For landscapes you cannot do much better than to visit Utah. God was definitely being creative when he made this region. For hiking Zion, pictured here, was one of our favorite parks.
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Not long ago we spent two days in Bangkok as part of a month traveling around the South China Sea and those two days were the highlight of the trip. Visiting Bangkok is an exciting experience. The culture is rich and peaceful, the people friendly and the food is plentiful and diverse and there are many things to see and do.
Traveling into Bangkok is interesting experience as you realize how modern the country is. There are factories and businesses along the highways and rest stops stretch great distances provide a large number of restaurants and coffee shops including a lot of American offerings.
Once into the city, there are numerous temples and markets to visit along with museums and other historical properties. Thailand’s principle religion is Buddhism so visiting a temple or two is a must. Keep in mind that there are specific dress codes (i.e. no bare shoulders or short pants and you usually will be required to remove your shoes). Some temples do not allow photos. As you consult a map you’ll quickly realize that the word for temple in Thai is Wat.
The Emerald Buddha (actually made of jade) is probably the most famous and can be found on the grounds of the Grand Palace (established in 1782). The palace grounds are huge and include a number of temples, palaces, meeting halls and magnificent statuary, art and exhibits. There is a small admittance fees and you can claim a beautiful brochure with a map once you pay. The Grand Palace closes from time to time for events and ceremonies so this can at times affect your visit.
Within a short walk of the Grand Palace is Wat Pho which is home to the Reclining Buddha (covered in gold and 46 meters in length), several other Buddhas and a variety of stone figures. Another famous temple in the area (not walking distance) is Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) on the Chao Phraya River. It can be enjoyed on its’ own or as part of a river/canal tour.
Bangkok is an amazing culinary experience, offering a diverse array of dishes that reflect its rich cultural heritage. Some must-try foods include the iconic Pad Thai, a stir-fried noodle dish that has become synonymous with Thai cuisine, and Som Tam, a refreshing papaya salad known for its spicy and tangy flavors. Another popular dish is Khao Soi, a creamy coconut curry noodle soup that originates from Northern Thailand.
While in Bangkok be sure to sample some “street” food, which is everywhere. Mostly what we sampled were coconut and fresh fruits with one highlight being fresh strawberries dusted with salt, sugar and chili powder. Freshly opened coconuts for coconut water are also everywhere. Other foods included grilled chicken, fried bananas and pineapple.
Bangkok offers two main types of water transportation: the Chao Phraya Express Boat and the Khlong Saen Saep boat service (also known as water taxis). The Chao Phraya Express Boat operates along the Chao Phraya River, while the Khlong Saen Saep boat service navigates the city’s canals. Both offer an affordable and efficient way to get around, bypassing Bangkok’s notorious traffic.
For water taxi tours in Bangkok, consider the following options:
This is the most popular water taxi service in Bangkok. It operates on the Chao Phraya River and connects major attractions like the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Khao San Road. It offers affordable and frequent service. Look for the orange flag boats for the express service.
A more private option where you can hire a long-tail boat for a customized tour. Offering tailored routes based on your interests. Explore the canals (khlongs) for a glimpse of local life. Always negotiate the price and duration before starting your journey.
Operated by the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Company, this service offers a hop-on, hop-off experience.
Our recommendation on where to stay is the Centre Point Hotel Chidlom in the Central District. The hotel was very nice and not too expensive. It was just a few blocks from Bangkok’s major department store, Central Chidlom and a number of nice restaurants.
There are a number of floating markets in Thailand where products are displayed in boats and around the canals and you can purchase food items that have been cooked on the boats. It’s common hire a long boat and the operator will row you around the canals to shop. Bartering is a must and payment in local currency (baht) is expected.
Guided Tours – if you are in Bangkok for several days or maybe just overnight, a good option would be to hire a private travel company like Travel Hub as they have good itineraries and will pick you up and, drop you at a hotel and pick you up the following morning for more touring. There are fixed itineraries with a little flexibility and each group includes a guide and driver; the smaller the group, the more personal the tour. Pricing depends on the number of people in the group.
A couple of important notes about visiting Thailand: The people love and respect their king and do not tolerate disrespect. Most Thai homes include photographs or art depicting the king and his family. One story recounts an incident where someone dropped Thai currency and stepped on it to keep it from blowing away. The act was considered an insult to the king because his picture is on all currency. Another note regards the Buddha. Thailand is a Buddhist country and disrespect towards the Buddha is not permitted under Thai law. There are billboards and posters all over the country pointing this out.
If you are planning a trip to Southeast Asia by all means put Bangkok at the top of your list. You won’t regret it…
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The Intentional Traveler has thousands of articles to explore but if you’re looking for something specific, the fastest way to find it is by doing a search. Most of this page is articles found by simply entering C\A;ASKA and CRUISE, so give it a try…
The yellow highlights below are the words asked for in the searches.
The port of Victoria, Canada is located on Vancouver Island in southwest Canada. Victoria is a popular cruise port of call on many Alaska itineraries partly because it’s located not far from the city of Vancouver. It is a beautiful city with a number of things to see and do and is only a short Continue reading
Vancouver – Getting To Canada Place Canada Place Cruise Terminal Taking an Alaska cruise out of Vancouver, Canada? Save yourself a lot of money and maybe even some time by traveling from the Vancouver International Airport to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal using SkyTrain. About C$13 via SkyTrain versus C$44 via taxi and, on average ,Continue reading
Cruising Up To Hubbard Glacier Hubbard Glacier is truly a stunning natural wonder and something everyone should try and plan seeing when visiting Alaska. Hubbard Glacier is a glacier located in eastern Alaska and western Yukon. It’s 76 miles long, 7 miles wide at its front, and has a height of up to 600 feet Continue reading
Icy Strait Point is a popular nature port of call on Chichagof Island that opened in 2004. The facilities are only open when cruise ships are visiting. It was developed by the native Tlingits and is focused on celebrating the areas history, nature and the Tlingit culture. It is the ideal location for exploring wildlife Continue reading
ketchikan, Alaska is known as the gateway the last frontier. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, a network of waterways that wind through some of the most amazingly beautiful wilderness in the world. Ketchikan is famous for three things; salmon, amazing scenery, and its rich Alaska Native culture. Founded as a Continue reading
Join Us – We understand that the last thing you may want is more emails cluttering up your inbox, but we promise we’ll work hard to make this worth your while. Give us a try and if we don’t live up to our promise all you need do is click the unsubscribe link in ourContinue reading “Port Of Call Sitka, Alaska“
Denali is not like any other National Park in America. First, it is America’s most remote park and second the park is just massive. Most of the park has very limited access with few roads or even marked trails. There are no campgrounds or hotels inside this park and no scenic roads that people can Continue reading “Denali National Park • The Great One”
A Day in Juneau Probably the most isolated state capital in the United States and one of two that you cannot drive to (Hawaii). It is also one of the most frequented cities on Alaska cruise itineraries. Besides being isolated and the states capital it also has a much to offer. Where Your Ship Docks Continue reading
A Short Story While hiking up to Skagway Falls in Alaska we passed through the Gold Rush Cemetery where there are numerous headstones and markers with many well over a hundred years old. The cemetery is located on a slope with graves spaced at random, many markers are difficult to read and some contain little Continue reading
\Skagway, Alaska A Port Of Call
Spending a Day in a Gold Rush Town Skagway is a popular port of call on many Alaska cruise itineraries. With a population that fluctuates between 700 in winter and 2,000 in summer it is easy to see what drives the economy. While Skagway is small and a bit isolated that doesn’t mean there isn’t Continue reading
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Think wind power is new? Think again – there is actually a nation that was built on wind power several centuries ago…
Windmills in Holland date back to the 12th century, with the first structures appearing in the coastal regions near the North Sea. Initially, the windmills were primarily used for industrial purposes such as grinding grains. The windmill was key to draining shallow waters to create arable land. Building dikes and pumping water allowed Holland to create new land which actually increased the size of the country by a third. By the 13th century, windmills became integral to Dutch agriculture and land management, showcasing the ingenuity of the Dutch to change their environment
During the 17th and 19th centuries, the number of windmills surged, with over 9,000 recorded by the 19th century. This period marked a significant development in windmill technology and their role in Dutch society, particularly in South Holland, where they became symbols of national identity and innovation. The construction of polder mills, which began in the early 15th century, exemplified advancements in windmill design, enhancing their efficiency in managing water levels in the low-lying regions of the Netherlands.
The most famous collection of windmills is in the village of Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam, and it’s home to perhaps the most famous windmills in the Netherlands. In the mid 1700s, 20 windmills were built to pump water out of nearby low-lying lands and it is maintained today as a museum.
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
We’ve spent decades traveling internationally and have learned a lot of lessons, mostly the hard way. Here we offer a few of our must-have travel accessories…
Keeping our digital necessities charged at home comes as second nature but half way around the world it’s a whole different issue. First, there is no international standard for electrical outlets. Second, the power in those outlets runs a wide gamete from AC to DC and 120 volts to 220 VAC. So heres a few of what we consider travel necessities:
From the illustration at left it’s obvious that there is a range of choices and you need to carry some specific to your destinations.
If you’re planning to do a lot of international travel we’d recommend a complete set, but if it’s only one destination you can buy one specific to that for a lot less. Because they’re small we usually carry duplicates and I can’t count the number of times we’ve had to share with travel companions.
As far as converting voltage is concerned there’s some good news. Most of our digital devices (cellphones, laptops, tablets) will charge off of multiple voltages so a voltage tranformer is normally not necessary.
It might seem silly but this little length of power cord has saved us numerous times. For some reason internationally and on many cruise ships the outlets are recessed. Often there is no way to get that devices charging converter into those outlets. This is a must have for accessory.
This is maybe not a necessity but it’s something I wouldn’t travel without. Many hotel rooms internationally will have only one outlet as well is older cruise ships. This little gem is small and light and provides extra outlets along with several USB and USB-C ports.
RETHINKING THIS ITEM…
I’ve Changed My Mind About The Power Strip Above!
As a frequent traveler that takes long international trips I’m always on the lookout for items that can save my space and weight. This item was almost half the size of my old travel power strip – Great Right? Well we just came home from a short trip and I was not happy with this item so I’m going back to my old power strip. Its current replacement item on Amazon is HERE.
Here’s the problems I discovered:
Most every one of us carries their phones charging cable, but what do you do when it gets lost? On every trip we carry a pair of these octopus cables as insurance.
On a recent short trip I didn’t and I lost my cable. The only thing within a reasonable distance of our hotel was a connivance store – $36.95!! That’s three times what that pair of cables cost.
Just as important as those items above is our night light. Again this has been a blessing from cruise ships to international hotels. Our choice is this rechargeable, motion activated device. It’s only about 3″x3″x1″ and weighs almost nothing.
You’ll wish you had one when you wake up in a strange room in the middle of the night that’s pitch black!
Again here we provide links to our recommended items on Amazon as a connivance but we do not currently get any commission on these sales:
• SINGLE COUNTRY OUTLET ADAPTOR
FYI: This entire recommended collection would weigh less than a half pound, fit in a normal toiletries kit and cost less than $38.
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
Amazing islands and fun adventures are awaiting you with beautiful beaches, tropical Sun and crystal clear water. Islands with diverse cultures and steeped in history wherever you go, you’re going to love cruising the Caribbean.
Our port guides provide a quick overview of local attractions, cruise port facilities, money, local transportation and more, all designed to help you plan your day in port.
The Intentional Travelers 