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I spent 3 and a half weeks in Thailand in the month of November. This was a spectacular trip.

Trip report

I left on the day after the election, flying through Istanbul to Bangkok, 2 roughly 10 hour flights back to back. I arrived in the morning, waited for my friend at the airport, and then taxi'd to Khao San Road, my first stay.

I have never been anywhere like Khao San before. Walking the street, I had all senses assaulted: sight, smell, sound. The music blared so loudly that I felt the air around me vibrating. Street sellers hawked their wares aggressively; eye-contact is to be avoided at all costs. The street is a carnival of sin.

I spent a few days in Bangkok, exploring temples, museums, and wandering the city. Ending a day on my feet with a foot massage was heavenly.

From Bangkok I traveled with my friend to Phuket. We stayed in Kata Beach, in a hotel primarily occupied by Russian families. Hearing spoken English made me giddy. This was my first time in a tropical island (though Phuket doesn't feel like much of an island), and I made the most of it, relaxing on the beach and watching the sunset.

We took a couple day trips to Phang Nga Bay, one snorkeling and swimming, and another kayaking. While heavily touristed and crowded, nothing could detract from the natural beauty of the bay and the islands. Snorkeling I saw tropical fish swim in the coral reefs (sadly, quite bleached). On the kayaking trip we explored caves and lagoons, finishing with a visit to the bioluminescent plankton. There was a thunderstorm in the distance, and the night sky was clear, so I saw above lightning and stars and below the glowing plankton.

I think I achieved a form of adrenal burnout, I had so many amazing experiences, I could barely work up the excitement to leave the hotel by the end of the trip.

After Phuket, I flew solo to Chiang Mai in the north. This was my first truly solo foreign trip. I spent almost a week on my own, hiking, day tripping, tasting delicious local coffee, and visiting an elephant sanctuary. Old town Chiang Mai was one of my favorite places I've visited, it felt dense yet small, busy but not crowded, and with fantastic food and coffee within a 15 minute walk.

Finally I returned to Bangkok to close out the trip for a few days before flying home. I shopped for souvenirs and had one last lunch with my friend.

Recommendation

I recommend Thailand to everyone. It is such a friendly destination, easily accessible, easy to get around. There is something for everyone, for any taste, from bustling Asian city to tropical island to hiking in mountain jungles.