Being in Korea for a little too long can be a drag on
anyone, but being able to take a vacation to a nearby country, or not so nearby
is always amazing. After living in Korea for over a year and realizing how
important and wise it is to take advantage of the proximity of traveling all of
Southeast Asia, my next travel was to Thailand! Being stressed from the amount
of work that I’ve been doing in Korea, relaxation was the number one factor to
this vacation.
With that in mind, the only place to visit was the Phuket
area for the main purpose of island hopping. The one must visit island where I
spent most of my time was Phi Phi Island. It is filled with tourists and one of
the best places to stay. They offer a handful of guides to the neighboring
islands that allows for you to do the most traveling to beaches and water
activities possible. The one must visit is Maya Bay, where the movie the Beach
was filmed. A word of advice is to go for the travel agencies that are deeper
into the island, the price is definitely a big difference.
Another thing that was amazing about Phi Phi Island is the
unlimited amount of great food which is not just limited to Thai. The seafood
is fresh and the amazing compliments of foreign food are included as well. It
is a bit of a splurge to purchase by weight, but they are unique and meaty that
is actually worth it. On another note, nothing is more fresh than their
tropical fruits. The island offers fresh smoothies practically everywhere you
go and fruits that are cut up and ready to eat. I practically had more than the
recommended daily serving everyday.
For those who are bold enough to, try to eat what the locals
do. That’s the one thing that is always on my list so going to the cheapest
areas and eating things that are found on the streets is my thing. There is a
slight chance of food poisoning of course, but I always take my risk. Although
I expected to try something as crazy as bugs in Thailand, this trip was pretty
calm in regards to food, nothing that crazy.
As for accommodation, staying at the Andaman Legacy Resort
is a bit far from the main bar area so it is a bit quieter and the best part is
the hotel. It’s a bit on the higher end, but still only setting you back about
$60 a night. For a clean place with quick service and amazing hospitality, it
is my recommendation to make to anyone. There’s free wi-fi all around the
resort and they have their own pool area next to the free breakfast. It is one
place that I would probably go back to, especially with the cute towel designs
daily!
Heading out of Phi Phi Island, the closest big city is
Phuket and spending a day or two in Phuket is recommended. It is nothing like
the islands of course, but you are able to see a glimpse of Thailand for the food,
culture, and lots of lady boys. Walking around for shopping (lots of
bargaining) and the street foods is amazing in Phuket. Because it is not as
clean as the islands, it’s not the favorite place for many, but there’s nothing
more than getting the full cultural experience than in the actual cities. The one thing that I do feel horrible about is elephant trekking because of the marks that I saw, but it is now over with. I still have a passion for them, but I hope you'll be treated better! Another wonderful trip checked off my bucket list, can’t wait for the next one!
Ngam serves up a new touch on Thai goods with a slight infusion twist, labeling it as the "Modern Thai Comfort Food." Taking traditional Thai food to the next level, Ngam is a place that will have you on your feet as to what culinary twist to expect. The best sellers include the Old School Pad Thai, a more traditional style of Thai dishes, as well as the Dark Knight, a bed of black squid ink noodles topped with fried calamari to it's perfection. Every dish at Ngam is infused with an immense amount of flavor, giving the right balance for your palette. The one thing that did not work for me was the Thai Taco, a stir-fry bunch of meat and vegetables topped on a pan fried roti wrap; there definitely could have been more to this.
With the variety of Thai goods, expect nothing less than a packed madhouse when visiting Ngam. Be sure to make reservations well ahead of time to dodge the long lines. Although you may be waiting a while for your food, the customer service is at the top at Ngam, which may be hard to come across now-a-days. Staff is ready to tackle your every craving, minus the number of dishes that were ordered before you.
