didn't allow for it this time. I managed to wear something elephant related every day. It was hard to limit myself with the amount of unique elephant items everywhere. I ended up buying 5 pairs of elephant pants, 4 silk scarves, 2 elephant shirts, elephant candles, an elephant vase, elephant and buddha figures, and elephant incense. That's probably the most souvenir items I've ever bought but it was well worth it. Here is a video of our trip: https://youtu.be/Lub7c8jAXmY
Now to plan for my next trip, wherever that may be!
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