It was in the year 1986. I made a journey around the whole world and came also to Bangkok.
The asiatic kind pleased me so well that I prefer vacation in the asiatic area.
In the year 1988 I made then a 6 weeks tour through the whole Thailand where I landed at least in Phuket.
Afterwards I was each year for minimum of 3 weeks in Thailand.
For “relaxing”
I was still the first 5 years in Pattaya, the last 10 years then in Phuket.
To second question:
I do not have a favourite place in Thailand however best pleased me the north of Thailand and for relaxing Phuket