Introduction
Hello and welcome to “Where Have I Been To“.
This website is dedicated to all things traveling in Thailand.
Join me as I document and share my adventures along the way.
Who am I
Hi my name is Solimon. I am just a regular guy who fell in love with Thailand after my first trip and have been going back fairly frequently since then. I usually make two trips out there per year.
Usually a quick trip for a week or two mid year and then a longer month or so visit during the holiday season.
Why I started this website
- Many family and friends always say to me “You always go there” and ask me “What do you do there?” Now I just point them towards www.WhereHaveIBeenTo.com
- I get friends coming up to me just before they are coming to visit Thailand and ask me for recommendations. Now they have an online resource they have available.
- I was frustrated at the shady lying Tuk Tuk drivers always taking me to overpriced hotel when I arrived in a new location at 3am. Only to wake up in the morning and find a hotel 2 x as good for ⅓ the price across the street.
- To share my mistakes so others do not do the same and lessons learned
- I was amazed at just how many hotels or restaurants did not have a website. There are so many great places that most people will never visit because you will not find them online only when you are on the ground exploring.
- I was frustrated with the lack of online travel resources in which case decided to create my own.
When did www.WhereHaveIBeenTo.com Came About?
I started this website just before my 7th trip back to Thailand.
Approximately one and a half years after my first trip there.
What does www.WhereHaveIBeenTo.com Cover?
I cover everything you need to know to have a fun and safe trip.
- Hotels
From dirt cheap bungalows to five star resorts - Restaurants
From backyard cooks to high end luxury dining - Thai Culture
Over the years I have made a few Thai friends and I like to share the things they do - Street Food
90% of the time I eat street food and I have NEVER been sick, I share my meals.
Take a look at the Street Food Guide - Nightlife
Sometimes I will share a review on a bar or club - Beaches
Thailand is a tropical paradise with many beaches - Forests & National Parks
- Markets
One of the first things I do in a new area is try and find the markets - Shopping
I am constantly amazed at just how many shops there are in thailand, just turn the corner and another block full of shops - Real Estate
Eventually I hope to own a property in Thailand I share my findings research and insights. - Thai Festivals
The most famous one is Songkran Water festival but there are many others I cover as I discover them. Take a look at the Holidays and Festivals in Thailand Guide - Thai Traditions
Many may seem strange to westerners but they somehow make sense to Thais - Thai Language Tips
The Thai language is a hobby of mine I am in no way fluent but sometimes I share some basics to help you get by.
Where do I cover?
Predominantly Thailand.
My progress so far
Please refer to my Where Have I Been To Page.
As I am not a Thai national my stay in Thailand is hindered by immigration laws and many time I need to leave the country so that I do not overstay and keep my self in good standing.
Other Countries
I take this opportunity to visit neighbouring countries and I will be documenting my travels here too. So far I have visited Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Hong Kong
To a lesser degree I also cover Australia, mainly Melbourne.
How Do I Do It?
I do have my own style of traveling I believe in being in the moment.
I have the experience first and take a photo second. For this reason I generally travel fairly cheaply. What do I mean by cheaply? I mean my equipment.
Low Security
Some of the places I stay in do not have the best security. I want to have a relaxing time and not be stressing about my expensive laptop or camera back in my room.
Primarly Commodity Equipment
Most of the early pictures were taken on my smartphone(s), However recently I have been progressing to more higher end equipment slowly.
My writing are primarily focused on the quality and accuracy of the information the visuals and aesthetics come second.
My Equipment
- GoPro Hero 5 Black
- GoPro Karma Grip
- GoPro Hero 4 Session
- GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition
- Samsung Glaxy Note 4
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Lenovo S210 Notebook
- Nikon S32 Coolpix waterproof camera
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Now Retired)
- Asus Nexus 7 WiFi (Now Retired)
- Asus Nexus 7 3G (Now Retired)
My Plan Going Forward
From now on I try and do a quick review on every hotel I stay in. I essentially take a video of the main areas as well as still photos. I also tell you about the pros and cons so you can make up your own informed decision.
It is not uncommon for a small area to have 30 apartment blocks and 28 of them to not have a website.
Although I enjoy sharing this information it does take up a lot of time and I am limited to a degree by this constraint.
My dream is to one day be location independent and be able to travel the world and write and share about my findings
My Goal
Before I die my goal is to eventually visit every one of Thailand’s 76 provinces.
Suggestions for future trips as picked up along the way
Travel Advice
I do my best to document my travels as best I can. I am sure you will agree with me how frustrating it can be trying to find transportation information when traveling overseas. Typing into google “Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai” will return results such as forums with a post from 7 years ago saying something like “I would just fly there”. Not what I was looking for!
Price Advice
Whenever possible I like to quote prices. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be trying to find a price. 
Typing into google “How much does it cost to ride an elephant” and getting back 1000 results telling you how much fun it is to ride an elephant, that you can also have your photograph taken etc. but NO mention of price. Please keep in mind that prices do change, especially hotels in Thailand as they have Low Season and High Season.
Where to Next?
Updates
I am frequently posting helpful new information all the time so make sure you check back often and happy travelling! Subscribe for updates.