American World Traveler Spring 2019 Issue

15
Thailand Trifecta: Phuket - Chiang Mai - Bangkok
by Olivia Balsinger
Phuket
When one daydreams of escaping to paradise,
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island should
come to mind. With the most splendid beaches
where aquamarine waves break on its
pearly white, powdery shore, each of Phuket’s
tropical havens are equally beautiful but very
much different. Besides the obvious draw of
the beach, the culture of Phuket is also not to
miss. Its capital Phuket Town on the east coast
is home to fascinating mansions and shophouses
that exemplify the curious local Sino-
Portuguese style. There is also easy access to
many of the area’s sacred temples in Chalong
and Thalang, as well as a close proximity to
two national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Stay & Eat
The Slate Phuket, close to Phuket’s airport, is
a modern architectural model in design, with
its most predominant feature being a steady
palette of azure blue. In the calm but centrally
located Kamala beach sits Andaz Resort &
Villas, ultra-luxurious with panoramic view of
the Andaman Sea. If you are looking for
accommodations outside of the city center,
where you can truly escape the bustle of
urban life, The Vijitt Resort is s breath of fresh
air, situated on a tranquil, secluded beach,
where tall palms sway and salt water tickles
nostrils. For a quick diversion from Thai food,
Acqua Restaurant in Patong is a futuristic take
on traditional Italian cuisine.
Chiang Mai
A breath of fresh air from Bangkok is the
northern city of Chiang Mai, where lush trees
canopy the streets and the peaks of the surrounding
mountains appear in seemingly
every peripheral view. Although the capital of
its namesake Province, Chiang Mai is more
like a sleepy town then a bustling city. The former
seat of the Lanna Kingdom is the nucleus
of bucolic serenity; if you travel a straight line
on any of the roads radiating from its epicenter,
you will be sure to find yourself in an
abundant rainforest, or a verdant countryside,
or even stumble upon of the areas many glorious
waterfalls. One of the best places to
really soak in the soul of this beautiful city is
its oldest public market, Waroros.
Stay & Eat:
The Anatara Chiang Mai resort rests on the
banks of the Mar Ping River — a blissful paradise
in city center. The resort’s restaurant,
Service 1921, serving zesty Asian fusion, was
once a British Consulate and now reimagines
the era in décor. The Veranda High Resort, in
contrast, is located outside the city proper, set
in a visionary panoramic of breathtaking
landscapes of rice fields and mountain
streams, which creates a true escape to
breathe.
Bangkok
Bangkok is a vibrant metropolis whose beauty
comes in the quirky harmony between old
and new, traditional and modern. Towering
skyscrapers dominate the skyline, while on
street view, Buddhist monks clad in terra-cotta
colored robes tap on their iPhones while waiting
to cross the street packed with zooming
lines of taxi cabs and motorbikes. The pulse of
the city reveals itself most aptly on the streets,
where markets bustle with locals and tourists
haggling prices for produce, clothing, souvenirs
and the like. Bangkok street food is
arguably the best in the world, flavorful and
colorful dishes with an immense mix of flavors
that hits every single taste bud.
Stay & Eat
The SO/ Sofitel Bangkok is a five-star hotel
that combines fabulously the “five elements”
of Water, Earth, Wood, Metal, and Fire into a
refreshing contemporary vision. Reflecting the
city within whose heart it resides, SO/ Sofitel
is elegant and refined, yet casual and vibrant.
Banyan Tree Bangkok is located in the Silom
area, allowing easy access to city, and is
Bangkok’s largest luxurious accommodation,
with an award-winning spa and world-class
dining experiences.
www.tourismthailand.org
American World Traveler Spring 2019