Farewell to Thailand!

In which we look back on the best parts of Thailand...


Dec 23

From Krabi, we took the ferry back to Ko Phi Phi, spent a couple more days there (detailed in the Ko Phi Phi post), and then went back to Patong for one more night. In the morning, we got a shuttle to the Phuket airport and from there flew directly to Sydney.

As of our current spot in the trip, Thailand has been our favorite location. So much so that we even considered rearranging our flights to try and spend another month there, but we couldn't find a way to do it for a reasonable price.

Best food - Chiang Mai
Best nightlife - Phi Phi Don
Friendliest people - anywhere north of Bangkok
Most laid back - Cave Lodge
Least touristy - Phitsanulok
Favorite food and drinks: Café Buran (hot coffee served with sweetened condensed milk), Chiang Mai sausage, pad thai, Black Velvet (Guinness with a splash of black currant liqueur), fruit smoothies, shaking milks of Chiang Mai
Best celebration - Loy Krathong
Most fun - Phi Phi Don

Loy Krathong decorations, from Thailand - Ryan and Danny

Ryan's Top Experiences Tham Phra Wang Daeng Loy Krathong Festival Ao Maya camping Lopburi Monkey Festival First scuba dive

Danny's Top Experiences Tham Phra Wang Daeng First scuba dive Conversing in Thai Lopburi Monkey Festival

Cave Buddha, from Thailand - Phitsanulok Caving

Ryan's Favorite Eats Sunday Walking Street snacks(Chiang Mai) Dalaabaa (Chiang Mai) Just Khao Soy (Chiang Mai) Siam Rice cooking school (Chiang Mai) Cave Lodge (Pang Matha) Favola (Chiang Mai)

Danny's Favorite Eats Phitsanulok Night Market, especially soup and Kra Pow (Phitsanulok) 3 Kings Plaza festival market (Chiang Mai) Cave Lodge, especially bamboo sticky rice (Pang Matha) Thipsamai pad thai (Bangkok) Siam Rice cooking school (Chiang Mai) Chiang Mai in general

Sunday Market food, from Thailand - Food

Ryan's Best Sights Giant Buddhas and their Wats (especially Wat Pho, Wat Sri Chum, and Wat Phanon Choeng) Phi Phi Don Viewpoint #2 Swimming in luminescent plankton (Phi Phi islands) Khom loy in the wind currents over Chiang Mai Huge chambers in Tham Phra Wang Daeng (Phitsanulok)

Danny's Best Sights Phang Nga bay islands Ornate Wats of Thailand Giant Buddhas (especially Wat Kok Mai Daeng) Maya Bay at sunrise Swimming in luminescent plankton with scuba mask (Phi Phi islands) Khom loy in wind currents over Chiang Mai

Longtails at Ao Maya, from Thailand - Ko Phi Phi

On to Sydney and New Zealand!!!

Young monks, from Thailand - Chiang Mai