Plus, having started in -5 degrees celsius Korea, then going to +30 degrees in Bankok, and then 15 degrees in Hong Kong... it's a shock I didn't come home with the sniffles.
CITIES VISITED IN THAILAND: Bangkok, Ayuthaya, and Chiang Mai.
2. Grand Palace, Bangkok -- sigh, so I've heard (missed it!)
3. Siam Temple Ruins, Ayuthaya -- a neat comparison to the rich Bangkok temple
4. Floating Markets (now a tourist market, but worth the trip to get a sense of the old market lifestyle. Plus you get to ride to it in a cool long-tail boat.)
5. Take an all-day cooking class in Chiang Mai -- not too expensive and you end up making about 5-7 dishes in one day (and you can keep the recipe book!)
6. Go to the snake farm, Chiang Mai -- you can take a tuk-tuk (cheap taxi) there; the snake show is very funny
7. Other Wat to visit in Bangkok: The Golden Mount, 40 ft tall Buddha, the Marble Wat (In Chiang Mai -- you must see Wat Doi Suphet, a Golden Temple at the top of a mountain)
8. Look for an opportunity to speak to the monks -- many love talking to tourist (and practising their English)
9. Thai Kickboxing, Bangkok -- fascinating rituals, though the boys start off very young
10. Go on an elephant ride and hill tribe trekking -- so I've heard as well.
BEAUTIFUL BUDDHIST TEMPLES
RELIGIOUS RITUAL OF BUYING A CAGED BIRD AND FREEING IT (TALK ABOUT ABOUT GOOD FOR RETAILERS -- YOU NEVER RUN OUT OF SUPPLIES)
STREET FOOD VENDORS -- DAY AND NIGHT
BUYING SHEETS OF GOLD AND PLACING THEM ON BUDDHAS
TUK-TUKs -- Cheap cabbies with no shocks or suspension!
WATCHING A THAI MOVIE (with English subtitles -- and seeing only Thai brands featured)
THAI KICK-BOXING
SNAKE TAMERS IN CHIANG MAI
THE HISTORIC RUINS OF AYUTHAYA, OLD CAPITAL OF SIAM
LOTUS FLOWERS AS RELIGIOUS OFFERINGS
TALKING TO AN ORANGE-CLAD BUDDHIST MONK WHO WANTS TO BECOME A SOLDIER AFTER HIS MONKHOOD
THAI MASSAGES...mmmmmm.
TOURISTY FLOATING MARKETS
TEAK WOOD CARVINGS
RIDING IN A LONG TAIL SPEED BOAT
PETTING A BABY ELEPHANT
TAKING A COOKING CLASS IN THAILAND
Welcome to Thailand!
Oct/Nov 2000 -- Southeast Asian Tour (2 weeks; 5 days in South Korea, 7 days in Thailand, 3 days in Hong Kong)
After having gone to Japan and yet another Pad Thai meal in Toronto, I was thirsty for more travelling in Asia... Hence, I decided to visit South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong for a fall asian whirlwind tour! I got a chance to visit some friends (Rebecca, David, Jenny, and Sherman)... and a real culinary challenge for my tastebuds.
TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE/DO IN THAILAND
1. Wat Pho, Bangkok -- you can get a traditional Thai massage there for pennies!
BEST MEMORIES FROM THAILAND
BUDDHAS EVERYWHERE (RECLINING BUDDHAS LOOK ESPECIALLY COMFORTABLE)
FAVOURITE FOODS / DRINKS IN JAPAN
Thai Fried Noodles, of course!!
Fried Bananas in Coconut Milk
Coconut Gelly Treats (Yummy...but watch out for Durian flavour!)
Beef Salad / Papaya Salad / Green Curry Chicken (Learnt these in my cooking class)
SPICY THAI SOUP FOR BREAKFAST
LEMONGRASS DRINK
REALLY WEIRD FOOD / DRINKS
PIG EARS (I've had those before - they're pretty chewy)... but I didn't get to try them in Thailand
(SOME EVEN I COULDN'T GATHER THE COURAGE TO TRY!)
PICKLED MANGOES (Pretty yummy actually, it does have a particular taste to it though)
Wat Temples |
Waroro Market |
Night Food Market |
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Cooking Class |
Chinese Temples |
Food |
Architecture |
Night Food Tour |
Sri Temples |
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Grand Palace |
Carving Class |
Food |
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Thai Regional Festival |
Transport |
Misc |
