Mr B and I decided to head to Thailand for our overdue honeymoon. Two weeks before our wedding in 2008, he was in an accident at work where a 2.5 ton cherry picker fell on top of him and broke his leg. He spent eight days in the hospital (or at the English would say in hospital) and was out of work for six months.
Anyway it was time for us to take our honeymoon and I think we planned it right, starting in Bangkok, then Chiang Mai before totally unwinding in Phuket. It was an amazing experience and highly recommend you put this on your list!
The Books I Used to Plan
I am a huge fan of the DK Eyewitness Travel books. I have them for every country I have ever visited. I think it gives a good amount of information about the history and the culture. It also covers the must sees and I have never been disappointed with anything that it suggested we visit.
I bought the Lonely Planet book because I get a discount at Heffers in Cambridge and there wasn't the DK Eyewitness Book. I was presently surprised. It had a few things not in the other and also had suggested walks for most cities.
What to Pack
This is all we had for our two weeks. My little bag in the middle was our carry-on
My friends say that I am a 'professional tourist', I pack light so here is what I think you need to make the most of your trip and leave you room to bring things home! Remember it is not expensive to get your clothes washed so only pack for a week.
1-2 bathing suits
undergarments
one pair of trousers
One pair of shorts
3-4 tops
You can get travel toiletries (I hardly used mine because the hotel provided it) when you get there as Boots and 7-Eleven all over the place.
flip flops/sandals
lightweight walking shoes/trainers
Sunscreen (have a small one to carry with you when out and about)
Insect Repellant (have a small one to carry with you when out and about)
Light weight jacket or top or scarf to wear on your shoulders when in temples
Camera, charger and memory cards
Cell phone and charger
Only 2 books- If you run out there are plenty second-hand books at hotels
Temples
I think that people need to be very respectful when visiting another country. So plan ahead. Thailand is a Buddhist Country and you will not be allowed in the temples if you are not dressed appropriately. Some temples will 'lend' you some clothing for a fee but its best that you just dress suitable so that you do not miss out on the beautiful peaceful places. Also do not touch any Buddha statue unless your tour guide says its okay, this is very offensive.
No V-neck tops
No Tank tops
No Shorts (it needs to come down to your calves at least)
Other tips on being respectful in temples
If there is a monk in the temple, sit down and take a picture (you should never be higher than a monk)
If a monk does a blessing, men can go up, say 'Sa-Tu' and get a bracelet and wear it for at least 3 days. If there is a nun (female in white), women can go to her, say 'Sa-Tu', otherwise go to the monk and open your hand and he will drop it in.
Getting Around the Country
There are a few ways to get around the country which are relatively cheap. Jon and I flew Bangkok Airways which was a very nice airlines. The food was good and the service was great. I have heard that Thai Air is another good airline and probably a bit cheaper. You can also go on overnight trains which means you are getting your accommodation and transportation all in one but we decided not to do this because we had packages with the hotels for our accommodation. You can also go on overnight buses but I would highly urge you not to take them as they often have accidents and its best to take buses during the day.