Phuket FantaSea
When I visit Phuket, this is one of my favorite places to learn about Thai culture through many amazing attractions. There are so many cool things to see at Phuket FantaSea (Tel: +66 (0) 7638 5000, www.phuket-fantasea.com), from elephant shows to traditional Thai dances, that I sometimes don’t know where to begin. One of my favorite shows has to be the ‘Tiger Jungle Adventure’ where these powerful animals are the stars of an intriguing theatrical safari. And when I’m hungry for some tasty Royal Thai food, I head over to the Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant, renowned as the world’s grandest 4,000 seat dining venue. Next time you’re in Phuket be sure to stop by this awesome attraction!
Ampawa Floating Market
This remarkable little floating market (www.amphawafloatingmarket.com) is open in the afternoon and located near Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram. I like to visit on the weekends when the canal is filled with vendors that crowd their boats with tasty treats, including fried sea mussel, noodles, coffee, and traditional Thai desserts. The cool part about this market is that it doesn’t get going until the afternoon, so I can sleep in and still enjoy all the festivities. I especially like the music broadcasts by community members, exploring the market on a boat, eating a lot of great food, and seeing fireflies at night
Fire Show in Koh Samet
Koh Samet is one of the most popular destination islands in Thailand and it is also one of my favorites, as this small island has it all from great food to a chill vibe. What I like to do the most when I visit Samet is to go see the famous Fire Show by a very skillful group of acrobats who dance with lit torches and bolos, twirling them around as if they’re not dangerous at all. The best place to catch the show on the island is at Ploy Talay Resort on Sai Kaew Beach (+66 (0) 3864 4212). You can catch a show nightly, and nibble on fresh seafood barbeque while watching the show.
Hua Hin Safari & Adventure Park
When I’m looking for a little excitement, the Hua Hin Safari & Adventure Park (+66 (0) 8 9810 1351, www.huahinsafari.com) is my first stop. This park is so much fun and has many exciting things to do. Some of my favorite adventures are the jungle elephant treks, horseback ridiqng, and paintball. You can also check out an amazing pineapple farm and savor these delicious fruits. I really enjoy it here because I can see the natural side of Hua Hin and the beautiful jungles that surrounds it.
Full Moon Party Koh Samui
Take a quick boat ride from Samui to nearby Koh Phangan and party it up on this island paradise. Ancient folk believed that a full moon could invoke bizarre behavior in humans, and every month this superstition is confirmed on this tropical enclave. Almost 10,000 merrymakers gather on Haad Rin beach for this world-famous beach party with pumping tunes spun by renowned DJ’s. My favorite time to go is in the summer from April to June when there are less people and the beach is less occupied. Mark your calendar for the next full moon and make sure you don’t miss the party till dawn.
Crocodile Farm
A trip to Thailand would not be complete without a visit to a crocodile farm. The enormous one in Pattaya (+66 (0) 3824 9347-9, www.thaistonepark. org) is one of the most exciting places to see these toothy monsters in action. I especially enjoy the show in which talented trainers perform cool death-defying tricks with these prehistoric creatures. Another farm on Koh Samui (+66 (0) 7723 9002) features crocodiles along with deadly King Cobras in the island ambience. Closer to Bangkok, there’s another farm in Suan Sampran (+66 (0) 2295 2938) that also has an elephant show.
Chaing Mai Elephant Camp
There are many awesome elephant camps around Chiang Mai, but one of my favorites is the Mae Taman Elephant Park (+66 (0) 5329 7060). I always try to visit here when I’m in this cool Northern Thai city. At this camp, you can watch these massive animals display their physical strength and mental skills in a lively show, then climb on the back of one and go for a trek in the jungle. Afterwards, you can enjoy a soothing journey down the peaceful Kok River aboard a bamboo raft.
The Four Regions Floating Market Pattaya
For a look at traditional Thai culture be sure to check out the floating market in Pattaya (+66 (0) 1495 9151, www.floating4market.com). This market features four distinctive zones that offer a variety of products from different regions in Thailand.
The great feature of this market is all these little boats selling everything you can imagine. You can climb aboard for a ride around the canals and imagine what life must have been like in Thailand many years ago. I like coming here because there are so many interesting things to take home for my family and friends back in Korea.
