Thailand | Places

Three days in Bangkok and three days in Chiang Mai is quite a quick trip to Thailand, but you can take in a lot of pad thai and temples in a short amount of time. Here is my brief and random list of Bangkok and Chiang Mai suggestions. 

• Know your basic phrases, such as hello, which is Sawatdee khrap if you are male and Sawatee kha if female. Khop khun kha/khrap is thank you. Another useful phrase I used was, mai sai nam thaan which means "without sugar" as Thai coffee is mainly condensed milk and sugar, so this became useful. 
• Buddhism is deeply steeped in Thai culture and it is important to be aware of norms, such as the absolute abhorring of feet. It is sacrilegious to put feet on furniture or point your feet toward Buddhas. Don't do it, you'll send any calm and cheery Buddhist into a panic. 
• Stay somewhere with free breakfast. One morning I walked around looking for a cafe to eat at but discovered the hotel breakfast was significantly better. My perception of breakfast offerings was I could eat noodles or pancakes. Both hotels I stayed in on this trip had free breakfast with a mixture of noodles, rice, eggs, dumplings, toast, pastries, and coffee. 
• Eat mango sticky rice, it's delicious. 

BANGKOK 

Temples are numerous all throughout Thailand. There are many popular ones in Bangkok including the Grand Palace, with swarms of tourists. Personally, I was mostly enthralled with the artistry of all the small buildings within a temple compound. Each stood unique with its designs, colors, and shape. I ran my hands over the mosaiced walls and stared at the intricate statues. Make sure your toes look nice, shoes must be taken off to enter temples. 

One day in Bangkok a group of us visited the flower market, Pak Khlong Talat, and stumbled upon Floral Cafe at Napasorn. It was a warm afternoon and we were in need of a refreshing break. Upstairs, above a flower shop arranging wreaths for a Chanel event, was the brick-walled Floral Cafe with matcha, smoothies, and cute pieces of cake. We sat at a long wood table, sipping our drinks, marveling at the flowers hanging on the walls and from the ceiling. After cooling down, we took a water taxi down the Chao Phraya River. The water taxi would stop every few minutes for mere seconds, people jumping on and off quickly, then continue speeding around Bangkok. Public transportation is efficient in Bangkok and Ubers are very cheap, helpful for late night travels. 

Sky Bar is overrated. There are two rooftop areas at Sky Bar: one small area where tourists are shuffled and another expansive, magically lit, tuxedo-wearing area where all the dashing Thai society members are allowed. The Hangover 2 shows the fancy part, on a clear and sunny day. 64 floors above Silom Road provides a nice view of Bangkok, but I honestly preferred the views of the waterways and intricate mosaics in temples. At dusk, the sky was smoggy and the drinks were not worth the expense. You could buy 15 Singha for the price of a mojito. 

Other things to check out in Bankok:

• Khaosan Road - Eat, drink, be merry. It gets quite merry and packed past 10pm.  
• Street food - Eat the stuff being cooked fresh, piping hot, that has not been sitting out. Some of my favorites include roti with banana, gyoza, any pad thai, and if you feel daring a bug or two.
• Asiatique: The Riverfront - An open-air shopping area with food stalls, vendors, a ferris wheel. Plenty of stands for durian ice cream as well if you dare to try the stinky fruit.

CHIANG MAI

Wat Chedi Luang in Chaing Mai was my favorite temple of all I saw in Thailand. The large, stone elephants gracing the temple stood in contrast to the immense amount of ornate gold I witnessed in Bangkok. A very interesting experience at Chedi was Monk Chat. Every day tourists can sit and chat with monks, allowing for cultural exchange and English practice. It was a fascinating experience and provided an intimate understanding of what a life devoted to monastisism entails. 

The Anusarn Market is another night market--there are many in Thailand--with cheap vendors, food, and experiences. I had my feet nibbled on in a tank of little fish, ate piping hot gyoza, and bought a cute macrame plant hanger. Night markets are nice because there are lots of things in a more enclosed area, somewhat off the street populated with weaving motorcyclist. 

Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden is a cafe I found while wandering around Chiang Mai one morning. First, wander around Chiang Mai. There are little treasures tucked down skinny streets, such as this. Entering through an elaborate entrance resembling a relic of a temple, I found myself in what felt like a jungle. It was filled with trees and plants, interspersed with statues, benches, and tables. I ordered a coconut, brought whole, slightly sliced open with a pink straw in it. Places like Clay Studio are characteristic of how I saw Chiang Mai: a conglomerationg of a whole lot of unique little places. 

If I return to Thailand, I want to hike in Chiang Mai, explore deeper into the jungles, see the coast, and stay at an eco-lodge. I enjoyed this packed week in Thailand with my gregarious group of grad school friends. It's who you travel with that makes adventures extra special.