Thailand Journals
Three Nights in Bangkok
A Biopsy at Bumrungrad
International
Thai Massage Experience
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand
Visiting the Ellies in Northern
Thailand
Thai Dental Care
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery
School
My Day O' Diving
A Real-Life Disneyland Ride
Daytrippin' to the Phi Phi
Islands
One (More) Night in Bangkok
Three Nights in Bangkok
A Biopsy at Bumrungrad
International
Thai Massage Experience
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand
Visiting the Ellies in Northern
Thailand
Thai Dental Care
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery
School
My Day O' Diving
A Real-Life Disneyland Ride
Daytrippin' to the Phi Phi
Islands
One (More) Night in Bangkok
-----------------------------------
Photo Albums
Links relating to
my trip
my trip
Accommodations:
Baan Orapin - Our fab
guesthouse/inn that we stayed at
in Chiang Mai.
Thaton Chalet - The place we
stayed at in Northern Thailand.
Marina Phuket Resort - This is
where we stayed in Phuket. On
the beach and a great tropical
feeling to it.
Royal President Hotel - We
stayed at this hotel in Bangkok.
Very reasonable. Good location.
Would definitely recommend.
Other Sites:
Sea Canoeing near Phuket -
A one-of-a-kind trip where we
got to canoe through caves
during the day and night.
The Peninsula - We had an
excellent 'afternoon tea' here
while overlooking the river.
The Metropolitan - Cool hotel
where we had dinner at the 'Met
Bar' one night.
Thai Privilege Spa - What a
great 'Thai massage' experience!
They even have one in New York.
Celadon at the Sukhothai Hotel -
We went to the restaurant
Celadon at this hotel (that had
beautiful grounds). Incredible
food and beautiful scenery.
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery
School - This was where we did a
great full-day cooking course.
The Chedi in Chiang Mai - We
had drinks here. Wonderful
atmosphere!
Mahanaga - An excellent Thai
fusion restaurant that we went to
in Bangkok.
Marina Divers - The company I
used to for diving. Excellent
equipment and very well
organized. Would highly
recommend!
Flava at the Dream Hotel -
Great boutique hotel with a great
bar and great DJ.
Thailand Facts
Baan Orapin - Our fab
guesthouse/inn that we stayed at
in Chiang Mai.
Thaton Chalet - The place we
stayed at in Northern Thailand.
Marina Phuket Resort - This is
where we stayed in Phuket. On
the beach and a great tropical
feeling to it.
Royal President Hotel - We
stayed at this hotel in Bangkok.
Very reasonable. Good location.
Would definitely recommend.
Other Sites:
Sea Canoeing near Phuket -
A one-of-a-kind trip where we
got to canoe through caves
during the day and night.
The Peninsula - We had an
excellent 'afternoon tea' here
while overlooking the river.
The Metropolitan - Cool hotel
where we had dinner at the 'Met
Bar' one night.
Thai Privilege Spa - What a
great 'Thai massage' experience!
They even have one in New York.
Celadon at the Sukhothai Hotel -
We went to the restaurant
Celadon at this hotel (that had
beautiful grounds). Incredible
food and beautiful scenery.
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery
School - This was where we did a
great full-day cooking course.
The Chedi in Chiang Mai - We
had drinks here. Wonderful
atmosphere!
Mahanaga - An excellent Thai
fusion restaurant that we went to
in Bangkok.
Marina Divers - The company I
used to for diving. Excellent
equipment and very well
organized. Would highly
recommend!
Flava at the Dream Hotel -
Great boutique hotel with a great
bar and great DJ.
Thailand Facts
My Thai Experience... Highs: The reclining Buddha at Wat Pho; the grounds of the Grand Palace; Thai massages; fresh mangoes everywhere; boat ride to an island in Laos; watching the elephants paint and play music/dance at Mae Sa Elephant Camp; the refreshing scented wet towels you're given before a meal; cooking class; the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; sea canoeing through caves (especially at night); enjoying breakfast while listening to and watching the sea. Lows: Having to argue with tuk-tuk drivers that we did not want to have additional 'stops' en-route to places that we wanted to go (we ended up just getting out and not even taking the ride); the flooding that was happening in parts of Bangkok; getting to the Golden Mount temple only to find out it wasn't open; arguing with taxi drivers about putting the meter on; thinking we saw the Emerald Buddha when we actually didn't. Best Moment: To be determined... Smells: Incense; street food (some pleasant, some not-so-pleasant). Sounds: The high-pitched whistle of the ferry boats in Bangkok. Sights: The Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (250 baht); Wat Pho (50 baht); Wat Arun (20 baht); lots of high-end shopping centers; Night Market; Chedi Luang Wat (in Chiang Mai); Doi Suthep (in Chiang Mai - 30 baht); Mae Sa Elephant Camp; Opium Museum. Tastes: Pad Thai; steamed fish; afternoon tea at the Peninsula; tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, custard apples, dragonfruit, etc.); exotic fruit salad with shrimp and peanuts; seafood salad; glass noodles; khao soy; dried fruits; Thai coconut lemongrass soup; papaya salad; mango and sticky rice; fish in red curry sauce; banana flower salad; steamed banana cake; sweet and sour seafood; pineapple fruit shake; apple fruit shake; pad Thai with lobster. Experiences: Thai massage at Thai Privilege (soooo nice!); elephant ride; ride on a longtail boat in Northern Thailand; going to the markets in Myanmar; going to a Laotian island; going to a Thai dentist for a teeth cleaning ($15); cooking class (about $27); scuba diving (about $100 for full-day trip); sea canoing through caves (about $100); snorkeling ($23 with boat ride to Phi Phi Islands). Purchases: A skirt; earrings; black dress; a quartz bowl; an old-style thingy that was used to smoke opium (sounds worse than it is); earrings and a ring; another pair of sunglasses. Street Food: Cut fruit; skewered things; mango with sticky rice; curries; crepes. Funny Food Finds: McDonald's selling fried chicken and 'McRice' burgers where the patties were made out of rice. Western Companies Out Here: McDonald's; Swensen's; KFC; Burger King; Mrs. Field's; Starbuck's; Au Bon Pain; Baskin Robbins; Dunkin' Donuts; Bud's Ice Cream of San Francisco; A&W. Other General Info... Visa needed? No. Departure Tax: 500 Baht Type of currency? Thai Baht. $1 US is equal to about 36 baht. Wallet Friendly? The islands and Bangkok are not as cheap as someone might think. Northern Thailand is very reasonable. Nice restaurants in Bangkok are cheaper than at home...but definitely not 'cheap'. Hotels were also not very cheap in Bangkok and Phuket. Things Thailand Is Known For: Thai massages; great food; great beaches; chicks that turn tricks; having suffered major effects of the tsunami. Some Fun Facts: Thailand's name was formerly 'Siam'; the new airport in Bangkok (it just opened in September 2006) is now the world's largest; there is a Thai Elvis in Phuket. Religion: Buddhism. Costs: Around $1300 |
Thailand...
November 5 - November 19, 2006
Sunset at Wat Arun.
Showing Buddha some love.
Sunset on Karon Beach in Phuket.
