Tantalizing Thailand
Starting in Bangkok, we spent two nights in a city hotel, Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao. From there, our Thai partners put together an exciting varied itinerary, giving us a taste of the history, temples and how the Thai people live today. Our first day included a long boat tour on the Chao Phraya River, aka River of the Kings, then through canals (klongs) to capture the slower pace of life in the canal villages, the crazy mad bustling city and skyline shining down from above. From there, our journey took us to the Royal Barge Museum with its spectacular, intricately carved and decorated with gold leaf and mosaic. Finally, on to the Chao Praya to see Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), a 79-metre-high temple built in the style similar to Angkor Wat. After a full day of culture, some retail therapy and Thai street food was a great way to pass the early part of the evening followed by a live Muay Thai boxing show.
No trip to Thailand would be complete without soft white sand and warm seas. Having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with islands and hundreds of miles of coastline, it is hard to decide where. Our trip took us on a three-hour drive south for our two-night beach stay at Hua Hin. We stayed at Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas which was just perfect for our short stay. Situated right on the beach, this colonial style resort hotel is an oasis of calm right in the centre of a busy seaside holiday resort with markets, restaurants, bars and the same Thai welcome.
After a bit of a lively night out on the town, we were up early to visit the food market before heading to the cookery school. If you have ever wanted to learn how to cook those traditional Thai meals that we all love, such as a Penang Curry (Gaeng Penang Gai), four flavours shrimp soup (Tom Yum Goong Nam Khon), or a fragrant, crispy Papaya Salad (Som Tam Thai), I can so recommend the cooking class and then the best bit, yes, of course, eating it. Yum!
I would love to return to Hua Hin at some point, but after two nights it was time move on to the next part of our trip which took us northwards to River Kwai Resotel for our jungle adventure. Only accessed by long boats, we were speeding up the river where we found our rustic bungalows set out amidst lush greenery and wildlife. A visit further up river to the Mon Village where people from Myanmar have settled was fascinating. A complete little community with a village school, temple and hand built wooden houses on stilts in the jungle. They even have a resident elephant. Their lives are simple so to buy a few little trinkets is a great way to help. For me, elephant trousers were my purchase of the day.
After our Mon Village visit, it was back down the river for us and what better way than on bamboo rafts just like the traditional way of the Mon people. Such a fun experience!
Jungle stay over and time to head back to the bright lights of city but not before a visit to the Bridge on over the River Kwai and a very emotional stop at Hell Fire Pass which is part of the Death Railway which cuts through Stone Mountain to Burma. Thousands of Asian workers and Allied forces prisoners of war lost their lives during the construction of the railway in the Second World War. A moving few hours but essential in learning about Thailand’s history.
So, finally, back to Bangkok for some fun and what better way than an 11 tuk tuk convoy, racing through the night streets to China Town for some Chinese Thai cuisine, ending with crazy Patpong night market for a last bit of retail therapy. Our final hotel was Centara Grand Central World. A beautiful city hotel that’s well located for sightseeing and shopping.
Thank you to our wonderful hosts for a brilliant trip! Good bye Thailand, until we meet again. You were the best!