KOH PHA NGAN, THAILAND 🇹🇭

Started off June with my last day in Koh Pha Ngan.

Weather was 33 celsius, officially kickstarting the entire month of June being hot enough, so that you were sweating profusely just by existing.

PHUKET + PHI PHI, THAILAND 🇹🇭

Back to Phuket for more beach + night markets.

Day trip to Phi Phi islands. Weather was lovely on the way out, and then got pretty stormy which meant the speedboat ride back was a 90 min rollercoaster.

Finally got the chance to visit Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley ~20 years after I first watched ‘The Beach’
The Thai government closed it in 2018 due to over-tourism but reopened in 2022 with strict visiting rules i.e. Loud whistles and shouting if you let the water get above knee-level deep.

Awe inspiring in so many ways.

KOH SAMUI, THAILAND 🇹🇭

Rain and clouds most of the time in Koh Sumai, but still 30+ celcius most days i.e. perfect sauna weather

Christmas music in June:

Lots of hiking and trails to explore.

Visited a sculpture park which was started by a local man when he was ~83!!

Wat Plai Laem Buddhist Temple:

BANGKOK 🇹🇭

This was my 4th trip to Bangkok, and I’m finally starting to feel comfortable getting around without too much overplanning and overall just getting the hang of how the city works.

Every time I’m blown away by how massive the entire city is. Everything everything just feels endlessly busy all day + night.

HONG KONG 🇭🇰

1hr layover in cloudy Hong Kong. I haven’t been in this airport since 2015, but it still feels familiar.

Pic #5 is of the underwater entrance / exit for the road between Hong Kong and Macau. It goes underwater for ~7km which is crazy engineering.

TAIWAN 🇹🇼

Taipei is the first country I’ve visited in a while, without doing massive amounts of research beforehand.

Taiwan has been in the news a lot recently because of China + the US butting heads over China’s ambitions to invade and reabsorb the island back into mainland China, so it was very interesting to visit and experience the country first-hand.

This little island has 25 million people, living on an area 40% the size of Ireland / 30% the size of New York State.

I only had a few days to explore around Taipei, but loved the overall experience. For me it felt like Japanese modernity + Chinese culture had a fusion baby.

Top of the Tapei 101 tower, which was the world’s #1 tallest building when it opened in 2004 before the Burj Khalifa stole its crown in 2010.

Taiwanese night markets are one of the most insane collections of humans + food + smells + experiences I’ve ever seen. A complete attack on your senses.

Think some of the craziest food you’ve seen being dished out, mixed with funfair / circus games, and PACKED with people. The energy was crazy.

CHIANG MAI 🇹🇭

My 4th time to Thailand, but first time visiting the North.

I’m a water person so didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but I absolutely adored it.

The scenery, food, and overall vibe just seem to gel together to create this amazing bubble of Thai energy.

There are so many incredible mountain drives, where sometimes you don’t see another vehicle for ~30 mins at times.

Managed to smash my phone screen AGAIN taking mountain pics 🤣🥹😭😭😭😭😭

Also stumbled across an ‘Erotic Sculpture Park’ while driving around which was extremely unique to say the least.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT & KRABI 🇹🇭

Ended the month down in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi for some beach time

Lastly, some food I liked this month: