Thailand
My favorite: Muay Thai as the cover photo.
Preparation
No prep needed — just grab a SIM card beforehand, bring your passport, and go! Currency exchange: change at home for better rates, or at the airport for convenience. Everything else is optional — you don’t even need to pack much clothing. When in Rome, buy on arrival!
Metro is a bit convoluted — ride-hailing is more convenient. The main apps are Bolt and Grab. Bolt is cheaper and offers motorcycle rides (a bit sketchy but fast — the kind of fast that ignores traffic lights), cash-only. Grab drivers accept rides faster but cost more, and support Alipay.
Also, skip the airport pickup booking — just hail a ride right outside the airport.
Itinerary
Day 1
First stop in Thailand was the Erawan Shrine (Four-Faced Buddha), which had been blowing up on Xiaohongshu with celebrities reportedly flocking to pray there. Reality was a bit underwhelming — it’s a small area right by a busy intersection with traffic rushing past. Like other religious sites, you can buy flowers and elephant figurines to offer to the shrine. Locals genuinely worshipping were plentiful, while tourists mostly just observed. Not really recommended.
Wat Pho, Grand Palace, and Wat Arun — these three temple complexes are similar in style. It’s a type of religious architecture you won’t find in China, so visiting one thoroughly is enough; hitting all three causes aesthetic fatigue. But Wat Arun at night is unmissable. Once darkness falls, the illuminated Wat Arun is arguably the most beautiful sight along the Chao Phraya River. View it from a river cruise or from a café across the river (I recommend Vivi The Coffee Place) — the golden temple standing solitary by the riverbank, casting shimmering golden reflections on the water. Breathtaking.
The Siriraj Medical Museum (“Museum of Death”) was one of my favorite stops during the first few days. Operated by Siriraj Medical School, the overall mood after visiting is heavy — victims’ bodies from serial killers, cancer-ravaged organ specimens, cross-sections of terminal patients, deformed fetuses preserved in formaldehyde (you can clearly see the eyelashes on the infant in the jar). Walking out the museum doors, Bangkok’s 40°C air hits your face, and you feel grateful just to be breathing.
Khao San Road Night Market felt chaotic in one word. Every vendor seemed to be competing for the loudest speakers — music audible from blocks away, marijuana scent hanging in the air, secondhand smoke, mixed with cologne-and-sweat from Western tourists. You practically have to hold your breath to navigate the street. Even the chili oil on the food emanated a pungent sweat odor — unclear whether intentionally seasoned that way or simply absorbed from the air over time. Baffling.
Day 2
The Bangkok Instagram Bridge has already gone viral on Chinese social media — one of Bangkok’s new landmarks. Plenty of Chinese tourists lining up for photos in orderly fashion. Posing for two minutes under nearly 40°C heat left everyone drenched in sweat. Below the bridge is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the largest art exhibition space in Bangkok, though by Chinese standards it felt average. Worth a stop if you’re passing by, but not worth a dedicated trip.
The Wat Paknam Big Buddha is also popular online, but expect disappointment if you go with high expectations. It’s just a large Buddha statue in the city. Online photos use ultra-telephoto lenses making it look massive — here’s my shot with a 105mm lens for reference. I recommend shooting from 796 Soi Thoet Thai 26 or 60 Phet Kasem 15 Alley. There’s a river nearby with boat tours, but given the water’s color and smell, I’d suggest skipping that.
ICONSIAM sits right on the Chao Phraya riverbank, reachable by public ferry. It’s currently Bangkok’s newest shopping mall with impressive variety and foot traffic. The ground floor is an indoor market with clean versions of Bangkok’s street food — safe to eat freely. Upper floors have multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, though unfortunately no standout noodle shops.
Day 3 & Day 4
Tiffany’s Show is the most famous mainstream cabaret, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The show is like a variety performance — lip-synced music and dance numbers. Viewing experience is average. After the show there’s a photo session where you tip the performers for pictures — they’re all very friendly. Side note: I recommend Bing Shu’s video “The Mummy” which includes an interview with cabaret performers that helps you better understand the profession.
Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium — a testosterone-fueled Muay Thai match. Personally my favorite experience in Thailand. The live atmosphere was electric. Tickets range from 1,600 to 2,500 baht; I recommend first-class seats for the full experience.
Moon Bar — big vibes on a small budget. A rooftop bar on the 59th floor of Bangkok’s Banyan Tree Hotel, serving drinks and food. Admission is deductible from your tab. Great for photos. A similar popular spot is Mahanakhon SkyWalk (Pixel Tower), but the queues there are brutal.
Day 5 & Day 6
The Sanctuary of Truth — a perpetually unfinished wooden palace. Every structure inside is made of wood, constantly eroded by the seaside elements and therefore always under renovation. Still quite spectacular. Chinese-language tours are available explaining the meaning of each carved deity, though I’m personally not into that kind of thing.
Elephant Village — fun! Recommended! You can ride elephants on both water and land routes circling the park. The ticket includes a 30-min elephant ride + coconut + show. One of the few attractions I wholeheartedly recommend.
79 SHOW can only be described as mind-blowing. Phones and cameras are collected at the entrance. The venue is dim with lights focused only on the stage. Seating is first-come-first-served; you can switch seats if someone leaves mid-show. The first three rows are the interactive zone — the interactions are wild. If you don’t want to participate, avoid the front rows. An absolute must-do in Pattaya.
Jomtien Beach Night Market sits just across the road from the beach. Opens at 5 PM — buy food, grab a beer, sit on the wooden benches by the road and watch the sunset, then stroll across to Jomtien Beach. Very chill.
Day 7
Koh Larn has three popular spots online: Tawaen, Tien Beach, and Samae Beach. We went to Tawaen, which has the most activities. Parasailing, glass-bottom boat, jet ski, banana boat, and snorkeling came to roughly 1,500 baht total after bargaining — definitely negotiate, you’ll save a lot. You can rent tuk-tuks on the island to explore, but the mountain roads are rough, so stay safe.
