We took off from JFK airport on August 10 to Bangkok and traveled around Thailand for 10 days. First, we arrived in Bangkok after a long 22 hour flight, JFK to Dubai then Dubai to Bangkok. The trip was very pleasant and didn't feel too long. The air in Bangkok was hot and humid. We stayed at the Hyatt Erawan hotel located in the middle of Bangkok and in the center of popular malls with easy access to parks and Sky trains.
With Maew and Parn in the back of a tuk tuk tour around Ayutthaya
Great 14 hours flight to Dubai on Emirates Airline, had an hour layover and took another 7 hours flight to Bangkok. Short layover, we had to run to catch our connecting flight.
First day in Bangkok, David and I went to Lumpini Park "Suan Lum" to run and we bought so much food on the way back.
After a big breakfast from the food we bought. Maew came to meet us with her brother Ning and her sister, Parn. We drove to the floating market near Bangkok. There were 100 of food stalls with everything you can imagine.
Sarah had durian for the first time.
After a big lunch at the floating market, we went to see Wat Pho and Wat Pra Gaew(Grand Palce). We saw inside Wat Pho but the Grand place closed at noon for Queen Sirikit's birthday ceremony, August 12th is the Thai holiday Mothers Day. Queen Sirikit is the king's mother, she was Thai queen from 1950-2016.
Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan) located next to the Grand Palace (Wat Phrah Kaew).
After the temple visit, we went to visit aunt Jet, counsin Rattana, Hern and his family and Tuay. It was very convinient to take sky train there.
The second day we went to Chatuchak weekend market to get some souvenirs, Sarah got a lot of graphic t-shirts and we got some wooden kitchen utensils. After the market we went to the Central World mall nearby the grand Hyatt Erawan and stumbled into Studio Ghibli's Exhibition. The exhibition was well done and we had a lot of fun walking around. Someone posted very interesting YouTube video here.
On Monday, Maew and Ning picked us up and we left Bangkok for a 2.5 hours trip to Rayong to visit my mom. On the way we stopped at an amazing restaurant.
We stayed at Mercure Rayong Lomtalay Villas & Resort. It's right on the beach with great views, swimming area, pool and breakfast.
At mom's house, David learned how to make a few dishes from my mom.
After Rayong, Maew and Ning dropped us off at the airport in Bangkok and we took a short flight to Phuket. We stayed at Nai Harn hotel.
The next day in Phuket we hired a driver to take us around. We walked around Phuket Old Town, I had the best roti there. The old town was not crowded when we went. You can learn more about the old town from Phuket 101 here.
We saw a lot of beautiful temples in Phuket.
At the end of the day we went to a big food market and got a lot of food.
Sarah ate bugs for the first time and she loved them.
The next day we took a day trip to Phi Phi Islands.
We said goodbye to Phuket by having light seafood meal with big plates of desserts by the beach near the Nai Harn hotel.
We flew back to Bangkok and met Maew and Parn. They drove us to Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand that is about 2.5 hours from Bangkok.On the way we stopped at a local Michelin recommended restaurant.
After lunch we checked in at a traditional Thai style house that we booked for the night by the river. and we went around in a large size tuk tuk for a day tour of old temples.
Ayutthaya was the old capital of Thailand before Bangkok from 1351 - 1767. The ruins are scattered around the city. Thai government are renovating and restored the statues and the structures.
We had an amazing time in Thailand and are looking forward to going back to visit other parts of my beautiful country in a few years.
Great pictures!! What a fabulous trip!!