Brian and Marisa Bargsten: Thailand - Bangkok and South

Getting to Thailand was like arriving in the lap of luxury. Brian and I took every opportunity to enjoy the plane flight on Thai Airways - we drank our share of free booze, watched movies, and thoroughly enjoyed our airplane food. You might scoff, but after being in the mountains, simple luxuries are amazing. And arriving in Bangkok only added to this feeling. We climbed into our air conditioned taxi and admired the well-paved highways and operational streetlights at night....seems funny now in retrospect.

In any case, Bangkok felt like a whole new city to Brian and I when compared to the last time we were there (2005) . We're not sure if the change in feeling arose from staying in a different part of town (expat area rather than Koh San (backpacker area)), or that we'd spent a long time in Nepal, or because Thailand suddenly warped into the 21st century of consumerism and technology. We were pretty impressed. The streets were clean, the public transport ran smoothly (try the sky train), and the Thais seem even more friendly than usual....if that is possible.

If you are looking to try a destination other than central America (eg. Mexico) and want something a bit more exotic but still very relaxing, then Thailand begs for your patronage. The beaches in Thailand are arguably some of the best in the world. The water is warm, clear and that perfect shade of blue, with giant limestone rock formations (karsts) that jut hundreds of feet out of the sea. And not to be outdone, the Thai people are also some of the best, most accommodating, and kind people on the planet (taxi drivers/tuk tuks exempt). There are sparkling temples, a bagillion buddhas, and oh yes, the food is AMAZING! After being in a place where plants basically don't grow (Gokyo), having access to fresh vegetables and tropical fruits is particularly delightful.

But there is a catch to Thailand... the price of this piece of paradise is that you will be sharing it with every speedo-wearing foreigner. Don't expect your beaches to be private (unless you really get off the beaten path...good luck), and Thailand has seemed to let development happen somewhat "willy nilly". Brian and I aren't much for sun worshiping but we headed south to Koh Phi Phi, which used to be my absolute favorite island in 2001. The island got pummeled by the tsunami back in 2004, and has recovered, but unfortunately, the island's unbelievable natural beauty has also been its demise. Yes, the beaches are still lovely and the rock formations are astounding, but there is an very weird crowd and vibe that now frequents the island (picture white trash Europeans who love to party and drink). We'll spare you the reality and dish up some of the island pics that are still attainable on the backside beaches of Phi Phi. But if you plan to head to Thailand, save some money and go to one of the cheaper, less frequented beaches. We'd suggest Krabi or Lipe.

After Koh Phi Phi we took a ferry to Krabi, which is a shoreside city south of Phuket. This town feels a bit less like tropical paradise, but provides a lot more Thai authenticity. The night market was awesome! Every farang (foreigner) was trying the cuisine. We tried a very popular food stand that served mini pancakes with green gel on them-no idea what it was but it was delicious! And Krabi does have nice beaches in the Rai Leh portion which is known to be a rock climber's paradise. The area also tends to attract a more active crowd.

Nonetheless, Brian and I aren't much for lounging and so we took a 26 hour bus ride up to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is supposedly the best place in Thailand to experience the Songkran festival, also known as Thai New Year. This festival lasts several days and basically is the biggest water fight you'll see in the world. Supposedly it begins April 12th this year, but Brian and I can tell you that celebrations are in full gear already. However, I will let him share what the Songkran experience is like in our next blog.