A trip to Amazing Thailand!

After we won the Ford Figo's Discover Smart Drive "Most Popular Couple" prize, we had been contemplating to make a short trip outside India. And it had to be a surprise for my in laws, the most crazy couple I am aware of! :).  After considering many destinations, we zeroed in to Thailand, simply because there is VISA on arrival!

After lot of packing , especially food, we embarked on our journey on March 4 on Kingsiher Airlnes.

Day 1 - 4 March 2011. Reached Bangkok. And stayed at Dream Hotel. details on that in another post soon.

We only had half a day with us and we decided to indulge in shopping right away! Platinum fashion mall it was!

The multi-colored of taxis and the mad rush prove to us that we were in some big city!










Day 2 - We were helped by a very hard working and genuine travel agent to get booking for Phuket.

Mo was such a nice person that he managed to get us train tickets from Bangkok to Suratthani when every other agent had said NO!. He also told us to take Orient Express while coming back. He made our trip a lot easier with his experience and planning.





Then we went to the Grand Palace - This is the official address for the King Ram IX of Thailan and we were spell bound with its grandioseness. Also, the presence of our Ramayana in their paintings across the palace was something which surprised us totally!

Day 3 - After spending some time in the pool of the hotel - we went to the Platina Plaza in Bangkok for some electronics shopping. Unfortunately, did not understand what to buy as the prices were almost at par with India. We bought speakers and pen drives though..

Aakriti and Mummy at
Bangkok railway station

Cleanliness is quite
pervasive in Bangkok.

 Had to catch a train to Suratthani and we were at railway station then. Railways station was surprisingly clean just like the city. And Air conditioned too!

Day 4 - We reached Suratthani and taxi was waiting from Limestone Lake Tours to take us to Ratchaprapa Dam

From the piers of the dam, we were taken about 45 minutes in the speed boat to our resort. Those 45 minutes were full of such blissful scenes.

 

We stayed at Plean Prai Raft House as indicated by no. 5 in the below map. It was a beautiful location! Huts made on the lake! . See for yourself the beauty if the place.

Map of the the dam and lakes formed

In the evening, we went to see caves in the nearby forest formed by stalactites and stalagmites.

Caves have some beautiful formations

Caves was an amazing experience. We switched off all our camera, blackberries and light. It was so dark. We just could not imagine how our ancestors lived and survived the dark caves?!?

There were not many visitors and we were quite surprised! Mesmerised by the beauty, we truly believe that the dam is actually hidden heaven in Suratthani! 

Day 5 - Was filled with canoeing and then heading to Phuket. 

Yes. this was the bus stop :)

Day 6 - We stayed at Rayaburi Hotel (more details on that later) and decided to spend some time on the beach. In the evening we went to the Patong beach. it was another experienced altogether - loud music, lights, market, and loads of fun!

Day 7 - Visit to Maya island - where shooting for The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio was done , Phi Phi island , James Bond Island, etc on a tour 

Day 8 - We took flight from Orient Express from Phuket and came back to Bangkok. 

With the massages, beaches and shopping, all of us pretty much got re-booted to come back to our daily lives. Would recommend Thailand strongly to all of you!

More pictures for the trip coming soon!