Unlike for the temples, the Grand Palace has very strict rules when it comes to attires. The only clothing allowed is a t-shirt or regular long sleeves with long skirts or long pants. They WILL refuse you access if you are wearing a cami or even leggings. I learned the hard way... However, it is possible to buy a t-shirt from the shops in the area of the Grand Palace, unless you're willing to pay the extra 200 baht for that. They are only a few minutes of walk from there.

This place is the most touristy site in Bangkok and it is huge! The tickets include the visit to the textile museum which somehow ended up being more interesting to me. I'll talk about it later on.

Inside the four walls of the Grand Palace, there are many buildings and statues to see. A very informative map is given at the entrance about them. It summarizes the structure's history and has pretty interesting facts. I was very impressed by all the little details on the buildings. They are covered in gemstones, small shaped mirrors, and gold. It almost feels overwhelming, at least to me. I can't tell if the site is filled with tourists every day, but surely visiting the Grand Palace on a Saturday isn't the quietest moment.

Unfortuntely for me, the other complexes seemed closed at the time I visited. I ended up going straight to the Museum of Textiles. It's a museum about the Queen's attires and textiles from Asia. The Queen wanted to preserve Thailand's textile arts by incorporating elements in her dresses and other pieces of clothing she wore.

Back to the capital of Thailand! I still had enough time to visit a little more before taking the flights home.

The Chinatown felt like a small version of New York City with its many light boards all over the place. It has a vibrant ambiance at night with the many food stands, restaurants and shops. I think it's a nice place to walk around. Be aware that it gets crowded pretty fast!

To be honest, this was the most disappointing journey in Thailand. Maybe I was getting tired of moving around the country, maybe it was near the end of the trip, maybe my expectations were too high after everything I've seen so far...

But let's keep it positive and point out the little gems I have encounter in my single day in Pattaya. After a little while at Pratamnak Beach, which was nothing compared to Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, I put a scarf on my shoulders to visit the Gran Buda. It felt good to be in that kind of environment again, and it's such a lovely place. The gigantic Buddha statue is on top of a hill and the way up consists of staircases surrounded by dragons. By the time I reached the sight point, I could enjoy a beautiful sunset over the city.

On my way down from the Gran Buda, there was a little fresh coconut stand owned by a very friendly man. I think he got the perfect emplacement to attract customers since there were so many runners in the area. It's a good stop for refreshments before exercising again or moving on to the next destination.

Then walking toward the south on Phra Tamnak, I encountered a food stand that is labeled as a restaurant named Ratchanee on Google Maps. It was a bit early for me to have dinner, but I decided to get a meal there, and I did not regret it at all. The food was so delicious! It's comparable to the Vietnamese soup, but with a Thai twist. The differences are mostly the ingredients such as the meat parts, some herbs and the accompanying vegetables. However, I still enjoyed it much. I couldn't be happier to stumble upon this after what I had for lunch today.

The cheapest way to go to Pattaya City from the U-Tapao was by van for 170 baht. There was no public transportation from the airport. Else I had the option to take the taxi, but we all know how expensive that can get.

From the hostel, I just walked around to the sites I wanted to visit. However, there are Songtaews that run all over Pattaya. They are pick-up trucks with two benches and a canopy. Three bus lines are also available, but they go only on the main streets of the city.

I think it's best to go on foot and take the time to see what the city has to offer. One day in Pratamnak was more than enough for me during this trip. I'd move up to the Pattaya City area next time I'll be around.

Getting tattooed is the third thing I wanted to do while I was in Thailand. I looked up for recommended places in the major cities, and I ended up choosing Sak Yant Chiang Mai. There are Monks and Ajarns that give Sak Yant in tap tattoo style. They use a steel tip instead of bamboo for hygienic purposes.

The Sak Yant is a tattoo in old thai that protects the bearer. There are a couple of rules to follow, but they are mostly fundamentals of any good willed person. The tattoo is blessed by the Monk or Ajarn right after it is finished.

I chose to get the Hah Taw, also known as the five lines. I thought this was a good overall protection in my everyday life.

Nana kob kun kaa for going through the process with me!

Chiang Mai sure has many trekking tours to offer. The city is surrounded by parks all over. On my end I followed the recommendation from the Guesthouse I was staying at and went with Thai Eco Trek Adventure.

It was the most rewarding day of my trip. I learned so much in less than 12 hours! We started off with a stop at the market for food. Our guide explained the different products that could be found there. Then we had a drive to Hoi Som Poi Karen Hill Tribe village before starting our hike through the jungle on Thajeko Mountain. The guides explained to us the different types of plants we encountered. I could even try a fresh bite of cinnamon!

After we reached the top and had a beautiful view, we went down the mountain on the other side to walk through rice fields. Watch out for the small leaches there! The first one that caught up on my ankle was so tiny. I thought it was just some dirt, but one of the guides helped me get rid of it.

We then visited Hoi Ma Naw, a small village that survives without electricity. I was in a completely different world but still was so amazed by what I saw in there. Chickens, cows and buffalos roamed freely around.

Our trekking ended with Ser Der waterfalls before heading back to the city.

Going to hangout with the elephants was my other reason why I travelled to Thailand. I have never seen one in real life, and here was the occasion!

I did some research to find the best place. It turned out that many sanctuaries aren't really sanctuaries. They do not necessarily take care of the elephants and instead exploit them for tourism.

I ended up choosing Elephant Nature Park as it was recommended by many. This organization rescued and takes care of all the elephants, dogs and cats that they currently have. I only stayed a day with the elephants, but the park also offers longer visits.

There are so many markets in Chiang Mai. It's definitely the place to go shopping for a great price on pretty much everything. Grab gifts for family and friends. Many craftsmen and artists sell their creations in these crowded places. Some of these markets also include a wide variety of food. The choice is yours! And don't forget that most sellers are open to bargain. Just bring enough cash with you.

The Saturday Night Market is pretty impressive. Covering all of Wui Lai Road, it's located to the south of the Old City. The opening hours are from 4pm to midnight every Saturday. Due to its popularity, many people come over to shop and eat. As a result, it gets very crowded as the evening goes on.

If you're interested in visiting markets during the whole weekend as I did, the Sunday Market is on Ratchadamnoen Road, at the center of the Old City. The opening hours are also from 4pm to midnight. It's not as impressive as the Saturday Market, but I think it's still worth to check.

The other markets that I know of are located in the eastern part of the Old City. There are many bazaars along Changklan Road. The good thing about these is that it's less touristic.

My way to Phuket with Ferry Samui was a never-ending trip. It took about 11 hours to get there. Unfortunately, we were late on schedule. Heavy rain was pouring in the early morning of the departure from Koh Tao. The first boat ride was very rough due to the weather but the others went more smoothly.

By the time I arrived in the city, I was pretty exhausted by the travel. I was very hungry at that point and didn't really want to explore much. However, I went to the Phuket Town Central Market to get dinner. There was an event with (free) food in the area, Monks giving payers, I believe, and many locals enjoying their time.

The following morning I went back to the Central Market at the opening hours. It's pretty impressive how big it is, filled with a vast variety of plants, fruits and vegetables. There is even a section to sit and order food, or shop around for utilities.

I ended up getting rice porridge in a restaurant nearby. This is probably one of the most affordable and tasty comfort food to get anywhere in the world. I ordered it plain and really enjoy it! It still felt very animated in the area following the events from last night. I could hear music and saw people dancing in front of the restaurant: it was a parade passing by. If only I could know what it was about...

I also stopped by a tiny stand owned by an old lady. She was selling small handmade pastries. She was such a lovely lady!

I could have stayed longer in Phuket, but I think the hype from Koh Tao was still too high. However, I still discovered some gems during my stay in the city.

There are many good restaurants on Koh Tao, the choice is yours! One of my favourites is Mama Piyawan mainly because I was in the area for nearly a week. It was also my cheaper choice for lunch/dinner when I didn't want to eat at my diving school's restaurant.

The wall is surrounded by notes written on a cupboard, but travellers across the world in their respective language. It's pretty fun to read and guess where the travellers come from while eating. Every meal at Mama Piyawan is flavorful and tasty, all for a very good price. While you're at the restaurant, grab a fruit shake. The lady sometimes makes you taste before giving you a glass.

995 Roasted Duck is also another recommended place. There is a good variety of choice, but of course, grab a meal with some duck! Knowing how expensive it can be in Canada, here is a place to satisfy any duck cravings for a good deal. Another place where I was pleasantly surprised by is at the Noodle Bar. It was one of the few restaurants still open at a 'late' hour. There are different kinds of toppings and you get to choose the type of noodles in your soup. You also get a bowl of fresh vegetables to add up as you like.

I'm sure there are so many more good places, but spending a week in Koh Tao isn't enough to try them all. It seems I have a good reason to come back some other day!

At first, I was intrigued by the fire dancers that we could see from my diving school. As a ''newly certified'' celebration, my fellow divers and I walked south on Sairee beach towards the dancers. They were at the Lotus bar. That's where the fire shows were at!

I was totally mesmerized by these guys, watching them playing with pois and sticks on fire. I absolutely enjoyed it! I could see that each of them had his own style. They certainly are having fun doing what they do. They even encouraged the customers to join them for the fire limbo, the flaming skipping rope, or just standing there while they juggle the pois around you.

The DJ played a mixed set of music from the recent top 100 billboard to the classic pop oldies that you hear almost everywhere. The ambiance was festive. Pretty much everyone seemed to have a good time while getting drinks and enjoying the show.