Digging out the Passport and Dusting it off...

As many of you know, I just got back from holidays in Thailand and Cambodia. It felt unbelievably amazing and surreal to get out of Azerbaijan and into a land where white people walk around with hiking packs and you can buy oreos and beer at the market.

Over the last few weeks, 3 friends and I traveled across Thailand and over to Cambodia in a series of awesome adventures. A brief synopsis of our whirlwind travels...

August 1st, we left Baku on our way to Bangkok. Upon arrival, we made what turned out to be the worst decision of our lives...we purchased 3rd class (cattle car) tickets on the night train to Surat Thani. We laughed at the locals who set up camp on the train floors under protective sheets of newspapers, only to realize they were the smart ones...12 hours later we arrived, then took an hour bus, then an 1.5 hour ferry..and finally landed in Paradise. 

Koh Samui, Thailand

View from our hotel

One of our Jungle Huts

Our stay in Koh Samui, happened to coincide with our friend's birthday (second from left) and the infamous Full Moon party on Koh Phangan Island. We all survived, barely ;) 

Hərşey Olar is Azerbaijani for "Everything Allowed"

They say between 10,000 - 14,000 people come to the Full Moon Party

We wanted to stay in Koh Samui forever, but alas had to keep moving...back to Bangkok (this time on a VIP night bus...way better choice) for one day.

In Bangkok, despite our lack of sleep, we took advantage of the day and went site-seeing. 

Later that afternoon, we splurged on a flight and were off to the Northern part of Thailand...Chiang Moi.

Our 2.5 days here were not nearly enough, but we managed to squeeze in an elephant trek through the jungle, a raft ride down the river, a visit to a butterfly and orchid farm, a trip to visit the tigers, and a front row seat at a Muay Thai boxing night.

Elephant jungle trekking

River rafting

Snuggling with tiger cubs

Dressed up for the Muay Thai fight night

We flew back to Bangkok for one night, and made it to the vibrant Khao San Road. Full of fellow backpackers and awesome street food, the whole road felt alive. You could buy anything from springrolls, to locusts, to fake everything. 

Best Pad Thai on the Street

New Friends

In the morning we were off again, to cross the border into Cambodia! I have to say, that with all the places in the world I've been to, Cambodia may possibly be the coolest. Not literally of course, I sweat buckets there.

We headed off to Siem Reap, where we were pleasantly surprised with an amazing hotel and a really cool city. The next few days consisted of massages, fish pedicures, swimming in the Mekong River, floating in the the flooded forest, climbing the temples of Angkor Wat and a very happy finale. 

The fish eat the dead skin off your feet

An entire village on stilts, for the flood season

Floating down the flooded forrest

Cambodian dinner & cocktails!

Quite possibly one of the coolest days of the trip, was Angkor Wat. A "City of Temples" set in the jungles, just north of Siem Reap, Cambodia. The city was built in the early 12th century and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This jungle city is like something out of a fairytale.

The trip could not have been more amazing, and on our final day we decided to just relax. It also happened to be my *ahem* 27th Birthday. My friends, along with the hotel staff pulled off an awesome birthday surprise that I did not expect. 

Coming back to Azerbaijan was not the easiest thing to do. While I have learned to think of it as my home for now, leaving the freedom of SouthEast Asia and the anonymity of traveling was frustrating. For now, it's back to Azerbaijan...but the next trip is always on my mind.