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A very intriguing country with wide-array of myriad attractions, dazzling shopping, cosmopolitan nightlife, fascinating culture and delicious dining, The Kingdom of Thailand is simply ~~~~ sensational.

We arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on the east-bound Bangna Trat Highway in Bang Phli District of Bangkok at around 9 pm on Friday. It was so humid but the genuine smiles of the Thai people gave me an assurance that this country is an alluring treasure trove of magical moments and unique cultural adventures.  Our journey began with a beautiful welcome Lei from Bi, our tour guide.

                                                

During an all-inclusive three-night and five-day stay, we experienced almost everything from learning how to trek an elephant, truly relaxed with traditional Thai herbal body and foot massage in the privacy of our own teakwood suites and enjoyed an epicurean escape of Thai,Chinese, Korean and French cuisine. We visited several theme parks, too  ~~~ Mini Siam, Nongnooch Tropical Garden, Elephant Village and Sri Racha Tiger Zoo. Pattaya has become synonymous with the county’s sex industry and this aspect of the city can’t be denied. The thriving nightlife with no shortage of bars, clubs and restaurants to visit after hours are everywhere. Not only that, the gays we saw at Tiffany Show are really gorgeous. This proves that Pattaya is one of the most tolerant and gay friendly places in Asia.

   

   

   

These days a new generation of luxury accommodations is letting travellers experience the country’s cuisine, culture, and beauty like never before. Before heading to Pattaya, we stayed at Novotel Bangna Hotel. The room wasn’t that spectacular but wellness and cultural immersion define our experience. Then we stayed at Long Beach Garden Hotel and Spa in Pattaya for two nights.

Here, we definitely enjoyed Thai’s distinctive specialties served family style with an assortment  of dishes. Furthermore, the ingredients are superb! So too is the fish and seafood selection. Not to forget the MK Suki Restaurant, where we had the popular suki (similar to shabu shabu) and The Ramayana Restaurant in Bangkok, where we had our last day meal of the tour ~~ wow, it offers such cooking across the board, or such range of cuisines: Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, French and Cambodian. Thai food is beloved the world over, however nothing compares with enjoying this delightfully fresh and varied cuisine right in Thailand.

   

  We headed down the south coast from Bangkok to Pattaya. The number one draw to this place is its more than 2 miles of beach that border the city. We chartered a boat to Ko Lan Group of Islands and spend the whole morning with a couple of exciting activities ~~~ sea walking and jet skiing. Our group rented some deckchairs and just relaxed on the beach while we savor the tastes of freshly picked coconuts and mangosteens. This is a very popular destination for new exciting hotels and resorts as well as surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and exploring.

         

At night, we enjoyed "nuat paen boran" or traditional Thai massage from professionally accredited massage therapists. Spending 2 hours having my muscles slightly pushed and pulled and relaxed was an invigorating experience and it totally eradicated all the aches and pains I got from travelling and sitting on long bus journeys. This is one experience one should certainly indulge in.

THE CHARMS OF BANGKOK

   

We ended our adventure through Bangkok with a mesmerizing boat trip down the scenic Chao Phraya River also known as "Venice of the East." It was interesting to see the floating village along the river and the market vendors on boats while they sell their goods to passers-by.

         

Rattanakosin Island on the eastern shore, is the city’s historical and cultural heart. We visited here The Grand Palace which includes Wat Phra Kaeo, the nation’s most revered Buddhist shrine, called the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Bangkok is a shopping paradise where you’ll find designer shops, unique markets, and colorful street vendors.

    

    

Here’s a rundown of the few stuffs I got: a small red purse, green tiger balm, Dior Detective Chic Eye Palette, bags from Charles and Keith, silver rings from CK, a Fossil watch for my hubby, dried pineapples and mangoes, cosmetic (powdered white pearls), chocolate, and some cute Thai souvenirs for my friends.

    

    

                                    

Every moment of this tour was a lush and still-life that makes me wonder: Can I ever go back to Thai ?

    

    

Sawadee ka !