Bangkok and Chiang Mai 2023

Well, that's the holiday booked; In a little over a month, Darrell and I will be flying back to Thailand, to explore this fascinating country further. After our first trip there last September, before resettlement in Australia, we have decided to return to what has become our favourite destination in Asia.

After receiving a substantial tax refund, we initially decided to go to Japan, a country that is most certainly on our bucket list. However, with work commitments looming, we are returning to Thailand instead. Japan deserves more time than we can currently spare. There is so much we want to see when we are there, that we have made a choice to go there next year, on the way to the UK to see my Father and friends on a brief visit. This way we can stay longer in a country, we both fell in love with many years ago.

For now, we will be concentrating our efforts on Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Having visited the vibrant city of Bangkok last year, it is safe to say we enjoyed every minute of it, and can't wait to go back. We will be staying in the same hotel in Pranakorn, opposite our favourite restaurant 'SO Samsen,' on Samsen Road. Darrell and I fell in love with this part of Bangkok, especially 'SO Samsen.' The food, ambience, hostess Aom, and her wonderful colleagues, made our first trip an amazing experience; both of us were sorry to leave, and it left us wanting more. This was the last time Darrell and I felt truly relaxed and at home, and I couldn't be happier we are returning so soon after our last visit.

Bangkok is a large, sprawling city and we both look forward to exploring it further. We only saw a fraction of it in 2022, and hope to see much more during our time there this year. Thankfully, I have a little more time to book trips and sightseeing tours before we leave, unlike last year, and the stress we were both under.

I have booked this trip through Expedia, who I have used on many different occasions, and despite a few hiccups along the way, everything is now confirmed, and we are both counting down the days. I think it will do us both good to get away from Australia for a while, especially with the constant cold and wet weather, at the moment. Furthermore, I am desperately in need of some heat and sunshine, as I know Darrell is, and 34 degrees sounds idyllic right now. As I have aged I most certainly feel the cold more than I ever did, and I am just thankful to be in Australia, rather than in the UK, where it is even colder. Thailand's high temperatures and humid weather is absolutely perfect - a climate that suits my constitution and sense of adventure, especially now.

After spending four days in Bangkok, we will be flying to Chiang Mai province in the north of the country. This region is mountainous, famous for its waterfalls, small villages and the city of Chiang Mai itself, which is the second largest in Thailand.  The city is rich in culture, religious temples and historic places of interest and is a must-see for a traveller like me. Unlike Bangkok, Chaing Mai retains an almost authentic charm, recognised by 'Trip Advisor' as one of the top 25 destinations in the world, and awarded the appropriate title of 'most creative city' in 2017 my UNESCO.

We have chosen a four/five-star hotel in the old town called The Bodhi Serene. This stunning residence, in Chinese/Thai Lanna style, is situated in the heart of the city, within easy reach of all the major tourist destinations. We both hope to see as much as we can while we are there, as well as taking some much-needed time to relax and unwind after such a busy and eventful year in Australia.

This will be the first break both of us have had in a year and despite only being able to spend a few weeks away, we are just grateful, we are able to. As I look forward to a fantastic holiday in Asia, I am mindful of just how many people are unable to afford one this year. We are both fortunate to be in well paid jobs, in a country that is relatively sheltered from the worst of the cost of living crisis, unlike back home in the UK. Travelling is and will always be our first passion, so when opportunities to see places, others can only dream of arises, we grab them with open arms. It will be good to take to the skies once again and continue on our journey together; I'm not sure if I'll ever completely settle down, wherever I am in the World!

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