Thailand: Temples & Street Food
By: Evgeny Padezhnov
Bangkok: The City That Never Sleeps
Landing in Bangkok is like stepping into a fever dream — golden spires pierce through clouds of street food smoke, tuk-tuks weave through traffic like a video game, and the heat wraps around you like a warm blanket.
The first stop was Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The level of detail in every surface is mind-blowing — every inch covered in gold, glass, and ceramic.
“Bangkok is a city that hits all your senses at once. You smell it before you see it, hear it before you understand it.”
Chiang Mai: Mountains & Markets
After the chaos of Bangkok, Chiang Mai felt like a different country entirely. Nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand, this city has a completely different vibe — slower, cooler, more artistic.
The Sunday Walking Street Market is an absolute must. Stretching for kilometers through the old city, it’s a treasure trove of handmade crafts, local art, and street food stalls.
Best Eats
- Pad Thai at Thip Samai — the OG, worth the queue
- Mango Sticky Rice — sweet, creamy, perfect
- Som Tam — green papaya salad that’ll make you sweat
- Khao Soi in Chiang Mai — coconut curry noodle soup, life-changing
The Islands
No Thailand trip is complete without the islands. We split our time between Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta.
Phi Phi is the party island — beautiful but crowded. Lanta is the opposite — quiet beaches, incredible sunsets, and a fraction of the tourists.
Next stop: Jordan — Petra and Wadi Rum await.
