yù yī - 玉衣 n. the desire to see with fresh eyes, and feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger - before expectations, before memory, before words. That's what my travelogue is all about.
There are bus shuttles from Bangkok airport. We stayed at the Ramada Hotel in Bangkok — one of the best and most reasonably priced. Booked the Aspery in Phuket and Marina Express Fisherman in Krabi for the island leg.
You'll need hard cash for street shopping — we carried ฿500 with us. Don't want to visit the islands? Swap in Chiang Mai (North Thailand) instead. Staying a week or more? You can do both. Thailand is the king of street food, with thousands of varieties on offer.
Places must-visit in Bangkok
Always check the days and timings for markets before planning your trip around them.
Take a ferry to Chinatown and spend half a day there
Visit Siam Paragon, Platinum Mall, and MBK Mall
Ferry to the Jim Thompson House Museum
Sky Train to Asiatique, a night market for street food
The Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun), towering over the Chao Phraya River
Things we bought: inhalers, glasses, hair clips, a duo eyeliner/pencil, coconut lip balm, a miniature elephant figurine, sling bags, a customised passport cover, and magnets.
Fruits to try
Mangosteen, rambutan, and dragon fruit.
Things to do in Thailand
Get a foot massage — you can bargain the price
Use all the public transport (boat, bus, trains). Play around with maps and explore places yourself — bus numbers are on the maps, and the drivers and conductors are friendly too. The streets look lovely at night.
Bangkok, day one
The making of Pad ThaiSticky rice with mango
Bangkok, day two — temples and street food
Wat RatchanatdaramWat SuvannaramThai curry and riceSleeping Buddha, Wat PhoWat ArunWat ArunBoat Taxi
Bangkok, day three — museums and markets
From cocoon to silk, Jim Thompson House MuseumMBK mall
