Swan BradshawDay 1
We had an awesome start! Travis dropped us off at the SLC Airport to catch a flight to Bangkok via LAX and Hong Kong. Our original flight departing SLC was scheduled for a departure at 4:55pm which would have left us 5 hours in LA to relax and grab a nice dinner, but due to mechanical problems (or that’s what we were told), the flight coming in from LA was delayed multiple times and, after finding a replacement plane, it ended up arriving SLC at around 9pm. With a quick turnaround, we were hoping to catch the connecting flight from LAX at 10:55pm. Hmmm…
And we were given meal vouchers of $40 for dinner so we went to an Italian restaurant at the SLC terminal.
So we did miss our flight. We arrived at the gate in LAX at 11pm and we ran to our next departure gate but the boarding gate for our connecting flight was closed. The aircraft was still parked at the gate, how I wish I could just board the plane and be on our way. Oh well, United put us up at the Marriott Airport Hotel, gave us some more vouchers for meals. We will get on the same flight tomorrow night, trip delayed by a day!
Day 2
Tips I gathered prior to arriving in Thailand:
- To facilitate entry into the country, an entry form should be filled out 72 hours prior to arrival. You can’t do it any further in advance than that, which makes it right because the travel time is more than 24 hours! The form can be obtained at tdac.immigration.go.th
- Download apps such as Grab etc for transportation purposes. No uber or Lyft in Thailand.
- Prepare smaller bills such as 10 or 20 baht for taxi rides and snacks.
- Remember to retrieve your bank card at the ATM after money withdrawals as in Thailand, unlike in the US and most countries, the money comes out before the bank card.
- Don’t do money transfers at the exchange desks immediately on arrival, go down one level to the money changers, they offer the best rates, especially if you have to pay the ATM fee of 220 baht per withdrawal.
Day 3
We finally boarded our flight to Bangkok, transit in Hong Kong!
Bangkok
Landed in Bangkok! Lo and behold, a wheel chair with my name was waiting on the jetway so I just had to take the ride. We cruised through all the airport crowd and went through immigration using the special lane, for handicapped people like me and travelers with family. Fortunately, we had remembered to fill out the Thai digital arrival card in advance, there were a ton of people that apparently had forgotten and had to do it at the airport before they could clear immigration.
Kevan got us a nice cab using the Grab app.(no Uber or Lyft in Thailand but grab is pretty good and easy to use, uber sold its Thai business to grab a few years back and grab is widely used throughout Southeast Asia) and off we are to the hotel. The weather is very nice and the Thai people are super friendly.
When we got to the city, the driver zipped around the local streets called “sois” to get to the hotel. It’s amazing to see the surroundings as we drove past, graffiti on one side of the street and skyscrapers on the other side.
We checked into the Bangkok Marriott Marquis in Sukhumvit, very nice and centrally located.
EMsphere
We went to lunch and had some amazing Pad Thai and Pad Siew at EMsphere, only about a block away from the hotel. The first two or three floors at the shopping mall are food court establishments, very clean and very tasty and a huge variety of food.
We saw the Pad Thai restaurant and decided that was the right place to start. The Pad Thai was very tasty and the Pad Sew was great. The worst part about Emsphere is that there are way too many places to eat, we didn’t have capacity to enjoy as much variety as we would have liked, fortunately, we have more time!
Today we decided to just chill and rest at the hotel. We went to the lounge for some fresh fruits and snacks and really enjoyed the papaya and pineapple, super fresh and sweet!
The hotel is perfectly situated, it’s too bad we were delayed a day getting here because we really wanted to get to Church at the Asoke Chapel, which is only one soi down from where we are staying. There are a bunch of great restaurants at the hotel, including a well regarded Chinese restaurant, The Pagoda, and arguably the best buffet in all of Bangkok. It was very crowded today as the Sunday crowds gathered in to enjoy the buffet meal.
Day 4
Breakfast at the lounge was fantastic! With Jet lag, we started our day early. Today is a day to relax and get over jet lag and recuperate from our 2 1/2 days travel to Bangkok. So we spent a fair amount of time at the hotel lounge and also hit the fitness center for a couple of hours, both the lounge and the fitness center are top notch, very large and very well equipped.Tomorrow we are headed to Chiang Mai for a week. Lots to do and lots to see!
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant
Lunch at Pagoda, a Michelin restaurant and known as the best Cantonese Dim Sum restaurant in Bangkok.
We enjoyed the ambience, and the food quality and presentation a lot!
Practical rule in Bangkok:
• If the bill includes a 10% service charge (very common in places like mall restaurants, hotels, or fine dining): No additional tip is needed or expected. Most sources and locals agree this acts “in lieu of” a tip.
• If no service charge (e.g., street food, casual local spots, food courts like Pier 21 in Terminal 21): Round up the bill (e.g., pay 100 THB on a 92 THB total) or leave small change (20-100 THB) if service was great.
• For outstanding service anywhere: You can always add a small personal tip (50-200 THB) directly to the server, even with a service charge—it’s a nice gesture but not customary.
This keeps things respectful and avoids over-tipping, which some locals worry could change expectations long-term. Enjoy your time in Bangkok—great service is common without needing big tips!
Terminal 21 Asok: A World Tour in One Bangkok Mall
More commonly known as Terminal 21, is one of the most popular shopping malls in Bangkok.
Nestled at the bustling Asok intersection in Sukhumvit, Terminal 21 Asok is one of Bangkok’s most creative and accessible shopping destinations.
Opened in 2011, this airport-themed mall transports visitors around the globe without leaving the city—each floor is meticulously designed to represent a famous international destination, from the vibrant streets of Tokyo and London’s Carnaby Street to Paris fashion, Istanbul’s souks, Rome’s charm, San Francisco’s Golden Gate vibes, and Hollywood glamour.
Directly connected to Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT stations via skywalk. It’s incredibly convenient. Shoppers love the mix of over 600 stores—from affordable international brands like H&M to local boutiques—plus a cinema and gourmet market.
The highlight for many is the legendary Pier 21 food court on the LG floor, offering authentic Thai street food at budget prices (often 30-60 THB per dish). We ate at the food court and enjoyed Pad Thai again as well as egg noodles (Bameenam) and then had some good mango sticky rice for dessert. We also had another soup noodle dish. All of that for under $7 US. It was good, but not to the level of good sit-down restaurant quality. There are a ton of decent sit-down restaurants at terminal 21 as well and I think next time that would be our choice.
With its fun vibe, photo-worthy decor (including Thailand’s longest escalators), and prime location, Terminal 21 is a must-visit for tourists and locals alike—perfect for shopping, eating, and escaping the heat!
Day 5
This morning we had breakfast at Goji Restaurant, complimentary by the hotel. The food selection was undoubtedly wider than the lounge we went to yesterday. They offer Western style breakfast including freshly made omelets, pancakes and French toast prepared, cold cereals, continental breakfast includes all sorts of pastries, charcuterie… and Asian selections including noodles soup, congee with a wide selection of condiments, dim sum, fried rice and noodles, a variety of Thai dishes with rice … and the list goes on!
Chiang Mai
We left for Chiang Mai at noon flying Thai Airways, an hour flight from Bangkok! The flight was delayed by about an hour, but otherwise was really good, great flight staff, very smooth flight and airport Logistics were solid.
We checked into our Airbnb but I didn’t like it. There was no hand soap in the bathroom, only 1/2 roll of toilet paper was provided for a 5- day duration, bath towels were very old looking, 2 tiny (I mean, really tiny!) bottles of shampoo and conditioner were left at the counter, no bath soap… I was not impressed. It would have been a pretty uncomfortable stay, call me “spoiled” or “picky” I don’t care! So we left the Airbnb and checked into Marriott Chiang Mai, love it!
Day 6
This morning we had breakfast at the main restaurant at the hotel, not quite as wide a variety as yesterday, but extremely solid, nice range of breakfast options.
Tha Phae Gate
After that, We took a stroll from the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel on Chang Klan Road (in the lively Night Bazaar area) for an easy, flat 15-20 minute walk (about 1.2 km) to Tha Phae Gate, one of the main historical attractions in Chiang Mai, rebuilt recently, but dating back to the founding of the city in 1296.
We Headed north along bustling Chang Klan Road, passing street vendors and shops. Turned left onto Tha Phae Road, where we reached the gate’s iconic plaza straight ahead—perfect for sunset arrivals when the bricks glow golden.
Tha Phae Gate (ประตูท่าแพ) is Chiang Mai’s most famous ancient city gate, rebuilt in the 1980s from the original 13th-century Lanna Kingdom fortifications. This grand brick structure with its arched passageway is now a lively public square, often filled with pigeons, street performers, and festival vibes (especially during the festival of Loy Krathong).
After which, we walked from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Chedi Luang, which is about 10-15 mins walk away.
A section of Chiang Mai’s historic city moat, the ancient waterway encircling the Old City. In the foreground, three elephant statues on red pedestals face the calm water, symbolizing strength and good fortune in Thai culture. Lined with trees and stretching under a clear blue sky, the moat blends historic charm with everyday urban life, making it a peaceful spot for walks and photography.
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is a historic Buddhist temple in the center of Chiang Mai’s old city, Thailand, renowned for its massive, partially ruined Lanna-style chedi (stupa), guarded by stone elephants and nagas.
Construction of the chedi began in 1391 under King Saen Muang Ma to enshrine his father’s ashes and was completed in 1475, reaching about 85 meters tall—making it the largest structure in ancient Chiang Mai. It housed Thailand’s sacred Emerald Buddha from 1468 until 1551, when the statue was moved after a 1545 earthquake damaged the upper portion.
The temple was partially restored in the 1990s with UNESCO and Japanese support; a jade replica of the Emerald Buddha now occupies the eastern niche, and the grounds include Chiang Mai’s city pillar (Sao Inthakin).
Sao Ithakin (City Pillar)
Sao Inthakin (also spelled Sao Intakin or Inthakin Pillar) refers to the sacred city pillar of Chiang Mai, known as the Lak Mueang, which symbolizes the city’s spiritual foundation and protection.
It was originally enshrined at Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang (also called Wat Sadeu Muang or “Temple of the City Navel”), a historic temple in the old walled city center established around 1296 by King Mangrai. The pillar, named after Indra (from Hindu-influenced legends), was believed to safeguard the city. In 1800, it was relocated to a dedicated shrine at Wat Chedi Luang, where it remains today.
Women are not allowed to enter the small shrine housing the Sao Inthakin. This restriction stems from traditional beliefs that menstruation is impure and could humiliate or diminish the pillar’s sanctity and protective power. Women may view the shrine from outside or through entrances but cannot approach closely. This rule is specific to the city pillar shrine (not the entire temple grounds at Wat Chedi Luang) and reflects longstanding cultural and spiritual traditions in Thai Buddhism.
Ton Yang Na
The Ton Yang Na at Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai are massive sacred trees of the species Dipterocarpus alatus (Yang Na in Thai), a native Southeast Asian resin-producing dipterocarp.
Planted around 1800 by King Kawila to protect the relocated Sao Inthakin city pillar shrine, these ancient giants—now over 225 years old—are believed to safeguard the city, with legend warning of disaster if they fall.
The largest has a trunk girth exceeding 8 meters, towering dramatically over the temple grounds near the pillar shrine.
Riverside Bar and Restaurant
We had dinner at the Riverside Bar and Restaurant, which is a restaurant exactly as the name implies, nicely set right on the banks of the river with great traditional Thai food as well as Northern Thai cuisine, and even western food if you want some.
After dinner, we walked along the river and headed back to the hotel. We enjoyed the walk especially with the cooler weather in the Chiang Mai; however, the gas emitted from the cars and motorcycles can be intoxicating!
Night Bazaar
We checked out the Night Bazaar, which is right next to Marriott Chiang Mai. It is divided into 2 parts, one side selling primarily merchandise and right across the street from it is the food court offering a huge variety of eateries ranging from local fruits and street foods to Western food such as pizzas, pasta, hot dogs etc. There were also a couple of stalls offering Mediterranean food.
Day 7
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
This morning, we kicked off our day bright and early with a 5:30 AM ride up the winding road to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
The drive was still dark when we left, but as we climbed higher, the sky began to lighten, setting the stage for a stunning sunrise over Chiang Mai.
We arrived and quickly went up to the temple, using the elevator cable car to save time, not because we are lazy, and we got up to the Temple Mount just in time to catch the first rays of sunlight breaking over the horizon—beautiful scenery with the city far below blanketed in a soft morning glow and mist.
After enjoying the view and the beautiful sunrise, we then explored the serene grounds. The highlight was the magnificent golden stupa gleaming in the early light, surrounded by intricate details and peaceful vibes.
Our friendly Grab driver kindly waited about an hour while we toured the temple, then drove us safely back down the mountain—all for an extra 700 baht. A perfect, memorable start to the day!
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, often simply called Doi Suthep, is one of northern Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist temples. Perched atop Doi Suthep mountain overlooking Chiang Mai, it was established in 1383 during the Lanna Kingdom era to enshrine a holy relic of the Buddha—a shoulder bone fragment.
According to legend, the relic was placed on a white elephant, which climbed the mountain, trumpeted three times, and died, signaling the site for the temple. The centerpiece is the gleaming golden chedi (stupa), surrounded by intricate murals, Buddha statues, and shrines.
Visitors can ascend via a dramatic 306-step naga-flanked staircase or a funicular lift (basically an elevator ascending up the mountain by attached cables, so not elevated in the air), enjoying panoramic views of the city below—especially stunning at sunrise.
Day 8
Riverside Bar and Restaurant
We went back to Riverside Bar and Restaurant for lunch – this place definitely serves the best Thai food yet. Very flavorful especially their Tod Mun Kung, fried shrimp. And the khao soy, a traditional northern dish of noodles in curry sauce with chicken and, at this place, served with pigeon eggs, is delicious.
Han Chinese Cuisine
We had dinner at the Chinese restaurant at the hotel on our last night in Chiang Mai, it was the most expensive dinner yet. Other than the shrimp wrapped in bean curd, everything else was of somewhat mediocre quality. My dinner companion never fails to tell me that we get what we deserve when we go to a restaurant inconsistent with the local cuisine, i.e. Chinese food in northern Thailand. And this time we definitely got what we deserved.
Day 9
We had a quick breakfast at the hotel and then took a grab to the bus station to catch a bus ride to KamPhaengPhet to Sukjai Garden, run by our friends, the Mullens.
The bus ride was about 5 hours, it was better than we expected, the ride was pretty smooth. They stopped at six or seven different places, but generally pretty quick. We didn’t test out the on- bus bathroom so can’t comment on that, luckily… :).
The bus seats reclined back quite a ways and I took a few hours nap, played some games, watched Exploring the Unknown Season 2 with Wang Yibo episodes 13 and 14, and we arrived at our destination.
Anchalee’s brother picked us up at the bus station and from there, we traveled for another 40 minutes to Sukjai Garden.
Arrived at Sukjai Garden!
The Mullens are building a farm stay/resort experience and have just built two new guest bungalows, so our bungalow is brand new and it’s equipped with basic necessities such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hand soap (unlike the previous Chiangmai Airbnb that we checked out immediately upon arrival). Air conditioning works very well, a fan is also provided for those who enjoy colder temperatures. There is a mini fridge, kettle, bottled water, and some snacks. It’s a cozy little bungalow for our stay.
The weather here is very nice in the morning, cool and not a bit humid. The temperature rises during the day though and at night, we were told that there are lots of mosquitoes so we just stayed inside the bungalow! And the hot water system is still getting installed so we get to take cold showers!
The gardens here are amazing, lots of bananas, but also a variety of other fruits, like guavas, mangoes, mangosteen, etc., 13 acres in all. It’s wonderful to walk through the gardens and hear about the plans The Mullens have for building this out, it will be interesting to come back over the next couple of years and see how the vision progresses. But for now, the bungalows are amazing and this is a very relaxing place to stay.
One of the things that fascinated me was sugar canes getting transported by the truck load. I have where is the sugarcane seen a few trucks carrying sugar canes on our bus ride from Chiang Mai to KamPhaengPhet.
Day 10
We had lunch at a local noodle place, very basic little restaurant specializes in Kevan’s favorite Thai noodle soup (it’s calledบะหมี่).
It was very delicious.
This is a bird nest used as a wall decoration at the restaurant.
Dinner at the river was fantastic. The ambience was amazing, right beside the Ping river, temperature was perfect, no bugs to bother us, and the food was amazing!
Every dish served was so tasty especially the crab meat in yellow curry sauce. One of the best parts was the bill, six of us ate our fill for around $35.
After dinner, Mike drove around for some mango sticky rice for dessert but we couldn’t find mango sticky rice anywhere, but we did find a roti vendor who was very happy to have six dessert- hungry customers. Thai roti is a little different from Malaysian roti, after they fry up the dough, they add a bunch of sweet condensed milk and sugar onto it, which makes it extra sweet and tasty. I am still a little scared after a gastrointestinal mishap from right before we started our trip so I didn’t dare eat the street food, I am sure he uses the same oil over and over again and he definitely wasn’t cleaning his hands between cooking and handling money and messing with his hair and everything else that he was doing. But the rest of the crew thought the roti’s were amazing!
Day 11
KhlongLan Waterfalls
We visited KhlongLan Waterfalls which is about an hour from Sukjai Garden. We arrived at around 1pm but the weather was very nice.
There are a lot of other activities in the area, including ATVs, and there were also a lot of campgrounds in the area with tent campers, enjoying the beautiful outdoors near the waterfalls. It was a short walk to the falls, the falls are about 100 meters height from the upper cliffs and 40 meters wide.
The falls land in a pool where many people went swimming.
This national park features a dense, tropical forest, with lots of ferns, bamboo thickets, and is also especially well known for its rare wild orchids. This part of the forest is part of the larger western forest complex, a natural habitat for tigers and a key tiger conservation zone. Though the numbers have subsided, tigers are still seen in the area, especially in the adjacent Mae Wong Forest complex where tigers have been spotted recently.
Crying Tiger
Dinner at Crying Tiger, an Isan restaurant, was amazing!
Night Market
The fun continued at the night market at KamPhaengPhet! This place is huge with all sorts of street food, desserts, clothing, toys, etc… I had a ton of fun picking out all sorts of desserts including the famous mango sticky rice!
Day 12
Breakfast at Sukjai Garden was fun! Anchalee made yummy pancakes, served with a variety of tropical fruit. We also had soy milk with 油條. What I enjoyed most was the company of good friends during breakfast!
We started our day with a very meaningful activity! Mike and Anchalee sponsored the local elementary school children lunch and we got to serve them. The children had their sports day earlier and were hungry, so by the time we got to the school, they had just finished their lunch and were all ready for dessert! What can be better than having coconut ice cream topped with condensed milk and yummy coconut chiffon cupcake.
Kevan volunteered to be the ice cream scooper ( an alternative strength training since he skipped working out this morning) and I passed out the cupcakes. The Martins helped giving out the ice cream and the Mullens interacted with the school children, teachers, and the parents.
We were also fed lunch at the school. Green curry chicken with some sort of blood served with white noodles and Isan style papaya salad where they use fermented baby crab ( looked raw) which tasted way fishier than the Thai style.
The elementary school children are so cute, one little girl tried poking my back trying to play hide and seek with me. I took some pictures of how the kids interact with the teachers And among each other. I absolutely love how happy they all are with the exception of a couple of sad kids, I heard that they were asked to say “thank you” in English and that they were too shy to do so, and so they cried!.
They bowed their head as they said thank you “kopkunka” or “kopkunkap” as they received their treats. The older kids said their thank you in English. These kids are simply adorable!
The best part is that we were surrounded by happy people spreading good vibes! What a fantastic day!
KamPhaengPhet Histoical Park
After that, we visited the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, and it was such a peaceful, underrated spot! If you love ancient ruins but want to avoid the crowds of Sukhothai or Ayutthaya, this place is perfect. We were literally the only people at the main site – such a treat to explore such beautiful ancient ruins with NO ONE else around. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site (linked to the Historic Town of Sukhothai) and felt wonderfully quiet.
“KamPhaengPhet” means “Diamond Wall,” named for the impressive city walls that protected this strategic military outpost during the Sukhothai Kingdom (13th–14th centuries). It guarded the southern frontier against invasions and continued into the Ayutthaya period, so the ruins show a unique blend of architectural and artistic styles.
Wat Phra Kaeo
The park has two main areas. In the inner city (near modern KamPhaengPhet town), Wat Phra Kaeo is the standout – the main royal temple with massive laterite structures, chedis, and beautiful weathered Buddha images.
Nearby, Wat Phra That features a striking square-based chedi in classic KamPhaengPhet style.
We then drove to the northern/forest zone, less than a mile away, where a variety of temples are scattered among the trees – once home to forest monks. Wat Phra Si Ariyabot has a mondop (square building with a pyramidal or spiral roof used as a shrine or pavilion) that originally held four Buddha images in different postures (standing, walking, sitting, reclining); the standing one is still intact and impressive.
The old city walls and moats still give a strong sense of how fortified and important this place was. The park is shaded, clean, and super relaxing – we wandered around, soaking in the history with no other visitors around (except for a few Thais who were using the first zone area as a walking path).
If you’re exploring northern Thailand, definitely stop here – and book your stay at SukJai gardens. These ruins are much quieter than the big-name sites but just as rewarding. We loved this hidden gem!
Wat Nong Pling
Our last excursion of the day was a visit to the Buddhist temple Wat Nong Pling, a peaceful meditation center and spiritual haven established in the late 20th century (officially permitted 1997), but its crown jewel — the world’s first ordination hall (ubosot) built entirely from natural red laterite stone — began construction around 2014 and continues with meticulous detailing to this day!
The exterior walls and boundary are alive with exquisite hand-carved artistry: intricate Buddhist motifs, lush floral patterns, mythical creatures, zodiac signs at the back, and symbolic elephants embodying strength and wisdom — all inspired by the region’s ancient Sukhothai heritage.
Inside, the radiant Phra Phutthachao Ngoen Lai Ma (พระพุทธเจ้าเงินไหลมา), a pure silver-golden Buddha in the elegant Kamphaeng Phet style (broad forehead, serene smile, continuous eyebrows), lap base 32 inches wide, glowing with divine grace amid the evolving teak-wood interior steals the show!
This temple bridges ancient laterite traditions from the nearby UNESCO ruins with contemporary devotion — a true hidden gem for reflection, merit-making, and awe-inspiring Thai artistry!
As we exited Wat Nong Pling, a peaceful line of white novice monk statues in vibrant yellow robes proceeds towards a beautifully adorned black reclining elephant, topped by a gentle Buddha figure offering blessings. While the park’s ancient sites feature iconic elephant-adorned chedis from the Sukhothai era, this charming contemporary setup blends devotion, respect for nature, and Thai symbolism of strength and wisdom — a photogenic touch that invites reflection on harmony and merit-making in Thailand’s spiritual landscape. This temple is a Modern addition, not part of the historical ruins.
We ended the day with an eight-course dinner! Portions were small but delicious!
Day 13
Today we traveled by car from KamPhaengPhet to Bangkok and checked back into Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. Anchalee’s brother, Tong, drove us in his truck. It took us about four hours to get really close to the north end of Bangkok, we made really good time and the freeways heading south were pretty good. But then when we got into Bangkok traffic, everything grounded to a halt. Also, I don’t think our driver was that familiar with Bangkok and when he got to the Main Rd., Sukhumvit, he turned onto it and it was one lane of traffic going east (our direction) and five lanes of traffic going west so we were basically at a standstill. He looped around and tried a variety of different ways and it took us about 90 minutes to cover the last 5 miles. Pretty brutal traffic.
We checked in at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis, a great hotel and a great location just off of the main road. There are lots of good restaurants around and close to pretty much everything.
We got a recommendation from the check-in staff to try Baan Tasanee just down the road, so we tried that out and it was solid. Pretty good, not outstanding, but not bad.
We then stopped at Emsphere, a big mall next to our hotel, and grabbed some mango sticky rice and a few other goodies, which were great.
We get Marriott lounge access as part of our Bonvoy perks so we ate there for dinner. They had Kevan‘s favorite Thai noodle dish, which was pretty good, and a variety of other things.
The lounge here is top-notch, pretty big and a variety of food for breakfast and dinner. It’s been a pretty good travel/relax day. Tomorrow we are headed to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha first thing. Then trying to hit the famous Blue Elephant restaurant for lunch.
Day 14
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace in Bangkok is Thailand’s most iconic royal complex and a dazzling showcase of Thai artistry, history, and spirituality.
Built in 1782 by King Rama I, founder of the Chakri Dynasty, it marked the establishment of Bangkok as the new capital.
The demon guardians at Bangkok’s Grand Palace are tall (about 5m), colorful Yaksha statues — fierce mythological giants from the Ramakien (Thai Ramayana).
They stand at gates and entrances, especially around Wat Phra Kaew, to protect sacred spaces and the Emerald Buddha from evil spirits.
Made mainly in King Rama III’s era, they feature bulging eyes, fangs, armor, crowns, and clubs, with unique names like Tosakanth.
For over a century, it served as the official residence of Thai kings and the center of government. Today, while the royal family resides elsewhere, the palace hosts major ceremonies and state functions. It is also the site of the Emerald Buddha, which has a long history and has been moved from various Buddhist temples throughout Thailand and also at one point, it was housed in a temple in Vietnam. It has resided in the Grand Palace in Bangkok in temple of the Emperor Buddha for over 200 years.
Here are stunning views of its ornate golden rooftops and intricate traditional Thai architecture.
The complex spans numerous buildings, halls, and gardens, blending Thai, European, and regional influences.
A highlight is the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, an elegant fusion of Thai and European architectural styles with grand columns and golden spires:
Wat Phra Kaew: Temple of the Emerald Buddha
The most sacred part of the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Thailand’s holiest temple and the spiritual heart of the nation. It enshrines the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot), a 66 cm jade statue (not emerald) carved in the 15th-century Lanna style, depicting the Buddha in meditation.
Despite its small size, the Emerald Buddha is Thailand’s most revered religious object and national palladium, believed to protect the kingdom. Its origins trace back centuries, with a legendary journey from India through various Southeast Asian kingdoms before being brought to Bangkok in 1784 by King Rama I. The statue sits high on a golden throne, dressed in seasonal gold garments changed three times a year by the king in a ceremonial ritual. The temple’s interior is breathtaking, adorned with intricate murals, golden decorations, and sparkling mosaics.
Queen Sirikit – Museum of Textiles
Our last stop at the Grand Palace visit was exploring the Museum of Textiles. The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles is a beautiful cultural museum located inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand which highlights exquisite traditional Thai silks, regional weaving techniques, and a stunning collection of elegant gowns and outfits worn and designed by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit herself. The museum collects, displays, preserves, and promotes textiles from Southeast, East, and South Asia, with a strong focus on Thailand’s rich textile heritage and the royal court’s traditions.
Visitor Essentials (2026)
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (arrive early; last entry ~3:00 PM)
• Admission: 500 THB for foreigners (children under 120 cm free); includes Wat Phra Kaew
• Dress Code: Strict — shoulders and knees fully covered; no shorts, sleeveless tops, ripped jeans, or flip-flops (rental available at entrance)
• Tips: Expect crowds; visit early to beat heat and tour groups. Combine with nearby Wat Pho and Wat Arun for a full historical experience.
A visit to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha offers an unforgettable glimpse into Thailand’s royal heritage and deep Buddhist devotion — truly a highlight of any trip to Bangkok!
After The Grand Palace visit, we took a tuktuk for 100 Bht to Wat Pho. We were cruising passed many cars before arriving at Wat Pho. We decided to walk to the pier to get a closer look of Wat Arun.
Wat Arun
We had a fantastic view of Wat Arun at the pier across the Chao Phraya River. What a stunning structure with boats zipping in and out around the pier and across the river!
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is an iconic Buddhist temple on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok (located on the “Thonburi” side of the river, a place Kevan served as a missionary 40 years ago). . A temple has stood on this site since the Ayutthaya Kingdom (at least the 17th century), originally called Wat Makok. It gained prominence in 1767 when King Taksin established Thonburi as his capital after Ayutthaya’s fall, briefly making it a royal temple and even housing the Emerald Buddha before the capital moved across the river in 1782.
The temple was renamed and dramatically transformed during the reigns of King Rama II (1809–1824) and Rama III (1824–1851), who enlarged the central 70+ meter prang (tower) and decorated it with intricate porcelain mosaics, seashells, and colorful tiles — recycled from Chinese ship ballast. Its name honors the Hindu god Aruna, symbolizing dawn, as the first rays of sunlights s beautifully reflect off its surface.
The temple’s stunning central prang is covered in thousands of pieces of colorful Chinese porcelain, broken pottery, seashells, and ceramic fragments — creating that amazing sparkling effect when the light hits it, especially at dawn or sunset. This wasn’t just for beauty; in the early 19th century (during the reigns of King Rama II and Rama III), Chinese trading ships used broken porcelain as ballast in their cargo holds to stabilize them on the voyage to Bangkok. When they unloaded, the Thai artisans cleverly repurposed all that “trash” into this dazzling mosaic decoration — turning something practical and discarded into one of the world’s most beautiful temple features!
Today, it’s famous for its stunning architecture, riverside views (especially at sunrise or sunset), and steep climbable steps offering panoramic sights of the river and nearby landmarks like the Grand Palace.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho, officially known as Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, is one of Bangkok’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples, located directly south of the Grand Palace on Rattanakosin Island.
Commonly called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, it dates back to the 16th century (Ayutthaya period) but was significantly rebuilt and expanded by King Rama I in 1788 and further enlarged by King Rama III in the 19th century.
Here are stunning views of the massive Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas), the temple’s main highlight — a gold-plated statue measuring 46 meters long and 15 meters high, depicting the Buddha entering Nirvana.
Wat Pho is also renowned as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage and traditional Thai medicine, with an on-site school where visitors can experience authentic treatments.
The soles of the Reclining Buddha’s feet are beautifully inlaid with mother-of-pearl, illustrating 108 auspicious symbols.
Blue Elephant Restaurant
The Blue Elephant in Bangkok is an iconic fine-dining restaurant specializing in authentic Royal Thai cuisine, set in a beautifully restored century-old colonial mansion (built in 1903) on South Sathorn Road, opposite Surasak BTS station.
Known as the Thai Chine Building, this heritage-listed neo-classic structure (protected by Thailand’s Fine Arts Department) originally opened as the luxurious Bombay Department Store (a high-end fabric and department shop) in what was then Bangkok’s most exclusive riverside neighborhood, near landmarks like the Oriental Hotel. By the 1930s, it was acquired by Chinese tycoons who founded the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (TCCC), which occupied it for about 70 years. During World War II, it served as a command center for the Imperial Japanese Army. The TCCC preserved the building from demolition post-war and later moved to modern premises, allowing its full restoration in 2002 when Master Chef Nooror Somany Steppe brought the Blue Elephant brand home from Brussels (where it began in 1980).
Here are striking views of the classic exterior facade, with its elegant yellow-and-white colonial charm standing out against modern surroundings.
The menu showcases exquisite royal recipes, both contemporary and historical— signature curries, crab specialties, river prawn salads, and creative Thai-Belgian fusions — presented with artistry.
It also houses one of Bangkok’s premier Thai cooking schools. As of 2026, the Sathorn flagship remains a top pick for special occasions, blending history, architecture, and top-tier Thai flavors (with past Michelin recognition).
Reservations are essential — a must-visit for an unforgettable taste of Thailand’s culinary heritage in a historic setting! Extremely tasty!
After lunch, we went back to the hotel. It was a long day out in the heat and I was happy to be back in the hotel to chill in a full-blasted AC room.
Day 15
Attended church today in Bangkok, the regular church building is in an annex to the beautiful Bangkok Temple.
It was such a blessing to be able to attend church with the Mullens and the Martins today. So incredible to see such a beautiful sacred temple in the middle of Bangkok. We are looking forward to going back and spending time in the temple in the coming week.
Day 16
Ensphere
We had lunch at Emsphere, Kevan found his favorite wonton noodle soup, it was very tasty!
After that Kevan went for a haircut and I had an amazing hair wash. Kevan went back to the hotel to grab my hair brush because I couldn’t bear to use the brushes at the salon, they are full of hair!!!
After that we went for a massage at Thai Thai Massage, we get 20% of of any 90 mins+ massage before 6pm, a cleaner place to enjoy a relaxing massage!
Day 16
We attended a temple session today at 2:30pm. It took us about 25mins by Grab to get there, after getting dropped by two different drivers and having to wait in total about 25 minutes just for a car to arrive. We went to the Annex at the church complex and picked up some stuff for Tina and myself.
We had a hard time getting Grab to take us back to the hotel due to heavy traffic during that time.
EmQuartier
We finally arrived at EmQuartier, a high end mall close to the hotel. We had dinner there and walked back to the hotel through Queen’s Park.
EmEmporium is just located right across from EmQuartier.
Queen’s Park
Queen’s Park is a pretty big park, really nice path all around the park, which was being used at 6 PM by a ton of joggers and walkers. Then in the middle of the park, there was a huge sports court with a full length basketball court, a volleyball court, and multiple courts where the Thai sport of Takraw (it is known as Sepak Takraw in Malaysia) was played.
Takraw is a game like volleyball, where you use your head and feet to propel a small woven rattan ball (about the size of a grapefruit) over the net to your opponent’s side and score points when it drops to the ground on their side. Extremely high talent levels in that sport and this court was no exception. We watched for a bit and saw some incredible scissors kicks and high foot spikes that were exceptional.
Day 17
Today is a very relaxing day! We had breakfast at Goji at the hotel and then headed back to the room to do some Duolingo. Surprisingly, I found out that Kevan is in my league and was in 1st place and I’m second. So I did extra time to catch up while he worked out at the gym. You snooze you loose!
Siam Tea Room
Lunch at Siam Tea Room at the hotel was fantastic. It maybe on the pricier side but the portions are pretty big and the quality was good. Needless to say, I ordered too much again assuming their portions are small like most of the restaurants or eateries we’ve been to.
Kevan order his favorite Kai Soi except that they serve this dish with soft crab at this restaurant. Maybe he’ll get Kao Soi vegetarian next time as he barely touched the soft crab. And I ordered yellow curry with crab and shrimp served with rice noodles, Phad Thai shrimp, and pomelo and jicama spicy salad without the spice. Everything tasted really good!
We ended up taking a long nap in the afternoon. It was time to hit the massage parlor to get the 20% off deal, we got there just in time! Another 90 mins massage was relaxing!
We were going to hit Soi 71 today but we were still very full from lunch so we decided to postpone our trip until tomorrow.
Day 18
Breakfast at Goji and then we went for a walk at Queen’s Park. I attempted to do a route on Pokemon Go but didn’t get the credit even though I finished the route, the game failed to recognize the path.
After that, we walked to EmQuartier to get some shampoo and conditioner at Sephora. Shampoo and conditioner at the hotel made my hair frizzy.
And then we went to the food court and got some of my favorite Thai dessert which I finished off in no time.
We had some fruit and sandwiches at the lounge, very tasty but the bread was black.
Soi 71
Kevan has been waiting to go to Soi 71 for some amazing smoothie and noodles and tonight is the night!
Soi 71 (Sukhumvit Soi 71, also called Pridi Phanomyong Road) in the Phra Khanong area is a fantastic, low-key spot for tourists seeking an authentic Bangkok experience away from the super-touristy crowds.
It’s a residential neighborhood vibe with a real local feel—think everyday Thais grabbing dinner after work, families, and no one walking around with selfie sticks. It’s genuine, affordable, and immersive without feeling overwhelming.
Needless to say, the fruit drink – Kevan always gets pineapple/banana/lime – and the noodle soup, were both amazing. Surprisingly, just as good as it was 40 years ago, which is rarely the case, it seems like we go back to places we previously enjoyed and often times it’s not as good as we remember it was, this was not one of those times!
Day 19
Dinner at EmSphere at Nopha. Pretty good but still cost us about 1,500 Baht.
EmSphere is all decked out for Chinese New Year!🧧
We got upgraded to a suite at the Marriott Marquis today. Pretty nice and spacious!
We have been here for a week now and this is the first time I actually went to the pool and garden on the 9th floor. Our upgraded suite is in North Tower, we were previously in the south tower and that is where the lounge is so the easiest way to cut between the towers is walking through the pool and fitness center area on the north floor so that was an added bonus. The pool is very nice, the fitness center is very spacious, this is a super nice hotel!
Day 20
Temple session at 9am. Met the officiator and talked to him afterwards, he is from Hanoi, Vietnam and kevan exchanged contacts with him. he works as the country manager for an immigration advisory firm in Vietnam, most of his work is remote so he takes a week every month and comes and does service in the Bangkok temple, which is amazing, he looks really young so that is tremendous service for someone that’s probably only in their 30s Maybe we will go to Hanoi one day! The wall pictures at the entrance/exit of the temple were fascinating, I like the Asian theme inspired painting here.
Our Grab driver watched a movie while driving in a stylish purple car!
Lunch at Hong Bao 紅包at EmPorium for lunch, dim sum was pretty good but I think The Pagoda Chinese restaurant at the Marriott Marquis might be better. Had more tapioca balls for dessert, maybe I should slow down. I’ve been eating this thing every other day!
Dinner at the lounge was good. Satay and mango sticky rice were the highlights. Pretty impressed with a couple whom must have taken 100 sticks of satay at the table, clearing everything on the serving table!
I built half of the black dog Thai Lego!
Itchy eyes haven’t gotten better, itchiness increases when I try to go to bed.
Day 21
Pressure in my right eye increased, still itchy and feeling dry. Kevan scheduled an eye appointment for me at Rutnin, an eye clinic nearby.
But first, we are going to church! The clinic is about 10 mins walk from the church building. Crossing the many ways junctions in Bangkok can be scary …
My appointment at the clinic called Rutnin at 10:30am but after the registration process and wait to be seen time, we didn’t get out from the clinic until 1pm. I apparently had eye allergies and the doctor prescribed steroid eye drops and antibiotics for 5 days. Total bill was about 3000 Bht.
Kevan’s old mission office, and the home where the Mission elders lived were both just next to the clinic so we walked over to check it out. Unfortunately, the old church building is no longer in use and was all locked up, but it looks exactly the same. But the lane leading to the church has completely changed, it used to be residential single-family homes and now it is skyscraper apartments and office buildings. I guess that’s what happens when you’re away for 40 years!
Kevan thinks this is where he used to live as a missionary, at least it’s in the general vicinity.
There is also this thing as a motorbike grab, just like Grab but can only take one person at a time. No, we didn’t grab that opportunity to ride in one, maybe next time!
Lunch at Siam Tea House was fantastic!
Dinner at the lounge, today they served Som Tum with sticky rice and chicken. Very tasty!
My stomach feels a little discomfort, have I been eating too much sour food or too much Mango sticky rice or too much papaya? I’ve tried to be pretty careful with what I eat lately…
Day 22
This morning, we departed our hotel around 6 am for an early adventure to two iconic Thai attractions: the Maeklong Railway Market and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, both located about 80-100 km southwest of Bangkok in the provinces of Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi, respectively. The journey, often done as a day tour, winds through rural landscapes, offering a glimpse of local life before arriving at these bustling spots.
Train Market
First, the Maeklong Railway Market (also known as Hoop Rom Market or the “umbrella pulldown market”) provides a thrilling experience where vendors sell fresh produce, seafood, and snacks right along active train tracks.
Established in 1905 as a key trading hub for the region’s fishing and agricultural communities, the market adapted when the Maeklong Railway line was built straight through it, creating a famous spectacle where the train approaches (up to eight times a day) and sellers swiftly retract awnings and goods mere inches from the passing cars, only to reset everything seconds later. It’s a pretty incredible display of precision and resilience, blending everyday commerce with a touch of danger.
Kevan had found a fruit juice shop to get his favorite pineapple/banana/lime iced drink and so we were waiting there for the train to arrive.
The shopkeeper told us to keep behind the red line and the train was literally one inch from our noses as it passed by. No sooner had it passed by than the awnings were dropped, and commerce continued!
Floating Market
Next, we went to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, a vibrant waterway scene, paddling through canals lined with boats packed with tropical fruits, barbecue chicken, handmade crafts, and noodle soup prepared right on the water.
Dating back to 1866-1868, when King Rama IV commissioned the canal’s construction to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers for better trade and irrigation, it evolved into a lively market in the early 20th century and gained fame in the 1970s as a symbol of traditional Thai river life—though it’s now more tourist-oriented than authentic.
Bargaining with smiling vendors added to the charm, but there’s a dual pricing system – Thais often pay less (around 800 Baht per boat) compared to foreigners (typically 2,000 Baht or more for a one-hour ride), reflecting a common practice. We paid 3000 Baht for our boat which included the main canal sites. Our driver Sam had asked if it was OK if he could bring his wife as she had never been, so we invited Sam and his wife Ping to join us on the boat and they went on the canal and floating market tour with us, which was very fun.
Overall, this outing captures Thailand’s ingenious blend of tradition, commerce, and spectacle, leaving us with unforgettable sights, sounds, and flavors before heading back by midday.
Chinatown
On the way back from the floating market we stopped at Bangkok Chinatown on YaoWaRad Road. Then for dinner we all met up with Kevan’s Thai friend from mission/College whom we haven’t seen for 30 years!
Day 23
This morning went to Raja’s fashions, a prominent tailor for men’s suits and dress shirts, kevan had 4 shirts and a suit made. Apparently, they still have Kevan’s measurements from 40 years ago. Kevan says I’m not allowed to include how much the measurements have changed over that time period.
We went back to Ginger Farm for lunch, which is the same place that our friend Yongyut recommended to us and took us to the day before, their Phad Thai and pomelo salad was so good!
Dinner with Pat Wada at Siam Tea House at the hotel was good. We had a good conversation about kids, work, and places. It was nice to see Pat!
Day 24
I wanted to sleep in but Kevan woke me up with his Duolingo practice! He said he’s only doing what I asked him to do by getting in his daily Duolingo. I just wish he wouldn’t do it while I’m trying to sleep…
Breakfast at Goji and late lunch/early dinner at EmSphere and snacks at the lounge!
Rajadamnern Stadium
Kevan got us tickets and we sat ringside at the birthplace of Muay Thai, Rajadamnoen Stadium, close to Bangkok’s democracy monument. It was really interesting, great bouts, and great athletes, Muay Thai is an incredible sport, and it is intertwined with Thai culture. It is a national sport in Thailand, and is an incredible combat sport.
It is known as the art of eight limbs, where the fighters use their fists, elbows, knees, feet, and shins to strike, kick, clinch, sweep, and knee opponents that make it extremely dynamic and very brutal. The fighters were lean and muscular but don’t wait for us with literally no body fat. It is pretty amazing because this sport traces its roots back to ancient Siamese military training in around the 13th century where it was used on the battlefield by Siamese soldiers when their weapons failed. It is pretty deeply tied to Thai identity, including serious respect by the fighters for their teachers.
They start the bouts by performing what is called Wai Kru Ram Muay, where they come out and do a ritual dance to pay respect to their teachers, ancestors, and spirits. It was a great event, we sat in the first row of the raised club class seats, which were not down in the ringside pit, but were level with the ring, so it was really good visibility. Tickets cost us about US $60 each, well worth it for the entertainment and cultural value.
Day 25
We went back to Raja’s for Kevan’s suit fitting and then walked about 1/2 mile down the street to buy a bag to bring back stuff we bought in Thailand.
While Kevan went to get Shwarma for lunch, I walked to EmQuartier to get some Thai dessert. There was a huge crowd lining up waiting for the arrival of some Thai superstar. Quite amazing. The crowd waited patiently with their cameras ready for a long time, I was there shopping for at least a good 30 mins at they were still there at the same place waiting …
At sunset, we went up to the rooftop bar at the hotel, missed the big orange sunset that Kevan saw earlier but was able to get a glimpse of what’s remaining. We were able to have a great view of the city skyline from the rooftop though.
Dinner at the lounge and then Kevan went across the street to get his favorite pineapple/banana/lime iced juice drink, and mango sticky rice from the same mango lady, everyday! I think she will miss him when we leave and he stops his daily visit to her cart!
Day 26
We went and served at the Bangkok temple at 1:30pm. It went for about 2 1/2 hours. It was all conducted in Thai so it was a bit hard to keep my mind focused!
Dinner at the lounge was the best so far! They served most of my favorites including Lard Na, satay chicken with peanut sauce which was amazing, the chicken was so tender, shrimp toast, and the panda ball filled with coconut and brown sugar.
Day 27
Happy Birthday Taylor!
Chatachuk
This morning we went to the biggest weekend market in the world at Chatuchak. We bought some clothing, diffusers ( US$12 for 2), and some scarves.
Kevan was brave enough to eat Phad Thai and his favorite smoothie blend at the street market, it looked fine, but I just hope he doesn’t get any stomach problems!
The bathroom is fairly clean and cost 5 Baht to get in. But there’s no toilet paper and they provide very diluted hand soap!
After that we went to EmQuartier to get my tapioca balls and pandan balls. I even bought 2 more dresses that cost 4200 Baht, hopefully they are much better than the other one I got at 1/3 of the price.
Lunch at Ginger Organic Farm was fantastic!
I’m ready to chill and pack at the hotel, getting ready for our trip to Phuket tomorrow!
Day 28
Church was amazing today! Quote of the day, “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired so I decided to see what life would be like if I exercised faith”! I was very impressed with a few children who bore such strong testimonies this morning despite how young they were.
We had lunch at Pagoda Chinese restaurant at the hotel, all I can say is that their dim sum is much better than the regular Chinese dishes. Very pricey for the average quality!
We checked out of the hotel today and took a flight to Phuket. Kevan upgraded our seats to business class for an extra $210, pretty good for 2 upgrades although the flight was only 1 hour and 15 mins long.
The Mullens who were supposed to travel with us to Phuket missed their flight, they went to the wrong airport. They caught the next flight so it all worked out. There are two main airports in Bangkok, the newer international airport at suwanaphum and the older Don Muang airport which is principally domestic. Since a lot of domestic flights fly out of Don Muang, that’s where the Mullens assumed they would be flying from, but since this was a Thai airways flight, it flew out of the other airport so they missed it. Word to the wise, in Bangkok and other places, check your departure airport, especially if there are two airports in the same city, like Bangkok, this is also the case in Kuala Lumpur.
Arrived in Phuket at around 8:15pm. The first time we had our bags checked, there was a malfunction and baggage claim was delayed. Later, they announced that we had to pick up our bags at a different terminal!
By the time we picked up our luggage and checked out our rental car, the Mullens had landed and we drove to to our hotel at Phuket Marriott Vacation Club, courtesy of the Mullens.
Day 29
Anchalee made French toast for breakfast, yummy!
We went to Lotus Supermarket, about 20 miles from the resort, where we had lunch and picked up some groceries for the week. Stopping at Swensens ice cream parlor, located inside the market, was an added bonus.
Sunset was beautiful! We are on the top floor of the villa complex and have a great view out towards the ocean and the sun setting in that direction was spectacular.
Dinner at The Basil was amazing!
We played Banana Grams at night, fun game!
Day 30
This morning I made omelettes with cheese, ham, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and oatmeal for breakfast. We all had papaya which was really tasty.
Snacked on banana chips and toast with butter and marmalade for lunch!
We had the masseuses come to the room for a massage, that’s the way to go, to have a massage in an air conditioned room in Phuket. The Mullen‘s vacationed here a couple of weeks ago and so they knew all of the massage ladies who typically give massages down at the beach, but we’re happy to come work on us up in the room. Wonderfully relaxing!
Dinner at Bill-Bentley was good! Classic pub, food, burgers, and fish and chips, but also a surprisingly broad Mexican food menu, which turned out to be quite tasty. Three of us had Mexican and one had a Wagyu cheeseburger, all were great, portions were big sized, great value for money at this place.
We played Five Crowns at the hotel at the hotel after dinner. First time playing and it was a lot of fun. It turned out I was the big winner, luck of the draw I guess. The big loser? That would be Kevan. But he says high score wins most of the time so he’s OK with tripling the points of the rest of us.
Day 31
This morning at 8am, Kevan and I, along with the Mullens, left the Marriott Vacation Beach Club and drove about 45 minutes to Phang Nga for an unforgettable boat ride to James Bond Island. The early start helped us beat the crowds, and the scenic route through the lush countryside got the whole group excited for the day ahead in Phang Nga Bay.
Fortunately, the Mullen’s have a contact near PangNga Bay, who helped arrange the boat for us and escorted us down to the pier . Boarding the longtail boat was tougher than expected. We had to navigate a primitive wooden platform connected from a shaky bridge—it was narrow, slippery from sea spray, and rocking with the waves. Everyone had to hold on tight and time their steps carefully to avoid a dunking!
Once underway, we glided past a bustling floating market (actually it’s an entire floating town with a school and a mosque and everything, the front façade is a market with floating restaurants and shops) where locals sold fresh seafood and snacks from boats.
Nearby, we spotted a school with its famous floating soccer field. The kids play football right over the water on a platform built on floats right on the water —such an ingenious setup! If you’re curious about how they constructed it, check out this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU4oA3kkAWU
We sailed right by an oyster farm with rows of floating cages where they raise fresh crabs and oysters for market. Then came the highlight – James Bond Island itself (officially Koh Tapu), the iconic limestone pinnacle featured in “The Man with the Golden Gun.”
On one of the limestone cliffs during the tour, we saw ancient hieroglyphics (prehistoric rock paintings) on the cave walls—faded but fascinating drawings of animals, boats, and human figures dating back thousands of years.
Limestone rocks along the way were beautiful!
Our guide told us that this one by the park with a slated crack was struck by lighting. It would have been quite an experience to witness how it happened, if we can survive the strike!
We had lunch at a local restaurant, I’m glad our stomach held up!
Right across from the restaurant is a rubber plantation.
The trip back to the hotel was less smooth. Kevan got pulled over by the police on the drive. He only had his US driver’s license (we rented the car at the airport, and they said it was fine—no International Driving Permit required). The officer insisted on an IDP, so Kevan ended up paying a 1,000 Baht fine to sort it out. Lesson learned the hard way!
To shake off the stress and end the day on a high note, we all stopped at Swensen’s for some delicious sundaes. The creamy chocolate ice cream was the perfect sweet reward. It definitely made everything better and gave us something fun to laugh about over dessert! What an epic day!
On the way to dinner, we saw an elephant swaying back and forth. At first, I thought that it was dancing to the rhythm of the music but later found out that it is an indication that the elephant was under stress! Sadly, one of its legs was also tied down…
Dinner at Kin Gee was good, we ordered too much!
Day 32
We drove to the South part of Phuket to see the city and visit the white Buddha. Unfortunately, it wasn’t open for visitors to walk up to the Buddha so we were only able to take pictures of the back of the Buddha. Luckily, I was able to zoom in on the face of the Buddha from afar!
Lunch at a local mom and pop restaurant on the way back to the hotel was good, just hope that we don’t get stomach problems!
Cooking dinner with Anchalee was fun. This was part of my cooking lesson we signed up for at Sukjaigardens.
Day 33
Chilled at the hotel all day long!
Played Five Crowns and chatted!
Day 34
Last day in Phuket!
I enjoyed a 90 min in-room massage today, very relaxing!
We played Five Crowns and Bananagrams today. It was fun!
We took a shuttle bus to the restaurant!
Sunset was beautiful!
Dinner at Siam Deli at the resort.
The Thai food was really good, but the other three folks all got burgers, which they said were great!
Day 35
Early this morning, we got notification that Our flight was delayed from 2:30pm to 3:30pm, but then around midday, we got another notification indicating that it had now been delayed to 10:30pm. That’s quite a change of plan. Fortunately, Mike and Anchalee were able to extend our stay at the resort for one extra day so we have a place to hang out before our flight departure.
Toh Daeng
Lunch at Toh Daeng ( Red Table) was a plus! Nestled in Phuket’s tranquil Mai Khao area, Toh Daeng at Baan Ar-Jor offers a delightful escape into authentic southern Thai cuisine within a beautifully restored historic mansion. it was extra significant to me because it included history that had a Malaysia angle.
Built in 1936 by Tan Jin Nugn, a prominent Chinese tin-mining businessman also known as Luang Anuphas Phuket, this Sino-Colonial style home reflects the island’s prosperous Peranakan heritage from the tin mining era. Once a family residence surrounded by farmland, it fell into disrepair before being lovingly renovated into a living museum, homestay, and restaurant, preserving vintage decor and heirlooms that whisper tales of Phuket’s multicultural past.
This charming spot, with its lush surroundings where ingredients like mulberries and coconuts are still grown on-site, serves up fresh, farm-to-table dishes such as spicy curries, crispy salads, and seafood delights that burst with local flavors. It’s the perfect blend of cultural heritage and culinary adventure, making every meal feel like a warm, inviting story from Phuket’s bygone days.
Anchalee and I also visited the home turned museum, foreigners pay 200 Baht while Thais pay 100 Baht. It was very interesting and the visit brought back a ton of memories from my childhood. Many “peranakan” decorations we shown at the exhibition. I recognized the Nyonya styled attire shown, very similar to those that my paternal grandma wore when I was a child. She was a Nyonya, a very tiny woman!
I love the words on the stairs leading to the second level!
These are some more of the exhibits…
We found this guy selling ice cream sandwiches and of course we had to try some!
We stayed at the hotel after lunch until about 6pm to grab some dinner before heading to the airport. Parking was very tough. Many people double parked on the road but we didn’t feel too comfortable about the idea of leaving our rental car double parked on the road while we went to a restaurant, so we just returned our rental car and went directly to the airport.
After returning the car, went through security and immigration, it was time too board the airplane. Phuket International Airport was packed with people like there was no tomorrow! Every place we had to line up was a very long line, from check-in to immigration to security to boarding a bus and then finally up the stairs to the plane out on the tarmac.
Day 36
Arrived in Bangkok and checked into the Royal Orchid Sheraton. We previously stayed at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queens Park, which was a great hotel with fantastic amenities, including a great lounge, really nice fitness center, and a wonderful location.
Kevan wanted to pick this hotel this time so that we would be closer to the river, where we could do a dinner, cruise, and experience a different part of Bangkok, which is great.
As soon as we got to the hotel, we had reservations at a very nice traditional Thai restaurant in the hotel, which also had Thai cultural dancing while we dined, which was fantastic. Food was great, and the dancing and music were wonderful.
That said, I don’t think the overall appeal and amenities at this hotel compare quite as favorably to the Marriott Marquis, so I think if we come again, we will be staying at the Marquis Queens Park instead of this hotel.
Day 37
Happy Lunar New Year Eve!
Today we went back to Raja’s Fashions for Kevan‘s final fitting for the suit and shirts that he bought here. That went pretty smoothly. They will deliver the suits to our hotel tomorrow night, which is convenient. Now we just have to find a place to put them as our bags are pretty stuffed, including the new bag we purchased in Bangkok a couple of weeks ago. We are definitely picking up a lot of stuff as we go along.
After the fitting, we visited a hair salon right down the next street, and I got a hair wash, style, and root touch-up while Kevan got a trim. It was quite embarrassing, it cost me over ฿2000 for my wash and dry and Kevan‘s was only ฿450.
After we got back to the hotel, Kevan, as per his usual, went to work out at the gym. He left the privacy sign on the outside of the door, so I wouldn’t be disturbed, but not too long after, there was a call asking me to open the door. I didn’t understand what they were asking for, so I asked them to repeat it, and she repeated the request to open the door and then hung up. I opened the door, and there were two engineers who said they wanted to repair my AC. They came in and did that, and they were nice enough about it, but I thought it very strange that the hotel staff would see fit to override the privacy sign on the door and come in when I had never asked for any AC repair work. Plus, the lady on the phone was quite rude about it. We later went and talked to the front desk, and they investigated and determined that the engineering staff actually went to the wrong room. They had an AC repair request and came to our room by error. On the bright side, our AC is working much better!
Dinner at the Marriott lounge on the 27th floor, when we showed up, there was a long queue of people waiting so we waited for a while and then noticed that the people in front of us were getting redirected down to the main floor restaurant for the buffet dinner because there was no room in the lounge. Unfortunately, when we got up to the check-in table, they told us that we should go back to our room and come back in an hour or so when they would have space. We challenged that as tactfully as we could, and the other lady at the check-in counter quickly decided that she should also invite us to the feast restaurant downstairs on the ground floor. So we went down there.
Buffet food is not our favorite because it’s high volume and generally average to slightly above average quality, this was pretty good. Kevan loved the sushi, said it was some of the best he’s had in a while. They also had some really good Indian curry chicken. And then they had ice cream for a dessert, so all in all a pretty good backup option to the lounge. I think we ate too much… !
Day 38
Happy Lunar New Year!
We took the ferry across the Chao Phraya River from our hotel to IconSiam. IconSiam is this amazing mall on the banks of the Chao Phraya river, which has a ton of dining options inside as well as a lot of other features, I think over 150 different restaurants in total.
We went to one of the places that has a reputation as being the best Phad Thai in Thailand, it was very good, but it’s a stretch to say it was the best ever.
Opulence River Cruise
Dinner on a river cruise we went on the Opulence River Cruise, which was very nice but also very crowded. The whole ordeal just a board almost made it not worth the trip, you have to wait with 1000 other people all of whom are boarding different cruise ships from the same pier, and then you get herded down a certain ramp to board your ship.
Along with hundreds of your sweaty friends. We finally got on and had pretty good seats, equidistant from the windows and the buffet line so it served as well. Food was decent for boat buffet, but obviously not restaurant quality. The cruise was fine and the outdoor seating was actually quite relaxing with the breeze in the Bangkok evening. All in all a good adventure, but once is probably enough for a very long while.
The night view of Wat Arun from the cruise ship was spectacular!
Day 39
Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant
Today we joined some friends for lunch at the Jim ThompSon Thai restaurant. Sunada and Steve Woodbury, Sonata was a friend of Kevan’s from BYU Hawaii and we got back in touch with her through our other friend yongyut. It was a lot of fun catching up with them, and we actually learned that Sunada‘s grandmother was the managing Director of the Jim Thompson silk company and actually helped form the company. The food was very good, traditional Thai food, but with a twist for many of the dishes. Very tasty, the restaurant was quite nice, and the service was very good, highly recommend this restaurant if you visit Bangkok.
Jim Thompson Museum
The Jim Thompson House Museum is a historic site and art museum located in central Bangkok, Thailand, preserving the former residence and extensive Southeast Asian art collection of American entrepreneur James H. W. Thompson, often called the “Thai Silk King.” It features traditional Thai architecture, lush gardens along the Saen Saep Canal, and exhibits of antiques, including Buddhist sculptures, Thai paintings, and porcelains from Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. The museum offers guided tours, an art center for exhibitions, and amenities like a cafe and gift shop, open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Born in 1906, Jim Thompson was an architect and former OSS officer (precursor to the CIA) who settled in Bangkok after World War II. He revitalized the declining Thai silk industry by founding the Thai Silk Company in 1948, introducing vibrant colors and promoting it globally to fashion designers and Hollywood, turning it into Thailand’s first international fashion brand. An avid collector since 1946, he assembled his home in 1959 by relocating and reconstructing several antique Thai teak houses, blending Western and Thai styles. Thompson mysteriously disappeared in 1967 during a hike in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, with no trace ever found, adding intrigue to his legacy. After his disappearance, the property became a museum under the James H. W. Thompson Foundation to honor his contributions to Thai culture and silk heritage.
After the Jim ThompSon museum tour, we headed back to the hotel and packed up for our flight. The next day we headed back to Salt Lake City, this time through Los Angeles. It was a long flight, but gave us time to decompress and reflect on our wonderful time in Thailand. This was a great adventure, we reconnected with so many old friends, made new friends, saw new things, and ate way too much amazing food. We will definitely be back!