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When I decided to go backpacking for 6 months, Thailand was my first stop. After spending a couple of days in Bangkok, we stopped in Hua Hin, before I came to Koh Tao, started scuba diving, and never got any further - not on that trip, anyway.
Thailand is a beautiful country, with an interesting culture, and many nice people, so there's no doubt I'm going back to explore more of the country.
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Bangkok
Hua Hin
Koh Tao/Koh Pha-Ngan/Koh Samui
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Bangkok
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Bangkok, or Krung Trep, has been the Thai capital since 1767. In spite of noise, pollution and probably the worst traffic jams in Asia, I find the city fascinating - but I only spend 3-5 days there at the time, before I have to get
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out of the craziness. I've never experienced the annual floodings, but if I do - I'm sure I'll still find positive things about Bangkok.
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Bangkok has plenty to offer, including cheap accommodation, excellent food (the best food is often what you buy on the streets), and a pulsating night life.
Bangkok is also about shopping, and you'll find about everything there. Thai silk and gems are good buying, but be aware of any new Thai "friend" you might end up with. They all want to help you get the best prices, but all of them get commission - thereby driving the prices up. Also remember that there are no
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such thing as "Government sale - 3 days only"! Stay away from those shops - they'll rip you off, and people that have bought gems there have later reported that the stones sent their home address are worthless fakes. Shopping in Thailand, except from in department stores, is all about bargaining. If you enjoy that, and/or is good at it, check out the Weekend Market in Chatuchak Park.
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On the cultural side, Bangkok has 400 Wat's (temples) - where Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace is the most visited. It's usually pretty crowded there, but you should see it once anyway. Wat Pho, the temple of the enormous reclining Buddha is also worth seeing. I liked Wat Traimit and Wat Saket the best, probably because there were mostly Thai's there, and a nice, relaxing atmosphere.
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Remember to dress and behave soberly, and take off your shoes before entering. Also remember not to point your feet at Buddha.
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Moving around in Bangkok can be a real challenge, as above picture suggests. Using the bus system in Bangkok is an economic way of seeing the city, but I recommend buying an up-to-date bus map. Walking is, of course, also an option, but beware that actual distances can be a lot longer than they appear on maps. Going by Tuk-Tuks can be pretty hazardous, but also great fun - bring a scarf or something to breath though, the pollution is heavy. Remember to
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negotiate fare before departure, with both Tuk-Tuks and taxis.
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Are you traveling alone - looking for company?
Do you want firsthand information about destinations from fellow backpackers?
Have you lost someone somewhere in Thailand?
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People have all sort of reason for stopping by, or staying on, Khao San Road. This small road is found in the Banglamphu area, on the route to the airport.
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Khao San is a nice starting point, have lots of basic guesthouses, travel agencies, etc. - and is always crowded with backpackers. It's constantly developing, shops and guesthouses change name and/or owners frequently, but I'd say it's a "must visit" in Bangkok - especially when it comes to getting useful information from travelers.
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Hua Hin
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For some reason I yet have to remember, we decided to go to Hua Hin, which is the oldest seaside resort in Thailand - still a popular weekend getaway for Thai's. Hua Hin as been discovered by European charter operators, which has lead to to the building of high-rise hotels and western, touristy restaurants. If you desperately miss Swedish meatballs, you're guaranteed to find them here.
The price level is well adjusted to being close to Bangkok and the crowds of European
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charter tourists. If you don't like the smell of fish, maybe you should skip visiting Hua Hin. There is a fish flavor factory close by, and the smell is real bad when the wind is right - or wrong, depending on how you look at it.
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The beaches aren't among the best in Thailand, but they're nice to walk down. At the end of the main beach, you'll find the Wat Thakio, Temple of the Apes, with some really shameless monkeys - some of them with an attitude problem! Be prepared to get long-fingered visitors if you sit down with something to eat or drink.
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Koh Tao
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Most people visit Koh Tao because of the scuba diving. The easy way to get there is to catch a flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, then a take a ferry or speedboat to Koh Tao. The nice way to travel there is to, often at the risk of your life, to go by minibus to Chumpon, and then the night ferry to Koh Tao. The ferry trip is 6 hours, and you meet lots of nice divers onboard. If you come from the
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south, you can take a ferry from Surat Thani.
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Koh Tao is a small island, only 21 sq. km in area, but it has developed to an island where you find all kinds of places to stay, from luxurious bungalows to small bamboo huts – from the traditional beach parties to air-conditioned disco's.
Koh Tao means "Turtle Island" – some says it got its name from the shape of the island, others claim it was because of all the turtles that used to come to lay their eggs on the beaches. In older days, Koh Tao was a prison island for political prisoners.
It's not much to see or do on Koh Tao - unless you dive or snorkel. If you're looking for a laid back getaway, with friendly people, nice diving and uncrowded beaches... go!
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Neighboring Koh Tao, only a couple of minutes by boat outside Mae Haad, three islands connected with beaches form Koh Nan Guyan - or Honeymoon Island as some people called it. Even though the picture suggest otherwise, it is a rather large resort there, with bungalows scattered on the islands. Koh Nan Guyan is all about relaxing - no hurries, no worries. No cars, taxi-boat twice a day, superb snorkeling.
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If you visit Koh Tao around full moon, it is well worth it taking a trip to the neighboring island of Koh Pha-Ngan, to join in on the world famous Full Moon Party on Hat Rin.
These parties have drawn a lot of attention from the local police lately, and they are suspicious to everything they might suspect being a drug – even nonprescription pain relievers in their original packing can give you trouble. Be prepared for heavy control on the afternoon of the party.
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I fell completely in love with Koh Tao and the island life there - and stayed for 15 months. Staying that long, you might experience a severe case of "rock fever" - which I
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did a couple of times. I just had to get off the island, and headed for Koh Samui. I stayed on Chaweng Beach, in (for me, at the time) luxurious bungalows, that had both air con and hot water in the shower - TA-DA! Koh-Samui is mostly an island where you spend your days on the beach and clubbing at night. To me, Koh Samui was like any other nice, little sunny island - nothing special, but good for relaxation.
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Koh Tao
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