any suggestions/general advice from people with experience traveling alone? Leaving the hubby and kids at home to explore Asia on my own for 10 days. I know I want to be in Bangkok for maybe 2 nights to recup from the flight, find my ground, explore a little. Any bangkok must-do's? But then I can't decide what to do after that: overnight train to Chiang Mai (or somewhere else?) or find a bungalow on the beach somewhere and then...what beach? where? I can't make up my mind! There's just so much to choose from and everything sounds great. That's the problem with being a Libra - can't make up my mind! Will be going early November. Then I will spend a couple more nights in Bangkok before I fly out so I can do a little shopping.

Some things off the top of my head that I am interested in exploring:
photography
breathtaking natural scenery
spirituality
history
architecture
village life
beaches
handcrafted goods
and I love elephants

Suggestions appreciated!

PS: also open to suggestions on good food. I keep hearing about banana pancakes and chocolate crepes. I'm vegetarian.

I couldn't answer this myself - never been there. But my friend, Fred, is visiting this afternoon and he just recently returned. So, I'm turning this reply over to him.

Two days in Bangkok is not really enough time to see much. I spent an entire week there and still felt that I could have spent more time. You really need to go to Wat Pho and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I am sure that you will be overwhelmed by both. I stayed in the middle of Chinatown which I highly recommend. I think it is probably the most atmospheric part of Bangkok. I stayed at the Royal China Princess Hotel. It was very reasonably priced and included an extensive breakfast with the room. It is also within easy walking distance of the water taxi on the Cho Pharya river which is the fastest way of getting around Bangkok. It is also the cheapest. NEVER NEVER use a cab except getting to and from the airport. You can get stuck in a traffic jam and never see anything.

You need to remember that November is the end of the monsoon season so it is not only possible but likely that you may get caught in some torrential downpours. Be prepared. Also keep in mind that bathroom facilities are not like those in the west. frequently nothing more than a ceramic hole in the ground with a bucket to rinse off. Toilet paper is rarely seen!

I also spent a fair amount of time in Chiang Mai. It is completely different than Bangkok. There are five different hill "tribes" there who are completely different than the usual Thai people. It would be best to arrange transportation to what you might be interested in seeing. Here isa good source: a_kanchaiya@yahoo.com.au. The wife's name is Noi. She is very experienced at setting up tours of the region. Her husband, Thep, can drive you arround. She set up a visit to one of the hill tribes, the Hmong people, for me, bamboo river rafting and elephant riding.

DO NOT MISS DOI SUTEP MONASTERY. It is up on the mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. It is perhaps one of the most spiritually interesting places I have been. Noi speaks English extremely well which is more than I can say for most Thais. Everyone is extremely hospitable in Thailand however. I do not know how adventurous you are with accommodations. However, I stayed at a small B&B in the middle of Chiang Mai called Seven Suns. It was quite popular with European backpacker types if that is your cup of tea. Noi can also recommend other accommodations.

Personally I would get to Chiang Mai by air rather than the train. Bangkok Airways will get you there and back relatively inexpensively. Get on AirGorilla.com to look up fares. Gorilla is sort of the clearing house for southeast asia travel. I highly recommend them. I booked over sixteen flight segments through them on a variety of airlines. Again, I do not know how much time you were planning to spend in Chiang Mai, but a couple of days certainly won't do.

November is also the month in which the biggest festival in Thailand other than the King's birthday, which is December 14. It is called Loi Krathong or water festival. It is held on the first full moon in November. Sorry don't know when that is this year. It is best to be either in Chiang Mai or Sukothai for that event. It is a truly magical experience you will never be able to describe to anyone who does not experience it first hand. Noi took me to her Buddhist temple for Loi Krathong. It was very moving.

You also expressed a possible alternative to Chiang Mai of going to a beach. I went to Phuket Island. It was one of the locations where 8,000 people died with the tsunami. I was there one year after the tsunami and you would never guess that it had happened. I do not recommend Phuket. Way too touristy for me. Too westernized and tacky!!! I would recommend staying on the north side of Phuket and spend your time in Phang Nga bay. Less touristy and very quaint. Or you could go to Ko Samui. I am told that it is a lot like what Phuket used to be like before it became a tourist magnet.

Personally I loved Thailand and its people. I would go there in a heartbeat. You have an amazing adventure ahead of you. Thailand is one of the most exotic places you will ever travel to. Great traveling!!

OK, Suzanne is back now. As you can see Fred had a wonderful time on his trip and loved every minute of it. If you want to "talk" more to Fred, let me know and I'll send you his email address.

Have a wonderful time!!

Suzanne

Just got back from 2 weeks in Thailand.

Agree with Fred on most points but not about staying in Bangkok for too long! Three days was more than enough for me and I thankfully escaped to the more tranquil, relaxed and beautiful country side.
Go do the What Pho, the temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Floating markets which are all mind boggling in their different ways. Chinatown was a highlight for me, too.
We took a taxi back to our hotel once and nearly ended up with a severe panic attack - those taxi drivers have a death wish for themselves and their passengers! I'd take a taxi again (if just for the experience) but don't take those cute looking tuk tuks - they are renowned for having the rip off game down pat.
Stay in a very central location so that you can walk to places and, most of all, get the feel of the place.

We loved our trip to the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi and our visit to the Tiger Temple just outside Kanchanaburi was one of the most fantastic experiences ever. Wandering amongst those tigers was surreal.

Take the plane to Chang Mai. We were booked on the overnight train (you can only take a tiny bag) but, because of landslides, had to change to overnight bus. Nightmare! And we arrived so spaced out that we needed a day's valuable time to recover (of course, we are in the older traveller category).
Loved Chang Mai, Doi Sutep Monastery is just stellar. Interesting to see the various Hill Tribes who, unfortunately, are being lured into the "quaint" category to be peered at like specimens by tourists and who are becoming increasingly slave to the tourist dollar.
As Fred said - go with someone local who "knows"

We loved Sukothai.

And we stayed for our taste of beach resort at Hua Hin. Two days was plenty and I'm glad we didn't go to Phuket.

The suggestions are much appreciated! Keep 'em coming! I will take my time to mull over and look into all the things mentioned. I'm sure I will be back with more questions.

As far as being a beach bum - I'd like to spend about 3 days on a quiet beach with a little bungalow and a hammock. Is it still possible to find little private slices of paradise like this?

Thanks again!

thinking about Phi Phi - anyone been since the tsunami?