From 23 September to 9th October Gary and I celebrated our first anniversary and main honeymoon in Thailand. Two weeks at the other side of the world with two nights in Bangkok, hopping over to Cambodia for three nights. Then heading to the beach area for four nights in Krabi, then another hop to Phuket for four nights.
Bangkok, Thailand
After two long flights we arrived in Thailand in the early morning - which was extremely hot and humid, a bit of a shock to our senses. We were severely hit by jetlag this time around, leaving us feeling quite ill. Little did we know it would last a few days. Though we didn't waste anytime and got straight out into the city to explore. Starting with Benchakitti Park, a lovely nature reserve in the middle of the city - tropical swamp-type habitat. We went through part of the city to then circle back at the hotel, Maitria Mode in Sukhumvit 15. Checked in at 12pm and had a short nap. Feeling a bit more refreshed we explored the hotel and pool on top of the hotel. There were dragon flies swarming around the top, this was an interesting sight to see.
In the early evening we got the hotel's tuk tuk to the nearest Sky Train station to take us to Siam, to explore a busy cosmopolitan area. Feeling peckish we then headed back to our hotel suburban area and ate at a vegan café called Veganerie. Afterwards, a short walk away to a cocktail bar Zanzibar, which was like walking into a rainforest. We could here frogs and they had guppie fish at the entrance. Whilst there we watched a live band. They eventually asked us for a song they could sing, so I suggest a P!nk song and they chose Try. Lovely cover version. Was a nice touch when they were looking at us singing it. We made a cat friend whilst there that we called Stumpy - I think it had three legs.
Whilst in Bangkok we had planned going to House of Heals, the home of a famous Thailand drag performer, Pangina Heals. We weren't sure if we'd go going on how the jetlag felt, but we got a second wind and went and dropped by at her high-rised club for the Chain and Whip drag show! We both felt nervous going in as it located in the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel - a very posh and high end place. A great show of performances. A well-deserved lie in was in order now, and to align to Thailand timezone.
The next day we headed to the the Grand Palace, by Sky Train and boat. For Gary he was revisiting it 10 years after he first did but a new experience for me. Taking a break after, we witnessed lightning strike, if the temple gods were aiming for us they only just missed! We took refuge in a nearby café to let the rain pass, but it didn't and we had to make a rather wet run for it to the boat.
A bit to eat at Thai Kitchen, and freshened up, then made our way to a sky bar and walk, at the King Power Mahanakhon, the tallest building in Thailand! Challenging my fear of heights (Gary got an embarrassing video of me being scared). We had a lovely morning dip before we got ourselves together to fly to Cambodia!
Cambodia
We landed in Cambodia but in a post-trauma state. We experienced an internal flight with violent turbulence. We both literally thought it was the end, a very dark experience indeed. However, the plane incident soon became a thought of the past as we focused on the activities to come. Our hotel gave us some extra touches to remind us it was our honeymoon.
On the first day we visited all the Angkor temples with our really helpful guide Tangiy. It was like having a couples photoshoot at Angkor thanks to him. A great day wandering around the temples and learning the history and mythology of the site. Sights of monkeys, which one stole Gary's water. And seeing the infamous Tom Raider temple - my favourite as it looks awesome how nature has reclaimed it. A monsoon in the afternoon forced us to take refuge in a smaller temple. A personal credit to Tangiy Ouk for taking the time to make our experience even more memorable by recording a tour. Cambodia is super friendly and helpful.
The second day, we explored a bit of Siem Reap. Then relaxed by the hotel pool all afternoon, swimming and drinking cocktails. Taking the complementary hotel massage in the late afternoon, which I didn't like as it was too harsh and no oil products were used. Then we took ourselves to experience Siem Reap's night life by looking at some night markets and getting grub and drinks on the infamous pub street.
On our final third day, a second visit to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. Although it was too cloudy to see it, but we got great pictures regardless. We went in pure blackness with a torch which was quite eerie to begin with.
Onwards back to Thailand into beachy Krabi.
Krabi, Thailand
A short evening flight away to Krabi, we arrived at our spa hotel, The ShellSea. We really enjoyed our hotel upgrades as we travelled around - just the way we designed it. We explored the hotel and we were just in awe of it's peacefulness and private beach. We couldn't wait until morning to see it in the day. We spent the first day exploring around hotel again, and the private beach - just gorgeous, and the sea was so warm. We hung around by the pools, drinking cocktails - especially up the the swim up bar. We hardly left the hotel which isn't Gary's usual style but he could quite get used to it when it's this gorgeous and even comes with an aromatherapy massage! The massage in the afternoon was brilliant and just how a Thai massage should be done. As we were a very short walk away from a natural history point, the shell cemetery (1 of 3 in the world apparently), while the sea was out we walked right up to it - free entry that way too. The sea there has very quick tide cycles though - changing our sea view completely. We uncovered corals, creatures and different types of shells. Which the hotel draws inspiration from. I collected some shells for myself and some as gifts. As it was a hotel day, we had food there Food at hotel.
We took a trip to Ao Nang, the local town and explored what was on offer there. Throwing in some cocktails.
We now head to our final destination, Phuket.
Phuket, Thailand
We travelled by car for about three hours around to Phuket, and arrived at Manadarava Resort and Spa by late afternoon. The last hotel of the trip set in a lush rainforest environment with streams flowing through the undergrowth and rooms and pools hidden within it. We took toured the hotel looking at the several themed pools it had. We strolled the area up to the beach, before the daily rain storm hit us. We ate at the hotel restaurant, on a lovely balcony that had ponds between the tables. To our surprise, there were tree frogs in them, which sound like a squeaky fart which is what I originally thought was happening.
We travelled by car for about three hours around to Phuket, and arrived at Manadarava Resort and Spa by late afternoon. The last hotel of the trip set in a lush rainforest environment with streams flowing through the undergrowth and rooms and pools hidden within it. We took toured the hotel looking at the several themed pools it had. We strolled the area up to the beach, before the daily rain storm hit us. We ate at the hotel restaurant, on a lovely balcony that had ponds between the tables. To our surprise, there were tree frogs in them, which sound like a squeaky fart which is what I originally thought was happening.
The day after we did our proposed pool day tour, experiencing each themed pool. On our exploration we found a very apt Honeymoon sign and decided to try recreate some of the Instagram couples photoshoot poses but failed miserably!
We headed out to a local restaurant and planned and booked our trip tour to Ko Phi Phi islands. Our first island was the ultimate pure shore at Maya Bay, it was gorgeous now they've limited filthy tourists like us! We toured a few other islands after. One of best experiences I had was swimming in the sea with a snorkel. Seeing the incredible coral reefs underneath, with fish I only have seen in an aquarium and on TV. Was a highlight seeing parrot fish too. There was another shoal of fish that kept gathering near us and jumping and nibbling our feet. Me and another woman were screaming in fear!
Not much the day after, as we have had a few busy days, so we had a hotel and pool day. But as the 4th October, which is the day it was this day. We have been married one year, and together eight years. So we celebrated our first anniversary last night by enjoying a lovely meal at our hotel and re-reading the summary of our special day. So many great memories made, and rest of our lives loving one and another. The day after we had booked a Thai cooking class and made a gorgeous a spicy salad and Thai green curry dish. We ate a little bit straight after, but we got them to deliver it to one of the hotel restaurants to eat later. We got a cute little certificate on completing it.
The last half day was spent around the pool, before the long journey home begins. What an epic and memorable two weeks it has been. We're going to miss the scenery here.
