Adventures In Thailand

I spent 16 days on holiday in Thailand and it was quite an experience. This was a beautiful trip and as promised, a blog post is a must.

Livethruthelens.com was able to capture and document authentic experiences and indelible moments to share, while inspiring others to travel abroad. Traveling abroad challenges you to escape your comfort zone and is a great opportunity to discover the beauty in other cultures. Check out the highlights of my trip!

DESTINATIONS:

Where I went, What I did!!

Arrived in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Exotic Bangkok is a vibrant city with grand temples, rich culture, amazing cuisine, and bustling nightlife- nightclubs, cabarets, and red- light districts.

City Tour of Bangkok, traveled through Chinatown and then on to the colorful Indian Market- colorful/vibrant flowers and veggies.

2. Visit to Wat Po, the oldest and largest temple in the city, with a gigantic Reclining Buddha, over 150 feet long and almost 50 feet high, covered in gold leaf. The Buddhist temple complex is impressive and the other parts of the temple include gardens, tall decorated spires, intricate colorful carvings and numerous statues of Buddha, and Chinese statues. Walking around the complex is a relaxing and enlightening experience.

3. Hailed a tuk-tuk to a local Thai restaurant for dinner. Uncovered a gem of a restaurant in the alleyway- Dok Kaew House Bar. It was a relaxing atmosphere with great staff, craft beer and pretty good food. It’s supposedly a haunted craft beer bar taking over an 80 year-old, two story house.

4. Sunset views at Red Sky- Rooftop Bar & Restaurant. Set on the 56th floor, the Rooftop Bar offers 360 degree panoramic views of the skyline. Indulged in creative cocktails, small bites and an amazing dinner. An absolute must- amazing experience!

5. Escaped the busy streets of Bangkok and took a journey to the Maeklong Railway Market- fresh market selling seafood, fruits, vegetables, meats, and handicrafts and souvenirs. Located on a railway, watched as the vendors made a mad scramble to pack up stalls and goods when the signal of the arriving train rings. The trains pass at a great speed 8 times a day. After passing, the vendors unload again and customers continue to shop until next time!

6. Hopped on a long tail boat for a scenic ride along the canal to The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, admiring the local villages and farms. Caught a glimpse of the lifestyle of the locals who live along the river. The Floating market is one of Thailand’s largest and most famous Floating markets where vendors in wooden boats sell fresh produce, street food, and local handicrafts. There are also different stalls to shop and wander around.

Caught a flight to Chiang Mai (1hr, 15min), the largest city in Northern Thailand.

Visited Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple- Northern Thailand’s most sacred temple. The Buddhist Temple is located on top of the Doi Suthep mountain. To reach the temple, you must ascend a 306 step staircase. The beautiful architecture of the staircase is flanked by Naga.

2. Met a new friend at Elephant EcoValley Sanctuary. This was a no- riding Sanctuary, but I had a great time taking care of the elephants- making vegetarian snacks, feeding them, bathing them, touring the museum and purchasing elephant-poo paper! Elephants are highly intelligent, sociable, and sophisticated. They have “self awareness ” and strong memories. This was a remarkable experience.

3. Cooking class at Cooking at Home Thai Culinary School. One of the highlights in Chiang Mai. This was an Open-Air Thai style kitchen and the instructors were excellent! We took a tour to a local market to learn about local fruits and vegetables prior to class. The dishes were easy to prepare and delicious- restaurant quality. The class was super fun and a great way to learn about local cuisine and how to make a delicious meal. Amazing experience!

4. Enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner at Chef’s Together by Aod & Dan. The restaurant is located on a river and serves amazing cuisine and cocktails. Beautiful views.

Traveled to scenic Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, the northernmost province of Thailand.

Visit to The Golden Triangle – See 3 Countries at Once! Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, this is also where the Mekong meets the Ruak River. Embarked on a long tail boat ride along the banks of the Mekong River between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. Interesting fact: Learned the history of the Opium trade. The Golden Triangle was the largest Opium producing area of the world since the 1950s.

2. Night Baazar- vibrant night market selling street food, apparel, jewelry, souvenirs. Also has live entertainment and colorful light show at the Clock Tower.

3. Admire Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, which is the most popular attraction in Chiang Rai. The Buddhist temple symbolizes purity and Buddha’s teachings. The all white exterior is adorned with intricate carvings, glass mirrors, and many Buddhist symbols. The Golden building on the grounds represent the cycle of rebirth and the bridge symbolizes crossing from the world of suffering to the world of enlightment. The gate of Heaven sculpture depicts many hands reaching from the grounds that symbolizes unrestrained desires.

Traveled to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya and visited the Historical Parks, UNESCO heritage sites. Enjoyed the history and liked exploring the sites. Marveled at the ancient Buddha figures, palaces, temples, towers, historical monuments and ruins.

Took a flight to Phuket

Visit to Bang Pa- In Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a collection of beautiful buildings in various architectural styles surrounded by a lake. Reminds me of one of my European vacations. The complex was formerly used by Thai kings.

2. Excursion to Phang Na Bay Lawa Island by a cruiser. Traveled through mangrove jungles and limestone peaks, enjoyed the white pristine beaches and the blue/green water. Discovered a floating Muslim Village(Koh Panyee), a fishing village built almost entirely on stilts. The village has a market with souvenir stalls, a school, and a floating football pitch.

More of Phuket!

Took a ferry to Phi Phi Islands, some of the most beautiful beaches. Maya Bay, was made famous by the movie, “The Beach ” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Also visited Monkey Beach and spotted monkeys steal bottles from boats as people left to snorkel or kayak through the caves.