Sala Keoku: The Other Buddha Park
Exploring sculpter Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat’s even more ambitious and enigmatic Thai sculpture park follow-up to his famed Buddha Park just across the river in Laos.
Thailand
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Here, you’ll find all our Thailand backpacking and expat travel stories, budget travel tips, destination guides, top sights, and more.
Destinations include Chiang Mai, Gulf Islands, Railay (Krabi), and Isan), things to do in Bangkok, off-the-beaten-path places to visit, and more.
Udon’s Quirky Nong Bua Lake
A fun morning spent exploring newly refurbished and uniquely Chinese Nong Bua Lake and Chalom Phrakiat Park on our way out of Udon Thani.
Udon Thani
A rare skip across the Mekong to Thailand for BB2’s 20-week anatomy ultrasound—and a weekend of sampling oddities of the industrialized world…
Railay: Baby Overboard
Finally, the post you’ve all been waiting for… Noe (and friends…but mostly Noe) in Railay!
Railay Night Life
When the sun sets at 6pm, even Noe gets a sampling of the beach nightlife. And when the grandparents are in town, mom and dad get even more.
Railay: Reasonably Unseasonable
We spend five days on the Railay Peninsula with Grammy, Grampy and friends, soaking up the beach life and warm company, despite an unexpected visit from Old Man Winter.
Meet Me in Railay
Heading down south to one of our favorite places on the planet for five fun-filled days with four of our favorite people on the planet.
Koh Samet: In Search of the Perfect Beach
We venture to the far south of the island to Wai Bay. Could this prove to be the perfect beach we’ve searched for all these years? We’ll find out!
Koh Samet Cove Hopping
On some islands, you beach hop. On Koh Samet, you cove hop. Today, we visit five distinct coves without setting foot on a lick of blacktop.
Island Life on Koh Samet
Awake early in the small Thai fishing village of Ban Phe with a couple of unhappy stomachs. Nothing that some tropical beach time won’t cure!
Island Escape: Bangkok to Ban Phe
With work obligations finished, we’re off on our long overdue first beach holiday since moving to Southeast Asia!
Bangkok: Adventures Along the Sukhumvit Line
Noe and I explore Bangkok on our own while Lori attends a physical therapy conference … until we decide to sneak our way into the conference, posing as Dr. Singha and his esteemed colleague, Professor Peepoo.
Bangkok, Old & New
Starting the week on old Rattanakosin Island, before relocating into the exploding high-rise jungle of Eastern Bangkok.
Trip Report: Ancient Siamese Capital of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya. For over four centuries, the magnificent center of the Siamese kingdom. Say it three times fast and you just may give yourself TMJ.
Bangkok: Khaosan Road and the Temple of Dawn
Continuing on our Saturday out in Bangkok, we catch a ferry to the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) and cool down with some drinks along Bangkok’s infamous Khaosan Road.
Bangkok, Baby
After nine months of living in Laos, we finally make it down to the Big City, a mere 400 miles south of Vientiane (but a world apart).
9 Months with Noe
Nine Months!!! Another eventful month with the Mister in Laos. He’s [scarily] becoming more and more human every day, which is both exciting and challenging […]
Hospital Days in Thailand
After bribing Thai nurses in miniskirts with his cuddles, Noe gets moved from the ICU to the ward, and I lose my creepy (yet kind of awesome) bachelor pad.
Month Four with the Mister
A look back at Noe’s fourth month with us on Planet Earth, and first month living in Laos.
Noe’s Never-Ending Night Out in Chiangmai
We join Lori’s work crew for a sunset tour of Chiang Mai’s most famous mountain-top temple…and back into town for a Lao shopping bonanza at the city’s other night market.
Baby’s First Night Sleeping in a Piano
We spend some time working and staying in a most extraordinary place, and Noe and I embark on a pilgrimage to a unique coffee shop.
Chiang Mai Streetlife & Wararot Market
Discovering Chiang Mai’s sprawling and bustling indoor market, where the locals go to shop for specialty goods.
Chiang Mai: Awk Phansa & Sunday Night Market
Exploring Chiang Mai’s famous night market in the heart of the Old City, while taking in the cultural and religious festivities of the end of Buddhist lent.
Chiang Mai: Chicken, Temple, Massage, Repeat.
Digging into some world-famous chicken, taking in another temple, and trying our best to not let a three-month-old get in the way of a good ol’ fashion massage.
Chiang Mai: Stranded at Wat Phra Singh
We had big plans for exploring the temples of Chiang Mai’s Old City this morning, but find ourselves hold up in one of the city’s largest for much longer than anticipated.
Back to Chiang Mai
Returning to Chiang Mai after four years away, for a work trip and to retrace the steps of our week-long residence in 2012.
The White Temple of Chiang Rai
Wat Rong Khun was by far one of the most unique temples we visited in Thailand — it is also one of Thailand’s newest. Construction began in 1996 and is not due to be completed until 2070!
Scaling Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep by Scooter
We rent a scooter and slowly putter our way up Chiang Mai’s most sacred mountain, Doi Suthep, to explore one of the holiest Buddhist temples in northern Thailand.
Chiang Mai
After a 36-hour haul from Railay, we rolled in late to Chiang Mai and were ready to lay low for a while. Thankfully, Old Town Chiang Mai is just the place to do that.
Railay to Chiang Mai by Train
After four nights in Railay and three weeks beach-hopping in Thailand, we bid adieu to the ocean and headed north to Chiang Mai and the highlands.
Kickin’ Back at Railay (Krabi)
More from the Railay Peninsula. Trekking, kayaking, monkeying around and hangin’ out — Railay style.
Thailand’s Stunning Railay Peninsula
Railay (aka Rai Leh), what can I say. Paradise — even during the off-/shoulder-season. Lori and I kicked it here for the better part of five days.
Chaloklum (Koh Phangan)
Chaloklum is the quintessential fishing village forgotten by time (and tourists). While the southern part of the island parties into the next day, life here continues in blissful ignorance.
Koh Tao: Chalok Baan Kao
Leaving the bulk of the divers and flashpackers behind in Sairee Beach, we head south, to a lesser trodden corner of the island.
Sairee Village: Koh Tao’s Heart of the Action
Koh Tao’s Sairee Village — Backpacker paradise, dive mecca, and all around superb place to chill. We liked it here so much, we almost didn’t leave.
Overnight Freighter to Koh Tao
Between taking the fast boat full of tourists and the overnight freighter full of Burmese workers to the Gulf Islands, the decision was easy.
Bangkok’s Grand Palace
On our second day in Bangkok, we figured it was time to check out the Grand Palace, locally known as Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang (just rolls off the tongue!).
Bangkok Birthday
I’ve found myself in some fun places on my birthday over the years, and Bangkok tops the list — Definitely a memorable place to celebrate another trip around the sun!
Four Nights In Bangkok
Man-eating cockroaches, epic rainstorms and fried banana pancakes. Welcome to Bangkok! And we can’t wait to get back!
Arrival In Bangkok
Just when I was starting to think that cynicism had completely consumed my soul, regurgitated it and begun to chew on it like a slovenly desert camel, we arrive in Bangkok.