Thailand suggestions

Will be going to Bangkok and Phuket, any thoughts on what to see would be great. I have never been there, other than a couple of dive trips in Phuket I have no other ideas yet. This is the first time trying to take the 20D on a trip, normally I just take a point and shoot. Dragging gear on to dive boats, beaches and around town has risks, how to I minimize these?

If want to leave my 100-400 at home that and only take my 17-85, will I miss the longer range? This would allow me put my gear in a Lowepro mini treker and at times inside a normal backpack.
Thanks

I was there about a million years ago for 13 months. The people are very friendly and the scenery can be great. I was in Tahkli, Korat and Bankok. Enjoy.
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'Image quality is not the product of the machine, but the person who directs the machine, and there are no limits to imagination and expression.' Ansel Adams

http://garypalamara.com/Gallery.htm

here're some suggestions based upon my visit 4 1/2 years ago (man!):

• 17-85 is fine. i had a sony f707 with a similar range (less wide angle) and it covered basically everything i needed. i can't really remember any times when i needed or wanted a bigger equivalent zoom.
• tripod: if you can spare it, this is of course a big boon. i used one sparingly but was great when it was necessary.

things to see:

• thai palace in bangkok is unmissable. stupendous stupas gilt in gold (i love aliteration).
• thai kick boxing: unless you're unimaginably averse to violence, you can't miss this. you'll need a telephoto if you want to take pics from the cheap seats, otherwise, spring for the courtside seats to capture some fantastic images.
• angkor wat/siem reap: if you can spare the time and expense, i highly recommend flying out for a few days to visit these religious ruins. second largest religious site in the world (after the vatican). truly stunning.

edmund

hanover said:

Will be going to Bangkok and Phuket, any thoughts on what to see
would be great. I have never been there, other than a couple of
dive trips in Phuket I have no other ideas yet. This is the first
time trying to take the 20D on a trip, normally I just take a point
and shoot. Dragging gear on to dive boats, beaches and around town
has risks, how to I minimize these?

If want to leave my 100-400 at home that and only take my 17-85,
will I miss the longer range? This would allow me put my gear in a
Lowepro mini treker and at times inside a normal backpack.
Thanks

Click to expand...

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/fulminating/

I spent a year in Ubon, long, long, ago. I was also in Bangkok twice, once for an R&R and once shipping out-country. As an unmarried E3, I found Bangkok rather tiring :> )

I do, however, remember the wonderful temples. I had a 35 mm film camera with a 50 mm lens, and remember wishing I had a wider lens. I’d suggest bringing along a Canon 10-22 or Sigma 10-20 for the temples and the city streets. And for the temples – do they still allow flash? They did when I was there, but that was 1965! If they do, by all means take a 430 EX or 580 EX flash unit.

As well as the other suggestions, you might find a boat trip to the floating markets enjoyable.
I’d suggest a wide-angle over a heavy telephoto.

--
BJCP National

I was in Thailand this time last year - Bangkok & Phuket. In Thailand I would recommend the temples - Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arum, and Wat Traimeit (Golden Budda). The weekend Chatuchak Market (9000 stall swap meet) and the Jim Thompson House were also worth the trip. In Phuket we stayed at the Hilton in Karon Beach, awesome. We received 1 hour thai massage each day at sunset for about $12, we rode a elephant in the jungle and went to Kata View where there is a spectacular view of the Kata and Karon Beaches. I would also hightly recommend http://www.virtualtourist.com and the DK-Eyewitness Travel Guide book on Thailand - both provide a wealth of knowledge. Enjoy

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll spend some time researching these ideas.

Thanks again.

From Phuket take a boat tour to Phang-Nga Bay. Amazing scenery with hundreds of little limestone islands. One of the James Bond movies was filmed there.

Some tour operators offer in addition kayak tours. Some of these islands are actually "hollow", think doughnut. You can enter these with your kayak through some pretty narrow and shallow tunnels and caves, some filled with bats. Inside you'll find mangroves, monkeys, birds, etc. Saw a strange fish with feet which comes out onto mudflats...

On our way back, the tour guide suddenly started whistling and throwing lunch leftovers (chicken) into the air. Within seconds, our boat was surrounded with eagles catching the food mid-air. Very cool! Your 100-400 may come in handy on that occassion...

The tour operator provided us with standard kayak dry bags to put your gear in. The bags are made of this heavy plastic material which you roll up from the collar and close with buckles. Waterproof and won't sink.

In the north of Phuket is Nai Yang Beach. Quieter and more relaxed IMO than Patong or Karon Beach.

For Bangkok, most attractions have already been mentioned. Just might add to include a Khlong tour.

Have fun. JR