Bangkok-The land of smiles

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Thailand twice; and plan to go again – very soon. It’s the kind of place that you could get quite addicted to; visiting year after year and always discovering something new and different. The main draw; apart from the obvious – amazing beaches, is the people. They are just so incredibly friendly, happy and hospitable. No wonder Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. Oh, and the food is pretty good too…and the shopping.

Bring it on Bangkok!

Like any other huge metropolis, Bangkok is bustling, smelly and hectic – but manages to get under your skin nonetheless, like the rest of Thailand. It’s full of life and there’s plenty to explore, especially the huge shopping malls and night markets. If you want a cheap designer knock-off you are in the right place; head down to Pat Pong and its world-famous Night Market for the best bargains (and many other err – treats?!).

The list of must-sees is endless in Bangkok and after two trips I still haven’t managed to tick off all on the list. Firstly there’s the Grand Palace, don’t fall for the same scam as me, the Palace is most probably not closed if someone tells you it is, but their very good friend with a tuk tuk around the corner will of course do you a very good deal on a city tour! Wat Pho, famous for its Reclining Buddha is stunning and can be reached easily by river taxi, a great way to explore the city. Other highlights include shopping, floating markets, Jim Thompson’s House, Thai boxing matches to keep you entertained and oh, more shopping.

You can’t go to Bangkok without tucking into a bowl of green (red, if you’re daring) curry and the MBK centre is a great place for beginners to try this and many other Asian food delights. Head up to the fifth floor of the Mall for the air-conditioned food court.

There are few places that I would put on my ‘whatever you do, don’t miss out on this’ list. As far as modern architecture goes, Bangkok isn’t up there with the London, New York or Sydney, but head up The State Tower to Sirrocco for dinner or drinks – I won’t spoil the surprise but the views from this place are simply breathtaking.

The rice paddies, hill-top temples and mountain ranges of Chiang Mai are a great contrast to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. There’s no rest for the wicked though, Northern Thailand is the adventure capital of Thailand. Hiking is one of the main draws; it’s best to do a trek with a guide; ours was quite a character; a bit of a nature expert – he showed us plants that could be used to cure ailments and even introduced us to some of the local villagers, inviting us into their homes.

There’s no better way to cool off after a day spent hiking than rafting down a river on a raft made out of bamboo poles. It may sound like an accident waiting to happen; but it was actually not as hair-raising as I expected. More so was our elephant trek, a word of warning, elephants like bananas so be sure to take plenty with you for the ride. They act as elephant fuel and the elephant will refuse to move unless you feed them one approximately every 5 seconds!

Barefoot luxury

Thailand has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and islands; and nothing feels as good as walking on the soft, white sand barefoot. The beaches along the Andaman Coast are the place to unwind and relax after experiencing the cultural highlights of Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Krabi province is less touristy than Phuket so if you want to get away from the crowds then I would highly recommend it. And if you want to really get away from it I would stay at The Tubkaak, a small and intimate boutique resort nestled into the shoreline and boasting beautiful views of the Hong Islands.

Interrupt snoozing by the pool, or swinging in a hammock with a trip to the spa; the best way to ease the aches and pains from all that trekking!

Get there and accommodationFlights available through ebookers.com Hotels

Must Dos

Bangkok

- Don’t miss The Grand Palace and Wat Pho – Get around by tuk tuk or the very clean and efficient skytrain

- Dinner at the quirky and friendly Harmonique restaurant

Chiang Mai:

- Take an excursion to the Doi Suthep temple, located on a mountain-top overlooking Chiang Mai

- Eat at D2’s Moxie restaurant – but save room for desert! The crème brûlée with its Asian-fusion twist is amazing!

- The night bazaar. Possibly the largest in Thailand and great for authentic Thai handi-crafts

Krabi

- Island hopping including Phi Phi and Bamboo Island is a must – do it in style by speed boat!

- Sea Kayaking along lime stunning stone cliffs

- Thai massage

Jess M