Travel Series: Thailand
- Tyler Sherfey
- Feb 9, 2017
- 10 min read
I am so excited to introduce my first guest blogger(s) to you all! Tyler and Desi Sherfey are two of the most kind, generous, adventurous, joyful, and free spirited people my husband Levi and I have had the privilege to do life with. They reside in Boise, Idaho with their two dogs Loki and Leo. Tyler has been to 9 countries, and his wife Desi has been to 12. Their knowledge of International travel is rich and filled with wisdom, so this info on Thailand won't disappoint! Tyler is most inspired by happy people, which makes sense because he brings the best out in people! His proudest accomplishment to date was making it out of Bangkok alive.... more on that later!
Thailand! The Land of A Thousand Smiles. A view of the country from a traveler's perspective....
If you talk with anyone who has been to Thailand you will find that the general consensus is, "you have to go!" and we agree. My wife Desi and I went on our first trip overseas together to Thailand in 2012. Our trip lasted 28 days, which is two days less that your maximum stay you can do without a Visa (30 days). Our itinerary was as follows; Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chian Rai, Phuket, The Phi Phi Islands, Railay, Ko Pha Ngan, and Bangkok.
Without being too lengthy I will try to outline our favorite bits from each location, some do's and don'ts, and some general tips to help you on your way!
Do:
Try the street food
Ride in a Tuk Tuk (they may be over priced but you have to say that you’ve done it).
Haggle for a better price (offer less and don’t be afraid to walk away).
Interact with the locals (most are very friendly unless they are trying to sell you something)
Research your hotel before you book(Some may lack amenities).
Don’t:
Accept help from people who casually come up to you on the street (they often want to take you on a tour of town and may become angry if you refuse).
Take a taxi for a flat fee (use a metered taxi).
Over Pack (clothes are cheap in Thailand if you need something).
Ask for spicy food unless you can handle REAL heat
Chiang Mai
I am going to start in Chiang Mai because our first few days in Bangkok were devoted to acclimating and getting our senses about us, which I will go into detail later on. Chiang Mai has an airport which has inexpensive flights to and from if you are crunched for time. We elected to take an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai which was a wonderful experience. The overnight train had cars that were lined with sleeper compartments and had privacy curtains that helped block the light(not the noise). The train ride was fairly comfortable and we arrived in Chiang Mai in the morning with bright eyes and bushy tails. The city itself is very unique, its original walls remain standing and there is a Wat (Temple) in the center of the city that is surrounded by street vendors of all sorts and worth checking out on your first day (Wat Chedi Luang).
The Chiang Mai Night Bizarre is a great way to see how the locals go about their nightly activities. In Thailand, because of the heat, the locals lay low most of the day and come out to do their shopping or play in the evening. Once you have seen the activity in the Bizarre you will be able to gauge what kind of night you are up for. With plenty of micro bars there is something for everyone if that is your cup of tea. If you are an early riser, maybe just a little more shopping at the Bizarre and some sampling of the local street food before you head back to your room for the night.
We rented a scooter on our second day which cost around $5 USD / day and is a great way to get around if you have the nerve to drive with the locals. After exploring the city we took a trip up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This temple on the mountain top has a wonderful story and some spectacular views of the city below. If you are planning on going into the temples be sure you follow the dress code, some are more relaxed than others but for the most part modest clothing, covered shoulders, and covered legs will get you in. Chiang Mai is a great little city with a rich history that is apparent while you stroll the streets. We also noticed that the farther north we traveled in the county the more relaxed the atmosphere seemed.
Chiang Rai
The city of Chiang Rai is the furthest north that we traveled and as mentioned in the last section it had a very easy going attitude with plenty to do and see. We again rented a scooter for the same price as the one we had in Chiang Mai and it again was a wonderful idea. We went to the iconic White Temple or Wat Rong Khun, which was under construction when we visited and has a new age, almost quirky feel, with Superman and Neo from the Matrix painted on the inside.
While up in the hilly jungles of Northern Thailand it is worth going for a hike if only to see the thick vegetation that this region is known for. You can book guided tours through the jungle, join a group that is headed to the famous hill tribes, or like us you can visit a national park and take a self guided hike into the thick of things. We found a great little hike that took us through a bamboo forest and ended at a picturesque waterfall where we took a much needed dip in the cool waters.
The cuisine in Northern Thailand is similar to the rest of the country but has some unique spices and flavors that come from their northern neighbors and you may not find these anywhere else in the country so eat up. Our evenings in Chiang Rai were spent sampling the local drink selection on a quaint little strip that had several laid back bars to bounce between, each playing their favorite music genre. After spending a few relaxing days up north we headed back to Chiang Mai to catch our flight down to Phuket.
Phuket
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and has big character to go along with it. We stayed in a cheap little hotel right off of Patong Beach. Patong Beach is the center of activity on the beach side of the city and is usually bustling with tourists and locals who are looking for a good time. The beach itself, although very long and sandy, is kind of dirty and a little too busy for our taste. We once again mounted our trusty scooter and headed along the main road until we found a secluded, private, beach that had no crowd, no trash, a rope swing, and cost about $3 USD / person to enjoy.
The beach is called Paradise Beach which is to the west of Patong beach and fairly easy to find. Phuket has some great restaurants and is a good place to go out for a high end dinner even if you are traveling on a budget (even expensive dinners only cost $15 USD / person so go nuts). During the night time Phuket comes alive, you will see Muay Thai fighters promoting the upcoming fights over loud speakers, an unending amount of nightlife in every direction, and people packing the streets. While we were bar hopping we stumbled on a few very entertaining scenes. One of our random encounters was at a little bar where they had a ~hammer and nail~ game set up in the front, if you see this sort of game being played jump in line and wait your turn.
The second memorable encounter we had the chance to witness was some sort of an international drag competition, we heard the noise, followed the crowed and got an eyeful of what will never be forgotten. Phuket, in the short time we spent there, was full of great food, fun people, amazing beaches, and plenty of excitement. Follow your nose, follow the crowd, and follow the noise and you will be sure to have a great time.
The Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are beautiful and a staple for most vacationers that visit Thailand. Expect prices to be a little higher and the culture to be more geared toward tourists compared to other areas in the country. If you are going to Thailand and in specific Ko Phi Phi, watch The Beach with Leonardo Decaprio. ”The Beach" from the movie is on Ko Phi Phi Lee, the smaller of the two islands.
A tour can be booked to the island which usually includes snorkeling, a stop at "The Beach", a meal, and brief trip at Monkey Beach. Ko Phi Phi Don is the bigger of the two Phi Phi Islands and is where we stayed in a basic thatched bamboo bungalow. While on the island take a hike to the viewpoint for an amazing picture that will not come close to doing the view justice. The activity on the island is centered around a beachy, all night dance party, where the beach comes alive with colored lights, strobes, and loud rave music(if you want to sleep during the night be sure to book your hotel away from the island's center beaches).
Railay
Railay is a peninsula that sticks out from the mainland near Krabi. Even though it is connected to the mainland, the only way to get there is by boat because it is surrounded by limestone cliffs, which is exactly why we went. Railay is a rock climbing Meca and once you lay eyes on the place, there is no question why. There are plenty of rock climbing tours that you can sign up with to take you to the walls that best suit your abilities. We on the other hand decided to lug around our 60 meter rope and all of our gear throughout the entire trip for this one spot(not recommended).
One thing we do recommend is that you find a climbing tour that will take you out deep water soloing. The boat ride alone is well worth the money and the chance to climb on those iconic limestone pillars that seem to jut up out of the water with no rhyme or reason takes this type of tour over the top. Also, ask the locals where the best caves are and they will give you directions to a great little trek that takes you through the center of the nearby cliffs (bring a headlamp). The atmosphere in this sleepy little place is just that, sleepy. There are a lot of Rasta themed coffee shops and eateries. Our favorite morning meal was banana crepes and a fruit smoothy down by the beach.
Ko Pha Nang
Our entire trip itinerary was based around making it to this island at a certain time during the month to catch the infamous Full Moon Party. During our time in the south of the country we were exposed to the beach party scene in many places but nothing like this. The Full Moon Party is an all night beach rave that can have crowds of up to 30,000+ people. We decided, through the guidance of a friend, to stay on the beach (Haad Yuan) one over from where the party took place (Haad Rin) and thank goodness.
The party itself was intense, with flaming jumprope and signs, bucket drinks, painted people, and a colorful "mish mash" of multi cultural tourists all seeking enlightenment. After the night of the party we spent a few days recouping on Haad Yuan, which again could only be reached by boat making it a secluded and relaxing place with a few good restaurants (Eden Garden was our favorite).
Bangkok
After our fare share of island time we headed by train back to the big city of Bangkok. We were almost dreading arriving in Bangkok because of the first few days of our trip where we were lost in a sea of backpackers and obvious prey for any and all tourist scam artists. I am glad to say that our last four days in Bangkok turned out to be delightfully different than the first few and here is why, Location!
The first few days of the trip were spent on Khao San Road, which is the typical backpackers strip with cheap hostels, street vendors everywhere, and people ready and eager to help you for a price. I do recommend a visit to this area if for no other reason, to say that you have been there, but I don't recommend staying there, or anywhere close.
During our second stint in Bangkok we stayed at a little hotel that was within walking distance (100 Meters) of a metro stop. The metro was great, you could go almost anywhere in the city for a few bucks and when we were done exploring, it took us right back to our hotel room. Utilizing the metro we were able to go to one of the largest open air markets in the world (Chatuchak). This place was an endless maze of shops selling everything from live animals to trinkets to food, keep your bearings otherwise you may end up spending hours trying to find your way out.
Bangkok is a big city, like 8.25 million people, and what better way to see as much of it as you can than from a sky bar and restaurant. In the city there are plenty to choose from, some charge a fee just to get to the top, others are free. Maybe our favorite activity we did all trip was going to a cooking class in Bangkok. We went to Silom Thai Cooking School and learned to make 6 different dishes after a trip to the local market where we gathered our fresh ingredients.
*A cooking class is a must for those who like to spend time in the kitchen. If you are the type that just like to eat the food after someone else prepares it, there are street food tours that may better suit your desires. We ended out trip on a high note and left Thailand with everlasting memories and a new respect for he tiny Thai chilis. Oh by the way, the metro will take you to the airport for about $1.50 USD / persons as opposed to the $20 USD you may be charged in a cab!
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” — Lao Tzu
xoxo Lauren Nicole
