As I read about Thailand, the one word that I always see is "magical". So I thought it would be nice to list your most memorable or the best experiences you've had in Thailand. This could be a place to see or just a truly enjoyable or unique day there that you will always remember. I'd love to hear what everyone has to say.

If you do a search under my name and read my "Thailand Diary" you will see that almost every day is magical in Thailand and they are full of wonderful experiences.

From washing elephants in a stream to sitting with tigers it is really hard to pick just one experience.

I can't say these particular experiences were "magical" but they were memorable and informative!

Back years ago, when I still had an income, I volunteered for several charity projects in Asia. Two of the projects involved archeology digs in Thailand. I was a volunteer for Earthwatch who sponsors hundreds of projects all over the world. In the U.S. these charity projects are also tax deductions, including part or all of the cost of of the plane tickets!

The volunteers on these projects come from all over the world. Working together during the day and and community gabfests at night time after work was fun and interesting!

These particular archeology projects operated in the Phimai (Nakon Ratchasima) area of Thailand, just an hour from Khorat.

We learned a lot about Khmer/Thai History through actual physical work, sorting, digging, data collection and daily (optional) history lectures from university professors supervising the project!

Had a good time and learned a lot about Thai history! Earthwatch, check them out on the web!

Hal

In no patricular order:

Riding the river ferry in BKK
Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai
A trip to Tong's secret place
Feeding the turtles at Wat Prayoon
Sipping the tangerine juice walking around BKK
The Joe Louis Puppet Theater
Long-tailed boat ride in Klongs
Cruise in Phang Nga Bay
Playing with baby elephant
Thai Massage

And many more.

Have a great time. The reason it's magical is that it is not a linear experience.

Also in no particular order, and this is from a one-time visiter:

- Eating Thai cotton candy with Pui
- Watching the Salt Flat workers
- Interacting with the Gibbons and the scenery in Khao Sok National Park and the scenerey at Khao Sam Roi National Park.
- Bamboo filled with sticky rice and beans
- Moped cargo (including passengers)
- night markets, local day produce markets
- The Klongs
- The Mandarin Oriental - our butler, watching fireworks from our balcony over the river, the amazing and kind service, the history. Actually - most of our hotels were amazing and magical!
- fishing villages, shrimpers, HellFire Pass
- Thai cooking classes, cows, orchids, handicrafts

Where did you feed the turtles?

Where did you play with the baby elephant?

We are going to tour with Tong too, is there a particular klong we should go on?

thanks!

The turtles are at Way Prayoon which is across the Memorial Bridge. If you go to the flower market on the BKK side, just walk across the bridge and the Wat will be on your right. There's a stand selling food and providing a stick. it's a wonderful way to relax for 1/2 an hour.

the baby elephant was at the Sheraton in Krabi. there are a number of hotels in Phuket that have a baby elephant. At the Sheraton you got to go swimming with her. It was great.

I loved Thailand! Here are some of my most memorable experiences:

Jungle trekking in Chaing Mai
-Meeting the hilltribe kids
-Riding an elephant
-bamboo rafting
-Taking a Thai cooking course at the Chef's house, and cooking outside under palm trees!
-A full spa day at a gorgeous northern Thai spa (the shower was outside under palm trees- it was private) and the room was filled with fresh fruit for me to eat during my 4 hours at the spa
-Going to a Muay Thai match
-Eating amazing banana/chocolate condensed milk type dessert on the street at the Chaing Mai night bazaar
-Shopping for gorgeous colourful silk
-Drinking cold Singha beer and eating fiery curry on Khao San Rd while people watching.

Re-living this makes me want to go back this minute!

Here are our ten in no particular order:

1-Grand Palace
2-Jim Thompson House
3-MBK
4-Night Market
5-Massage at the hotel
6-Staying at the Penn,Dim Sum and breakfast buffet at the Penn
7-Calypso Cabaret
8-Riding the Penn’s boats to the Skytrain
9-Shopping at Pimkin (small store near Oriental hotel that sells silver)
10-Having Ratt take us all around the city.

What is Tong's secret place?

Tongs secret place is also called the fishing village. Its about a half day experience with Tong and Reed the fisherman learning about the fishermans way of life in thailand with on his boat. Meeting up with a bunch of wild monkeys and sharing watermelon and banannas with them. Then a wonderful dinner on a house on stilts over the water. I am sure others can give you a better description than that tho

How funny, I was telling a friend about this yesterday. when my cousin and I visited Thailand in March 2004 we did a snorkeling day trip off of Krabi. Our trip was about usd $19 and was by far the highlight of my trip. I couldnt believe the natural beauty of this area..and the fascinating life beneath the crystal clear waters. So many different fish, I was in awe. The other place which was very special was Wat Pharat Doi Suthep (hope I spelled it right) the famous Temple in Chiang Mai. It was such an awe-inspiring place. Absolutely stunning. But more than anything I remember the people in Thailand, how genuinely friendly and generous they were. Its an incredible place I hope to return to.

BillT - Although this wasn't the main focus of my original question, can you tell me about Calypso Cabaret and did anybody ever hear about Bedsupper club?

We thought Bed Supper Club was a lot of fun - great people watching, good food and entertainment. We enjoy breakfast by the river at the Penn, the Grand Palace, a klong tour, a cooking class (many options - Blue Elephant was great for me), access from the airport to all of SE Asia - Luang Prabang Laos, Angkor Wat Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Delhi and all of India, Viet Nam, Bhutan and Nepal.

We weren't as charmed by Bed. All the people eating there are farangs. The food was western, and while well-prepared, it was not exceptional. It was fun to do once, but we wouldn't go back. On the other hand some people just love it.

Our experience at bed is similar to what kathy said. The food was so so, my wife liked hers, I did not. There was an ecclectic blend of people there.....my wife and I, three big wigs from Dole fruit,and some 70 year old grey haired farang with 5 young thai guys. It was also models night in the bar side,so I got my picture taken with a bunch of models from eastern europe I liked that part much more than my wife did!

I enjoyed Bed once but also would not return.

Calypso Cabaret- located in the Asia Hotel- skytrain stops right at the hotel. Cost - $25 for the cocktail show (skip the dinner option). I believe it starts at 8:30. You can buy your tickets and pick your seats online- they have their own website- just search on Calypso Cabaret, or you can buy your tickets at their box office at the Asia Hotel. It’s a Ladyboy show- very classy – all can enjoy its really entertaining- good singing, dancing, costumes- a small theater so most seats are good. Cameras are allowed. After the show the cast lines up for pictures- tip them if you ask for a picture with them.
We did the show on our first trip years ago and really enjoyed it. We have booked the show again for out trip in January. Trust me- you will enjoy the show!

Take a look at my travel diaries for Thailand & Cambodia. There are a few day to day experiences that I won't forget so easily. Just returned a week ago from a 2 week trip to BKK, Siem Reap & Phuket. About to book a flight back to Thailand (Hat Yai), then taking partner to either Siem Reap or Pnom Penh and Chiang Mai for 3 weeks...

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