Visit Thailand: Bangkok and Phuket

Thailand is fun to visit. It has the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. In 2019, it was the 9th ranked country in the world for tourism, slightly ahead of Germany and the United Kingdom. Asian and Western tourists flock to Bangkok, and western tourists also enjoy the Southern beaches, particularly Phuket.

Officially, the Kingdom of Thailand is a parliamentary democracy, although the military has a rather strong role in the country. In Thailand, the King and Queen are protected by a highly enforced law that prohibits any public criticism. Violations carry large fines and prison sentences.

Visit Thailand – Bangkok, The Capital

Robin and Cos visited Bangkok for two days as part of their three month Asia-Pacific 2023 tour. They learned five important lessons during this visit:

• Don’t visit a city as big as Bangkok in anything less than three days.
• Make sure you tour guide doesn’t switch the agenda on you.
• Always have the exact money to pay a taxi driver; they don’t believe in change.
• Don’t visit on the Thai New Year; you may get wet. (It is celebrated by drenching others with water using water guns, buckets of water or even hoses)
• Don’t visit on a 99 degree day unless you want to get wet.

With all that said, we still recommend Bangkok as a very interesting place to visit. In addition to our spring 2023 two-day visit, Cos spent five days on business over 30 years ago. Oh, had this place changed! Back then it was still part of the developing world. Today, Bangkok is a very modern city with an impressive infrastructure. Other than Singapore, we would say it is the most developed city that we visited in Southeast Asia. See Southeast Asia Post for more comparative information.

During our visit we toured the Grand Palace, which was certainly “Grand”. We had expected that the Tour would include other stops, including the market and some famous temples. However, the tour guide switched the agenda. We did see the Temples in the Grand Palace.

Visit Thailand: Phuket, A Destination for All

Nestled in the Andaman Sea, Phuket, Thailand is a tropical paradise that offers something for everyone. From the bustling Old Town and Chinatown to the stunning beaches and breathtaking attractions, Phuket offers both adventure and relaxation.

Cos and Robin had a short 3-day visit to Phuket in March 2023 after having first made a similar short 3-day visit to Bali, Indonesia. They had a one-night layover in Singapore between the two island retreats just to throw in some urban life. To learn more about how the two island resorts compare, and to read about Singapore, please visit our Southeast Asia post.

Old Town Phuket

Start by exploring the charming Old Town, a bustling area filled with colorful architecture and cobbled streets. This area is a great place to shop for souvenirs, dine on delicious Thai cuisine, and admire the vibrant street art.

Phuket’s Street Art and Elephant Maps

You don’t normally associate Phuket with a great artist community. Nevertheless, this was some pretty neat street art that we discovered in the old town. To see more Street Art, please visit our Love Graffiti Art Post.

Below you will find some interesting elephant maps.

Chinatown, Phuket

Chinatown, located in the heart of Old Town, is a must-see. The area is packed with Chinese-style buildings and narrow alleys, which are full of shops and street stalls. You can find everything from traditional Chinese clothing and food, to jewelry and souvenirs.

Buddhist Temples

Another must-see is Wat Chalong Temple, a Buddhist temple which is said to be over 150 years old. The temple is a great place to admire the intricate architecture and colorful murals, as well as learn about the history of the island.

Big Buddha

You can also visit Big Buddha, a large golden statue situated high up on the hill. The statue is said to represent the spirit of the island, and is a popular spot for tourists to visit. It is quite a climb, but offers not only a close up view of the Budda but also a stunning view over the island.

Phuket’s Beautiful Ocean Views: Karon Point, Nak-Kerd and Siray Bay Sea Views

Three of the best scenic views in all of Phuket are Karon Point, Nak-Kerd and Siray Bay where the Westin is located. That’s where Cos and Robin stayed. So, okay we’re biased.

Cruise to James Bond Island, Phuket

The most beautiful and unique attraction in Phuket is Phang Nga Bay. This area is known for its spectacular limestone cliffs and is a popular spot for kayaking and boat trips. You can also visit the famous James Bond and Hong Islands, which are located in the bay. We booked a luxury day cruise excursion which was a pleasant surprise as to its quality and variety. The food was quite good, there was a very good DJ and the off boat visits were also great. It was also fun to scamper over the rocks on James Bond island and re-watch The Man with the Golden Gun when we returned home. Visit Trip Advisor to learn more about the bay and James Bond Island.

Phuket’s Monkeys and Elephants

Elephants and tigers are important to the people of Thailand. While we saw both live and replicas of elephants all over Phuket, we didn’t see any tigers. However, we did see a number of monkeys who are more viewed as pests since they like to steal items, including cell phones, from unsuspecting tourists.

The Size of an Elephant, Never Ceases to Amaze