Traveling in Thailand

The sweet taste of what is Thai Iced tea. Pour me another! This orange, very delicious beverage served with or without cream, just tastes much better in its homeland that is, Thailand. But that’s not the only beverage to enjoy! Thai coffee; a strong, very sweet brew that will stimulate the same pallet as Thai tea, but overwhelmingly very “coffee” tasting. This is Bangkok. The smell of unique flavors, the sound of a million motorcycles, tuk tuks everywhere you look, and the company of my best friends and family. It’s the start of an amazing journey that was pleasantly long, but gone too quickly. For the following half week, we would explore exquisitely detailed palaces, the huge shopping malls, experience street food of the city and then head to Phuket for the duration of our stay until we depart for Vietnam. Below are some highlights of the trip and places I would recommend going to!

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Wat Pho is located behind behind Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Both are uniquely beautiful and have amazing architectural designs that will wow any traveler with their fine details. Wat Pho is one of the largest temples in the city and houses the famous Reclining Buddha statue. It’s a mere 46 meters long and stands at 15 meters tall. The immense size of the structure is covered in golden leaves. In Buddhism, the number 108 is significant. It represents the number of positive actions that Buddha took to perfection. Along the sides of the room lies 108 jars, where you can hear the ringing of coins dropped by visitors wishing to bring good-luck. Even if it takes a while for luck to find you, the money goes to a good cause. The monks use it for palace restorations and maintenance. Because this is a highly religious and revered place you must be appropriately dressed (covered shoulders with no short bottoms) and remove your shoes. It’s not easy trying to take a picture of Reclining Buddha because of the many pillars in front of it, but it’s better to take in the moment at a place like this. I would advise to really admire the surroundings at any religious site before pulling out your camera. The first impressions on something like this should not be through a lens.

There is more to see than just the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Most tourists move on after viewing the main attraction, leaving the place widely to yourself. Available tour guides will give you rich history that encompasses the temple, but even strolling through the quarters alone is enough to leave you speechless. Wat Pho was the first university in Thailand. It specialized in religion, science, and literature. Now they are known for traditional Thai massages and medicine. This is where the arts were crafted so there is no funny business here. The difference between Thai massages and the average, is that Thai massages incorporates assisted stretching almost like yoga. The increase blood-flow is suppose to help alleviate tension within the muscles. Other sites within the walls of Wat Pho include statues that are sitting in the “Lotus” position, murals everywhere with extreme details, and an interesting set of Chinese structures in the courtyard. These structures were once used as ballasts on ships.

Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha

What was once the site of ministries and state departments, The Grand Palace is now more of a spiritual icon for Thailand. Bangkok’s most notorious site is located ten minutes away on foot from Wat Pho. Constructed in 1782 by King Phuthayotfa Chulalok this palace fills 218,400 square meters. The areas are broken up into four sections. There is the Temple of Emerald Buddha. The Temple houses the magnificent Emerald Buddha which is said to be crafted in the 14th century, origins unknown. This is the most sacred temple in all of Thailand and follows a strict dress code. Guys must wear long pants and long sleeves while woman must wear a long skirt and long sleeves. If you didn’t dress properly, you can rent clothing outside the temple. The Outer Court is located in the northeastern part of the palace which holds the royal offices and in the past, state ministries. The Middle Court kept the most important state apartments. This is also where ceremonial halls for the king is located. The Inner Court housed children of royal blood only. Although that is not the case today, it is still closed off to the public.

Today, the king does not currently live in the palace. The place is still used for all sorts of ceremonial things. There is lots to see here, even beyond the Temple of Emerald Buddha. Walking through the Palace puts in perspective the amount of time and skill required to build such structures. It’s a beautiful place to admire Thai architecture and learn about the history of Thailand itself.

Phuket Province

Phuket is the southernmost province of Thailand. This is also the largest island in the country. In the past, the island got its wealth from trades of rubber and tin. There are still tree farms today that produce the rubber. The island now makes most of its earnings from tourism as this is one of the most scenic places to see for world travelers. There are many beaches on the island as well as hidden getaways to smaller islands off its coasts. Patong Beach is probably the most crowded and touristy destination here. It’s comparable to ”Ocean City, Maryland” with people everywhere you look and tons of activities for younger generations. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend staying here for more than a day.

The Seal of Phuket is very symbolic as it represents the bravery of two sisters who saved the island from being taken over. In 1785 Phuket was about to be under attack from the Burmese. The military governor had just passed away leaving his wife Khun Jan and her sister Khun Mook to step up. The sisters ordered the woman of the island to dress as soldiers. This lead the Burmese to retreat their attacks thinking that the strength of the island was too great. The king rewarded the sisters with honorary titles as Thao Thep Kasattri and her sister as Thao Sri Sunthon. Today stands a monument on highway 402 that represents the bravery of the two sisters.

Phi Phi Islands

Phuket has 32 smaller islands off of its coast. One of those clusters is called Phi Phi Islands. Of all the reasons people journey to Phuket, Phi Phi Islands is probably at the top. It’s a scenic paradise that is hidden from view. The only way to reach it is a joyful boat ride that passes other retreats along the way. You can watch Phi Phi Islands slowly reveal itself as the ferry makes its way to dock on land. This is home to some of the best snorkeling, kayaking, and other marine activities around the globe. It used to be a secret getaway for adventurists back in the 1990s, but movies made the place extremely popular. So popular, that the number of tourists visiting the islands off of Phuket are harming the coral reefs.

Tourism is a great economy booster, but there are many side effects that results from poor execution. The number of trash produced on a daily basis is an alarming 25 tons. That number reaches almost 40 tons during high traffic season. The island itself does not have any waste plants given its size nor does it have a wastewater management center for its sewage. The problem is becoming more relevant as activist are trying to bring more light to the issues. Currently there is a 20 baht fee upon entering the island at Ton Sai Pier. Up to 20,000 baht is collected each day to pay for the “trash cleaning services” which hulls out all the filth back to the mainland by boat for proper disposal.

Considering the high amounts of tourists, Phi Phi island is still one of the most beautiful places to get away from your worries. The best times to go is around December through late February as it’s not too hot and not as crowded. There are many walks of life, and you can meet people from all over the world. It’s a really laid-back atmosphere that is surrounded by beauty.

Big Buddha

Big Buddha is of huge importance to the Phuket Province. The statue is situated on top of Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. It’s so big that the image can be seen at most major view points elsewhere on the island and many places below. Big Buddha of Phuket stands at 45 meters tall, and like all other temples in Thailand it follows a dress code, though not as strict as something like the Grand Palace. Sarongs are offered for free at the entrance to anyone who needs to cover up. Besides the amazing statue itself, the area offers an amazing 360 degree view of Phuket Town below with the sea as a backdrop. The road leading to the site is full of twists and turns but is in great condition as it is newly built. Travelers can choose to hike up the mountain which will take over an hour, or take a guided ATV ride which has a couple stops along the way at viewpoints. BIg Buddha like all elevated places on Phuket is an exceptional place to view sunsets.

image (2)

image

image (3)

image (1)

The King

Thailand is rich in history and was home to the longest reigning monarch in the world. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a revered King who was loved by everyone in the country. He passed away at the age of 88 after 70 years on the throne this past October. The country is in deep mourning for the following year. Everywhere you go, from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, to Phuket you can find murals and billboards dedicated to the beloved king.

Until the next visit

Thailand is one my favorite places in the world. There are many destinations here to experience. It was an unforgettable return to my dad’s homeland. I have never seen him this happy in my life. I was also extremely happy to meet family that I never met before. The best part about it was how cheap things were coming from the U.S. dollar. At the time, the buying rate was around 35 baht. Those bahts will be broken into little coins as you make your way through the many outdoor markets or stops at many unique coffee shops. It’s a place that I know I will be returning to soon, but our next adventure was just as thrilling. Stay tuned to read my blog post on Vietnam!

#Thailand #Phuket #Bangkok #Adventure