I’ve been living in Thailand for the past 2 and a half years, living in Bangkok for most of the time. Granted, when I had some time to myself, my friends and I would pick a place to go and just… go! Between 2012-2014, I had the opportunity to go to some amazing places that stood out like pins on a map. I wanted to see and experience nature. I wanted to go where there was a lack of tourists so I could breathe. I wanted to escape into the unknown and discover cities I’ve only known about in books and TV shows.
Ayutthaya
Ancient, mysterious and slightly haunting, this age-old Thai capital continues to stand today as ruins under the scorching hot sun in Ayutthaya. My latest venture with my family and a friend was at Ayutthaya. From all the pictures I’ve seen on the Internet, I was expecting a handful of ruins. Period. Quite frankly, it was more than that.
Arriving at Ayutthaya around noon, the sun was as high as it could be as our skins seemed to be grilling. Ayutthaya was around us—around me—surrounding us with all its ancient history. Looking at the remnants of the temples at stood here since the last Myanmar invasion; it really gave me a grand scale of how dreadful it was back in 1767. All that was left standing there were broken bits and pieces of temples and chedis. Some of the temples, walls and stone monuments were reconstructed to give visitors a better idea how these structures looked way back when.
If you’re a history buff, this is a great place to go to. Though make note, it’s recommended to go before (or after) summer hits as temperatures can spike to 45 degrees Celsius! You have the flexibility to book English or foreign language tours as well. They don’t cost much but it’s certainly a great way to introduce and rediscover Ayutthaya’s history.
Petchaburi
My next trip took me to Kaeng Krachan, Petchaburi. I stayed in a small cabin by the water’s edge in the jungle. The jungle was quiet, the rivers were filled with aquatic wildlife and of course, the food was amazing! Kaeng Krachan was a great place to escape to simply because you can have the entire area to yourself. No roadside noise, no screaming and certainly no party animals laying waste into the night. Kaeng Krachan is best for those who want nothing more than peace and quiet!
What was nice about coming to Kaeng Krachan is the lack of tourists in the area. You mostly see locals carpooling and heading off to rafting or ATVing sites in the jungle. While I was there, I went rafting and quite simply, it was amazing. It was quiet and you can hear the voices of the jungle—the birds—calling out to you. You have the option of course, of hanging your feet in the river but as our guide put it: There were crocodiles in the water! As far as I was concerned, I didn’t see one crocodile in sight so all was good! Along the edge of the river were many resorts of sorts and surprisingly, slides! Well, that’s a great way to enter the river, don’t you think?
After a peaceful hour of rafting in the cool morning, I headed off for some ATVing fun! One thing I would remind everybody about this place was the abrupt change in weather. One minute it was nice and pleasant and the next, heavy monsoon rains. It’s good to bring along some waterproof gear, items but whatever you do… Do NOT use umbrellas; you just don’t know when the next lightning strike will land!
As the days went by, we had the opportunity to ride a pick-up truck up the mountain (in the frigid cold) to its peak where I had my breath taken away. I was standing at the top of the mountain, watching the fog slowly dissipate to reveal the green, rolling mountains below. There were several spots you can park and snap photos of the fog or other angles of the mountain. And maybe, just maybe, you could be lucky enough to come across local wildlife!
It was simply… Breath-taking.
Suttahip
Located a ways away from Pattaya and Rayong, Suttahip is a quiet city to go to, if you want to avoid the mass hordes of tourists. Thailand’s naval base is located in Suttahip. Most of the city is owned by the navy so don’t be surprised to see lots of old canons, airplanes and ship motifs around!
My uncle works with the navy and he drove my friend and I around Suttahip to visit different naval bases and VIP locations. He took us to a restricted access area where we had the opportunity to overlook the entire ocean from a cliff! And as an added bonus, we saw where the ships were docked as well!
The city was extremely clean and well-preserved. As there were many facilities in Suttahip, there’s the Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Center which is responsible for breeding, nursing and releasing sea turtles back into the wild. The conservation center was divided into sections and each section explained each turtle species as well as their plight in the wild. The area was also home to the sea turtle hospital; a fully functional facility dedicated to nursing back injured or old sea turtles back into tip-top shape!
If you’re planning on vacationing here, don’t expect to see any entertainment venues here; the city isn’t known for being a partying hotspot like Pattaya. There were barely any ‘touristy’ things in the city per se other than the vast ocean and naval bases scattered around. But, I can tell you that if you’re coming here just to relax by the beach and eat fresh seafood, Suttahip is your best bet!
Krabi
Concluding with the last city I visited: Krabi. My friend and I headed to Krabi for Songkran as we booked boat trips to Hong Island and a handful of other islands within the package.
It was like living in a brochure; the sands were white, the sea had a bluish-green tint and the sky was clear. We had the opportunity to ride longboats, island hop and snorkel.
Below the surface, it’s an entirely new world. There’s sea urchins, colorful fish, sea brains, sea cucumbers and corals waiting to be discovered. For those who’ve never snorkeled before (like me), it was a totally new experience. Snorkeling under water, the water was crystal clear and you can see the critters swimming close to you. It’s like an entirely new world there which sometimes, may seem a little frightening for those who ‘fear the unknown’. Sure, it’s beautiful underwater but as you keep swimming away from the shore, it got deeper and deeper. Fearing that I’d get swept away by the current, my friend and I chose to stay around the shoreline.
When you’re in Krabi, you can head over to places such as Krabi Town or go to Ao Nang Beach. If you really want to hit the town, my suggestion is to go to Ao Nang Beach. It’s less crowded than Krabi Town. The fact of the matter is that you’ll find the exact same thing in Krabi Town as you would do here. And if you’re considering transportation, don’t go for taxis as it’s very costly. Seriously, a five minute ride from point A to point B can cost you 200 baht (or more)! Might as well take the songthaew which costs 20 – 30 baht a ride!
Needless to say my experience in Krabi was one I wouldn’t forget anytime soon!
If you’re planning in traveling through Thailand, here are some things you should keep in mind: While preparing for your trip, it’s recommended to stay in a hotel close to the BTS station such as Mercure Bangkok Siam for example. The hotel is only 40 minutes away from Suvarnabhumi Airport if, let’s say you want to fly to Krabi.
When traveling, always make note of separating your money as there are some no-good people out there looking for easy pickings. Carry as little money as possible in your wallet and separate the rest of your money into other bags, envelops or even books. This way, if one pouch is stolen, you still have back up.
Next, access the weather. What time of the year is the best time to visit? In the peak of summer or during phases of light rainfall? Also while you’re at it, don’t forget necessary clothing. Always bring more clothes than you need because you never know what could go wrong (like ATVing in an unexpected monsoon and being drenched).
Hopefully this article has given you some travel ideas planning your next vacation to Thailand. Whether you’re a nature or historical buff, Thailand has the locations to accommodate your traveling needs in more places than one!
Happy traveling!
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