Thailand - Help for a solo BKK/Thailand traveler

I have flights booked to get me in to BKK late evening Dec 13th. I also have an outbound flights departing BKK around 7PM on 12/23 to get back home for Christmas. I'm looking for suggestions on places to go and things to do that are easy for a solo traveller. I'd love some diving recommendations as I've heard Thailand has some great inexpensive diving locations with amazing sights.

Am I best off heading to Phuket and finding diving there? Or are there other locations for better diving for a solo traveller and reasonable lodging prices?

Definitely open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Oh, and any advice on food is also appreciated. I love Thai food and am really looking forward to getting some authentic food while I'm there.

I'm not trying to sound like a jackass, but do a search on here and do a Google search. You will probably want to look for some diving websites and ask your questions there.

Thailand has two coasts, Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. I don't know anything at all about diving, but each body of water will have pros and cons.

Authentic food will be all around you, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE IN THAILAND. If you can eat beef, pork and fish, then just start eating whatever you see. Otherwise you will have to check with the vendor what kind of meat is in there.
http://www.enjoythaifood.com/thai-street-food/index.html

There will be reasonable lodging anywhere, I wouldn't worry about that. I would be more worried about diving location and finding a safe diving company.


Here's a huge list of things to do in Bangkok
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/1333566-help-me-plan-5-days-between-han-bkk.html

be prepared for the food though. Authentic Thai food is almost inedibly hot to me. And even to some of my Thai friends. I don't know how they can eat things that are so spicy.

Phuket Diving (http://www.diving.phuket.com/)

Scuba diving liveaboard safaris are the must for underwater lovers. They allow you to discover the best dive spots without the rush of a daytrip, and enjoy the life onboard with your buddy divers. Nowadays, the dive boats are very spacious and comfortable and offers you all amenities to entertain yourself during the journeys between each dive place.

The main destinations for scuba diving are in the north of Phuket: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Island and Richelieu Rock; and in the south: Phi Phi Islands, Koh Rok Nok, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. You will find below a choice between different boats to reach these destinations.

Oh, and any advice on food is also appreciated. I love Thai food and am really looking forward to getting some authentic food while I'm there.

I'm guessing that your love of Thai food is a love of the Americanized version; you've never had real Thai food. They are very different animals.

All I can recommend is to choose a place that has customers and, if you can hack it, a high Thai:farang ratio.

I don't eat in Thai restaurants too often in US, but fing the food to be rather mild.

If it's too spicy in Thailand, put some sugar in it - that's why there is sugar on the table in addition to the spices, so you can make it less spicey.

EmailKid, back to bland food ...

OP, I am going to Thailand solo in August, my best advice is to do a lot of research through sites like tripadvisor.com, reading the many and useful post on here, and using other resources like wikitravel, also googling questions usually turns up good results. I have been planning since February and its not easy planning, but I have learned alot and am looking forward to a great trip. I do want to thank everyone on FT who has helped with answering my questions.

~Steven

Buy the Lonely Planet Bangkok. It should have a section on what to do in 3 days, and also has hotels and food recommendations.

Enjoy

be prepared for the food though. Authentic Thai food is almost inedibly hot to me. And even to some of my Thai friends. I don't know how they can eat things that are so spicy.

Practice.

After hundreds of meals in Thailand, the only one that was too hot (I still ate it), was an order of som tam from a street vender once. He held out his hand with about 10-12 Thai chilis in it, and I thought he was asking if I wanted chilis in it which I did. I nodded, and in they went. Found out later he was asking how many chilis I wanted. 5 is about the right dose for me in som tam.

Practice.

After hundreds of meals in Thailand, the only one that was too hot (I still ate it), was an order of som tam from a street vender once. He held out his hand with about 10-12 Thai chilis in it, and I thought he was asking if I wanted chilis in it which I did. I nodded, and in they went. Found out later he was asking how many chilis I wanted. 5 is about the right dose for me in som tam.

LOL. It is very common to show the chilis, and get approval, before tossing them into the mortar.

Try som tam Lao (AKA tam Lao) with pungent dried chilis sometime. Delicious. The dried chilis lend a different flavor and style of heat.

Also a very refreshing dish is tam taeng, som tam with cucumber (taeng qua) instead of green papaya. This can be made exceedingly hot since the watery base of the cucumber counters some of the heat.

Also a very refreshing dish is tam taeng, som tam with cucumber (taeng qua) instead of green papaya. This can be made exceedingly hot since the watery base of the cucumber counters some of the heat.

I have had it once. Loved it!