9 days in Thailand | 泰國九日遊
/
It’s quite a lot of fun traveling to Thailand during off-peak season! There’s no lines for us to wait in. Every place we stayed at we got upgraded (had our own private pool and beach access), every activity we booked turned into a private event, plus the weather was so mild that we forgot we were traveling in Southeast Asia!
We ran into some hiccups prior to leaving for Thailand. First UN didn’t get our approved travel documents until a couple days before our departure date. The day of departure, our flight got cancelled due to a typhoon. But PTL we were safe, and were still able to go on our trip.
We had a check list of things that we wanted to cross off for this trip. We wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary, go diving, and meet up with my relatives. We made the most out of our 9 days there and completed our list. So impressed with UN’s trip planning skills!
原來泰國淡季這麼好玩！人少到盲從夫婦不盲從，每家飯店免費升等（有私人泳池和海灘），景點全包場，天氣舒服到忘記泰國是熱帶氣候國家！雖然是雨季，但這九天完全沒遇到下雨天，陽光充足卻不熱。
出發去泰國之前有點崎嶇！先是UN和我每次出國必帶的一堆（證明我們是日本合法居民）文件，出發前幾天還沒拿到，然後出發當天飛機因颱風而取消。但非常感謝神我們在出發前一天拿到全部文件，飛機在出發當天早上已寄信通知取消航班，讓我們有時間處理機票問題。
這趟旅行，我們目標明確，想去大象公園、到普吉島潛水、曼谷找親戚。雖然因飛機延誤，但九天行程把想做的做完，真的是佩服UN的行程規劃！
Bangkok | 曼谷
So happy to have met up with my uncle and his family, whom I haven’t seen for more than 10 years! Due to weather, our trip was cut short by 2 days, but big shout-out to my uncle for taking us around to eat delicious Thai foods and tour Bangkok and Pattaya!
見到十幾年沒見的舅舅一家人，真的非常開心！謝謝舅舅一家人來機場接我們。因飛機延遲關係，我們在這比預期少待兩天，但真的很感謝舅舅一家人的招待！帶我們去吃超好吃超辣的泰國料理、在曼谷和Pattaya遊玩！超感謝舅舅幫我們訂飯店，讓我們住的超舒服！
Raan Jay Fai
The only time we lined up for anything in Thailand during our 9-day stay was for this. Waited for four hours, we even made friends with fellow customers who were waiting beside us. The food was so delicious that I often dream about it. Even as I write this post right now, I can still remember the taste of Jay Fai’s food in my mouth. So glad we decided to wait for it. Please contact me for the detailed waiting story. If you can, I recommend making reservation at least three months ahead of time (jayfaibangkok@gmail.com)!
九天行程，盲從夫婦唯一排隊的地方！等到天荒地老，等到我們和旁邊客人變成朋友。但實在太好吃了，好吃到我睡覺夢到、肚子餓時想到、甚至買機票週末和朋友飛泰國為了再吃一次！沒錯就是這麼誇張，吃下第一口後覺得好險我們花四小時排隊。老實說我們沒預料需要等這麼久，我們晚上六點到，74號上寫下名字。等不到半小時，號碼已從50跳到68。我倆覺得特別有希望，決定繼續排下去。故事詳情請私訊我，寫下去我頭腦一直想到食物會掉口水！但如果你能提早（約三個月）訂位，請洽 (jayfaibangkok@gmail.com)。Jay Fai我愛你，謝謝你這麼用心做每道菜，謝謝你讓我吃第一口就掉淚，好吃到我現在都記得！
Chiang Mai | 清邁
When the elephants were drawn by the foods we have prepared for them, that moment felt more magical than Disneyland. Searching for a legitimate elephant sanctuary was the most homework I’ve done for any trip. There are so many so called “sanctuaries” in Thailand that are actually tourist traps. Some still justify their treatment of elephants as “humane” to appease their unknowing tourists. Even some big name resorts would partner up with these shady elephant tourism companies to make money off of these poor elephants. As someone who loves elephants so much, I felt obligated to do through research on the elephant sanctuary that I wanted to visit.
因大象公園而來清邁！當大象聞到我們為他們準備的食物往我們這過來時，我開心到覺得這裡比到迪士尼還神奇。找了好多家，發現很多地方假借救大象名義騙遊客。許多大象公園為了應付遊客，園區會用聽起來很正當卻背後欺負大象的方法。理由百百種，讀越多越傻眼！在飯店業工作的朋友也告訴我們，許多值得信任的網站和飯店會用支持大象團體的口號吸引遊客，但遊客可能沒深入研究而踏入陷阱，所以清邁大象公園大概是這一年來旅遊行程中我功課做最足的一次吧！
Elephant Nature Park
At ENP, the elephants roam free, you don’t see the mahoots force elephants to do anything. At the fish pond, we thought the elephants would take a bath, but they went into the mud to play instead. I am usually clean freak, but I had a lot of fun with the elephants that day. I remember learning in school that in a lot of ways elephants are like humans, after interacting with them that day, I definitely felt closer to them more than ever before. Thai government doesn’t have much regulation on what constitute as an elephant sanctuary, so your information must rely on reviews, first hand information from park goers and volunteers. If you have any question about ENP, please feel free to reach out!
在ENP，大象們是自由的！園區員工不會逼大象做任何事情，員工也幾乎不碰大象。我們陪大象到池邊，以為他們要下去洗澡，竟晃點我們！大象站在池旁玩泥巴，為什麼怕髒的我卻好開心！以前在心理學課學過大象像人類，這天和大象近距離相處後，原來大象會排擠他們不喜歡的大象，他們會成群結隊，大象也會因為家人朋友過世而久久無法釋懷。
由於泰國政府沒有嚴格管制，我們只能靠自己網上的資料、和園區人員通信、和朋友在泰國大象園區做義工的經驗來決定。如果有任何關於ENP的問題，為什麼我們選擇ENP，歡迎提問！
Asia Cooking Class
Off-peak season booking means we were the only patrons. Our private class included a trip to the local market. The fruit stands definitely caught most of our attention there. They have mangosteens, mangoes, rambutans, and durians! After the trip to market, we went back to their organic farm to pick our ingredients, totally farm-to-table.
淡季來，變成我們的私人教室。先和老師到市場買部分材料，水果攤最吸引我們。一堆山竹、芒果、紅毛丹、榴蓮，根本是水果天堂！買菜後我們到菜園找野菜，這不就是美國流行的菜園到餐桌(farm to table)，來泰國就能親身體驗！
Lila Thai Massage
In Thailand, getting a massage everyday is a must. Our favorite was this one in Chiang Mai that employs women who are ex-cons, train them with a skill and provide them with a means of earning money so they can integrate back into society. The massage parlor is clean, and the staff are very professional. Will definitely come back for more massages!
我們大概是史上最愛按摩的夫婦吧，幾乎天天按摩！我們最喜歡清邁這家雇用以前有前科的女性，教他們一技之長。店裡非常乾淨，按摩師傅也非常專業。在清邁那幾天都是在這按摩，下次一定再來！
Pattaya | 芭達雅
There aren’t many cities where I didn’t have any urge to take out my camera. Pattaya, the sex capitol of the world, is one of them. Being off-peak season, there aren’t as many tourists visiting, many “working ladies” would line up along the boardwalk of Pattaya beach to attract potential clients. It was such a cultural sock to us that we didn’t know how to document our visit here. Not sure if we will return, but really hope that tourists will stop commodifying women.
喜歡拍照的我，顯少有城市讓我完全拿不出相機，也不知道拍什麼。有著性城市首都之稱，市中心因淡季人潮少顯得冷清，一整排女生站在海邊招攬客人。文化衝擊太大，不知該如何紀錄這城市。由於文化衝擊太大，走在路上一直處在無言狀態。不確定下次會不會再來這裡玩，但希望遊客和商家們別繼續物化女性。
Phuket | 普吉島
First time in Phuket, reminds us a great deal of Mallorca. Perfect for honeymooners! I have just right itinerary for you! Book a scenic and dreamy resort, take the hotel shuttle into downtown and walk around. Take a break and relax at the beach. Maybe explore snorkeling or scuba diving. Treat yourself to a two-hour Thai massage. Eat, play, massage and repeat.
第一次來普吉島，這裡變成我們心中的亞洲版Mallorca。有人要在這度蜜月嗎？這是我為您安排的行程：訂一家你夢寐以求的飯店，選擇一個下午搭飯店接駁車到市區逛逛，其餘時間在海邊休息，覺得無聊時去浮潛或飯店提供的活動，之後全身痠痛可以來個兩小時泰式按摩！完美行程，記得照做😉
Aussie Divers Shop
Did you read my last post about diving certificate? This was our first dive since getting certified. Also our first boat dive. Highly recommend Aussie Divers! We dove for three times at Phi Phi Island and Shark Point. We saw sharks!
有讀那篇關於潛水執照嗎？這是我們拿到執照後正式潛水，也是第一次boat dive。大推我們的潛水公司，也是我們的潛水教練推薦的。總共三次潛水分別在Phi Phi Island和Shark Point，沒錯我們看到鯊魚了！
If your trip was cut short due to weather, and ended up with unexpected expenses, find out from your credit card company to see if they offer trip protection or trip delay insurance. Chase Hyatt offers this, and will reimburse up to $10,000 USD. Please use link below to apply: link
如果因天氣關係或任何因素航班取消，導致多餘消費，能查詢信用卡公司是否能申請賠償。我們的信用卡（Chase Hyatt）有此服務，一次能賠償最高美金一萬元。申請表請按：網站
Accommodations
Bangkok | 曼谷: 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok (https://137pillarsbangkok.com/)
Chiang Mai | 清邁: 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai (https://www.137pillarschiangmai.com/)
Pattaya | 芭達雅: Grand Centre Point Pattaya (https://www.grandecentrepointpattaya.com)
Phuket | 普吉島: The Naka Phuket (http://www.thenakaphuket.com)
