Summer 2016 - Thailand

The kids version is available here
Great Thai Extravaganza

All of my vacation seemed to start with how we deliberated a lot before finding an amicable place to visit and this was no different. We started with Spain moved to New Zealand then Bali followed by Siam reap, Cambodia and even Mysore before finalizing on Thailand.

Day 1: Took Air Asia BLR - DMG  Landed 5am in Don Muang airport. Air Asia prices everything Alla cart, from seat placement to baggage to transfer of baggage b/w connections, food, water literally anything that you can think off. So although the  price on the surface appears like a good deal add some of the basic travel requirements and you are pretty much priced out. Just my disappointed rant about the airlines bookings.

After the visa formalities we took a shuttle to Novotel Hotel, Ploenchit. It was an ideal location and close to many of the city's landmarks.

We headed out for breakfast onto one of the streets and it was our first whiff of the food. Loved some of the curries and dishes. Rested in the AM and headed to MBK mall afternoon.

Just as we celebrate Malayalam and Tamil New Year between the 13th - 15th of April, Thailand celebrate's their new year the same time. It was just a good coincidence that we were there for the Songkaran festival - Thailand's new year celebrations.

We spent the evening at MBK mall, some shopping followed by dinner. The entire place had a festival look with food stalls everywhere. Mango rice, sweet potato, green mango salad, lots of fish and different kinds of meat were all over. Thai coffee made of coconut milk was to die for. We took the metro back to the hotel as the cabs were charging a bomb due  to the fest. After cooling off in the hotel pool we called it a day.

 That evening  Vivek and myself walked on the streets of Bangkok to get a feel of the environment. We did encounter the well known night life and sluttier side of the city. Being the nice and responsible gentle men, we took a consolidation price in a foot massage and had a few beers in a dance bar and returned.

 DAY 2: The day started early with a breakfast buffet @ the hotel. A good mix of an international breakfast along with Thai cuisine.  Today the 14th April was a holiday however the palace was open. 

Trying to hie a tuk tuk or a cab was a challenge due t the holiday and we encountered all kinds of con jobs. One tuk tuk wala stated that after 1 PM the entrance fee to the  palace was half so while we wait till 1 he can take us to a boat ride that will take us to the palace. Another fellow said that today it is open to only for Thai's so he can take us for another fun thing. Thanks to the internet we did not fall prey to these.

We reaching the palace, kids under 12 were free and Nishanth is 20 days short of 12, we encountered a stubborn NO from the lady admitting people in and that he is too tall to be 12. Myself and Veena stood beside him and told see.. parents are tall... nothing dong. ..she was in no mood to listen and we just bought the ticket. 

The palace itself is beautiful and spread out. walking around in the hot sun made of a tiring day and there was not much of a motivation for the kids and it appeared more of a checklist to them. It was a worthwhile visit, there were large bus loads of tourists thronging the entrance and it was chaotic, once inside the large area of the palace seemed to scatter the crowd and made for a pleasant visit. 

After spending a good 6 hours @ the palace we went to the platinum mall followed by the pratuna market near by. The place was shutting down early due t the festivities as we walked in but we managed to grab a few things. It was almost 6 PM by the time we were done and the streets were choked as the festive celebrations set in. The cabs were either too expensive or refused to come. It turned out to be good as we started to walk through the street we were exposed to the celebrations. Water guns every where spraying as we walked by, given how hot the day was it was a nice cooling and fun filled walk.The kids who were tired and refused to walk a few minutes ago soon seemed energetic as they taunted the folks to spray water on them. We snacked on food as and when we saw something interesting and the trek to the hotel no longer seemed like a challenge. 

DAY 3: We had a flight to Krabi that afternoon so the morning was spent packing and shopping in the local malls. We landed in Krabi by 5 very hungry and had an early diner.

DAY 4:We had breakfast @ the hotel and the kids played in the pool. We then headed out to Ao Nang beach and spent a good part of the day there and returned after lunch.

After lunch the kids had some fun in a fish spa. The tiny fish nibbled on their skin and made some feel scared others squirmed and a few others just refused to put their feet in the water.

DAY 5: We had an early breakfast and took the boat tour to the nearby islands. We requested for a good snorkeling place that is not deep and safe for the kids and we ended up  in chicken Island. It turned out to be a wonderful day. We snorkeled for a few hours and not realizing the effect the sun was having on the body. That evening out skin was burnt and feet sore from stepping on the corals.

The boys found a picked up a clam from the coral floor and here is a video of it.

Another video at the beach after a long snorkelling session.

DAY 6: We had a late evening flight to Bangkok, the morning was spent packing and last minute shopping.

Ok I am tired of writing... just pictures ..good bye.

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