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Lunch » People » Sharrie » Lists » Travel Thailand - Top Experiences

Travel Thailand - Top Experiences

Apr 15, 2010

by Sharrie
posted in Go Thailand

Thailand is under the state of emergency right now. However, I've confidence that things will be back to normal in no time. Having been to this country countless times in the past few years, I've come to love the friendly people and lifestyle of this exotic country in South East Asia. Yes, one day I shall come to live in this country :-)

(A Lunch Featured List)

Bangkok

Unless you're flying in from Asian countries, this is your gateway to Thailand. Bangkok is a cosmopolitan with a population of over 9 millions with its fair share of problems and sleazy activities. However, it is also a vibrant community with friendly people and interesting sights. It is a melting pot. It is also a cultural city. One needs to be prepared mentally in order to come and visit and also enjoy the experience of it all.

Having said all that, I love Bangkok. I love Bangkok for its diversity, its freedom and its culture. Bangkok is like sashimi. It is an acquired taste. For most Asians, Bangkok is fun and value for money. Bangkok is also exotic.

Variety is the spice of life and in Bangkok you can be guaranteed that!

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

The oldest and most famous hotel in Thailand. Mandarin Oriental is the place to stay for the night when in Bangkok. This is the hotel that has set the industry standard and is world renowned for its excellence! In fact, you can even learn how to cook at this hotel. It has a great cooking school and also offer its guests the best food in town. A night in this hotel will leave you wanting for more. In addition, the Oriental Spa is another incentive and Jim Thompson who once owned part of this hotel do have a boutique here as well. Luxury at its best!

Ayutthaya Historical Park

Ayutthaya is about an hour or two by car from Bangkok. It is more or less a tourist destination and one I do believe you ought to venture to if you can find a day to spare. An excursion to Ayutthaya introduces you to the life of Thai people in a quieter and pleasurable setting. Here, if you are interested in religion, you can wander leisurely in this small town to visit the many temples.

Ayutthaya is an ancient city & Thai capital for 417 years. It was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong. 33 kings & 5 dynasties had ruled from this city until it was destroyed in 1767 by the Burmese. About 1 1/2 hours (76 km) from Bangkok by bus, this ancient city is a great place for a day-excursion especially if you love ancient ruins.

For more of things to see in Ayutthaya, please visit my VirtualTourist page.

Tom Yam

For those who visit Thailand for the first time, Tom Yam is a definitely must! Be prepared to get sweaty and experience the national dish of Thailand. Tom Yam is heavenly and a favorite for most of us who live in Asia. If you've never tried this before, you're missing out on life!
See the full review, "Hot & Spicy!".

Oasis Spa, Bangkok

As some of you may have heard, spa and massages in Thailand is one of the very best in the world. Another destination to head for these if you're into them is Bali!

My favorite place to go for spa is Oasis Spa which has presence in both Bangkok and Chiangmai. I've been to them both & I'm contemplating signing up for membership soon. Perhaps when I move to Bangkok in future! Yes, I like it here enough to move to this city! In addition, some of my friends are considering investing for old age here!

And when that day arrives Oasis Spa will be where I head for relaxation! I'm addicted to those hot oil massages! SO Good!!!

See the full review, "To Spa With Love".

Cherubin

Cherubin & Chapter 31 are recent finds in Bangkok. They are your neighborhood coffee houses in Sukhumvit area in Bangkok. If you love cakes and pastries, these are the places you'd want to go for a relaxing afternoon and indulged in the cool air-conditioned and friendly environment of a cafe.

Bangkok is filled with a lot of quaint little cafes and restaurants. They are truly nice and easy to make friends with the Thai people here. Once you're a regular, they treat you like family!

Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson is a museum as well as a silk house. It's silk is of superior quality and I've given them as presents to many people, including jrjohnson and some other members on this site. I love to shop at the Jim Thompson's outlets across the city as well as in the airport. The scarves, handbags & T-shirts are all excellent as souvenirs for everyone back home. It is also great if you'd like to collect them as collector's items. Jim Thompson has a huge outlet in Siam Paragon for those who do not intend to go all the way to the museum.
See the full review, "Ties, and more ties...".

Krabi

Krabi is a resort town and most people fly there direct from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. You can fly direct from Bangkok naturally.

Krabi is quite near to Phuket but since I haven't been to Phuket for many years and definitely not after the tsunami that almost wiped out the entire town, I decide to include Krabi on this list instead of Phuket.

Generally, the activities surrounding these 2 regions are similar. You can canoe, scuba dive and swim to your heart's content here. You can also hire a boat and sail the beauty area of Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island and Phi Phi Islands.

For those who love nature, this is a must. Filled with limestones of all sizes and shapes, it is one of Asia's most scenic!

Mandara Spa, Krabi

If you missed your chance in Bangkok for a spa experience, you can try this one at the Sheraton Krabi Resort. Mandara Spa is another great experience where you'd be pampered while you enjoy the sound of the sea. Incidentally, Sheraton Krabi Resort is one of the finest around this area.

Chiangmai

One of the reason to head to the northern part of Thailand is that weather here is a lot cooler and the city is smaller and less crowded. Another is for those who are interested in riding elephants into the jungle. This will be the place to be.

Chiangmai is not as exuberant as Bangkok but it has a charm to it. You can either fly directly to Chiangmai from Singapore and Malaysia or via Bangkok. I don't advise taking the road when flying there is reasonably economical.

Mae Hong Son

I have not gotten to Mae Hong Son yet but if you come all the way to Thailand and may not be coming again frequently, this is a town in Northern Thailand you should check out. People in Mae Hong son has the longest neck I've ever seen in my life!!! The tribes in this part of Thailand wear rings over their necks from young & add each one while they grew up. I've no idea how they did it but I'm certainly curious about this place! In this mountainous region of Thailand, they are known as the long neck girls.

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Bethany_K April 15, 2010

Okay, now I'm inspired to take a trip there. It looks gorgeous. Great list!

Sharrie April 15, 2010

Excellent! Thailand, Indonesia, China & Japan all have their own distinctive signature. In fact, each of them so unique that foreign visitors often found them interesting. Different languages, food and landscapes offer excellent getaway from our normal routine lives. Definitely a must if you're coming this area! I haven't met anyone who don't like Thailand!

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devora April 15, 2010

Thailand is one of my favorite Asian countries ever! I understand that it can be dangerous there, but from my experience, it's gorgeous there and the people are really nice. I have not been to several of these spots, so I'm putting them on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing, Sharrie!

Sharrie April 16, 2010

It's a lot less dangerous than the U.S. ;p Thailand is fine as long as one doesn't venture into sleazy joints with strangers and picked up prostitutes from the streets!

devora April 16, 2010

Or get involved with major drug kingpins and traffic drugs ;)

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Sharrie (Sharrie)
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I'm a traveler at heart & have been nicknamed Travel Queen by friends & colleagues alike. Traveling has been my life passion for the last decade or so. As we enter a new decade, I'm excited … more

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