Sawatdee

Travelling for me falls into 3 distinct categories. First, when we know where to go and its all about planning the dates and itinerary. Second, one that has a purpose - say, a weekend breakway to a nearby hill station or even a simple visit to a kin's place you have been planning for long. The third and the most difficult one is the one for an ocassion. You know you have to go but where? Do you play safe and ask for suggestions from friends and neighbours? Or do you break the boundaries and tread the unknown? Mind you, asking for help in these matters seldom helps. Every other person has a new opinion and at the end you are left all but confused. And when you have a difference in opnion within your travel group, things start getting all the more complex.

Fortunately for me, it was not that difficult. The occasion was one my life's biggest - it was our honeymoon, and like a cup final - glitches were not an option. We were quick to finalise on the destination - it was winter and there was no point in going to the mountains, it had to be the beaches. It also had to be an oft visited one, risking unforseen adventures were not on list for this time. We needed a smooth ride. Knowing ourselves better than the place was the priority. After a week's research over the various travel sites, blogs and tourism homepages, we zeroed in on Thailand. Thailand has rich history (something I love), has a cosmopolitan capital in Bangkok and has its own share of beaches (a mandatory has-to-be from my better half). And the best part is - its as close to Kolkata as Mumbai or New Delhi, which does away with the jet-lag factor.

Bags packed and visas in hand, we were ready for Vijay Mallya's hospitality (aka Kingfisher) enroute to first vacation together. Five days in the land of white elephants had to be special. Though Thailand has an array of hot spots for tourists, we chose two of them - Bangkok, also known as the city of temples, for its rich cultural heritage and Pattaya for its beautiful beaches and coral islands. Interesting, Bangkok and Pattaya-Chon Buri are also the largest metropolitan areas in the land of Siam.

(Sawatdee in Thai means Hello)



Pattaya, Thailand



River cruise on Chao Phraya river, Bangkok