For my time in Thailand I decided to start in Bangkok and head north to Chiang Mai. After that, I flew south to the islands to get to the Half Moon party and relax. Thailand is full of great culture and nightlife. I quickly made some great friends in my hostel in Bangkok and through there I was able to have a travel mate for most of my Thai journey!

 

Bangkok

I started off in Bangkok by visiting the Grand Palace. The art and architecture was beautiful and the statues were unique. Every aspect of the buildings was a work of art. I really enjoyed seeing such a masterpiece but it was so crowded with tourists, and so hot out, that I was also glad to leave. Overall, this is certainly a recommended place to visit, but beware of too many tourists and scams.

 

In the evening I went out with my hostel friends to Khao San Road. It is the main tourist party street. We ordered drinks which were served by the bucket. We also rode around (raced around) in tuk tuks and visited the top of Sky Bar, where part of the Hangover 2 was filmed. The nightlife in Thailand offered things I had never seen or heard of before; ladyboys, ping pong shows and laughing gas you could buy right on the street. While I didn’t partake in any of those activities, I did try their version of Red Bull which is an extremely concentrated version of what you can get elsewhere in the world.

 

Chiang Mai

I then took an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai. The train took 14 hours but I was so exhausted from partying that I slept through almost the whole ride. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, I checked into a hotel, relaxed by the pool, wandered around the markets and took part in some amazing activities.

 

Cooking Class

I have really enjoyed a lot of the new foods I have been eating, so I took a cooking class to learn secrets from the best. I got to make Pad Thai, Red Curry, vegetable spring rolls, and Tom Yum soup. The class was great and I enjoyed eating every dish I made. I look forward to trying to cook these dishes again at home.

 

Elephant Sanctuary

The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary visit was a unique experience. The location is home to elephants who were formerly mistreated and have now been rescued. We spent the day learning about elephants, feeding and playing with them, getting them in the mud for a bath, and then cleaning them off in a waterfall. I even got an elephant kiss!

 

Jungle Flight Zipline

I have been avoiding anything too adrenaline pumping since I started this journey. I decided it was time to partake in something a bit more adventurous. I booked an Eco Adventure day at a zipline course with 20 ziplines, three absails, and three skybridges. The views were incredible and although I was scared at some points (see bottom left image in photo for what I looked like for 99% of the experience), I had an amazing time.

 

 

Ko Phangan

After being in some unique and cultural spots, it was time to hit up the islands. Ko Phangan is the home to the epic Half and Full Moon parties. My trip fell in line perfectly with the Half Moon party. This event is held in the jungle (as opposed to the Full Moon which is on the beach) and everyone dresses in bright colors and glow paint. Although the music wasn’t necessarily my taste, I still had an amazing time celebrating with my friends.

 

 

Ko Phi Phi

Ahhh Ko Phi Phi, as I write about the island, I instantly have fond memories. This was my favorite place in Thailand. All of the young people who came to party to Thailand seemed to be on this island. This is the perfect place to drink, play beer pong, and dance at night and relax on some amazing beaches during the day.

 

However, I did more than just party on this little island. I hiked (twice) to the viewpoint at the highest point of the island to watch the sunset. I also did a day trip which included stops at Monkey Beach, Maya Bay (featured in the movie ‘The Beach’), several snorkel stops, and a night plankton swim.

 

 

Phuket

To wind down my crazy Thailand adventure, I spent a few days in Phuket. This city on a beach has quite a tourist nightlife scene. The main strip, Bangla Road, is a must see. There are bars, clubs, shops, street performers, virtual reality experiences and more. I had a great time going out with friends.

 

Thailand has been amazing!

Next up, I have heard such great things from fellow travelers that I’m off to Cambodia for a week!