All I knew about Bangkok was that it is the capital of Thailand and known for their delicious, spicy food. Well, I am familiar with Thai food and love it so I was looking forward to tasting the authentic cuisine.

Oh, and I knew that Thailand was a predominantly Buddhist country but I’d never been inside a temple before. I started getting excited about the prospect of embarking on this new adventure.

“…where to begin?”

When I began my research I read everything about what things to do and which places I wanted to visit. From the river to the streets to the markets to the temples… where to begin?

OK, so yea, you got me. You can’t see all of Bangkok in 3 days. But that’s all I had so I began prioritizing my time. If I must say so myself, I was able to see quite a bit of this fascinating city in the relatively short period of time. It was, however, super difficult to decide what fell into my “must see” category and what would have to wait until next time. Let’s just start with lodging.

We arrived at “Suva” Airport midday and were greeted by our shuttle driver who took us directly to our poshtel.

What in the world is a “poshtel?”

So you’re probably thinking: what is a poshtel? I’d never heard of the term, either. Come to find out a poshtel is a portmanteau or blended word for an upscale or luxury hostel which combines the style and comfort of a boutique hotel but is offered at the price and practicality of a hostel.

Let me stop you here. If you think this “hostel” is just a room with a shared bathroom (don’t mind my feet in this pic HA!), you are so wrong. Not only do you have your own bathroom but it has absolutely NO resemblance to a hostel in any way, shape or form. This unbelievable find is a wonderful place to stay at an affordable price. Check out more at Bangkok Saran here.

A typical room at the Bangkok Saran is simple yet has every amenity you need: a safe, refrigerator, air conditioning, television, closet, shelves, desk and chair, wifi, comfortable bed and linens, a comfy chair (not shown) and last but certainly not least international electrical plugs. As a traveler this last item is a luxury! And as I said earlier, you have your own bathroom with a toilet, shower and they provide 2-in-1 shampoo and a liquid soap dispenser.

And we got super lucky with a gorgeous view of the cable-stayed Rama VIII Bridge which crosses the Chao Phraya River from our window.

“All the comforts of home”

The price of the room comes with a full breakfast each morning and you are welcome to help yourself to a refrigerator full of bottled water [no charge] as often as you’d like. And they even have a washer and dryer [for a fee]. I did a load on my last day. All the comforts of home.

I highly recommend the simple yet charming Bangkok Saran. It’s located in the Old District near the Grand Palace, Khao San Road and the Big Reclining Buddha as well as the local market. The front desk staff are not only warm and friendly but also very helpful and accommodating. And they speak English really well!

After reviewing all of the information I had collected on what to see and do in Bangkok I decided that my 3 days visit would not be complete without experiencing the beauty of the city’s most famous landmark: the Grand Palace, the spiritual heart of Thailand. So I made sure to get there first thing in the morning.

Grand Palace

The plan for the day was to get there early enough to beat the crowds. I was lucky enough to be amongst the first 50 people in line at 10am when the doors opened.

The dress code for the Grand Palace  is very strict as it is the most sacred site in all of Thailand because it houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Both men and women are required to have their shoulders and legs covered, no see-through clothes and you must wear socks (no bare feet). A t-shirt and long pants or skirt should suffice.

“that was on my list to buy, anyway”

My sleeveless shirt and Roydio’s shorts fell short of the required dress code so we just stopped at the little shop near the entrance where he bought some elephant pants [that was on my list to buy, anyway] and I got myself a souvenir t-shirt. The prices were very affordable and now we had ourselves a couple of souvenirs! Win-win!

Once inside the Grand Palace, I picked up a map that shows the lay of the land. There are several buildings within the complex including the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand :: Wat Phra Kaew [Temple of the Emerald Buddha]. So I headed there first.  As I made my way over I couldn’t help but notice the exquisite detail on the facades of these impressive structures :: they were just jaw-dropping!

Inside Wat Phra Kaew is the highly revered Emerald Buddha which is meticulously carved from a single block of jade. Wow! Since this is the most sacred site in the complex I was not allowed to take pictures. I completely understood of course but I was pretty disappointed because this was truly an astonishing place. I now have to just keep this image ingrained in my memory for posterity.

The Grand Palace complex is filled with fascinating architecture. Everywhere I turned there was yet another beautiful statue or building made with intricate detail.

Most of the areas in the complex are accessible with the exception of the Inner Court which was once the residence of the King’s consorts and daughters. This space is completely off limits :: there are guards tending to making sure no one entered.

I seriously took at least a hundred pictures in the few hours I spent here but if I wanted to hit all of the must-do places on my list I had to make my way out. Plus the crowds were getting pretty heavy at that point and the perfect time to move on! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to have witnessed the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Palace. 

Wat Arun  :: Temple of Dawn

Certainly one of the world’s most famous landmarks the Wat Arun Temple stands tall above the city on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Leaving the Grand Palace I could see its tallest spire towering above everything else so it was not difficult to find. Just follow the spire. It called to me like a beacon in the night (ok, it was daytime, but you get what I’m saying).

The design of Wat Arun is quite different from other temples. The stunning beauty of its fine craftsmanship, the intricate patterns of colorful decorated spires made of fine Chinese porcelain, make it easy to see why many consider Wat Arun the most beautiful temple in all of Thailand.

Wat Arun is located on the river, the reflection of which makes this place even more captivating. If you were so inclined [see what I did there?] you can actually climb the inner spire which would have been a pretty amazing adventure in itself. But by this time in the day long lines were forming.

Tip :: if you are interested in doing this I’d suggest you get there very early in the day. I’ve heard the views from the top are spectacular. Louise missed her opportunity. Don’t be like Louise.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

One of my favorite things to do as I travel from place to place is to visit their local markets. I am always curious about how the local people live and the markets are a great way to get insight into their culture. Here in Bangkok, the sights and smells in the local markets are enchanting.

35 acres. Over 8,000 market stalls. More than 200,000 visitors on a typical weekend. That’s an overview of what Chatuchak is about. It was pretty overwhelming :: I only covered a small portion on this trip. And as you can see from my pictures I spent most of my time in the food section.

Some of the other things for sale here are clothing, accessories, plants, art, ceramics, books, antiques… the list goes on and on. I wasn’t in the market for souvenirs at this point [see what I did there?] and I wanted to cover more than just one market so I moved through as quickly as possible.

Ta Tien Market

The next market I visited was Ta Tien on the riverfront, hidden behind Wat Pho [Temple of the Reclining Buddha] in a heritage-style building that looks more like a warehouse.

A discreet door easily missed by the public opens to a tunnel that leads to this market place in which you will see all kinds of dried sea products in large sacks and fresh produce ranging from the well-known fruit and vegetables to totally alien-looking ingredients. Originally set up as a wholesale market they now sell also to the general public. I wish I could have taken some of this home.

What makes trading places such as this so interesting to me is that they provide a fascinating window into the local daily life and exactly what I find so intriguing. Ta Tien is very intimate compared to Chatuchak which I personally am much more attracted to so I could have easily spent more time here and probably would have if I had it.

We didn’t visit the Night Markets but click here to read about where they are.

Chao Phraya River Tour

Another must-do in Bangkok is a river tour on the Chao Phraya River [translation: “River of Kings”]. Chao Phraya is considered the life blood or main artery of the city. Many locals use the ferries to cross this river to get to and from work every day. And there are many tourist boats that sail on its waters. My tour guide spoke both Thai and English which made it more informative. I’m told some only talk Thai. “You talk Thai?” (Do you know what movie is that quote is from?)

“…city of contradictions…”

The tour I took sailed us past the ancient temples such as Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun as well as the modern high rises such as Shangri-la Bangkok Hotel, the Super Tower, Mahanakhon Tower and Canapaya residences. Bangkok is yet another city of contradictions where old world charm meets the 20th century.

It was refreshing to be given a unique local perspective of Bangkok on this river tour and I would recommend it if you plan to visit. Wish I’d taken more pics but the boat got a little rocky at times.

Floating Market Tour

One of the things on my must-do list was seeing the Floating Markets. There are several in the area in and around Bangkok and I figured the best way to see most of them is by taking a boat tour.

“…food is a really. big. deal.”

By now you must know that I’m obsessed with food because that’s all I seem to be photographing. HA! Well, in my intro I think I did mention (I should have included the word: WARNING) that food would be making an appearance in my blog posts. And Thailand is one of the top destinations where food is a really. big. deal. I may have to do a blog post just on the food. Hmmmm….

Lots of interesting things to see at the floating markets. I had to take a video of the fish. It is un.be.lievable how many fish are in this river. I’ve never seen anything like it! Apparently a real popular thing for tourists is to feed these fish and watch the frenzy that unfolds. Of course there are lots of other things floating in that water as well…

As I walked through one of the floating markets it was a nice surprise to hear an ensemble playing the angklung which is a musical instrument made of bamboo originating in Indonesia, the place where both my parents were born. So I am very familiar with the sound which gave this floating market a really fun and ethnic vibe. 

While on this “covered” boat tour and on this very warm day all of a sudden the sky turned dark, we heard super loud thunder and a couple of minutes later rains came pouring down for about 3-5 minutes. I mean HARD! I quickly learned another reason (besides the sun) why these boats are covered. Apparently this is a daily occurrence in Thailand. It actually kind of surprised me because it came on so suddenly! But boy did it cool down the temps… nature, doing its job.

I think some of the only English words this tour guide knew was “ok, everyone!” If you listen real closely you’ll hear her. It was quite comical. Turns out she is a karaoke singer. How do I know? At one of the stops she ran over to a stage and started singing karaoke. Oh, and then she continued singing on the boat! OMG best tour guide FAIL ever. Unless you like that kind of thing. I couldn’t bring myself to video-tape her because it really was bad. She sure was having fun though!

Khao San Road

Street food. Yep, that is one of the things Bangkok (probably all of Thailand) is best known for. And they really DO have the best street food on Khao San Road. If you’re a foodie or an amateur foodie like me you must come here to experience this food mania!

Tuk-tuk

If you’ve never taken a tuk-tuk before I highly recommend you try it. It is a popular mode of transportation among tourists and an experience you don’t want to miss. There are more practical and quicker ways to get around town but I guarantee it’s not as fun. And you get to see a lot on your way to wherever you’re going.

This particular trip we grabbed a tuk-tuk because it was starting to rain and it would have taken us a lot longer to get where we were going if we hadn’t grabbed it. As it turned out the rain stopped in about 5 minutes (as it always does) and we were able to get out and walk the rest of the way to Chinatown.

Chinatown

You will find a Chinatown in every major city in the world. Throughout history the Chinese worked hard to build up their own communities in wherever they had a mass migration. Food being a very important part of their culture bringing Chinatown to their new home was just a way of life.

Roydio’s grandmother who has long since passed away was full Chinese and so this heritage and culture have strongly influenced his life. Noodles and rice and soup have been staples in his family and continues to thrive with his generation and on. So whenever we travel to a different part of the world it is always a priority to find a Chinatown.

When we made it to Chinatown Roydio took the food game to a completely different level. One of his favorite foods in Southeast Asia has always been durian otherwise known as the “stinky fruit.” It can only be found in tropical climates which Thailand definitely is. So yea, he headed straight for the durian stand. I can’t get past the smell myself so I’ve never put it in my mouth. But he swears it tastes like heaven. You be the judge. Have you ever eaten durian?

Train Ride to Ayutthaya

Taking the train is probably the best and most efficient way to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. It is about a 2.5 hour train ride and I must say it’s quite an entertaining one.

Once onboard you can expect 6-7 vendors to come walking by at any given point to sell you snacks, drinks, toys and sometimes even full meals. They have a captive audience in you :: you’re not going anywhere :: so I’m sure they do really well.

We purchased a Thai iced coffee and felt as though we had done our part in keeping these people in business.

Once we arrived in Ayutthaya I was surprised at what a fun place it was. Again, food stalls abounded but everything seemed pretty affordable.

We caught the end of what appeared to be a cool fire show. Dang, we missed it. So we took a nice stroll around the facilities. What a cute place! They had a petting zoo, a small market like we’ve seen around Bangkok, a couple of cute little restaurants and shops…

We ended up having a few snacks and drinks there in an air conditioned shop with wifi that we had pretty much all to ourselves. It was nice to get out of the crowds for a bit.

1. There is a very strict dress code for entering the sacred temples in Thailand so be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and legs (no tank tops or shorts) and nothing see-through. And you must wear socks inside the temple (no bare feet).
2. Another mode of transportation is “Grab” which is their version of Uber. Download the app. It works great!

Read more ::

Phuket :: Where the Action is… and Not

10 Reasons to Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

My Favorite Travel Products :: Top 50

Bangkok was a pretty amazing city to visit but IMHO there are just too many places to see in just 3 days. It can be done as you see here. But next time I’d love to venture out and explore more down the Chao Phraya River to see where it would take me. I’m sure I’ll have more of the fried bananas on the street as well as the Pad Thai. My mouth is watering thinking about the Thai food. Yea, there will be food involved on my next trip for sure.

Tips for Bangkok ::

The post Bangkok :: How to See it in 3 Days appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

But one thing’s for sure, if it isn’t already you’ll want to add it to your Bucket List.

BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel and Apartments Phuket

Let’s start with our amazing hotel. I know, right? I have to give credit to my Roydio for most of these hotel bookings. He’s a master at research although I can hold my own in that department…

“…it has everything but the kitchen sink.”

This place has a balcony to enjoy the view of what is happening out on the street, it’s walking distance to the beach… so beautiful and it has everything but the kitchen sink.

Wait, it DOES have a kitchen sink! And a kitchen and a microwave oven, dishes, glasses, dishwasher, refrigerator stocked with water and drinks for two and even fresh fruit to welcome you. 

Again, what a find. BYD Lofts. Just make a note for when you go to Phuket. I’ve given you more details down below in my “tips.”

I don’t want to be remiss in giving a shout out to the staff here. They make you feel like kings and queens, greeting you with a refreshing drink and cool towel and escorting you to your room. Click here to check out BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel.

So I feel like I need to clear something up before I go any further.

“…I travel on my own dime…”

I am not one of those travel bloggers who gets paid to travel, stays in four and five star hotels and writes about it!  I wish! I travel on my own dime. And before you start thinking that I must be made of money staying in all of these amazing hotels, just know that my goal is to always get the most for my money. 

Most of the places I stay at are affordable, you can afford them too. And by doing your own (serious) research you too can find incredible deals. This particular trip to Southeast Asia we are celebrating a very special occasion so we did splurge a bit more than usual.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let’s take first things first: unwind from my flight into town and then unpack. That’s not difficult to do with my packing cubes all ready to be laid out! Have you heard of them? Have you tried them? I swear by them and will never travel without them again. Once you experience packing cubes, you won’t either I promise. I’ve given you more details about them in my “tips” below.

You’re welcome!

Patong Beach

Hey, I’m in Phuket, I’ve got to see the beach. Let’s go! 

After leaving one destination for another and after everything it takes to get there it can be exhausting. There’s just something about a beautiful, serene beach at which to relax when you’re all wound up, right? And Patong Beach surely didn’t disappoint.

The only noise you’ll hear is vendors selling their handmade souvenirs and drinks and snacks. I would totally have gone for something but the water was calling my name. Well actually it was calling “Roydio!!” HA! And when the water calls him, he listens, then dives right in! 

Me, I am happy to just get some sand between my toes, relax, close my eyes and hear nothing. but. the. ocean. waves. rocking back and forth. Can you hear it?

Thai massage

I guess any trip to Thailand without getting a massage would just be wrong. So of course one is ordered up. Roydio volunteered for the job. HA! And I get to watch.

According to him, it is brutal. From my vantage point it doesn’t look brutal. But he insisted it is one of the best massages he’s ever had. I’ll take his word for it.

Bangla Road

If you’ve read anything on Phuket you know about Bangla Road. Again, walking distance from our place. How can I describe it? Well, let’s start with the fact that nearly every online reviewer seems to rate Bangla Road as either the #1 or #2 thing to do in Phuket.

“…it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas.”

I’m going to reserve my comments and let you be the judge for yourself when you visit. Suffice it to say that it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas. On Steroids. If you’ve ever been to Vegas you know what I’m talking about. But next to a beach. A dichotomy.

There are a lot of great places to eat in the little alleys off the main drag of this pedestrian-only street where I had dinner (NO I did not try the scorpions on a stick). 

When it gets dark everything turns… NEON. Check out the pics of Bangla Road at night. Lots of nightclubs and beer bars. And I’ll leave out the R- and X-rated stuff, k?

Did you see the tricked out tuk-tuk? They look like regular tuk-tuks during the day (remember the one you saw me riding in in Bangkok?), then at night all the neon lights come on and they turn into disco drivers. It’s a hoot!

Do I dare post a video of what Phuket is like after dark?

Tell you what, I’ll give you a taste of the environment at the “Beer Garden” where we had dinner.

The stage at the Beer Garden features several different acts. These fire dancers are cool. Then the go-go dancers and “other” things happen on that stage. But again, I’ll skip that part and leave you to discover all that for yourself. 

Before heading back I stopped to order and watch the making of their well-known ice cream rolls. It was really tasty, not sweet like American ice cream. Real yummy!

I then took the path along the beach back to the apartment. All in all it was a fun night. Tomorrow would start early…

Island Hopping Tour

This is my very favorite part of my time in Phuket:  an all-day speedboat trip to and around the Phi Phi Islands. We took off from the Royal Phuket Marina and had an amazing adventure on the water.

Let me just introduce you to the Phi Phi Islands, a small archipelago of 6 islands about a 45-minute speedboat ride from Phuket. The islands consist of classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations and vivid turquoise waters filled with colorful marine life. A true tropical paradise. We visited two of the islands and made several stops.

Phi Phi Leh

Our first stop was the world famous Maya Bay on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie “The Beach” which was filmed here in 2000. Maya Bay is the main beach on Phi Phi Leh, sheltered on three sides by 100-metre high limestone cliffs and greenery. We didn’t go ashore but believe me when I say it is absolutely breathtaking.

We also went to Loh Samah Bay and Pileh Lagoon to snorkel. 

We stopped at Viking Cave to check out where the Birds’ Nest producing swallows dwell. That was really interesting to see. These birds’ nests are used to make a Chinese soup and are one of the most expensive foods on the planet. I had no idea. I’ll bet you didn’t know about it either, did you?

I’d never see the Birds’ Nests prepared before so when I saw some in a store I made sure to take a picture for you. Click here to read more about why this food is so expensive and what it’s used for.

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is the largest and only inhabited of these islands but it has no roads. 

On this island is where you find Monkey Bay. We didn’t stop but “lingered” just long enough to see the monkeys in this rather steep limestone cliff, the vegetation of which offer the monkeys a comfortable place to dwell.

Then we went to snorkel the Great Coral Reef. This has to be my favorite part of this tour. The clear, warm water is just Un. Believable.

After all the snorkeling it was time for lunch. They brought us to a private beach called Phi Phi Natural Resort to enjoy a wonderful lunch with our new friends from Russia, Australia and South Africa. We were the only Americans on this tour so we did our best to represent. The company was awesome and the lunch was quite good for “tour” food.

Bamboo Island

Almost shaped like a heart, this island is entirely surrounded by a strip of soft, white sand. We spent some time on the beach here just relaxing and soaking up that gorgeous sun. 

The day went by too quickly. We were all pretty tired when we got back to the Royal Phuket Marina. The guides were great, giving us just enough time at each stop. I would highly recommend this speedboat tour to the Phi Phi Islands.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Or maybe someone can just drop me off on Phi Phi Don and I’ll just stay in the water all day. That might be the perfect day for me.

Our final night and morning

After a short nap at our apartment wouldn’t you know it we found ourselves back at Bangla Road. I have to admit the food was pretty delicious so a great reason to “tough through” another night of pamphlet-pushing, half-naked girls seeking the attention of anyone who would look their way. (Oh, did I leave those details out earlier?) Ugh.

Dinner and a leisurely stroll past the seafood vendors was a perfecting ending to this incredible day.

In the morning we had breakfast at a cute little place around the corner. 

Do you see now why I said in my opening statement that Phuket is a dichotomy? It is action-packed and it is laid-back. It is eventful and it is relaxing. It is pristine and it is raw. It was quiet and it is loud. You can have it all or you can have nothing. But any way you have it put it on your bucket list. You won’t regret it.

Thailand has been an experience I’ll never forget. Hopefully one day I’ll get back there to explore more of the islands. I think I’d like to stay in Koh Phi Phi Don and spend my entire time there snorkeling and swimming and boating. I think that would be my ideal trip there…

Goodbye beautiful Phuket, I’ll surely be back to visit you again.

Tips just for you ::

1. I have two words for you. Packing Cubes. They are game-changers.  They save me so much time! I’m organized, at a moment’s notice I can find what I’m looking for and there is no unpacking them. Just unzip and lay them in the drawers. Done! You can find them online here.
2. BYD Lofts in Phuket is located at 5/28 Haad Patong, Patong, Kathu. They have several buildings located 5 minutes’ walking distance from the beach. Check them out: Click here!
3. Ping Pong is not a game in Phuket. It is big business. Consider yourself warned.

You may also like ::

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

Why Not Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

My Favorite Travel Products :: Top 50

The post Phuket: Where the Action is… and Not appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

While in Phuket Roydio + I took a full-day boat tour to the islands. It was absolutely amazing…

Monkey Beach naturally derived its name from the monkeys whose natural habitat is located here. Due to many people being injured by these [cute but very aggressive] monkeys the tour boats do not get near them. I guess they’ve gotten a little used to people feeding them + are now very demanding about it! HA! I’m laughing but I guess it wouldn’t be funny if I were one of the ones who had gotten bit by one of these critters. It was cute watching them climbing on the rocks with their babies though…

I apologize that the video is a little wonky :: it’s difficult to hold steady when the boat is bobbing up + down!

I have to explain the next 3 images. This is Viking Cave on Ko Phi Phi Leh. Viking Cave is a harvesting point for a very valuable specialty. Here within these caves are found swiftlets’ nests, built entirely from threads of their saliva, which are the key components of the outrageously expensive Chinese bird’s nest soup.

Harvesters climb up bamboo scaffolding to the roof of the cave to gather the nests. We were told that before ascending they pray + make offerings.

Due to the delicate nature of the cave visitors are not allowed to enter as you can well imagine. But tour boats like ours do slow down so that we could take a look at the area. I found this so very interesting.

If you’d like to read more about these amazing cave-dwelling birds :: click here.

If you’re interested in reading up on the health benefits of birds’ nest soup :: click here.

Selling for as much as $4,500 per pound, these edible birds’ nests are among the most expensive foods on the planet. It’s no wonder they call it the “Caviar of the East.” A single bowl of birds’ nest soup will set you back anywhere from about thirty to one hundred dollars.

If you’re interested in purchasing some birds’ nests, click here.

A visit to the Phi Phi Islands is highly encouraged! You absolutely will not be disappointed. We did a lot of snorkeling both off the boat in the middle of the Andaman Sea as well as off the shore at a couple of beaches on this speedboat tour which I would also highly recommend.

Seriously, if I get the chance I’d go back to see more of the islands + spend all of my time on a boat + in the incredibly warm + clear water! It is truly an incredible place! If you go :: take me with you!

Read Also ::

Phuket :: Where the Action is … and Not

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

20 Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit Bangkok

The post 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit the Phi Phi Islands appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

What a tremendous time I had in this city of great eats, martial arts, beaches and an overwhelming number of temples. I hope you will be inspired to visit! Check also :: How to See Bangkok in 3 Days.

Read Also ::

Phuket :: Where the Action is … And Not

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

Bangkok is one of those cities that, no matter how many times you visit, you find more and more amazing sites that you didn’t see the last time. A bustling city with much to offer Bangkok keeps the mind and senses very active.

Let me know what you think of Bangkok? Do these images intrigue you enough to visit one day?

Accommodations in Bangkok ::

For your convenience, here is a list of ACCOMMODATIONS IN BANGKOK. Please consider booking your Bangkok accommodations through this link. It costs you nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you!

The post 20 Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit Bangkok appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

But one thing’s for sure, if it isn’t already you’ll want to add it to your Bucket List.

BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel and Apartments Phuket

Let’s start with our amazing hotel. I know, right? I have to give credit to my Roydio for most of these hotel bookings. He’s a master at research although I can hold my own in that department…

“…it has everything but the kitchen sink.”

This place has a balcony to enjoy the view of what is happening out on the street, it’s walking distance to the beach… so beautiful + it has everything but the kitchen sink.

Wait, it DOES have a kitchen sink! And a kitchen and a microwave oven, dishes, glasses, dishwasher, refrigerator stocked with water + drinks for two + even fresh fruit to welcome you. 

Again, what a find. BYD Lofts. Just make a note for when you go to Phuket. I’ve given you more details down below in my “tips.”

I don’t want to be remiss in giving a shout out to the staff here. They make you feel like kings + queens, greeting you with a refreshing drink + cool towel + escorting you to your room.
https://www.bydlofts.com

So I feel like I need to clear something up before I go any further.

“…I travel on my own dime…”

I am not one of those travel bloggers who gets paid to travel, stays in four and five star hotels and writes about it!  I wish! I travel on my own dime. And before you start thinking that I must be made of money staying in all of these amazing hotels, just know that my goal is to always get the most for my money. 

Most of the places I stay at are affordable, you can afford them too. And by doing your own (serious) research you too can find incredible deals. This particular trip to Southeast Asia we are celebrating a very special occasion so we did splurge a bit more than usual.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let’s take first things first: unwind from my flight into town + then unpack. That’s not difficult to do with my packing cubes all ready to be laid out! Have you heard of them? Have you tried them? I swear by them + will never travel without them again. Once you experience packing cubes, you won’t either I promise. I’ve given you more details about them in my “tips” below.

You’re welcome!

Patong Beach

Hey, I’m in Phuket, I’ve got to see the beach. Let’s go! 

After leaving one destination for another + after everything it takes to get there it can be exhausting. There’s just something about a beautiful, serene beach at which to relax when you’re all wound up, right? And Patong Beach surely didn’t disappoint.

The only noise you’ll hear is vendors selling their handmade souvenirs + drinks + snacks. I would totally have gone for something but the water was calling my name. Well actually it was calling “Roydio!!” HA! And when the water calls him, he listens, then dives right in! 

Me, I am happy to just get some sand between my toes, relax, close my eyes + hear nothing. but. the. ocean. waves. rocking back + forth. Can you hear it?

Thai massage

I guess any trip to Thailand without getting a massage would just be wrong. So of course one is ordered up. Roydio volunteered for the job. HA! And I get to watch.

According to him, it is brutal. From my vantage point it doesn’t look brutal. But he insisted it is one of the best massages he’s ever had. I’ll take his word for it.

Bangla Road

If you’ve read anything on Phuket you know about Bangla Road. Again, walking distance from our place. How can I describe it? Well, let’s start with the fact that nearly every online reviewer seems to rate Bangla Road as either the #1 or #2 thing to do in Phuket.

“…it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas.”

I’m going to reserve my comments + let you be the judge for yourself when you visit. Suffice it to say that it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas. On Steroids. If you’ve ever been to Vegas you know what I’m talking about. But next to a beach. A dichotomy.

There are a lot of great places to eat in the little alleys off the main drag of this pedestrian-only street where I had dinner (NO I did not try the scorpions on a stick). 

When it gets dark everything turns… NEON. Check out the pics of Bangla Road at night. Lots of nightclubs + beer bars. And I’ll leave out the R- + X-rated stuff, k?

Did you see the tricked out tuk-tuk? They look like regular tuk-tuks during the day (remember the one you saw me riding in in Bangkok?), then at night all the neon lights come on + they turn into disco drivers. It’s a hoot!

Do I dare post a video of what Phuket is like after dark?

Tell you what, I’ll give you a taste of the environment at the “Beer Garden” where we had dinner.

The stage at the Beer Garden features several different acts. These fire dancers are cool. Then the go-go dancers + “other” things happen on that stage. But again, I’ll skip that part + leave you to discover all that for when you go. 

Before heading back I stopped to order + watch the making of their well-known ice cream rolls. It was really tasty, not sweet like American ice cream. Real yummy!

I then took the path along the beach back to the apartment. All in all it was a fun night. Tomorrow would start early…

Island Hopping Tour

This is my very favorite part of my time in Phuket:  an all-day speedboat trip to + around the Phi Phi Islands. We took off from the Royal Phuket Marina + had an amazing adventure on the water.

Let me just introduce you to the Phi Phi Islands, a small archipelago of 6 islands about a 45-minute speedboat ride from Phuket. The islands consist of classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations + vivid turquoise waters filled with colorful marine life. A true tropical paradise. We visited two of the islands + made several stops.

Phi Phi Leh

Our first stop was the world famous Maya Bay on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie “The Beach” which was filmed here in 2000. Maya Bay is the main beach on Phi Phi Leh, sheltered on three sides by 100-metre high limestone cliffs + greenery. We didn’t go ashore but believe me when I say it is absolutely breathtaking.

We also went to Loh Samah Bay + Pileh Lagoon to snorkel. 

We stopped at Viking Cave to check out where the Birds’ Nest producing swallows dwell. That was really interesting to see. These birds’ nests are used to make a Chinese soup + are one of the most expensive foods on the planet. I had no idea. I’ll bet you didn’t know about it either, did you?

I’d never see the Birds’ Nests prepared before so when I saw some in a store I made sure to take a picture for you. And here is a link where you can read more about why this food is so expensive and what it’s used for: https://bit.ly/2LnHizR

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is the largest + only inhabited of these islands but it has no roads. 

On this island is where you find Monkey Bay. We didn’t stop but “lingered” just long enough to see the monkeys in this rather steep limestone cliff, the vegetation of which offer the monkeys a comfortable place to dwell.

Then we went to snorkel the Great Coral Reef. This has to be my favorite part of this tour. The clear, warm water is just
Un. Believable.

After all the snorkeling it was time for lunch. They brought us to a private beach called Phi Phi Natural Resort to enjoy a wonderful lunch with our new friends from Russia, Australia + South Africa. We were the only Americans on this tour so we did our best to represent. The company was awesome + the lunch was quite good for “tour” food.

Bamboo Island

Almost shaped like a heart, this island is entirely surrounded by a strip of soft, white sand. We spent some time on the beach here just relaxing + soaking up that gorgeous sun. 

The day went by too quickly. We were all pretty tired when we got back to the Royal Phuket Marina. The guides were great, giving us just enough time at each stop. I would highly recommend this speedboat tour to the Phi Phi Islands.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Or maybe someone can just drop me off on Phi Phi Don + I’ll just stay in the water all day. That might be the perfect day for me.

Our final night and morning

After a short nap at our apartment wouldn’t you know it we found ourselves back at Bangla Road. I have to admit the food was pretty delicious so a great reason to “tough through” another night of pamphlet-pushing, half-naked girls seeking the attention of anyone who would look their way. (Oh, did I leave those details out earlier?)

Dinner + a leisurely stroll past the seafood vendors was a perfecting ending to this incredible day.

In the morning we had breakfast at a cute little place around the corner. 

Do you see now why I said in my opening statement that Phuket is a dichotomy? It is action-packed + it is laid-back. It is eventful + it is relaxing. It is pristine + it is raw. It was quiet + it is loud. You can have it all or you can have nothing. But any way you have it put it on your bucket list. You won’t regret it.

Thailand has been an experience I’ll never forget. Hopefully one day I’ll get back there to explore more of the islands. I think I’d like to stay in Koh Phi Phi Don + spend my entire time there snorkeling + swimming + boating. I think that would be my ideal trip there…

Goodbye beautiful Phuket, I’ll surely be back to visit you again.

Tips just for you ::

1. I have two words for you. Packing Cubes. They are game-changers.  They save me so much time! I’m organized, at a moment’s notice I can find what I’m looking for + there is no unpacking them. Just unzip + lay them in the drawers. Done! You can find them online here.
2. BYD Lofts in Phuket is located at 5/28 Haad Patong, Patong, Kathu. They have several buildings located 5 minutes’ walking distance from the beach. Check them out: Click here!
3. Ping Pong is not a game in Phuket. It is big business. Consider yourself warned.

You may also like ::

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

Why Not Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

The post Phuket: Where the Action is… and Not appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

All I knew about Bangkok was that it is the capital of Thailand and known for their delicious, spicy food. Well, I am familiar with Thai food and love it so I was looking forward to tasting the authentic cuisine.

Oh, and I knew that Thailand was a predominantly Buddhist country but I’d never been inside a temple before. I started getting excited about the prospect of embarking on this new adventure.

“…where to begin?”

When I began my research I read everything about what things to do and which places I wanted to visit. From the river to the streets to the markets to the temples… where to begin?

OK, so yea, you got me. You can’t see all of Bangkok in 3 days. But that’s all I had so I began prioritizing my time. If I must say so myself, I was able to see quite a bit of this fascinating city in the relatively short period of time. It was, however, super difficult to decide what fell into my “must see” category and what would have to wait until next time. Let’s just start with lodging.

We arrived at “Suva” Airport midday and were greeted by our shuttle driver who took us directly to our poshtel.

What in the world is a “poshtel?”

So you’re probably thinking: what is a poshtel? I’d never heard of the term, either. Come to find out a poshtel is a portmanteau or blended word for an upscale or luxury hostel which combines the style and comfort of a boutique hotel but is offered at the price and practicality of a hostel.

Let me stop you here. If you think this “hostel” is just a room with a shared bathroom (don’t mind my feet in this pic HA!), you are so wrong. Not only do you have your own bathroom but it has absolutely NO resemblance to a hostel in any way, shape or form. This unbelievable find is a wonderful place to stay at an affordable price.
https://www.bangkoksaran.com

A typical room at the Bangkok Saran is simple yet has every amenity you need: a safe, refrigerator, air conditioning, television, closet, shelves, desk and chair, wifi, comfortable bed + linens, a comfy chair (not shown) + last but certainly not least international electrical plugs. As a traveler this last item is a luxury! And as I said earlier, you have your own bathroom with a toilet, shower + they provide 2-in-1 shampoo + a liquid soap dispenser.

And we got super lucky with a gorgeous view of the cable-stayed Rama VIII Bridge which crosses the Chao Phraya River from our window.

“All the comforts of home”

The price of the room comes with a full breakfast each morning + you are welcome to help yourself to a refrigerator full of bottled water [no charge] as often as you’d like. And they even have a washer + dryer [for a fee]. I did a load on my last day. All the comforts of home.

I highly recommend the simple yet charming Bangkok Saran. It’s located in the Old District near the Grand Palace, Khao San Road and the Big Reclining Buddha as well as the local market. The front desk staff are not only warm + friendly but also very helpful + accommodating. And they speak English really well!

After reviewing all of the information I had collected on what to see + do in Bangkok I decided that my 3 days visit would not be complete without experiencing the beauty of the city’s most famous landmark: the Grand Palace, the spiritual heart of Thailand. So I made sure to get there first thing in the morning.

Grand Palace

The plan for the day was to get there early enough to beat the crowds. I was lucky enough to be amongst the first 50 people in line at 10am when the doors opened.

The dress code for the Grand Palace  is very strict as it is the most sacred site in all of Thailand because it houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Both men + women are required to have their shoulders and legs covered, no see-through clothes + you must wear socks (no bare feet). A t-shirt + long pants or skirt should suffice.

“that was on my list to buy, anyway”

My sleeveless shirt + Roydio’s shorts fell short of the required dress code so we just stopped at the little shop near the entrance where he bought some elephant pants [that was on my list to buy, anyway] + I got myself a souvenir t-shirt. The prices were very affordable + now we had ourselves a couple of souvenirs! Win-win!

Once inside the Grand Palace, I picked up a map that shows the lay of the land. There are several buildings within the complex including the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand :: Wat Phra Kaew [Temple of the Emerald Buddha]. So I headed there first.  As I made my way over I couldn’t help but notice the exquisite detail on the facades of these impressive structures :: they were just jaw-dropping!

Inside Wat Phra Kaew is the highly revered Emerald Buddha which is meticulously carved from a single block of jade. Wow! Since this is the most sacred site in the complex I was not allowed to take pictures. I completely understood of course but I was pretty disappointed because this was truly an astonishing place. I now have to just keep this image ingrained in my memory for posterity.

The Grand Palace complex is filled with fascinating architecture. Everywhere I turned there was yet another beautiful statue or building made with intricate detail.

Most of the areas in the complex are accessible with the exception of the Inner Court which was once the residence of the King’s consorts + daughters. This space is completely off limits :: there are guards tending to making sure no one entered.

I seriously took at least a hundred pictures in the few hours I spent here but if I wanted to hit all of the must-do places on my list I had to make my way out. Plus the crowds were getting pretty heavy at that point and the perfect time to move on! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to have witnessed the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Palace. 

Wat Arun  :: Temple of Dawn

Certainly one of the world’s most famous landmarks the Wat Arun Temple stands tall above the city on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Leaving the Grand Palace I could see its tallest spire towering above everything else so it was not difficult to find. Just follow the spire. It called to me like a beacon in the night [ok, it was daytime, but you get what I’m saying].

The design of Wat Arun is quite different from other temples. The stunning beauty of its fine craftsmanship, the intricate patterns of colorful decorated spires made of fine Chinese porcelain, make it easy to see why many consider Wat Arun the most beautiful temple in all of Thailand.

Wat Arun is located on the river, the reflection of which makes this place even more captivating. If you were so inclined [see what I did there?] you can actually climb the inner spire which would have been a pretty amazing adventure in itself. But by this time in the day long lines were forming.

Tip :: if you are interested in doing this I’d suggest you get there very early in the day. I’ve heard the views from the top are spectacular. Louise missed her opportunity. Don’t be like Louise.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

One of my favorite things to do as I travel from place to place is to visit their local markets. I am always curious about how the local people live + the markets are a great way to get insight into their culture. Here in Bangkok, the sights + smells in the local markets are enchanting.

35 acres. Over 8,000 market stalls. More than 200,000 visitors on a typical weekend. That’s an overview of what Chatuchak is about. It was pretty overwhelming :: I only covered a small portion on this trip. And as you can see from my pictures I spent most of my time in the food section.

Some of the other things for sale here are clothing, accessories, plants, art, ceramics, books, antiques… the list goes on + on. I wasn’t in the market for souvenirs at this point [see what I did there?] + I wanted to cover more than just one market so I moved through as quickly as possible.

Ta Tien Market

The next market I visited was Ta Tien on the riverfront, hidden behind Wat Pho [Temple of the Reclining Buddha] in a heritage-style building that looks more like a warehouse.

A discreet door easily missed by the public opens to a tunnel that leads to this market place in which you will see all kinds of dried sea products in large sacks + fresh produce ranging from the well-known fruit + vegetables to totally alien-looking ingredients. Originally set up as a wholesale market they now sell also to the general public. I wish I could have taken some of this home.

What makes trading places such as this so interesting to me is that they provide a fascinating window into the local daily life + exactly what I find so intriguing. Ta Tien is very intimate compared to Chatuchak which I personally am much more attracted to so I could have easily spent more time here + probably would have if I had it.

Chao Phraya River Tour

Another must-do in Bangkok is a river tour on the Chao Phraya River [translation: “River of Kings”]. Chao Phraya is considered the life blood or main artery of the city. Many locals use the ferries to cross this river to get to + from work every day. And there are many tourist boats that sail on its waters. My tour guide spoke both Thai + English which made it more informative. I’m told some only talk Thai. “You talk Thai?” [Do you know what movie is that quote is from?]

“…city of contradictions…”

The tour I took sailed us past the ancient temples such as Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew + Wat Arun as well as the modern high rises such as Shangri-la Bangkok Hotel, the Super Tower, Mahanakhon Tower + Canapaya residences. Bangkok is yet another city of contradictions where old world charm meets the 20th century.

It was refreshing to be given a unique local perspective of Bangkok on this river tour + I would recommend it if you plan to visit. [Wish I’d taken more pics but the boat got a little rocky at times.]

Floating Market Tour

One of the things on my must-do list was seeing the Floating Markets. There are several in the area in + around Bangkok and I figured the best way to see most of them is by taking a boat tour.

“…food is a really. big. deal.”

By now you must know that I’m obsessed with food because that’s all I seem to be photographing. HA! Well, in my intro I think I did mention [I should have included the word: WARNING] that food would be making an appearance in my blog posts. And Thailand is one of the top destinations where food is a really. big. deal. I may have to do a blog post just on the food. Hmmmm….

Lots of interesting things to see at the floating markets. I had to take a video of the fish. It is un.be.lievable how many fish are in this river. I’ve never seen anything like it! Apparently a real popular thing for tourists is to feed these fish + watch the frenzy that unfolds. Of course there are lots of other things floating in that water as well…

As I walked through one of the floating markets it was a nice surprise to hear an ensemble playing the angklung which is a musical instrument made of bamboo originating in Indonesia, the place where both my parents were born. So I am very familiar with the sound which gave this floating market a really fun and ethnic vibe. 

While on this “covered” boat tour + on this very warm day all of a sudden the sky turned dark, we heard super loud thunder + a couple of minutes later rains came pouring down for about 3-5 minutes. I mean HARD! I quickly learned another reason [besides the sun] why these boats are covered. Apparently this is a daily occurrence in Thailand. It actually kind of surprised me because it came on so suddenly! But boy did it cool down the temps… nature, doing its job.

I think some of the only English words this tour guide knew was “ok, everyone!” If you listen real closely you’ll hear her. It was quite comical. Turns out she is a karaoke singer. How do I know? At one of the stops she ran over to a stage + started singing karaoke. Oh, and then she continued singing on the boat! OMG best tour guide FAIL ever. Unless you like that kind of thing. I couldn’t bring myself to video-tape her because it really was bad. She sure was having fun though!

Khao San Road

Street food. Yep, that is one of the things Bangkok [probably all of Thailand] is best known for. And they really DO have the best street food on Khao San Road. If you’re a foodie or an amateur foodie like me you must come here to experience this food mania!

Tuk-tuk

If you’ve never taken a tuk-tuk before I highly recommend you try it. It is a popular mode of transportation among tourists + an experience you don’t want to miss. There are more practical + quicker ways to get around town but I guarantee it’s not as fun. And you get to see a lot on your way to wherever you’re going.

This particular trip we grabbed a tuk-tuk because it was starting to rain + it would have taken us a lot longer to get where we were going if we hadn’t grabbed it. As it turned out the rain stopped in about 5 minutes [as it always does] + we were able to get out + walk the rest of the way to Chinatown.

Chinatown

You will find a Chinatown in every major city in the world. Throughout history the Chinese worked hard to build up their own communities in wherever they had a mass migration. Food being a very important part of their culture bringing Chinatown to their new home was just a way of life.

Roydio’s grandmother who has long since passed away was full Chinese + so this heritage + culture have strongly influenced his life. Noodles + rice + soup have been staples in his family + continues to thrive with his generation + on. So whenever we travel to a different part of the world it is always a priority to find a Chinatown.

When we made it to Chinatown Roydio took the food game to a completely different level. One of his favorite foods in Southeast Asia has always been durian otherwise known as the “stinky fruit.” It can only be found in tropical climates which Thailand definitely is. So yea, he headed straight for the durian stand. I can’t get past the smell myself so I’ve never put it in my mouth. But he swears it tastes like heaven. You be the judge. Have you ever eaten durian?

Elephant ride in Ayutthaya

Taking the train is probably the best + most efficient way to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. It is about a 2.5 hour train ride + I must say it’s quite an entertaining one.

Once onboard you can expect 6-7 vendors to come walking by at any given point to sell you snacks, drinks, toys and sometimes even full meals. They have a captive audience in you :: you’re not going anywhere :: so I’m sure they do really well.

We purchased a Thai iced coffee + felt as though we had done our part in keeping these people in business.

Once we arrived in Ayutthaya I was surprised at what a fun place it was. Again, food stalls abounded but everything seemed pretty affordable. We negotiated the price of the elephant ride + ended up pretty pleased.

While we were waiting there was a fire show but just caught the smoke end of it. So we took a nice stroll around the facilities. What a cute place! They had a petting zoo, a small market like we’ve seen around Bangkok, a couple of cute little restaurants + shops…

We ended up having a few snacks + drinks there in an air conditioned shop with wifi that we had pretty much all to ourselves. It was nice to get out of the crowds for a bit.

I’ve heard a lot about how animal rights activists are not in favor of riding elephants.

I actually checked out the training facilities + read up on Ayutthaya specifically. Everything I found was contrary to what I’d heard. These animals do provide their riders with an income but they are well cared for + treated humanely as far as I could tell. Perhaps things have changed for the better in recent years.

“the riders treat them with love and respect.”

There is an Elephant Stay nearby that helps assure that the animals are all treated well. Everyone there says they have never seen them abused in any way :: that the riders treat them with love + respect. And I was so happy to hear that.

On our ride the “mahout” or rider laughed + joked around with our elephant. She was responsive + playful. He made sure she was hydrated + took a rest here + there. And when we returned to the boarding station he brought her over to the rest area before her next ride. I was really impressed with how he treated her.

It was an incredible experience :: one that I certainly will never forget.

Bangkok was a pretty amazing city to visit but IMHO there are just too many places to see in just 3 days. It can be done as you see here. But next time I’d love to venture out + explore more down the Chao Phraya River to see where it would take me. I’m sure I’ll have more of the fried bananas on the street as well as the Pad Thai. My mouth is watering thinking about the Thai food. Yea, there will be food involved on my next trip for sure.

Tips for Bangkok ::

1. There is a very strict dress code for entering the sacred temples in Thailand so be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders + legs (no tank tops or shorts) + nothing see-through. And you must wear socks inside the temple (no bare feet).
2. Train to Ayutthaya, be prepared to buy snacks + drinks onboard.
3. In Ayutthaya, be sure to bargain down the cost of the elephant ride. Bargaining is a way of life in Southeast Asia. They expect it. And on this particular adventure they will come WAY down in price.
4. Another mode of transportation is “Grab” which is their version of Uber. Download the app. It works great!

Read more ::

Phuket :: Where the Action is… and Not

10 Reasons to Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

My Favorite Travel Products :: Top 50

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