Double Exposure in Thailand
A majestic adventure to fulfil all the senses awaits visitors to Thailand. After all, there aren’t many places where you can combine a vibrant city break and a beach spa holiday together. However, visitors to the country can gain a glimpse into the hustle, bustle and unstoppable action of Bangkok and then go on to unwind amidst the tranquillity of Koh Samui.
Bangkok is vivacious, exciting and pleading to be explored. Hot, frantic and loaded with new experiences, where acquiring a taste for kerbside fried insects sits alongside visits to monumental landmarks and temples, luxury shopping malls and an exotic nightlife that almost defies belief. Bangkok is a city of happy contrasts where modernity meeting tradition. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in a city with so much to do, but there are some activities that can be considered essential.
The Grand Palace, with its spectacular exterior and intricate design is the most sacred of Bangkok’s landmarks. Inside the complex lies Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which dates all the way back to the 14th century and is the key temple in Thailand. Also popular is the Erawan Shrine, devoted to the Hindu God Brahma, where you can experience traditional Thai dancers. At this unique religious landmark worshippers pay dancers in return for having their prayers answered. Delve further into traditional dance,and journey to The Rose Garden to watch the Thai Village Cultural Show, a fascinating 60 minute show incorporating Thai martial arts, sword fighting-combat skills, tribal dances and the famous Fingernail and Bamboo dances.
Next stop is Chinatown (Yaowarat) to follow the sweet smell of delicious food and gain an insight into the Chinese immigrants that have settled in Bangkok. Restaurants open late, so prepare yourself for a feast. Also explore the multi-coloured waterways of Bangkok, where you can take a cruise along the waters that locals use as their ‘roads’, experiencing first hand the daily life of children, monks and commuters, alongside long tail boats and barges loaded with rice. This is an intriguing glimpse into the charm of traditional Thai life and you can visit floating markets and ornate temples by doing so too.
Holidays to Thailand however, wouldn’t be complete without lying on the more holistic and serene palm-fringed white beaches of Koh Samui where luxurious accommodation blends with sophisticated spas, offering a wealth of both eastern and western treatments and a few unique ones on the menu too. Thailand has a culture deep rooted in well-being and tradition, and after discovering diverse and demanding Bangkok, relaxing in Koh Samui is a well deserved way to unwind. Abundant in spas, yoga retreats and detox complexes with choices ranging from traditional Thai massage in open sided pavilions, to reflexology and aromatherapy. And for the more serious there are cleansing detoxes, meditation and spa cuisine focusing on correct nutrition.
So surely the best way to see both sides of the country on holidays to Thailand is to combine the rich layers of Bangkok, with its fascinating culture and heady fun, with an island break on Koh Samui where you can soak up an altogether more laid back and soothing pace of life.
