Reading suggestions · Thailand

In this story, written by Richard and illustrated by me, we’ll take you through the journey of four friends: Catherine, Richard, Nathalie, and Bruno. A reinvented but overall successful trip, filled with discoveries and surprises, the scents of spices and frangipane flowers, food that was (way too) spicy, sunsets, and... one major hassle.

Here’s my account of our trip to Thailand with my partner from November 22 to December 5, 2025. First off, I’d like to wish all the VoyageForum.com users a very happy 2026, full of joy and amazing discoveries on your travels! It’s thanks to the tips I gathered on this site that I planned the trip.

Over-the-top skyscrapers? You’ll get the idea when you see the photo illustrating this travel journal—though it might change as the trip goes on.

The sheer number of markets is what makes them larger-than-life, not necessarily their size (though Chatuchak is a beast!). Day markets, night markets, floating markets, fresh produce markets, fish markets, meat markets, spice markets, fabric markets… and even amulet markets. For luck, good fortune, protection.

Hi there, Not only do I love the countryside, but I’m also really into trains, so I’m starting this photo thread dedicated to trains in Thailand (I bet most of us have taken one at some point...).

February 9th is a pivotal day during my trip to Thailand. Up until that date, my focus had been on cities, temples, and other urban landmarks. Starting February 10th, I’ll finally leave the city behind for the outskirts—places with a different pace of life, farther from tourism, more genuine, more authentic... Then comes the idyllic surroundings of Chiang Mai, nature, the countryside, the mountains...

We were torn between the north and the south of the kingdom—the fear of smoke from slash-and-burn farming and a real desire to just chill on the sand tipped the scales toward the south...

What if we rented a car?

All my trips combined, I’ve spent at most the equivalent of a year in Thailand, and I’m not a big expert on it. Still, after many stays, lots of reading on VoyageForum and other sites, conversations with plenty of locals and expats, my view of the country is getting clearer—though it’s always evolving. You never stop discovering and learning.