And then there were three

Miguel and I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand on the morning of February 28th and were SO excited to get to our hotel.  We had a very handsome Colombian waiting for us! Luis Tobon, Miguel’s father had flown 32 hours from Colombia to meet us on our adventure. Luckily, entry into Thailand was fast and painless. Within 30 minutes of arriving we had made it through customs, found a public metered taxi, hit the streets of bustling Bangkok, and headed to the President Palace (our hotel).

The weather was warm and very humid and surprisingly the city is a cement metropolis.  Countless buildings fill the large skyline and the city seemed to go on forever. The pace is so fast! Cars, semi-trucks, and scooters race to a non-existent finish line. Our taxi driver was a speed racer and wanted to come in first place. The ride was thrilling and set the scene for a wonderful couple of weeks ahead.

Our first night in Bangkok was spent exploring the streets outside of our hotel. Many of the streets came alive at night with loads of locals and outdoor street vendors. The typical night vendors are sidewalk restaurants that serve a variety of local dishes.  This type of cuisine is cheap and many families take advantage of its convenience.  We also took the subway to one of the newest mega malls in the city, Siam Paragon. Two words….Freaking Amazing! The mall stands multiple levels high full of high-end stores and the most amazing fresh food court we have ever seen. You could honestly feed any craving with the amount of food offered at this first floor market. The prices are cheap and the food was delicious.  Communication was a little hard in the beginning, but we quickly adapted and enjoyed a few meals here. We ate traditional noodle bowls (similar to the Vietnamese Pho) filled with fresh fish and chicken. We also ate traditional Japanese food with sides of sushi. As I said before, the variety of food is unreal and if you’re craving a taste from home Krispy Kreme and McDonalds is also available.

Luis and Miguel waiting for the train

one of hundreds of food options

As many of you know, there are many things to see and do in Bangkok, but one of the highlights is the Grand Palace. On our second day we headed down river on a crowded river taxi, through an open-air market, to the walls of the temple. Inside the walls you will find a monstrous temple and many government buildings. The amazing thing is that this site is found close to the city center. Once inside you would never believe the hustle and bustle that is found outside the walls. The dress code is strict. Shoulders and the majority of the leg must be covered. No legging pants, no tank tops, and no short skirts. The temple provides clothing to those who do not meet the dress code standards.  The scene is amazing and many local practicing Buddhist actively pray while travelers watch in awe. It’s hard to describe the incredible intricacy of the temple.  Every single square inch of the buildings are adorned with things that sparkle. The attention to detail is impeccable. Even the gardens are perfectly manicured. It is absolutely breathtaking and incredibly special.

Boat taxi ride to the Grand Palace 

Temple entrance

Incense and Lotus flower...just what the gods love

Tuk Tuk!

After a short time in Bangkok we headed south to the gulf of Thailand. To a beautiful little paradise called Koh Samui. We all immediately fell in love! The airport is stunning full of tropical gardens, ample varieties of orchids, and lotus flowers. Our hotel was a small boutique hotel with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. We were greeted with orchid bracelets and lead to our charming rooms. Without any hesitation we changed into our bathing suits and headed directly to the pool.  We are true professionals when comes to lounging by the pool, especially Luis! We could be found here the remainder of our days. Happy Hour (2 for 1) began at 2pm and we enjoyed the local lager, Singha, for only $3. Needless to say, we really enjoyed the beer, the view and each other.

hotel lobby

our room

view to our hotel from the beach

The incredible thing about this hotel is that it is beachfront, but with no sandy beach. The tide comes in so high that the water meets the steps of the hotel. The ocean is clear, warm and shallow. We could walk out 100 yards without the water going over our heads. We enjoyed many hours in the ocean with fish and white crab surrounding us. Glorious!

Infinity pool at the hotel

Luis and Courtney hard at work

time for a break

The small resort town is full of restaurants. We found the cuisine to be delicious! We loved every meal! We even were lucky enough to enjoy live traditional entertainment at one of the restaurants and this is where the first of many Asian men fell in love with my husband. Luis and I couldn’t stop laughing, but one male dancer in particular never took his attention off Miguel. He batted his eyes, smiled, twirled and spun with flare…hoping to capture Miguel’s attention. Needless to say we got a good show and a great laugh!  Hilarious!

Great seafood in Thailand!

Amazing Italian restaurant in Koh Samui

Thailand was beautiful, full of great culture, delicious food, amazing weather and great times. I would recommend this country to anyone. It is truly a must see. We were sad to leave, but really intrigued with the adventures that lie ahead.  Thank you Thailand and Hello Vietnam!