THAILAND: FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, FROM HEAT TO FLOODs  

Our trip to Thailand seemed to begin at the end of December—the moment I start following news reports about the extraordinary floods in the southern part of the country. It soon becomes clear that the rainy season in the Gulf of Siam typically lasts from October through January, and February already marks the start of the dry season. Our plan to spend the last month of winter in Thailand seems like a tropical dream—once we reach the southern islands, there’s no chance of getting wet.

Instead, I come down with conjunctivitis in Thailand, which at first seems to be the biggest challenge of our trip, but the real test is yet to come—a flood, exactly the kind you usually only see on the news.

A Buddhist monk dressed in orange robes standing with back to camera inside a temple, facing a large ornate religious statue, with signs reading "MAN ONLY" and 'LADY CANNOT ENTER' at the front.
A row of intricately decorated white and colored miniature temple structures with spires, positioned outdoors near trees with sunlight in the background.
A woman in orange robes hanging laundry on a clothesline in a rural area with green trees and houses with red roofs.
An elderly man and three children, two of whom are wearing red jerseys with the word 'KORN' on the back, are near a large bronze bell in a temple or similar setting. The man is smiling, and one child is reaching up to the bell.
A harbor scene viewed from under a tree with green and red leaves. There is a pier with boats docked, including a small boat in the foreground and larger boats with Thai flags in the background. Mountainous landscape is visible beyond the pier, under a cloudy sky.
People swimming and relaxing in the ocean near the beach with distant mountains in the background.
Close-up of a green leafy plant with dark green and bright green leaves and visible veins.
Group of young people, including shirtless men, at a motorcycle repair shop or garage, with scooters parked in front and motorcycles inside.
A man and a child on a blue motorcycle at a gas station, refueling. The man is wearing a white helmet, green rain poncho, and holding the motorcycle handlebar, while the child is in a blue raincoat with a hood featuring a cartoon character. A red fuel pump with Thai text and symbols is nearby, with tropical greenery and houses in the background.
Ancient stone statues of traditional Balinese figures placed along a natural outdoor stone staircase, surrounded by dense green tropical plants and foliage.
Traditional ornate Thai temple with multi-tiered roof and intricate gold detailing, against a clear blue sky.
A man in a turquoise raincoat and sandals is sitting on a motorcycle on a muddy, flooded street. He is wearing a helmet and looking back. A woman with a purple umbrella is walking ahead, managing the floodwaters with a stick. Vehicles are visible in the background on a rain-soaked road.
Three elderly men sit on a wooden bench outdoors in traditional attire, with green trees and a building in the background. The magazine cover features a large GO logo, the title 'REISIJAKIRI,' and the issue date '5/2023.' The main headline reads 'Avastame AASIAT,' and additional text mentions names and organizations.

A story from our journey through Thailand, published in Go Reisiajakiri's October 2025 issue (114).

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