6 Wellness Tips When Travelling to Thailand

Flower Festival Chiang Mai 2020

My friend Kathleen and I were lucky enough to go visit Thailand and stay for almost an entire month. We enrolled in a rigorous Thai Massage Course located in Chiang Mai. Due to the intense nature of the training we were not able to venture far out of Chiang Mai. We made the best of our time by exploring the ins and outs of the city. I am excited to pass on some tips to enrich your adventure. Next time I go to Thailand, I will definitely be visiting Krabi Beach and Phi Phi Islands; places the locals raved about.

Tip 1: Herbatonin

It took us 32 hours and 3 flights to get from Austin, Texas to Chiang Mai, Thailand. When arriving at CNX we were utterly exhausted. I was so thankful my mother-in-law had previously given me Herbatonin by Symphony. I took it on the plane during the overnight flight and was actually able to fall asleep; usually that is a next to impossible  for me. When waking I didn’t feel groggy or drugged as it is a plant-based, all-natural, vegan supplement. I was amazed that I didn’t suffer from the usual jet lag symptoms when taking it my first few nights in Chiang Mai. I slept throughout the entire night for the whole trip! I recommend this natural gem for the next time you jump the pond.

Tip 2: Face Mask & Throat Spray

I was surprised when walking out into the open air in Chiang Mai. I was not expecting the thick cloud of pollution that greeted me. I am highly sensitive to petrochemicals so immediately I was a bit worried. For the first few days, Kathleen and I walked all over the city eager to explore this new place. Being out in the open air with all the smog was something my lungs were not happy about! I had to find a solution pronto as I could feel myself on the verge of getting sick. I was able to find an N95 face mask with a ventilator which worked wonders. I put a few drops of my favorite essential oils to help give that extra layer of protection (peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender).  My throat was super sore as well from breathing in the polluted air. I researched what a good herbal based solution would be and I found it! Kamillosan M Anti-inflammatory Sore Throat Essential Oil Natural Spray. I was impressed with how quickly this spray helped my throat and I used it daily for the rest of the trip.  These inexpensive supplies really saved my experience and I would recommend having them on hand before your adventure begins.

Tip 3: Transportation

Grab is the ride-share app of Thailand and I was super impressed by this service. Not only was the price affordable, but I was also able to communicate with the drivers through the app because it would translate from English to Thai and vice versa automatically. Grab also offers other services such as food delivery and scooter rental.  The Grab driver community was so friendly and accommodating. I accidentally left my cell phone in the back of a Grab car and didn’t realize until it was too late. After a minor panic attack I was luckily able to call my phone from Kathleen’s  and the driver worked with me to return my phone! (I definitely gave a handsome tip) Another perk of Grab is that you are inside a car with A/C , a nice break from the heat and pollution. Tuk Tuk’s and Red Truck Taxi’s leave you out in the elements which can be problematic for some. Chiang Mai is a Baht (currency of Thailand)  driven market so it was a nice relief to be able to pay for all my transportation with my credit card

Tip 4: Self- Care

As a License Massage Therapists (LMT) I am passionate about helping others with their self-care. I also take my own self-care regimen seriously. Throughout my entire stay I was constantly looking for highly rated places for getting massages and spa services. Below are the highlights of my research and my favorite massage practices that I visited.

• Supattra Traditional Thai Massage: This practice is run solely by blind therapists. It was my favorite place for receiving deep, therapeutic release. If you are able to go, ask for Mr. Nat as he is known to be one of the best therapists in Chiang Mai.
• Chiang Mai Foot Massage: I love receiving authentic Chinese Reflexology especially on my feet. My experience with this location was amazing and I would definitely go back.
• Arayana Spa: Kathleen and I both decided that our farewell to Chiang Mai was going to be us checking into a day spa and spoiling ourselves. Arayana Spa was heavenly and the therapist who worked with me was especially attentive to my needs. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for some pampering. (Don’t skip the herbal bath it was a great start to my day of self-care.)

Tip 5: Food for the Foodies

Thai food is my favorite cuisine, so naturally I was stoked to be visiting Thailand. I didn’t want to waste one meal at a mediocre restaurant so I researched almost every place we went to. (Kathleen pitched in too) I have suggested a few restaurants to try as well as popular superfood you might initially overlook.

Restaurants:

• Aroy Dee: This was the first restaurant we tried and it was delicious. We went there several times throughout our stay in the Old Town. Their Thai Tea was my favorite of all I tasted.
• Happy Mushroom: Do not let the small setup fool you, this place offers big, amazing flavors. I never really liked Green Curry before this trip but that changed when I tasted what Happy Mushroom brings to the table. I ate at this vegetarian street food vendor almost every day during our Thai Massage training. Delish!
• Coconut Shell: Hands down the best Coconut Shake and Blue Mango Sticky rice I have ever had. The blue rice comes from Butterfly Pea tea that is steeped with the rice as it cooks.

Healthy Treats:

• Morning Glory unlike the American flowering plant is a delicious, hearty, superfood. It is also known as Water Spinach. Don’t pass up the opportunity to try this tasty treat, you just might get hooked.
• Butterfly Pea Tea has a calming effect and has a unique flavor profile. You can even add a twist of lime and watch the colors changes to a electric violet. I enjoyed mine with a bit of honey.

Tip 6: WangWan Oil

When walking through the Warorot Market I was stopped by a woman who owns a small herbalist shop on the top floor. She was insistent that I try her creams and oils. Being a natural product connoisseur, and having travelers aches and pains, I was interested. She showed me this oil called WangWan oil which advertises itself as a medicated oil using essential oils. She let me have a sample and I put it on areas that were tight, hips and shoulders. After 1 hour of walking around I definitely noticed the oil helping me. I returned and bought several for myself and as souvenirs. I also bought a WangWan cream which naturally can penetrate into deeper layers of skin and provide deeper relief. I use this oil often and once I am out I have already found a source of WangWan products on Amazon!

Final Thought

My stay in Thailand was life changing. It’s a great place to focus on your health and wellness regimen especially with the above tips.