I just came back from a three week trip to Thailand and if you're looking for a quiet place to just relax, I'd recommend Koh Phayam. It's a little island on the west side of Thailand not far from Burma/Myaanmar. We rented a motorbike and lived like beach bums for a week. It was great!
I also loved Koh Samui. Great beaches but much more developed than Koh Phayam, which has its pros and cons, I guess.
If you go to Koh Tao, I'd suggest budgeting a week and take the scuba diving course there. It's only about $300 and you get full accreditation. We were in Koh Tao for a day and didn't really like it, but then again we were just coming from pristine Koh Phayam so that may have shaded our judgment. The scuba diving is apparently great there though, so I plan to try that the next time I go back to Thailand.
Some of my favourite memories from my times spent in Thailand are actually from Ayutthaya. It used to be the capital of the Siamese empire as far as I recall. I don't really remember why I ended up there on our way back from Chiangmai, and I only spent a day there, but it stood out from the rest of Thailand for me. Just a very quiet, fairly small place with peaceful and beautiful ruins of the old capital. Much quieter than other places I've been. It seemed when I was there to be a forgotten part of history. If you travel north, see if you can stop there for a day to check it out.
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I just came back from a three week trip to Thailand and if you're looking for a quiet place to just relax, I'd recommend Koh Phayam. It's a little island on the west side of Thailand not far from Burma/Myaanmar. We rented a motorbike and lived like beach bums for a week. It was great!
I also loved Koh Samui. Great beaches but much more developed than Koh Phayam, which has its pros and cons, I guess.
If you go to Koh Tao, I'd suggest budgeting a week and take the scuba diving course there. It's only about $300 and you get full accreditation. We were in Koh Tao for a day and didn't really like it, but then again we were just coming from pristine Koh Phayam so that may have shaded our judgment. The scuba diving is apparently great there though, so I plan to try that the next time I go back to Thailand.
I did my open water certification at Ban's diving resort on Koh Tao. They were great. Really professional, fun and nice resort to stay in. I would definitely do further certifications with them.
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I just came back from a three week trip to Thailand and if you're looking for a quiet place to just relax, I'd recommend Koh Phayam. It's a little island on the west side of Thailand not far from Burma/Myaanmar. We rented a motorbike and lived like beach bums for a week. It was great!
I also loved Koh Samui. Great beaches but much more developed than Koh Phayam, which has its pros and cons, I guess.
If you go to Koh Tao, I'd suggest budgeting a week and take the scuba diving course there. It's only about $300 and you get full accreditation. We were in Koh Tao for a day and didn't really like it, but then again we were just coming from pristine Koh Phayam so that may have shaded our judgment. The scuba diving is apparently great there though, so I plan to try that the next time I go back to Thailand.
Im currently living in the #1 beach in the world, relaxing, scuba diving. lol. I will look into Koh Samui though. Thanks!
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Can't believe its been over 10 years since I went. Sometimes I wish I could go back or go travelling elsewhere, but having a family kind of puts a stop to that.
I mostly just travelled down to the southern islands, Koh Samui, Ko PhiPhi, Koh Phangnan.
We went on the magic reggae boat tour on Koh Phangnan you can probably guess what that is. It was actually pretty cool thing to go on, if your into that stuff.
We actually ended up back in Bangkok before we flew back to Australia during their new years. It was fun for a little bit, but when you want to get some sleep because you have an early flight it gets really annoying.
KhaoSanRoad is just absolutely packed with people and the way the celebrate their New Years is having a huge waterfight. Waterballoons and WaterGuns everywhere. You can't go 2 feet with out someone soaking you. They also had some sort of clay thing that people throw at you.
I also did some diving in the Similian Islands. I def recommend getting your open water diving certificate there if you don't have one (or go if you do). My guide for that was from Phi Phi Islands, he gives you a money back guarantee if you don't see a turtle or whale shark (pick one).
I went to Patong too... I thought it was kind of stupid. I liked Bangkok a lot, I went my with my girlfriend so I didn't do any gay/tranny weirdo stuff. I thought Khao Yai was a waste of time.
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Last edited by Phanuthier; 02-12-2012 at 09:18 PM.
I went to Patong too... I thought it was kind of stupid. I liked Bangkok a lot, I went my with my girlfriend so I didn't do any gay/tranny weirdo stuff. I thought Khao Yai was a waste of time.
Well duh - it's not gay if you'r GF's there... It's just an MMF.
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Can't believe its been over 10 years since I went. Sometimes I wish I could go back or go travelling elsewhere, but having a family kind of puts a stop to that.
I mostly just travelled down to the southern islands, Koh Samui, Ko PhiPhi, Koh Phangnan.
We went on the magic reggae boat tour on Koh Phangnan you can probably guess what that is. It was actually pretty cool thing to go on, if your into that stuff.
We actually ended up back in Bangkok before we flew back to Australia during their new years. It was fun for a little bit, but when you want to get some sleep because you have an early flight it gets really annoying.
KhaoSanRoad is just absolutely packed with people and the way the celebrate their New Years is having a huge waterfight. Waterballoons and WaterGuns everywhere. You can't go 2 feet with out someone soaking you. They also had some sort of clay thing that people throw at you.
Ya I will be at the full moon party at the begging of April then heading North again to celebrate New Years and enjoy the water fight.
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"we're going to win game 7," Daniel Sedin told the Vancpuver Sun.
Ya... I am not into the gay/tranny stuff... lol. I will be heading to a couple ping pong shows for sure while I am in Bangkok though. No way I am missing out on that!
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"we're going to win game 7," Daniel Sedin told the Vancpuver Sun.
Ya... I am not into the gay/tranny stuff... lol. I will be heading to a couple ping pong shows for sure while I am in Bangkok though. No way I am missing out on that!
Be careful at those. Surprisingly, they are not reputable businesses, and they will without a doubt attempt to swindle you, and when that doesn't work they will threaten you.
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Be careful at those. Surprisingly, they are not reputable businesses, and they will without a doubt attempt to swindle you, and when that doesn't work they will threaten you.
This. I went to one but was strongarmed and threatened for a bunch of money before I was allowed to leave (somewhere on the order of $60 CAD if I recall). If you do go, make sure you have cash on hand.
This. I went to one but was strongarmed and threatened for a bunch of money before I was allowed to leave (somewhere on the order of $60 CAD if I recall). If you do go, make sure you have cash on hand.
I just walked out along with a fairly large group of Europeans who were also getting hassled, we figured they weren't going to do much to 8 of us and as soon as you're on the street you're surrounded by other tourists.
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When you do a signature and don't attribute it to anyone, it's yours. - Vulcan
I just walked out along with a fairly large group of Europeans who were also getting hassled, we figured they weren't going to do much to 8 of us and as soon as you're on the street you're surrounded by other tourists.
I stupidly found myself alone at one of these places. It sure was fun to have about 5 shemales, one genetic female and a couple big bouncers screaming at me. Bangkok!
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im going to Bangkok on the 4th of March and having been there before and seeing the Hangover II, I am a little scared. especially with the crazies who I am meeting from Australia.
no really. Thailand can make you feel like a lamb thrown to the Lions. its like Mexico, but even more lawless and out of control.
Interesting. I've never been but my wife spent 2-1/2 years backpacking all over the world and she describes Thailand as Disney for backpackers/travelers.
I guess when you are comparing it to places like Myanmar and the more lawless sections of Brazil/Bolivia/Peru it does probably come across like that.
Ya... I am not into the gay/tranny stuff... lol. I will be heading to a couple ping pong shows for sure while I am in Bangkok though. No way I am missing out on that!
Years ago you could catch Mitzi Dupree at one of the Calgary hotel bars.
