Koh Lanta Sunsets – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

koh-lanta-sunset-beach-sergio You know how much I am in love with Koh Lanta’s lovely Sunset Beach… if you are even half as romantic as I am, well, you should definitely check this beautiful island out! Koh Lanta Yai (not YAY! LOL) is the biggest island belonging to the Koh Lanta district, part of the Krabi province, off the Andaman coast of Thailand, south of Phuket and Krabi. Being the biggest island of the archipelago, 25 km-long, Koh Lanta Yai is also commonly known as just Koh Lanta. There are several ways to get to Koh Lanta: as it is not very far from Krabi, you can get a minivan from there, and then take a small ferry that bring you straight to the island. As I was travelling in very high season (the first days of January 2016) I had the opportunity to get to the island via speed boat directly from Koh Lipe, the beautiful Malay island you have already discovered with me. Actually, coming from the tiny Paradise – like island of Koh Lipe, arriving in the huge island of Koh Lanta was kind of a shock! The island is increasingly very touristic, especially in high season, so that the place is rivaling some of the better known Thai resorts, such as Phuket and Koh Samui!

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Thailand Gay Travel Resources

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Athens: The Greek Capital

Athens - Sergio Scardia Usually Athens is the starting point of many trips around the Aegean sea and its beautiful islands: not many visitors decide to give a go to a tour around the city. Wrong choice: the Greek capital is definitely worthy to go around and enjoy! A visit to Athens should start with a visit to the Acropolis: the heart of the millennial history of the city! It is also the best point to enjoy an amazing view over the metropolis! Only from the Acropolis and its Parthenon you can realize the majesty of the Greek Capital, a really huge city surrounded by both the sea and the mountains! Despite being such a big city, the center of Athens is definitely walk-able! Soon after visiting the Acropolis my suggestion is to get the underground and start a walking tour of the center of the Greek Capital from Omonia Square. Walking along Panepistimiou road, you will find a few of the main sights of the city: the Huge Adrian’ s National Library of Athens, the beautiful Academy of Athens, the National History Museum.

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at the Scruffy Italian Traveler

Greece Gay Travel Resources

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Trekking in Thailand – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Thailand - Scruffy Italian Traveler I didn’t know Thailand was such a great place for trekking! I found it out when I first touched the Thai soil. In October 2015, on my first trip to Southeast Asia, soon after arriving in beautiful Bangkok, I started organizing a few excursions around Thailand. As I was not sure on how it worked, I asked help to a touristic agency, licensed by the TAT (the official Tourism of Thailand Association). I followed the recommendations of my tuk tuk driver around Bangkok and he put me in good hands! The agency planned everything for me: flights around Thailand, train tickets for short ways, accommodation, trekking excursions… After, I learned that I could have avoided to book the excursions in advance: once arrived in Chiang Mai, the starting point of most trekking trips, it is easy to arrange a few days of exploration, as there are plenty of agencies willing to help! I flew into Chiang Mai, the second largest city of Thailand, located in the northern plains. Chiang Mai is a pleasant, 700 years old city, which is a beautiful place to visit on its own. If you have time, I’d suggest you to reserve one full day (or at least one afternoon) of your trip to visit the ancient Buddhist temple of the city. I had chosen a 3 days (2 nights) trekking excursions: the perfect length to explore the amazing green scenery Thailand has to offer! Luckily enough, I was put in a very nice trekking group, all around my age (or younger): a good bunch of 12 guys and gals! We bonded and we are still in contact!

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at the Scruffy Italian Traveler

Thailand Gay Travel Resources

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Full Moon Party in Thailand – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Full Moon Party - Scruffy Italian Traveler I couldnt sleep a few nights ago Do you know why? It was Full Moon Night! So I was over thinking and I recalled the great time I had in Ko Pha Ngan Have you ever been to its infamouse Full Moon Party? I promise it is a lot of fun What is exactly a Full Moon Party? It is a Beach Party to celebrate the Full Moon! The most famous Full Moon party in the world started and still takes place every month in Thailand, on one of the islands of the Samui archipelago, in the Gulf Coast, Ko Pha Ngan. It is held every month for more than 30 years now, on the Full Moon night. The Gulf coast of Thailand is worldwide well known for the three tiny, fine islands of the beautiful Samui archipelago: Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan. The best known, and very popular with tourists and backpackers from all over the world, is Ko Samui. If you know me by now at least a bit, you might have guessed I decided to stay away from Ko Samui: although a beach heaven, and a bigger island with plenty of choices for any taste apparently, the place has recently become too crowded. Its resorts and beach bars are attracting far too many tourists, rivaling Phuket.

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Note from a reader: The author should have noted that the full moon revelers have so trashed, misused and desecrated Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao that the government has made them off limits and will arrest anyone who sets foot on any of the islands.

Thailand Gay Travel Resources

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Puglia Lecce, Italy – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Puglia - Scruffy Italian Traveler As you will discover through my posts, all of Puglia is beautiful: I might be slightly biased in my judgement, of course, but I do really believe Apulia (the original Latin name, as it is worldwide known) is a gem just waiting to be discovered. To be fair, more and more tourists every year are heading her and enjoying the beauty of my region! One of the most beautiful cities of Puglia? Lecce! Every time I am in Puglia Lecce is a must visit for me: I love its international vibe, the gentle elegance of its baroque historical center, the strolls around its quietly crowded streets every evening. As one of the 5 biggest cities of Puglia Lecce is full of charme: the historical centre of the city is not very big, easy to walk around. Forget your maps, you can discover beautiful hidden corners of the city just wandering around: the so called “Florence of the South” is rich of Baroque architectural buildings, with a proper style, so original and full of expression, that has acquired its own nickname, barocco leccese (Lecce baroque).

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Puglia Gay Travel Resources

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