Amazing Thailand: Bangkok and Chiang Mai

I recently had an opportunity to visit “Amazing Thailand,” a perfect slogan for a country that is truly amazing. I was hosted by the Thailand Tourism office and had a chance to visit Thailand’s mega city, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the renowned islands Phuket and Phi Phi.

Thailand is a multiracial country with the vast majority of the population practicing Buddhism. There is something for every traveler here, from world class cuisine, cultural experiences, abundant water- and land-based activities, and world famous beaches. Thailand is definitely a one stop destination for travelers looking to do it all.

Bangkok is a bustling city with world class shopping, nightlife, hotels, cuisine, spas and entertainment. It is pretty easy to get around in the city by taxi, sky train, subways and tuk tuk.

My visit to Grand Palace was one of the highlights of my stay in Bangkok. The design of the Grand Palace, it’s architecture, the size of the palace and attention to detail in construction is nothing short of amazing. The temple of the Emerald Buddha is a masterpiece.
Thailand vacations are an excellent destination for honeymooners, adventure seekers, and those just looking for world class shopping and great cuisine.

One excursion I truly enjoyed was the floating market. The Amaphawa Floating Market is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Bangkok. This floating market is frequented by local Thai on the weekends to socialize with each other and eat local cuisine cooked by vendors on their small floating canoes. This floating market takes place on one of the canals, and one can take a boat ride through the floating market canals. This tour is very unique and I encourage visitiors to Bangkok to consider this fascinating excursion as a way to experience local life. There is a small cultural center here one can visit as well.

The second largest city in Thailand is Chiang Mai, located in the northern part of Thailand. It’s approximately a one-hour flight from Bangkok International airport. This city is less crowded, however, and full of adventure such as zip lining, elephant camp experience, jungle tours, nature hikes, farms and rainforest.

I personally enjoyed the Elephant Camp Experience where we had the chance to interact with the elephants. I also enjoyed visiting the Doi Sutehep Temple in the mountains, just under two hours from Chiang Mai city. This is a very sacred temple where a conservative dress code is encouraged.

Thailand is known world over for their silk, and I had the pleasure of visiting a working silk factory (it’s very fascinating to learn about the process). For those who wish to witness a sunrise, I highly encourage the Hot Air Balloon adventures, which is an amazing and memorable way to do so!

The night market in Chiang Mai is a very popular place in the evening and quite the scene for bargain hunters.

If you’re ready to broaden your travel experiences to this fascinating country, I look forward to helping you plan your adventure.

Sha Dev