All posts filed under: Thailand

Dreaming Of A Thai Getaway

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For the last post in my Thailand series, here are some books I stumbled across during my stay to help you with some inspiration when planning your Thai getaway. Thailand’s Best Restaurants by Thailand Tatler.  A yearly guide to who’s the best around to satisfy your taste buds. Thai Street Food by David Thompson.  Enjoy the delights created by the head chef from Nahm restaurant. Kenneth Barrett’s 22 Walks In Bangkok.  Explore the city’s, historic back lanes and byways around one of my favourite cities in the world. For the insider’s guide to Bangkok, keep an eye out in the shops and cafes for BK Magazine.  It’s a free weekly guide with information on what’s happening in the city during the week, from shopping to eating, to events and discovering the nightlife. Bangkok’s Top Street Food Stalls by Chawadee Nualkhair.  Soi 38 is mentioned in here and is on my list to try next time I’m in town. And finally the trusty old Lonely Planet – Thailand.  Always a helpful reliable guide and a starting point for researching your …

A Balancing Act

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Having been active all my life, travelling was bound to upset my weekly exercise routine.  There will be no Pilates classes three times a week and the ease to go for a run won’t be as appealing when the temperate is 30 degrees outside with 90% humidity.  But for me exercise is ingrained in my DNA and after a week without it, I start to become irritable. Heading to Thailand and India where Pilates classes are scarce and yoga classes are in abundance, it’s time to head on a yoga journey.  Having only tried yoga a handful of times I’m keen to explore it more.  I’ve also recently started meditating, having had my first introduction only a little over a year ago.  I had an amazing one on one session with a lovely lady named Lani at the Gaia Retreat in Byron Bay.  She was the perfect teacher to set me off on a new spiritual path and journey.  It was a huge help for me last year as I tried to cope with grief and …

24 Hours To Shop In Bangkok

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I always spend a few days in Bangkok before I exit Thailand ensuring I give the credit card a good work out before I head home.  I like making the most of different brands and stores on hand that aren’t available in New Zealand.  It was absolutely torturous roaming through the streets of Bangkok, knowing that no power shopping would be occurring on this trip with months of travel ahead of me. I did manage to make one small purchase which I knew I could get away with, the Labradorite bracelet from Mina Code.  I could justify the purchase as it was small to pack and it hasn’t left my wrist since.  It accompanies my Marc by Marc Jacobs Standard  Supply bracelet which was a leaving gift from the Viva team. If you only have one day to shop in Bangkok, here are my picks: Head straight to Siam Square where you can visit easily three malls, Siam Center, Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon which cater for a variety of tastes and budgets. Siam Center is a great place …

Urban Delights

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I never tire when in Thailand of the endless flow of Thai food.  It’s always fresh, flavoursome and light.  Accompanied by a nice cool relaxing beer, lunch and dinner times never seem to be a chore.  I was fortunate to eat and drink at some great places during my three-week stay thanks to recommendations from friends. Here are my tops picks from my stay: Fizz Beach Lounge, Sairee Beach Koh Tao.  With a great location on Sairee Beach, this bar is a lovely place to chill and soak up the ambience. Bean bags are sprawled across the beach and large deck making it the perfect place to start your evening with a cocktail by the sea while enjoying great music. Bar Next Door, Chalok Ban Kao, Koh Tao.  We had a fun night out at this bar. Perched on the beach in Chalok Bay, this was our pick of the bars on the strip.  Be entertained by fire dancers while drinking the night away.  You just need to be able to stomach what was the worst …

I Love Bangkok

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Bangkok would have to be one of my favourite cities in the world.  From temples, to shopping, to lady boy cabarets, the city offers something for everyone.  I could people watch for hours on end hustling and bustling on Khao San Road.  Senses are always awakened by the pungent street smells rising from the humid pavements, and navigating through the busy streets often becomes a game of dodgems (mind your head), as you count the near misses from the seriously low electricity cables. No matter how dirty the city is, there’s just something about it that always leaves me wanting more. This was my third time in Bangkok and having visited the major tourist attractions on previous occasions, it was nice to spend my final two days in Thailand as more of a local.  Hailing from Melbourne, expats Georgie & Joseph kindly allowed me to stay in their apartment in Sukhumvit.  From travelling on the Sky Train to strolling through Lumphini Park, it was great to get their recommendations on things to do in Bangkok.  But …

Places To Stay, Thailand

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When you’re planning a holiday it’s always nice to hear peoples recommendations of where to stay.  Often great little finds don’t appear when you’re trawling through websites and you often discover things too late.  I find researching where to stay a time consuming process.  Everyone’s tastes are different and you’re not always going to agree with their recommendations, but it’s nice to have a starting point.  So here are some recommendations from my time in Thailand. Koh Tao We stayed at the Haad Tien Beach Resort and loved it. There are two accommodation options to suit different budgets both situated in Thian Og Bay otherwise known as Shark Bay.  It has it’s own private beach which is cleaned daily by staff, two pools, plus a diving pool if you want to get your Padi’s licence, plus a spa.  My friends stayed in the villas in Haad Tien, while I was perched up in The Beach Club.  There are shuttle buses that run from the resort into Mae Haad or for an extra charge to Sairee Beach.  If you miss …

Eat, Sleep, Drink

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Thailand as a holiday destination was pure indulgence for me. For nearly three weeks my days consisted of eating, drinking, sleeping and lounging by the resort pools.  Having been to Thailand twice previously, this holiday for me was not about sightseeing or shopping, it was about spending time with friends and relaxation, and that’s exactly what I did. I spent the first part of my journey on the island of Koh Tao celebrating a friends 40th birthday.  Melenie and her husband Richard had been to the island previously which meant when it came to making decisions about what to do and where to eat, it was generally covered.  I was more than happy to go with the flow. Koh Tao was definitely my pick of the trip.  The clear waters make it a popular spot for diving and snorkelling.  It has a lovely laid back vibe, great restaurants to eat at and it has enough of a nightlife to get your fix if you feel up to it. Like anywhere in Thailand there are plenty of …