Eleven Days in Thailand
After my brief but awesome jaunt in Siem Reap, I hopped over to Thailand to do a little exploring. Since this was my first adventure by myself, I was a bit intimidated. To my surprise, everything was incredibly easy and after everything was said and done, I was really happy that I decided to go it alone. I met so many amazing people from all over the place, and I know that I wouldn’t have if I’d had the safety net of a familiar face.
If you’re looking to travel as a solo female, Thailand is usually a really good place to start. That’s not to say that you should get goofy and hop on random long tail boats in the middle of the night all willy-nilly, but that’s another story.
—3 DAYS IN BANGKOK—
I started my trip in Bangkok after a fairly short plane ride from Siem Reap via Thai Smile. My hostel (Suneta Hostel) was conveniently located near Khao San Road, so I was able to settle in and head out fairly quickly. On the first day, I spent my time exploring Khao San Road and eventually attempted to visit the Grand Palace. Emphasis on “attempted”. In the 24 hours previous to my arrival, Thailand was shocked by a series of explosions in some of the more touristy southern cities, so everyone was on high alert. I was also blissfully unaware that it was the queen of Thailand’s birthday, so the swarms of police and locals outside of the palace walls were more than a little intimidating. Not too keen on large crowds during a state of emergency, I decided to call it a day.
An article on the attacks in Phuket and Hua Hin can be found here.
For the following two days, I wandered the streets of Bangkok, sampled the local food (mango rice–praise Jesus), explored the Chatuchak weekend market, visited questionable entertainment venues, and took photos in Chinatown. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Bangkok, but would suggest doing only a few days there. There are nice sites to visit, but the feeling I got during my visit is that it was a bit too tourist-centered for my taste.
—4 DAYS IN CHIANG MAI—
Chiang Mai, you beaut. My favorite destination during my time in Thailand was definitely Chiang Mai. From my hostel to the neighborhoods and old city center, Chiang Mai was a charmer. The pace around the city was a bit more mellow, offering up a more comfy vibe than Bangkok. My favorite destinations are usually the quieter ones that allow for a more go-with-the-flow attitude, and Chiang Mai definitely fits that description.
To get to Chiang Mai, I took the 12 hour train ride from Bangkok. There are other options (buses, planes, cars, ya feet), but I usually prefer to do things by train whenever possible. Seeing the countryside and being able to sit and read a bit was definitely needed. I purchased my train ticket here. After arriving in the Chiang Mai train station, I caught a shuttle van/truck straight to my hostel. Shuttles are usually lined up right outside the train station, so finding a ride to the main part of the city was incredibly easy.
The hostel I went with was Green Tiger Vegetarian House, and I’m glad I did. The hostel is located right in the middle of everything, has a pool, and operates as a vegetarian restaurant during the day. It’s a bit more pricey than hostels I’ve gone with in the past, but you definitely get what you pay for. More info here.
Day 1—
On the first full day in Chiang Mai, I did a walking tour of temples and historic sites that I found here. Since Green Tiger is centrally located in Old Town, I was able to start the tour right outside my front door. Convenience, I tell ya. After the walking tour, I headed over to the Lanna Folklife Museum, where you can view examples of Lanna textiles and artifacts. More on the Lanna Folklife Museum here. After the Lanna Folklife Museum, I caught a shuttle to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a gorgeous temple at the top of a hill.
Day 2 —
On the second day, I decided to join a guided tour to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) in Chiang Rai. The White Temple is unique because it is owned and is being renovated by a local artist who fills the compound with his own works. There are art pieces scattered around the property, most of which have some pretty obvious symbolism throughout. One of the main rooms features a large painting of a demon with George W and Bin Laden in its eyes. Subtle, I know. If you’ve ever wanted to pay homage to Buddha AND Keanu Reeves at the same time, then look no further… Neo’s there, too. Needless to say, it’s an interesting take on temples, modern times, and what we hold sacred.
Later that day, we visited women from the Karen hill tribe of Southern Myanmar. The women of the tribe are known for the way they “stretch” their necks with coiled bands starting in childhood. This practice is said to be a beauty standard within some Karen communities, but not all. I’d recommend researching how you’ll be visiting the tribes, as it’s easy to end up in a human zoo situation, which is sad but pretty common. I honestly wish I’d done a bit more research beforehand, because the group I visited relied heavily on daily tourist visits and selling souvenirs. It was a nice glimpse, even though it wasn’t 100% genuine.
Day 4 —
The next day, I woke bright and early to head to Elephant Nature Park. There, I was able to learn a bit about elephant entertainment in Thailand, the rescue process, and rehabilitation. The park’s goal is to rehabilitate elephants that have been taken from entertainment venues and to educate the public about the treatment within those venues. During my visit, I was able to explore the grounds with a guide, feed the elephants, and bathe them in a river on the property. The park also rescues dogs and horses. Click here for more information on volunteering and visiting.
—4 DAYS IN KRABI—
Day 1 —
After hopping from place to place, I decided I needed to end my trip in a beachy city, so I decided on Krabi. After a short flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi, I caught a shuttle bus to my hostel, Glur Hostel. Glur is a really cute boutique hostel with a pool, nestled in the hills of Ao Nang. I spent my first day there just relaxing a bit and exploring the local area around Ao Nang beach.
If you’re looking for a social hostel, this is definitely on the opposite end of the spectrum. It’s tucked away from the main area in Krabi, so it’s a bit of a walk. I decided to move to a different place on the second night since I was alone. Luckily, my new friend Bea decided to do the same.
Day 2 —
On day 2 in Krabi, I decided to move to Railay Princess in Railay Beach. I’m really glad I did, as the rooms were comfortable and the beaches were accessible after a short walk. I wasn’t prepared to take a long tail boat to and from the area, and I’m sure I looked ridiculous trying to haul luggage thigh-deep in the bay, but whatever. I enjoyed it anyway.
Day 3 —
On the 3rd day, I took a snorkeling excursion to Ko Phi Phi and the surrounding islands. Our tour stopped in lots of places, allowing for tons of photos, but I guess I was most concerned with sitting on the beach and eating coconut ice cream.
After my snorkeling excursion, Bea and I decided to go to the night market back on the main stretch of land. We didn’t take into account that we should probably be back at Ao Nang in time to catch a long tail back to Railay, so we missed our last opportunity to get back to our hotel by a few minutes. With the sun quickly setting, we scrambled to find a way back to Railay, and found salvation in the sketchiest boat dock in Thailand. Never again. Take heed.
“We’re the dumb tourists you read about on the daily mail.” –Beatrice
Hey, we made it out alive! Scroll down for a video of our market misadventure.
Day 4 —
On the last day, we decided to stick around Railay beach and do a bit more exploration. Luckily, we met another traveler who was able to show us one of the better beaches on the island, complete with a penis shrine! We ended the day by listening to a bit of live music and drinking ridiculous fruity drinks in one of the pubs on Railay.
Pretty sure this is the day that I accidentally punched a monkey in the face.
If you’re interested in seeing more of what we did out on Railay, check out this awesome video that Bea put together. You should subscribe to her channel for travel and beauty tips/general cuteness.
Thanks, Thailand! You’re awesome.