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Travel Journal Across Thailand
  • Suraj Ka Safarnama
  • Suraj Ka Safarnama

Travel Journal Across Thailand

My Thailand journey, packed with experiences, detours, and practical tips which can be a handy reference while planning your own adventure. Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 29, 2024
  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Smart planning, smooth trip ✅

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We planned our trip around the places we truly wanted to explore and made advance bookings to avoid any last-minute chaos.

    ✅ All stays prebooked
    ✅ Main intercity travel sorted in advance

    🚌 Overnight Buses:
    • 2nd Night – Bangkok → Phuket
    • 7th Night – Krabi → Bangkok

    🏨 Stays:
    • 1st Night – Pattaya
    • 3rd & 4th Night – Phuket
    • 5th Night – Phi Phi
    • 6th Night – Krabi
    • 8th Night – Bangkok    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Early arrival at DMK

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We landed at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) around 4:30 AM on a direct flight from Bengaluru.

    Everything went fine at Bengaluru airport until baggage check-in, where our luggage exceeded the limit and we had to pay ₹1.5k extra. Later, we found out that adding baggage online would've been cheaper, so for the return, we planned to book at least one add-on in advance (maybe two, if we shopped too much).Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Smooth onboarding

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    The visa process was incredibly smooth. Thailand’s free Visa on Arrival had us cleared in minutes.

    ✅ Next, we activated our e-sim by scanning the QR at the airport WIFI. I purchased it online via Palego.com, which I found to be the cheapest.
    ✅ Arriving with zero cash, I then withdrew money using my Jupiter Debit card, which has zero markup fee. Although AEON bank has lowest ATM withdrawal charges of ฿150, they were rare. So we opted for Krungsai Bank ATM at the airport with a fee of ฿220.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Must-have apps for your Thailand trip

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    🚍 Rome2Rio – Just enter start & end points, and it shows all commute options: bus, train, metro, cab, etc.

    🎫 12Go – For booking buses, ferries, and trains.

    🚖 Bolt & Grab – Thailand’s Uber/Ola alternatives. Bolt is cheaper. Grab also works for food delivery (like Zomato).

    🗺️ Google Maps – Obvious and essential.

    🌐 Google Translate – Crucial. English isn’t widely spoken, even by officials. We used Thai<>English translation multiple times.

    🏨 Hostelworld – Traveling solo? Hostelworld is gold. It lets you join a group chat with others in your hostel or town. You can also set a status like “Looking to hang out” to meet new people easily.

    📗 Polarsteps, FindPenguins, Stippl – To track your route & create beautiful travel journals.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    First steps in Bangkok

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    The A3 bus dropped us at centralwOrld, the heart of Bangkok. Surrounded by skyscrapers, huge digital billboards, and that capital city buzz, it felt like we’d landed in Bangkok's version of Times Square.

    Though most malls were still closed, the area is super walkable and packed with things to explore.

    We found our way to Pratunam Market, just opening for the day. It’s a lively street market known for cheap clothes, food stalls, and local restaurants. It’s here we had our first Thai food.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Off to Pattaya

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After exploring Pratunam, it was time to head to Pattaya. Following Rome2Rio’s suggestion, we took the 511 bus to Ekkamai, reaching in about 20 minutes.

    Walking on our way to the bus terminal, we spotted a Mary Jane weed shop and decided to pop in for a quick look (and a little shopping) 🌿Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Mary Jane hits before Pattaya 🌿

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After picking up some gummies and cookies, we made our way to Ekkamai Bus Station (also known as Bangkok Eastern Terminal). It’s a hub for intercity buses to the eastern side of Thailand, including Pattaya.

    On our way, we each had 2 gummies, thinking the effect would take time. After reaching, I booked our bus to Pattaya from one of the counters at the terminal which was scheduled to depart in about an hour.

    We sat there waiting, calmly at first, until Sam started behaving... well, noticeably high. That’s when I realized that Mary Jane had kicked in.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Happy, high & the best bus ride

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    As the bus started boarding, I had to calm Sam down, who was laughing and crying at the same time. Meanwhile, I stayed chill, handled the situation with care, and got us both inside our bus.

    Once we grabbed our seats, I felt that sweet relief coz we were in, settled, and ready to enjoy the dopamine with no stress.

    Half the ride, she was just happy-happy-happy, while fast asleep the other half.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Need Yellow

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After around three hours on the road, we reached the Pattaya bus terminal.
    First thing I did? Opened Google Maps and searched for “bike rental shops near me.”

    I called a place named Pattaya Motorbike Rentals, and they told me they had just one scooter left. Without wasting a second, I booked a Bolt ride straight there.Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Scooter secured, stomachs too

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We rented the scooter for one day. The shop charged ฿150 for it and asked for a ฿1000 security deposit. You can either deposit cash or leave your passport as security. We chose the cash option since we preferred keeping our passport with us, though it seemed safe there too.

    Inside the shop, a warning note caught my eye. It mentioned a ฿1000 fine if caught by police without an IDP (International Driving Permit)—something required along with your regular license for driving abroad. While it’s rare to get stopped, especially if you wear a helmet, it’s still a risk. I learned that the hard way later in Bangkok.

    While they were prepping the scooter, I noticed something interesting—they first had a dummy number plate, which they swapped out for the real one before handing it over.

    While all this was going on, we grabbed lunch at a small restaurant right next to the rental shop.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Checked-in & Knocked-out

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After picking up the scooter, we rode to our hotel in Pattaya Central (about 2.3 km from Pattaya Beach).

    We had already paid online, but they asked for a refundable deposit of ฿200 at check-in. That’s not very common in Thailand, but it depends on hotel policy. What is common though: check-in after 2:00 PM and checkout before 12:00 PM.

    We checked in, completely exhausted from the day, and crashed for some much-needed rest.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    A walk to Walking Street

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    At night, we left for Walking Street. As the name suggests, no vehicles are allowed beyond a certain point. There were barricades, so we had to park our scooter more than a kilometer away from the entrance.

    On the walk to the street, we passed by Pattaya Beach, which was lively even at night. The road along the beach was lined with seafood stalls and a vibrant night market.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    What not to do on Walking Street?

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    A quick heads-up for anyone visiting Walking Street: you’ll see plenty of agents flashing brochures for “sex shows” and offering entry for around ฿400 per person.

    Don’t fall for it. It’s not what it sounds like. These shows are more like weird magic acts involving partially naked performers doing odd tricks like pulling out objects, shooting darts, lifting weights with sexual body parts. Been there, done that, and honestly regretted wasting the money.

    If you’re looking for adult entertainment, a better option is to visit a pub or go-go bar, where you can sip your drink and enjoy pole dances by stunning Russian performers in a more lively and open vibe.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Seafood paradise… but we passed

    December 29, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Thailand is known for its seafood, and as a non-vegetarian, I was curious to try it, though I’m not much of a seafood person myself. Sam, on the other hand, loves seafood.

    Surprisingly, we didn’t end up eating any throughout the trip. The strong smell from most seafood stalls turned us off every time.

    The only thing we tried was some sushi while walking back from Walking Street, and that was just decent, nothing to rave about.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    A serene morning at Jomtien Beach

    December 30, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Second day began with a trip to Jomtien Beach.

    Our plan was to go to Cave Beach Club, but we found something better—Glass House Boho. It looked more inviting, so we decided to stay there instead.

    The beach was quiet in the morning, and we enjoyed some peaceful time by the water. After that, we returned to our hotel, packed up, and checked out.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Small delay, big worry

    December 30, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Things seemed on track as we reached the bus station around 12:45 PM. Since our Phuket bus was from Mochit terminal, I booked the next bus there, scheduled for 1:30 PM. While waiting, we had lunch at the station.

    Then, the worry kicked in. It was 1:40 PM, and the bus was nowhere in sight. Minutes felt like hours. Finally, at 2 PM, it arrived and we were on our way. The entire ride, I kept hoping we would reach Mochit in time.    Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Midnight stop

    December 30, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    In Thailand’s buses, I noticed that many ticket collectors were women, unlike in India.

    Late at night, the collector approached us with a Google Translate screen, informing us about a dinner stop. The bus pulled into a huge complex where many other buses were parked. Food was complimentary for passengers, but only for selected options.Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Kicking off in Phuket

    December 31, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Our last day of 2024 began at the Phuket Bus Station, where we refreshed ourselves after the long journey. The next task was finding a scooter rental.

    Right at the bus station, we found two huge rental shops with many scooters parked outside. But to our surprise, both said they had no scooters available. So, we turned to Google Maps and started searching elsewhere. I called a rental shop in Phuket Old Town, and luckily, they had a scooter. Without wasting time, we booked a Bolt cab and left to pick it up.Read more

  • Suraj Ka SafarnamaTravel Journal Across ThailandSuraj Ka Safarnama

    Gearing up & ready to roll

    December 31, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    At Som Bike Rental near Old Town Phuket, we rented a scooter for two days. In Thailand, a one-day rental counts as 24 hours. Since we rented ours at 9 AM, we convinced the owner to allow a return by 10 AM to avoid extra charges.

    Phuket was pricier than Pattaya. the same scooter cost ฿300, which was double the rate, with the same passport or money deposit policy.

    With the rental done, we left our bags at the shop and headed for a short ride around Old Phuket Town before going to our hostel.    Read more

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