Travel to Thailand

Mysterious Thailand – In some destinations, it’s best to do things strictly by the book.

A person could visit Los Angeles, for instance, using a reputable guidebook and could have a perfectly acceptable experience.

They’d hit all the highlights of the area and probably avoid some of the grittier neighborhoods.

However, other destinations (Traveling to Thailand) definitely deserve to be explored in a manner that’s more off the beaten path.

A little unscripted wandering in these places means being able to interact meaningfully with local people and to experience their culture in a way that simply can’t be achieved when a traveler is chained to a guidebook…Ayutthaya and Sukhothai

Thailand Medical Tourism

As vegetarians we never tried these meat sticks, but they are very popular for some reason…?

Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Thailand Travel Video- As We Travel TV Show

One of the most memorable images of Thailand are the long tail boats lining the beaches with its colorful bands, here with the lime stone cliffs from Rai Leh in the background.

Mysterious Thailand

One of these places is Mysterious Thailand.

It’s an ancient, majestic and mysterious place that’s worthy of years of exploration.

Unfortunately, most people who visit here don’t have tons of time to really absorb the local flavor.

While a guidebook might be enough for the casual visitor, someone who wants to really delve into the depth and complexity of Thai culture won’t be satisfied with that experience.

As with any foreign civilization, the best way to view it is with the assistance of a local.

Someone who has grown up with and is fully immersed in the Thai culture can open doors for the tourist who wants to go beyond the well-known temples and palaces.

It makes for an intimate, highly personalized experience the likes of which would be virtually impossible to duplicate without having a local friend or two.

Fortunately, the internet makes connecting to local experts a breeze.

It makes one-of-a-kind experiences a reality in a way that just wouldn’t happen otherwise.

Imagine being able to dine in a private home, enjoying authentic Thai dishes that were prepared by a host who has been learning to craft traditional meals since childhood.

It’s definitely not the kind of evening that would happen in even the finest restaurant in the nation.

Travelers visiting mysterious Thailand can go way beyond the major attractions with the assistance of a local guide.

Hosts can arrange for a vast array of experiences.

Depending upon their specialty and interests, a host might provide a lesson in Muay Thai, the nation’s style of martial arts.

Others offer cooking lessons, tours of the local marketplace, or provide insider tips on how to get the best deals on locally made wares.

Wat Pho is famous for its impressive huge golden Reclining Buddha, but few know that this also is the birthplace for the traditional Thai massage…

Hosts are friendly and accommodating, which makes it easy to arrange for a tour, activity or meal.

There’s simply no substitute for being able to visit a temple or museum with someone who can bring the local perspective to the adventure.

By sharing their thoughts and memories, hosts bring the Thai culture to life in a particularly personal way.

They help visitors to understand not only what the Thai lifestyle is, but also why and how it has evolved the way it has.

We met these fishermen on a morning market in Thailand, selling their newly caught fish from the previous night – they seemed like two men with a lot of stories to tell.

Hosts are fully vetted, so visitors can rest assured that their experience will be safe and memorable for all the right reasons.

More than one tourist has made a lifelong friend by using this service.

It’s possible to arrange for a tour or other activity well in advance, but sometimes the hosts can be quite flexible when it comes to accommodating last minute requests.

I’ve heard that these women try to make you pay for taking photos of them in Vietnam – well this was Thailand, where you don’t pay to take a photo of someone, and she was so happy that we took a photo of her that she actually stood up and posed for us… such an adorable woman…

Each experience is unique, and it is often possible to make special requests that the host is willing to tailor to the taste of the visitor.

For instance, enjoying a home cooked meal with a local family is one of the most asked for experiences.

The visitor may arrange for their own transportation, but in many cases the host provides a knowledgeable escort who can see them safely to the home of their host.

Visitors are immediately put at ease by a warm and gracious welcome, and special dietary requests are respected.

Each individual is treated like an honored guest and can expect to enjoy the finest Thai style hospitality.

For many visitors, it is these unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that become the most memorable part of their visit.

Tourists may also arrange to observe some of Thailand’s most interesting festivals with a local host.

Songkran, or the New Year’s Day celebration, is particularly popular.

Many people also choose to visit on Ghost Day, traditionally known as Pi Tha Khon.

Unique Thai festivals take on far more significance with a local guide.

It’s a wonderful way for visitors to understand the meaning behind the celebrations and better appreciate the traditions and legends that are incorporated into each.

We’re not quite sure what the strings were used for, but the owner of the bike sure had an eye for pretty color combinations..!

While there are a number of reputable, well-written travel guides on the market, none of them can truly compare with having the guidance of a local insider.

No book can possibly contain information on every attraction, festival and restaurant in Thailand.

That’s why a local friend is so indispensable.

With their assistance, greater understanding and appreciation is possible.

It turns an interesting experience into a remarkable one, and mysterious Thailand definitely deserves to be appreciated in all of its complexity.

This is one of the very few whole Buddha statues in Ayutthaya.

Nearly all Buddha statues were decapitated when Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767.

This was done to remove precious items – gold, jewels and other relics – placed inside the statue when they were made, and the heads were then sold to private collectors in Europe and the US.

A few have been rediscovered in museums in the US, but when Thailand asked to have them returned they refused.

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Enjoy Thailand Without Visiting The Beach – When you think of Thailand, I bet one of the first things that come to your mind are long, white sandy beaches and those beautiful long-tail boats with colorful cloths tied to the front.

You would be forgiven to think that life is a beach in Thailand, but there is so much more to the country than the beach. 

Enjoy Thailand Without Visiting The Beach, In Thailand, we had some of our most memorable experiences inland, and while a visit to the beach is almost compulsory when visiting Thailand, I really think a trip inland is a must, and then I don’t mean a short visit to Bangkok.

We went to Ayutthaya during the World Heritage Fair, and as with every festival and event in Thailand, there has to be a beauty contest.

This one went with the rather strange theme “beautiful daughter and possessive father”.

Enjoy Thailand Without Visiting The Beach

Some people choose to take one of those great Thailand tours which takes them all over the country without them having to worry about a thing, but if you’re in for something more challenging and if you want to choose your own schedule, I would suggest doing it alone.

We chose to travel through Central and Northern Thailand by train and bus, and while we saw far from every place, here are a few places we recommend which are ”off the beach radar” and still easy to reach:

LopBuri

This place is often overlooked because it doesn’t have any huge attraction, but there is something about this town which I really think deserves a night or two.

The place is overrun with crazy fun monkeys, and it’s pretty interesting to see how instead of finding a way of ”getting rid” of the monkeys they have chosen to play by their rules and put bars over their houses and windows to avoid the monkeys from coming inside their homes.

The vibe here is relaxed, the people are friendly, and everything is a lot cheaper than elsewhere in Thailand.

Sukhothai

Sukhothai has the most fascinating and beautiful historical park in the country, and it’s easy to get stuck there for a while.

Many people would recommend Ayutthaya, which is also a nice place and very close to Bangkok.

It’s great fun during one of the many festivals there, but if there is nothing special going on at the time you travel, skip that and choose Sukhothai instead. It’s more beautiful and personally I think everything there was better, from the accommodation and food to experiences.

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A Memorial stone for loved ones who have passed, Turtle Temple, Bangkok.

I can’t think of a better place to let your loved ones rest than in this peaceful temple.

Chiang Mai

These gorgeous Thai girls competing in the many beauty contests in Thailand were seen as celebrities, and fans crowded around them in the breaks to have their photos taken

People fall in love with Chiang Mai for different reasons – some like the cooler climate, others the extrordinary food, or the cheap accommodation.

Chiang Mai is a great place to base yourself in and take small day trips to surrounding villages and towns.

There are tons of activities and tours to choose from, like cheap cooking courses, zip line adventures and Elephant camps, but also just hiring a scooter and driving around the outskirts is a great option.

Chiang Mai is also famous for its abundance of temples.

If there is any place in Thailand where you can get “templed out”, it’s here.

From here you can find buses to Chiang Rai, Pai, Lampang and even Mae Hong Son, which are other interesting and fun places to visit.

These are just a few places away from the beaches in Thailand that are worth exploring, but you could spend months in Thailand exploring villages and cities without ever even see the water.

Elephants are interesting animals.

They are so big and look so clumsy, but they are actually very sensitive, intelligent and gracious.

Only the trunk itself contains 100,000 muscles and is used for so many things.

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Thailand Luxury Trip

Thailand Luxury Trip travel agents Kenwood Travel have over 35 years of experience in tailor-making amazing holidays bespoke to their customers’ needs. Central to this service is their ability to provide first-hand knowledge of the destinations they serve.

Last year the Kenwood team traveled far and wide visiting the crème de la crème of luxury locations including Mauritius, Las Vegas, Dubai, Granada and Barbados.

Gaining valuable expertise and appreciation of these places, which can be passed on to customers in a uniquely personal way, is all part of the process at Kenwood Travel.

These intrepid experts even squeezed in a bit of fun along the way too.

One travel consultant who embodies this spirit is Matt Hall.

As one of Kenwood Travel’s Far East team, he was invited on a journey to Thailand to experience the best of the ‘land of smiles.’

He documented his Thailand Luxury Trip on video, which you can see here, and I thought it might be a good idea to ask him a few questions to accompany the film.

I started by asking him the obvious: Which of the places he visited were his favorite?

It seems he found the question a little taxing at first. “Choosing my favorite place in Thailand is like choosing my favorite brother – they all have their good bits!”

Feeling the pressure slightly, he finally decided upon the general area of Krabi as his number one locale. “Krabi really symbolizes Thai beach life,” he told me.

“It’s the little things, like how the hotels agree not to bombard beaches with sun-beds, so they always look their natural, uncluttered best.”

Matt went on to describe the incredible views that some of Krabi’s beaches afford, noting eloquently how “…hundreds of sheer limestone cliff-islands jolt sporadically and spectacularly from the turquoise waters.”

Even more sensational views come at sunset and many of the beaches provide cozy beanbags in which to recline as you savor an exotic cocktail. Matt highlighted Tubkaak Resort as a good example of this.

To summarize, he explained that Krabi is an all-round idyllic holiday destination that offers boat trips, trekking and diving, and while in the town, world-class shopping and dining can be found.

Coming in at a close second for this Thailand Luxury Trip was Khao Lak.

As a quieter and more laid back beach town, its untouched pristine beaches were particularly special for him.

The area had to be extensively rebuilt after the tsunami in 2004 and Matt heard some stories that will stay with him forever.

One such story featured the amazing Saroijin Resort.

After the disaster, the owners stayed when the other hotels in the area left.

They helped the local community rebuild and assisted in securing pipelines and infrastructure.

As such the owners are deservedly held in high regard in Thailand. Matt was honored to stay at the resort.

These heart-warming tales were told by the hotel’s ‘Imagineer’ who is on hand to help guests in any way – from setting up a dinner proposal on a remote beach, to spending an afternoon shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Matt’s favorite hotel proved to be another tough question: “Near impossible to answer.” He said the reason for his ambivalence was the sheer variety of hotels on offer in Thailand.

Some are grand, opulent affairs like the “unbelievable” Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay (featured in the film Hangover 3, no less!), which provides four metre-long beds and “mind-blowingly extravagant rooms.”

Others, like the aforementioned Tubkaak, have a more intimate, boutique appeal.

The Rayavadee and Centara Grand Krabi are totally unique due to a combination of their accommodation style and setting – hidden away on sequestered beaches surrounded by limestone cliffs.

In Khao Lak, Thailand’s leading architects got together to design Casa De La Flora – a property, Matt said, that is “… even more unique; ultra stylish and modern.”

Pushed for an answer as to his ultimate favorite hotel, he eventually decided upon The Shore by Katathani.

He enjoyed being able to amble along Kata beach to the little restaurants, shops, massage parlors and bars, and a short taxi ride took him to Patong and its vibrant nightlife.

The beach at the Shore is “one of the best” and its pool villas are in Matt’s top three room-types of all time.

He went on to describe the comfort, service, cuisine and location as first class. Certainly sounds like it ticked all the boxes.

Elsewhere he loved his stay at Six Senses in Koh Yao Noi.

This resort is eco-friendly and boasts spectacular sea views from the Hilltop Reserve infinity pool and bar.

There’s a palpable “Robinson Crusoe” atmosphere to the place, and it boasts some unique extras, like 24-hour homemade Gelato ice cream.

I mentioned to Matt how much fun it must be to travel by boat in Thailand, being able to gain new perspectives on the stunning scenery.

He was quick to agree.

Arriving at the Rayavadee in Krabi, the Centara Grand Krabi, and the beautifully remote islands of Koh Phi Phi or Koh Yai Noi, was amazing: “Arriving by boat really gives you that sense of freedom from the rat race back home.”

He also confessed that it’s a great way to top up the tan! Many resorts in the area offer transfers on private speedboats and very often have private jetties on the mainland to take clients to and from the islands.

It could be argued that, following films such as ‘The Beach,’ Thailand suffered a reputation for attracting too many gap-year backpackers.

Some detractors were quick to stamp it with the ‘tourist trap’ label.

Finally, I asked Matt whether he experienced any of this while he was there.

He explained that Phuket is the busiest tourist hotspot so you have to expect other travelers and backpackers.

His advice is to choose your locations carefully and recommends calling Kenwood Travel to speak to either himself or one of his colleagues to plan your Thailand Luxury Trip.

They’ll be able to gauge what type of holiday you’re looking for, and place you in the ideal resort. “If you want busy, you can have busy.

If you want off-the-beaten-track barefoot luxury, then places like Zeavola offer this,” he said.

Knowing where to go helps, as you can even find empty beaches in Phuket.

You may encounter backpacking revelers in Ao Nang in Krabi and in several spots in Phuket, but, generally, Kenwood resorts are all on separate beaches and again, he said: “Just ensure you tell us what you want and we can deliver.”

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Chiang Mai Thailand is for many people the ideal place to settle down.

It has the comfortable 20-30 degree temperatures, cheap and modern accommodation (advertising weekly and monthly stays), tons of restaurants, cafes and bars, and all other comfortable necessities you’ll need – western quality for a much cheaper price.

It’s the second largest city after Bangkok, but compared to Bangkoks 11 million inhabitants, Chiang Mai is rather small and quiet with only 160 000.

It’s likely that you will find yourself staying here longer than you intended, just spending your day hopping from cafe to restaurant to bar to market.

I really liked the look of this shop window.

There are so many things that it seems completely unorganized and random, yet they all seem to match each other in color!

Few of our top things to do in Chiang Mai Thailand

Chiang Mai Food

Food has a key role in Thailand, and in my opinion, the best place to explore this famous cuisine is in Chiang Mai.

There are also a lot of choices for western, Indian and organic alternatives.

The restaurants are lined up along every street.

Along Mueang Soi 6 and around the small street corners are some great eateries, and there are some great cafes at Rachadamnoen road.

The street food is best at the southern end of Taphae Gate.

3 Favorite Chiang Mai Restaurants:

Nice Kitchen:

Great breakfast and lunch, large portions and a lot of choices on the menu (especially for vegetarians), in a nice relaxed environment

Aum Vegetarian Food:

The Khao Soy soup is to-die-for, and the Chiang Mai Style Muesli Fruit platter is great!

El Diablo:

If you’re craving for something else than Thai food, El Diablo serves huge burritos and a big basket of fat nachos, worth the price.

Take a Cooking Course in Chiang Mai

Learning how to cook in the food mecka of Thailand was my high light of Chiang Mai. I cannot recommend this enough.

I took a cooking course and had an amazing time. Aside from cooking, you learn so many things about Thai cuisine and traditions.

Choose your school wisely, as the teachers are what makes the class.

We chose Asia Scenic Cooking School, and our teacher Gay Ray was fantastic.

Chiang Mai Massage

Massages in Chiang Mai are incredibly cheap, often down to half the price of the ones in Bangkok.

A normal price for an hour Thai massage is 120-200 Baht, and an oil massage is from 200 Baht.

A local Thai woman told me that just like every Thai woman can cook, they know massage.

However, some parlors are just nicer and more romantic than others.

Green Bamboo and Fah Lannah Massage are both great places, a little more expensive (200 baht) but really professional and very nice rooms.

If you like, there are massage places all down the Loi Khro rd on the street giving foot massages for a cheap price, although it’s not quite the same experience.

Chiang Mai Thailand Temples

I must admit that we had had our fare share of temples by the time we finally reached Chiang Mai.

But there are so many temples in Chiang Mai that you can’t walk 30 meters in the old town before you walk past another temple – they’re everywhere!

They’re all beautiful, and in some you will see the surrounding gardens full of small and big statues of all kinds, that you normally wouldn’t think would fit in; Donald duck, Ganesha, a rooster, a cow – they’re all around the temple, which makes it a fun change.

Buddhists in Thailand strongly believe that worshipping at temples is a way of making merit, and a popular thing to do in Chiang Mai for Buddhist monks and locals is to visit nine temples all in one day, during a special holiday.

Sounds like a crazy thing, but it’s pretty manageable as all of these nine important temples are close to each other in the old city (click here to read more about the nine temples).

If you want to join their tradition, go ahead, otherwise I suggest you just walk around in the old city and choose the ones which look interesting.

Explore the Chiang Mai markets

If you like markets you will love Chiang Mai.

Every hour of the day there is a market going on some where in the city.

Weekday or weekend, morning, day or night – there is always a market going on.

Chiang Mai Morning Markets

There are morning markets spread out all over Chiang Mai, Somphet is the one which is closest to the guest houses in the old city, a perfect place to buy some fruit or coconut for breakfast.

Other great markets are San Pa Khoi market and Muang Mai market.

The markets in South East Asia are a feast to the eyes as well as a shock.

Fish, candy, fruit and meat all mix together in a mish mash of stalls.

Chiang Mai Day market:

During the rest of the day there is the Warorot day market up at Chiang Moi Rd,  a favorite for shopping among the locals, perhaps because you can buy anything and everything here.

Chiang Mai Sunday Market:

This market in the center of the old city along Ratchadamnoen Rd, the stalls are crammed next to each other and live music performers line the middle of the street.

Try to visit the market on a sunday which is not during a holiday season, as it’s more quiet and less crowded then.

There is also a Saturday market down the Wua Lai road from late afternoon til midnight,some prefer this one over the sunday market.

It’s the same kind of market but smaller and less crowded, and the prices are lower. You can still get the insect, ancient ice creams and waffles, but be able to enjoy them better 😉

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar:

This market is on every night, and you’ll find anything from lanterns to clothes to jewelery. Just make sure to shop around for the open prices, as they vary a lot between the stalls for the same thing.

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to visit the local markets; the smells, the pace, the people, the colors and the food is always such a fun experience, and it gives a great insight into the daily life of the people and the culture of the country you’re in.

Chiang Mai Day Tours and Treks

Every second shop down the main streets in Chiang Mai will be a tour agency trying to hook you up with a trek or tour.

There are many different types of tours to choose from, and I suggest you shop around comparing prices between different agencies.

The tours usually include an elephant ride, a tribal village, some trekking and bamboo rafting.

Hire a Scooter or bike in Chiang Mai

A scooter is a great idea if you want to see the outskirts yourself.

You don’t have to go to the tribal villages with a tour, but are more than welcome to go there by yourself too.

Just be careful, I saw more people injured from scooter accidents in Chiang Mai than I’ve seen in total in the rest of Thailand, the drivers are pretty reckless, and just because the streets are emptier it doesn’t mean that they’re much safer.

A bike is a great way of getting around the area, not just the old city but if you want to bike a bit further and check out some malls and spa’s.

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(Photo credit: thomaswanhoff  – fortes)

Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai  – We have noticed in the online forums that many people traveling through Thailand are wondering which city offers the best overall experience: Ayutthaya or Sukhothai?

So we thought we’d share our thoughts and experiences of the two places and which one we prefer:

Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai Same Same – But Different.

There are so many Buddha statues around Ayutthaya that after a while you really don’t appreciate them as much.

But keep on taking photos, because once you’ve left this place, you will look back at those photos and realize how beautiful they really were…

There are a few things that make Ayutthaya and Sukhothai similar.

Ayutthaya used to be the capital of Thailand, and so did Sukhothai; they both have hundreds of ruins, are popular for biking between temples and both have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

However, this is pretty much where it ends.

We found the two places very different from each other, and depending on what you want to experience you choose one or the other, but preferably choose both.

I’m very glad we took the time to take the train and stop for a few days at both places, rather than taking an overnight bus or train right up to Chiang Mai.

Ayutthaya

The Burmese invaders really demolished the empire to the ground, and all the temples and statues were completely destroyed.

The ruins there really hold little meaning for the every day life of the people today.

They were left for a long time, and becasue of the lack of workers and monks to look after them, they were very vulnerable.

This resulted in looting and treasure hunting.

The majority of ancient Buddha statues’ heads have been chopped off and sold to rich people overseas, and there are very few stupas today without holes caused by explorative treasure hunters.

This makes Ayutthaya’s ruins look very … ruined.

It’s sometimes hard to imagine what the place used to look like, but the beauty is still there.

Ayutthaya has a rough but interesting history, and is definitely worth a day or two.

The ruins are relatively close to each other, with a few exceptions, and  they’re within walking distance between each other, however biking is very popular, and is an easy way of getting around the city.

You have to pay for EVERY temple you visit, so it adds up quickly if you go to many.

Most temples charge 50 BHT, despite what it says on pamphlets.

Most temples are around the old part of town, which is the only interesting part of Ayutthaya.

The city center is pretty dull, there are very few shops and no restaurants at all.

The only reason to go there would be to check out the small market area and buy some food from the food stalls.

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Sukhothai

Sukhothai is also divided in a new part and an old part, and just like in Ayutthaya the ruins are all in the old part of town.

The only difference is that the old Sukhothai is 14 km away from the new one, while in Ayutthaya the new and old part are next to each other.

This could be seen as a problem, but in the long run I think this is what has saved the ruins here and what makes it in many aspects “much better” than Ayutthaya.

The most impressive ruins are all gathered in a large park called Sukhothai Historical park, which covers about 70 square km (27 sq miles)!

Sukhothai Historical Park was full of Buddha statues in all shapes and sizes, and I loved how each Buddha looked different from the other, even in facial structure.

This one is a little…chubby 😉

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The park is divided into 5 zones, each zone costing 100 baht (extra 10 if you have a bike), and you pay when you enter each zone, so you can choose yourself how many you want to visit.

All tickets are valid for one full day pass so you can go out of the park and grab something to eat and the return again.

The Buddha statue was so big that only the hand could fit into the camera lens – but it’s nevertheless a beautiful hand.

What I loved about the park was that not only was it incredibly peaceful and quiet, but it was so green and lush.

The nature around the ruins in Ayutthaya was pretty dry and hot, while in Sukhothai you could relax in the shade under a tree by one of the many lakes and buy some snacks from one of the few who walked around the park.

You could easily spend a whole day in one zone, while in Ayutthaya you couldn’t spend a whole day in just one temple area.

The Buddha statues were mostly complete and the ruins in general weren’t as demolished as in Ayutthaya.

There were a few great restaurants outside the park with the thickest menus (in English) I’ve ever seen, and one or two good cheap guest houses with wi-fi etc.

Some of the things we learned while traveling to Thailand is most people stay in the new city, where they have many great guesthouses, awesome street vendors and a few excellent cafes and restaurants.

The Sum-Up

The dragon is an important part of Thai culture and beliefs.

There is always at least one dragon outside the temples guarding it and protecting it from dangers.

Dragons are associated with wisdom and longevity, and apart from protecting temples they also bring water.

If you have time, I would recommend you take the time and visit both, but if you are looking to visit only one ancient city, then the winner is Sukhothai.

Really it is hard to describe the beauty experienced at these ruins – relaxed, green, peaceful, picturesque – they really showcased the magnificence of what it might have looked like many many years ago.

Thai food Culture is one of the most internationally spread cuisines, and is often considered a favorite.

Having spent some time in Thailand, I’ve noticed that they have a very strong food culture, which I feel is very special and unique to Thailand.

I noticed many things myself, but it wasn’t until I had that private cooking course in Chiang Mai that I got a true understanding of the Thai peoples food culture, and started to appreciate the little details they pay much attention to.

Here are some typical things that I found stood out in the Thai food culture:

The thai food culture is very social

In fact, I rarely saw a Thai person eating alone.

Usually they eat in groups, either with family or friends.

The Thai people are a very social people in general, and eating is something they like to do together.

Even at the restaurants and shops, all the staff sat down together at lunch time, with a big meal for everyone to share.

There is no specific meal for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.

They eat whatever meal they want.

They can eat fried rice for breakfast, noodles for lunch and soup for dinner, or the opposite way around.

They never eat cornflakes and yoghurt as a meal.

My cooking teacher GayRay told me that they see western meals such as cornflakes, toast and even pizza as just a snack.

They balance the fundamental senses in their meals

What I love about the Thai food culture is that they always balance their meals with the five fundamental taste senses.

In the West, we usually choose one or two per meal, either salty and spicy, or just sweet.

In Thai food they combine all five senses; salty, spicy, sour, sweet and bitter – into one and the same meal.

This makes the food so interesting for your taste buds!

They Always Make an Effort About Presentation

No matter whether it’s a street food restaurant or a hotel, your meal will always be served with pretty decorations.

This could be flowers, nicely cut cucumbers or fruit.

They don’t eat with chop sticks or use a knife

Unless you’re eating a western style steak, you will be served with a fork and spoon.

Thai people eat with their spoon in the right hand, and the fork in the left.

They often have chop stick available, which is something influenced from China, but most Thai people can’t actually eat with chop sticks (this is what they told me, and I haven’t seen any Thais using chop sticks yet).

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The Thai people love snacking

Thai people love to snack, and often do so when they’re on their way somewhere.

Sweets and desserts are usually not eaten on meal times, but as snack.

When you’re invited to a Thai person’s house you’re always greeted with a welcome snack, which for the record was the best snack I’ve ever had.

They put a plate on the table with roasted peanuts, coconut (sweet), ginger (bitter), lime (sour), shallots, and chili (spicy), which you fold into a betel leaf, drizzle some palm sugar and eat together with your host (shove it all in at once).

It’s a feast as well as a shock for your taste buds, but I couldn’t get enough of it!

Thai people never waste food

Thai people always finish the food on the plate.

They believe that wasting rice brings bad luck.

When I think about it, all the healthy rules I’ve learned about food, what you should eat and how you should eat, the Thai people follow.

They don’t eat dessert after meals, they makes sure to get all the five food senses and they don’t eat bread and cornflakes for breakfast but proper meals …

(photo credit: Marshall Astor – Dave_B_)

Colons Cleaned Out in Chiang Mai Thailand – When entering the fancy glass doors into a “Health and Beauty Clinic” in Chiang Mai, we were welcomed with a glass of ice cold water and asked to sit down and discuss the treatment – with your eating habits, it’s safe to say that your body needs regular maintenance through detox cleanses.

It really was an absurd situation, to be talking with two young, good looking women about bowel massage and… poop.

Yes – we were both having a colon cleanse. 

The reasons to have a colon cleanse are many, like skin beauty, cancer prevention, longevity etc.

However, for us there was one reason that made us really want to do it (prepare for some gross facts):

The average person has between 4 to 25 pounds of built-up intestinal matter in their colon…

Thailand Medical Tourism

The amount of built up “crap” depends a lot on your eating habits.

Back to the reception.

It was absurd simply because you just don’t discuss your bowel movements and habits with others – EVER!

It’s embarrassing and disturbing.

But I had to get over myself and remind myself that these two well dressed petite thai women do this every day – it’s their job to empty people’s… bowels.

The women weren’t embarrassed at all, but talked about everything as though it was nothing more sensitive than a facial treatment.

Although I’m not sure how used they were to having a 6 foot 3 tall guy (Nathan) coming there!

A few minutes later, the two of us were put into different rooms (something I was very thankful for later on!), and given a set of sandals, a towel, and a silk robe.

As I entered the room there was a huge spaceship-seat-looking thing with a big tank in front filled with 25 liters of water.

I was left alone, and had no idea what to do.

Did they expect me to do it all myself and know how to get this spaceship going?

I started getting nervous: what had I got myself into?!

How could this tank of 25 liters of water possibly be able to fit inside MY body?

What were those two see-through pipes running along the sides, and that huge leaver next to the seat?!

As I tried to climb on top of the thing, one of the women finally entered the door.

This is when things got a little awkward… She helped me with all the..uhm..arrangements, and told me to start pulling the “gear”.

The tropical climate in Thailand is perfect for these beautiful Frangipani flowers, and you see them all over the country.

It was a very strange feeling, and being told to “push out” in front of a stranger was a thought that I had to fight to get over.

I have never before been into such a crazy situation, having someone carefully observing what comes through the pipes running along the machine.

Then, after a minute or so, she said “Oh, I see you’re a vegetarian!”…Huh?

She continued asking me questions, talk about my health and eating habits, things I thought nobody else could know unless you followed me 24/7 – she could see it all by just looking inside that see-through pipe, and knew my body better than myself!

I was left alone with a magazine, as though they thought you could relax and read anything when your whole world was been pushed upside down.

The following hour was one of the strangest experiences, but it also changed everything for the better for months afterwards.

In the West, colon cleanse is still something rather new, and old-fashioned doctors claim that the body should take care of it without help – however the truth is that it doesn’t.

Researches have shown that 90% of the western world’s population’s colon is completely messed up and doesn’t look anything in the way it does when we’re born, this because of our eating habits.

It’s not the normal spoil-yourself gift for the start of a new year, but if you want to get healthier instantly, Thailand is a cheap place to do it.

Medical Tourism in Thailand is a huge business.

Other than health treatments, Thailand is full of medical beauty touch ups too, like dentists… I can’t help but to consider trying that too… 😉

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Cooking and Deserts Video Chiang Mai Thailand

After spending a few days traveling through Lopburi to Sukhothai – we decided to head north and spend a few weeks resting and relaxing in Chiang Mai.

Sofia has never really been the best cook :p – so I decided to sign her up for an authentic thai cooking course – watch the video below to find out how she did :p – The video also includes Sofia’s adventures to a fish spa, and enjoying a traditional Thai massage.

Catch Part 1: Lopburi to Sukhothai Thailand Over-Run by Crazy Monkeys

This monkey was tricked by his friends to fall into a pool of water while chasing them for some food – he does not look too happy!

5 Things I’ve Learnt About Thai People While In Thailand

(our cooking course was Gayray was an amazing host, and teacher – we really recommend you attend one of her full day courses next time you are up in Chiang Mai, Thailand)

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Temples & Monks In Chiang Mai

With the overwhelming number of Wats, it comes as no surprise that Chiang Mai has very strong Buddhist traditions, and temples have become a very important part of peoples’ lives in the city.

Many temples act as community centers, and they are also very popular places for people to go to just relax, sit down in the shade and contemplate – below I have posted a series of photos we took while walking around Chiang Mai last week.

The temple grounds are peaceful and quiet – and although the hectic streets are just outside the temple walls, you feel like you’re a world away from it all – there is so much to look at, and we loved all the wooden signs with words of wisdom that were nailed to the trees, reminding you of what is really important in life.

Every temple is beautifully decorated with golden details glittering in the sun, and they all have their own touches that makes each Wat unique and different from the rest – whether that’s a huge Buddha head statue or a Donald Duck statue eating noodle soup …

You can easily get templed-out while in Chiang Mai, but as soon as you leave you realize how much you took all of these beautiful serene places for granted …

Buddhist monks wear robes in different shades of Saffron and Orange.

People say that this is because it used to be the cheapest dye available, and thus became a tradition.

Your Guide To Yummy Desserts In Thailand

I have a serious sweet tooth, one which needs to be satisfied every day.

Food is ok, but desserts are to-live-for!

If I could choose, I would have dessert for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

So, wherever I travel, I make sure to try out at least a few desserts while I’m in each country, and South East Asia has been no exception.

This time around, I’ve been trying typical Thai snacks and desserts – the Thai people are real snackers, and there is an abundance of sweets, snacks and desserts to munch on.

Here are some Thai sweets that I’ve tried myself:

Sticky Rice and Mango

It might sound a bit like a savory dish, but it is really sweet and totally delicious, and is one of Thailand’s most popular and famous desserts.

When the mango is ripe, there is no better dessert than this one, but the fruit has to be perfect.

Banana in Coconut Milk

This dessert is quite interesting, the bananas get a tangy flavor from absorbing the coconut milk, and the sesame seed add a nice extra detail.

Thai Style Banana Roti (Pancake)

Some people love them, others hate them.

I absolutely love them, the best ones are found in Krabi (many different varieties, and cost only 15 baht!).

Banana roti is the classic one, nothing extra needs to be added to it than the complimentary condensed milk.

Just don’t count the calories…

Kanom Thom Khaow

These little green balls are made from rice flour, a common ingredient in Thailand.

Inside the balls is a filling made of palm sugar and coconut – strange but yummy!

The Sponge Cakes

This is probably not a traditional thai dessert, but i have found them to be quite different from other parts of the world, or just pimped-out and exaggerated.

Think baptizing cake meets wedding cake meets birthday cake – in other words; an artificially colored and over detailed tasteless sugar bomb that is nicer to look at than to actually eat.

It still makes you want to buy it a second time just because it looks so nice!

Black Sesame Dumplings (Tang Yuan) In Sweet Ginger Tea

This is rather interesting, and is far from any Western type of dessert.

It tastes pretty healthy, and although the balls are a bit slimy, the sesame paste is nice, but strange.

If you like ginger tea you will love the tea the balls float around in, it’s very strong – Nathan loved this one!

Impressions From The Islands Of Thailand

After traveling through Laos & Cambodia we decided to head down to the south of Thailand and relax for a while on a few of the islands –  in the video below we decided to try something new – we wanted to try and capture our impressions of the Thai islands in video format.

We Got Our Colons Cleaned Out

Thailand Medical Tourism
(Photo credit: happymealy)

Lopburi to Sukhothai Thailand: After exploring Bangkok and Ayutthaya – we decided it was time to continue heading north and check out the ‘crazy’ city of Lopburi (which was apparently over-run by crazy monkeys) before heading up to the wonderful Sukhothai.

Watch Episode 2 in which you get to see Sofia learn the fine art of Thai cooking up in Chiang Mai and also enjoy a nice relaxing thai massage.

Lopburi was packed with monkies, especially by the ruins which you can see in the background.

5 Things I’ve Learnt About Thai People While In Thailand

Lopburi to Sukhothai Thailand

In Lopburi, Monkeys rule the town. And the people there don’t seem very bothered about it…

Why People Visit Thailand Again & Again

Only a year has passed since we last visited Thailand, and in a few weeks we’re already going back for more – Thailand is a country that people either love or hate, and regardless of which, nobody leaves without an opinion.

Many of the people I know have either never gone on holidays to Thailand, or they have gone at least twice.

There is something captivating about the country that makes people go back again and again, some even make a habit of it when they travel – and fly to bangkok for that little kick, that spark, before moving on.

Why do people love going back to Thailand? We all have our own reasons – here are some of mine.

The Beaches

You only need to look at Tripadvisor’s latest “award” for the best beach destinations in Asia 2012, and you’ll get my point.

7 beach destinations out of 10 on the top list were located in Thailand – if you want long, white beaches, clear turquoise water, coral reefs and cheap bungalows right on the sand – Thailand has it.

Many people have been going on Phuket holidays year after year, but are now starting to look around for more options – which there’s plenty of (and yes, there are still many secluded beaches!).

Personally, I wish there were a few beaches with good surfing, but I guess you can’t have everything … 😉

Koh Lanta has some of the most beautiful beaches, and while Khlong Dao wasn’t our absolute favorite beach on Koh Lanta (nothing beats Khlong Nin!) this beach was definitely living up to our standards:

Beautiful turqoise clear water, soft sandy beach – and a bunch of cheap wooden bungalows with WiFi and hammocks just a few meters from the beach!

The Easiness

It almost seems like every new place I travel to reconfirms the fact of just how easy traveling around Thailand is.

In many of the cheaper countries we’ve been to, getting around has been a huge hassle and very limited – in some places you can only choose between private taxis or taking horrific overcrowded and slow public transport.

I don’t expect it to always be easy and smooth, but from our experience you have a good range of options in Thailand.

You can go third class if you like, but the VIP First class buses are cheap and awesome as well, and knowing that you have the option makes things so easy.

Things like Wi-fi connection is another thing that hotels in Thailand seem to really get, where in other countries in Asia it’s near impossible to find.

The Food

I won’t say that I enjoyed all the food in Thailand, but there are a few favorites that I have longed for many times during the past year; the curries in northern Thailand, the banana pancakes, the typical fruit shakes, the fresh warm corn waffles from local street vendors, pad thai, mango sticky rice etc … :p

The Prices

I was often surprised by how much cheaper accommodation was in Thailand compared to many of its neighboring countries, and the wide range of street stalls everywhere makes it super easy to grab a cheap snack or meal.

The cheap prices is one of the main reasons why Thailand has become a good base for digital nomads, where you can live cheaply and have more money left over to spend on building up your company.

Besides, when we looked for an apartment in different places around the world, we often found that you got more for your money in Thailand – maybe you spend the same, but you live a lifestyle impossible for that same price in Europe.

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After having traveled through Thailand for over a month now, I’ve seen and learned quite a few things – not just about the country, but also about the Thai people.

Here are five things that’ I’ve learned about the Thai people that never seems to fail:

5 Things I’ve Learned About Thai People While In Thailand

Thai people are always really friendly, no matter if you buy what they sell or not.

Thailand really is the land of smiles.

They always give you the warmest, friendliest smile – if you smile first.

Thai people are often incredibly friendly, and many do smile at you on the street.

But most of the times, they look at you, and if your eyes meet and you smile, THEN they smile back right away.

If you don’t smile, however, neither do they.

My experience has often been that they smile bigger and brighter than you, when you smile first.

The street hustlers are not scamming you, they just try to make a living.

Scammer, hustler or just working?

Especially in Phuket.

There are entire websites and forums out there that only talk about this topic, the scammers in Thailand.

Sure, there are some big scammers around here, but I wouldn’t call the guys trying to sell you crappy suits, tuk tuk rides or ping pong shows scammers, they’re just trying to get by and make a living.

And frankly, a truth that some people prefer to ignore, is that they can only live off of our greed.

We want the cheap stuff, we want free – free – free, although we should know that nothing in this world is really free.

When you sit down and watch them work the street, see them working for hours on end getting rejected, ignored and yelled at, they deserve some respect.

How many people can handle getting turned down or treated as though they don’t exist?

If you just make sure to them that you’re not interested in what they are offering, you can often have a nice conversation with them about other things.

They serve the man first, but give the woman the larger portion.

First, we thought this was just a random thing, but nearly every time we ate at a restaurant, they always served me a huge portion, and Nathan a much smaller one.

Each time, they gave him his food first.

It’s the same all over the country – if anyone knows why this is, please let us know!

Beautiful sunset in Ao Nang, Thailand.

No matter how early you get up in the morning, most of them will already be awake and working.

It’s true, I’m an early bird, but no matter when I get up, it feels like the city has been awake for just slightly longer than me.

People are already in their shops, at the market or on a moped.

The young girls have their hair curled and the middle-aged ladies have already put that same bright pink color lipstick on.

It’s not that the city never sleeps, they just don’t sleep in like we do in the West.

When it comes to transport, there is no such thing as full.

They can always fit one more person in – always.

Even if some kids have to hang off the end of the bus, there is still space for more people.

We had about 33 people in a mini-bus which in Europe would legally fit maybe 8 people – CRAZY!

They have the most innocent sense of humor.

I’ve found Thai people to be very innocent and gentle people.

The men are often very feminine, something which is not just accepted but also encouraged.

The teens dress in a pop rock punk style, but walk around with a teddy bear under their arm, or a furry baby hat on their heads.

When they laugh it’s a sweet giggle rather than the manly macho laugh.

What they laugh at is even more innocent.

I’ve never seen a whole bus full of people in all ages laugh so much at a filmed live show where a woman pulls a guy’s skirt off and he stands in his knee long underwear.

And every time Nathan bumps his head into the umbrellas put up at the vegetable markets everyone around him breaks into a big laugh and tell all their friends who missed it about what just happened.

It’s all really cute, but I wonder what they would think about our Western humor?

When a new boat gets launched into the river or ocean in western countries we have a ceremony of breaking a champagne bottle.

In Thailand, they tie colorful cloth instead.

At the beginning of each season the long-tail boat owners bring colorful cloths to tie to the front of the boat for good luck and ask the spirits to protect and bring prosperity to their business.

This happens during the month of November of every year in Ao Nang, Krabi.

If you have been to Thailand, what did you learn about the people?

Checkout this article and video about an Amazing Luxury Trip to Thailand

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The Hin Ta Rock – The Grandfather Rock

The Samui people are very proud of their The Grandfather Rock which has a long history.

The Grandfather Rock is called by the locals ‘The Hin Ta rock’.

It along with the smaller Hin Yai rock are major tourist attractions.

The myth has it that an elderly couple sailed to the island to propose a marriage for their son.

But due to a storm, their boat was capsized and they lost their dowry.

Fearing the shame of turning up penniless, they are said to have jumped into the sea before being reborn as The Hin Ta rock and Hin Yai rock

(photo credits: Hanumann – inrime_nasrul – tanvach)