Travel stories from Thailand

Growing up in the welsh valleys, I’m quite used to hiking, camping and being deep within nature for long periods of time without having technology withdrawals. But the Thai Jungle located in Doi Inthanon in the North of Thailand was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had with nature. Pulling up my hiking socks, I was riddled with excitement as I grabbed a hiking stick made from wood and set off with my new friends towards Doi Inthanon. The day in general, was pretty darn fantastic. Incredible views of the mountains, beautiful sunshine and visits to local tribal villages where we exchanged broken communication with the tribal children and their families.

We reached our home for the night which was the home of a tribal family resembling a big tree house in the middle of the mountains. I felt beyond lucky to be experiencing this raw adventure with nature. Until I was told the shower was outside with no doors or privacy. So I waited until it was pitch black until I had my shower which meant sitting in my BO for hours. But I didn’t mind as I sat with the family and ate their home cooked meal made with love and warmth. I quickly fell asleep ready for the next day.

I woke up to the sound of chickens clucking around me, giving me their gentle wake up call. As I sat on the edge of a mountain eating my breakfast Thai porridge, I ravelled in the sunshine and views that were ahead of me. Having no mobile signal is extremely refreshing and it can give you the power to literally stop the chaos and stress of day to day life and reset your mind and refuel your soul.

Songkran is Thailands’ New Year and each year the festivities usually involve a nationwide water fight. In Bangkok, the streets are closed and everyone is armed with a water gun or two or just a big bucket of water.

It’s imperative that all of your belongings are safe inside a water proof case or better yet, left at home. I was with a few friends in Bangkok during Songkran; armed to the teeth with water guns, water balloons and a waterproof bag. I didn’t want to be carrying my weapons all day; I wanted to drink beer at some point too.

We hopped into a tuk-tuk and started targeting random strangers who were unarmed and unaware that is was Songkran. If you don’t have a water gun then you are in trouble. A group of girls waited by a corner, immediately we squirted them with water and it was hilarious watching them trying to run in their flip-flops.

Around the middle of the afternoon, we headed towards Sukhumvit where massive water cannons were shooting into the crowd like a friendly riot. It was hard to get around because it was so crowded however a little squirt from my water gun helped create a path like Moses separating the sea.

My friends and I then decided that we needed to rest and recover and headed to our friends apartment to get dry and have a chance to check notifications on our phones safely and securely.

Once dry again, we headed back into the city though the party was dying down and most families would be heading home which is partly why went back in. This time, we went to a few outdoor bars to watch locals throwing buckets of water over each other with some girls even getting into the buckets too.

All in all, it was a spectacular but also crazy day but that’s what you would expect in a city like Bangkok.

When I initially think of Islands in Thailand, I assumed that the majority of them were situated next to a beach, somewhere south and a little bit of effort to get to. And while it can take a few hours to get to the nearest island from Bangkok, there was one in particular that I could reach in under an hour and this secret island was merely north of the city.

Koh Kret wasn’t naturally formed through time but rather created artificially back in 1722 when a canal was created on the Chao Phraya river to make a shortcut. This in turn created the isolated island that become the future home of the indigenous Mon people who were refugees from neighboring Myanmar.

To get to Koh Kret, take the BTS to Saphin Taksin then head down towards the central pier and board the boat with an orange flagship which should be heading to Nonthanburi. The boat ride takes about an hour but the scenic views are worth it. Once you get off the boat, make your way to a red bus numbered 32 to Pak Kret and tell the conductor you are heading to Koh Kret. The bus should leave you next to the pier from which you can take another boat to get to the island itself.
The island is affluent with a blend of Thai and Mon people culture, offering a diverse range of cuisine and gifts native to the island.

As I passed along the primary footpath (and only footpath), I was impressed with interlocked stalls selling decorated clay pottery, locally grown coffee and also the island’s very own craft beer known as “chit beer” (thankfully didn’t taste like it).

One of the highlights of my trip was watching a traditional Thai dance, both mesmerizing and elegant at the same time.

Not many travelers I met in Bangkok were even remotely aware of Koh Kret and in a way it felt like a blessing since it wasn’t overcrowded and mostly full of locals. So if you are in Bangkok and fancy spending a Sunday afternoon exploring something truly unique then make your way to Koh Kret.

It happened on a holiday in Thailand with my now husband, whom I first met as a travel companion on a previous trip. By day, we did the usual sightseeing and visited temples. Our evenings, we spent with locals in our resort, listening to stories under the beautiful night sky with the endless sounds of the ocean waves.

One lovely evening we decided to stay outdoors on the beach to enjoy the sunset. Music could be heard from the resort and the ambience was just lovely. As the time passed, we found ourselves holding each other so dearly, and it was at this time I realized that the music was part of his plan. At the back of my mind, I knew what was about to happen.

Suddenly I felt a stinging pain, which I succeeded in ignoring, but then I felt it again and again, so much that I could no longer tolerate it. I sprouted from the ground screaming so loud and running in circles, smacking my behind like a madwoman.

He was in hysterics, watching my crazy dance. Some monks who had also come to enjoy the sunset watched and also laughed uncontrollably. I could not hide my tears that by now were rolling down my face like that of an infant.

After a lot of running around holding and scratching my behind, my gentleman finally came to my assistance. He ran after me and those who watched us thought we were enjoying every bit of our love, which was true, but I was in complete agony.

If it wasn't embarrassing enough, I had to take off my pants in order to get the ants out. I tried pulling my short blouse down to cover myself, but it left too much exposed on top. Not wanting to see me embarrass myself further, he finally took off his shirt and covered me.

We returned to our room quickly, with my pants still in hand. He did end up proposing the following day, but it is this event that I remember most and it will always be my engagement story.