What nobody tells you about visiting Thailand

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Thailand. Some things matched: Wat Phra Kaew is as spectacular as every review says, and Koh Samui has a genuine energy I'd read about. The massaman curry obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: beautiful islands. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: tourist scams in Bangkok. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.