Thailand - the Land of Smiles

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After struggling my way round India and Nepal, coming to Thailand felt like a break from travelling and the start of a holiday. Everything about Thailand is cleaner, more modern, friendlier and happier than what I had got used to. It feels almost like being back in Europe (except for the language, the weather and the food, of course!)


Bangkok is a great city and I spent several days there looking round the many Wats (temples) with their huge Buddhas, enjoying Thai massages and visiting various pubs on Khao San Rd. I was lucky to make friends quickly in Bangkok, and after a few days I set to the south of the country with a Swiss guy, Dondi, and a Thai girl, Aor.


The first stop was Ko Samui. The beach at Chaweng was quite nice but busy and the town a big disco in the evenings. So we moved on quickly to Ko Phagnan, where we stayed at Hat Rin Nok - Sunrise Beach. A couple of days after we arrived we enjoyed the monthly full moon party, which was great fun! We also visited the nearby Hat Thien beach, which was great for swimming and is also is where I had some of the best Thai dishes so far!


Thai food is essentially curries, like in India, but the ghee in Indian cooking is replaced by coconut oil, coconut milk is substituted for dairy, and overpowering spices are toned down and enhanced by fresh herbs such as lemon grass and galanga. This makes Thai meals much fresher and lighter, and for me, more enjoyable. It is usual to order several dishes at once and share between friends, making it easy to try many dishes. The abundant use of tofu here also means that, in most places, I can choose from several dishes.


A few days after the full moon party Aor had to return to Bangkok, and Dondi and I planned to leave Phagnan but bumped into some Swiss friends we'd met in Bangkok and ended up staying a few more days! Eventually we moved on, to the other coast on the Adaman Sea, and to the beaches near Krabi. It was a long journey (taxi, overnight boat, taxi, bus, taxi, longtail boat) but for the beaches that greeted us it was worth it. The west coast is much more beautiful than the east, mainly due to the stunning limestone islands and cliffs and white sand beaches. We stayed at Tonsai, from where we went kayaking around Railay beaches and spent a day swimming and snorkelling and visiting nearby islands by longtail boat. The snorkelling there is amazing - the water is so clear, and the fish are so colourful and come right up to you!


After Railay, we took a boat over to Ko Phi Phi, where I spent an afternoon on the crowded touristy beach of Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh, where the “The Beach” was filmed, which was interesting to visit but a little disappointing after Railay. Ko Phi Phi is basically a party island, so one night was enough before saying goodbye to my travel companion Dondi, and heading further south to the quieter island of Ko Lanta. But Ko Lanta was too quiet out of season, and so after a couple of days on my own I came back up to Bangkok.


From here I fly tomorrow to Vietnam and my Thai holiday is over for now and the travelling continues….

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Comments

[rup]

I want to be in Thailand!
Dude, reading that while sitting in a sweaty office in london has given me really itchy feet! I loved it when i was in thailand and can't wait to get back there.... Railay beach is definitely a wicked place. Did you get any rock climbing done there?? Take it easy geezer, and keep up your blog.. (PS - i guess you must have been having a good time recently, as this is your first post in a loooong time! )

[Lindsay]

Oh wow... those pictures are amazing! I'm so jealous, but it's great that you are seeing all of these beautiful places. Keep me posted--I look forward to updates! Peace.