Southeast Asia has become one of our favorite destinations. I would love to share some experiences as well as travel tips for those who might include this part of the world in your travels. Aside from Bali we have had the pleasure of visiting Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. Although not really Southeast Asia, Hong Kong is a must see stop off visit that I will discuss at some future date. First of all, Thailand is gorgeous and the Thai people are so charming, gracious and very friendly to visitors. We never felt threatened or at risk during any part of our travels even in the rural areas of Thailand. The weather in Thailand is always warm, but visits during the months of Jan-Mar are during the cooler, drier season.

Bangkok is just another big city that is struggling with overpopulation, pollution, but still has its good points nonetheless. The dining, the shopping, the temples and the hotels are hard to beat. You feel the energy as you explore Bangkok on foot. I would strongly recommend you spend no more than three days exploring Bangkok and be sure to stay in as nice a hotel as you can afford, as your hotel will be your little oasis in the midst of chaos. Think: The Peninsula, The Regent, The Mandarin, and The Shangri-La. In Bangkok, be sure to tour at least a couple of temples, get a Thai massage, check out Jim Thompson’s Mahogany House, take a day trip to Ahhuthya and shop for jewelry, silver, silks, and artwork. Prices are good and always negotiable. Realize that it is illegal to take antique Buddhas out of Thailand so be very careful in your purchases and be diligent in determining if your purchase is truly an antique or a copy.

The journey and discovery of Thailand is beyond Bangkok, particularly up north. Experiences up there are magical. Small inns and hotels are everywhere and very inexpensive. All around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Taton, and The Golden Triangle there are many national parks, hill tribes, elephant camps, rivers to cruise and night bazaars in every town to explore. Take a trip to Mae Sai in the very north tip of Thailand and cross over into Myanmar (formerly Burma).

It is definitely worth a side trip to Laos. We were able to arrange a 3 day side trip to the old provincial capital, Luang Prabang, located on the Mekong River in the mountains of northern Laos. It, as well as Angkor Wat are both included in the world heritage sites and not to be missed. You truly feel as if you have stepped back in time in this village. Accommodations are rustic yet comfortable, food is simple but safe and savory, night markets are alive, bustling and full of great deals, particularly hand woven silk products. Be sure to schedule a boat trip up the Mekong River to tour ancient temple caves and to stop off at various villages to see how the locals live. You likely will see local kids, cute as buttons, playing in the river, waving at you, happy as can be. They don’t have much, but life is still good. Let that be a lesson to all of us.

One leg of our trip was into Cambodia to tour all of the villages and temples of Angkor Wat, the ancient buildings of the Khmer Empire which were ‘lost’ in the jungles of Cambodia for centuries. You can now fly direct to Siem Reap from Bangkok and avoid the lengthy trip by road from Phnom Phen. I’d suggest two full days of temple touring and would recommend a nice hotel, as this country is poor and you need to escape back to a bit of tranquility after dealing with all the traffic and peddling in the streets. No matter what anyone says, Angkor Wat is definitely a must see.

For any of you who might actually plan a trip to Thailand, I would be happy to share recommendations for hotels, experiences, trips, restaurants and itineraries.