Pattaya
My trip began in Pattaya. After landing in Bangkok, I hopped straight on a bus from the airport. The departures are located on the lowest level; you just need to find the right ticket counter. That said, picking the correct bus out of all the options isn't exactly straightforward, and the locals might give you conflicting info. Your best bet is to double-check with a few different people.
When I arrived in Pattaya, the bus didn't actually drop me off at the scheduled stop. This happens fairly often, so don't be surprised. Just try to get your bearings wherever you end up, because the bus isn't going to take you anywhere else anyway.
You can find my thoughts on Pattaya here.
And the photos here.
Ayutthaya
After a few days in Pattaya, I headed toward Ayutthaya. To get there, I took a bus back to Bangkok and then caught a "minibus" taxi from one of the capital's many stations.
You arrive in the center of Ayutthaya, where you’ll likely need another way to get around given the size of the city. Be careful not to get roped in too quickly by the tourist traps waiting for you the moment you step off the bus. I was promised a city tour by tuk-tuk, only to find myself in a taxi ten minutes later. I politely explained to the driver that this wasn't what I wanted and that I needed to drop my bags off at a guesthouse first. After negotiating a price, he finally took me there.
You can find my thoughts on Ayutthaya here.
And the photos here.
Lopburi
On the advice of the folks running the guesthouse where I stayed in Ayutthaya, I decided to change my route. Instead of heading to Kamphaeng Phet, I made a stop in Lopburi before taking the train to Phitsanulok. It was a very wise choice, as you can read in the links below:
You can find my thoughts on Lopburi here.
And to see the photos.
Sukhothai
The next day, I left for Sukhothai by bus from Phitsanulok. Since I hadn't booked a place to stay, that was the first thing I did upon arrival. Prawet Nakhon alley has plenty of options if you're not sure where to go. Most guesthouses here also have a restaurant/bar area where you can hang out, even if you haven't rented a room or a bed.
The following day was dedicated to visiting the historical site.
You can find more info here.
And the photos there.
Chiang Mai
My next destination was Chiang Mai.
Arriving very early in the morning, I spent the first part of the day, once again, looking for accommodation. After wandering the streets of the old city, I stumbled upon a guesthouse in a charming, inexpensive old teak building.
The city was in the middle of celebrating the Queen's birthday, so there were sky-blue flags, the symbol of Her Majesty, everywhere. I stayed in Chiang Mai for a few days and did all my sightseeing within the city walls. There are enough temples to keep you busy for several days. At Wat Chedi Luang, you can chat with monks who are very open to conversation. Most of them were preparing to head to northern Thailand to attend the Queen's birthday celebrations, mostly by taxi.
You can find my thoughts on Chiang Mai here.
And the photos here.
Chiang Rai
I only spent one day in Chiang Rai. I arrived in the afternoon and left the next morning.
Even if Chiang Rai is way up in the north and you don't have much time to explore the region, the detour is worth it just to see the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). I was lucky enough to have a beautiful blue sky with a few wispy white clouds, which made the whole place look stunning.
In the evening, I went to the night market, which is one of the most famous in Thailand. I found a few gifts to bring back for my friends.
You can find my thoughts on Chiang Rai here.
And the photos here.
Lampang
My goal then was to head west. However, since my next destination was quite far, I broke up the journey by stopping in the old colonial city of Lampang.
Unable to find a guesthouse, I opted for a hotel. The points of interest can be a bit spread out in this city, so I chose to rent a bike to visit the selection of temples I had picked out. Ultimately, Lampang is quite relaxing because it isn't very large or as touristy as other cities. It makes for a nice break between two legs of the trip.
You can find my thoughts on Lampang here.
And the photos here.
Nong Khai
Getting to Nong Khai involves a long bus ride. To avoid wasting time, I regularly take night buses. You don't sleep quite as well, but it saves time on every stopover.
I had spotted a small guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong with a lovely terrace for breakfast while enjoying a magnificent view. However, the weather wasn't very kind, with grey skies and even some rain. Once again, I rented a bike to get to the Salakeawkoo sculpture park. And since the day wasn't over, I extended my ride through some rice paddies, taking the time to stop for an ice cream served on a sort of green bread/cake (likely tea-flavored).
You can find my thoughts on Nong Khai here.
And the photos here.
Khao Yai National Park
I love traveling by train, and the ones in Thailand didn't disappoint. The scenery is gorgeous, and street vendors are constantly offering you food. That's the mode of transport I chose to get to Pak Chong, a town near Khao Yai National Park.
Arriving late at night forced me to take a room in a hotel that wasn't exactly the most beautiful or inviting. The next day, I found a nicer guesthouse outside of town. Once again, the weather played tricks on me; during my visit to Khao Yai, it started raining much harder this time. The hike through the jungle ended under torrential rain, and I was completely soaked. The ranger accompanying me wasn't the most engaging either, as he didn't even make an effort to communicate.
You can find my thoughts on Khao Yai National Park here.
And the photos here.
Koh Chang
My final destination was Koh Chang, an island located in the southeast of Thailand.
The guesthouse I chose offered small stilt houses perched three or four meters high. I was on the east coast of the island, not far from Lonely Beach. It was easy enough to get to Bang Bao by rental. However, I rented a scooter to go as far as White Sand Beach and Salak Phet Bay. In that same bay, I found canoes for rent for the day at a totally negligible price. This allowed me to take a trip out on the ocean to the abandoned islands of Phrao Nai and Ko Phrao Nok, where there is a completely empty tourist resort.
You can find my thoughts on Koh Chang here.
And the photos here.
The return to France was via Bangkok, which I reached by taking a bus from Trat.
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