Thailand or Indonesia?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Thailand
Sanuk - the sense that things should be fun - runs deep; anger loses face instantly.
What we have written up
- Ao Manao bay
- Ao Thalane mangrove bay
- Ayutthaya archaeological site
- Baan Dam, the Black House gallery
- Baan Kang Wat artist village
- Baan Silapin Artist House arts venue
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash is still king at markets and street food; cards work in malls and hotels
- Tipping is not traditional - rounding up or 20-50 baht is appreciated
- 7-Elevens are everywhere and solve most small problems
Indonesia
Seventeen thousand islands and hundreds of cultures; Bali's Hindu rhythm is one island's story.
What we have written up
- Agats town
- Al-Quran Al-Akbar museum
- Alas Purwo National Park national park
- Alor Archipelago island
- Ambarawa Railway Museum museum
- Amed beach
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash for warungs and villages, cards in resorts and malls
- Tipping is not traditional; 5-10% appears on tourist-area bills
- Ramadan changes rhythms in Muslim regions - eat discreetly by day
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely (plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026); check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.