Soldato
yep i would have loved to have gone then, maybe i should become single
Traveling to Thailand
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yep i would have loved to have gone then, maybe i should become single
Oh I don't know..I can see definite similarities 
Soldato
house said:
What did you do that needed bribes? Was there for weeks and didn't ever feel the need to do that!
I was very impressed with the Thai Airways. The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai was so cheap, and even included inflight food.
Chiang Mai is a lovely city, it's worth spending some time just walking round it. I wish we'd spent more time there. We stayed at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...iews-Thannatee_Boutique_hotel-Chiang_Mai.html which was lovely and iirc about £40 a night. We also spent a day http://www.thaifarmcooking.com/home/ there.
In Phuket we did; https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attra...John_Gray_s_Sea_Canoe-Phuket_Town_Phuket.html and A++ would recommend
But a Tuk Tuk is so much more fun!
Soldato
It was in rural sumatra all but one time, alleged traffic violations (your jeep is overloaded or some other BS). But was really a case of tax the white guy. Being able to speak bahasa Indonesia and being polite let me take the local way out of paying for his coffee and cigs.
The other one was in Bali and he ripped off my driver not me, but as I knew what was going on I repaid the driver the money later.
There is a saying in Indonesia that only policemen and government officials get fat. Which is a comment on the overall issues with corruption there, it is getting better but old habits die hard. Jakarta is pretty clear of "white man tax" now but they still pick on Koreans and Chinese.
Don
me and my soon to be ex wife, did it for our honeymoon and it was amazing.
Flew into Bangkok for a couple of nights - we stayed at Sukhumvit soi 13 I think, in a place called Aloft. It was pretty new, so prices weer cheap and the hotel was amazing. Opposite was "bed supper club" which was also amazing - but now shut.
Sukhumvit is great for little bars, there's a place called Cabbages and Condoms, which does amazing food (its a charity restaurant) I'd highly recommend going there.
We then flew up to Chaing Mai for 4 nights, stayed just outside the centre and got a Tuk Tuk (booked by hotel) into town each night. We did Baan Chang, which is the best elephant keepers around - they rescue elephants and let you have a few hours with them, feeding them, washing them, riding them. Most importantly they're treated really well and you don't sit on any chairs, there's no ropes etc as these hurt the elephants.
After Chiang Mai, we went back to Bangkok for a day, whilst we were waiting for a sleeper train, which we took to the islands in the south.
We then island hopped before deciding on Koi Samui, which is a beautiful island but pretty quiet.
We then moved on to Koh Tao, which is amazing, its a paradise. Lots of scuba diving there, lots of nice hotels and had great fun with the locals. Then went back to Bangkok for days and flew back to England.
Loved the trip, the people are amazing, the food is great, I'd totally go back.
Don't get into random taxis - they will take you to gem stores (they're paid too) make sure you tell them, no gem stores.
When you're walking about the Grand Palace, people WILL stop you saying the palace is shut today, or its opening later - this is a scam and they're trying to get you to go with them, to see some different sites before taking you back - the rates are super high and should 100% be avoided. You'll notice around the Grand palace you'll hear disney land type announcements warning you of these people.
There's 2 airports in Bangkok - make sure you get the right one to where you're flying.
The BTS (overground metro system) is very very good, easy to use and cheap.
Chatuchak market is worth a visit - make sure you pick up a map as the place is MASSIVE. So you will get lost. Don't ever think "I'll come back for those shoes" or whatever, as you'll never find the place again.
A lot of islands in the south are being commercialised hard, a lot of it is being made very touristy - keep away from Phi Phi and Ko Pha Ngan - especially around full moon parties (if you're not interested in the party itself of course) one person died 2 days ago at the last full moon party, drowned (likely too drunk!). There's two things you never do in Thailand - fight and drugs - the police are zero tolerance on this.
Enjoy it, its such a beautiful country, with extraordinary people, keep your wits and you'll be fine. We never had a single issue when we were there.
Oh, get used to saying "Kaaap" a lot and people bowing their heads with their hands together - kop kun krap (the r is pretty silent) for saying thank you very much, as a male, for a female its kop kun ka - prenounced "kop-un caap" for males and kop-un kaaa (elongated at end) for your girlfriend - you'll pick it up its said all the time. Same word works for please and thank you.
Flew into Bangkok for a couple of nights - we stayed at Sukhumvit soi 13 I think, in a place called Aloft. It was pretty new, so prices weer cheap and the hotel was amazing. Opposite was "bed supper club" which was also amazing - but now shut.
Sukhumvit is great for little bars, there's a place called Cabbages and Condoms, which does amazing food (its a charity restaurant) I'd highly recommend going there.
We then flew up to Chaing Mai for 4 nights, stayed just outside the centre and got a Tuk Tuk (booked by hotel) into town each night. We did Baan Chang, which is the best elephant keepers around - they rescue elephants and let you have a few hours with them, feeding them, washing them, riding them. Most importantly they're treated really well and you don't sit on any chairs, there's no ropes etc as these hurt the elephants.
After Chiang Mai, we went back to Bangkok for a day, whilst we were waiting for a sleeper train, which we took to the islands in the south.
We then island hopped before deciding on Koi Samui, which is a beautiful island but pretty quiet.
We then moved on to Koh Tao, which is amazing, its a paradise. Lots of scuba diving there, lots of nice hotels and had great fun with the locals. Then went back to Bangkok for days and flew back to England.
Loved the trip, the people are amazing, the food is great, I'd totally go back.
Don't get into random taxis - they will take you to gem stores (they're paid too) make sure you tell them, no gem stores.
When you're walking about the Grand Palace, people WILL stop you saying the palace is shut today, or its opening later - this is a scam and they're trying to get you to go with them, to see some different sites before taking you back - the rates are super high and should 100% be avoided. You'll notice around the Grand palace you'll hear disney land type announcements warning you of these people.
There's 2 airports in Bangkok - make sure you get the right one to where you're flying.
The BTS (overground metro system) is very very good, easy to use and cheap.
Chatuchak market is worth a visit - make sure you pick up a map as the place is MASSIVE. So you will get lost. Don't ever think "I'll come back for those shoes" or whatever, as you'll never find the place again.
A lot of islands in the south are being commercialised hard, a lot of it is being made very touristy - keep away from Phi Phi and Ko Pha Ngan - especially around full moon parties (if you're not interested in the party itself of course) one person died 2 days ago at the last full moon party, drowned (likely too drunk!). There's two things you never do in Thailand - fight and drugs - the police are zero tolerance on this.
Enjoy it, its such a beautiful country, with extraordinary people, keep your wits and you'll be fine. We never had a single issue when we were there.
Oh, get used to saying "Kaaap" a lot and people bowing their heads with their hands together - kop kun krap (the r is pretty silent) for saying thank you very much, as a male, for a female its kop kun ka - prenounced "kop-un caap" for males and kop-un kaaa (elongated at end) for your girlfriend - you'll pick it up its said all the time. Same word works for please and thank you.
I quite like staying in the Ratchaprarop area before returning from Bangkok. It's got a station on the airport link and there's the Platinum Mall for last minute gifts / clothing purchases. There's also loads of great Indian food in the area.
That's quite a random trip. Have you been before, and these are your favorite places? Or just randomly picked?
Loved Hoi An, such a pretty little place.
I presume you know, but Morning Glory is such a tasty restaurant.
Been to all except Phu Quoc before, no real fan of Hong Kong so that's why we are only there 1 night, we are only flying through there as we got some superb flight prices
Already got a reservation at Morning Glory, booked one of those 3 tables on upstairs balcony, eaten there before and, as you say, it's superb
Awesome. Have fun, I loved Hoi An.
I could just walk about for days. Never even noticed it had an upstairs, spent far too long at the 'aussie' bar before it
Also I agree with some comments on Bangkok, I didn't enjoy it much at all. I've been in a few Asian cities this year and it was my least liked.
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If I'm honest I was expecting a link to those two tourists who got garden hoe'd to death in Thailand not some thieves getting off lightly by being paraded through the streets
Behave yourself in these countries and be respectful and it's extremely unlikely that any problems will come your way