The easy answer is Thai massages and more Thai massages! If you want to go someplace a bit more upscale than the Bangkok street front spots, try HealthLand (they have a website) in the Silom neighborhood. Call in advance to book. About $13 for 2 hours. I've had excellent foot massages there, too. It's a huge place, but much more serene than the famous reclining Buddha temple massage school.

If you want a smaller massage spot, try Ruen Nuad, on Soi Convent, also in the Silom neighborhood. It's tucked away in an old traditional Thai house.

A totally wild activity would be to go to the Tawandang German Brewery. Yeah, it sounds weird, but is quite a unique experience. This is a huge nightclub (serving both food and gigantic cylinders of beer with taps) where the live entertainment goes from trad Thai to Vegas-ish to Sinatra ("My Way," of course) to Lady Gaga impersonator to an interpretive dance version of the movie Avatar. You will see few tourists, but rather groups of Thais out to celebrate birthdays and other events. It's really an amazing East-meets-West kitsch experience - best done with a group. Reservations are a must.

Don't miss Chatuchak weekend market - easy to get to by Skytrain or underground. The place is huge and you could spend days exploring it. Be sure to get a map at the tourist info center. Everything is organized by type of product.

I also like the Amulet Market, which is not far from the palace. You'll also see vendors selling used false teeth along the street before you get to the market.

Wherever you stay, try to be close to either the Skytrain or the river and a ferry stop. Traffic is horrendous in BKK, and you definitely want easy access to mass transit.

Have a great trip!

Posted Dec 06, 2010

Hey Matt.  One of my favorite places in Thailand was Sukhotthai. Do yourself a favor and go there. The ruins are incredible and in good shape. You can rent a bike and ride among the different temple complexes (of which there are many).  You could see them all in a day but 2 days is perfect. You should stay at a hotel in the historic center near the ruins. The modern city is too far from the ruins.    You can fly into Sukhothai on Bangkok Airways from Bangkok,  enjoy Sukhotthai, then take a 3 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai very easily. I went to Ayutthaya and was totally dissappointed... it's over run with day tripping tourists from Bangkok and the grounds are dirty, dusty and neglected.  I think I also read that the area had some severe flooding recently.

 When you are in Chiang Mai, go to the Forest Temple Wat Umong.  Its a wat located on the edge of the city in the trees. Its peaceful and  unlike any Buddhist Wat I've ever been to. Any tuk tuk driver will know where its at.

Have a great trip!

Posted Nov 22, 2010

staying on an island of sea gypsys and being taken to see their shaman when i fell ill with girdia that i had picked up in china.

it's off phuket.  fly in.  taxi for 2 hours. boat for an hour, jeep for 30 mins and voila you are at golden buddha resort.

cool.  owned by an american doctor.  2 outstanding beaches.  all the houses are different.  service lovely.

ask for tanya.  she runs it.

and cheap.  i think i paid $100 per night and stayed in a full scale replica of a spirit house with a sep yoga/meditation platform.

gotta do it.

tanyia

Posted Nov 29, 2010

We did a hill tribes trek out of Chiang Mai that was pretty cool. It's kind of a cliche among the backpacker set, I suppose, to do that, but it was still interesting. Seeing the villages and the countryside, riding a bamboo raft our guide just strapped together. And yes, riding an elephant. It was fun. We just booked it through our hostel, which was called Eagle House. Also did a cooking class through them that was fun. 

I would also try to check out a muay thai match. I saw one advertised in Bangkok and just went by myself and bought a ticket. I'm not a big boxing/UFC guy, but it was interesting to see the rituals associated with the fights.

One more crass thing: Buy stuff. That's one place my wife and I wish we'd bought more stuff.

Oh, and in Krabi, we did a kayaking trip out to Chicken Island. Again, it's kind of the thing to do there, but that doesn't mean it's not fun. 

Posted Nov 22, 2010

How about veering off course, just a little bit, and heading to Laos?  Luang Prabang, the former imperial capital, is magical.  Nestled on the Mekong River, you can head by boat to the Pak Ou Caves with hundreds of sculpted Buddhas, wander the night markets, see the former palace, and witness the daily sunrise walk of monks in saffron collecting alms (mostly rice) in their bowls. 

Posted Nov 22, 2010

Matthew;  you hit the jackpot for good replies, as is evidenced above.  The first good decision you made was going to Thailand!  It's got it all.  The beaches, the City and the jungle.  But the people are what make it one of the best travels in the world.  I've been to Thailand several times over the years and there is always something new to see.  You'll only get a taste during your first 2 weeks.  I think you'll return again someday to get more of a good thing! 

As for the beaches, go south.  Don't worry about bad weather as one side or the other will be nice.  Big Bucks touristy on the west (Phuket) and backpacker type on the eastern islands.  By the way, my idea of Cheap is $10 Bucks a night, as opposed to $100 Bucks a night.  Depending on your budget, you'll always find something to your liking.  

If you start in Bangkok and go north to Chang Mai, you might want to just fly from there south to your beach location to save time.  Thailand is like California, it's a long way from top to bottom.  The train is fun, but it will eat away a couple days of your two weeks.  Plan on spending twice or three times as much for places to stay if you make reservations on line ahead of time rather than just waiting till you get to where you're going and find a place on the run.  How adventurous are you? 

Do not overlook "The City"!  Bangkok could take all of your two weeks!  Do your homework ahead of time.  Don't just take your guide book along and think you'll decide once you get there.  Just taking the water taxies up and down the river and Tuk-Tuks around town is my idea of having fun in the city while getting to any number of places.  We made friends with taxi drivers in both Bangkok and Chang Mai and they were a wealth of information.  We went to places and learned things of their culture that we never would have learned on our own.  They'll be your personal guide & chauffeur all day for a small fee.  They know where everything is, and more!

At any rate, you'll have a hard time not having fun in Thailand!  Happy Trails!

Posted Nov 29, 2010

Go on an elephant trek along the Mekong in Golden Triangle!

Posted Nov 22, 2010

3-4 days in Chiang Mai might feel a bit long, unless you trip it out of there a bit. I found it a bit touristy and underwhelming. We too did the requisite "tribe trek" and the tribe part and elephant ride were nothing special, but the bamboo rafting was great fun as there were tons of Thais around swimming and having picnics and they all come and splash at you and have a good time.

In Bangkok, avoid Khao San and the rest of the city is great. Good shopping at MBK and Siam Paragon. Definitely check out Chatuchak market if you're there on the weekend.

If you go to Krabi I assume you will probably end up out at Phi Phi. It is touristy and expensive (for Thailand) but there's no arguing it's beautiful. Depends what you're looking for. Or you can hop across to the other side and do one of the other big three (Ko Tao/Ko Samui/Ko Phagnan -- respectively the diver's island, the luxury island, the backpacker/party island). Ko Lanta is also nearby and meant to be good a bit less touristy, no idea though personally.

No matter what you do you'll love it: Thais are fun and friendly and will make it a memorable experience for you. If you're feeling adventurous, try going inland to a national park (like Khao Yai from Bangkok or Khao Sok from Krabi).

Enjoy!

Posted Nov 24, 2010

i would explore Koh Samui (the bigger, more touristic one), Koh pangan (where the sanctuary is located) and if you want a really small island and if youre into scuba diving you can go to Koh tao.

As for shopping in Bangkok - you can go to MBK (like Rachael suggested) for the cheaper shopping (and also the fun ones :-)) and in front of it there's Siam discovery centers for the brands and more luxuries shopping.

I stayed in Silom neighborhood.

A bonus - when you're in Bangkok, check out a movie in the the discovery center VIP ( I think they call it gold stars). Its a real treat :-)

Also - don't miss having foot massage every day..... :-)

Have the best time ever!!

Posted Nov 24, 2010

Everyone is right -- Chiang Mai is wonderful.  Also, Koh Tao is lovely and lesser traveled with unbelievable beaches, rather than the touristy islands like Phuket and Koh Samui.  Make sure to spend some time in Bangkok -- if you spend the time scratching the surface it pays you back tenfold.

Posted Nov 25, 2010

Down in Krabi, my suggestion would be to head to Ao Nang and from there take the water taxi longtail to Tonsai ...it's an awesome beach mainly sought out by rock climbers. Great place to stay

For Bangkok, my favorite restaurant is Hemlock. It's 56 Pra Athit Road

Have fun!

Posted Nov 26, 2010

In Chiang Mai, consider getting a traditional Thai massage at the women's prison - definitely a unique experience! There is also an amazing Thai cooking course. Unfortunately, I can't recall the exact name of the one that we did, but it involved going to the market to select fresh ingredients and then traveling to the instructor's home for an all day cooking lesson - fantastic experience. I also enjoyed having conversations with Buddhist Monks. There are certain times during the week where they are available to converse with visitors in English. It helps them practice their language skills and offers some insight into their lives. We also attended a Thai boxing match which was a very interesting cultural experience to watch people in the audience placing bets on who they thought was going to win the match.    

Posted Nov 30, 2010

Full Moon Party on Ko Phangon!

And, the 3 day jungle trek out of Chiang Mai was pretty awesome. First day hike in the jungle, stay in a hill tribe hut. Second day all day through the jungle on elephants to another hill tribe village. (Ask the guide if he can hook you up with trying a few bowls of Opium with a hill tribe local if you're into that sort of thing. I was ) ;-) And the last day, primitive white water rafting on giant bamboo rafts. 

Posted Dec 02, 2010

Hi, Matt.

I second the comment about Ayuthaya, which is amazing, and it's on the way to Chiang Mai if you take the train.  Honestly, though, I would say that if you're in Thailand for two weeks, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't take the bus to the Cambodian border and then take a cab to Siem Reap.  Siem Reap and the surrounding ruins deserve a good solid month of their own, but if you're in SEAsia, go to Siem Reap and see Angkor Wat.

Have a great trip.  Whatever you do, you really can't go wrong in Thailand (and Cambodia & Laos).

Shane

www.backpackertees.com

Posted Dec 12, 2010

I lived in Bangkok for 6 months and really enjoyed the people and the culture...especially the street food.  Be prepared...Bangkok has one of the worst traffic in the world.  Try to take water taxis as much as possible to see the local flavor, river life, and temples.. But the 3 wheelers/taxis were quite fun and makes for a memorable wild ride.  Pateeya had great beaches!  Good Luck and Happy Trails!

Posted Dec 19, 2010

I would suggest going to Chiang Mai and take a cooking class and do a hill trek while you are there.  I highly recommend hitting some of the beaches, but I would make an effort to go to the smaller, less commercialized islands, like Ko Tao or Ko Chang.  The crowded beaches are no different than what you would see in Florida, frankly.  I would also recommend going to Angkor Wat, which is a pretty short flight from Bangkok.  It's one of the most incredible places I have ever seen. 

Posted Dec 20, 2010

Here's a thread to check out.

Posted Nov 22, 2010

I really enjoyed Ayuthaya - all of the ruins were incredible. I have heard that it can be overrun with tourists, but when I was there in July this was not the case - I was the only Westerner at most sites. Additionally I have heard great things about Sukhothai - it has many temples and ruins as well, but with fewer tourists.

Posted Nov 22, 2010

getting a traditional thai massage at the reclining buddha

Posted Nov 23, 2010

Hi Matt,

The stand-out has to be the people!  If you can, use a social website and try to make friends well in advance with a local.  They will show you things like no tour guide ever will!

For a quick excursion out of Bangkok, I HIGHLY recommend a day-trip to Ayutthaya (the former capital of Thailand).  The ruins are amazing and such a large city!  We met some monks there...very interesting!

We like Samui as well if you want something tropical, with all the modern conveniences, but not as over-run as Phuket.

We stayed at the Millinium Hilton on the river in Bangkok.  We really liked this location over the hotels on Sukhumvit (though you probably have greater access to shopping over there).

Bali was our all-time favorite destination.  Thailand and Bali are now tied for top honors with us.

Go and enjoy the beautiful sights and people of Thailand! 

Chris

Posted Nov 23, 2010

I did a Grasshopper Adventure bike tour in and around Bangkok that was amaing. Definitley a must if you enjoy biking.

Posted Nov 24, 2010

If you're in Chiang Mai, check out 'Team Chiang Mai' on Facebook, and there are a lot of travelers who live or pass thru that can help you out. Bike riding through outskirts, cooking classes, and treks are all enjoyable, with various levels of expense attached. Next week I'm heading up to Pai for a day or two, which I hope to be a nice change from the city. We're also doing a Golden Triangle tour (and visa run) on Saturday to the Burmese border.

Posted Nov 24, 2010

I loved going to cooking class at Sompet Thai Cookery in Chiang Mai. As for beach destinations, it totally depends what time of year you go. I can't remember when to go where, but know that when we were going it was not the right time for Ko Samui. We went on a Sea Canoe daytrip in Pang Na Bay off Phuket. The company was Sea Canoe. I think they were based out of Hawaii, and know they experienced issues from the tsunami a few years back; not sure if they're back in business.

Posted Nov 25, 2010

I loved riding the trains with the locals to get whereever you wanted to go.

Sukothai was amazing for its gentile atmosphere, beautiful grounds, and awesome ruins.

Karaoke! Good, bad or ugly, the Thai take it very serious! It is a fun time.

Wandering any of the markets.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Chang Mai for chilling and sights. 

Have a great time! 

Posted Nov 26, 2010

that's so easy

Volunteering for a week (but you can do it for 3 days I think) at Elephant Nature Park just north of Chiang Mai - an extraordinary experience feeding, walking with and and bathing rescued abused elephants

Posted Nov 26, 2010

In Bangkok, Khe San road is worthwhile, especially at night, then there's the reclining buddha temple, the royal palace and a river tour. These are all standard, touristy stuff, and be careful with the touts, who will rip you off, but they are also very well worth doing if you want to understand the city. 

Posted Nov 30, 2010

Matt - in addition to Chiang Mai, I highly recommend Phuket. The beaches and people are wonderful. 

Posted Dec 01, 2010

We loved eating at the Spice Market in what was then the Regent Hotel.

Posted Dec 02, 2010

If you would like to blow your mind at one of the most spectacular bars in the world, go have drinks at The Dome, at the top of State Tower on Silom Road.  I won't say any more than that.  You have to experience it.

The restaurant there, called Sirocco, is one of the best in Bangkok, with open air live jazz every evening.

Check it out.

Greg

Posted Dec 08, 2010

It's hard to pick just one, but I really loved waking up early and feeding the monks in Chiang Mai. Riding an elephant in the Golden Triangle is a close second, but try to find a place where you can sit on the elephant's head, rather than in a basket. Also, there's a snake farm outside Chiang Mai that's good kitschy fun.

Posted Dec 10, 2010

We just got back from a couple of days in Bangkok and a couple of days in Chiangmai Mai. Stayed in a guesthouse in Old Bangkik near the Grand Palace - The Bhuthorn. In Chiangmai Mai the highlight was a full day with elephants at the Patara Elephant Farm. We stayed at the Rachamanka. By backpacker standards the accommodations might be a bit luxe, but they were very reasonably priced compared to comparable housing in the US. And, buy stuff! We bought a five dollar duffle bag and did all our holiday shopping at the Sunday Walking Market. But it was our last stop on the trip.

Posted Dec 17, 2010

Seven years ago spent about a week on a small island in the south called Koh Bulon Leh. If it hasn't been developed a bunch I'd highly recommend it. When I was there there were only a couple places to stay/eat, and nothing to do besides swim, snorkel & chill out. 

Posted Dec 19, 2010

Ko Chang used to be a very laid back island, don't know how it has changed over the years. I also recommend heading to Lao and going to Luang Prabang. Our most memorable times in Thailand were is towns along the Mekong River. Liked Chiang Mai, take a cooking course at the Chiang Mai Cookery School

Posted Dec 19, 2010