The Tale of Two Cities: Bangkok and Phuket

Oh, Bangkok. The capital sister of Phuket. Both cities hold magic within them and that magic can only be discovered by taking a trip! Content creator Tia Lacson recently uncovered the meaning of the cities. Intricate temples, street lit with thousands of lamps and food you will never forget. Read on to find the magic.

Any must sees or must dos?

It’s no surprise that Bangkok is filled with jaw-dropping temples. If you’re in search of the perfect culture trip then Tia suggests going to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the White Temple in Chiang Rai. You may have heard of the Grand Palace before. It sits in the heart of Bangkok and has been home to the King of Siam since 1782. The dress-code to visit is very strict. No tank-tops, short sleeves or short pants. If you plan to visit be expected to wear a long sleeve shirt and some below-the-ankle pants.

Wat Arun is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. This temple gets its name from the god Aruna which is believed to be the rays of the sun. Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple isn’t a temple in the traditional sense. It’s actually a privately owned gallery that is formed like a Buddhist temple.

Did any architecture or street art stand out to you?

Tia loves going to Bangkok and seeing the renovations of the city. She explains, “I loved the Icon Siam, Baiyoke, and visiting Asiatique where almost everywhere you turn you can see so many art installations and creative restaurants and shops.” Bangkok is one of those places where you look at a building and find the art within it.

Best way to stay fit?

The best way Tia stays fit all around is to swim. She does laps around the pool and swims in the ocean whenever she can. Like most places, the best way to stay fit in Thailand is to walk around or go for a bike ride.

Places to meet other cool people?

Tia isn’t a big party person so the way she suggests meeting new people is through Instagram. “Arranging to visit a certain place is the best way to meet other cool people,” for her this is the best way. For our social butterflies, any setting with a lot of people will do.

Where was your favorite place to eat?

The two top places for Tia were Icon Siam and Asiatique. Icon Siam is a shopping complex in Bangkok that features an extensive food court filled with traditional and modern foods. Asiatique is a part of an open-air mall, where you can walk around and find one of a kind shops. The restaurant faces the Chao Phraya River to give its dinners a perfect view. Tia commented, “Asiatique captures the culture and creative side of Bangkok.” Both offer healthy food options.

Favorite place to stay?

If the focus of your trip is Bangkok then Tia recommends staying at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel. If it’s a Phuket adventure you’re looking for then stay at the Sri Panwa which Tia says, “gives you a panoramic view of the Andaman Islands. Breathtaking!”

Sri Panwa has a very tropical design and uses local materials for everything they do. The in house restaurants offer healthy food options and also feature a gym to stay active.

What equipment do you use to create your content?

Tia likes to use a Fujifilm X10 with a 16 mm lens for her content and a DJI Spark to take her aerial shots.

What kind of apps or software do you use to edit?

Tia swears by Lightroom and uses her own presents (that you can also use by clicking the link) to edit.

To follow in her future travels be sure to visit tialacson.com and follow her Instagram.