Residual smiles from Thailand

Part 1

Though the trip turned out to be not quite what I was expecting, there is such a wide range of things to do that almost every traveller will find their heart stolen by this sunny Asian land time and time again. Whether you're looking to top up the suntan in the middle of our winter or are looking for an action-packed trip full of adventure, checking out animals travellers would not normally be allowed anywhere near in other countries, or biting into the tasty morsels of Thai goodness available at every street corner you can be sure that Thailand is not going to leave you wanting.

From the pictures I saw on Facebook of other people's trips, I was expecting a beach holiday, bumming around from beach to beach, sipping coconut juice and getting Thai massages. To be fair that was all the research I had time for before I got there. Besides, the best way to travel is to get there and see - and Thailand is definitely the place to do that.

I started off meeting some friends in Koh Tao, a tiny island in the Gulf of Thailand, listed in the Lonely Planet as the dive-master's island. And surprise, surprise, the friends I went to meet were finishing off a dive-master course at the time. To join in the fun I did my Open Water and Advanced diving course with SSI dive school, Roctopus. Just a small dive school that isn't even on Sairee Beach the choice of dive school couldn't have been better. Every single instructor is so full of enthusiasm to go on dives - they do, at times, five times a day - you can't help but become infected with their scuba addiction and feel like you are included in their family of what they call "sub culture".

Though there is more to do than dive on Koh Tao, once I got underwater, there was little more I wanted to do. If you're not on the morning boat, and not looking to sleep in, try training with Muay Thai fighters. Being Thailand's national sport, Muay Thai is popular with men, women and children and some gyms will even offer training to foreigners. Wakeboarding, cliff jumping, snorkelling and long nights of partying on Sairee beach are all up for grabs on little Koh Tao.

While it's easy to spend your entire holiday exploring the underwater treasures of schools of tropical fish, whale sharks, turtles and eerie wrecks, if you can tear yourself away, a trip around the western islands is a must. Of course the other islands in the Gulf are also worth a visit. If you're looking life at a resort the Koh Samui has some of the best holiday resorts while Koh Phangan is famed for is full moon parties.

Koh Phi Phi, location of the 2000 film The Beach - which inspired travellers the world over to strap on a backpack and go visit Thailand - is beautiful but a little bit on the touristy side. If you're looking for a more secluded type of paradise, hope on a long tail boat from Ao Nang in Krabi to one of the landlocked beaches in Railay.

East and West Railay offer pristine beaches - with some sneaky rocks underwater lying in wait of exposed toes. Tonsai beach is quieter with some groovy bars and authentic Thai restaurants on the beach. And if lazy beach life isn't for you, then take a crack at rock-climbing.

The vertical limestone cliffs, as imposing as the spaceship in the Independence Day movie poster, don't only offer seclusion from the outside world but a real challenge for all levels of climbers - a meeting spot for first-time climbers wanting to try their hand at something new and seasoned climbers in Krabi seeking out that particular location. 

While the west coast islands offer a great escape from the real world and a few days of paradise, there is very little authentic Thai experience, with most of the Thai people you meet providing some service or other. Phuket on the other hand offers a little bit more.

After spending a couple of weeks beach bumming around the islands we spent a night in Old Phuket Town, where for the first time, we saw real Thai people living real Thai lives - dining in restaurants, going to bars, having conversations and going about their daily lives. And where Thai people are cooking for Thai people and not just the foreigners, you can expect an explosion of flavours and spice you just can't get on the islands. Be warned when you ask for spicy food - there is 'Farang hot' which is catered to Western tastes, and 'Thai hot' which takes some getting used to!

And of course the popularity of Phuket as a beach holiday destination is not unfounded. The clear waters of the Andaman coast, the soft white sands, limestone cliffs and beautiful corals make the island a picture perfect spot for sun worshippers.

When you're tired of the beach head further north and let yourself in on some experiences you'll only ever encounter in Thailand - swimming with elephants and rolling around with tigers, as well some of the tastiest, and cheapest, foods we found in Thailand in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai. Check out Part 2 for more. 

Where to stay?

If ever there was a place for not making any plans, Thailand is surely it. If you're having a good time in one place, stay a while, if it's not quite for you then move on. Take advice from travellers you meet along the way and change your route to fit in things you don't read about in travel guides. Finding accommodation is easy and even in peak season there are always rooms available at every budget.

Where to eat?

There are plenty of restaurants around Thailand, some better than others. However you haven't really eaten Thai food until you've tasted it eaten it standing by the road-side, sweating and inhaling exhaust fumes. The most flavourful meals we ate were always by the roadside, though we could never be sure what exactly we were eating.

How to get there?

Emirates offers daily flights to Bangkok, and have recently added daily flights to the popular resort island Phuket. Both options have a short stopover in Dubai to allow you to stretch your legs without waiting for hours for a connecting flight. Flights departing from Malta, for Bangkok on 11 April and returning on 25 April were priced at €831.51, including tax, at the time of going to print. Flights to Phuket on the same dates were also priced at €831.51.

 Look out for Part 2 in  MaltaToday on Sunday 7 April