Thailand
Thailand gave me a great array of options to choose from for my travel experience. From the cities to the coast, from cultural experiences of street food and markets, to secluded beaches – Thailand has it all.
Phi Phi island tours from Phuket are a great way to see some fantastic island scenery. After a day on the water Phuket’s Bangla Road street food market is a bustling hive of activity and countless stalls selling and preparing a variety of delicious authentic Thai dishes.
Bangkok is a must visit! Don’t be discouraged by the traffic and sheer number of people, as this city is deeply cultural. Many thriving markets are dotted throughout the city and street food is abundant and cheap. My top choices for markets in Bangkok are:
- Maeklong Railway Market
- Damnoen Saduak Floating market
- Chatuchak Market (the largest weekend market in the world)
Don’t forget Bangkok’s roof top bars to relax in at the end of the day. Enjoy evening cocktails while absorbing the views of the city.
Vietnam
For our stay in Hanoi in Vietnam’s north we stayed in an ideally located luxurious boutique hotel in the city’s Old Quarter. Here, stepping out on to the street takes you back to a bygone era with action a plenty.
Although the maze of streets can be tough to negotiate at times, everything is very accessible. Walking the streets is very entertaining as you can see locals preparing a large variety of street food and going about their crafts. Street corners turn into bustling restaurants, where hot pots and barbecues take precedence over all other.
The city has a great vibe with a good mix of travellers. A walk around Hoam Kiem Lake is recommended, and you can take part in, or just observe, an early morning Thai Chi session.
Singapore
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is a very worthwhile visit and is very popular amongst tourists. The park spans 101 hectares of reclaimed land in central Singapore and is now an iconic part of the city’s skyline.
The Supertree Grove’s tree-like structures measure between 25 and 50 metres in height and are designed with large canopies that provide shade during the day. At night the Super Grove comes alive thanks to an exciting display of light and sound. I suggest you visit Gardens by the Bay in the afternoon so that you can incorporate the night show into your visit.
