#PeaceLove !!!
Thailand is a Southeast Asian country known for its tropical beaches, ancient ruins, opulent royal palaces and ornate temples displaying figures of Buddha. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is an ultramodern cityscape that rises next to quiet canalside communities and the iconic temples of Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew). According to George Cœdès, the word Thai (ไทย) means ‘free man’ in the Thai language, “differentiating the Thai from the natives encompassed in Thai society as serfs”. Nearby beach resorts include bustling Pattaya and fashionable Hua Hin. Tourism plays an important role in the Thai economy. Around 33 million tourists visit Thailand annually. Talking about the places to visit in this country, here are some recommendations from our end.
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Adventures in Pattaya
Located at 150 km away from Bangkok, this beautiful city of Pattaya is always switched on. Lined with resort hotels, high-rise condos, shopping malls, cabaret bars, and 24-hour clubs, Pattaya is a must-visit place in Thailand. This vibrant coastal city shot to fame in the early 1980s and stayed there. From sunrise to sunset, Pattaya’s beaches are constantly brimming with life, as water sports lovers and sun worshippers take to the waters. After dusk, the action shifts to the streets, as revelers explore its electrified nightlife scene, where drinking and partying continue until dawn. Shoppers can find a range of local and international brands at Terminal 21 – an airport themed shopping mall along with an array of restaurants ranging from Thai to Indian. And with two airplanes outside and replicas of famous world landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the leaning tower of Pisa inside, Pattaya’s new mall is likely to be an instant hit with selfie-loving visitors. Security guards dressed in airport uniforms greet customers at the entrance and each floor is a ‘destination’. Walking Street Pattaya is the biggest and busiest party hotspot in the whole of Thailand, with only a couple of the top places in Bangkok beating it for sheer volume and variety. A full kilometer stretch from its high-tech gateway at the Beach Road to the Bali Hai Plaza end, almost every building along its length is a nightclub, go-go bar, beer bar or restaurant. Pattaya is also famous for offering a mind-blowing skydiving experience to all the adventure lovers out there. Thai Sky Adventures Co. located in Sriracha, Pattaya is popularly known for providing tandem skydives from 13,000 feet with island views & courses. #WhenInPattaya, one can just be full of life.
Koh Larn Island
A popular vacation spot, this small island features scenic beaches, jungle monkeys & coral reefs. You can commute to Koh Larn Island from Pattaya via a 20-minute boat ride. If you are looking for a classic water sports experience, then you are standing in the right place. There are a couple of guesthouses and resorts in Koh Larn if you are planning to stay for a night or two. Koh Larn Island has plenty of water adventure activities including jet ski, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing behind a speed boat and underwater sea walking. Please ensure that there is no damage done to the jet skis for they charge a hefty amount as a penalty. Enjoy your time in Koh Larn.
Nightlife in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is a large city known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. The boat-filled Chao Phraya River feeds its network of canals, flowing past the Rattanakosin royal district, home to opulent Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew Temple. Tuk-Tuk makes our traveling cheaper and easier in Bangkok for it can accommodate 8-9 passengers in a single go. You can find a number of massage parlors in certain areas of Bangkok and Pattaya. As prostitution is illegal in Thailand, kindly refrain from having sexual intercourse with illegal sex workers out there (if any). Khaosan Road or Khao San Road is a short street in central Bangkok and is the most happening street in town. Just like Tito’s lane in Goa, Khaosan Road is the most popular street in Bangkok internationally known as a center of dancing, partying, and amazing nightlife. One doesn’t need to walk more than 50 meters or less to find food on and around Khao San Road. There are street vendors selling spring rolls, crocodile meat, scorpion, silkworms, and pad thai at the cheapest rates. There are pizza parlors, hamburger joints, and yes, plenty of Thai food around. You can find a lot of tourists on this street at night and you would be amazed to see them do B-boying or play Limbo.
Welcome to Phuket !!!
Phuket, a rainforested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea, has some of Thailand’s most popular beaches, mainly situated along the clear waters of the western shore. The island is home to many luxurious seaside resorts, relaxing beaches, spas, and restaurants. Phuket, the capital city, has old shophouses, party streets, and busy markets. Patong, the main resort town, has many nightclubs, fancy restaurants, fine dining places, beer clubs, bars, and discos. Patong is an ideal place to party and play. By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, beer bars, Go Go Bars and of course night clubs. The nightlife is centered around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) which is a never-ending party lane to hang out with your pals. You can find several strip clubs in this lane too. Visitors hoping for a glimpse into the exotic East might not find it here, though the steaming hot streets, neon lights and chaotic atmosphere of Patong can be overwhelming for the new arrival. The key to full enjoyment of the place is to pace yourself, drink lots of water and learn the meaning of ‘mai pen rai’ – which translates roughly to ‘It doesn’t matter’ or ‘Don’t worry, be happy’.
Ao Nang, Krabi
Ao Nang is a resort town in southern Thailand’s Krabi Province. It’s one of the most famous tourist destinations in Southern Thailand. It is a center for long-tail boat tours to the beaches of limestone islands such as Ko Hong, Ko Poda and Ko Gai (Chicken Island). Other boats make trips to Railay Beach, a well-known destination for rock climbers. With a huge number of 7-eleven stores and an amazing shopping street next to Ao Nang beach, this place has become a shoppers’ paradise. You can find first copy branded handbags, watches, clothes and accessories in the shops located in the market area next to Ao Nang Beach. Bargaining becomes a fundamental right on these streets. There is a pizza place next to this beach called “The Pizza Company” which serves some mind-blowing cheese burst pizzas. Also, there are a couple of relaxing massage parlors nearby offering a full body Thai massage.
Railay, also known as Rai Leh, is a large peninsula between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang in Thailand. It is accessible only by boat due to high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. You can purchase a return ticket to Railay beach from the Ao Nang beach ticket counter. You can spot a bunch of lavish resorts, chilling cafes, and markets with shops selling accessories on this beach. You can enjoy your time either swimming or playing beach soccer, water sports or go hiking on this peninsula. ‘Chang’ is the most consumed Thai beer here with ‘Singha’ and ‘Leo’ having an equal fan following. You can even connect to people traveling from other parts of the world. The last boat from Railay leaves at 6 PM which takes you back to Ao Nang beach. We bet you don’t wanna miss this one.
Phi Phi Island
Phi Phi Island is the hot topic of conversation for travelers all over the world. For some, it’s the only reason to touchdown in Phuket or Krabi. You can pre-book a speed boat from Phuket or Krabi which takes around 90 minutes to reach Phi Phi. Phi Phi’s beauty is a large chunk of the allure. The islands, when approached by boat, rise from the sea like a fortress. Sheer cliffs tower overhead, then give way to the beach-fronted jungle. It’s love at first sight. The best part about Thailand is that you can always find ATM machines, 7-eleven stores, and good network coverage at each and every island you plan to visit. The best bars in Koh Phi Phi Don are spread equally over the island’s three main areas: Tonsai Village (the main urban center), Tonsai East, and Loh Dalum Bay. Most of the bar options in Phi Phi go for two contrasting approaches: either the laid-back vibe or a pumping party atmosphere. You can find a couple of one-day boat parties on the Phi Phi islands. Some important ones include the Pirate boat party and the Blanco boat party. Blanco Boat Party is Koh Phi Phi’s original and only boat party. The boat ride takes you to Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon and more. The package cost is around 1200 Baht per person which includes – Buffet Dinner in Maya Bay, Snorkelling, Kayaks, Paddleboards, Cheap Bar & Live DJ. Drinks consumed at the Blanco bar would be chargeable. The 6-hour boat party followed by a scrumptious dinner is definitely the party of a lifetime. The after-party at Ibiza pool area next to the shore is even crazier than you might have expected. You can opt for the Pirate boat party too and share your experience with us.
Let’s discuss their favorite drinks/delicacies:
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U Beer
Thailand’s local beer lovers, as well as international visitors, have been able to enjoy the fresh new taste of U Beer, a new brand adding to the Singha and Leo Beer, the market-leading brands already brewed by Singha Corp., a company also known as Boonrawd Brewery. U Beer, a lager with an alcohol volume of 5.0%, is available at selected venues (7-eleven stores) around the country in two bottle sizes, 620 ml and 320 ml.
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Kopper Craft Beer
Kopper Beer is Thai Craft Beer Brewed by Thai Brewmaster. The properties are as follows – Style: “Amber Lager” Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.5% Main ingredient: Gaba Rice, Acid malt, Carared Malt Identities: The Unique Copper Color Beer which is made from roasted Gaba rice. It’s a must-try beer in Thailand.
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Chang Beer
In the Thai language, ‘Chang’ means elephant and the green and gold logo seen on cans and bottles features two white elephants facing each other across a golden fountain. Because of the way Thai grammar works, the product is referred to by Thai people as ‘Beer Chang’ rather than ‘Chang Beer’. Chang Beer is not only sold in large (640ml) or small (330ml) bottles at restaurants and drinking venues but also available in cans at shops. The combination of rice used in the brewing process and the stronger than average 6.4% alcohol content by volume can catch out unwitting tourists.
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Pad Thai Noodles
Pad thai, or Phad Thai, is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as street food and at most restaurants in Thailand as part of the country’s cuisine. Pad thai is made with rehydrated dried rice noodles that are stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu, flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper, and palm sugar, and served with lime wedges and often chopped roasted peanuts. This is one of the most recommended dish from our end.
Overall Experience and Rating
We had planned our trip for 7 nights and 8 days and could cover most of the heavenly places in Thailand. To start with, we converted a small amount of INR to Thai Baht at the Indian airport and the rest of INR at Thailand’s local money exchange counters. We stayed in Pattaya for 2 nights where we explored the food markets, its amazing nightlife and enjoyed the tandem skydiving experience offered by Thai Sky Adventures Co. We even got a chance to visit Koh Larn island from Pattaya. We arrived in Bangkok on the 3rd day and without wasting any time headed to the most famous street in town – Khaosan road. The very next day we boarded a flight to Phuket and booked a minibus which took us directly to Ao Nang, Krabi. We had an amazing time in Krabi exploring local markets and nearby food joints. We went on a day tour to Railay beach from Ao Nang via a speed boat and got back by 6 PM in the evening. Later at night, we dropped by the nearest massage parlors for a relaxing body massage. On the fifth day, we started our heavenly journey towards Phi Phi island via a private boat from Krabi. The magical experience at Phi Phi was simply outstanding and never to be missed. Right from the one-day boat parties to experiencing the Phi Phi nightlife, everything was simply worth it. On the seventh day, we returned to Phuket for another Patong adventure. Bangla walking street had the most lively vibe in Phuket. If you’re lucky enough, you can get to see a Muay Thai fight in Phuket. We spent our last night in Phuket chilling at the nearby beaches and experiencing the party atmosphere at night. We would like to suggest everyone stay in hotels or hostels and make every day count. Here’s wishing you a very happy and safe trip to Thailand. Cheers!!!
P.S. – Thailand offers Visa On Arrival (VOA) to Indian citizens for a stay period not exceeding 15 days and the Thai government may even exempt the application fee of 2000 Baht. Kindly carry all the valid documents required for VOI.
Note: Picture Credits – IG @jazzy_seadragon @yash_bareja
Ambience – 4.8/5
Food – 4.8/5
Service – 4.9/5
Stay & Comfort – 4.9/5
Address: Hangover Hostel, 215 moo 7, Aonong, Sa Nam Ban, Krabi 81210, Thailand
The Food Punch Recommendation – 4.8/5
Contact us regarding any queries – thefoodpunched@gmail.com
The Food Punch 