THE LOCAL
Name: Parichart Borisute
Age: 60
Country: Thailand
Job/Profession: TV producer (drama series)/Senior Editor, “World in Perspective” (TV news program)
My favorite place: I love traveling in the ASEAN countries, and in particular, when done as part of cruise trips. I love the cruise along the great rivers of Burma and Mekong where you can enjoy the scenery, move from place to place, have good food and drinks, and sleep in a different city every night. I must mention my favorite cruise companies: Pandaw River Adventure and Amara Cruises, in Myanmar.
Bring there: A sense of adventure and an open mind.
Must-do: Everything you can enjoy. Visit the ancient temples of Myanmar and ruins in Cambodia, explore the natural beauty of Bali, shop at the night market of Luang Prabang, or do some zipline adventure or river rafting in the Philippines — the choice is endless.
Must-see: Pagan, Palawan, Bali – as I have seen most of Thailand’s best spots already.
Must-buy: Handmade products –especially something I can’t find in Thailand
Eat at: Anywhere I can find authentic local flavors.
Drink at: I don’t drink alcohol, only water, so sorry.
Sleep at: your favorite hotel, but don’t ignore the guesthouses and homestays
THE EXPAT
Name: Thomas Glaser
Age: 38
Country: Germany
Job/Profession: Director of Business Development, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
My favorite place: The Deck across Wat Arun – it’s the No. 1 location for casual drinks with friends after a busy day watching the sunset over Bangkok along Chao Praya River.
Bring there: Small change, shades, and a bottle of water.
Must-do: Get a day-pass of Chao Praya Tourist Boat, grab your camera, and discover the city by boat. Whether you like to visit historical temples, prefer a stroll through Chinatown, or enjoy extraordinary street food in Little India, a daytrip riverside will wow you away.
Must-see: Bangkok by night — from one of the numerous rooftop bars. For skyline lovers like me visit the rooftop bar at Marriott Sukhumvit on Sukhumvit 57.
Must-buy: A silk scarf at Jim Thompson House (Do not forget to visit the museum).
Eat at: Best Beef, which serves Thai BBQ, or alternatively, go to Sukhumvit 38 with its vast variety of Thai food stalls.
Drink at: Boroski Bar, Thonglor 7/1
Sleep at: Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, the newest Hilton hotel in Bangkok inspired and designed in the style of the 1920s Prohibition Era and featuring the best Italian delights at Scalini Restaurant.
THE TOURIST
Name: Jhena Waring
Age: 20
Country: United Kingdom
Job/Profession: Student
My favorite place: I love shopping at the Bangkok malls such as EmQuartier. There are always many things to look at, as well as nice restaurants and food courts.
Bring there: Money! Lots of it if you want to shop!
Must-do: Take a daytrip to Khao Yai to go on the safari. Here you can see elephants in their natural habitat.
Must-see: Temples around Chao Phaya River. There are so many beautiful temples to see, which really demonstrate the Thai culture and history.
Must-buy: Fruit. Thailand has great tropical fruits available everywhere at a cheap price, something I can never do abroad!
Eat at: Sukhumvit Soi 38 food stalls have some of the best, authentic Thai food and at a good price too. Besides, it’s easy to reach, being located just off the footsteps of BTS Thonglor.
Drink at: Khao San Road, with all its drinking stools and clubs. There are countless options for a fun night out. Plus, when isn’t it fun to drink out of buckets?
Sleep at: A hotel on Sukhumvit Road. Sukhumvit is a good area to stay in because it is central Bangkok and so there is always something to do no matter what time of day.
