18. Thailand

Thailand is for me due to the variety of things to do definitely one of my favorite Asian countries. The people are very friendly, the food is excellent, the beer is cheap. What else can one ask for?

We started in the south of Thailand in famous Phuket. Not a bad place, but Phuket City was quite boring and the main beach we went to was very touristy. I am sure that if you invest more time and money, there are some really nice spots to be discovered!

Gay parade in Phuket

Literally on the other side there was Koh Phangan, the island next to Koh Samui, that is famous for its outrageous full moon parties. We missed unfortunately the full moon, but stayed in some really nice bungalows in a little bay in the middle of nowhere. No electricity at night, no phone working, no problems. This place was pretty close to paradise (if you forget about the cockroach and spider "attacks" at night).

Our beach

One of our bungalows

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a busy city. On the water ways, on the streets, there is a lot going on! It has to offer a ton of temples ("Wats"), the king's palace, a million shopping malls and also a really good night life in the tourist area. The one and only Khao San Road is sure not everyone's favorite place, but I sure like having a cold beer, watching football on TV and eating some insects. I celebrated my birthday there with my cotravellers as well as with Flo and Kate, a German-Thai Clark-University-couple that married last year in Bangkok. Good thing to have friends like them in a city like that! :)

Auge um Auge...

Buddha statue

TukTuk - Race! Yeeeah!

In Chiang Mai, a small city in the north of Thailand, it is again much more about nature. We made an elephant ride (sorry Jasmine, but I really did not have the feeling that the elephants were treated that bad) and some other activities and relaxed in our hostel pool before heading back to Bangkok and then to Cambodia!

Thai boxers do not have to be tall...

Elephant riding in Chiang Mai