Going Down in Koh Tao

Days 404-411, January 5-12, 2012

It’s funny how things can change in a hurry. When I was thinking about Thailand, I pictured myself spending week upon week on white sand beaches, hopping on ferries to the next out of the way island to bask(or bake as it were) in the sun. As it turns out, I got none of that, and completely on purpose. Besides the little stint on Koh Samet back in September, Koh Tao was going to be my only other Thai island. And for me, it was strictly business. I was going for my Dive certification.

Chiang Mai Tweet-Ups

Day 399-403, December 31,2011 – January 4, 2012

At the start of my trip, oh so long ago, Chiang Mai was really just another Thai city on my list of ones I wanted to see. There was no real particular reason behind it, I didn’t know what there was to see or do in the city. That all changed probably around the beginning of October when I learned that Warren and Betsy of Married With Luggage were going to be settling down for a few months in Chiang Mai. Suddenly, I had a major incentive to go to Chiang Mai. A reason 1 year and 3 continents in the making.

The Slow Boat from Laos to Thailand

Days 396-398, December 28-30, 2011

When you’re in Northern Laos, or Northern Thailand for that matter, and you want to move to the next country, the method of transport you are most likely to take, because it’s a journey everyone raves about, is the slow boat down(or up) the Mekong. Sure, you can take the speedboat(it cuts the journey down to 6 hours) but the slow boat is a much more amazing experience I would imagine.

And while most people do the journey going from Thailand to Laos, Lucy, Janine, and I did it the less common, less busy way. Laos to Thailand.

Koh Samet–Bangkok’s Closest Paradise

Days 303-310, September 26-October 2, 2011

Koh Samet(or Samed, I’ve seen it spelled both ways) is a small island not too far away from Bangkok. It is actually the closest island to the city and thus a popular choice among Bangkokians to head over for a weekend away from The Big Smoke. The island isn’t very big, but for an introduction to Thai island living it does a pretty decent job.

And like most islands, it’s easy to get stuck and lost in the whole doing nothing vibe.

Why You Should Ignore Online Reviews

Days 299-301, September 22-24, 2011

After nearly a week in Bangkok, it was time to get the hell out. While I was still planning on finding a place to settle down for a month, just to get out of that travel vibe for a bit, a part of me was beginning to wonder if I really needed it. And moreso, whether I have the time and money to do so. But I can’t worry about that yet!

I had booked a three day, two night tour through the hostel in Bangkok for a trip up to the north-west to visit a number of sights including the River Kwai and the Tiger Temple. My mistake came from reading some reviews of the tour company the hostel was using on Trip Advisor. Trip from Hell was how one person described it.

BKK POIs(IMO)

Days 292-298, September 15-21, 2011

While my previous post on Bangkok focused on the sleaze that is quite prevalent, I did mention that there is much more to the city than just sex. While many people can’t get past those first few initial impressions, I found that by allowing myself more time to slowly explore I was able to see some of the major sites, as well as one or two minor ones, without feeling rushed by the need to escape!

Here is a little composite of some of the sites I managed to get to in that first week in Bangkok:

Acknowledging the Sleazy Side of Bangkok

Days 292-298, September 15-21, 2011

Bangkok tends to get a bad rap nowadays. At least with a lot of people. It’s a huge city, comprising its own province in Thailand. Its sheer size has the unfortunate consequence of creating a ton of pollution, thus giving it the nickname “The Big Smoke.” But by far the worst reputation Bangkok has is for it being Prime Central for the sex tourism industry in Thailand.

Before I even got to Thailand I had many people who had been there before exclaiming that they hated the city. It was “dirty,” the people were “rude” and “crooks,” and the city as a whole was “sleazy.” But having had the unfortunate opportunity to spend a few hours in Bucharest with an Englishman that goes there often for business(and could not say enough bad things about the gypsy’s and Roma), I listened to these opinions and promptly threw them out the window.

It is a bit funny to think that I’m now telling you to be wary of other peoples opinions as no one can be completely unbiased. Even myself. But I’d like to think you readers are of the smart bunch that can understand that everything opinion on here is my own. It’s best to just take it with a shaker of salt and come here yourself.