We sincerely hope this article helps you plan your itinerary for a Thailand trip independently, giving you glimpses into the local people, food, and culture. Contrary to what most people believe, August is a great time to travel to Southeast Asia. It doesn’t always rain like cats and dogs; the short shower spells give a much-needed respite from the heat. The tourist places are less crowded, and accommodations are affordable, unlike the peak tourist months of November to February. We decided to go with the budget airline of Thailand – Nok Air and were quite skeptical until we boarded the flight. I have no idea why it is so lowly rated. We had booked the premium tickets, and it was just like any other flight I have ever taken. It is a good thing we decided to take a chance and save on our money. Other airlines available from India were almost double the price.
Day 1 in Bangkok: We took a boat ride during sunset to tour the Venice of the East, along with its multiple gorgeous Buddhist temples. The boat stopped at two places – Wat Paknam and Wat Arun temples. One thing to note here is various options to enjoy the Chao Praya River and the monuments. You can travel via road or take cruises that last till the night. We just selected one out of these multiple options. At night, we went out to explore the Khaosan Road night market. Street food, massage parlours, and cannabis shops! The last one is restricted to this market and widely prevalent across Thailand. Last year, in 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes, too. This was a bold move because weed is already legal in Canada, the Netherlands, and most US states. Knowing little about the political history of Thailand, it’s not wrong to say its move was motivated by personal political gains, but it is so much more progressive, especially when you hear news about the neighbouring Singapore government giving a death sentence to people for consuming or selling this same product. The harassment continues in India after giving this as a prasad to Lord Shiva. Oh, the hypocrisy! But let’s not forget the origin of this discrimination. It was our morally upright USA in the 1970s when it wanted to oppress the blacks and take over their market! Okay, sorry for that brief diversion and angry rant on White politics! Now, back to our trip.
Days 2 and 3 in Ao Nang, Krabi: We took another Nok Air domestic flight from Bangkok the next morning and reached Krabi. We didn’t do anything on day 2; we just enjoyed ourselves in the resort pool, simultaneously taking in the majestic views of green mountains and oceans and having the best crab curry of my life! We rented a bike the following day and drove to the Hot springs and Emerald Pool, about 67 km from the Ao Nang beach. This was my first experience in natural hot springs, and did I enjoy it more than a swimming pool? A hundred times, yes!
Day 4 in Phi Phi: Now, what can I say about the magical islands of Phi Phi in the Krabi province itself? No matter what words I choose to describe this place, it won’t do justice. You ought to visit Phi Phi and see with your own eyes, and not just visit like one of the island hopping tours. It would be best if you stayed overnight here. I cannot stress this enough. We took a public ferry ride from Ao Nang to Phi Phi and had our accommodation booked for one night. It still felt like such less time. If I ever revisit Thailand, it will be for Phi Phi. The whole island is accessible only by walking. It felt stuck in time, in some fairytale setting. I also had the best ice cream from a tiny roadside shop here. Abundant in seafood, I can’t tell any food item that was not good in Phi Phi. On day 5, we booked a speed boat for the island hopping tour from Phi Phi in the morning. We covered the famous spots of Maya Bay and Monkey Island and went for our first snorkelling to explore the fascinating coral reefs and underwater world.
Day 5 in Phuket: After returning from the speed boat tour in Phi Phi, we boarded another ferry at noon to reach Phuket. Unlike us, we passed by Old Phuket, which you should stop by if you have time. We went to the Patong beach and the Bangla Walking Street in the evening. This is the first time I witnessed such highly organized sex work. I don’t know what happens in a closed room, but it looked respectable from a public view. No one was misbehaving with anyone, there were rate charts, and most importantly, the sex workers politely asked for customers and were lucky to see some of the most talented pole dancers perform. In India, these streets are kept from the average public reach, and the living conditions of the sex workers look dehumanizing. However, such was not the case in Bangkok or Phuket.
Day 6 in Bangkok: On day 6, we took a morning flight from Phuket to Bangkok. This was undoubtedly one of the prettiest flights of my life. The crystal clear blue waters of the ocean and coral reefs were distinctly visible from the flight! Before this, the Langkawi airport in Malaysia was my favourite. But Phuket overtook that spot! After reaching Bangkok, we visited the Grand Palace (The official residence of the King and Queen of Thailand) and Wat Phra (Temple of the Sleeping Buddha). During sunset, we climbed 314 metres to reach the Mahanakhon skywalk and were mesmerized to see the shimmering city of Bangkok in all of its glory. I finally tried the heavenly food called Mango with sticky rice at night. Nothing could have topped it.
Day 7 in Bangkok: Finally, our last day of the trip had come. We made the most of it by attending the Safari World and witnessing excellent performances by dolphins and elephants. Also, I caught some tigers, lions and bears chilling and leading their best lives! We boarded our flight at night and reached India the following day.
Overall, don’t forget to try Thai Pad noodles, basil rice, seafood and delicious fruits if you visit Thailand. I am grateful to Thailand for making me fall in love with fruits, something that nobody could do to me till then. We also discovered the gem of a place 7-Eleven. I never knew even cold foods could be that tasty! After returning, I learned that the store has opened a few branches in India, but not yet in my city. Unlike my Malaysian experience, I can’t say that all Thai people are amazing. We met some rude but some helpful, polite ones too. So, it’s a mixed bunch, just like India. Language is also an issue, as few people can speak proper English. 1 lakh is a sufficient budget for one person one week trip. I will end this article by saying, ” So long, Phi Phi, call me soon!