Thailand

[AlivePoet]

Hey all, I'm heading to Bangkok with a couple pals next week to explore Thailand for three weeks. I know some of you have been before, so I wonder if you have any recommendations for must-see things or sound adventuring. We're going to the full moon party on Kho-Samu Island on Jan. 30, but other than that we don't really have a plan. Would love to hear your ideas.

[Le Saboteur]

Soi Cowboy and Patpong should be not be missed.


An authentic Muay Thai fight is a something to be seen as well.

[Pale Horse]

Hey all, I'm heading to Bangkok with a couple pals next week to explore Thailand for three weeks.


As David Caradine is wont to say, "One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble..."

Bring back pictures

[Peru1936]

If you like more adventurous outings (and I usually mean mountains when I say that - love me some mountains; not much love here for touristy beaches), I recommend going up north for some time in the highlands.

In Chiang Mai are several districts that house national parks, like Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao. Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park is in Amphur Mae Taeng, also a district of Chiang Mai. Hikes can be turned into treks lasting from three days to as long as you have time. I recommend going through the hill tribe regions to observe an older, more interesting culture. Wiang Papao, Mae Hong Son, and Mae Tong all have trailhead access to hill tribe treks.

[Archaeologist]

Check out Pai in the northwest region of Thailand for some good elephant riding (without the huge couches strapped to the backs like a lot, if not all, of Chiang Mai places arrange). Also in that region along the Salaween river is a real Karen tribe. Most people know the Karen for their long necks with the rings. Those are not real karen tribes people, but people putting on a show. Think of them as equal to the cowboys & sheriffs in a wild west themed park. In other words caricatures of the way life was for the entertainment of westerners. The real Karen are not allowed Thai citizenship and are on a small piece of land on the Salaween river between Myanmar and Thailand. But your boat (that only sits about 5, including the captain) will be searched by the Myanmar military as well as Thai at the Karen village. They do not take kindly to rude westerners and they do not mess around! Those ak-47s with bayonets will be pointed and ready. If you speak thai, then you should be fine. It was a great ethnoarchaeology project, that's for sure!

But if you would rather party, then yes: Soi Cowboy, Patpong, Koh Samui, Koh Samet, Soi 11 (go to the Cathouse), etc. They are all great. Oh, and Koh means Island, so no need to add it at the end.

Phrase to learn (written phonetically, don't worry about tones): My-Pen-Rye. Think of the translation equal to a "Goodfella" saying "Forget about it!" It can get you out of a lot of bad situations... :hat:

[dr.jones1986]

Enjoy the trip. I am dying to go to Thailand, but I cannot find anyone to go with me.

[AlivePoet]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, cheers. I'm flying out tomorrow morning. See you in a couple of weeks. :hat:

[AlivePoet]

Back! :hat: A few photos:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4326846372_d34e50fe5a_m.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4326110277_da98ae5339_m.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4326110357_af96d996ff_m.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4326846440_dacf831891_m.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4326110295_57d43bb143_m.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4326110375_a6fea07333_m.jpg
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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4326110395_aa654dcc5b_m.jpg

[Peru1936]

Nice snaps. Hope you had a blast, man.

[AnnieJones]

Wow! The places you went to are really beautiful!:up: Nice pictures!:up:

[dr.jones1986]

I really want to go to Thailand. What places did you see and what would you recommend?

[AlivePoet]

Thanks guys! It was a blast for sure, although I didn't anticipate the wounds on my legs the morning after I was jumping an inflamed rope while wasted out of my mind.

dr.jones1986, I visited Bangkok, which was fantastic; Krabbi, which is part of the mainland and quite beautiful; and two islands, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangan (where I went to the full moon party). All of southern Thailand is quite tropical and warm, although I understand that the northern area is quite mountainous. Definitely recommend the country, as it's cheap and there's eye candy everywhere (and not just in terms of landscape, if you get my drift... ;) ).

[AlivePoet]

Double post...first one I've ever had I think.

[dr.jones1986]

Thanks guys! It was a blast for sure, although I didn't anticipate the wounds on my legs the morning after I was jumping an inflamed rope while wasted out of my mind.

dr.jones1986, I visited Bangkok, which was fantastic; Krabbi, which is part of the mainland and quite beautiful; and two islands, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangan (where I went to the full moon party). All of southern Thailand is quite tropical and warm, although I understand that the northern area is quite mountainous. Definitely recommend the country, as it's cheap and there's eye candy everywhere (and not just in terms of landscape, if you get my drift... ;) ).

I get ya, haha. I hear it is great and cheap, the only thing is living in the US, the flight isnt cheap. I see it says you are living in Seoul, that flight cant be too bad.

[AlivePoet]

I get ya, haha. I hear it is great and cheap, the only thing is living in the US, the flight isnt cheap. I see it says you are living in Seoul, that flight cant be too bad.

Yeah the flight was reasonable, about $600 return. Although I was foolish not to enlist the help of my co-teachers, who said they could have found a flight for half the price by scouring Korean airline tickets online.

I met a couple of American girls who said they flew from NYC for about $1500 return. Not that bad, considering NYC is about as far from Thailand geographically as you can get in the world.

[dr.jones1986]

Yeah the flight was reasonable, about $600 return. Although I was foolish not to enlist the help of my co-teachers, who said they could have found a flight for half the price by scouring Korean airline tickets online.

I met a couple of American girls who said they flew from NYC for about $1500 return. Not that bad, considering NYC is about as far from Thailand geographically as you can get in the world.

Yea I think Thailand is about as far a flight as you can get from New York, which happens to be where I am from. I have actually found some good deals on tours, it seems more economically sound to do a tour that includes the flight.

[Stoo]

As David Caradine is wont to say, "One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble..."David Caradine?!?:confused: Don't you mean Murray Head?

@AlivePoet: How was the elephant ride through the jungle? Shoot any tigers?:D

[Peru1936]

Yeah the flight was reasonable, about $600 return. Although I was foolish not to enlist the help of my co-teachers, who said they could have found a flight for half the price by scouring Korean airline tickets online.

Do that for sure next time. I have some friends in the airline industry down in Gwanghwamun and they hook me up with stellar deals whenever possible. Last I flew to Canada with the wife though, we went through an online agent and got an excellent deal: $2500 total from Seoul to St. John's return.