Read more about Gavin Manerowski and Backpacking in Thailand in this PDF. Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UULxljHsn5o

1. Gavin Manerowski / Backpacking in Thailand
For backpackers Thailand has long been one of the most popular destinations on the planet.
The combination of ancient history, acres of unspoilt beaches, a buzzing nightlife and plenty
of affordable places to eat, drink and sleep make Thailand the ideal location for those
travelling on a budget. Gavin Manerowski visited Thailand recently to explore the
backpackers’ paradise.
For most visitors to Thailand the experience begins in one of two cities – Bangkok or Phuket.
The main international airports are located here, and each city has the heady mixture of the
traditional and the modern which define urban Thailand. In Bangkok tourists flock to the
infamous Khao San Road, which is lined with both upmarket and less salubrious eating,
drinking and sleeping establishments, massage parlours, kerbside stalls, street drama and
dance and all manner of entertainment. In Phuket the Bangla Road has made a name for
itself as one of the raunchier districts of the country, with the evening entertainment
comprising mainly of dancing girls and boys, exotic cabaret acts and bars which entice
customers in by encouraging them to play extravagant drinking games. Each city boasts a
wealth of reasonably priced, mid-quality accommodation, plenty of history and the ability to
party all night long.
Backpackers seeking a more tranquil experience, or simply a break from the twenty-four
seven lifestyle prevalent in the city centres, can travel out to Phang Nga Bay, a collaboration
of intriguing limestone rock formations, tiny isolated beaches, hidden lakes and secret caves.
This picturesque bay is still on the tourist trail, with many operators running day tours
throughout the region, yet still offers those who wish to seek a little respite a scenic, peaceful
spot in which to soak up some of the wondrous sights Thailand has to offer outside the
cities.
Koh Lao Liang is for those who really want to get off the beaten track and experience some
of the hidden treasures of the country. The best kept secret of Bangkok locals, Laoliang
Island is an eco-resort which allows only a limited number of visitors per day, and is only
accessible by boat. Miles of unspoilt white sand beaches are overlooked by stunning
limestone cliffs and surrounded by aquamarine waters of the type most of us see only in
pictures. For Gavin Manerowski the panoramic views were the highlight of an already
amazing trip.