In the summer of 2006 we spent a few exciting days in Bangkok. Peter and I (Helena) arrived by plane from Beijing and slept one night in Bangkok before it was time to meet Peter's two sons Robin and Billie. They flew themselves from Sweden. Now our journey changed - from travelling alone on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Siberia and Mongolia, it was time for a family holiday in Thailand.
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New travelling companion
Then it was time for a new travelling companion! Robin and Billie, who were 18 and 10 years old at the time, met us in Bangkok to join us on holiday in Thailand. Fun! We spent a few days in Bangkok before travelling on to the island of Koh Samui.
Luxury hotel in Bangkok
In Koh Samui we had booked a cheap and rather cramped bungalow. When we got an offer to book two luxury rooms in Bangkok at a good price, we took the opportunity!
If you're ever going to splurge in this way, it's in countries where prices are lower. There was a large room for me and Peter and an equally large room for Robin and Billie. None of them expected this luxury, so it was a surprise!
Shopping, aquarium and cinema
So what do you do in a big city with two young guys? Bangkok is full of shopping centres and we found a huge shopping complex called Siam Paragon. Here we strolled around among exclusive clothing stores and restaurants before discovering that there was also a ... aquarium! At the bottom of the building, below the shops, we found an underwater world of fish and other exotic animals.
The shopping centre also has a bunch of cinemas, and we chose to see Superman. Armed with 3D glasses and popcorn, we sank into the seats, only to realise that the King was in the picture and that we were supposed to stand up in awe. Billie wanted to do the same as everyone else and quickly flew out of her chair... while the popcorn flew in all directions.
Boat trip on the Chao Phraya River
We also took a boat trip on the Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok. The river has always been an important part of people's lives in Thailand's capital, and many people use the river to get around the city. There are also plenty of hotels and restaurants where you can sit overlooking the river.
If you want to take a trip on the river, there are many different options, ranging from taking a cheap "river bus" to renting your own boat. We chose to book a boat tour. Exciting to see the city from a different angle!
Onwards to Koh Samui
Then it was time to fly on to the island of Koh Samui, where we spent the rest of our holiday. We'll tell you about Koh Samui in a separate post, but for now you can see a sign from the charming little airport on the island that actually has one (1) conveyor belt for bags. Have you been to Bangkok, Koh Samui or anywhere else in Thailand? What are your experiences?
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Lena - gott för själen says:
I have also spent a few days in Bangkok in 2006 before we flew on for a sun holiday on the islands. The islands we visited were a little less unknown Koh Sukorn, Koh Hai and Koh Muuk. Liked Thailand very much! So lovely, so nice and so friendly!
Hug Lena
13 February 2018 - 6:19
Helena says:
Sounds nice with some smaller more unknown islands!
13 February 2018 - 16:07
Johnny Friskilä says:
I remember travelling on a river bus, although I have to admit that I don't really remember much. This was summer 2002 and I spent two days in Bangkok on my way from Norway to Bali. And these two days are actually the only thing I've seen of Thailand, so far...
13 February 2018 - 7:43
Helena says:
It's more "your niche" to visit countries that almost no one else visits! 😉
13 February 2018 - 16:09
Husisblogg says:
Thailand, yes that country, the owners have visited 5 times and just as happy with their destination each time. The first trip was for two weeks, but they thought it was too little, so it became three weeks or four weeks. The owners also got married on a beach in Thailand.
The owners have also visited both Bangkok and Koh Samui, and were probably more interested in the culinary island than in Bangkok. They have often taken a trip of two or three days to other islands. It's a cosy feeling when the electricity is switched off on the islands, with flashlights and then just "hear" the calm.
The owners were practically on the plane when the tsunami hit the country, so the plane didn't take off and they had to postpone the trip for a year.
The following year, the owners went up to Khao Lak to visit a newly opened orphanage for children who had lost their parents. They brought with them a large amount of money from themselves as well as from friends and acquaintances, which they donated to the orphanage. It was, however, a small process to be able to donate because the authority wanted to check that the money was correct, hoping that the authority was honest so that the money was correct.
13 February 2018 - 9:07
Helena says:
It sounds like your owners have great experiences from Thailand, not least the marriage of course! What a nice effort to help the children at the orphanage! Fantastic when travelling leads to such positive actions!
13 February 2018 - 16:11
Elisabeth says:
I have been in Bankok for a few days and looked at temples, big and small Buddhas, night market and much much more. What stuck with me the most was all the dirt in the air. We stayed in a central location with a swimming pool on the roof. There the staff wiped the white furniture in the morning and in the evening it was black! This was in early 2000 and since then the traffic has increased further. Nasty!
13 February 2018 - 9:11
Helena says:
Many big cities in Asia have problems with the air, which is no fun. However, it's a good thing when you hear about all the efforts being made to improve the environment in some places.
13 February 2018 - 16:13
Ama de casa says:
We also stayed very luxurious at a cheap price when we were in Bangkok the first time in 1987. It is important to take care 🙂
We have only "stopped" on Koh Samui with the ferry on our way to Koh Phangan in the early 90s. There we also lived in a very simple hut (full of cockroaches) for 17 kroner a night, I think it was 🙂.
13 February 2018 - 9:23
Helena says:
Hm, I would be willing to pay a bit more for the accommodation to avoid the cockroaches 😉.
13 February 2018 - 16:14
Ditte says:
Nice to follow along on your journey. And Banngkok and tHailand are quite familiar. We have visited Thailand many times and travelled around there a lot. The first time we came to Bangkok was in 1980 when we were to work three months in a refugee camp at the border with Cambodia. Then we also travelled by train from Bankok and south to Malaysia to renew our visa and with some stops on the way. The same year we also visited Phuket, Phi phi Island and Koh Lanta, which then only had a single accommodation. We have hiked in Chang Mai and Chang Rai and visited many islands. We have always returned to Bangkok for a few days and it is certainly worth booking a more luxurious hotel there.
But we have a "paradise" that is not touristy and is located on the mainland about 20 miles south of Bankok, Chackpong and where we have been many times. Thailand has a lot to offer and if you get off the tourist track, we like being here even better. (Nowadays there will be no trips back as I will not be in the sun).
Nice to hear more about your trip in Thailand (I celebrated my 60th birthday on Koh Samui... I did some travelling around Thailand and other Asian countries when we lived in China).
13 February 2018 - 9:52
Helena says:
Interesting to hear about your experiences from Thailand Ditte! We were in pretty touristy areas, but I think we would like the slightly less touristy places better!
13 February 2018 - 16:16
s p i n d e l t j e j e n says:
Then it's time for you to go there again, I think 😉.
I spend a week there every year at least, going again next week 😉.
Kraaaaam!
13 February 2018 - 13:45
Helena says:
Glad you're going back soon! Then we can wish you a nice trip! 🙂
13 February 2018 - 16:18
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang. says:
Thailand, Huay Yang, is my second home country.
Spend a couple of months there every year.
Soon on the road again.
Bangkok a big favourite.
Never get tired of that city.
So much to discover.
I have been to Koh Samui 2 times, in 2003 and 2010.
The airport is the "sweetest" I have visited.
Titti
13 February 2018 - 17:10
Helena says:
It sounds great to be able to travel to Thailand often! Agree that Koh Samui airport is incredibly cute 🙂 .
14 February 2018 - 16:16
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
For some reason Thailand has never attracted me (maybe for the same reason, I've never been to Gran Canaria). You should never say never, but now it feels like many destinations are ahead of the wish list ... even though everyone who has been to Thailand talks about the country's advantages....
13 February 2018 - 19:34
Helena says:
Most destinations have something to offer, but you don't have time for all of them, so you have to choose based on your list of priorities 😉.
14 February 2018 - 16:30
BP says:
Firstly, I think it is incredibly cool that Robin and Billie travelled alone to Bangkok. What an adventure especially for the then 10-year-old Billie. WOW like.
I've never been to Thailand and strangely enough I don't want to go there either. It's just as well to go with you.
PS. Billie's wonderfully beautiful eyes can be drowned in. DS.
13 February 2018 - 20:46
Anette says:
I have been living here in Bangkok for almost four years and there is still a lot to discover. Bangkok is an incredibly miserable and charming city that I love (hate some days).
Unfortunately, the air has been terrible for some time and you don't want to be here.
14 February 2018 - 6:03