Today I left Thailand after 71 days altogether I’ve spent here. Thailand seems to be one of the easiest countries for tourists: it is safe, quite cheap and the (touristic) infrastructure is excellent. The mountainous landscape in the north offers lots of adventures, the heavenly islands and the beaches in the south make you feel like you are in paradise, as well as the marine life in the turquoise water. Thai food is super delicious and Thai people are mostly very friendly and funny.

Unfortunately all these benefits hold one big disadvantage: the millions of tourists and expats coming to Thailand every year (2015: 29 million tourists). Especially right now when it’s cold weather in the northern hemisphere and the people are hungry for the sun naturally. Lots of Chinese people celebrating their New Year at the nearby Thailand. Nowhere else I have seen how much tourism can destroy. The beautiful landscape has to make place for hotels, restaurants, wide streets and airports. The amount of waste is enormous (especially because everything is packed in plastic). And beautiful places could be so crowded that you can’t see how beautiful they are. Therefore I haven’t visit some places I really wanted to see, e.g. Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay (for the same reason I have decided not to visit Angkor Wat, also because I think nothing in the world can top Bagan since I’ve seen it with my own eyes). And finally a few individual tourists behave totally disgusting. To be honest, sometimes I spoke in English with my compatriots, just not to fraternize with them.

What I really enjoyed in Thailand was the simple life in a bungalow away from the mass tourism. Something like this is mostly occupied by relaxed people. Bungalows are usually a family business and sometimes they are not listed on any booking portal, so I often found a pretty bungalow to stay just by walking around. Yes, there could be some uninvited guests, but that makes the real nature experience. And an inviting hammock in front of your temporary home compensate almost everything! Here are my personal recommendations:

• Mark House Bungalow at Ao Klong Chao, Ko Kood
• Blue Sky Beach Bungalow at Hat Phra Ae, Ko Lanta
• Mai Pen Rai Bungalow at Than Sadet, Ko Pha Ngan

I never expected to find such a quite and remote place on Ko Phangan. Although we had been at Than Sadet for one night only, it was an incredible nature experience. A lonely beach with a smoker-friendly restaurant, the almost unspoiled jungle in the background, bungalows where you have to climb to get there and free big reptiles walking around. If you are looking for a place where you can really feel free and come down, I would highly recommended the Mai Pen Rai Bungalows – if available, choose bungalow #38!

I just spent some really relaxed days at lovely Ko Lanta. Finally the rain is gone at the south of Thailand and I could shoot my favorite sunset pictures again. I hanged out in the hammock in front of my pretty beach bungalow very often, jogged at the beach in the evening, drove through the island by a rental bike and fetched my Bob Marley overdose 🎶

I just passed the PADI Open Water Diver Course at a four days liveabord trip. During the nine dives I did I already became addicted. It’s such an incredible amazing and peaceful world under the sea’s surface – just float in the water between the bubbles and the marine life. I love it!

Temples! Pagodas! Buddhas! Tourists! And dogs 🐶🎀

These pictures have been taken in Ayutthaya, at Wat Saket in Bangkok, at Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, at Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao and Wat Si Koet in Chiang Mai and at Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon in Doi Inthanon National Park.

I love the entire variety of markets all over Thailand. There are special markets for several goods, night markets (expect live music), weekend markets, floating markets and so on, usually with a plenty of food stalls. These pics are taken at the huge Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok (where I’ve already spent two full days), the Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (actually it’s more a souvenir shop instead of a market), the Pak Khlong Flower Market in Bangkok and the so called Sunday Walking Street in Chiang Mai.

Now I’ve been on Koh Kood for 10 days – I never thought I would spend such a long time here. Koh Kood is an amazing island with about 2.000 lovely inhabitants who preserved a bit of Koh Koods originality even though tourists can enjoy their holidays with all comfort. Here I’ve spent the most relaxing time since I’m traveling, seen the most stunning sunsets in my life and I’ve met so fabulous people (and dogs 😍) that I will leave tomorrow with some little tears in my eyes.

I simply can’t decide which one I like most 🌅😍

Yesterday I made a wonderful snorkeling trip on 4 islands, Hinrarp, Hin Lukbath, Koh Khum and Koh Wai.

Two days ago I arrived on Koh Chang Island. Fells like I am in paradise 😍 These photos show Lonely Beach and Kai Bae.

I was very impressed by the variety and the contrasts of that huge city. At every corner you discover something new. Here are a few shots.

Loi Krathong is an annual festival in Thailand, which is celebrated at the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. Yesterday it was that time again. People released lotus-shaped baskets adorned with lighted candles, incense and flowers, called Krathongs, onto the water. Due to the passing away of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Loi Krathong was celebrated on a smaller scale this year (which is 2559 Buddhist Era in Thailand). Although firework and sky laterns were not allowed in Bangkok at all, the Chao Phraya River still glow on a very special light. My pictures were taken at Pom Phra Sumen, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.