My First Trip to Thailand: How It All Began

Visiting with a local tribe woman

I first traveled to Thailand in 2010 with my Aunt, who was a world traveler and someone who really knew how to explore a place with purpose and curiosity. We landed in Bangkok, and then had a driver take us about four hours south to Hua Hin.  That first night walking through a night market in Hua Hin is something I’ll never forget. The night markets there don’t even start until the sun goes down, so I was exhausted—completely jetlagged, dizzy from the time change, but buzzing with excitement and hunger. The air was thick with the smells of grilling seafood, woks clanking and sizzling, and vendors calling out to us to sit down at their plastic outdoor tables. I was overwhelmed—in the best way.  We spent three nights in Hua Hin, then made our way back toward Bangkok, stopping in Amphawa, a local weekend floating market town that really comes alive from Friday through Sunday. Picture this: a canal lined with canoes selling steaming bowls of noodles, grilled skewers, and sticky rice. The walkways were packed with more vendors—each stall adding another layer of scent and sound to an already wild sensory mix.What struck me most, though, was the people. Every Thai we came across was smiling, warm, and genuinely kind. There’s a calm generosity in the way Thai people interact—it instantly makes you feel welcome. .Back in Bangkok, we did the iconic things: toured the Grand Palace, stared in awe at the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, and climbed the steps of Wat Arun. We basically ate our way across the city, sampling everything we could, and indulged in daily foot massages or Thai massages for just a few U.S. dollars. It was sensory heaven.My Return Visits: Deeper Into Thailand’s SoulThe second time I went, I took my husband—I needed him to see just how amazing Thailand really was. This trip took us to the north, to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, just a short two-hour flight from Bangkok. These cities had a very different energy—slower, more spiritual, more rooted in nature. The air felt clearer, the pace was relaxed, and the temples seemed to hum with quiet reflection.  From there, we flew to Phuket. A lot of people think of Phuket as a party destination, and while that vibe definitely exists in certain areas, there’s so much more to the island. We explored Old Town Phuket, with its rows of Chinese-style buildings converted into quirky shops and restaurants. We also took different types of boats to various islands—some touristy, others completely peaceful and remote. One of my favorite experiences was taking a longtail boat to the quieter karst islands, those dramatic limestone cliffs that rise up from the sea like something out of a fantasy novel.Since then, I’ve been back two more times. Each trip I’ve tried to discover new regions and revisit the ones I’ve come to love.What brings me back is simple: the food, the culture, and the people. They all leave their mark.