Thailand Experience

Travelling has always been an ambition of mine. Upon finishing uni I decided it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate and experience life in a different country. As well as fulfill one of my dreams.

I decided upon Thailand because of the combination of Adventure, culture and relaxation. I wanted to fully immerse myself into the Thai culture as well as visiting the generic tourist attractions.

Therefore I decided to split up my trip by visiting iconic locations as well as going off the backpackers trail to teach English to Thai children.

My first stop was the hustle and bustle of Bangkok where I visited all the major tourist attractions including the famous Grand Palace, Wat Arun, The reclining Buddha as well as a boat trip to a floating market. All attractions were beautiful and a worthwhile visit. I also experienced Bangkok at night down the renowned Koh San Road. Koh San Road is the most random and craziest of streets I have ever visited where you could probably buy anything. For example, there are vendors selling fried bugs, to fish massages to even buying your wedding dress.

After the exhaustion of Bangkok we then travelled onto Kanchanaburi; a quieter town just off Bangkok.  During my stay in Kanchanaburi I had the most scariest and surreal experience at the tiger temple. Where I stroked, fed and played with tigers. I also visited historical landmarks including the bridge which crosses the beautiful River Kwai and the Hell Pass Fire Museum. This was a very informative and moving experience. Other attractions which I’d recommend are the beautiful Erawan waterfalls, Thai cooking lessons, a boat trip on the river kwai and temple tours.

My third stop was off the tourist trail in Sankalaburi where I did community work. Sangkhlaburi is an idyllic town which is small and friendly with everything within walking distance.  The town is culturally diverse and many of the residents are stateless; resulting in them not being able to leave Sangkhaburi. Despite this everyone I encountered was really friendly and welcoming.

For my community project I decided to teach English to children ranging from 3-14. I remember one lesson distinctively, which was titled ‘My Family’ the lesson really moved me; I found that many of the children had either lost their parents or had no family.  One 14 year old girl disclosed how she had two children.  The lesson really brought to the forefront the poverty and oppression in the area.  Despite this the children were all happy and loved the attention.  It was really rewarding seeing their eyes light up and their big smiles.

Temple in Thailand, my final leg of the tour was a week of relaxation on the Island Koh Pan Yan. Koh Pan Yan has stunning beaches however is known for its world famous full moon party. A trip to Thailand would not be complete without attending one.

I had a great time in Thailand and would recommend going to any budding travel enthusiasts.

Below are the reasons why:

•    Safe for first time travellers.
•    Great way to meet like-minded people and make friends for life.
•    24 hour safety and security assurance with coordinators always on hand.
•    Safety in numbers- being in a group reduces the individual risk.
•    Reassurance for parents.

Happy travels

Written by Judy Featherby