Just as I was beginning to feel homesick, my mom and sister came and visited me to ring in the New Year! Because Seoul is atrociously cold right now, we decided to jet off to Thailand for the first few days of 2018. It was such a magical week- Thailand is full of both cultural and natural beauty that simply takes your breath away. It's rich history and natural wonders make it a peak tourist destination (especially in January), so it did feel crowded and overly-catered at times, but it was still a incredible and enlightening country to experience. Thailand is the beating, pulsing heart of Southeast Asia and we had such a wonderful time making our way through.
We spent the first leg of our trip in Bangkok. The chaotic frenzy of sounds and smells filled the streets with liveliness and color. What really set the city apart, however, were the palaces and temples. We visited the three central ones- Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. While Wat Pho is typically described as the must-see after Wat Phra Kaew, I would opt for Wat Arun instead. It was less crowded and offered a different kind of aesthetic intricacy- something I couldn't stop admiring as we explored the temple in the early hours of a breezy morning.
The view of Wat Arun from across the Chao Phraya River
We managed to do some other things, like check out Pak Khlong Talat, a bustling flower market in southern Bangkok, and take a tuk-tuk to the quiet Taling Chan floating market on the outskirts of the city.
Then, we flew down to the Krabi province for a couple of days. We spent the first three nights on the mainland, in an area called Ao Nang. We did a day trip to the Hong Islands and spent an afternoon on Railay Beach- swimming, snorkeling and kayaking around the massive rock formations that make up the unique and exotic scenery. We also hiked Khao Ngon Nak- it's a pretty difficult trail but the view at the top is insanely beautiful and completely worth it.
For the last two days, we took a ferry to an outer island named Koh Lanta. It was quiet and peaceful yet incredibly friendly and off-beat. The sunsets were magical. Sharing all of that with my mom and my sister by my side made the trip simply unforgettable. I can't wait to return and explore northern Thailand!