Travel Agent Port Shepstone

While I was in Thailand, I visited Bangkok, Chiang Mia and Phuket.

First stop was Bangkok. I have to say, this must be the dirtiest and busiest city I have ever been to. I was there in summer and it was very hot and humid.

My first tour was to the Floating Market of Damnoen Saduak. It is a long drive (110kms) by bus west of Bangkok. We first stopped at Nakorn Pathom which has the highest pagoda in South East Asia called, “Phra Pathom Chedi”. Next stop was the floating market. Every morning, hundreds of boats crowd the market area. Most of them are paddled by women with picturesque straw hats. Visitors can find everything from vegetables and fruits to freshly-cooked noodles and souvenirs at this lively market. We then proceeded to the Rose Garden where we attended a cultural show in the Thai Village with fingernail dancing, Thai boxing, hill tribe dancing, sword fighting, elephants at work and folk dancing.

The next day I visited the Grand Palace and Thonburi Klongs. The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful examples of an ancient Siamese Court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok. Thonburi is in the western part of Bangkok, situated on the right side of the Chao Phya River. Its many canals had originally given Bangkok the name “Venice of the East”. I travelled by klong along the canals which give you a firsthand impression of the scenic life along Bangkok’s waterways. We saw people’s homes some of which were well kept with pretty gardens. The people from these homes, bath, ablute, wash utensils and use the water from the waterway for drinking too!

Everyone knows, the shopping in Bangkok is fantastic. There are markets all day and night and brilliant shopping centres. You can buy anything from clothing, to leather goods and Thai silk to name only a few things. You can definitely find bargains at the markets but be careful – you must bargain otherwise you will be had.

My next stop in Thailand was Chiang Mia. I was only there for one day but really enjoyed my visit. I went on a tour of Handicraft Factories to see the manufacturing of lacquer ware, spinning and weaving of Thai silk and saw how paper umbrellas are made. We also visited a Thai wood carving factory. In the evening we walked a short distance from our hotel to a night market which I really enjoyed.

After Chiang Mai, I went to Phuket, a pretty sea side resort with great shopping! I did one tour here and have to say it is a must. After being collected from the hotel we travelled through Phuket Island up to Phang-Nga. On arrival at Phang-Nga Bay we went on a boat for an exciting journey through majestic scenery and mangrove swamps to James Bond Island, which is the location for the James Bond film “The Man With The Golden Gun”. We had lunch at Koh Pannyi which is a fascinating village built completely on wooden stilts over the water.

Being a person who loves flowers, I clearly remember how beautiful the flowers are in Thailand especially the orchids. There is so much to see and do in Thailand, not to mention all the shopping to be done. You will never be bored here!