Thailand - 2026
- 2 days ago
- 22 min read
Updated: 52 minutes ago
We've done several family trips in the past; London/Paris, San Francisco, Mexico, Park City, Utah. But going to Thailand was a milestone family trip; though I can't recall how it came about. Jamie has been living in Thailand for the last eight years (now alternating with Buenos Aires) was urging us to visit. We'd been reluctant because of the distance and the heat. But we finally succumbed. In planning, I seem to recollect mentioning it to Patrick and he jumped at it. Chris chimed in that he was also game. Nathan, unfortunately, was stuck working at Mt. Baker in Washington and couldn't afford the time or money. We all think he'll eventually regret not joining us.
Martha and I did most (all) of the planning and booking, with occasional input from Jamie. Because of their work schedules, Chris could only spare two weeks and Patrick three, while we planned to stay for four. So the flights and stays had to be coordinated. We wanted a range of what Thailand has to offer, so I came up with a framework of 1) Bangkok, 2) a national park, 3) a beach place in the south, and 4) Chaing Mia and the mountains in the north.
Before going through the litany of logistics and activities, some observations, many of which are Martha's, for any who want to make this journey.
Without a doubt, it's a wonderful country to be a tourist. People are remarkably polite and respectful. Everyone greets you with a smile and does the "wai" (hands clasped with a slight bow) and Martha was called 'madam' everywhere she went. We truly were treated better than anyplace we've visited.
As Americans, there were lessons in this trip. One of the benefits of travel is to see how other people live, what they value, how they treat one another and how their society operates. Case in point; bathrooms are everywhere. And even if they are rustic, they are clean because people pick up after themselves. Trash cans were, oddly, hard to find. Yet, there was very little trash or litter around. Similarly, lining up for trains is in an orderly fashion. The focus is on community first; self,second. Even with the traffic, while heavy, rushed and hectic, there is no honking. Drivers and bikers defer to one another and traffic moves in chaotic, but in predictable, efficient ways.
Another huge contrast to the US is how women (and men to some extent) dress. More modestly if not at the beach or pool. And not just visiting temples, at which coverings are expected. Though flowy clothing fits the climate, there isn't a lot of bulging, exposed skin. Interactions feel more respectful. Shoes are removed when entering temples as well as some restaurants and hotel rooms. Personal belongings can be left unattended in public and no one will take them. Similarly, people don’t shout or get rowdy or mad, which is considered disrespectful. Nor are there overt displays of affection with partners in public.
The temples were amazing and we benefited from learning a bit about Buddhism and the life of monks. Its philosophy of selflessness clearly influences the culture and resonated with our own spiritual inclinations. Maybe another lesson for Americans.
Thailand also has incredible natural beauty everywhere and that combined with the culture made up for the fact that the cities and towns are not very attractive. The appearance of the buildings can be off-putting and dirty. Some of it is poverty, but the climate also does a number on the infrastructure. The air quality is not great. Many days are very hazy especially in dry season when there is no rain to clear it, so the air pollution is more obvious. And, though they seem cared for, stray dogs and cats are everywhere, around shops and restaurants.
Food; since that's what most people think about with Thailand. It’s certainly flavorful and delicious and spicy. But Thai food day in and out can get monotonous. It wasn't appealing for Martha (lots of meat, sugar, fried foods) and her digestive system let her know it. I'm not a fan of spicy food, so every order was a game of culinary Russian roulette. Fortunately western food is also available everywhere. In fact, most menus we saw were like huge catalogs. Tons of options.
Finally, language, since that's a concern of many Americans. It shouldn't be. English is everywhere. All signs, menus, stores, etc., are in both languages. The Thai people learn English in school and most people, in varying degrees, could handle it. It's similar to what we've found in other trips. We English speakers are lucky and spoiled. English is the world's second language. Many times I've observed people from two non-English countries converse and it's in English; because that's their common second tongue.
On to The Journey…..
Jamie came to Richmond from Buenos Aires for Christmas, then headed to Bangkok ahead of us by a few days.
Martha and I left on January 5, as did Patrick, though on separate flights. We splurged and flew business class on Turkish Airlines while Patrick flew on Qatar. Chris followed on January 8 on Turkish. It's technically two days travel time, so we arrived on Jan 7 and Chris on the 10th.
We had a layover in Istanbul for a couple hours and because we were in business class were able to use the Turkish lounge. The airport, like so many overseas, is as much shopping mall and entertainment complex as travel hub.
When we arrived in Bangkok, groggy after 24 hours travelling, Jamie and Patrick met us at arrivals. Jamie's expertise helped right away when he led us to the BTS public transit station in the airport. That took us to within a couple blocks of our hotel, the Shangri-La on the Chao Phraya River. After checking in and getting settled, Jamie led us to a humble restaurant - Jacks's - right next to the hotel on the waterfront where we had our first authentic Thai dishes. Jamie again surprised us with his familiarity with Thai as he ordered and chatted up the staff. He claims to only know 'pigeon Thai.' Enough to get by. But it was pretty impressive to us. His job teaching language and the phonetics of accents probably helps. I could never get the hang of it. It's a language defined as much by nuance of tone as vocabulary, which is challenging for westerners. I stuck to the standard greeting (Sawadee -ka) and 'thank you' (Kop kune ka).
We had to adjust to the time difference, and the best technique is to keep going. So in the evening Jamie guided us to Chinatown. Bangkok is a city filled with street vendors hawking food and trinkets, but Chinatown puts it on steroids. Lots of people, lights and sights. It's sensory overload, but wildly entertaining. Folks eating and chatting at tables or stalls along the sidewalk. Cars crawling along the road with motorbikes weaving between them. Bright neon lights and the quirky, lite hearted cartoonish animations that east Asians seem to love.
Jamie was a tremendous tour guide, giving us a perspective on what we were seeing and the flavor of the country. The Thais are warm, generous and polite, averse to anger, with great social cohesion. The flip side is a naiveté and childlike silliness as well; which after he pointed it out, we began to notice.
Our rooms had balconies overlooking the river and I spent long periods just watching the parade of boats and ferries criss-crossing the choppy, brown waters. The most enchanting were the brightly lit party boats I admired from the hotel bar while sipping on a Rusty Nail.
The days blurred together, but some activities were distinctly memorable. Following Jamie's lead, we got used to using the BTS transit system. Clean, modern, efficient and easy to use. Jamie pointed out the etiquette of boarding; waiting off to the side while other passengers disembarked. An example of eastern politeness. We also got very used to Grab, an efficient ride-hailing app that's also cheap (for us). It can also be used to order food delivery.
On our first full day we went to the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. A few shops and some quirky art. Then dropped into the MBK Center, one of the many malls/markets with a dizzying number of food & clothing stands as well as shops.
Very crowded with mostly cheap products; though we picked up some flip-flops!
From there we crossed over to Lumphini Park. Nice, but nothing special except for the monitor lizards in the pond and wandering the grounds. These things are pretty common. They're harmless unless bothered. The bite is poisonous and the slap of their tales can be painful. The Thais consider them a nuisance - maybe like geese for us. They get in the water lines and gunk them up.
For dinner, Jamie took us to a rooftop restaurant a few blocks from the hotel that required
us to climb several flights. Great food and great view overlooking the intensity of Bangkok.
It was a family trip, so we did some things as a family. But we also need our space; so the boys often did things separately. The next day Martha and I went to the Jim Thompson house; a home/tourist attraction. Thompson was an American who, after WWI, decided to settle in Thailand and started a successful silk trading business, supplying Hollywood with costumes, most notably for "The King & I." He'd transported and rebuilt a beautiful, traditional Thai home filled with local art. Mysteriously, Thompson disappeared in the late 60's on an excursion in Malaysia and was never found. As usual, the place also had an expensive gift shop and I paid a fortune for a pair of linen pants.
Saturday, Jan 10 - Medical tourism has become a thing for Americans visiting countries like Thailand and Turkey. Top notch services at a fraction of the cost, without the hassle of insurance companies. After watching some friends pass away, I'd gotten paranoid about my heart and lungs after decades of smoking. So I set up an appointment at Bangkok Hospital for a low-dose CT scan. The place was modern, efficient and I was in/out of there in a few hours following the test and a doctor's consultation, supplied with a printout and CD of the results. All for about $300.
While I was doing that, Christopher was arriving at Bangkok airport. Jamie had decided that Chris didn't need to be met at the airport, which was unfortunate. Chris didn't know how to get to our hotel, didn't have Thai bhat and couldn't communicate with us. Somehow - I think via Messenger - Martha sorted it out. At the hotel, he was given a room alongside ours and Patrick's. With a short window before dinner reservations, we hopped on the hotel river ferry over to IconSiam for a quick look. It's an over-the-top mega-mall tourist attraction on the river with unique displays, shops, food and novelties.
Coincidently, Martha's college roommate, Rosanna, and her husband, Chris, were in Bangkok at the same time, so we all met them for dinner. A rustic place Jamie picked out, though we rolled with it.
Sunday, Jan 11 - was Chris' 32nd birthday. During breakfast the hotel staff heard us mention it and surprised Chris with a treat and birthday song that suitably embarrassed him. For Chris's sake, the boys took off on their own while Martha and I found our way to the Chatuchak Weekend market. Massive! Endless walkways that formed a maze of shops and stalls selling clothing, food, sculptures, novelties and, of course massages. There are massage outlets everywhere in
Thailand. Some are simple shops while others are extravagant parlors. Martha took every advantage of them. At this market, after endless wandering looking for antiques, she indulged in a foot massage.
That evening we had dinner at a pizza place with Jamie's best friends, Ian and Dream. Ian is from New York but hasn't been back in some eight years. Dream is Thai and a guardian angel for Jamie. We'd heard about her for years and been deeply grateful for her friendship. In true Thai tradition, she gave Martha a gift of lotions.
On Jan 12 we went to Great Lung (Bang Kachao) Park, which is a huge space in the middle of the city, where we rented bikes and pedaled around for a few hours.
Later, we joined Chris and Patrick at the hotel pool. The Shangri-La had a nice one, but it was usually crowded and challenging to find a lounge chair. And getting a drink was somewhat awkward. That evening the boys took off with Jamie. They were often touring the local graffiti landscape or browsing the weed dispensaries. Oddly enough, pot is illegal in Thailand, but there are stores selling it everywhere. Martha and I had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants - Italian, VOLTI. Besides the traditional Thai food, Italian seems the most popular fare.
Tuesday Jan 13 - MCD and I went to Wat Aren temple via municipal ferry boat upriver a bit. There are temples everywhere in Thailand. On almost every other block. The only thing that probably outnumbers them are 7-11s, which are cultural institutions themselves. The Wat Aren is one of the larger and noteworthy in Bangkok, and big tourist attraction. It was hot and crowded. Especially with Thais who rented traditional clothing to have their pictures taken. I assume it's for a big occasion, like a graduation. I was drained, so retired to the hotel for a nap; a surrender to age.
In the evening we ventured out to the Skywalk & Skyverse at Mahanakhon Tower with CCD & PCD. Another big tourist attraction with a rooftop skyview that included a glass floor and net cages so you could hang over the side. We passed on those experiences. The views were breathtaking, though the haze from pollution was obvious. The smog poses some obvious health risks, but it does make for dazzling sunsets. Skyverse was a series of rooms with freaky light, laser and mirror attractions. Cool concept. Starving, we luckily found a sedate, secluded 'cellar,' faux Italian restaurant nearby in, of course, a mall. Chris and I finished the night at the hotel bar watching the party boats cruise the river.
Wednesday - Jan 14 - MCD, CCD, PCD and I went to the Grand Palace via Grab. This is the home of the Royal Family and seat of government. Very impressive and ornate with lots of sparkly detail. But hot, crowded and confusing. A big complex with Thai military and police on full display. MCD felt ill and I was losing my enthusiasm. The boys left for the hotel and eventually Marth and I walked down to the giant, reclining Buddha and then got a Grab back to the hotel.
By then it was after 4:00 and we collapsed, then settled for a sandwich at the pool bar. Patrick, as he did several times, spent the evening checking out Bangkok jazz bars, of which there are several. It's tragic that an American art form is so often easily found overseas, but rarely where it was invented.
Thursday - Jan 15 - Martha and I decided to take a longer trip to IconSiam, the mall across the river, using the hotel ferry. Chris had told us about a store, Uniqlo, a Japanese chain,
with good quality basic clothes. I wasn't expecting much. But when we found it, we split up and immediately found lots of buys. Great quality at good prices. Uniqlo has stores in the US and I'll make a point of searching them out. In the evening the boys took off and we just dined on the hotel patio overlooking the river. There comes a point where we don't want to struggle with figuring out where to go. Maybe it's our age, but we more quickly reach that point nowadays. Besides, we were leaving the next day.
Friday - Jan 16 - Checking out of the Shangri-La, we corralled the boys and headed by Grab to Don Mueang Airport for the next stop, Khao Sok National Park. This was to be a more rustic part of the trip, and turned out to be one of the best. The domestic airlines, in this case AirAsia, were very efficient, though Martha bristled at the confined seating. Fortunately, only a couple hours to Surat Thani airport. After finding our driver, we made our way to our lodging, Khao Sok River Home Resort. The rooms were separate buildings and each of the boys had one. Very tiny and sparse, but clean and comfortable. Gorgeous, serene, quiet jungle surroundings with warm and friendly staff who whipped up made-to-order meals/drinks in a lush outdoor pavilion. The location was a little far from the national park, but drivers were readily available.
That evening we signed up for a 'night safari' to see jungle critters in the dark. We were equipped with headlamps….but so were dozens of other tourists. The biggest thrill for Chris and Patrick was riding there in the bed of a pickup.
We did see a few critters. Snakes, scorpions, etc. But otherwise a bit underwhelming.
The next day was probably our best. We signed up for a longtail boat tour across the whole length of Cheow Lan Lake. We spent several hours at a small floating resort where we had lunch, kayaked and swam. On the boat ride back we stopped at Nam Talu cave. Incredibly beautiful and one of our favorite days.
We only scheduled two nights at Khao Sok, so on the 18th we got a van to take us to our next stop - Ko Lanta, a large island in the Krabi province with beaches and the 'sabia' (chill) vibe. We pulled up to the Nirvana Resort and were greeted with cool towels and tasty tea. Another instance of Thai hospitality. The resort is on the southwest part of the island with beautiful sunset views and a nice 1.5 mile stretch of beach. Set on a hillside, so lots of stairs to climb, but located close to shops. Unfortunately, I'd only been able to book three rooms, which meant that two boys would have to share one (oh, my!). That caused some grumbling and frustration, but eventually it worked out. Jamie frequently had to work during this trip, so his ability to join in any activities was limited - and in this case, he got the room by himself.
The primary form of transportation in Ko Lanta is motorbike. Everybody has them. Cars are the minority and because of the layout, it would be awkward to order one for wandering. So we each got one. Except for Martha, who rode with either Patrick or Jamie. She preferred Jamie since he's used to riding in the chaos of Bangkok.
Most of Ko Lanta is natural, with a road that circles the outside of the island with clusters of resorts, shops and restaurants along the way. It's more conducive to impulse stopping and wandering. Many Americans might be put off by the rustic, casual, sometimes sketchy looking construction and layouts. But on the things that matter - cleanliness and hospitality - we were never concerned and often impressed. Since we were mobile, I took separate excursions with Chris and Patrick. It was fun. Until I stopped on a hill and the bike fell back on me. Patrick also took a minor spill on some gravel.
A native attraction in Thailand is elephants. There are sanctuaries around the country. They used to be abused as tourist gimmicks; giving rides or performing. There is now more emphasis on ethical treatment. We visited a sanctuary in Ko Lanta in a preserve where we could feed and walk with them as they patrolled their area; giving themselves mud baths, knocking down a tree and wallowing in their jumbo pool.
On another excursion, we motorbiked to Old Town Ko Lanta, on the eastern side of the island; maybe 20-25 minutes. A cute shopping area where we wandered and picked up a few things….and clowned. We also took advantage of our new favorite treat - Thai iced tea. It's made with sweetened, condensed milk and tastes like a watery shake. Tons of calories and caffeine, but very refreshing.
On the way back, we stopped at a hilltop restaurant overlooking a beach. It was one of several we visited. Open air, with awesome views and surprisingly good food. And variety. Thai restaurants, even roadside stops, have voluminous menus! They're like books that require research - though often with many of the same selections.
At the southern tip of Ko Lanta is a national park with a lighthouse. While Jamie worked one day, the four of us motored down to it. It was small and easily walkable. Patrick and Chris hiked the hill up to the lighthouse, but with sheer cliffs, we stayed behind. We'd heard there were monkeys everywhere. I'd seen them along the road with Patrick. Jamie warned us they were little terrors. But Martha was dying to see monkeys. So we stopped at a lovely beach we knew had monkeys. A whole tribe was hanging out next to the motorbikes and overhead in the trees. They are conniving thieves. Scavengers. When we walked away, one jumped on my motorbike and opened the seat, looking for food. Obviously, they know the tricks. As we were leaving, a monkey chased after a woman and grabbed at her beach bag until some guy chased him away. Brazen!
The boys took off one night to visit a more developed part of the island to watch a local Moi Thai, martial arts event. It's very popular in Thailand. In Bangkok it's big, loud multimedia extravaganza. Martha and I took a pass.
The best part of Ko Lanto, though, was being able to chill out at the Nirvana Resort. We spent a good amount of time on deck chairs, jumping in the pool - with a swim-up bar - and sleepily lounging. To my surprise, this was the first time Chris had swum in an ocean. He was about as enthusiastic as I am. We both took ceremonial plunges, but came back to the pool.
On our last night we wandered down the beach to one of the many restaurants along the stretch for a final dinner and watched fire twirling displays. Next to our day in Koh Sok, Ko Lanta was our favorite part of the trip. Probably because of the chill atmosphere and that we didn't feel rushed to see or do anything.
At this point - January 23rd - Chris had to leave. Work beckoned after two weeks. He got a ride to Krabi Airport, caught a flight to Bangkok…then a flight back south to Phuket…then the long haul to Istanbul and back to Dulles. He should have just left from Bangkok. One of our screwed up communications in planning. Martha, Jamie, Patrick and I followed a couple hours later, leaving Krabi for a flight to the northern city of Chiang Mai.
We'd heard wonderful things about Chiang Mai. Though relatively small, about the size of Richmond, it's rated as one of the best cities in Asia. Jamie lived there for a year, so he was familiar with it. Martha had us booked at the Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel, a smaller boutique hotel in a cute neighborhood, a little more modern with lots of character. Driving in we were impressed with the shops and restaurants. Trendy in a Thai sort of way with plenty of tourists. Only two rooms, so Jamie & Patrick had to share. The hotel had a rooftop pool, which the boys used. It also had a "speak-easy" type bar on an upper floor; dark and mysterious(!), where we stopped. Starving, we then just popped into a restaurant across the street.
The distinction of Chiang Mai is its northern location, surrounded by mountains with a distinct variety of Thai history and culture. The next day, while the boys got scooters to get around town, Martha and caught a Grap up to a Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (temple on the mountain) up a curvy, scenic drive overlooking the city. Touristy, of course, but we were also touched by the number of devoted Thais paying tribute or praying. Some 90% of Thais are Buddhist and it shows in their approach to life. They are respectful, kind and community-conscious. Getting angry or losing your temper is considered rude and a 'loss of face.'
The views from the temple complex were stunning, though the haze again clouded the view. Surrounding the temple was a series of shops selling souvenirs, but also decorative items, like statues, masks, bells, etc. and we wanted to get something for our house. Unfortunately, Martha was feeling funky so we had to cut the shopping short. The boys scootered up the mountain to meet us, but we all left shortly afterwards. That evening the four of us went to an Italian restaurant that felt surprisingly authentic, both in food and atmosphere. Wine is problematic in Thailand. It's expensive and not usually good. But this restaurant had a nice variety - though still pricey. The four of us got a car to the entrance to the Old City, where Jamie believed there was a night market. Unfortunately, there wasn't and we wandered some quiet streets. Martha took off for the hotel and I wandered with Jamie & Patrick looking for some jazz bars, but only found some loud, obnoxious 'rock' band taverns.
The next day, the 25th, Jamie & Patrick took off on their scooters for an overnight mountain adventure. Martha and I checked out the many shops and beautiful courtyards in the Nimman area; particularly One Nimman, a modern open-air market and a nearby mall. In the evening, we again decided to check out a night market. It turned out to be the same place we'd gone the night before with Jamie. But this time it was mobbed. So crowded it was difficult to move. Fortunately, we found a nice hotel behind the stalls and chaos for a refuge and dinner. Then we got out of there.
At this point, we were running short of things to do. Martha found the Royal Park Rajapruek, by car only 15 minutes away. We rented bikes and rode around which allowed us to see more. A pretty park that focused on botanical environments. A desert pavilion, rose exhibits, orchid gardens and even an air-conditioned building with plants from our climate! It also featured a beautiful pavilion building (looks like a temple but it’s not). The whole complex was very quiet, which was a nice break from the city.
Our final day in Chiang Mai we met a colleague of Martha's brother, John - Suwicha - who works at Chiang Mai University in the physics department. She took us to a super beautiful restaurant near the university - the Café de Oasis - where we had a feast of Thai entrees and treats. As expected, she gave each of us gifts. Martha had anticipated this and had some small gifts for her as well.
At this point, we lost Patrick. After three weeks, work beckoned for him. He got a car to the airport for a flight to Bangkok and then back through Doha to Dulles. Jamie, Martha and I got a car that drove us the three hours up to our next destination, Chiang Rai. Smaller than Chiang Mai, it's a bit more rustic and so far north it's only a short distance to the Laos and Myanmar borders. Jamie had never been there, so it was new to him too. I'd booked two rooms at Le Meridien - a Marriott Bonvoy hotel. Very nice, large resort along the river with a pool and lots of amenities. After all our travels, it was a relaxing choice for the last stop. After three weeks, we were tired and didn't want to figure out much. So while there, we took advantage of their workout room, the pool and restaurants. Martha took advantage of the luxurious massage spa.
The signature attraction in Chiang Mai is Wat Rong Khun - the White Temple. It's a temple….but not really. It was built as a tourist attraction by the artist who created it. It's very dramatic and also somewhat goofy with hands groping up from a pool on the outside, movie characters painted inside and separate feature buildings around it. Kind of Disney-esque. There's an art building and artificial cave complex filled with creepy sculptures. Novel, but a 'check-the-box' experience. It didn't take long, so we got a car to one of the other notables for Chiang Rai - Wat Rong Suea Ten - the Blue Temple. Which really is a temple, but newer and also very touristy. Very beautiful; especially at the end of the day with lower light. As at other temples, I was struck by how overt and transparent their solicitation and display of contributions was. Boxes of cash with requests for donations. Western churches solicit as well, of course, but usually it's a bit more subdued (at least in Catholic and Episcopal churches).
That evening the three of us ate at a hotel restaurant, which was Italian, again.
The next day, Jamie had to work, so we wouldn't see much of him. Martha and I chilled out at the hotel, then headed into downtown Chiang Rai to check out the Clock Tower in the center and the night market. We stopped for a drink near the market and wandered the stalls and vendors, still hoping to find something for the house. Though at this point it seemed more logical to just order something when we got home rather than having to figure out shipping.
The neighborhood around the center of town has quite a few Western tourists. I spotted a crowd of Germans at a German-themed beer garden. Eventually we found a pizza place for dinner. Then we circled back to a cat-café we'd spotted earlier. There were some two dozen cats and they were not mangy strays. A couple of Siamese, a Maine Coon and some Scottish Folds. Most seemed a bit tired of the constant stream of humans grabbing at them. We enjoyed a desert and drink, then headed back to the hotel.
Winding down to end of the trip, the next day we checked out another Chiang Rai attraction, Baan Dam Museum (Black House). This was unique and very cool. Distinctive, natural, dark, and prurient art. Built by Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, it was his home and studio in several black buildings. The horns of animals forming chairs, crocodile skins on tables, a drum pavilion and penis' everywhere….even in the gift shop as sculptures for sale.
On our final day in Thailand Martha found Singha Park (agri-tourism place) a drive outside town. Obviously sponsored by the main beer company in Thailand. It was a large park that we toured by golfcart. Rows of tea plants - and tastings, ponds with swans and fish, and a petting zoo with goats, sheep, rabbits, pygmy horses, etc., that we fed. Very cute. Nothing worth going out of your way for, we were just looking for something close to do outside. It was far enough out that we had trouble getting a Grab back to town.
The next day we caught an afternoon flight back to Bangkok and then a ride to Jamie's apartment - which had just become available from a sublessor. Our flight going home didn't leave Bangkok until 3 AM, so we had some time to kill. Jamie and Martha went shopping for a new suitcase for her. Then we found a restaurant nearby for a last meal together. The area around Jamie's apartment is a whirlwind of sensory stimulation. Bright lights, streaming traffic, hordes of people on the street, open air restaurants, food stalls, sound and activity everywhere. It would drive us crazy. But it fits Jamie.
We were sad to finally part with him. He'd been a great tour guide and he so appreciated our making the trip with his brothers. We're hoping he can make it back to Michigan this summer.
Marth and I made our way to the airport, checked in with Qatar and then hung out in a luxurious lounge where we were able to take showers, nibble and drink until flight time. We'd splurged on business class and could stretch out and sleep during the first seven hour flight to Doha. Like other airports, Doha's is as much shopping and entertainment as flight hub. We found the lounge and chilled for an hour. The next flight was 15 hours, but fortunately in Qatar's famous Q-Suites, so we could stretch out, relax and doze in some privacy.
Nevertheless, our arrival to Dulles at 5:00 pm the same day we left was bleary-eyed. Martha arranged for an Uber, but the driver and several others kept asking us to go 'off-ap' to hire them personally, because Richmond was so far. Finally, we brow-beat a driver to take us.
Thinking back on our reluctance to take this trip, we're so glad we did. Especially with the boys. The weather was not as hot as we thought. The food, sights and people were wonderful. And we had some memorable experiences. We only wish Nathan could have joined us. Like many trips, the activities pass by in the moment, but they become more significant in memory over time. They will be for me and hope they will be for our sons. And who knows. Maybe we can do another one in the next few years.
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Martha's Final Impressions
Bangkok: dense crowded busy place. Lots of traffic but no one honks. Also lots to watch and see, nonstop stimulation. Air quality frequently not good. Sky train is fabulous, cheap and clean. The public boat service works well too. AC everywhere is cranked up so a light sweater is a must. My favorite spot was the Jim Thompson House. But I would skip Bangkok if not for Jamie living there.
Khao Sok: definitely a favorite of the trip. So beautiful and the day trip in the national park was amazing with all the limestone cliffs and beautiful water. Area was lush and natural and just gorgeous. Would like to visit more national parks in Thailand.
Koh Lanta: second favorite area. Without knowing anything about the other islands, I felt that Ko Lanta had the right combination of nice beaches and enough commercial areas without being too crazy busy. The beaches are gorgeous and clean and the water is warm and clean too. Everything is so pretty and gorgeous views from hilltops. The island is easy to navigate on a motorbike (if brave enough) and the old town shopping area is cute. I could be someplace even a little quieter but for the boys this was better.
Chiang Mai: I liked the part of the city where we stayed (very cute shopping spots) and up in the mountains it is gorgeous, but the rest of the city was just meh for me. Night markets way too crowded. The temple we visited was a highlight, and the restaurant where we went with Suwicha.
Chiang Rai: I would only recommend coming here for the White and Blue temples and the Black House. Otherwise not much to do that we hadn’t already experienced. We didn’t get outside of the city so maybe some of the sites farther away (waterfalls etc.) are worth it. But for me the areas in the south were more appealing.
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