Exploring Sea Caves & Hidden Lagoons In Phuket

Phuket is cut out for beach lovers, and is less populated by tourists compared to Pattaya. Phuket offers beautiful beaches, mesmerizing island tours, & plenty of adrenaline pumping activities. Take a couple of days to soak in the sun, enjoy turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches. There are numerous tour operators offering multiple tours, however, we recommend Phuket Travel Company. Their service is outstanding & flawless.

The highlight of our trip to Phuket was taking John Gray's Sea Canoe excursion - where one gets to experience the stunning beauty of the ocean, explore sea caves and hidden lagoons by kayak during the day and at night. We learnt how to make flower kratong and got back to the caves after sunset and offered them to the sea god, a custom followed by Thai people. (Yes, we picked the kratong back from the sea!) The best part of this trip is the natural light emitted by the bio-luminescent organism in the lagoon, making it a romantic and unique experience. It is an adventure one can't simply put down in words.

The most sought after tours being the Phi Phi & James Bond Island trip is thronged by tourists. No doubt the place is stunning & picturesque, however, the sheer volume of tourist activity here takes the crux out of the trip. One can reach the island either by speed or long tail boat. Snorkeling at monkey bay is stellar, the marine life gives you a feel of being on the sets of Finding Nemo. The ocean world that is so less explored leaves you in awe with its abundant marine life.

One thing that you should definitely not miss while in Phuket is the Simon Cabaret Show. The transgender community perform a stellar show that will be etched in your memory for a long time. The glamorous costumes, extravagant sets, pretty dance moves, good music and an option to click pics with them adds more beauty to the experience.

Bangla Road: Gets alive and electrifying after 10pm, dotted with pubs & bars it is a different world in itself. Party goes on throughout the night. There are lots of street artists entertaining the tourists.

Patong beach area is the perfect place to stay, one can enjoy the beach couple of yards away, Bangla road is at walk-able distance, plenty of restaurants around. Do not miss out on the weekend fair at the beach- You can experience live bands playing music, street food, street shopping and much more.

While in Thailand, definitely try out on the ice cold tender coconuts and different varieties of pancakes.

During our stay in Phuket we checked into 'Holiday Inn Express' The property is only a few minutes away from Patong beach. There are plenty of restaurants and spas around. Bangla road is at walkable distance. Almost all tour operators provide free pick up and drop from the hotel. Service standards and rooms are pretty good. Free WiFi is a plus.

Best of Bangkok. 

Bangkok - Enough Said!

The Grand Palace

Sin city of Asia, offers a mix of two extremes, dotted with lovely temples by day and post sunset the wild side of the city is on display. Party goers are to be seen all over in their best attire & funky dance moves. Nothing is a sin in this city, by nightfall Soi Cowboy lane is lit up with neon lights, all pubs are full with people sipping their drink, enjoying life & setting aside their worries & living for the moment. Everything is on the menu!

If retail therapy is what you crave for, Bangkok is the place to be. All top brands are available under one roof, The Siam Center. However, if you want to own all these brands at a fraction of their original cost, you can find the replicas right opposite on the numerous stalls setup on the roadside.

Bangkok never seizes to surprise one. Apart from shopping, booze & sex, it is rich in history. The temples with brilliant finesse architecture, stand as a testimony. The Royal Palace, Wat arun, Wat Pho, Emerald Buddha, massage school at Wat Pho are things one should not miss.

Tiger Temple: Park a day aside & visit this controversial place. 150 km from Bangkok is Kanchanburi, founded by a Monk to give refuge to orphaned cubs, this place is now home for over 150 Tigers, cubs & other animals.

Here you can get up close with tigers. From walking tigers, to feeding cubs & watching them play in a pool- you can do it all. To get the most of it make sure you reach by 11 am. Start with walking the tigers to the canyon, get your pics clicked with them & another 1000 Baht will buy you time to feed cubs & see them play. This is a must do!

After spending considerable time with the cubs head to the canyon & 500 baht will put you behind a steel enclosure from where you see the young tigers fight it out & play in a pool. This is a fabulous experience to see the wild cats play. We felt the theory of these tigers being drugged was debunked.

En-route do stop over at World War II cemetery & iconic Bridge On River Kwai. This bridge was built in record time by Prisoners Of War.

If the regular itinerary does not excite you, head to the old city to see the Palace & old temples from Chikri dynasty.

The best area to stay would be Soi 10, you will find hotels to suit every budget. There are several Indian restaurants around, Mrs.Balbir's Restaurant is highly recommended. BTS station is a 2 minute walk.

During our stay in Bangkok we checked into Galleria 10 Hotel great value for money. Only a couple of minutes away from BST station. Hotel offers spacious and clean rooms, great roof top pool, kickass spa, friendly staff and great food.

Bangkok is a tourist hub & could well be a breeding ground for scamsters, popular ones are Precious Gems, & guys claiming Palace or Temples are closed for tourists and recommending Tuk Tuks for city tour.

Bangkok has no beaches to offer, but don't you sweat, hop on car & Pattaya is only a couple of hours away.

The best of PhuketPhuket.