Thorn Tree travel forum

1

When is his birthday, and (more importatntly, where will you be)?

Thailand Visa Information
Some Hotels - Suvarnabhumi Airport

2

His Birthday is in Spetember, but I was going to organise something for our trip that we wouldn't be able to afford or think of normally. So anywhere in Thailand, Vietnam or Malaysia

3

Sorry, and we will be in Vietnam from January 14 for two weeks, then Thailand for 3 weeks, then Malaysia for One week returning to Australia on the 24 of February

Thank you - I cannot think of anything that I could get him now that is particularly special as a 21st gift, and thought that this may be a better idea!

Any ideas?

4

Alright, don't let him know! Take him to the State Tower in Bangkok for a drink. It is a bit pricey, but it is well worth it for someone who hasn't seen it.

Thailand Visa Information
Some Hotels - Suvarnabhumi Airport

5

Thanks for the idea, it is definately an option!

Any other ideas - especially animals or islands?

6

Does he dive??? Why not buy himself and you a scuba diving certificate???? IT LASTS FOREVER!!!
Then you can explore the underwater world with him, Check out koh tao in the south of thailand, In particular Black tip divers and Simple life divers, black tip is on the east coast far away from pretty much everything but still nice, and simple life divers is right at the northern end of Sai ree beach. The price of the open water courses are about 9000 baht per person and simple life include your accomodation while you dive. Email them and see what the craic is info@simplelifedivers.com

7

I kind of suggested the diving idea to him a few weeks ago which I thought was the best idea ever, but he just wasn't that keen on it

which is crappy because I thought it would have been perfect!

8

THE place for diving is on Lough Foyle about a mile North of the border on the leftbank
Come and have a spot on Green River Radio Chanwat Chiang Rai get gorazdi's autograph a large beer and $249 change
Plan B youmight just get lunch atLa Normandie in the Oriental if you decline the wine menu
Top nosh and view snooty waiters on draft

Fringe Rug dealers Plan Persian Carpet Bombing

9

I totally reccommend the elephant nature park, I stayed for a few days a few weeks ago. My boyfriend and I loved it so much we found it hard to leave..and he wasn't really even looking forward to it inititally, he's now trying to organise to go back and volunteer for a week after christmas.. apart from siem reap it is right up there on the list of the best experiences we've had in SEA so far.. beautifull little valley near chiang mai with mist in the mountains and amazing food and friendly people and elephants (and dogs and water buffalo) wandering around free and swimming in the river during the day.. You can check it out at http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org/go/visit
We checked out a lot of other 'animal attractions' and were pretty disapointed.. it's strange really, so many people boycot zoo's with elephants and tigers etc in their home country only to go to asia and support the exact same, and sometimes really sadly much worse kind of treatment they would have in a circus.. most elephant camps etc were like the elephant/tiger/monkey version of visiting the pound at home. anyway sorry on a tangent a bit but just my 2 cents and something i've been thinking of since I've been in Asia.

Mai pen rai on ko phangan was pretty special for us as well.. Although I can't honestly tell you anywhere in thailand has the most amazing beach's or diving.. I would compare phangan to Byron.. samui to surfers paradise, ko tao to Mackay/rockhampton beaches.. (just all with buckets of saeng som) Still very pretty, just nothing on Lizard or heron, hampton, great barrier reef fringed islands..
Can't speak for vietnam, that's our next stop after we get sick of Cambodia.. but I have a feeling that might take.. a long time.
Have a great trip!

10

I agree with elephant nature park. that's something sort of unique to thailand. you would find best places in northern thailand.

2 weeks in Vietnam is not a lot of time if you're taking trains and want to hit up all of those areas, especially if you're checking out side trips like Halong Bay and Mekong Delta. You should check out Frommer's online suggested itinerary called "2 weeks in Vietnam" to get an idea of how fast you can go and what you can fit in. Flights within Vietnam are only $50-70, so you may want to fly for parts of your trip too. Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines.

With 3 weeks in Thailand, you also need an approximate itinerary. It seems like a lot of time, but it's really not when there are so many things to do. It's a big country. I would suggest doing 1 week each in the northern Thailand, Bangkok and side trips, and the beach.

Also, if you are flying between these countries (which you should considering the short time frames), you should book ahead if you'd like to do it relatively inexpensively. For example, you can fly from Hanoi to Bangkok for under $100 on Air Asia, but only if you book in advance.

11

Thank you for the ideas guys!

Any more tips for our trip would be greatly appreciated!!

12

Hi Nib,

I can recommend John Gray's Starlight Hong Kayaking trip out of Phuket. They take you on a private boat (max 16 people), and you kayak into amazing lagoons all afternoon, then have a sunset dinner, and finally you go into a lagoon at night in the pitch black. Some type of bacteria grows in the lagoon that sparkles if you splash the water. I'd say it was one of the most romantic things I've done, and I did it alone!

I think it was about $100 US for the whole thing. Just something to consider if you are in Phuket.

-Erika