Thailand Travel Guide

THAILAND!  After looking forward to this trip for close to 2 years, it’s hard to believe it’s all over.  A few peaks and pits, and then the vacation in pictures.  Stay tuned to the end for the highlight – ELEPHANTS!

Peaks:

• Beautiful scenery!  Between the mountains and rivers of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, to the picturesque beaches of the islands, the variety and how stunningly beautiful everything was really reminds you to step back and enjoy your surroundings.
• The most friendly people.  Everywhere we went, people smiled at us, welcomed us to their country, and thanked us for visiting them.  We felt very safe and welcomed everywhere we went.
• Amaaaazing food. Obvi.  We tried to be bold and eat street food, sampling most of the traditional Thai dishes.  We learned that the 4 main flavors of Thai cooking are salty, spicy, sweet, and sour.  Condiments (fish sauce, chili powder, sugar, something vinegar based, and peanuts) are served so each person can customize the dish to their perfect balance of those 4 flavors.  And spicy…was REALLY spicy!!
• Bangkok:  the over-the-top, colorful, extravagant Wat Pho was the most magical and beautiful place!  We paid for a local tour guide and it was definitely worth it to hear all the history behind the different temples.
• Phuket/Koh Yao Yai:  I can’t even explain the beauty of these islands!  Crystal blue waters, pure relaxation at a resort with Thai massage and infinity pool heaven…
• Chiang Mai:  Elephants, waterfall hikes, and my favorite street food dish in alllll the land – Khao Soi ❤️🔥

Pits:

• Trying not to get scammed by taxi drivers in Bangkok.  I highly recommend using the Grab app (similar to Uber).  Otherwise, make sure the taxi driver will turn the meter on before you get in the car!  And just avoid tuk-tuks unless you’re willing to overpay.  It’s sad to see scams like these in heavy tourist areas, especially where the locals are not the most fortunate.  We love spending our money to support the local economy, but we always try to find honest and kind locals (of which there are plenty in Thailand!)
• The weather. It was H-O-T HOT!  We knew this going in, but May was the only time we could make the trip work.  As far as the heat, we stayed hydrated, used tons of sunscreen, and wore lots of linen.  While we got pretty sweaty, most places we stayed had AC, so it was always possible to get a respite in between activities.  
• Rainy season.  It was “rainy season,” while we visited, but basically that just means there are occasional thunderstorms in the afternoon or overnight.  The rain hardly bothered us, and was even welcome sometimes to beat the heat!  A bonus of being in Thailand during low season was that we got great deals (up to 50-80% off high season prices) on a lot of hotels and experiences.  It was also much less crowded.

Inside the beautiful Wat Pho. The middle spire is ancient Cambodian style.

Holding up the tree!  (PS – when visiting the temples, make sure to have your knees and shoulders covered.  These pants from JCrew are my new favorites to beat the heat – got a pair in white too!)  

Guardians within Wat Pho – such intricate detail everywhere you turn!

The streets of Bangkok are lined with flower vendors selling their wares, which are used as part of the religion, placed as offerings at local shrines and temples.

Santhiya Resort, your Batango will forever be my favorite cocktail.  The backdrop doesn’t hurt either.

Infinity pool heaven:  part 1.

         And Part 2.  I meannnn….. 

*in a Chandler Bing voice*…Does it GET any better than this?!

Bua Thong waterfalls in Chiang Mai.  Also known as “sticky” waterfalls, because the rocks are so sticky due to mineral deposits that you can climb right up them barefoot.  We all felt like Spiderman!  The most amazing experience – worth the half day trip!

Khan soi – a spicy curry with crispy fried egg noodles on top.  Served with all the Thai condiments – I went heavy on the sugar, shallots, and peanuts.  Season to your taste – although you’re crazy if you add more spice!  😝🤯

ELEPHANTS!  EJS in Chiang Mai is a humane sanctuary where riding elephants is not allowed.  I did a lot of research before we picked one, because we didn’t want to support abuse or mistreatment of these glorious, majestic animals.  Elephants, unlike horses, are not meant to support human weight, and riding them can damage their spines.  We definitely got to be up close and personal with the elephants – feeding them, bathing them in mud, and swimming with them in the river!  The elephants at EJS were never punished, injured, or mistreated. 

 It was clear they led a happy, pampered life – with all the bananas and mud baths they could ever want!

Is Thailand on your travel list?  Which of these activities is a must do for you?  Where should I go when we return to Thailand one day?  Let me know in the comments – and happy travels!