Thailand

What was originally planned as 'one-week-exploring' and 'one-week-relaxing' turned out to be a 'two-week-adventure'. After a short time in Bangkok we hit Chiang Mai in the north for a 2-day jungle trip with elephant rides and bamboo rafting. Down south the promised (is)land of Ko Phi Phi did not really offer much rest, but Maya Bay ("The Beach") and especially Bamboo Island were picture perfect. We can highly recommend the "Indigo Pearl" hotel on Phuket for some industrial-design luxury after sharing previous accommodations with all sorts of four to eight legged friends. Before boarding the 17h flight back to New York, we did spend the last day in Bangkok exploring the local food scene, massage parlor and testing our bargaining skills at Chatuchak Weekend Market to really make it an unforgettable experience