Thailand Travel Diary: What to See, Eat, and Do in These 4 Amazing Places
Wooden long tail boat on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand
For me, there’s nothing more liberating than buying a one way ticket overseas without a plan and that’s exactly what I did. Thailand was the first country I ever visited in Asia a few years ago and a place I told myself I’d come back to someday. When the time came to decide where to start my journey, I chose Bangkok (BKK), the capital of Thailand and a must see on any traveler’s list. A fast growing cosmopolitan city, Bangkok is one of the most popular places to visit in the world and rightfully so. It has incredible cultural landmarks and a vibrant nightlife. After spending a few days in Bangkok, I flew Thai Airways to Chiang Mai (a quick 1 hour flight) located in northern Thailand. More quaint than the capital, it’s still the fifth largest city in Thailand. Chiang Mai is filled with a multitude of things to see and do from ancient temples and museums to spas and night bazaars. I spent one week in Chiang Mai before coming across an offer I couldn’t resist - $30 USD for a one way trip to Laos that included a visit to the White Temple in Chiang Rai, one night stay in Chiang Kong (small town on the Mekong) and a two-day slow boat ride to Luang Prabang. After Laos, which I’ll cover in my next blog entry, I stopped in the Thai island of Koh Lipe which was a little slice of heaven, especially after being on the road for a few weeks.
“ We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
-BANGKOK-
MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
WAT ARUN TEMPLE (TEMPLE OF DAWN)
One of the most popular landmarks in Bangkok,
Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It’s named after the Indian God Aruna (God of Dawn). Beautifully ornate in colorful porcelain, the temple is one of the few you’re actually encouraged to climb. It’s accessible via cross-river ferry service from Tien Pier. The temple is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I recommend arriving first thing in the morning.
WAT PHO
(temple of the reclining buddha)
The temple grounds of Wat Pho are some of the oldest and largest in Bangkok. It’s home to the most number of Buddha images (1,000+) in Thailand including a breathtaking 150 foot reclining Buddha statue (one of the largest in the country).
damnoen saduak floating market
Located 40 miles southwest of Bangkok, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market offers an inside look into real Thai culture. Wooden boats will take you down the main canal and several smaller side canals as merchants offer you everything from food to souvenirs on the water. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The earlier you arrive, the better.
CHINATOWN
The oldest district in Bangkok, Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. Today it’s best known for its eclectic food options, shops and overall celebration of Chinese culture. It’s definitely a lively and exciting night out (even if you skip trying the scorpions).
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT
SKY BAR
Located at Lebua hotel, you might recognize this rooftop bar from the famous helicopter scene in Hangover 2. Sky Bar has been recognized as the best rooftop bar in the world by several publications and is also one of the tallest. It’s definitely worth stopping in for at least a drink to see what it feels like to be 800+ feet above the city. Make sure to follow their dress code if you want to venture up.
Photo credit: lebua.com
elefin coffee
I discovered this gem on a very hot day in Bangkok. Aside from great iced coffee, they serve delicious staple Thai foods including my favorite -
mango and sticky rice.
Elefin Coffee happens to also be a bed & breakfast. The rooms are simple and clean and the terrace has one of the best views in Bangkok.
I wish I had stayed there!
-CHIANG MAI-
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO STAY
Since I was planning to travel longer term and like I said, without a “plan”, I booked places to stay along the way and last minute through Airbnb and Booking.com. The one place I found truly memorable was in Chiang Mai and it felt like something out of a storybook.
LEAFY GREENS CLAY HOUSE M4
Chiang Mai
On the outskirts of the city of Chiang Mai, you’ll find a special hideaway that will enchant you with its clay houses, gardens and natural surroundings. I stayed in clay house M4 but there are several to choose from. To my delight I was greeted by a litter of kittens and seeing them around the grounds brought me a lot of joy…even on the day they all got into my clay house and I had to find them one by one to make sure they all made it back outside :) I was able to get to and from the city easily using Uber, I just had to make sure to wait outside on the main road and call it with extra time in advance as wait times tend to be a little longer than usual. It was well worth it to stay in such a magical location!
MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
WAT PHRA THAT
DOE KHAM
(GOLDEN TEMPLE)
If you venture just 20 minutes outside of the city of Chiang Mai and into the hills, you will find the magical “Golden Temple” and an amazing sunrise. A stunning 55 foot Buddha built in the 7th century greets you as you enter the temple grounds. A walk around the courtyard will lead you to other treasures as you enjoy the tranquility of this place.
WAT PHRA THAT
DOE SUTHEP
A 45 minute drive from the Golden Temple, on the mountain of Doe Suthep, sits one of the holiest places in Thailand. The 309 stair walk up to the temple grounds is worth seeing the original copper plated chedi (Buddhist monument). Don’t worry, there’s also a tram if you’re not up for the walk.
RED CHILI
COOKING SCHOOL
Chef Aon runs an authentic Thai cooking experience where you can choose from either a morning or evening class in which you learn how to make several traditional dishes. Each class starts with a trip to the local market where you buy your fresh ingredients. You then come back to the school and learn step by step how to make everything on the menu at your own cooking station. One of the best parts of the class is the interpersonal environment Chef Aon seamlessly creates. By the end, we were all enjoying each others company as we shared our meals and our stories. Chef Aon even e-mailed us a book of recipes after!
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT
LEMONGRASS
I stumbled upon Lemongrass on my first trip to Thailand in 2015 and I just had to back. It’s a modest place located near the Night Bazaar and the food is tasty. If long lines and locals at the best restaurants hold true, that explains this place being so good.
Photo credit: Lemongrass Facebook page
-CHIANG RAI-
MY FAVORITE THING TO DO
WAT RONG KHUN (WHITE TEMPLE)
A stop at the incredible White Temple was part of my one way trip deal to Laos from Thailand. Chiang-Rai born Chalermchai Kositpipat designed, built and owns this work of art. The white exterior represents the purity of the Buddha and the mirrors stand for self-reflection. This is a place you will never forget.
After Chiang Rai, I spent one night in the border town of Chiang Kong in preparation for the two day slow boat ride down the Mekong to Luang Prabang. After two weeks in Laos, I decided I wanted to finish the trip in Thailand I had originally imagined which included Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe is the Southernmost island in Thailand, closest to Malaysia and on the way to my next destination which would be Bali.
Chiang Kong
This small border town is filled with friendly faces where tourists are the thing to see.
-KOH LIPE-
Welcome to the “Maldives of Thailand”
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO STAY
sita beach resort
Located on Pattay Beach, one of the three main beaches in Koh Lipe, Sita was the perfect place for a little bit of luxury in a private bungalow with indoor/outdoor living space. It’s a short walk to the center of town (Walking Street) and you can do everything from snorkeling on the beach to just laying poolside on one of its many pools. I recommend it for being especially family friendly.
MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
WALKING STREET
Walking Street is the main “hub” of Koh Lipe and as the name suggests, aside from a few locals on their scooters, this area is mainly intended for walking. You’ll find everything from shops and restaurants to massage parlors and tour companies. You can access Walking Street from different paths around the island, but the main entrance is Pattaya Beach. This is also where you can find a couple of ATM machines, which up until a couple of years ago weren’t available. Regardless, I always recommend having cash in the country’s currency (Baht in Thailand) with you.
SUNRISE BEACH
The less “touristy” of the three main beaches, Sunrise Beach is definitely where I’d book my next stay. It was a 20 minute walk from Pattay Beach to get here in time for sunrise, but I would’ve given anything to just wake up to the sunlight. I also found the few restaurants and resorts on this side of the island to be more unique and quiet.
SUNSET BEACH
I’ve been lucky to witness many different sunsets in my lifetime, but few like the ones on Sunset Beach. The silhouettes of wooden boats along the shoreline against the orange and blue colors on the horizon are worth stopping to marvel at every day you can while in Koh Lipe.
koh dong
“monkey island”
Monkey Island was a stop on an all day snorkeling trip. Due to tourism, the monkeys have become accustomed to people and sometimes will even come up to and interact with you. I preferred to leave them alone and photograph them from afar.
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT
ELEPHANT COFFEE HOUSE & BAR
Located on Walking Street, Elephant Coffee House & Bar has a nice vibe, reminiscent of Hawaii to me. Live music and board games add to the chill atmosphere, not to mention the best burger I had in Thailand (yes, I cheated on Thai food).
Photo credit: Elephant Coffee House & Bar Instagram
THE STEAK HOUSE
The Steak House is at the entrance of Walking Street (via Pattaya Beach). The best part about stopping here for a drink and appetizers, was the view of the beach and people watching.
CASTAWAY’S
RESTAURANT & BAR
I found this gem on one of my last days in Koh Lipe or else I would’ve not only gone back and back again, but also stayed at the eco-friendly Castaway Resort. I particularly enjoyed the large covered deck where you can sit on cushions at low tables. After dinner I just relaxed with the candlelight and the sound of the ocean waves.