Thailand/Cambodia

Itinerary and Information

 Links within this document will take you to more information about that item.

Currency: The Baht is the standard currency. $1 is about 32 baht; 100 baht is about $3 (as of 9/4/21).

https://step.state.gov/step/  sign up for advisories; connects us with the US Embassy

Phone/Sim Cards: 

Magic Jack (pd ahead $20 for international calling)

 Calls to countries outside of the US and Canada:  Dial 011 + country code + city code + local number

Google Talk (signed up for this and may try it out)

On my Samsung Settings –> Cellular –> turn Cellular Data OFFl

Thailand local airlines: (most fly out of Don Mueng Airport)

• Thai Lion Air  carry-on max. 15 lb. (11.8”x 15.7”x 7.8”)  3 oz. max. Size liquids (1 qt bag)  checked bag max. 22 lbs./person  under seat bag 15x12x4 [they’ve had a major accident]

• Nok Air  22x14x9 max. 15 lb  max. 44 lb bag checked

• Thai Air Asia  max. 22x14x9 15 lb + 1 small bag 15.7x12x4 (both pieces together weigh less than 15 lb)  44 lb max checked bag (without paying extra)

• Thai Smile Air  max. 22x14x9 15 lb + 1 small bag 15.7x12x4 (both pieces together weigh less than 15 lb)  44 lb max checked bag

• Thai Airways  max. 22x14x9 15 lb + 1 small bag 15.7x12x4 (both pieces together weigh less than 15 lb)  44 lb checked bag max

Depart Dallas Oct. 6 Japan Airlines Flight 11, 3:30 pm; Arrive Tokyo 3:30 pm Oct 7; depart Tokyo 6:20 pm; arrive Bangkok 11:00 am

Bangkok Oct. 7-15  (8 nights, 7 days) Arrive 11:00 pm  get climatized

Note: We ended up staying 4 nights so we could have more days in Trang.

• Oct. 8 relax; exchange money

• Oct.  9  Bob and Ann arrive.

• Oct. 10-14 explore Bangkok sights.

Bag Storage: Redd self storage 877 Rama 9 Road  Note: This was a very clean, organized facility, but was out of the way. If I had to do it again, I’d leave our extra bag at the Best Western Grand Wanda where we stayed the night before flights to other parts of the country.

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Motels: for this trip I used Homestay, Booking.com, and Agoda to make my bookings. Most reservations (except for Homestay deposit) were fully refundable if cancelled a couple of weeks ahead of time.

Transportation in town:

• Songthaewh (small pickups where you ride on seats in the back)

• NOTE: On Trip Advisor FAQ Tour Guides we can get a list of guides for the major cities. Make sure they have a TAT license.

Bangkok Oct. 7-13 (6 nights, 5 days) [ended up staying 4 nights]

กรุณาไปส่งที่ 48 วิลล์ ซ.พหลโยธิน48 เข้าซอย 300 เมตร โรงแรมอยู่ด้านขวามือ   (Thai to show taxi driver to get to 48 Ville Don Muang Airport.)

โทร. 088-5707948

• 48 Ville Don Muang Airport  [Note: This place is in a neighborhood and was very clean, but still had that sewer smell (that we realized later is obvious in most places we stayed). Pay with baht, not card. Cost was only $17/night. There was a laundry just up the street, easy transportation (songtheau) to go to Big H (shop and get massage), safe walk to shopping, and local market. 

• Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel $58 (15 min. from airport, has pool; will keep luggage in their luggage storage area while you fly to other locations). They had excellent service and a great (but more expensive) breakfast buffet. However, if you want more of the Thailand feel it is better to stay in one of the local neighborhoods. This hotel is in a commercial area  within walking distance to shopping and restaurants.

Things to See Bangkok Area:

• Wat Po (temple) $3  (get traditional thai massage at their school)

• Golden Mountain (Wat Saket) up 300-step winding staircase to top with beautiful views 

• ChinaTown/Yaowarat (take a water taxi to Ratchawong Pier and walk to Yaowarat Road)

• Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Botanical Garden (rent a bike to explore)--take a water taxi to Klong Toey Pier and rent a bike from there.

Oct. 13 Bangkok-Trang [ended up traveling Oct 11]

Oct. 13-20 Trang activities with Bob and Ann

Baan Bussaba is near the train station. The room was clean and comfortable. This small family-run hotel was surrounded by gardens even though it was in the city, so each morning we saw greenery from our window. They had small welcoming touches such as fresh flowers in the bathroom and towels shaped into elephants on the bed.The motel had a front lobby/dining/gift area where we had breakfast each morning. Anne made me a gluten-free amazing breakfast each morning using ingredients she purchased at the market before breakfast.  I would give this 6 stars if possible for service. Anne went the extra mile and beyond to make sure we had a good stay. She even gave us rides to massage, local sights, and the train station since I had a hurt knee and couldn't walk very well.

My brother-in-law stayed at The Station (near the Trang Railway Station, cheaper cost per night but not as nice as Baan Bussaba).

Oct. 21 train to Surat Thani departs 1:29

• Oct. 21 Stay the night in SuratThani town

• Little PP Hometel (booked; $26)

• Places to eat

  • Sweet Kitchen

  • Lucky’s

• OCT 22 Lamprayah Ferry (1x day 9:00-2:15   be there 45 min. prior to boarding. Board Surat Thani Tapee Pier $60 ea

Oct. 22-29 Koh Tao

bookings@islandtravelkohtao.com

Take 25,000 baht to pay in baht for diving, hotel

Stayed at Ananda Villa: This was a beautiful ground-floor room on the beach within walking distance from ferry; I needed a taxi each day to get to the dive center. The staff was helpful and friendly; the room was clean and comfortable. I took laundry in the am and received it the next day.  Oct. 22-29  10,500 baht ($45/night)

Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 until 2:00 explore, snorkel

Diving School Oct. 23-28 (water temps avg 82-86 in October) 

1-½ day explore snorkel places 

Koh Tao prices are the same 11,100 baht ($341 - 2021 prices) at all of the dive shops to get Open Water certified. After lots of research and e-mails to different dive shops, I chose Roctopus.

• Roctopus (15 instructors, 2 dive boats that hold 26-30 people but often only 1-2 groups on OW boat (4-8) and 1 small boat for freediving; uses RAID certification; incorporates buoyancy with first course. The dive lessons with Fiona were awesome. I was intimidated thinking about learning to dive at age 66, but from the minute I walked into Roctopus I was welcomed. She was encouraging, knowledgeable, and I always felt safe with her. Although it took me an extra diving day to get my OW 20, I felt confident about diving again in Koh Lanta in a couple of weeks.

  • Front deck smoke free; smoking only at back; Larry afternoon ride-along (Day 3, dives 1 & 2 [Fri Oct 25] 300 baht $9.43 snorkel $18.87 600 baht

  • Wed., Oct 23 4:00 pm-6 or 7 ; video, orientation, manuals

  • Thurs Oct 24 8-5 

    •  8-10:30 academics  1-5  confined water at shallow dive site or pool

  • Fri Oct 25  8-10 class (take exam) 11:30-5 dives 1 & 2

  • Sat Oct 26. 6-11 Dives 3 & 4, certification   celebration 7 pm

  • Sun 10/27 10:30-4:30 orientation advanced OW (9,000 baht), dry briefing for navigation & perfect buoyancy dives

  • Mon 10/28   6-11:30 deep & wreck dives  take afternoon nap

    •   5:30-9 night dive

  • They also rent paddleboards, kayaks and boat trips around island and have a dive shop 

  • Tues 10/29 check out 11; then relax; ferry at 3:00 to Chumphon  (be there at 2:15 to check in)  

• Hikes, Koh Tao

  • 15 minute walk from pier to Jansom Bay

  • The coastal walk all the way from Mae Haad to Chalok:  From the pier in Mae Haad head South Chalok Viewpoint (follow road)

  • John-Suwan viewpoint cannot be missed! It is not as popular as the Mango Bay Viewpoint, but this one is really worth the 50 THB entrance fee.

  • Taa Toh Beach.  Get there from Freedom Beach

• Food, Koh Tao

• Mama Piyawans

• Su Chili (great 

• The Gallery Restaurant (authentic Thai, GF)

• Da’s (American)

• Coffee Boat (but don’t get coffee there, just good cheap food)

• Lanta (just past the 7-11)

• Fruit Shake Stand (just past Sairee Cottage)

• P’ Oys Place

• Idjang’s Kitchen (restaurant and cooking classes)

• Sairee Cottage Restaurant (has barbecue specials each evening that come with full meal deal for reasonable cost)

• La Pizzeria (authentic italian)

• Barracuda - great view; fancy

• Chaba Tapas (paella)

GF Restaurants

• Coconut Monkey (has good coffee; 5 min from Ananda Villa)

• Vegetabowl (Japanese, Sweet & Sour, and Mexican bowls top rated)

• The Factory Cafe (has coconut milk/almond/soy for their smoothies, good coffee

• Living Juices (smoothie bowls)

• Seafood by Pawn (7 min. Walk from Ananda Villa)--they catch their own fish each day

Oct. 29 Songserm ferry Koh Tao to Chumphon ferry leaves 3:00 arrives Chumphon 6:00 pm [booked through Direct Ferries]

Stay the night in Chumphon The airport is about 30 km north from Chumphon and the pier to Ko Tao.

• Pueanjai Resort and Restaurant has a pool $26. It was very clean, modern, and comfortable for our 1-night stay. We arranged for pickup to the airport the next day when we checked in. They provided a to-go breakfast in the morning. We were able to walk from the motel to a restaurant.

  • Yay Puad

  • Divine Restaurant

Oct. 30 Chumphon to Bangkok flight departs Chumphon 8:05 am - 9:10 am (1 hr) booked Nok Air 

(Take Uber or taxi to Redd custom self storage in Bangkok to re-pack suitcases)

Oct. 30 Bangkok to Chiang Mai depart Bangkok 4:30 pm arrive Chiang Mai 5:40 pm (Nok Air) (about $25 ea)

Chiang Mai Oct. 30-Nov 5 (6 nights, 5 days)--Homestay with Mark and Maenai

We ended up using Mark & Maenai’s son as our tour guide for 2 days. Mark and Maenai’s son Tripoon charges.   1500 baht ($45) per day

• http://www.travelhubchiangmai.com/index.html  (find other tour guides NOTE: On Trip Advisor FAQ Tour Guides we can get a list of guides for the major cities. Make sure they have a TAT license. 

Songthaews in Chiang Mai can be divided into 6 colours, namely Red, Yellow, White, Blue, Green and Orange colour. Different colour indicates different direction and route. Red songthaew is the most commonly found in downtown Chiang Mai because the other colours ply the routes going to the other towns or provinces.

Things to do:

• Elephant sanctuary

  • ½ day at Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary morning tour 6:30-7 pickup from motel; lasts until noon (they also take free pictures during the day) ½ day includes short hike/waterfall OR picked up at hotel 11:30, return at 6:30) $54 each person (includes 1 meal)--feed, bathe, walk with elephants

  • Other Elephant Sanctuaries: (No for: Happy Elephant Home, Maeklang, and Into the Wild, Chiang Mai Elephant Land [too steep trail to elephants or not good program]); 

• Haircut:  [Menai ended up taking me to the place in the mall where she gets her hair cut. We also had a mani-pedi done at the same mall]  New York Hair Studio , Skill Barber on Huay Kaew or Nine Kim Barbershop

• Excellent TCM doctor in Chiang Mai, master herbalist, master diagnostician, fluent English.  See him to get an herbal prescription for preventive treatment, seasonal 'tune-ups' even in absence of any disorder.  Dr Sheng Zhong Wang, Chip Aun Tong Dispensary, 48-52 Changmoi Road Chiang Mai 50300  Office: 053 234187  Mobile: 081 9523170  Email: shengzhongwang@hotmail.com (at Wararot Market. North side of Changmoi Rd, between Bangkok Bank and KrungThai bank.)  He is at the pharmacy most Mon-Sat mornings from 9am  to noon or 1pm. Then he takes acupuncture patients at another location near the airport after 2pm.: Mae Hia Clinic (it comes up on Google Maps).

• Night Market

• Talat Warorot market

• Baan Suan Ka Fe (coffee house in the jungle); then walk up the steps for a massage

• Wild Coffee and Bistro set in the foothills of the Himalayas. Yes, this mountainous range reaches into Thailand. We traveled to the base of the mountain, about a half an hour from Chiang Mai. 

• Esan Café : great som tum (papaya salad)

• Old City Chiang Mai temples

• Doi Kham Temple (one of the best views in Chiang Mai, lots of steps)

• Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (high on Doi Suthep mountain)--pretty if you go early evening 6 or 7 and watch sun go down [closes at 8]; great views of the city if the weather is good

• National parks: 

  • Doi Inthanon (2 hrs away) 300 baht entrance fee  (tallest point in Thailand); allow the whole day if we do this; if we take a bus tour it’s $35 ea and takes from 8 am-6 pm but seems “rushy” at each stop; includes Karen Village, waterfalls, Doi Pui Hmong market [note: we used a personal guide for the day so we couldn’t be rushed at any spot]

• Tham Bau Thong cave and buddha (100 baht entrance fee)

• Wat Doi Suthep Temple $1 (45 min from Chiang Mai) [The 306 steps up the carved snake (naga) staircase bring you the final stretch up to the temple.], 

• Huay Kaew Waterfall       Along the way we found a swimming hole with a rope swing. .

• Baan Kang Wat (small village handcrafts) [shops open 11-6 Tue-Sun] Sun market 

• Sticky Waterfall and Chiangdao Cave Day Trip  

Cooking Classes: 1st 3 are all out at the farms, make 6 courses, about same things

• Chiang Mai Thai Farm Cooking Class  $47 but may be $37 in Oct; 6 dishes

• Thai Secret Cooking School & Organic Farm  $37 8:30-4  $31 half day (until 2)

• Sammy’s Organic Thai Cooking School $31.42 full day

  • https://www.facebook.com/Sammy-Organic-Thai-Cooking-School-121424394552150/

• http://www.thaiorchidcooking.com/ (in Old City home) M-Sat 9:30-1:30 $28

• Thai and Akha Cooking Class $35 (Thai cooking with sprinkle of Akha Hill Tribe flair); prepare 11 different dishes including a combination of soups, desserts, appetizers and entrees in an outdoor Thai kitchen (NW corner of the Old City) 

Dinners:  

• Mark and Menai took us to a restaurant they frequent that has food from Menai’s culture and bought our dinner. They also invited us to eat dinner with them one night.

• Khaomao-Khaofang Restaurant ChiangMai (the food was just okay, the ambiance was wonderful).

• Khum Khan Toke (139 Thetsaban 2 Sai Nai Alley, +66 5 330 4121 khumkhantoke.com)

• Mae Ping River Cruise (133 Charoenpratet Road, Changklan, +66 5 327 4822)

• Khantoke Dinner: cultural show where visitors are seated on the floor around a circular tray piled high with delicious northern Thai food while they watch traditional Thai dancing.

• Gluten-free: ‘Cooking Love’ which serves delicious, home-cooked gluten-free food with plenty of vegan options. You can’t book and lines can get long there.

• There are plenty of juice cafes in Chiang Mai; many of which serve homemade gluten-free, vegan raw cakes- including 100% gluten-free Pink House Garden Restaurant and Salsa Kitchen. PHONE: +66 093-291-9361

• Cherng Doi Roast Chicken (Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200  gai yang  1 am-10 pm Tues-Sun

• Huen Phen  112 Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, A,mphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200  khao soi  8:30-4; 5-10 pm daily

Chiang Mai Accommodations:

• Note: Our accommodations were wonderful, but we weren’t inside the city so we needed a ride to the city each day.

• Mark-Homestay Teak Room $34.60/night  ($207.61); 15 min. (6-1/4 mi [10 km] outside of Chiang Mai in a gated community- private entrance, garden [can give us rides into town 9am each day]-has washer/dryer and fast internet; Mark is an American with a Thai wife and son who’s a tour guide;    5658 baht due on arrival. We had a private room and bathroom. They had a beautiful home and garden that they welcomed us into. 

NOTE: Your time in Thailand is limited to 30 days, so we flew to Cambodia and then returned to Thailand in one week.

Nov 5 Fly to Bangkok and then to Siem Reap   

Have e-visa for Cambodia done and have handy. Otherwise you have to complete paperwork when you land. This costs $36 online

Depart Chiang Mai 8:30 am Nok air; arrive Bangkok 9:35; return to airport by 5 pm

Bangkok to Siem Reap (flight departs 8:15 pm (20:15) arrives 9:20 pm (21:20) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cambodia.html (check for travel advisories)

• Sim Card: It's worth getting a cheap sim card in PP - It only costs a couple of dollars and you just need your passport to buy a card. There is a place opposite the Russian Markets called Cell Card - On a corner - big orange place - you won't miss it and it's air-conditioned and they are pretty good. I usually get an additional $10US and it lasts me all week. You can buy top up cards everywhere and ask the shop owners to do it for you.

If you want to travel to Phnom Penh I have a couple of links. We didn't end up going to Phnom Penh.

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293940-r115046496-Phnom_Penh.html#

• Travel Agent: Samatha and her staff at Friends Travel and Tours #351E, Sisowath Blvd

Siem Reap (Nov 5-11 6 nights, 5 days)

• Simple Khmer greetings (with recording to listen to)

Transportation: We used the same tuk tuk driver for our entire visit to Siem Reap for all our day trips and evening adventures.

Things to see:

• Angkor Wat (temple complex)--get 1-day pass at 5 pm. for the next day. [Note: We hired a tuk tuk for the day to take us to the beginning of various temples and meet us at the exit area and we still walked many miles that day]

  • Do Sunset at Phnom Bakheng after purchase pass (300 max. People; for quieter experience Phnom Krom temple sunset max 50-100 visitors [no restrooms])

  • Bayon Temple  Ta Prohm (used in Tomb Raider Lara Croft movie), Ruluos group 

  • Other sunset options near Angkor Wat: 

  • Sunrise  (leave guesthouse at 5 am; then explore Angkor Wat.   

  • Explore Angkor Thom with 3 main temples

  • Bayon (54 faces carved into rocks)

  • Baphuon

  • Terrace of Elephants

  • Ta Nei off the beaten path jungle overgrown, great for pics, less people

• Koulen Restaurant dinner and Khmer dancing: Classic amok Cambodian curry and Khmer barbecue meats, served in a beautiful and traditional setting. The sample buffet menu includes chicken curry soup, mango salad with pork, fried pork, lamb, beef, and fish amok, as well as an assortment of Khmer desserts.

  • Location: #5 Sivutha Street, Mondul 2 Village, Siem Reap 

• Wat Thmey Killing Fields Museum: where you can learn about the brutal Khmer Rouge Regime and also the memorial at Wat Thmey (Killing Fields)

• Tonle Sap and Kampong Kleang Floating Village Tour

• Phnom Kulen National Park (full day tour $39) This park has pretty waterfalls, you can play in the water, River of 1000 Lingas

• Phares Circus Performance

• See silk process Artisans d’ Angkor at their main training centre and superb and large showroom in central Siem Reap and at their silk farm and training school at Puok, about 15 km outside Siem Reap. https://www.artisansdangkor.com/Artisans has a free shuttle bus that operates between their school/showroom in central Siem Reap and the International Silk Interpretative Centre, Mulberry Farm and Silk Weaving Training Centre at Puok. 

• Psar Leu on the edge of Siem Reap, the largest provincial market in Cambodia and where the locals buy their silk from.

• Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre www.angkorbutterfly.com (about 7 km before Banteay Srei temple on left side of road)

• Downtown (foot massage), 

Transportation:

• Tuk tuk approx $15/day

• Taxi cars approx. $30/day

• explore by bicycle $2/day

Places to stay: (most offer free transport to/from airport)

• Homestay.com https://www.homestay.com/cambodia/sangkat-tuek-vil-siem-reap-province/141207-homestay-in-sangkat-tuek-vil-sangkat-tuek-vil-siem-reap-province $18/night--he also runs a free English school for Chrey village kids. Chrey Village is 9 km from Siem Reap. He’s a tuk tuk driver transported us everywhere. I booked for 6 nights here, but we only stayed 3 nights since Larry felt isolated being outside any village and not within walking distance of anything. We had to use tuk tuk for all transportation needs. The nice thing about this place was that I got to help teach English to the village kids, his wife was a wonderful cook, and it was a chance to see how normal village people live. The bed was comfortable and it had A/C.

• Taro Residence  Comfortable, clean, great service, good location near old market, river, and Pub Street: Pascal and his wife met every need or request with smiles. She made special breakfasts to meet my allergy requirements. Laundry came back clean in 1 day. They also arranged tours. Our room (118 on the 3rd floor) overlooked the 2nd floor saltwater pool, which was clean and refreshing. Our room and bathroom were very clean and the bed/pillows were comfortable. Finally, the open-air dining tables were surrounded with palms, orchids and other greenery. The small tables each had plants, tablecloths, and good food for a small price ($3 breakfast). The only drawback for people with mobility issues is that we walked up 2 flights of stairs to get to our room. It cost $54/3 nights. I highly recommend this place.

Siem Reap to Bangkok (Nov 11):

• Fly AirAsia Flight 615 departs 16:35 (4:35 pm) and arrives Bangkok 5:50 pm. 

• Go to bank to get baht for Khao Yai driver (6200 baht) $205

Stay Nov. 11 (1  night) at  Best Western plus Wanda Grand 

Go to storage and repack suitcases

Bangkok to Khao Yai National Park  Nov 12

• A private transfer, Bangkok - Khao Yai, by taxi costs 2200 baht ($69), one-way (2.5 to 3 hrs). This has been arranged by the tour company, TonTan Travel. They will pick us up at our hotel at 8:00 am the next morning. I paid 2,000 baht down payment; Khao Yai National Park (2 nights, 1.5 days)  Nov. 12-14  park open 6-6

• Stay Baan Saranya  (bring soap/shampoo, backpacks, ponchos ). These bungalows were quaint, had porches, and there were lots of fruit trees next door. We had an excellent breakfast each morning with fresh fruit from the trees.

• Tours:

  • Nov. 12     Greenleaf Tours ½ day see natural water spring, underground cave, bats  500 baht/person $16.50 starts 3:00-7:30  (they will pick us up at Baan Saranya and we pay in baht)

• TonTan Travel  Nov.13  1 day private jungle tour at our pace 6,000 baht + transport from Bangkok 2200 baht = 8200 baht ($194.10) 8 am-6 pm  owe 6,200 baht (approx. $205) cash in baht to driver at beginning of day when they pick us up

  • 1 day walking and driving in park 

  • What to bring for this tour? 

    • long pants, sport or hiking shoes, warm sweater; it can cool down quite a bit, poncho or raincoat, insect repellent, and small daypack to carry e.g. water bottle(s)

  • Tours will pick us up and deliver us to the bungalows we’re staying at.

Travel from Khao Yai to Khao Kho Nov. 14

• private car taxi booked through Baan Saranya will cost 4500 baht ($141)  (3-½ hrs; two beautiful stops at a couple of waterfalls along the way. 

Khao Kho: Nov. 14-17 (3 nights, 2.5 days) Note: We loved staying here, but this town has no taxi service. The owners of the Holy Loft had a family member who drove us around and someone who drove us to the train station at Phitsanulok. Phetchubun is larger and may have been a better choice to stay, but was farther from Wat Prathat Phasornkaew.

• Holy Loft Std. Jr Suite w/mountain view   $32/night  This modern, clean motel room had a balcony with a view of the valley.

  • Car to transport us around the area 2000 baht/day ($62)

Things to See:   

• Wat Prathat Phasornkaew  about 1 hr north

• Nam Nao National Park (2 waterfalls right off Hwy 12 -- Phu Ko Sunrise Viewpoint on the right  (4.2 km west from main checkpoint near HQ, good view over east to see the sunrise.)

  • Tam Par Hong viewpoint (300 m from road)

  • Haew Sai and Sai Tong Waterfall 20 meters high waterfall, flowing into a pool, 700 meters from the main road.

  • Pha Hong Cave Sunset Overview (10.7 km west from main checkpoint, good view over west to see the sunset. The viewpoint is only few hundred meter away from Par Hong Cave.)  (2 to 2-½ hrs to Phu Hin from Nam Nao National Park)

• Tanruk Talaymok restaurant (แทนรัก เขาค้อ) with great view  of Khao Kho 

• Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park $16 entrance plus $1 for car  [2 hrs from Wat Prathat to here]

• Pino Latte (go for the view)

• Strawberry fields in khao kho (Yuttana Bamrungkhiri, a Hmong-ethnic farmer is growing a new variety and you can pick)

• Tamarind harvest is in Nov. (Phetchabun) NKD Tamarind Farm  

• Address: 79/1 หมู่ที่ 13 บ้านพันธ์ม้า ตำบล บ้านโตก เมือง Phetchabun 67000, Thailand (Coordinates here)

• Sri Dit Waterfall

• Khao Kho National Park (referred to as Little Switzerland)

Nov. 17 private driver to Phitsanulok train station 1300 baht depart Holy Loft 5 am, arrive Phitsanulok  8:55 a.m. (train to Bangkok arrived approx. 3:00 pm)  train 2nd class tickets with A/C booked online $20 ea; we picked up tickets at the railway station which opens at 8:00 am.

Stayed 1 night in Bangkok (Hotel Grand Wanda)

Nov. 18 Flight Bangkok to Krabi 

Tickets to Krabi (round ticket)  NOK Air depart 3:50 pm-5:20 pm ; return 8:15 am-9:40 a.m. (Nov. 25) 

Airport: Minivan ref #4ED66381D8605305M  Go to Information Desk to meet driver (our name on placard) Our minivan driver 

Koh Lanta  11/18-11/24  

• Scuba diving Hin Daeng/Hin Muang $124 (Tues or Fri)  and Koh Haa (Wed or Sun on one boat; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun on other boat)

• Private longtail day 

• night market in Baan Saladan on Wednesday evenings 4-9

• Fire shows on the beachfront

• Go to Lanta Old Towne

GF Restaurants recommended

• Kindee Restaurant 226 Moo 2, Long Beach, Saladan, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Ko Lanta 81150, Thailand +66 75 680 533

• Kunda vegeterian vegan Lanta

• Malina’s Kitchen 

• Yang Garden restaurant 8/1 Moo 2 | Phra Ae Beach, Ko Lanta 81150, Thailand
  +66 84 993 8768 (if hungry for steak, American food; not much Thai)

• Pinto Restaurant (Old Towne) great seafood dishes

• Living Room: all-day breakfast, good coffee  Pra-Ae Beach | 692 Moo.2 Saladan, Ko Lanta 81150, Thailand  +66 89 466 1776

• Patty’s Secret Garden (Thai & Western; great massaman curry, Laab Tod--Menai took us here a couple of mornings. She said she often eats here.

• Yawee Restaurant

• Thai Cat (on the beach)

Other Good Restaurants

• Red Snapper in Long Beach (reviewer was there over Thanksgiving; must reserve)

• Kwan’s Cookery (northern Thai food)

• Time for Lime

Hotel: D.R. Lanta Bay Resort $45;  8.2 rating  (700 ft from Klong Dao beach) Booked 11/18-11/24 (Note: try to book rooms nearest the pool by the beach and farthest away from the canal. There are more sewer smells in rooms close to the canal). This is a family-run resort. All the employees were very friendly, but most don’t speak English. We used the laundry service here. You just take your laundry to the front desk and get it back the next day.

• Scooter rental about $7/day  tuk tuk $3.25 each ride

Nov. 24 pm travel Koh Lanta to Krabi  (ferry and van or speedboat)- stay the night Ladi Krabi Express

Speedboat timetable Koh Lanta Saladan Pier to Krabi Klong Jilad Pier departs 12:30 arrives pier 1:30 cost 950 baht ea $30 Booked

Get minibus (80 baht-$2.60)  to Lady Krabi Express (or taxi approx. 250 baht $8)

Lady Krabi Express Hotel $28 (superior double with balcony) 5 mi from airport; across from night market  

• Krabi Express arranged transport to airport for us

Fly Krabi to Bangkok Nov. 25  Nok Air departs 8:15 am arrive Bangkok 9:40 

Stay 1 night Bangkok Best Western plus Grand Wanda

(get final souvenirs and extra suitcase if necessary)

Depart Bangkok Nov. 26 8:15 am (be at airport by 5:15 am)

Arrive Tokyo 4:05  pm (6 hr flight) Depart Tokyo 6 pm; arrive Seattle 9:45 am (8 hrs 45 min)Depart Seattle 12:40 pm arrive Spokane 1:44 pm [see if Ty or Dee can pick us up]

Recommended meds to take with:  [Note: there were many pharmacies and we could have gotten similar medications there instead of transporting. If we go again we’ll only take our prescribed meds with us]

Paracetamol (aspirin) for fever, headaches

Cinnarizine or Scopolamine patch (takes prescription) or meclizine for seasickness

Metoclopramide (to ease vomiting)

Loperamide (stops diarrhea)  

Hyosine Butylbromide (Buscopan) for abdominal pain

Thai Street Food (Richard Barrow) 

Thai desserts that are usually gluten-free: mango with sticky rice (khao nieow mamaung), sticky rice with banana in banana leaves (khao tom mat), banana in coconut milk (gluay but she)

“Mai ow naam see ew” (I don’t want any soy sauce).

Some gluten-free Thai street food options: 

• green papaya salad [(som tam) made with young papaya, shrimp (optional), tomatoes, carrot, chilies, green beans, peanuts (optional), sugar, lime, garlic, fish sauce], 

• grilled chicken with sticky rice, 

• most Thai curries are gluten-free

  • E.g. Red curry, massaman curry, green curry

• soups like tom cha (galangal) soup, which is a coconut milk-based soup with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime, served with mushrooms and often chicken

• Tom Yum Soup

• Clear soup or no soup

• Rice

• Pad Thai is made with rice noodles but it will depend on whether it’s made with soy sauce or fish sauce.

No soy sauce – mai sai sod-tuua-luang – ไม่ใส่ซอสถั่วเหลือง

No milk – mai sai nom – ไม่ใส่นม

NHONG RIM KLONG

KHLONG LAT MAYOM FLOATING MARKET

Address: Soi Bang Ramat, Bang Phrom, Khet Taling Chan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10170, Thailand Operating Hours: 9AM-6PM, Mon-Fri What to Order: Pla pao   Expect to Pay: THB 180 – Pla pao  How to Get There: There’s no easy way to get to Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market by public transportation. The best way is to go by Uber or Taxi. It should cost you around THB 200 or so each way from Central Bangkok.