Thailand forum

Don't miss. In my humble opinion there is only one "don't miss" in Thailand:

Not worrying about what you miss and chillin'.

This isn't a place about seeing this or doing that. Not that there aren't things to see or do. But Thailand is about taking it easy, wherever you happen to be or checking out. Racing around and checking off a list defeats the point. You want great architecture and sights - go to Europe. It's got it all over SEA. This is a place about being able to relax, enjoy the moment, and not be nearly as concerned with social convention. So by all means investigate things you might want to check out - but take your time getting from point A to point B. Don't attach timelines. You get to everything, great. You don't, no big deal.

I'd do some research though, and have a plan, just not a timeline attached to it. That way once you've had your fill of Bangkok you know where you want to go next. And in Bangkok you know what you'd like to check out. That way you have a rough itinerary and move around the country in a sensible order, but if you like a place you stay longer, if you hate one, you move on. And you don't invite stress into your vacation.

it all depends on what your into really but if you want to experience something totally different i suggest going to lop buri for a day

I agree with MADMAC, Thailand is just a great place to relax and go with the flow. I only had 2 weeks there and I just rented a car and then used a Lonely Planet guide to chose the things that interested me the most near the places where I had secured the accomodation and then I just went. Actually I ended up finding the most amazing things and believe me for me one of the greatest things was to stop at a restaurant on the side of the road with no english menu, eating spicy rice noodles broth with chicken and just trying to speak a little bit with the vendor in thai just to tell her that was the best thing I had eaten in years.

Also if you're a coffee person, drink a lot of coffee. We found a place on the way to Khao Lak and the lady prepared the coffee which was planted right in her backyard like she was taking care of her own baby.

Other than that, just breathe and be amazed with the sights like the limestone cliffs, or the amazing beaches. There is no point in stressing in Thailand and if you are indeed stressed the locals will look at you like you're an alien.

One last suggestion, go, but please go to local markets, you can literally have all your meals at these markets. From grilled spicy chicken on a stick to seafood also on a stick to fried sweet potatoes to fresh pressed juices, it is unbelievable. Even in Phuket we were able to find a local market where we were the only non-thai people where I had the best massage. We were actually the local attraction to them during that evening and I was treated like a monkey in a zoo by most of them, they were curious about everything, where we were from and why did I have my hair like that and why was my nose like that. We laughed non stop between the 3 or 4 words of english they spoke and all the signs we made with the hands.

Sorry, wrote too much and I'm far from being a specialist, this is just my personal experience. But just go and do try to speak a little thai and be involved with the locals, they are just amazing.

Sure it counts, MADMAC, just saying that I was there only 2 weeks which compared with the people spending months over there is not a lot.