Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is Thailand’s second largest island.  One thing to remember is that it rains a lot on this little Island. Lucky for me, I was there for a week and didn’t see rain once but that was during the dry season, or dry month I should say, February. When I landed in Koh Samui I noticed the airport was different than any other airport I have been to. It is completely outside protected from the rain by an overhead roof.  It was magnificent.

Smelling the open air while your waiting for the airlines to bring your baggage to the little circular belt was like nothing else. Looking around seeing the mountains and ocean. The well kept lush greenery of the plants and trees surrounding you. It was truly a beautiful small airport.

After getting our bags we were shuffled to the local round-a-bout road full of taxi’s waiting to take the tourist to their hotels. During the taxi ride to the bungalow that we had rented I noticed that the stores were really old and the streets were dirty, but you still get the feeling that you are in a special place, worlds away from your home.

We arrived at the bungalow and noticed that we were in a nice, quite area. It had a very cozy outdoor bar, which also doubled as the breakfast area. Palm trees led you down to the bungalows private beach. Each bungalow was small, about the size of a large garage but they were evenly spaced out where you wouldn’t be bothered by your neighbors. Our bungalow was about 30 feet from the beach. As we stepped inside I saw a bed in front of us and a TV on the right, next to another door. I opened the door and what I saw was one of the most beautiful outdoor bathrooms I have ever seen. It was surrounded by 8 foot rock walls for privacy but the top was open with a great view of the trees and sky. It came complete with a big tub and a rain shower. Don’t worry about safety, the door locks from the inside so no intruders can get into your room through the bathroom.

WARNING: My wife and I both went into the bathroom and ended up getting locked out of the bungalow and stuck in the bathroom. I had to crawl over the rock wall, go to the office and get someone to unlock my bungalow so I could unlock the bathroom door. Make sure the door isn’t locked if you both go into the bathroom. However, we can laugh about it now.

There are quit a lot of things to do on this island and I wish I could tell you that we tried them all but the truth is, we didn’t get out much, besides sightseeing. We mostly stayed at the private beach and relaxed, soaking up the sun. That is what vacation is “supposed” to be right? Relaxing? Well, we did our share on this vacation. When we did go out, we went to see the Big Buddha and got some food and walked for a while, chatting. Then it was time to go back and relax.

Koh Samui is a place where you want to slow down. It would be a shame to come to this island and never get to relax and take it all in.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is my favorite place to visit and the birth place of my wife so it is only fair that I review this vacation spot first. Don’t worry, I won’t be bias, you will get the good and the not so good in this blog.

WEATHER: THE GOOD

I have visited Bangkok about 10 times over the past 6 years and there are plenty of reasons that I am drawn back to this city over and over. The first and foremost reason is the weather. Tired of 40 degree winters? What about the cold rain that comes with it? In Bangkok you can walk outside mid January at 1 AM in a short sleeve t-shirt and you would be comfortable. What about the day time? How about 80’s and 90’s? Bangkok has tropical weather all year long. So what about when it rains? Don’t worry about it because the rain is warm!

WEATHER: THE BAD

Bangkok is known to flood during the monsoon season. It usually doesn't get too bad but you never know. What happens when you have warm weather near the ocean? Humidity! Humidity can be very high at times in Bangkok. Just be cautious if you are known to have heat injuries.

PEOPLE: THE GOOD

Bangkok is called the Land of Smiles for one reason. The Thai’s are very friendly people. The majority of Thai’s love tourist and will help you with anything you might need. Usually you will be the center of attention anywhere you go, which is not a bad thing. Just ensure you return the warmness with kindness and remember, a little will go a long way. Oh and by the way, the majority of Thai’s speak a little English; some speak a lot of English. You could go to Thailand and speak English the whole time your there and be fine. However, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few phrases right?

PEOPLE: THE BAD

Every city, big or small, has its problems and Bangkok is not an exception to that rule. A good amount of Thais don’t earn much money and are just like you and me, they get stressed. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could be a victim of a mugging, or worse. Where is the wrong place and when is the wrong time? Nobody will be able to answer that. The advice I give to people is travel during the day, if you’re out at night, don’t stray off the main tourist areas and go into a dark alley! Most police can, and want to be, bribed. They don’t make much money and if you get into some trouble, usually the police will want you to pay a “fee” right then and there for you to avoid going to jail.

EXAMPLE: I threw down a cigarette butt on the road as I was walking, a police saw it and wanted me to pay him 4000 baht (approx. 120 dollars) or he was going to take me to the police station for littering. Could he take me in for such a small crime? It didn’t matter, he knew I was a tourist and if I didn’t pay up I could have been in a lot more trouble. I opted out for the fee to avoid any more problems.

                Remember this: Thai’s know tourist and you are being watched. Sometimes it is just out of curiosity, sometimes it is for other reasons. Just obey the rules set by the Thai government and stay out of dark corners.

                FOOD: THE GOOD

                Thais eat, and they eat, and then they eat again. If you are looking for seafood, you are going to be in Heaven. Most restaurants cook fresh seafood and they have perfected it. When you are walking down the business district of Bangkok you will find vendor after vendor selling fresh food, everything from chicken to fried bananas. Be prepared to drink a Pepsi out of a plastic bag! It’s actually something you will like to do. It is relatively cheap to eat in Bangkok as long as you stay away from the American chain restaurants. Oh yes, they do have them from McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut all the way to Hard Rock Café in Bangkok. They have McDonalds in Bangkok? Yes they do, however the menu is a little different, ok a lot different. They have a few rice and chicken plates but don’t worry; they still have the Big Mac!

                FOOD: THE BAD

                If you feel adventurous you can go check out the local supermarket. Be prepared to be shocked though, I know I was when I saw meat sitting out unpackaged. You take a big spoon and scoop out how much meat you want, putting it into a plastic bag. What is bad about that? Well, flies for one. You can’t keep all the bugs out no matter how much you try when the meat is unpackaged. Also, cleanliness of other people’s hands is a concern. I had a very hard time dealing with 100 other people scooping meat out of the meat container before me.

            ENTERTIANMENT: THE GOOD

Dusit Zoo is a beautiful zoo right in the middle of Bangkok. It will cost you about 3-4 dollars to get in the gate and it is money well spent if you like animals. Speaking of animals, how about an underground sea world? Thai’s have it. Siam Ocean World is on the bottom floor of Siam Paragon shopping center. Don’t miss it. There are numerous parks in Bangkok for your enjoyment. My favorite is Lumphini Park. Lumphini Park is set in the middle of multiple skyscrapers and has a lake, skateboard area, and many vendors if you need to quench your thirst. If you are looking for something a little faster than walking through the zoo or parks, you can try Dreamworld. Dreamworld is Thailand’s biggest theme park. It has rides similar to a US theme park including roller coasters and Snow Town. Snow Town is an indoor fun area with slides, snowmen and snowballs. It is a great way to escape the heat, and you can do it all for around 30 dollars. Muay Thai fighting is going on all the time. To Thai’s, Muay Thai is like boxing to Americans. You can always find a good fight going on. If fighting isn’t your thing, how about an elephant ride or a crocodile show? Don’t forget the movie theaters in Bangkok. You can’t go to Bangkok without going to the Paragon Cineplex. With block seats, you can have a semi-private viewing of the show with you and your loved one. You get a complimentary snack and drink, massage and blanket. ENJOY!

                                                  LUMPHINI PARK AT NIGHT

ENTERTAINMENT: THE BAD

There aren’t many bad things to say about the entertainment but I do have to mention one thing. Some places in America give a senior discount or a child discount. Thailand does that also; however, the Thai’s also get a discount for being Thai! That’s right, if you are a foreigner you will be charged more to get into some entertainment spots. So, now you know. Don’t get upset if the two Thai girls in front of you got in the Zoo paying ½ of what they charge you. That’s just how it is done!

SHOPPING: THE GOOD

Do you want that Armani purse for 10 dollars? You can find it here, not the real thing of course but it looks just like it. You can find anything your heart desires in Bangkok. Picture downtown of the city you live in. See the buildings? The shops? Now, picture all of that, plus vendors lined up, on both sides of the streets, and side streets, for miles, selling everything you can think of on the sidewalk. Clothing, wallets, purses, magic gear, shoes, watches, ect. You name it, they got it. You will never get tired of looking at all the merchandise. Now, save some money for the giant 7 story shopping malls. MBK, Siam Paragon, The Emporium, and Central World to name a few. Want to go from one shopping mall to the next without fighting traffic? No problem, Bangkok has elevated sidewalks to take you from one shopping mall to the next where you never have to cross the road. Want to go shopping at midnight? No problem. Patpong Night Market stays open until 1 AM. In the mood for some cheap electronics? You can try Pantip Plaza, a multiple story shopping mall full of electronics and movies.

                                                        MBK Shopping Center

SHOPPING: THE BAD

With all the bootleg items in Thailand it’s hard not to buy them. Cheap Cheap Cheap. However, when you buy them what are you going to do with them? I do not recommend you bringing any bootleg item into the US. If you do, you do at your own risk. One more thing, be careful what electronics you buy in Thailand. Just because that camera you bought says Cannon, doesn’t always mean that cannon parts are inside. Have a professional check it out for you.

TRANSPORTATION: THE GOOD

One thing I love about Bangkok is the Skytrain. It is just what it sounds like. It can knock off hours of travel time, if you know where you’re going. The skytrain has a map at every stop with actual people working there so if you can’t read the map, you can always ask. However, it doesn’t go everywhere in Bangkok, only a few destinations. Taxis are another form of transportation that can prove to be beneficial. There are thousands of taxis all over Bangkok. Everywhere you look you will see a colorful taxi. Tuk Tuks are fun three wheeled motorcycles that operate like taxis but don’t use a meter. You will need to discus payment before you catch a ride. If a taxi and tuk tuk is not your style try a motorbike. There are motorbike taxis on multiple street corners but same as the tuk tuk you will need to negotiate the price before hand.

                                                           Tuk-Tuk Taxi

TRANSPORTATION: THE BAD

Traffic is horrible in some areas of Bangkok. I was walking on a busy road in downtown Bangkok and there was an ambulance about a block ahead of me stuck in traffic. I passed the ambulance and walked another block before turning, leaving the ambulance in the same place it was when I first heard the siren. It is very congested. I recommend taking the skytrain as much as possible. Also, be aware if you take a tuk tuk, even though fun and exciting sometimes, if the tuk tuk gets stuck in traffic you could be breathing someone else’s exhaust for a while. As far as motorcycles go, ever hear of “If you don’t like my driving stay off the sidewalk?” well it is true in Thailand. Many motorcycles will drive on the sidewalk to get around stuck traffic. If you decide to rent a car, remember Thai’s drive on the left side of the road.  

Hope you enjoyed this post. All in all Bangkok is my favorite place to visit. I’m sure you will enjoy it also. Happy trails.