Following our extended stay in Australia, our travel compass instinctually pointed us back toward one of our absolute favorite corners of the world: Southeast Asia. We kicked off this leg of the journey in Thailand—a country we always look forward to revisiting.
We were absolutely thrilled to discover that Thailand recently extended its visa-exempt stay for U.S. citizens from 30 to 60 days. They basically doubled the time you can eat your body weight in pad thai and mango sticky rice without having to deal with any irritating immigration paperwork. Taking full advantage of the bonus time, we spent six weeks splitting our days between the high-octane energy of Bangkok and the laid-back beaches of the south.
Bangkok:
Spending our first three weeks in Bangkok gave us the opportunity to dig in to the fabulous stuff Bangkok has on tap without feeling rushed. We wandered deep into local neighborhoods well beyond the usual tourist haunts. I’ve already documented Bangkok’s classic highlights in previous posts, so there’s no need to rehash the old favorites here.
However, there is a massive, shiny new addition to the city skyline that demands a mention: One Bangkok Mall.
Located right on the southeast corner of Lumphini Park, this colossal new development is Bangkok’s latest landmark. We happened to check it out just after its grand opening. Bangkok is now blessed with over a dozen absolutely incredible malls to wander around and mingle with all the Thai mall-loving locals. Consequently, One Bangkok crowds were still light when we wandered through.
One Bangkok features two incredibly cool shopping hubs: The Parade and The Storeys. Both are packed with dining options, boutique shopping, and entertainment. Barbie and I both love the heavy Japanese influence sweeping through Bangkok right now, and the gourmet Japanese basement supermarket here (Mitsukoshi Depachika) was an absolute goldmine for stocking up our kitchen.
One Bangkok easily ranks right up there with the city’s other premier mega-malls like Iconsiam, CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Central Park, Emporium/Emquartier and Emsphere. It’s just another testament to Bangkok’s mind-bogglingly rapid growth.
Heading to the South: Finding the “Old Thailand” on Koh Lanta
After three weeks of city life, it was time to head to the sandy beaches in the south. Thailand is blessed with countless islands, and this time around we chose Koh Lanta.
In true flashpacker style, we bypassed the basic beach huts of my early traveling days and rented a stunning Airbnb pool villa perched high in the jungle hills, complete with spectacular sunset views. Our only neighbors? A few curious wild monkeys sharing the trees.
The Koh Lanta Island Lifestyle: A perfect balance of pristine beaches, a relaxed bohemian vibe, and just enough modern infrastructure to keep you comfortable without feeling overrun. The toughest decision you have to make here is whether to order a coconut shake or a mango shake.
Koh Lanta’s strategic location in the Andaman Sea also makes it a perfect launchpad for day trips. From here, you can easily access the islands of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Yai/Noi, and the legendary backpacker rock-climbing haven of Railay Beach.
The Flashpacker Verdict:
Our time on Koh Lanta felt remarkably reminiscent of the great months we spent on Koh Phangan last year. Both are rare places where you completely lose track of days, sharing a laid-back atmosphere that is becoming harder and harder to find in modern Thailand. They offer a sanctuary compared to the hyper-commercialized, tourist-packed crowds of Phuket or Koh Samui.
As a guy who first stepped foot on Koh Samui back in 1992, that island will always hold a nostalgic piece of my heart. Sadly, decades of rapid, unchecked development have spoiled its once-pristine charm. And it’s about to get even crazier—with HBO filming the latest season of The White Lotus at the Four Seasons Samui, the island is bound to see an absolute explosion of mainstream tourism, soaring prices, and mega-crowds.
Our six weeks in the Land of Smiles only reaffirmed why Thailand remains at the top of our travel list. It perfectly bridges the gap between the rugged adventures of our past and the comfortable luxuries we enjoy today.
Our Southeast Asian journey continues……
Next stop… Cambodia!
Big Doug & Barbie Drop Out of Society 