One month in Thailand

So basically the second half of 2023 was a bit of a struggle to me and I felt stressed and overworked. So that is where me and my other half decided to do something really fun and adventurous and fly to Asia. We also wanted to escape the all-embracing darkness and cold that comes along in January and February in Estonia.

So for four months we put as much money aside as we possibly could, and our plan was to spend one month in Thailand and second month in Vietnam. So we flew on the very last day of 2023. It was very exciting for the both of us but especially for Siim, because it was his first time anywhere in Asia. We flew with Turkish airlines. I was not able to fall asleep at all, because I didn't feel comfortable enough. But the positive side was that on the long 10h flight my feet didn't swell up (as they normally do). So that was a win!

We stayed in quite many places during that month: Phuket, Phi Phi islands, Krabi, Phang Nga bay, Koh Samui island, Bangkok. So I'm gonna tell you what I loved and hated about each place. Although it is quite difficult to find something you hate about Thailand, so it is mostly used for entertainment purposes.

Phuket

I loved that straight away we felt how friendly and hospitable are local Thai people. Also loved that everywhere you go, there is so many smoothie, fruit and pancake booths, so you really don't have to look for food and have a lot of options.

I hated that the traffic was so crazy to drive a motorbike on the left-hand side. There were so many other drivers, and for an Estonian very steep up and down hills, so I was sitting at the back of a scooter really stressed out, sweating and stiff haha.

Phi Phi islands

I loved that slow paced island life, the time felt to be moving slower there. Nobody was rushing anywhere and we got to practice the "sweetness of doing nothing". Fun fact: there is also no scooters, motorbikes and cars allowed. I loved the exotic beaches with turquoise colour warm water. I loved the Thai massage I got here the most and the quality was the best. There was so many local goods to buy and choose from.

I hated that I was a bit overthinking about the super destructive tsunami that hit Phi Phi islands in 2004. So some moments I had those 'what if it happens again' thoughts. Also we had some problems with aggressive monkeys at our hotel. Quite often they were waiting for us by our room door wanting to steal food or drinks so it was a hassle to get past them. Plus you never know if they are carrying rabies or not.

I hated the major seasickness I got from our longtail boat tour. We took the longest 6+ hour private boat trip around both bigger and smaller Phi Phi and MAN was I sick! We were sitting in the very front of the boat which usually rocks the most (the middle part rocks the least, but I didn't realise that until after). I vomited heavily in the middle and in the end of the trip. I had to cancel our planned hike to Phi Phi viewpoint on the second half of the day and had to lie in bed concentrating not to die :') Better yet — the intense vertigo and "sea legs" sensation did not go away for a whole week.

Krabi

I loved the green lush jungle-like nature and in my opinion the views and the mountains there are the craziest and most majestic. I loved the gorgeous Railay beach that was only accessible with boat taxi and had super private feel to it. I loved how there was less people and way more relaxed traffic than in Phuket. Everything was also the cheapest in Krabi including food and massage. I truly loved the stair hike to Tiger Cave temple — yes it was super exhausting 50 minute hike with feels like 37°C temperature, but the views following were just so breathtaking. I would do it again many times if I could.

I hated that we picked up a food poisoning from one of the local restaurants with plastic stools the same night we arrived (my previous symptoms hadn't even subsided). Also the Ao Nang main beach was not the best for swimming compared to the other beaches we visited.

Samet Nangshe Boutique @ Phang Nga bay

I will have an issue trying to name things I hated about this place, so let me make an exception with this chapter. There frankly weren't any. I had dreamed of visiting this place for half a year.

And so, I LOVED our chic bungalow style hotel room, but especially the balcony and the view that came with it. The view was just UNREAL! It felt like in Avatar movie or some type of AI generated video! It felt private, as if we were deep in the jungle, because there was not a single building in sight.

And now the best part — my boyfriend of 3 years proposed to me! Damn did he do a good job with choosing the location — in my eyes there isn't literally a better place for it. He was the best of planners and made sure I had no clue in my naïveté. The hotel staff treated us like royals and was hyper attentive towards us. Also if you want the best hotel breakfast, go there — there was a wide buffet choice but also one could order unlimited a la carte brekkie.

Koh Samui

I loved that the bars and restaurants were cooler than anywhere else in Thailand. There was something special about that night life. I loved how much selection of beaches and beach clubs there was. The traffic was again super relaxed compared to Phuket.

However the prices were the highest in Thailand (food, drinks etc). The ferry that initially took us to Koh Samui was a wreck and literally in ruins and it didn't feel very safe to me. During the whole January we got rain on only two days — and these were during our stay in Koh Samui.

Bangkok

The Thai buddhist temples in Bangkok were literally on steroids! Meaning they were bigger and better and more majestic. Compared to other locations, anyway. So exploring them was truly one of my top experiences in Thailand. Food and drinks were the cheapest.

Downsides — Bangkok was hotter than other places and it is not located next to a water body, where you can refresh yourself. So that's not ideal. There is a lot of ugly concrete and wires, hence the city can look rugged and isn't always very aesthetically pleasing. On the streets there were quite a few sketchy men who came too close to us and started asking too personal questions and were giving bad vibes. Most likely scammers we were warned about. So beware!

To sum it up

We stayed in six different locations and hotels in 30 days and I would say it's the maximum. If there were more, it could easily get too nervous and not relaxed. For people, who are super chill and laid back, and who don't like to plan as much, I would do five locations instead of six, within the same time-period. There is nothing I would change about the places we visited — they were all worth it. I would, however, book a hotel in Bangkok with a pool next time.