Just Back From | Southeast Asia

We had the opportunity to catch up with Clay Quisenberry, our Auctions Coordinator here at Andrew Harper, who recently took a three-week trip through Thailand and Cambodia. The high season in Thailand is fast approaching, making this the perfect opportunity to share his insights on a holiday in Southeast Asia. Below are his thoughts on how to escape the boredom of an international flight, his stay in a private pavilion at Rayavadee and the best way to pass the time in Chiang Mai.  

What was your plane ride like? Any tips for enduring such a long flight?

We flew Cathay Pacific from San Francisco, connecting through Hong Kong to Bangkok. If time allows, I would consider an extended stopover somewhere along the way — it helps to break up the long journey. As far as the plane ride goes, I brought my Kindle Fire loaded up with good books. Luckily there was some pretty great in-flight entertainment, so I spent my time watching movies and reading. If you are trying to avoid jet lag, make sure to schedule a full day of exploring right away to tire yourself out. Fight taking a nap. That way you will be exhausted enough to sleep through the night, allowing you to adapt to the local schedule faster.  

Tell us about your Southeast Asia adventure. You were there for three weeks — what were the highlights?

I spent four nights in Bangkok, a week in Chiang Mai, five nights in Krabi on Railay Beach and three nights in Siem Reap.

Chiang Mai was probably my favorite part of the entire trip. My first impression and last impression were completely different. You arrive and it looks like a typical Southeast Asian city, then you branch out and dig in and discover there is so much more.  

What did you do while in Chiang Mai?

The elephant camp that we visited was amazing. The staff rehabilitates injured logging elephants from Burma. You have the opportunity to feed them, pet them, and bathe them in the river. It was one of many highlights in Chiang Mai, and I would definitely recommend it as family-friendly day trip.

The markets in Chiang Mai were some of the best we found on the entire trip. If you know where to go, you are more likely to find local artists’ work from the shops in Chiang Mai instead of the mass-manufactured products that seem to be everywhere in the other cities.  

Did you have a favorite meal from the trip, or an eating experience that stands out above all the rest?

I found that there was a distinct difference between the northern and southern Thai cuisines. The best food we had in Thailand was in Chiang Mai. Kao Soi, a Burmese-influenced northern peasant dish, was my favorite. It is heavy in spices, with coconut milk and your choice of meat. Delicious.  

You stayed at the Harper-recommended hotel Rayavadee on Railay Beach. How was your visit?

Rayavadee was very nice and definitely what I expect from an Andrew Harper-recommended property. On the whole I found the service at Rayavadee to be excellent. I stayed in a recently remodeled Terrace Pavilion with hardwood floors, a king bed, dual vanities, a soaking tub and a downstairs den, as well as an outside patio where a private chef could be arranged to cook dinner. It was luxurious, spacious and featured all of the high-tech amenities a top resort should offer.

Krua Phranang, overlooking Phranang beach, is the resort’s signature restaurant. It serves traditional Thai dishes including an excellent seafood salad and grilled sea bass. Railay Beach has breathtaking limestone cliffs that jut dramatically out into the ocean (it is well known as a rock climbing destination). The beaches there are public, so if you go in the high season chances are they will be crowed with backpackers and tourists. However, the hotel makes sure it is possible to avoid the crowds, and guests looking for more privacy can swim in the infinity pool overlooking the beach.

How was your time in Cambodia?

I have somewhat mixed emotions about Cambodia. Siem Reap was absolutely gorgeous and some of the scenic parts are really breathtaking. However it is still a poor nation, and being approached by people in the streets asking for money was hard to come to terms with.

Angkor Wat and the Angkor complex are amazing but it seemed a bit like a Cambodian Disneyland — very crowded with lots of people. I would recommend spending either sunrise or sunset at the ruins for dramatic views with the sun passing over the ancient temple. All of the temples are incredibly unique. I really enjoyed exploring the subsidiary temples because I had never seen photos of them before, and they were more unexpected than Angkor Wat.  

What advice would you give someone visiting Southeast Asia for the first time?

I think the best thing to do when visiting a new country is to just be aware of your surroundings. I would say that is the main distinction between being a traveler and a tourist; being respectful of cultural idiosyncrasies and doing your best to follow them while you are visiting.

Stay up to date with all of our globetrotting travel advisors and staff. Check back each week for another trip report, in our Just Back From series on The Harper Way.