THE LOCAL
Name: Apasiri (Pear) Kulthanan
Age: 23
Country: Thailand
Job/Profession: Marketing and Communications Director, Ticketmelon Co., Ltd.
My favorite place: My favorite place to travel to from Bangkok would be Chiang Mai.
Bring there: Your family/friends, walking shoes, camera, sunscreen, a jacket (it can get cold on the mountains), and a big appetite!
Must-do: Drink coffee (Chiang Mai is coffee heaven!), eat Kao Soy, walk around the night market, go to the waterfalls and temples, and have brunch at hip restaurants.
Must-see: Temples, waterfalls, Doi Suthep, and Doi Inthanon: if you love to hike, this is the place to be!
Must-buy: Coffee, food, goodies to bring to your friends at home, and local handicrafts
Eat at: Local restaurants — any restaurant with Northern food will be amazing.
Drink at: Yayee Rooftop Bar, bars on the street
Sleep at: Boutique hotels
THE EXPAT
Name: Regina Wilson
Age: 43
Country: Australia
Job/Profession: Hotel Manager at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel
My favorite place: Bangkok
Bring there: Comfortable walking shoes and clothes, money, party mood
Must-do: Visit Chatuchak Market, book a Klong Tour, and enjoy the food!
Must-see: The Flower Market and Chinatown are a must-see in the early morning: so vibrant with colors and fragrances, not to mention the variety of local food
Must-buy: Jewelry, Thai silk, and local handicrafts
Eat at: While Bangkok is definitely now in the mainstream radar for gourmet dining, do not miss the street food, especially in the Chinatown area. My all-time favorite though: I love Italian food, so it’s Opus Restaurant
Drink at: Sirocco, on top of the lebua State Tower where you can enjoy the fantastic view of Bangkok skyline
Sleep at: By the river @ Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel!
THE TOURIST
Name: Jhena Waring
Age: 20
Country: United Kingdom
Job/Profession: Student
My favorite place: Bangkok, of course! I love shopping at its malls, such as the EmQuartier. There are always many things to see, do, and enjoy!
Bring there: Money! Lots of it if you want to shop!
Must-do: Take a daytrip to Khao Yai and join a safari, where you can be with elephants in their natural habitat.
Must-see: Temples along the Chao Phaya River.
Must-buy: Fruits. Tropical fruits are available everywhere at a cheap price, you can easily buy them; something I can never do abroad!
Eat at: Thonglor restaurants or anywhere with authentic Thai food.
Drink at: Khao San Road, with all its drinking stools and clubs, although there are countless options for a fun night out.
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.
