5 Weeks in Thailand

September 13, 2016

Thailand Travel Photos on Film

I used to think it was silly to put so much importance on travel and then go off visiting a country I’d already been to before. But after scanning in all these wonderful memories I realized what a special place Thailand continues to keep in my heart. I’d happily go back every year if I could, to chase down every street cat I spied and double fist meat on a stick while maneuvering labyrinthian alleyways with wide-eyed friends. To have my hair braided by the children of employees at Chai Lai Orchid, read books on the beaches of Koh Mak and motorbike through the rural backroads of Pai at dusk. To get the worst sunburns imaginable and confine ourselves to our guesthouse, only emerging at night to walk the street markets in search of mango & sticky rice. To continue learning more about the country and its people; not just its historical past, but its present climate as well.

I’d happily go back every year if I could, to do everything old and new with a side of the occasional nothing at all. Especially if I always had the luck of spending my time there with such amazing travel companions as Richelle, Miriam, Miles, Bob and Chris. As you can imagine there are a lot of stories crammed into these photographs. There are enough stories to fill entire journals. For now, I’ll let these images do the talking.

Wish Lanterns in the sky during Loi Krathong | Thailand Travel Photos
Fireworks during Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai | Thailand Travel Photos



Fresh juice for sale at Pun Pun in Chiang Mai | Thailand Travel Photos









Street cat and a motorbike in Chiang Mai | Thailand Travel Photos










Mae Wang on a foggy morning | Thailand Travel Photos
Soi dog in Mae Wang | Thailand Travel Photos


Motorbike driving over the bridge to Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos
Resident cat Masi-Daa at Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos




Resident dog Loksha at Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos



Elephants getting a morning bath at Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos

Baby elephant at Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos






Baby elephant portrait at Chai Lai Orchid | Thailand Travel Photos


Bow's daughter walking to the school bus in Mae Wang | Thailand Travel Photos



Visiting Pai Canyon | Thailand Travel Photos





Roselle flowers at the Farmer's Land Crack in Pai | Thailand Travel Photos
Eating a meal at the Farmer's Land Crack in Pai | Thailand Travel Photos




Soi dog sleeping in the bushes | Thailand Travel Photos


Visiting elephants in Pai | Thailand Travel Photos

The White Buddha statue in Pai | Thailand Travel Photos
Swimming in a rock quarry in Chiang Mai | Thailand Travel Photos



Street Markets in Chiang Mai | Thailand Travel Photos




Ferry ride through the Gulf of Thailand | Thailand Travel Photos

Crystal clear waters in Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos


Reading books on the beaches of Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos

Hammock between palm trees at Baan Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos







Gasoline for sale in Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos

Koh Mak bodega cat guarding flip-flops | Thailand Travel Photos
Delivery driver and his dog | Thailand Travel Photos

Rubber tree farms | Thailand Travel Photos
Pineapple farm | Thailand Travel Photos


Palm trees at sunset on Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos
Sunset clouds at Baan Koh Mak | Thailand Travel Photos




Silhouette standing in the ocean water at sunset | Thailand Travel Photos

 

 

Eat

Chiang Mai:
Cherng Doi Roast Chickens (Best chicken I’ve ever had)
SP Chicken
Pun Pun
Catmosphere Cat Cafe
The Larder Cafe
Smoothie Blues
Blue Diamond Breakfast Club — One stop shop. Don’t skip the coconut milk lattes.
Tiger TED Cafe
MIX
Royal India
Bus Bar
Riverside Bar & Restaurant
Charin Pie
Black Canyon Coffee @ Tha Pae Gate

Pai:
Mango & Sticky Rice — Next to Hotel des Artist. Best mango & sticky rice ever.
Sunset View @ Pai
Good Life Pai
I’P Burger & Grill

Koh Mak:
Food Art Hut & German Bakery — Only place in Thailand I’ve had decent bread!
E-San — Unfortunately no web presence, but the best pad thai I’ve EVER had.
Beach Cafe (Baan Koh Mak)
The Chill Cafe

SLEEP

Chai Lai Orchid
Hotel des Artists (Rose of Pai)
Artist’s Place Trat
Baan Koh Mak

Chiang Mai:
SLEEP! HOTEL
Awanahouse
Rama Guest House
SK House
Chiang Mai White House

EXPLORE

Chiang Mai/Bangkok:
Quarry Canyon
Doi Suthep
Loi Krathong
Chiang Mai Design Week
Wat Phra That Doi Noi (“Secret Wat”)
Art in Paradise (3D Art Museum)
Sompet Market
MAYA
Rimping Supermarket
MBK Shopping Center

Pai:
Wat Phra That Mae Yen (White Buddha)
Pai Canyon
Farmer’s Land Crack
Thom’s Elephant Camp
Moh Pang Waterfall
Pai Walking Street

All photos shot on a Rolleiflex 2.8C or Contax Aria + 50mm f/1.4 in November/December 2014.
See more photos on Instagram: #kimandchrisdothailand | #butactuallycambodia

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COMMENTS

I just stumbled across your blog and this set is so amazing. It really reminded my of my time in Thailand. Just makes me ache to go back, this time with more film. What film stock do you normally use? These are all just so beautiful!

Thanks so much, Lexi! Thailand holds a super special place in my heart, too. :]

I’m not sure exactly what film I was shooting back then, but a lot of the color photos were expired Kodak Portra VC 160, and almost all the black & white photos were on Kodak T-MAX or Ilford Delta with the opening photos taken on Ilford Delta 3200.

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