Visiting Thailand was at the top of my life list for so long, it’s a little strange that it’s checked off now. Our two-week trip was filled with big adventures and “pinch me” moments. This video doesn’t do the trip justice but it’s a small reminder of navigating the cities, eating all the best Thai food, experiencing travel brochure moments, and fulfilling the wanderlust that we’re constantly filled with these days.

From eating at insect delicacies on the street to one of the top restaurants in the world, food was an important part of the trip, and I definitely indulged! We also saw plenty of temples, including the incredible White Temple. Another highlight was visiting the gentle giants at Elephant Nature Park. Thailand is also where I first scuba dived in the ocean and stayed on my first liveaboard. I can’t forget the beauty of releasing a lantern at the Yee Peng Lantern Festival. See all of these snippets in this video!

Thailand Blog Posts

I’ve written extensively about my trip on the blog in hopes that your planning and experience is as seamless as possible! Check out these posts to plan your Thailand trip:

• Thailand Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know for Your Trip
• Best Things to Do in Thailand + Itinerary
• My Top 6 Memories in Thailand
• Scuba Diving Liveaboard in Similan Islands, Thailand
• Bangkok, Thailand Travel Guide
• Dining at Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand
• Phuket, Thailand Travel Guide
• Why You Should Visit Elephant Nature Park in Thailand
• Chiang Mai, Thailand Travel Guide
• Guide to Yee Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Best Things to Eat and Drink in Thailand
• Wat Rong Khun / The White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Have questions about planning your trip to Thailand? Leave a comment below or send me a message!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Adventures in Thailand Travel Video appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Walking among elephants (Chiang Mai)
I walked next to an elephant! I touched an elephant! The average size of a male Asian elephant is 12,000 lbs and a female is 6,000 lbs. These creatures could easily squish me! Yet, they were calm and majestic. The ones I met had suffered a lot from abuse, and I’m glad I got to learn more about their stories. [Check out my post about our visit to Elephant Nature Park here.]

First moment going underwater when scuba diving (Similan Islands)
My first time scuba diving in the OCEAN was in Thailand. After five days of classes in a murky lake in Austin, TX, I put my head underwater in Thailand and all I could see was everything. (Haha, that’s not dramatic AT ALL!) That’s when the joy of scuba clicked for me. I wasn’t sure I liked scuba diving until then. It was like I had blurry eyesight and put on glasses for the first time. From right at the surface I could see the ocean floor. Later on, I saw a variety of sea creatures and huge wall formations. There is an unbelievable underwater world full of things to see and discover. It can be scary and dangerous if you let it, but it’s worth it! [Check out my post about our Scuba Diving Liveaboard here.]

Standing on the bridge, looking up to see the many lanterns floating up (Yee Peng Lantern Festival, Chiang Mai)
We saw lights floating up as we were eating dinner and realized that there were still celebrations going on. (We thought they were the day before and we had missed it.) So we followed the lights and people after dinner until we were on the bridge where people were lighting them up and letting them go. Seeing the lights float away along with (symbolically) all the negative vibes and frustrations of life brought peace with how things are and appreciation for the opportunity to be there and celebrate joy with strangers. [Check out my post about our Yee Peng Lantern Festival experience here.]

Zipping through the streets at night on a tuk tuk (Bangkok)
We didn’t take many tuk tuks in Thailand, but I’m glad because we had an unforgettable tuk tuk experience. The transportation for our food tour in Bangkok was by tuk tuk, so we looked like a colorful parade of six tuk tuks zipping from one restaurant to the next. There wasn’t much traffic, so we sped through the street, feeling the wind in our hair and the adrenaline of exploring Bangkok at night and discovering all its best food spots. [Check out my post about Bangkok, including the food tour we went on, here.]

Sitting at a table on a sidewalk, inches away from the street, eating the best pad Thai ever (Bangkok)
Speaking of the food tour in Bangkok… We had eaten so much on our food tour that we were holding our stomachs, but there we were at one last place. This restaurant had been there for over 50 years! The seating spilled out from the restaurant onto the sidewalk with metal tables and chairs. There were cars whizzing by. There we were, our food tour group, enjoying the best pad Thai I’ve ever had. [Check out my post about Bangkok, including the food tour we went on, here.]

Being drawn into a bar on Bang-La by a Thai cover band singing Zombie by The Cranberries (Phuket)
I know it sounds strange, especially given how crazy I thought Phuket was. We wanted to see what Patong and Bang-La was all about, so we ventured out from our hotel after almost deciding we would go to bed instead. There was loud music, bright lights, and promoters asking for our attention for their show or drink special. Shortly after we arrived to the start of Bang-La, we heard some familiar lyrics and music coming from a bar. It was Zombie by The Cranberries covered by a Thai band and they were rocking out. We grabbed a seat, amazed by how enthusiastic the band was and surprised to hear this familiar song on the other side of the world. The covers didn’t end there. They played more songs and so did the next band. After all the (frustrating) craziness we’d experienced in Thailand so far, we sat back and relaxed, taking in a familiarity of home. [Check out my post about Phuket here.]

The beautiful thing about travel is that there are always new adventures. Even if you travel with someone, what you feel during your trip and what sticks with you is your own. Chances are, the memories you keep are moments unplanned or unexpected. You never know when something amazing is about to happen. Take note of the things that happen (that’s why I travel with a journal!) and reflect on the memories that make you smile. I hope you have many of those experiences in your travels this year!

What’s one of your favorite, unique travel moments you’ll always remember?

P.S. The Thailand fun doesn’t stop here! Check out all my Thailand posts here. Planning your Thailand trip? Check out the ULTIMATE guide here.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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WHY THAILAND?

QUICK TIPS

• The best time to visit Thailand is November through February. May to October is hotter and wetter.
• The Thai currency is the Baht (THB). One United States dollar (USD) equals about 35.57 baht. Yes, most things are very affordable!
• The time difference from Austin, TX (Central Standard Time) is 12 hours.
• Make copies of your passport. This is useful if you lose your passport or if a vendor asks to hold your passport as a deposit. You can also try offering 500 baht as a deposit.
• Cash is easiest for doing business in Thailand. Do currency exchange at banks.
• It will always take longer than you think. We booked a handful of tours for our trip and the transport to the attraction was always at least an hour. We probably spent at least 12 hours in that two weeks on a bus or car. When you’re booking excursions, look for the estimated time of transfer and think about if it’s worth it. If possible, book a private car for a direct trip.
• Adjusting to the time difference after the trip was awful but adjusting upon arrival in Thailand was not bad. Sleeping on the plane will help.
• Use the Maps.me app for a free maps app without Wi-Fi. It helped us get around!
• Uber exists in Thailand!

WHERE TO VISIT

• Chiang Mai – Great city in Northern Thailand for culture, history, and outdoor adventures
• Chiang Rai – Take a day trip here to see the White Temple
• Phuket – This is the jumping off point for most islands and there are many beaches here
• Bangkok – A very busy city. We spent three days here.
• Similan Islands – A great place for scuba diving. Most trips are organized through liveaboards.

WHAT TO DO IN THAILAND

WHAT TO EAT IN THAILAND

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

• Use Agoda to book your hotels. Agoda is a third-party hotel booking website. Many hotels don’t have their own websites but use Agoda. You can see reviews and star ratings of each hotel, and hotels also post low rates on this website. After I picked the hotel I wanted on Agoda, I looked them up on the Internet to check their own website for any specials and to confirm it was where I wanted to stay.
• I booked all of our excursions before our trip, but most tours are flexible with bookings and you can book last-minute. Most of our tours were paid for at the time of booking.
• Since we would be scuba diving, we used Dive Assure for our travel insurance.

GETTING THERE

TRADITIONS AND ETIQUETTE

• Tipping is not customary but small gratuities are appreciated. Most restaurants and hotels already include a ten percent service charge.
• Spirit Trees are trees with hanging ribbons and fabric and offerings beside the tree. The trees are thought to have spirits of those who have passed living in them, so they leave clothes and food for the spirits.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND GET AROUND

• Use Uber! This will save a lot of time and frustration!
• Communicating with taxi drivers was the biggest frustration with Thailand. Have your hotel front desk write down the address of where you want to go in Thai and have the hotel address in Thai for your return. Have the phone number of the location handy in case the driver wants to call and confirm directions.
• There was traffic ALL THE TIME in Bangkok, so plan ahead and allow yourself extra time.
• Print out every confirmation email or form, such as hotel bookings through Agoda and tour confirmations. More times than not, the hotel or tour guide asked for the confirmation in hand. Pulling up an email would save paper but printing it out would save time and ensure you have it if there wasn’t Wi-Fi.
• Print out your hotel addresses in Thai. This was most useful for taxi drivers when leaving the airport. Most taxi drivers do not understand the English translations of addresses.

HOW TO NOT GET SCAMMED OR ROBBED

• I recommend a crossbody bag as your day bag. Always carry your bag in front of you.
• Always make sure taxi meters are running. Ask for it to be used before you get in.
• Negotiate the price. Know what the average cost should be and negotiate. Also, decide on a price with the driver before you get into a taxi or on a tuk tuk.
• Take the time to count the money you’re giving and the change you receive.

WHAT VACCINATIONS TO GET

WHAT MEDICATION TO BRING

HOW TO NOT GET SICK

• Don’t drink the tap water, don’t use it to brush your teeth, and don’t open your mouth in the shower.
• Be wary of raw foods like salad or tomato with skin. Most places should have washed it in purified water and not tap water.
• Avoid foods that have been sitting out or not cooked over high heat.
• For street food, watch vendors prepare food for several people before ordering. If something looks dirty or questionable, walk away.
• Drink lots of bottled water to stay hydrated.

CONCLUSION

A BIG thank you to my friends Annie, Kate, and Sharon for all their recommendations to help me plan our trip! From locations to activities, they gave great advice!

Whether or not you are a type-A planner like me, I hope my Thailand posts are helpful for your future trip to Thailand. I also recommend these resources:

• Tourism Authority of Thailand – official tourism organization
• Richard Barrow – local travel blogger with a wealth of information, including current statuses

Have any additional questions about Thailand? Let me know if the comment section or send me a message and I’d be happy to help!

P.S. The Thailand fun doesn’t stop here! Check out all my Thailand posts here.

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You’ll be taking planes, trains, and buses, jetting from one city to the next!

With only two weeks and the desire to see as much as possible, I packed a lot in our Thailand trip. After experiencing (and sometimes enduring) it all, these are the top things that I recommend you see and do if you have a limited time in Thailand.

Beach – Jump off from Phuket

It’s likely you chose to come to Thailand because the beautiful beaches caught your eye. As you’re researching which beaches and islands you want to go to, note how touristy (read: busy and crowded) it is and the time it will take get there. Island-hopping will cut your time short quickly if you’re visiting multiple places in Thailand. Koh Phi Phi is the most popular island and I also hear amazing things about Krabi and Koh Sumai. For our trip we stayed on Phuket, and you can read all about those beaches here.

Patong Beach

Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) – Chiang Rai

This modern temple was incredible! It may seem a little controversial and strange, but the thoughts behind the temple’s creation are interesting. I booked a day trip to see the White Temple in Chiang Rai because we didn’t have enough time to stay overnight. It worked out well. I would recommend hiring a private car to take you there and back on your own time. Check out this post for all the details about visiting.

Temples – Chiang Mai and Bangkok

Wherever you go, you’ll likely run into a temple in town. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand and beautiful, ornate temples are plentiful. You’ll find many in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. In Bangkok, the most popular temples are Wat Pho and Wat Arun.

Elephant Nature Park – Chiang Mai

It was a treat to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures! Elephant Nature Park is an elephant sanctuary that takes care of elephants that have been abused. You’ll be able to walk with them, feed them, and learn all about elephant history and life in Thailand. No riding here! See the post and video about our experience at Elephant Nature Park here.

Scuba Dive – Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are a group of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea off of South Thailand. They’re known for scuba diving. Taking a liveaboard is a great way to dive multiple sites since you’ll be living on a boat and hopping from island to island. Check out our liveaboard experience here.

Yee Peng Lantern Festival – Chiang Mai

We timed our trip to see this cultural celebration! They have changed the official events because of its popularity, but there are unofficial spots where people gather to release lanterns for the holiday. It is a spiritual event, focusing on letting go of the bad. It was so cool to see and experience this event in person. It happens in November for a few days around the full moon. See the post and video about our experience here.

Food – Chiang Mai and everywhere

One of the best things about visiting Thailand is the abundance of incredible food! We got our fill of pad Thai, tom yum soup, curry soup, papaya salad, and more! In most of the big cities, you’ll be able to find food tours to experience the city’s best restaurants and cooking classes to learn how to cook the cuisine. Be sure to look at my travel guides for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket to get a restaurant list! Check out my best things to eat and drink in Thailand post to see the different dishes you can enjoy.

Itinerary

Not sure how to split your time in Thailand? Here’s what we did for 12 nights in Thailand. It’s hard to squeeze every experience into a short time. If I could go back and change what we did, I would have scheduled time to visit beaches on islands but that would have required adding more days to the trip!

Day 1: Travel
Day 2: Arrive in Bangkok at 11 pm
Day 3: Chiang Mai
Day 4: Chiang Mai
Day 5: Chiang Rai (day trip)
Day 6: Chiang Mai
Day 7: Phuket
Day 8: Liveaboard
Day 9: Liveaboard
Day 10: Liveaboard
Day 11: Phuket
Day 12: Bangkok
Day 13: Bangkok
Day 14: Travel and arrive home

Have you been to Thailand? What activities do you think are must-dos?

P.S. The Thailand fun doesn’t stop here! Check out all my Thailand posts here.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Best Things to Do in Thailand + Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

WHY VISIT BANGKOK?

Chances are, if you’re visiting Thailand, you’ll be flying in and out of Bangkok. While there is certainly more beautiful scenery elsewhere in Thailand, I think a couple of days in Bangkok is a good idea for your trip. You’ll get a feel for the city life and there are many beautiful, historic sights to see in Bangkok.

QUICK TIPS

Leave time for traffic. We had one scheduled meal that we were late for because we didn’t know traffic would be as bad as it would be before lunch. We also sat in traffic a lot in route.

WEATHER

The best time to visit Bangkok is October to March when it’s not so hot and drier, though high temperatures are close to the 90s year-round.

GETTING THERE

The main airport for flying in and out of Thailand is Suvarnahumi Airport, also known as Bangkok International Airport (BKK). Most domestic flights and flights to Asian countries are in and out of Don Mueang International Airport (DMX). We flew AsiaAir here. Get to the airport two hours before your flight leaves.

GETTING AROUND

• Use Uber. No need to get frustrated with taxis or tuk tuks!
• Try out the subway system. It’s fairly clean and direct.
• Taxis and open air tuk tuks are available. Flag these down as you see them.
• Negotiate a price or ask to use the taxi meter before you get in. During rush hour, taxi drivers will refuse to use the meter, so know the estimated cost of getting to where you’re going to negotiate a price. Expect traffic always!

WHERE TO STAY

Mandarin Hotel
We arrived to Thailand late at night, so we happily went straight to our hotel and ordered a late night snack. We also did room service breakfast since we were going straight to the airport to Chiang Mai that morning. It was a quick stay but we were able to relax in this quiet hotel. The room was a comfortable size with a nice view of Bangkok. While our interactions with staff were minimal, each was friendly.

Centra Central Station Hotel
Bangkok was the last leg of our trip before heading back to the U.S. so we stayed at a centrally located hotel. This modern hotel was recommended by a friend, and we were very pleased with the room, restaurant, and front desk service. They also have a nice spa that we indulged in. We each got two-hour treatments for about $40 each! The hotel is near a subway stop though getting a taxi was difficult downstairs. I would definitely recommend staying here while in Bangkok.

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK

Nahm
We had an incredible Thai meal at Nahm, one of the top 50 restaurants in the world. Every detail from the plating to the service was flawless and it was one of our best meals in Thailand. Read all about our experience here.

Gaggan
I tried to make a reservation at Gaggan, another one of the top 50 restaurants in the world. I made a request online five months before our trip thinking it was a reservation but got an email a month later saying they were full. We tried calling day-of to fill a cancellation but no luck there either. I hear the restaurant is exceptional Indian cuisine, and they were featured in an episode of Chef’s Table.

Thip Samai Pad Thai
The most incredible pad thai I’ve ever had! I’m pretty sure no other pad thai will ever come close. It was served wrapped in an egg like an omelette. This place is “legendary” for their pad thai.

Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai
The stir-fried noodles with chicken and a runny egg was mouth-watering good! The dish is called Guay Tiew Kua Gai Aob Kai.

Craft
We arrived here when we were in search of craft beer! They have craft beers from all over the world here, and it’s pretty interesting to see all the destinations. We also enjoyed a Thai version of chili fries here. They have two locations.

Sky Bar at Lebua Hotel
This is said to be one of the best views of Bangkok!

Junker and Bar
This is a craft beer bar where you can get local crafts, including Pheebok Beer.

Tan-Yu Tofu
You can get a popular jelly dessert here.

Steve Café and Cuisine
This place is hard to find but has great Thai food.

Rocket Coffee Bar
Such a cute place with pastries galore! They have a few locations but go to Rocket S.49.

Khao San Road
This is a very touristy road known as a backpackers hang-out (watch out for scammers) but it’s a huge mix of cultures with its restaurants and bars. If you want to see the nightlife, you can do it here.

Want to see what kind of dishes to expect in Thailand? Check out this post about the best things to eat and drink in Thailand!

Craft

WHAT TO DO

Grand Palace
This place is incredible and so crowded! We went before lunch time and while it wasn’t shoulder to shoulder all the time, the number of people visiting at the same time was astounding. It was also about a month after the king passed, so locals were lined up to pay their respects, though that was a separate area and line. See intricate buildings with colorful detail.

Wat Pho
We visited this well-known temple complex at night (during a private tour) and during the day. It’s expansive and around every corner is a new view. You’ll look up a lot to marvel at the tall structures, wondering how they built them. If you can, get a guide (a person or a narrative from the internet) to share all the details of what you’re seeing.

Bangkok Food Tour
As foodies, the Best Eats Midnight Food Tour was one of our favorite parts of visiting Bangkok. Our tour guide was very informative about Thai food and culture. We went to A+ spots that had us holding our stomachs from eating too much by the end. Also, your transportation is by tuk tuk! As with any food tour, I liked that we tried the best dishes and didn’t need to wait long for food after arriving at each restaurant. We also got detailed explanations of the dishes and saw behind-the-scenes looks. I would recommend this!

Wat Arun
The other popular temple in Bangkok is Wat Arun. It is one of the oldest temples in Thailand.

Khao Yai National Park
Thailand’s first national park is now its third largest. It’s three hours away from Bangkok, and it’s filled with wildlife, waterfalls, and beauty.

Shopping Mall
The mega malls are insane in Bangkok. Multiple stories (seven plus!), TONS of vendors, and things to see. I recommend going to CentralWorld, the largest mall in Thailand. Come here hungry and you will be VERY satisfied because there are more than 100 restaurants and photo-worthy food everywhere. You’ll also find trendy stores like Zara here.

If you’re looking for cheap and affordable souvenirs like keychains and t-shirts, go to MBK Center. It has more than 2,000 vendors, and it made me want to throw away everything in my house. Aisles and aisles of…stuff, and most of the vendors had the same stuff. It was baffling and sad. Consumerism at its ugliest.

Floating Market Tour
We went on a half-day floating market tour with Tour with Tong. It was very cool to see the train market in motion. Vendors have their stalls set up on the train tracks and four times a day, they move their stalls so the train can go through. You are literally an arm’s distance away from the train rumbling through. We also went to the floating market that let us ride in a gondola, observe the market, and visit a coconut sugar plantation. The destination is about an hour away from Bangkok, but we went by a private car so the whole sight-seeing was very efficient.

Jim Thompson House
One thing we ran out of time for was visiting the Jim Thompson House. This museum shows the art collection of Jim Thompson, an American businessman and architect that disappeared in 1967. This sight is popular because of the architecture and the air of mystery.

And that’s Bangkok! You’ve got to see this city for at least two or three days on your trip to Thailand, especially to go see the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

P.S. The Thailand fun doesn’t stop here! Check out all my Thailand posts here.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Bangkok, Thailand Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

WHY VISIT PHUKET?

THE BEACH! Phuket is a good jumping off point if you want to visit the beautiful islands of Thailand. If you want to stay on Phuket Island, there are many beaches with varying types of visitors. Phuket is also the place to party in Thailand.

QUICK TIPS

• Research your beaches to find a place that fits with your desires and activities. Each beach has different atmospheres.
• After you land at the airport, immediately go to the taxi line if you don’t have a pre-arranged ride. The line grows quickly. It is a set rate at the taxi stand to where you want to go, usually around 500 baht.

Patong

WEATHER

The best time to visit Phuket is October to March when it’s not so hot and drier, though high temperatures are close to the 90s year-round. We went in November and we saw at least one rain shower in the afternoon.

Kata Beach

GETTING THERE

The main airport is Phuket International Airport (HKT). It is in the north part of the island, so you’ll likely need to take a taxi for at least 45 minutes (and about 500 baht) if you’re heading to beaches in South Phuket.

GETTING AROUND

Red open-air tuk tuks are available. Flag these down as you see them. Negotiate a price.

WHICH BEACH?

• Patong – This place was CRAAAAAZZZY. Crazy. Since Phuket was only going to be a quick stop for our scuba diving liveaboard, I didn’t research much. So we found out just how crazy Patong is IN THE FLESH. If you want to drink and party, this is the place. Go to the beach in the morning and then get ready for a night of partying on Bangla street.
• Kata – This place was much chiller than Patong. The beach and city are smaller and filled with families. There are plenty of restaurants.
• Surin – This area is less touristy but filled with luxury. You’ll see lots of mansions and high-end resorts.
• Kamala – This area is also less touristy and welcomes many older visitors.
• Karon – Less busy and developed like Patong but still popular with tourists.
• Khao Lak – If you want to skip Phuket, Khao Lak is 37 miles north of Phuket Island. Our scuba diving shop was located here and we got a quick feel for the place. This seemed like a walkable area to stay.

But if you really want the best beach experience in Thailand, you’ll need to visit some islands. Krabi and Koh Samui are two. Check out this list of the best beaches to visit.

Kata Beach

WHERE TO STAY

You won’t have trouble finding a place to stay in Phuket, hotels are plentiful and at a good price. Before you book, check the hotel’s proximity to the beach and busy areas to make sure you are comfortable and able to get a good night’s rest. We stayed in two different hotels while in Phuket.

Palmyra Patong Resort (Patong) – I liked that this hotel was close enough to walk to the main street (Bangla) but far enough away from the nightlife. The rooms are nice and the staff is friendly. Our room was spacious and had a balcony. They also have a fantastic restaurant.

Chanalai Garden Resort (Kata) – This place is a maze! A front desk agent led us to our room and we took multiple flights of stairs and at least two elevators to get there. It was such a long journey that when she shut the door behind her, we looked at each other and laughed about how we might never find the hotel entrance again. So, you’ll get exercise for your legs and your brain if you stay here. Despite that, they have a great pool deck, a plentiful breakfast buffet, and exceptional rooms.

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK

Our time in Phuket was surrounded by hectic travel days, so we ate at our hotels’ restaurants and quick eats as we were walking around. Still great Thai food though!

Here are some recommended places I had on deck in Patong and Kata:

• Kaab Gluay
  58/3 Phrabaramee Road, Patong, Phuket
• No. 6 Restaurant
  186 Rat-u-thi- road, Patong, Phuket
• Patong Seafood Restaurant
  98/2 Thaweewong Rd, Patong, Phuket
• Home’s Food Thai Food
  87/2 Tayna Road Kata Beach, near Easy Rider Pub
• Mom Tri’s Kitchen
  12 Kata Noi Road, Kata No, Kata, Phuket Tel: +66 76 333 569
• Re Ka Ta
  3rd Street Cafe & Guest House 92/15 92/15 Khoktanod Road, Kata Beach
• Mac-chiato House & Cake Box
  48 Thalang Road, Muang Phuket

If you’re a craft beer fan, be on the lookout for Phuket’s Full Moon Brewworks on drink menus around town.

WHAT TO DO

Beach
You came for the beach, right?! Sit out and enjoy the sea, sand, and sun! You’ll also be able to find day trip opportunities to nearby islands with more pristine beaches. Walk around to different tourist shops or ask your hotel concierge for options.

Kata Beach

Bangla Road – Patong Beach
I hear Bangla and I laugh because wow, that is one interesting place. I would say its energy, action, and alcohol consumption are similar to 6th Street in Austin or Bourbon Street in New Orleans with a Vegas flair. You’ll find cheap drinks, ladyboys, and promoters trying to convince you to come to their ping pong show. If you want to know what Bangla is like, check internet videos. If you find yourself on Bangla, I recommend popping in the lower-key bar at the beginning of the street by the Patong Beach sign where you’ll hear some cover bands.

Scuba Dive
We stopped in Phuket because it was the jumping off point for our liveaboard. Scuba diving was one of the best things we did in Thailand, and you’ll be able to find more opportunities in Phuket. Read more about our scuba diving liveaboard experience here.

Cultural Sights
If you want to see some cultural sights, go check out Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha statue, which are in two different places. The statue gives you a 360-view of Phuket because it sits on a peak.

Phuket wasn’t my favorite place on our Thailand trip, but I’m glad we experienced it. We had some good memories there and it was the gateway to our incredible scuba adventure.

What’s your favorite beach you’ve ever been to?

P.S. The Thailand fun doesn’t stop here! Check out all my Thailand posts here.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Phuket, Thailand Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

We did a lot of bucket list activities in Thailand, like walking with elephants and being a part of the lantern festival, but if I could go back and do anything again, it would be scuba diving. It was my first time diving in the ocean!

When we were planning our trip, Boyfriend had recently come back from a week-long liveaboard in the Bahamas and wanted to do something similar in Thailand. With our limited time in Thailand, we decided to do a three-day liveaboard.

What is a Liveaboard?

We lived on a small boat for three days and scuba dived 3-4 times each day. “Dive, Eat, Sleep, Repeat” was the motto we lived by each day. There were 19 total guests, five instructors, four crew members, two cooks, and one captain. We all shared three bathroom/shower rooms. The guests and instructors ate together on the dining deck. Boyfriend and I shared a tiny room with two twin bunk beds and a little bit of walking space. We lived in our bathing suits. It was a no frills and all fun experience. We like to call it “summer camp on the water!” We followed a posted schedule every day and dove in groups.

Our group of 19 guests was from all over the world, and it was fun learning about their lives and diving history. Our liveaboard hosted divers of all experience levels, and even had two divers who completed their Open Water Certification (the first diving certification you can earn) during our trip.

Diving Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are a group of 11 islands in Southern Thailand off Phuket. They are known for their wildlife and unique architecture. We hopped from island to island throughout the day, diving at different sites. The most famous site at the Similan Islands is Richelieu Rock. We sadly missed this site on the three-day liveaboard, so make sure your trip includes it!

Before every dive, we met on the deck for a dive briefing. The head dive instructor briefed us on the route we would take, what we should expect to see, and any issues we should be aware of underwater. Then we got ready and jumped in two groups at a time. Each group was about four divers to one instructor. Each dive was about 45-60 minutes.

We saw an abundance of wildlife, including eels, octopus, manta rays, a variety of fish, coral, and anemone.

Some of our dive sites included: Koh Bon West Ridge, Elephant Head Rock, Christmas Point, West of Eden, East of Eden, and Anita’s Reef. We also did a night dive. It was terrifying at first, being in the dark ocean, but we surprisingly saw a lot of things!

Our final dive was a wreck dive at Boon Sung Wreck. It was very murky, but it was cool seeing the different creatures living in the wreck.

Beach Excursion at Similan Islands National Park

We were near the Similan Islands National Park after one of our dives, so we did a beach excursion. We hiked up to the peak to see the breath-taking view. (Side note: if you’re on the mainland and have the option of coming here for a day excursion, don’t do it. As I’ve read and seen, a two-hour speedboat trip to a crowded beach is not relaxing.)

Khao Lak Scuba Adventures

We were aboard the Manta Queen 5 liveaboard by Khao Lak Scuba Adventures. They were awesome! The boat was in tip-top condition, the buffet meals were plentiful and seconds-worthy, the instructors were knowledgeable, and the crew was energetic. This was my first and only liveaboard experience (so far), but from comparing it to Boyfriend’s previous liveaboard in the Bahamas, this one was more structured (set dive groups) and the boat was nicer (individual rooms instead of one room with multiple bunks). They also do scuba diving day trips if you don’t want to do a liveaboard. I would definitely recommend Khao Lak Scuba Adventures if you’re looking for a liveaboard in Thailand.

Quick Tips

• I took Dramamine (motion sickness medicine) before we left the port and the second morning, just in case. I didn’t want to risk it. Once you get sea sickness, you’re in for a miserable time.
• If you don’t like living in small spaces and sharing small bathrooms, a liveaboard might not be for you.
• You don’t have to do every dive, but it’s definitely worth it. We did four dives on two days and three dives on the last day. It sounds like a lot, but it was surprisingly not exhausting.
• It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, but you do need to at least have an open water certification. For our liveaboard, they checked our certification cards and put us in groups of similar experience.
• Gear: all of our equipment (wetsuit, BC, regulator, fins, mask, tanks, weight belt) was a part of the package though we did rent a dive computer each, which I think is absolutely necessary when diving.
• If you’re diving in Thailand, be sure to dive Richelieu Rock.

Here’s a video of our experience. We saw so many cool creatures!

Have you ever been scuba diving or on a liveaboard?

Considering a liveaboard? Visit Liveaboard.com to explore destinations.

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Wat Chedi Luang

WHY VISIT CHIANG MAI?

One of the most popular cities in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is filled with culture, history, and some of the best food in Thailand. Visiting Chiang Mai was a priority for me because I wanted to experience a different flavor of Thailand that wasn’t urban or the beach. This city is laid-back, charming, and easy to get around. Also, Chiang Mai surprised us with an abundant amount of incredible street art!

Street Art in Chiang Mai

QUICK TIPS

• Old City was the origins of Chiang Mai, and it was once a square-walled city. You can see remnants of the wall on the perimeter. I would recommend staying in Old City. There is an abundance of restaurants, places to stay, and temples. You can walk from one end to the other in about 30 minutes.
• Use the Maps.Me app to get around the city. It allows you to use maps in real-time without Wi-Fi. It was a lifesaver!
• We stayed about four days in Chiang Mai, though one of those days was a day trip to Chiang Rai.

Restaurant in Chiang Mai – Hot Chili

WEATHER

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is October to April. May to September is the rainy season. December to March is the dry season. March, April, and May are the hottest months.

Pretty restaurant decor in Chiang Mai – The Ginger and Kafe at The House

GETTING THERE

The main airport is Chiang Mai International (CNX). We flew in from Don Mueang International Airport (DMX) in Bangkok on AirAsia. The airport is 15 minutes to Old City, the most popular area in the city. When flying out of Chiang Mai domestically, travelers should be able to get through to the gate in 30 minutes.

Street Art in Chiang Mai

GETTING AROUND

If you’re staying in the Old City, getting around is fairly easy. We walked a lot and getting to one end of the city to the other took about 30 minutes. There are also red taxis and tuk tuks available to hop on. Mopeds are available for rent at shops around the city.

WHERE TO STAY

Staying in Old Town is easiest for restaurants and shops. There is an abundance of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels in Old Town. TripAdvisor is a good place to get an overview. Agoda is a great website also.

B House Chiang Mai
We stayed in this simple bed and breakfast our entire time in Chiang Mai. Our room was very spacious and included a shower/toilet combo. Daily breakfast included eggs, chicken sausages, toast, coffee, tea, and fresh tomatoes and cucumber. The location was on one end of Old City so walking to places took time but no more than 20 minutes.

G2 Boutique Hotel
This was another hotel I looked into because of its nice rooms and free Wi-Fi.

137 Pillars
If you want luxury, 137 Pillars has it! Located outside of Old City, you’ll be wowed by the amenities.

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK – Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai

Quick Tips

• Eat Khao Soi! You must try this traditional noodle curry dish in Chiang Mai! It is a Northern Thailand dish, it’s delicious, and it’s hard to find it anywhere else.
• We did the Kantoke Dinner and Show but I don’t recommend it.
• For more recommendations than the ones below, check out the website Chiang Mai Food Critic for listings and reviews.

SP Chicken
An unassuming and small restaurant, this restaurant is known for their roasted chicken but come early before they run out! The chicken is served with dipping sauces.
Address: Samlan Rd Soi 1, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Ginger and Kafe at The House
Possibly one of the most picture-pretty restaurants in Chiang Mai, this restaurant serves Thai and Western dishes.
Address: 199, Moonmuang Road, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, 50200, อำเภอเมืองเชียงใหม่ เชียงใหม่ 50200, Thailand

Angel’s Secrets
We stopped here for drinks and dessert. A cute little spot with great banana nutella crepes and fresh watermelon juice.
Address: 27 Moon Mueang Road Soi 5, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hot Chili
The extravagant red décor flowing out of the restaurant will draw you in and the food will make you pleased with your choice. It’s slightly touristy because of its location but we enjoyed spicy fish, vegetables, and prawns here. They also serve Chiang Mai Brewing’s craft beer.
Address: Rachadamnoen Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Nice Kitchen
I had a really good and strong Thai Iced Green Tea here! We also enjoyed the sticky rice with mango, though they also have a full menu.
Address: Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Graph Café and Graph Table
Minimalist and thoughtful coffee shop and restaurant, respectively.
Graph Café: 25/1 Rajvithi Lane 1, T.Sriphoom, A.Muang Chiangmai 50200 Thailand
Graph Table: 8/3 Moonmuang Lane 6, T.Sriphoom, A.Muang Chiangmai 50200

Cooking Love
Small, open-air restaurant with high-quality food.
Address: 7 18 ถนน ราชดำเนิน ซอย 1 Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Khao Soi Khun Yai
The recommended spot for Khao Soi!
Address: Sri Poom 8 Alley, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

The Good View Bar and Restaurant
This restaurant is outside of the Old City and is located off the Ping River.
Address: 13 Charoen Rat Road, Watgate Muang Chiang Mai, Thailand

Want to know more about Thai food? Check out this post!

Cute Restaurant: Ginger and Kafe at The House

WHAT TO DO – Best Activities in Chiang Mai

Thai Temples
There are temples around every corner in Chiang Mai. You can easily do a temple hop! Here are some recommended temples:

• Wat Phra That Doi Suthep – Located 30 minutes outside of Old City, this temple is one of the most visited.
• Wat Chedi Luang – This temple was started in the 14th century and is the largest structure in Chiang Mai. At this temple, you can also chat with monks.
• Wat Phra Singh – This temple complex features multiple interesting buildings, including tall, gold structures.

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Chedi Luang

Elephant Nature Park
Seeing elephants up close and personal was a highlight of our visit to Chiang Mai. Check out the full recap and a video of our experience in this post.

Massage
Chiang Mai is a good place to get a massage in Thailand. Massages are a very affordable luxury and shops are abundant in Chiang Mai. Here are recommended places:

• Fah Lanna Spa: 57/1 Wiang Kaew Road, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
• Sense Massage: 23/1 Arak Road, Sriphum, Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai 50200

Yee Peng Lantern Festival and Loi Krathong
If you visit Chiang Mai in November, the Yee Peng Lantern Festival and Loi Krathong will be going on for about three days. Learn all about these festivities in this post.

Flight of the Gibbon Zipline
Flight of the Gibbon is a well-visited zipline attraction in Chiang Mai. This tour has its thrills and it was fun to be in the rainforest. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the family of three gibbons during your tour. The tours are about five hours. [We have a thing for ziplines.]

Thailand Rainforest

Cooking Class
A very popular activity in Chiang Mai is a cooking class. You’ve tasted the wonders of Thai cuisine, now learn the depths of creating it! These classes include hands-on activity and a great meal in the end. Here are two recommendations:

• Thai Farm Cooking School
• Basil Cookery School

Playworks
This is a cute shop with locally made goods.

Day Trip to Chiang Rai and Wat Rong Khun / White Temple
Since we were in Northern Thailand, we took a day trip through a bus tour to see the White Temple. You can learn more about the White Temple in this post.

Night Bazaar
The Night Bazaar is a well-known and popular attraction in Chiang Mai. It’s a great place for souvenirs and gifts.

Street Art in Chiang Mai

I hope this guide helps! If you have any additional questions, please leave a comment below or send me a message. I’d be happy to help you have a fantastic time in Chiang Mai!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Chiang Mai, Thailand Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Elephants were originally not in the plan for our Thailand trip. I had read many awful accounts of how elephants are treated in Thailand’s tourism industry and I didn’t want to be a part of it. But then I found Elephant Nature Park, read about their practices, and their reviews from customers.

Elephant Tourism

Here’s some background on elephant tourism. Elephants were/are used for circus shows, painting shows, rides, begging on the streets, and by logging companies. Elephants are huge, wild animals. To tame an elephant, they go through a horrible process involving chains and hooks to break the elephant into obedience. They are physically, emotionally, and mentally abused for weeks. They are then put through more pain as they are trained to do tricks, paint, and give rides.

Riding is in Thailand’s tradition and elephant attractions make a lot of money for the tourism industry. While there have been some laws made against abuse, it is not well enforced. While you would think elephants can carry the weight of a ride, the weight of a metal or wood seat and several riders add up and is still a heavy weight on its back. Can you imagine the pain after several rides a day? Even if the elephants are ridden bareback, a lot of abusive training was done and is continued to keep the elephant tame.

Elephant Nature Park rescues elephants that were previously abused. When we visited, there were 71 elephants! They buy elephants from their owners and have also tried to work with other elephant ride attractions to transition into no-ride attractions. As you can imagine, their efforts are many times fruitless because of the financial benefits of the attractions. Companies can make more money on a tourist’s ignorance and desire for the riding experience.

For more information about elephant tourism, these posts may be helpful:
Why Elephant Riding Should Be Removed from Your Bucket List
The Dark Side of Elephant Rides in Thailand

Our Experience

Our visit started with a ride from their Chiang Mai office to their park. During the ride, we watched an informational video talking about elephant tourism history and what to expect at the park. When we arrived, it was elephant snack time, so we jumped in and fed them melons.

We learned about the elephants’ eating habits – tons and tons of food! Because of their age, the elephants are mostly fed softer foods like very ripe melons, pumpkins, and bananas. The organization also rolls rice balls for them.

This sweet elephant has a permanently damaged ankle (front left). As a baby, she was following alongside her mom who worked in the logging industry. A log broke her ankle and it never healed properly.

We walked short distances in the park to different groups of elephants. We were led by our guide throughout the experience and the elephants were watched by their own mahouts. (Mahout is the word for the person who takes care of the elephant.) We learned so much about their previous lives, what Elephant Nature Park does, and how the elephants spend their days, which is mainly roaming around the acres, playing in mud, and eating.

Visiting Elephant Nature Park helps the organization continue to save abused elephants and other animals in need in Thailand! I would recommend it for the opportunity to spend time with elephants and to learn about their history.

Elephant Nature Park and Dog Rescue

This organization doesn’t only rescue elephants. In 2011, catastrophic floods hit Bangkok and volunteers rescued 2,000 dogs by boat. When the first 155 dogs came to stay at Elephant Nature Park then, it sparked a new mission. Now, over 400 dogs are at Elephant Nature Park and many are adoptable. These dogs are rescued from abuse, puppy farms, and illegal dog meat trade.

While their first and main location is in Chiang Mai, Elephant Nature Park is working on sanctuary projects in West Thailand, East Thailand, and Cambodia. They also welcome week-long volunteers if you want to do more than a half or whole day visit.

Check out this video of our experience!

Logistics

• We did the Short Park visit, 8:50am to 3:30pm.
• The transfer from the office to the park is about an hour and a half.
• The cost per person was 2500 baht (about $70 USD) and included a vegetarian buffet lunch, van transfer, and the park experience.
• Elephant Nature Park: Website, Facebook

The post Why You Should Visit Elephant Nature Park in Thailand appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

What is Yee Peng
Yee Peng is a festival celebrated in northern Thailand. “Yee Peng” is translated to ‘second month’ and the event falls on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna calendar, typically in November. (November 14 in 2016.) There are three days of festivities around the full moon. First, the lantern is an offering to Buddha. Secondly, lighting and sending off a lantern symbolizes letting go of all the bad in your life to start new. The festival was and in some places still is a sacred ritual involving silence, prayers, and meditation. You’ll find small, thoughtful events at temples around Chiang Mai during this time. While some of the meaning behind the tradition may be lost, it is still a joyous and exciting event for many!

Where to Celebrate Yee Peng – Official Events
Chiang Mai is one of the biggest cities in northern Thailand and traditionally hosts a big Yee Peng festival. The official festival (at Mae Jo University) has been canceled (or not planned) the last two years, probably due to the overwhelming popularity and the death of the king this year (2016). Thousands of people attended this event so you can imagine lots of traffic before and after the event. (It’s like going to a July 4th fireworks show in the USA but x10 traffic!) This event was only for locals but I read of many who went with no problem.

There is a separate, similar event for tourists. The tickets for this event were around $100 per person and included lanterns. If you want to attend this event, start watching for news at least six months in advance because tickets sell out quickly. Be wary of tour companies who will offer ticket packages for a higher price.

Where to Celebrate Yee Peng – Unofficial Events – This is what you should do!
After finding information about the official events too late, our only choice was to show up in Chiang Mai and be spontaneous. I read that there would still be events going on around town and a main area people would go to celebrate. So when we were enjoying dinner one night, we looked up and saw lanterns floating up far in the distance. We quickly finished and started walking towards the lanterns, seemingly following others who were doing the same. We walked outside of Chiang Mai’s wall through Thapae Gate and saw a parade for the king going down the main street and hundreds of people lined up along the street. Further down the street was the Nawarat Bridge where people were lighting and letting go of their lanterns.

Along the street, you’ll find vendors selling lanterns and grab one when you can. Each lantern is about 50 baht. There were fewer vendors on the bridge.

Meditate before you prepare your lantern. Give thanks. Watch others light their lanterns before you try it. It’s slightly tricky. You want to wait and get enough heat in your lantern so that it can float away. Hold tight or it’ll float away before you’re ready. Also, watch out for trees and power lines! We saw a couple getting stuck.

There was so much joy on that bridge. As groups let go of their lanterns, they would cheer and anxiously/excitedly watch their lanterns rise into the sky, hoping for a smooth journey into the black.

Yi Peng coincides with Loi Krathong, the festival involving floating baskets on the river. This tradition originated in southern Thailand. You’ll see decorated banana leaf boats for sale along the streets. After you release your lantern, you can walk down to the river and let your boat float away. The boats are a similar significance to the lanterns.

People in Chiang Mai also release lanterns for New Year’s Eve, so there are at least two opportunities in the year that you can participate.

Here’s a short video from our experience:

See more Thailand posts here.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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