Thailand is brimming with ornate Buddhist temples, cheap street food, five dollar massages, fresh markets that go through immense canals, and so much more. It is easy to find things to do here. This is my five day guide to Bangkok and Chiang Mai specifically. Read on for more info:
Day 1: Bangkok
1.Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Constructed in 1782 by King Rama 1 to serve as his residence and administrative offices, this temple and palace is a must see. The temple of the Emerald Buddha is regarded as the most important temple in Thailand. The robes on this Jade Buddha are changed with the seasons by the King of Thailand. This is a sacred ritual in the Buddhist calendar. The agriculture is breathtaking and there are over 100 buildings on the grounds. You must dress modestly when visiting here by covering up shoulders and knees. There is an audio guide available at the entrance if you would like to learn more about the history here.
2.Wat Arun ( The Temple of the Dawn)
This temple lies next to the Chao Phraya river and is made up of colorful spires and designs . The spire is decorated with pieces of multicolored glass and porcelain. You can follow stairs to the stop that shows you amazing views of the river and nearby temples.
3. Wat Saket ( Temple of the Golden Mount)
This was one of my personal favorite temples here. It is on top of a hill and offers superior views of Bangkok. It also has a fascinating, but morbid history. Thousands of people were bought here to be cremated due to cholera, but there were so many bodies they could not store them all awaiting to be cremated. So they piled them up outside while vultures competed for their bodies. Ring the bells and the gongs as you wind up the 318 stairs for good luck and explore the extensive grounds from the Ayutthaya period. You will see offerings of flower garlands, money, and incense at the golden chedi which houses a statue of Buddha.
Day 2: Bangkok
1. Jim Thompson House
You may be wondering who is Jim Thompson and what’s so special about his residence? His story is an extraordinary one and is surrounded by an aura of mystery. Originally from America , he was in WW2 and afterwards had decided to move to Thailand. In Thailand he had revived the silk industry by making it popular for stages and for the screen by having connections with people in Europe and America. At the age of 61 , he entered the Malaysia jungle and was never seen again. His disappearance remains a mystery since no one has found his body or any information relating to this incident. His house uses the remnants of 6 other traditional Thai homes and he has many priceless antiques in his house. The gardens outside are full of flowers, and sometimes they offer silk demonstrations here.
2. Cooking Class and Market Tour
This activity is popular in Chiang Mai, but I saw this cool tour being offered in Bangkok and decided to seize the opportunity. This tall Norwegian man and his beautiful Thai wife picked me up by the train station and immediately took me to their local market by their suburbs. There were different sections full of fresh herbs, newly harvested plants, raw meat, juicy seafood, and clothing items. I had many questions wandering through the busy marketplace and my host answered my curious inquiries with patience and understanding.
“Why are there live animals in these buckets? And do people eat the whole pig head,” I asked. “The live animals are usually brought and released near a temple with a water source nearby and the pig heads are used when a Chinese Buddhist wants to open a new business to bring good fortune to it. Not all Buddhist do this, but some may and they will invite monks over to light incense for their ceremony. They may also eat the skin off of the pig,” the Thai lady replied.
After picking out the best red chili peppers, lemon grass, pandan leaves, and mangoes for our recipes we leave the market and head towards their home. I was the only guest that had booked for this day and you can choose the fourth recipe out of a list in which you would like to try. The host are accommodating for any food allergies you may have such as shellfish.
When we got to their lovely home they offered me some refreshing lemon grass tea which quenched my thirst and then they asked if I had tried pig ears. Hearing my reply they offered me a few.
We prepared our four dishes which were Pad Thai, Gaeng Keow Wan Gai ( Green curry with chicken), Som Tam ( Green papaya salad), and Khao Niaow Ma Muang ( Mango sticky rice). The green curry was the toughest recipe to preprare because you have to put in some major muscle work to grind most of the ingredients together using a mortar and pestle. After preparing the great feast by frying noodles, cutting herbs, grinding spices, and cooking meat in a big pot we set the table up and laid our steaming dishes out.
The tour I took was called My Thai Cooking. I paid 50 USD for my class, but a private one is 85 USD. They also gave me the recipes at the end of the tour and pictures they had taken. Here is the link for more info:
Authentic Thai Cooking Classes in Bangkok by My Thai Cooking
Day 3: Bangkok
1.Maeklong Railway, Floating Market, and Coconut Farm
First stop on my tour was the famous Maeklong Railway. It is known for the vendors that set up on the train tracks and who quickly have to pick up their shops when the train is coming. The train barely squeezes by the vendors and as soon as it passes they set up their shops again. The market was here before the tracks and that’s why it still remains. It is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand. I recommend to pick up some snacks here before making your way to the next stop.
We made it to a coconut farm and learned how important coconuts are to the economy of Thailand. Afterwards, I tried climbing a piece of bamboo to the top of one of the trees.
Next, we went to the Damnoen Saduak floating market which is one of the largest in Thailand, but also the most packed. We got to ride a boat through the canals and passed by many homes that are on stilts to keep them from getting flooded into. Vendors on the canal sell fresh coconut icecream, satay, mango sticky rice, and many other items. Our guide bought us the icecream and mango sticky rice to share together and it is a delicacy!
The company I used is called Urban Adventures Thailand and for my tour it was about 62 USD. Here is the link:
Bangkok Tours | Urban Adventures
2. Chinatown
Chinatown is a street food paradise and there are many vendors that line up on Yaowarat road. My top tip for picking out the best street food is to follow the senses and go to the vendors that are packed out with customers because there usually is a reason they are.
3. Tuk Tuk
You must ride a tuk tuk at least once in your life. It is a two wheeled vehicle that you pop into and the driver speeds right off. The driver may take you through narrow alleys, zig zag between cars, and drive on the wrong side of the road to get you to your destination faster. Make sure you barter down the price with the driver so you do not get overcharged too bad.
Day 4: Bangkok & Chiang Mai
1.Wat Pho ( Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
The reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and covered in gold leaf. This temple is also a massage school and you can pay for a massage here. The feet of this Buddha was interesting to me because there are 108 symbols representing things like prosperity, greatness, health, the cosmos, and more. 108 is a holy number in the Buddhist faith and you can purchase a small thing of coins to toss in the 108 buckets lined up on the wall for good fortune. There are fourt other chapels on the ground featuring 394 more Buddhas.
2. Flower Market
Flowers have a huge significance in Thai culture and are used for offerings and gifts to others. The market has a variety of fresh flowers that can be bought and made into garlands.
3. Thai Massage in Chiang Mai
The Thai massage is infamous for using movements that are similar to yoga stretching. It involves stretches and deep muscle compression and acupressure. It is super cheap, usually five USD for an hour. They will put on calm music and offer tea at the end of your session. It is proven to have some medical benefits.
Day 5: Chiang Mai
1.Elephant Sanctuary
The company I recommend is named Kanta Elephant Sanctuary . I paid for the full day visit which is 2500 bahts ( about 75 USD). It includes feeding, making supplements for them, and bathing them. My favorite part was getting in the river and giving them a scrub down. For more information about this company here is the link:
Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai | KANTA Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai (Thailand)
These are my top recommendations for these two cities, but there are so many things to do here. My favorite experiences was the cooking class and elephants. The food is delicious and you should stuff as much as you can in your stomach. Enjoy!