Abandoned Skyscraper in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

The skyscraper’s 43rd floor is the most haunted of them all. Treading carefully over piles of debris, I pick my way through musty darkness praying I won’t vanish into a hole.

It happened in the bathroom. One morning a local photographer who was climbing the tower happened to smell something rancid and went to investigate.

That’s when he discovered the body.

Sathorn Unique Building

Bangkok’s Sathorn Unique skyscraper was supposed to become a premium luxury apartment complex with amazing views of the Chao Phraya River.

That was until this massive construction project was suddenly abandoned due to the collapse of the Thai Baht during Asia’s 1997 Financial Crisis.

Left to rot in neglect, the unfinished skyscraper eventually became a home for drug addicts, homeless vagrants, and wild dogs.

Sathorn Unique Tower

Graffiti Covers the Walls

The Haunted Skyscraper

This mysterious abandoned skyscraper rises 49-stories into the clouds high above downtown Bangkok. It’s official name is Sathorn Unique, but locals refer to it as “The Ghost Tower”. Most people keep their distance.

They believe the building is haunted, and for good reason.

Dead bodies seem to turn up here on a regular basis.

There’s also a 2nd twin building down the street called Lebua State Tower, an exact copy of this one. However while that skyscraper thrived (featured in The Hangover 2), Sathorn Unique has been cursed to ruin for the past 20 years.

The Throne Room?

Flooded Balconies

Weird Tourist Attraction?

People have been visiting this abandoned skyscraper for years, climbing over an outer fence or bribing one of the homeless inhabitants to open a locked gate to the stairwell.

However a few months before I arrived, the body of a Swedish backpacker was found hanging from a bathroom on the 43rd floor, discovered by a Thai photographer there to capture the sunrise.

After this incident, the building’s owner decided to make it safer (and earn some cash) by opening the ghost tower to tourists so they don’t break in.

Inside the Haunted Skyscraper

Standing Water & Trash

Exploring The Ghost Tower

The narrow stairwell of Sathorn Unique is claustrophobic and littered with rubbish. A few bare lightbulbs cast a dull glow on some floors, others are pitch black, making the climb hazardous.

After the first 10 floors is when I began to sweat.

It’s like climbing an indoor mountain, stopping to rest while exploring the abandoned, windowless luxury apartments decorated with graffiti and million-dollar views of the city below.

Dusty hallways are flooded with puddles of standing water, construction equipment, old shoes, broken toilets, electrical wires and more.

Piles of debris make it difficult to spot holes in the floor. Pieces of the ghost tower occasionally fall into the streets below as it descends into neglect.

Sunset from the Top

Extreme Selfie with my GoPole Reach

Incredible Panoramic Views

By the 49th floor I’m completely drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. It takes about 30 minutes of constant climbing to reach the top. The roof is a mess with steel rebar and broken concrete all over the place.

But the views over the city of Bangkok? Amazing!

A panoramic urban skyline stretches out before your eyes — filled with skyscrapers of all shapes & sizes, the BTS train system, narrow city streets congested with traffic, and barges loaded with goods floating down the Chao Phraya river.

Your reward for the challenge of scaling the tower is a beautiful sunset.

GoPole Scenelapse in Action

Where to stay in Bangkok?

Budget

iCheck Inn Silom –

Check prices on: Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Agoda

Mid-Range

Padi Madi Boutique – Small stylish hotel right next to a metro station and various dining options.

Check prices on: Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Agoda

Fancy

Sofitel Bangkok –

Check prices on: Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Agoda

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I also enjoy using AirBnB from time to time. Make sure to read my article about how to find cheap hotels too.[/su_note]

Shooting With GoPole

To capture this adventure on video I used my GoPole Reach attached to a GoPro. It gives you some unique perspectives, including sitting on the edge of a skyscraper dangling my feet over the side!

Another cool attachment I used is the GoPole Scenelapse on the GoPole Base — this rotating timer is great for recording time-lapse sequences like the one at the end of my video below. ★

Watch Video: Exploring Bangkok’s Ghost Tower

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources For Bangkok” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Cost: 200 Baht ($6 USD)

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Thailand Travel Guide: Lonely Planet Thailand
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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Rock Climbing at Railay Beach

Railay Beach, Thailand

Giant pillars of karst limestone protrude into the sky around Railay Beach, home to some of the best rock climbing in the world. Even the monkeys love this place.

Climbers from around the world regularly flock to Krabi Province to test their skills on the 700+ bolted climbing routes around Railay Beach. After working behind my computer for a few weeks in Bangkok, I decided to visit for a little climbing adventure.

From the coastal town of Ao Nang, it’s a short & very scenic boat ride to Tonsai Beach where I was staying. Tonsai is like the hippie version of Railay Beach. It’s less developed, cheaper, and there’s no electricity during the day.

Long Tail Boat Ride to Tonsai

My Climbing Gear

Climbing Railay Beach

The climbing in Tonsai is pretty advanced, so I hiked 10 minutes through the jungle every morning to Railay for climbing lessons with Hot Rocks Climbing School. While I’ve got some climbing experience, I’m definitely not a pro.

I can tie in, belay other climbers, and repel solo, but I don’t know how to lead climb yet. This means someone else has to go first and set up the “top rope”.

John would be my instructor for the next few days, leading the climbs and holding the rope that kept me from plummeting to the ground if I slipped. I could tell right away we’d get along.

John My Instructor from Hot Rocks

Climbing with PrAna Gear

Climbing With PrAna

Climbing in Railay also gave me the chance to test out some new travel clothing from PrAna’s Spring Collection. They hooked me up with a bunch of cool stuff. Their gear is fair trade certified, ensuring that the people who made it were justly compensated for their hard work.

The instructors at Hot Rocks actually complimented me on my clothing, as they’re all fans of PrAna. It’s a well known brand in the climbing community. Although they said it’s difficult to get in Thailand.

I’m really loving PrAna’s Bronson Pant — made from comfortable but tough stretch canvas that’s perfect for adventure travel. They look great too!

Monkeys Show Me How It’s Done…

GoPole Bobber Selfie from 60 Feet

Scaling Rocky Cliffs

Railay Beach has hundreds of climbing routes, so there’s something for every skill level. John started me on some easy stuff, and by the end of the week I was scaling pitches rated 6A+. The grade describes the difficulty and danger of the climb.

When I’d get stuck somewhere, he’d yell up for encouragement:
“Matt, do it for your country!”

There were other incentives too. Like if I reached the top of a climb, I’d be rewarded with a beer later. If I didn’t, I’d get a ladyboy…

Luckily I reached the top every time.

Rock Climbing in Thailand

Rock Climbing In Thailand

I attached my GoPro to a GoPole Bobber and took it up with me, capturing some fun climbing photos. One morning a family of monkeys decided to climb around with us! They were much faster than me, even with babies clinging on for the ride.

If you’ve never tried it, rock climbing is a wonderful workout. It activates tons of small muscles that normally don’t get much use, especially in your hands & forearms. But the great thing about Railay is that if you get tired, just take a break to go swimming, kayaking, sunbathing, or island hoping.

Deep Water Solo climbing is also popular here. This is when you climb without ropes over water.

Whether you’re into rock climbing or not, a journey to beautiful Railay Beach is worth the trip. However while you’re there you should definitely take a climbing lesson. It’s one of the best places in the world to try.

Climbing is a safe, challenging, and super fun adventure activity! ★

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources For Railay” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Location: Railay Beach, Thailand
Company: Hot Rock Climbing School
Cost: ฿1000 THB ($30 USD) Half Day

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand

Hordes of screaming men possessed by their magic Sak Yant tattoos run wildly towards a shrine, crashing into the human shield of soldiers protecting it. Welcome to Thailand’s bizarre Wai Kru Festival.

Sak Yants are traditional Thai tattoos etched into the skin by Buddhist monks for protection & luck, blessed with magic powers. Often applied by hand using a long metal or bamboo rod with a needle attached to the end, dipped in special ink made from ingredients like charcoal & snake venom.

However the supernatural power of these tattoos wears off over time, requiring them to be re-blessed and recharged. This is the purpose of the Wai Kru festival, paying respect to the teacher, and infusing new magic into thousands of Sak Yants at once.

The result can only be described as absolute mayhem.

Traditional Sak Yant

The evening before Wai Kru, a group of Ajarns (tattoo masters) and Buddhist monks gather at the temple to apply 1000 fresh tattoos on those who want them, working long into the night. I received my own Sak Yant a few years ago right here at Wat Bang Phra, so returning for this tattoo festival was special for me. After 2 years it was time to recharge the magic of mine.

The Sak Yant was originally used by warriors seeking protection and strength in battle. Often covering their entire bodies from head to toe in magic symbols to prevent knives and arrows from piecing their skin. These days Thai people from all walks of life get them — doctors, lawyers, taxi drivers, prostitutes, actors, and mafia criminals.

Possessed By Tattoos

Thousands of devoted have gathered to renew the powers of their tattoos at the Wai Kru, and for some, the power overcomes them. Sitting cross-legged under the hot sun they enter a trance called Khong Khuen and become their tattoos — the Tiger, Crocodile, Old Man, or Hanuman the Hindu monkey god.

The Old Man slowly ambles up through the crowd hunched over with an invisible cane while laughing maniacally. Hanuman the monkey god leaps up screaming, sprinting full-speed towards a statue of their former master Luan Por Phern, tripping over others on the way. A wall of soldiers & paramedics stops them from reaching the shrine, pulling them out of the trance by rubbing their ears.

Wai Kru Festival

At first the trance only afflicts a handful of people, but as the morning progresses, the energy builds. Eventually hundreds of people are running for the shrine in total chaos, arms flailing wildly, crashing into onlookers with clouds of dust in the 90 degree heat. Monks then lead the crowd in prayer, recharging the magic powers of everyone’s Sak Yant tattoos.

I spot Master Luang Pi Nunn among them, the monk who tattooed a Gao Yord design on my back. Even during prayer, a few more possessed jump up and sprint for the shrine. However once the incantations have been recited, the ceremony ends and a crowd of 10,000 pushes up to the front while monks spray everyone with holy water. This was probably the scariest part of the whole morning, as you have no control of your own movement. It’s a suffocating sea of bodies, and you’re forced to flow with the tide.

Sak Yant Tattoo Magic

While I didn’t end up in a trance by participating in the ceremony, the adrenaline kick I received from standing in the middle of this mayhem was powerful. Attempting to dodge Monkeys, Tigers, and Crocodiles flying by in all directions certainly keeps you on your toes.

This sacred Wai Kru tattoo ceremony at Wat Bang Phra has recharged the magic of my own traditional ink, and I look forward to the renewed luck & protection that comes with it. ★

Watch Video: Sak Yant Tattoo Festival

(Click to watch Sak Yant Tattoo Festival on YouTube)

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources For Thailand” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Location: Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I book cheap hotels online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Saving Elephants in Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Everyone wants to ride elephants in Thailand. Including me. That was until I spent the day at an elephant sanctuary and learned the disturbing truth about this popular activity.

Just imagine how incredible it would be to sit atop a massive 9 foot tall, 4-ton beast while lumbering your way through deep rivers and pristine jungle.

This is an experience many people dream about when planning to travel Southeast Asia on budget backpacking trip.

I couldn’t wait to get my photo riding on top of a massive elephant!

However, there’s a dark side to elephant tourism that many aren’t aware of…

Elephants taking a Dirt Shower

Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park (ENP) is a natural sanctuary tucked away in the beautiful jungles of Northern Thailand. Their mission is to protect & care for mistreated elephants rescued from the tourism and logging industries.

Increasing awareness and promoting sustainable elephant-friendly tourism is another goal. The park currently cares for 36 elephants on 250 acres of wilderness.

When I first arrived at ENP, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. How close could we get to the elephants? Could we touch them? Were they dangerous?

The only other time I’d seen an elephant outside a zoo was on Safari in South Africa, when one of them charged us! It was an intimidating experience.

Asian Elephants are Endangered

Elephant Nature Park’s Owner, Lek

Hanging Out With Giants

You get to participate in many fun elephant activities at ENP. I was able to feed them fresh fruit out of the palm of my hand, watch them play in the mud, go on walks with them, and even get into the river to help give them a bath!

Watching these gentle giants interact with each other is an inspirational travel experience.

They chat with friends and family members by chirping and trumpeting back and forth. You have a greater appreciation for how intelligent and social they really are.

You won’t find any elephant rides at Elephant Nature Park though. No circus tricks or elephant paintings either.

This is because the elephants here have been rescued from such places.

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Time for Lunch!

Swimming in the River

Plight Of The Asian Elephant

Asian elephants are an endangered species. Experts believe there are now less than 2000 wild elephants living in Thailand. The population is declining at a rapid rate due to loss of habitat.

Illegal capture and trade for use in the tourism industry is also a big problem.

This industry thrives because foreign visitors all want to ride elephants or watch them do tricks, paying good money for the privilege.

But the fact is those wild elephants need to be tamed before they can be ridden.

Except the taming process in Southeast Asia is not the same as with a wild horse.

It’s much more brutal and is accomplished when the elephants are very young.

I’d Follow a Basket of Bananas Too

Wash Elephants, Don’t Ride Them!

Baby Elephant Torture

Wild elephants generally won’t let humans ride on top of them. So in order to tame a wild elephant, it is tortured as a baby to completely break its spirit.

The process is called Phajaan, or “the crush”.

It involves ripping baby elephants away from their mothers and confining them in a very small space, like a cage or hole in the ground where they’re unable to move.

The baby elephants are then beaten into submission with clubs, pierced with sharp bull-hooks, while starved and deprived of sleep for many days.

You can watch a disturbing video of the process if you’re curious. Photographer Brent Lewin won an award for capturing this haunting image of the torture.

Baby Elephant Swimming

Elephant Trekking In Thailand

Elephant mistreatment doesn’t stop after they’ve been tamed. Many elephant camps continue to employ bull-hooks to control the animals.

While they may not be stabbing them constantly as they did during the training, it’s that deep learned fear of being stabbed that’s used to motivate them to work.

Always remember, elephants never forget.

If an elephant camp in Southeast Asia is claiming to be “responsible” with its animals, you should still be skeptical.

The process used to train them is often the same, even if they’re treated with kindness now. And usually, there is no way to be sure what’s going on when tourists go home.

Did you know that riding elephants can actually cause serious long-term harm too? Their spines are not made to support the weight of humans. I know it’s hard to believe given their size, but Zebras are the same way.

Baby Elephant Playing in River

Save The Elephant Foundation

Founder Lek Chailert has been fighting to save the elephants and change her country’s acceptance of their treatment since she was a young girl.

Lek created Elephant Nature Park to rescue mistreated elephants from the tourist trade and give them a better life.

The park provides day trips and week-long volunteer opportunities allowing tourists to interact with and learn about elephants responsibly.

As a registered Thai nonprofit foundation, fees collected go towards feeding and caring for the massive creatures, purchasing additional elephants from their abusive owners, and expanding the size of the sanctuary itself.

A trip to Elephant Nature Park includes a graphic video presentation that helps shed some light on the secretive elephant tourism industry. It’s not easy to watch.

Elephants Enjoy Sunsets Too!

The Choice Is Up To You

Brutal elephant training has been a traditional practice in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. The problem these days is that most captive elephants in Thailand are used to entertain tourists rather than for traditional purposes like logging or military use.

It’s our demand for elephant rides and circus acts that lead to more baby elephants getting captured from their mothers, tortured, and sold off to entertain us.

Whether you ride elephants in Thailand or not is your choice. I try my best not to judge others because I’m acutely aware that we all have different moral codes & standards.

Most people who participate in elephant tourism in Thailand are completely unaware of how they are treated.

I know many friends who have ridden elephants. It’s easy to understand why people do it. I almost rode an elephant myself.

I simply wanted to share what I’ve learned after my own elephant experience in Thailand, to help you make a more informed decision moving forward. ★

Watch Video: Elephant Whisperer

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources For Thailand” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Company: Elephant Nature Park

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Thailand
Suggested Reading: When Elephants Weep
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Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand

Over 40 people watched in silence as a famous Thai monk repeatedly penetrated my flesh like a sewing machine. His Sak Yant needle sent waves of searing pain into my back.

Traditional Sak Yant (also called Sak Yan, or Yantra) tattoos are hand-etched onto the skin using ancient geometric designs mixed with Buddhist prayers.

They are believed to give the wearer magic powers associated with healing, luck, strength, and protection against evil.

Sak Yant tattoos have been around for over 2000 years.

Buddhist monks originally engraved Sak Yant into warriors seeking protection and strength in battle.

Often covering their entire bodies from head to toe in magic symbols to prevent knives and arrows from piercing their skin.

Traveling around Southeast Asia while living out of my backpack, I learned about these tattoos from some fellow travelers and thought it sounded like a cool experience.

Sak Yants: My Very First Tattoo

I’ve never had a tattoo before. Long ago I decided that if I ever received one, I wanted it to be special. Not some drunken challenge in the middle of the night.

So when I learned about the magic-infused sak yant tattoos given out by Buddhist monks in Thailand, I was intrigued.

The more I learned about them, the more I wanted one.

No machines are used to create a Sak Yant design. These traditional Thai tattoos are engraved into the skin with a long metal spike or bamboo sharpened to a point.

The needle is dipped into ink and repeatedly jabbed through your flesh by hand.

Monks will often choose a sacred design, as well as the location of your tattoo based on your aura. This sounded perfect!

I’ve had trouble picking a tattoo, so why not let a monk choose for me?

Want To Get Paid To Travel The World? Click here to learn how I make money while traveling.

Wat Bang Phra Temple

The best place in Thailand to receive a Sak Yant tattoo is a Buddhist temple called Wat Bang Phra.

It’s located about 40 minutes West of Bangkok.

For hundreds of years, the temple has been a pilgrimage site for Thai people wanting to receive the protection of a magic tattoo, inspiring them to travel long distances.

It’s also home to the most famous Sak Yant practicing monk in Thailand, Master Luang Pi Nunn.

The grounds of Wat Bang Phra are composed of a series of beautifully ornate temples surrounded by colorful statues. I made my way towards the tattoo building located in the back.

Cigarettes As Tattoo Payment?

Outside the entrance, I purchased a temple offering consisting of orchid flowers, incense sticks, and menthol cigarettes for 75 baht ($2.40 US) before removing my shoes and heading inside.

Everyone is expected to present these simple gifts to the monk as payment for a Sak Yant tattoo.

The items are then recycled so the process can be repeated, with money from the sales helping with the upkeep of the temple.

You should then make an additional donation for your Sak Yant to the monk.

An old Thai man led me into a dark room filled with dusty golden Buddha statues. Photos of Thailand’s King Rama IX and elder monks adorned the walls.

Ceiling fans slowly whirred overhead, but the room was still hot — as there were 30 to 40 people packed inside.

Waiting For My Sak Yant

It seems I’m not the only one wanting a tattoo today. Master Luang Pi Nunn is in demand here and etches up to 50 Sak Yant tattoos a day. If you don’t visit the temple early enough, you may not get one.

Due to some miscommunication with a motto-taxi driver that morning, I arrived about an hour later than expected. I’d just have to wait my turn and hope for the best!

So I found a spot on the floor and attempted to make myself comfortable over the next 4 hours. The long wait allowed me to witness many others receive their own tattoos.

Eventually, Luang Pi Nunn took a break while the rest of us continued to sit in silence, listening to bird song and cats meowing outside. By now I was up front though, with a great view of his tattoo workspace — and I have to admit it was a bit shocking!

Sak Yant Tattoo Safety

The safety of Sak Yant is debatable. It can be a risky practice. The needle itself is usually wiped with an alcohol pad after each tattoo.

Or it might be placed in a bottle of alcohol while a separate needle is used for the next person. But the same pot of ink is used with everyone, and blood can mix with the ink.

This opens up the possibility of contracting HIV or Hepatitis. There are no hard statistics though.

After getting a close look at his tools, I got a bit nervous and briefly thought about backing out. This is not the kind of thing you should do if you want to practice safe travel…

The workspace consisted of a few cushions surrounded by bloody rolled-up pieces of toilet paper, a nasty bucket of inky water, old plastic bottles full of rubbing alcohol, and grime caked onto the walls.

I’d also just watched at least 12 people get jabbed with the same couple of needles. And who knows how many went before I arrived.

But then I realized that if it was truly dangerous, there wouldn’t be so many people waiting in line to get one. Right?

Or is the whole room just full of crazy people with a death wish?

Snake Venom Ink!

I didn’t have long to ponder though, as the monk soon returned and it was my turn to help hold the next person’s skin while he worked. This gave me an excellent view of the whole process. It was mesmerizing to watch.

Suddenly it was my turn. Pulling off my shirt, I respectfully bowed three times before turning my back on the man who was about to repeatedly poke a sharp needle into my skin.

Occasionally a monk will deem a person unfit to receive a Yant if they don’t take it seriously, refusing to work on them.

Two local guys held my skin tight as I braced for first-blood. Not knowing what image I was about to get.

Each monk concocts his own special blend of magic tattoo ink too. The recipe is secret, but is thought to contain Chinese charcoal, snake venom, palm oil, and even human remains!

Taking The Pain

When the needle first punctured my skin, it felt like a bee sting. Followed quickly by a swarm of bees launching a full-scale attack.

My muscles tensed up and I began to sweat. Squeezing a pillow in my lap while attempting to look tough for the 40 Thais attentively watching the foreigner for any signs of weakness.

But surprisingly it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Initially, I was afraid my eyes would water, or worse, I’d pass out in front of a room full of people…

Yet after only 10 minutes and a thousand needle strikes later my new Sak Yant was nearly finished!

To complete the sacred tattoo, Luang Pi Nunn chants a Kataa (or magic spell) and blows it into the design unleashing its power.

Yant Gao Yord

So which tattoo did the monk give me? It’s called the Gao Yord, or 9 Spire. A powerful and sacred tattoo that protects the wearer from violent physical attacks and magic assaults. It’s also supposed to bring good luck.

The 9 spires represent the 9 peaks of Mount Meru — a legendary mountain from Buddhist and Hindu mythology that is thought to be the center of the universe.

Atop each peak sits a small Buddha, with the spirals above them representing the path to enlightenment.

Inside the boxes are symbols written in Khom, an ancient Cambodian alphabet, but the language itself is Pali Sanskrit. The same mantra is actually written on each side. A mirrored image of itself. It reads: Gu Ti Gu Ya Tha Saa Wae Taa Saa Gu – Gu Gu Ti Saa Tha Ya Gu Saa Taa Wae

Apparently there are also 11 special rules that go with my Sak Yant:

• I can’t eat star fruit, pumpkin, or any other ‘gourd’ vegetable. (no more pumpkin pie?!)
• I can’t have a lover who’s already married. (sounds reasonable)
• It’s absolutely forbidden for me to slander anybody’s mother. (no problem)
• I can’t eat food from a wedding, or funeral banquet. (well that sucks)
• I can’t eat left-overs. (I’d love to know why…)
• I shouldn’t duck under a washing line, or an overhanging building. (um, ok)
• I definitely shouldn’t duck under a Thaanii banana tree. (harvesting bananas isn’t a hobby)
• I can’t cross a single head bridge; but large or small bridges are not forbidden. (no idea what this means)
• I shouldn’t sit on a ceramic urn. Especially a cracked, or broken one. (do toilets count?)
• I can’t let a woman lie on top of me, or sit on top either. (shit!)
• I can’t brush by the blouse or skirt of a woman, especially during the menstruation period. (how am I supposed to know?)

Would I Do It Again?

Yes. Absolutely. I may get another one too. In fact, I’ve learned that the magic needs to be replenished each year with a fresh blessing by the monk. So I’ll have to go back eventually one day anyway.

Thai people from all levels of society take the practice very seriously, and many completely cover their bodies with sacred Sak Yant tattoos.

You’ll frequently find Sak Yant designs on Thai soldiers, doctors, monks, actors, and politicians as well as criminals and mafia assassins.

Women can get them too. Angelina Jolie is probably the most famous.

But because it’s forbidden for monks to touch female flesh, they’ll use a cloth or gloves to prevent contact with women.

Some people choose to receive an invisible tattoo, by using palm oil on the needle rather than dark ink.

I’m very happy with my Sak Yant, it was a wild experience I’ll never forget. Especially with this permanent souvenir on my back!

Sak Yant Tattoo Details

The monestary is located at Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand.

My sak yant tattoo only cost ฿75 THB (about $2.50 USD) plus my additional personal donation, however after a few years it turned into a backpacker Disney Land and they are now charging MUCH more up front.

I’ve heard from others that it has completely lost its authenticity, and often actual monks are no longer doing the tattoos.

NOTE: This monastery holds an annual Sak Yant Wai Kru tattoo festival, which is quite an experience! ★

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Sailing the Islands of Thailand

Railay Beach, Thailand

My forearms were burning. Sweat streamed into my eyes. There were no safety ropes. Suddenly I lost my grip on the rock and plummeted 35 feet off a cliff.

It’s called Deep Water Soloing. Psycho Bouldering. Psicobloc. Basically you scale rocky cliffs over the ocean without using ropes. The deep water below acts as protection when you fall.

There are certain areas of the world where the sport is quite popular, like the islands around Railay Beach in Southern Thailand.

The landscape around Railay is covered with striking Karst limestone cliffs jutting out of the earth. Climbers from all over the world flock here to test & improve their skills. It’s a rock climbing paradise.

My Attempt at Deepwater Solo Climbing

Rock Climbing Railay

I spent the previous day top-rope climbing with a company called Hot Rock Climbing School, and when I learned they’d be heading out onto the ocean for some deep water soloing, I jumped at the chance.

The next morning a group of us loaded into a wooden, V8 engine-powered longtail boat and motored towards a small sailboat that was waiting in the bay. I’d be spending the day climbing with a couple from California and 2 guys from Finland.

We all had some basic rock climbing experience, but were definitely not pros — and none of us had ever attempted deep water soloing before!

Ultimate Freedom

The draw to this type of climbing is the ability to scale cliffs without messing with ropes, harnesses, anchor points, or any other climbing tools. It’s just you versus the rock.

How high you go depends completely on your skill and personal limits. Are you prepared to fall off the rock at 60 feet or higher?

With an old pair climbing shoes on, I dove off our sailboat and swam up to a sheer 200 foot limestone cliff protruding out of the sea. Many of the walls here have a bit of an overhang next to the water, so ropes or rope ladders hang down to help with getting into position on dry vertical rock.

On the Edge

Climb Until You Fall Off

Luckily previous climbers had stashed towels in little holes at the beginning of the routes, so you could dry your hands off and even rub them in a bit of chalk. We took turns maneuvering up the walls searching for footholds and trying to conserve energy.

Eventually you’d hit a spot where you couldn’t continue, either because you were too tired or because it was beyond your ability. For our group, this was usually around 30-40 feet up. Then it was time to push off the rocks and crash down into the waves of the ocean!

We spent 3-4 hours repeating this cycle at 2 different islands that day.

Who Needs a Motor When You Have Sandals?

Flip-Flop Paddle Power

The weather started out nice, but storms rolled in darkening the sky and unleashing a downpour with lightning. That didn’t stop us from having a great time deep water soloing Thailand’s island cliffs. It’s a lot more difficult than it initially looks. I love a good challenge.

On our way back to the mainland all eight of us boarded a tiny rubber raft to motor towards the beach from the sailboat.

But soon the weak 5hp outboard motor ran out of gas. We were still 300 yards from the beach! Luckily our captain was prepared with half a broken oar, and the rest of us helped paddle in using our sandals.

It was a hilarious way to end a fun day of adventure. ★

Watch Video: Deep Water Soloing In Thailand

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources for Railay” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Company: Hot Rock Climbing School
Cost: $30 USD

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Thailand
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Would you ever try deep water soloing? Any questions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Colorful Nudibranch Slug

Similan Islands, Thailand

With a simple wave of my hand, glowing trails of green pixie dust materialized in the dark water. Had I become a wizard? Did someone slip me some something?

Nope. I was just on a 3 day live-aboard scuba diving trip around the Similan Islands with Wicked Diving. Hovering weightlessly in a pitch-black abyss conjuring up spells like Harry Potter!

This was my fourth scuba dive of the day. A night dive. The phenomenon I was witnessing is called bioluminescence. Microscopic plankton that can produce light in the same way a firefly does.

Waving my handset them off — creating magic dust in the darkness.

Beautiful Similan Islands

Similan Island National Park

Located about 30 miles off Thailand’s West coast in in the Andaman Sea, the Similan Islands have been a protected national park since 1982.

The park originally included 9 islands, but 2 more have been added for a total of 11. They are covered with granite boulders, ironwood & gum trees, and some include small picturesque white-sand beaches.

But the real reason most people visit is not to lay on the beach, but to snorkel and scuba dive the 5000-year-old reefs and boulder fields around the islands.

The sea here is known for it’s amazing visibility, and the underwater wildlife is abundant.

Live-Aboard Similan Island Diving

Live-Aboard Scuba Diving

To visit the islands, you can either jump on a speedboat and spend a day at the beach, or book a multi-day scuba diving adventure living on a boat. Common scuba trips last 3 or 6 days.

I was on a mission to swim with Whale Sharks after readers voted for it. So I booked a 3-day dive trip. It would be my very first live-aboard scuba diving experience.

Our boat, the 23 meter (75 foot) M/V Mariner, is normally capable of holding 20 guests in 10 small rooms with 2 bunks each. Seems I lucked out though, as there were only 5 of us! I had a whole cabin to myself.

With three bathrooms, hot-water showers, air conditioning, and a sun deck full of hammocks, this boat was pretty damn nice.

My Floating Home for 3 Days

New Friends

Accompanying me on this journey were 4 other travelers. A Canadian in the US Army on leave from Afghanistan, a former Navy officer exploring the world after completing his service, a middle-aged Brit who sold his home to travel the world, and a Scottish woman who’d saved up & quit her job to do same.

Vagabonds the whole lot of us.

A local Thai crew led by Captain Wit kept the ship on course, running smoothly, and above water.

Mountains of delicious Thai food was prepared by two ladies, P’da and Tik. We were supplied with 4+ meals per day.

The rest of the crew was made up of Dive Masters and Dive Masters In-Training from all over the world. Norway. Spain. Canada. United States. Plus two young Burmese refugees training to become Advanced Divers! An eclectic bunch for sure.

P’da Prepares Yet Another Tasty Meal

Daily Dive Routine

To start the adventure, firecrackers were set off at the front of the boat to ensure safe passage. We slept as the ship motored over to the islands in the middle of the night.

Our morning began with a light breakfast of toast, fresh fruit, and coffee. Then the diving began. The rest of the trip pretty much looked like this:

• Dive. Eat.
• Dive. Eat.
• Dive. Eat.
• Lay in the sun.
• Have a beer.
• Sleep.
• Repeat.

Not a bad way to spend 3 days!

I ♥ Scuba Diving

Aggressive Trigger Fish

Amazing Red Sea Fan

Creepy Moray Eel

Incredible Underwater Life

Before this, I’d only dived about 10 times. With a total of 9 dives in 3 days on this trip, I was almost doubling my scuba experience.

I encountered all kinds of new alien creatures and landscapes that I’d never seen before too.

Shape-shifters that could morph into their surroundings in the blink of an eye. Candy-cane striped lions full of poison. Rocks with eyes. Fat ugly worms the size of your arm.

Vibrant multicolored vegetation gently moving with ocean currents. A city full of underwater boulders as big as buildings.

Colorful Coral Crabs

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Soft Coral Cave

Protecting the Reef Environment

Coral reefs are having a hard time all over the world. Many believe global warming, overfishing, and chemical runoff is to blame. In 2010 the ocean suddenly warmed up around the Similan Islands, killing off the fragile bacteria that gives coral it’s color.

This phenomenon is called coral bleaching. If warm water conditions last for too long, the coral eventually dies.

Coral health around Similan has improved but the reef is still recovering. In fact 2 of the islands were closed off to divers in order to let the area flourish again. One of our dive sites had just re-opened after 2 years of being off-limits, so that was a treat to see.

Poisonous Spotted Lionfish

Funny Parrot Fish

Nudibranch Sea Slug with Eggs

Minimizing Impact

Wicked Diving does its part to help minimize the effects its divers have on the reef. All soaps and shampoos on board are organic. Towels and linens are never bleached. Human waste is disposed far away from any reef in the middle of the ocean.

Every year dive instructors team up with the National Park Service to help clean up the islands above and below the water.

The boat’s kitchen doesn’t serve fish either. While I was initially kind of disappointed, it actually makes perfect sense. We are all there to enjoy the company of our underwater friends, not eat them!

Ethical diving practices are important if we want future generations to enjoy the magic of the underwater world.

Building-Sized Boulders

Camouflaged Scorpion Fish

School of Yellowfin Snapper (Credit: Jade Fougler)

Vibrant Sea Star

No Whale Sharks, But…

My mission was to swim with whale sharks. But they didn’t feel like showing themselves. Neither did the giant manta rays that often call this area home.

That didn’t stop me from having some of the best diving experiences I’ve had yet!

Highlights included the magical bioluminescent plankton, stumbling onto a pair of octopi trying to mate, 4 different sea turtles on one dive, big colorful sea fans, tiny art-project-worthy nudibranch slugs, and giant underwater canyons made from boulders the size of homes.

Plus warm, clear water that enabled me witness & photograph it all.

Sneaky Red Octopus

Blue Spotted Pufferfish

Underwater Sign Language

Scuba Diving Addiction

Every time I go diving I’m amazed at how incredible the underwater world is. And how big. There is always something new to learn about and see down there.

Floating weightlessly through an alien landscape full of, well, aliens, is something I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of. It’s probably as close as I’ll get to experience the wonder and discovery of space travel.

On my current quest for the best adventure travel activities in Thailand, diving the Similan Islands is definitely a top contender.

Watch Video: Diving Thailand’s Similan Islands

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources for Khao Lak, Thailand” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Company: Wicked Diving
Cost: $595 USD (3 Day Trip)

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Thailand
Suggested Reading: The Other Side Of Paradise
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Are you a scuba diver? Ever dived in Thailand? Any questions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

First-Class Bus Passengers Above

Krabi, Thailand

Have you ever traveled luggage-class before? It’s like a billion times more awesome than first-class! These are just some of the reasons why.

First-class. The envy of all travelers everywhere. It’s truly how the ultra-rich get from point A to point B with complimentary alcohol, ample legroom, top-notch service, and plenty of privacy.

But hold on now, there’s a brand new class in town.

I’m sure you all know someone who’s traveled first-class before. Maybe you’ve even been lucky enough to experience it for yourself…

Yet how many people do you know who travel in luggage-class?

Yup. This is waaaaay more exclusive.

Luggage Compartment Travel

If you don’t already know, long distance bus travel in Thailand can be very comfortable in first-class. The seats are big, have plenty of leg room, and often recline pretty far back.

A few snacks and drinks are handed out over the course of the journey. VIP class buses also include personal LCD screens with movies & games.

Over the past few months, I’ve traveled on quite a few of these buses. Sure they’ve been nice. But nothing mind-blowing.

Today I traveled in luggage-class for the first time. Underneath the bus, inside the luggage compartment full of bags.

I sincerely believe it’s the next best thing in luxury travel!

Luggage-Class Passengers Below

Private VIP Entrance

The very first thing I noticed after receiving my premiere luggage-class ticket was that we had a separate entrance from everyone else on the bus.

While first-class passengers were forced to endure a grueling climb up a flight of stairs, us luggage-class folk only needed to duck into our private 4-foot tall padded & windowless door.

I felt special already!

Limited Distractions

Once settled onto a bench between 10 other people in the luggage compartment, the doors closed and we began moving. Only now did I truly begin to appreciate how extraordinary this journey would be.

Up in first-class, there are all kinds of annoying distractions that get in the way of a comfortable bus ride. Things like movies, music, large windows, and light. Not so in luggage-class!

A single dim light bulb cast enough of a glow to allow me to stare at my own reflection on the stainless-steel wall 12 inches from my face.

Soothing sounds of speeding bus tires over highway asphalt combined with the roar of a diesel engine.

No more watching in horror as bus drivers attempt to pass slow-moving cars, playing chicken with oncoming traffic.

Luggage-class allows your imagine to run wild about the risks he’s taking from under the bus in darkness.

Enjoying My Complimentary Sauna

Luxury Spa Treatments

What you may not know about luggage-class is that with the price of a ticket you also receive complimentary spa treatments. Everyone is sitting in a windowless reflective metal box.

It’s a bit like a sauna in there — allowing your pores to sweat freely and purge your body of those notoriously unhealthy evil toxins.

Free massages were included too! A 5-year-old girl repeatedly poked me in the back for a majority of the trip, while a sleeping elderly man rubbed his bare feet on my hip.

Unrivaled Entertainment

Who needs to be entertained with pirated Hollywood movies dubbed in Thai without English subtitles? With luggage-class, you’ll enjoy multiple forms of high-quality entertainment.

Like screaming babies. Or puking babies. Maybe a crazy man who talks to himself.

Of course, if you’re lucky, like me, you’ll be able to experience all three during your 2-hour long trip. Boredom is never a problem when traveling in luggage-class!

Who Needs Movies? Babies are Entertaining.

Ultimate Exclusivity

Are you the type of person who only wants the best? Constantly trying to one-up your neighbor? Maybe first-class just isn’t as exclusive as it used to be.

• Everyone has first-class. Only developing countries and Michigan have luggage-class.
• Impress friends at parties with your tales of elegant overland excursions from underneath a bus.
• Why gaze at the countryside when you can gaze at yourself in the dark? It’s totally ironic. You’ll be the hippest hipster around.

So get with the times and join the hottest, most exclusive luxury travel club on the planet. Arrive at your next destination in style with luggage-class! ★

Would you pay to travel in luggage-class? Let me know in the comments below!

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, Thailand

To celebrate the traditional New Year, Thailand’s crazy Songkran water festival is held every April all over the country. But the best place to be is Chiang Mai.

Picture tens of thousands of men, women, and children roaming the streets armed with squirt guns, water cannons, and buckets of icy cold water searching for their next victim.

They travel on foot, piled onto scooters or in the back of pickup trucks.

No one is safe from their wrath. If you’re dry, you won’t be for long!

Songkran is Thailand’s craziest holiday, and the whole country comes to a stand-still for a couple of days while everyone cools off during the hottest month of the year.

Songkran Street Party

Mobile Swimming Pool?

Traditional New Year

The official Thai Buddhist calendar begins with the death of the Buddha 543 years before the start of the Christian calendar.

It’s also celebrated in April according to sun & star alignment rather than the beginning of the lunar year.

Originally, scented water was poured over statues of Buddha for good luck. This water was then saved and gently sprinkled onto loved ones as a blessing.

Eventually, that time-honored and holy tradition has morphed into filling giant super-soakers full of dirty moat water and blasting it into the faces of complete strangers!

Anticipation is the Best Part…

Songkran in Chiang Mai

While big celebrations are held all over the country, the northern city of Chiang Mai is the best place to be. The old city is surrounded by a large square-shaped moat. Four miles of it to be exact.

This moat is used as a refill station. Most people congregate around it for Songkran. Families lower buckets on strings into the moat, filling them up to be unleashed on the crowds passing by.

Pickup trucks and tuk-tuks inch their way around the loop loaded with 55-gallon barrels full of water.

Massive blocks of ice rest inside these containers for an extra kick.

The festival lasts longer in Chiang Mai too, with at least 4 full days of madness compared with only 2 in other cities.

Songkran is Fun for All Ages!

Possibly the Best Festival Ever

I’d heard stories about Songkran from many other travelers who claimed it was the best festival they’d ever been to. After experiencing it for myself this year, I have to agree. Why is it so special?

• All ages participate, from 3 year olds to senior citizens.
• Tens of thousands of people take to the streets.
• You get to act like a kid again without judgment.
• Everyone is smiling and having a blast.
• No tickets to pay for (well, aside from the cost of a water gun).
• It’s both brutal and incredibly polite at the same time.

I can’t tell you how many times someone poured a bucket of freezing cold ice-water down my back, then apologized for it!

Everyone is your friend during Songkran. I frequently just hopped up on the back of a truck and joined a group of strangers who happily welcomed me onto their mobile splash assault vehicle.

Endless Party in the Streets

Drive By Soakings

All Kinds of Entertainment

In addition to the roaming hoards of water soldiers, you’ll also find stages and tents sponsored by local and international companies. They usually include professional dancers dressed in skimpy outfits, spraying water from hoses onto the crowd.

Large machines sporadically spew mountains of bubbles into the street creating an impromptu foam party.

Religious processions march through town with statues of Buddha on beautifully decorated floats. Spectators try and spray water on the Buddha’s shoulders in the traditional fashion, for good luck.

You may get splattered with a muddy mixture of white chalk too.

Kids randomly pop out of barrels on the back of trucks shooting you in the face, others run around in full costumes or Halloween masks.

Songkran is a complete shock to the senses.

Beware Flying Buckets of Water

Getting Into the Action

To prepare for Songkran I donned my best Rambo gear and picked up a fully automatic water-uzi. It even had a removable clip for a reservoir. While the little blue & orange gun didn’t have the best range — I could hold down the trigger and spray to my heart’s content.

I proceeded to conduct drive-by soakings all over town on my moped.

Now riding a scooter in Thailand is already pretty dangerous, but during Songkran, it’s a bit suicidal. Alcohol flows freely for 4 days, and no one thinks twice about throwing large buckets of water into your face as you drive by.

So I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have plenty of scooter experience, a motorcycle license, and are as stubborn as I am!

But most of the festival was spent teaming up with fellow farangs like Ryan & Liz, Gillian & Jason, Jill & Josh, Diana, and Rikki & John in an attempt to defend ourselves from the Thais.

The Chiang Mai Songkran experience is a wild good time. I would love to go back again in the future if I can. Until I find a contender, it’s the coolest festival I’ve ever attended.

And with all that ice-water flying around, I mean it. ★

Watch Video: Songkran Water Festival

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources for Chiang Mai, Thailand” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Festival Dates: Usually in April

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Thailand
Suggested Reading: Sightseeing
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Have you ever celebrated Songkran in Thailand before? Did you like it?

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.