Three months to the day I was sat in this same lounge at Doha Airport, Qatar. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was heading out to Thailand without little idea of what to expect.

Now this little journey is over I realise that I have done so much and written so little about it. I aim to add some of my experiences on here when I reflect over the coming days and weeks, but in the meantime I wanted to put down some important things I have learned in my time in Thailand.

Be Savvy but not Suspicious
Most travelers or tourists know to be aware of possible scams, rip offs and other problems. It is obvious that someone naive and clueless about the place they are visiting will most likely have some bad experiences, but I found that being too suspicious and/or negative can also close the door to many opportunities. The key is keeping a positive attitude and open mind while being aware of the potential scams in the place your visiting - find out on forums, from friends, from locals etc. (e.g. in Bangkok it is common for people to tell you an attraction is closed when it isn’t, trying to get you to go somewhere else).

Understand the Locals
It is easy to think that other cultures are a world away from us. In reality there are always people with personalities similar to someone you know and they are just as unsure about you as you are of them. A friendly smile goes a long way and can get you anything from good information to good friends.

Don’t get hung up on money
Many people will exaggerate the cheapness of a place they have visited while missing off important details. Don’t stress about getting the best deal all the time - it is impossible to always be clued up about everything. Remember that your money is going a long way to help the local community (especially in countries like Thailand with widespread poverty). If you paid an extra 50p more than a local would for a meal how much does that really affect you?

Do your Research
The internet is your friend - even the most obscure places, museums, bars and areas will have information from people who have been there before. When looking to visit somewhere get all the information first - how busy is it, how pricey, where is good to eat, things to do etc.

Find people like you
There are many ways to meet people but if your traveling from place to place with little time it can be hard. Websites like Coach Surfing will help you safely find people to meet and/or stay with. If you stay with someone who lives in the place you are visiting their experience is invaluable - how to get around, places to see, where to eat etc.

Take your Time
Others may disagree, but I believe you need to stay for at least a couple of weeks to really experience a place. Spending three months traveling and only stopping in one place for 4 days at a time will take its toll on you - your time will be spent researching, arranging traveling, finding a place to stay etc. Slow it down and you will discover much more. I stayed in Koh Samui for over a month and still feel like there is more to see.

Push your Boundaries
If something invokes a bit of fear, nervousness or unease then it is worth doing. For me this trip was all about doing things outside my comfort zone and because of this I have had an unbelievable time.

The biggest lesson for me is the last one - the key is just get out there and do it. If you make mistakes don’t hold onto them; just learn your lesson and move on. We all feel fear but it is those of us who push through that get the biggest rewards.

Life is short - I know what I would rather be doing.

This was quite a while ago now that I visited Safari World, although it has stayed with me as one of the more memorable experiences so far.

The place itself comprises of a large Zoo, various animal shows and a separate safari. Somewhat ironically given the name, the Safari was the least interesting part for me.

During the morning we saw an Orangutan Boxing show. There are a lot of stories of animal cruelty in Thailand with elephants, monkeys, tigers etc. but I can assure you in Safari World this does not happen. The Orangutan show was merely a rehearsed slapstick escapade (in case you pictured rabid apes fighting to the death) with no real violence.

During the day we saw adult tigers up close, elephants playing football, dolphins, sea lions and talented birds of all kinds. But of course the highlight for me was actually meeting the Orangutans. During the middle of the day the trainers brought three of them out to the center of the park to meet the visitors and earn a few Baht from picture taking.

While having a picture taken one of them tried opening the zip on my bag, possibly looking for food. I like to think the Orangutan was previously trained to steal wallets from unsuspecting tourists before being rescued by Safari World, and is not able to shake the habit. Either way I couldn’t be mad at the poor ginger ape!

Safari World is one of those attractions that first time visitors to Bangkok will not make it to and was very cheap at 500B (£10) for everything. Karen and I were the only Farang couple around as far as I could see. This is definitely a highlight for me so if you are in Bangkok or visiting soon, do take a trip out to Safari World.