Canadian World Traveller Fallr 2016 issue American World Traveler Fall 2016 issue | Page 11

Our hotel, The Tarna Align, was located right
off the main road in the center of the action,
but far enough to enjoy a peaceful environment. The hotel’s infinity pool was a great
place to relax after a long day. When looking to the horizon, the sun would set into the
sea, what a beautiful sight. Prior to arrival on
the island, our guide had set up a snorkeling
excursion and we visited some of the best
scuba diving and snorkeling bays in the
world. Our personal favourite was Mango
bay, where schools of fish would circle us for
food and infant sharks would swim along the
reef.
After a fair amount of swimming and sun
bathing we dined on the boat as we sailed
towards Nang Yaun Island. A unique feature
of this island is that it is connected to its
neighbor islands by a white sandy pathway.
We decided to venture out to the next island.
Following our hike, we arrived at the top of
the island where the view was absolutely
breathtaking and, to put it simply, true post
card material.
At sunrise, we headed towards the island of
Koh Phangan, and as we arrived at the city’s
port, we were greeted and then driven by a
staff member of the Santhiya Koh Phangan
Resort & Spa. Before even entering the lobby,
we knew we were in for something special.
The hotel has an extremely charming wood
theme throughout and its large lobby gave
way to a view on the ocean. One of the great
features at the hotel’s pool was the waterfall,
which looks so realistic, dressed up with
flowers and natural décor, and was also
located right by the private beach. Our villa
was simply marvelous, from the king size
bed to the large balcony equipped with a
pool and spa, nothing was spared at this 5
star jungle experience resort. What really
stood out was the exterior bath, which gave
us the sense of being in the middle of a Thai
forest.
Making our way back to Koh Samui in style
on board the hotel’s private speed boat, we
would then embark on the final leg of our
journey. We arrived in Thailand’s capital
where a representative of Triyaka tours
assisted in the transfer to the Landmark
hotel. The staff explained all of the great

treats offered, such as two morning buffets,
including one on the top floor with a fantastic view on Bangkok. The lobby buffet had a
variety of dishes from all over the world, and
after breakfast you can make your way up to
the 9th floor where you can sit by the roof top
pool and sundeck to enjoy the weather.
Between 5 and 7 pm, if you have worked up
an appetite, the penthouse buffet opens it’s
doors and offers a great little buffet and
drinks for free.

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Bangkok offers many tourist opportunities,
and we started with a tour of the Klong
Canal. We made a stop at the Royal Barge
Museum where a short video explains the
history behind the massive handmade
barges. We then walked around and got to
see the different naval installations, each had
different meanings and purposes. Originally
designed for war, these beautiful ships are a
piece of art and part of Thai history.
A change of pace, the Wat Pho temple,
Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple complex, is home to the famous Reclining
Buddha as well as the School of Traditional
Medicine. The temple was simply breathtaking, filled with history and art and is a must
see.
We then enjoyed a scrumptious lunch before
departing for a 2 hour traditional Thai massage at the Rarinjinda Wellness Spa. What a
treat and what a day! The following day, we
visited the Chatuchak Weekend Market, one
of the largest outdoor markets in South-East
Asia which houses a large variety of goods
all within the market’s 17,000 stalls. Our
guides then showed us some of the biggest
and most popular malls in the city; needless
to say, a shopping spree was in order!
The ever-amazing Thailand was a trip of lifetime. Memorable in every aspect. From the
comfortable refined accommodation to the
Elephant and Tiger experiences, the exotic
cuisine, the historic sites, the wonderful
beaches and especially for the kind welcoming Thai who made us feel so at home in a
land so far away.

www.tourismthailand.org

American World Traveler / Fall 2016