Thailand

One of my favorite countries in the world - a truly happy culture, temples, beaches, street food, national parks, night markets, and a large backpacking community - there's no wonder everyone and their sorority sister travels here.

Intro to Thailand Backpacking

Hello: Sawasdee ka (female speaker) / Sawasdee krub (male)

Thank you: Kob Khun ka/krub

How are you: Sabai dee mai ka/krub

Currency and exchange rate (2018): $1=30 baht

Climate:

Dry (and cool) season: November to February, also the most expensive season
Hot season: March to May
Wet season: June to October
While consistently hot and tropical, the many landscapes of Thailand mean you should prepare for all weather extremes (cold and rainy, hot and humid)

Festivals to visit:

Songkran (April 13-15) - A three day, nationwide water fight featuring music, dancing, drinking and guaranteed drenching. The biggest parties are in Chiang Mai.
Yi Peng (November) - Chiang Mai’s lantern festival on the banks of the Peng River
Chinese New Year (January / February) - Head over to Yaowaraj (specifically Wat Mangkon Kamalawat or Charoen Krung Street), the Chinatown of Bangkok, for parades, firecrackers and dragon dancers.

Cultural Notes:

If visiting a temple, appropriate dress includes a skirt below the knees for women, pants for men, and covered shoulders. In temples, as well as many hostels and restaurants, you will be required to remove your shoes.
Do not criticise the government, even as a foreigner. If the national anthem plays you will be required to stand, even in public places.
Thai people are highly polite and gentle, be sure to avoid aggressive speech and mannerisms.
Outside of a restaurant setting, leave a little food on your plate to show you are full. Finishing a plate indicates you are still hungry.
Do not sit with your feet pointing towards people. In temples, never point your feet towards the Buddha.
Do not touch the top of someone's head as it is the most sacred part of the body.

Nicknamed the "capital of the north," Chiang Mai is a large, bustling city, complete with night markets, tourist attractions, and a large expat scene. Despite its size and modernity, there are charms to be found in the surrounding countryside and in the availability of cultural experiences.

Stay:

No specific recommendation, though I really enjoyed my stay at Suneta Hostel Chiang Mai

EAT:

Street food
- Khao soi - my FAVORITE thai dish; yellow curry and coconut milk, loaded with boiled noodles and then topped with fried noodles
- Khao Kha Moo - stewed pork leg over rice and egg
- Pad thai
- Pad see ew
- Khanom Krok - coconut pancake
- Som tam - papaya salad
Chang Phuak Night Market
Ploen Ruedee Night Market - international food stalls, live music
Isaan Ros Sab Restaurant
North Mountain Coffee
Goodsouls (vegan)
Morning Glory
Vegan Heaven

DRINK:

Roots Rock Reggae
North Gate Jazz Co-op
Ploen Ruedee Night Market

TO DO:

Go shopping
- Toro Second Hand Market
- Melon Second Hand
- Sunday night market near Thapae Gate
- Love 70s - 70s themed thrift shop
Get a massage
- Any of the women's massage centers for ex-prisoners
- Green Bamboo
Visit an ethical elephant sanctuaries
Take a Thai cooking class
Take a Muay Thai boxing class
Get certified in Thai massage at the Old Medicine Hospital
Do a traditional Vipassana meditation retreat at a Thai monastery
Get a Sak Yant Tattoo
Visit the Doi Suthep temple
Play Ultimate Frisbee with the locals and expats: pickup at the University Wednesdays and Sundays: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cm.ultimate/?ref=br_rs

A favorite of many backpackers on my journey, including myself (I spent almost 3 weeks here), Pai's hippie vibe, complemented by a scenery of green valleys and rolling mountains is the perfect place to relax into the Thai "mai pen lai," or, "let's not sweat the small stuff" mentality. Whether at a tea house, motorbiking the surrounding valley, or volunteering at a local farm, you'll find yourself questioning why you're leaving so soon.

STAY:

Giant House
Pai Cat Hut
Sabai Garden Pai

EAT:

Art in Chai - one of my favorite coffee shops in the world, make sure to visit their open mic night Thursdays around 7:30pm
Earth Tone Cafe (vegan)
The local restaurant next to Almost Famous bar (order khao soi)
Fat Cat
Daily night market
- Falafel stand
- Masala tea from the Indian stand
- Pad Thai cart at the end of the market
Burger Queen

DRINK:

Jazz House Pai
Mojitos at Almost Famous (a mojito worthy of a mention)

TO DO:

Rent a motorbike and drive the countryside
- Visit Pai Canyon for sunrise
- Bamboo bridge
- Land split - donation-based food and beverages at the base
- Waterfalls
- Hike up to White Buddha for sunset
Walk the WWII memorial bridge
Visit the Santichon Village, settled by the Chinese who fled the revolution of Mao Tse Tung
Travel to Laos via a slowboat
Go to the Pai Jazz Festival in July

What will probably be your introduction to Thailand or Asia in general, Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world. It represents all things Asia, in particular, organized chaos. The city is hectic and your senses will be shocked, yet there is excitement in the exotic foods, weaving motorbikes, and diversity found in the bustling streets.

GETTING AROUND:

The local bus is the cheapest option other than walking (check bus number and routes via GoogleMaps)
Grab will be cheaper than taxis
Taxi drivers will tell you that their meter is broken and give you a price instead (if they do this despite your insistence on using the meter, just grab a different ride...their meters are never actually broken)
Tuk tuks are fun but will be the most expensive option

STAY:

Born Free Hostel - close to Khaosan Road and across the street from banging pad thai
Liveitup Asok
Lots of couchsurfing options

EAT:

Any night market
- Rot Fi Train Ratchada
- Chatuchak Market
Wang Lang Market
Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Silom Soi 20
Chamlong Asoke - vegetarian food court across the street from Chatuchak Market
Floral Cafe at Napasorn (within flower market area)
Veganerie Concept (expensive but delicious)

TO DO:

Explore the Grand Royal Palace ($25 but a must see of the city)
Visit the reclining buddha at Wat Pho
Eat your way around the street food
Take the river ferry to get between areas of the city - especially Chinatown
Explore the backpacker party district of Khaosan Road
Get a thai massage
Travel the city via the sky train
Stroll through Lumpini Park (keep a lookout for basking monitor lizards)
Get involved in the Ultimate Frisbee community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bangkokultimate.soidawgz/?ref=br_rs
Count how many times you hear the phrase "same same but different"

A two hour train ride from Bangkok, this city, with its UNESCO World Heritage site, represents all things history outside of the capital.

GETTING THERE:

By bus: buses run from Moh Chit station every 20 minutes
By train: frequent trips to and from Hualamphong Station

TO DO:

Rent bikes and a map (or use Maps.me) and tour the

many temples and ruins of the area

Wat Mahathat - famous for the buddha head within a tree
Wat Phra Si Sanphet - the largest temple in Ayutthaya
Gain some cultural context by doing a night bike / food market tour through a local bike guide company
Visit the night market

GETTING THERE:

Take a minivan from Mochit bus terminal in Bangkok (150 THB)

TO DO:

Walk over the River Kwai bridge (watch out for active trains!)
Rent a boat at sunset
Take a day trip to Erawan National Park - hike and swim in the waterfalls (hike all of them)
Visit the night market
Visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial

A true hidden gem, journey off the typical backpack trail into (amazingly) untouched rainforest and quietude. I honestly couldn't believe I only heard of this park offhand, it's that beautiful and unfrequented.

STAY:

Coco Khao Sok Hostel (can book national park tour through them)
Once you are on a tour, you will sleep in floating cabanas

TO DO:

Entering the park requires a guide for park access
Tours include safaris, a floating homestay, caving, and boating (night safari rides and free kayaking)

STAY:

Pak-Up Hostel - organized tours and hostel bar for socializing

TO DO:

Climb the 1,237 step Tiger Temple and be rewarded with mountaintop views
Day trip to Railay Beach - overcrowded but beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise water
- Go rock climbing
- Hike the viewpoints
  - Head towards the lagoon and take the path upwards halfway down the path
  - Start at Phra Nang Beach at the opposite end to the Princess Cave, walk up the rocks until you see the entrance to the cave, walk up through the cave as far as you can and climb the ladder for views of West Railay (will need a headlamp)
- Visit Diamond Cave
- Play beach volleyball at Phra Nang Beach

Another favorite stop on my Thailand travels, everyone I met said they couldn't leave. Unlike the alcoholic/Euro-party mentality of the other islands, this is a very bohemian castaway vibe.

STAY:

Non La Mer hostel
Chill House

TO DO:

Learn to ride a motorbike on the one road around the island and explore
- Waterfall Bay (Ao Klong Jark)
- Bamboo Bay (Ao Mai Pai)
- Kantiang Bay
- Koh Lanta’s National Park (200 baht entry fee) - hiking trails, lighthouse, beach hanging (watch for monkeys)
- Grab lunch in Old Town
Find the secret beaches
Play beach volleyball with the locals
Go on a four island tour - ideally one that includes a visit to Emerald Cave and snorkeling at Koh Rok
Go bar crawling with the hostel
Go on a tour of Shaan and Jeevan's Eco-Farm
Do a jewelry making workshop at Asalanta

KOH PHI PHI:

Cool viewpoint hike but mostly Europeans getting drunk on a beach, eating pizza, and getting tattoos.

KOH TAO

I didn’t go here myself but this is one of / the cheapest place in the world to get scuba diving certified

KOH SAMUI:

Tourism overload. While this island offers an abundance of restaurants, activities and nightlife, these all come at western prices and are mostly catered to bachelor parties and a culturally-ignorant backpacker party culture.

KOH PHANGAN:

Famous for. its monthly full moon parties, I've heard there's a surprisingly cool vibe when not inundated with drunk foreigners. Think: a spiritual crowd of traveling hippies and yogis.