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Published: December 23rd 2009
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THAILAND
No... not that King... nor that other... but the King of Thailand... so adored and revered he is by the Thai population... Location: Hat Yai, Songkhla, Trang, Phattalung, Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Hua Hin, Petchaburi, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Phitsanulok, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai
Length of Stay: 28 Days
Cost per Day: $17
Well... Cant say that I have fallen in love with Thailand like everyone else seems to do... I am surprised... I guess countries can be viewed in much the same way as people... Sometimes you will connect and sometimes you wont... and I suppose thats completely ok...
Thai people have been friendly enough, although I have been extremely surprised at how so few speak English... I have had great difficulty in communicating... especially in South Thailand - aside from the islands of course... Simple things like needing directions or trying to interpret a menu... it has been most frustrating and annoying for both me and no doubt the locals... sorry to say but I have lost my cool on several occasions... very quietly of course... 😊
If you are intending to visit Thailand and spend some serious time off the beaten track then I strongly suggest learning a little of the language before you arrive...
THAILAND
The King in his younger days... It will make life so much easier for you...
Still, it has been a great country to travel through and experience. I entered into Thailand via bus direct from Penang in Malaysia and so basically worked my way up from South to North... staying just 1 night in most locations and then travelling anywhere from 1-6 hours each day to my next location...
Being able to pass through alot of the provincial towns has been the ideal way to really get into the culture and see how the Thai's live, work and play...
I did also manage to visit 3 islands - Ko Lanta, the divine island of Ko Phi Phi which is without a doubt the most stunning location I have ever seen...and Phuket...
I read in a Thai tourism brochure that for many years now, there has been great rivalry for the Australian tourist market between Phuket and Bali... Bali seems to continue to come out on top as the winner and the Thai tourism sector is trying to change that...
Personally, I would choose Bali over Phuket...
Absolutely the beaches are better on Phuket but in my mind, Bali (Kuta/Legian) wins hands down over
THAILAND
and celebrating his 82nd birthday on the 5th December... He is the longest reigning monarch in the world... Phuket for authentic local food, quality and variety of accommodation, service, shopping, value for money, no language barriers and shorter plane trip...
Worth taking note of the following Thai visa information also... if you arrive into Thailand by land crossing, you will be given a free 15 day visa on arrival at the border crossing... If you wish to stay for more than 15 days and dont want the hassle of having to leave the country and re-enter to receive another 15 days, then it is worth obtaining a free 60 day visa prior to arrival... A 30 day visa is issued on arrival only if you arrive into Thailand by air...
Travelling by train has definately been my preferred mode of transport... Ordinary train suited me the best and is really good value... Its slow and has open windows which I found perfect as one could really take in the countryside, smell the smells and sit and listen to the locals in the seat next to you... You also tend to stop every 5 or so kms at another town so you get to see so much more than if you were sitting on a bus on
THAILAND
Thailand has been all about the food... a highway...
Its been interesting... after stepping foot into 21 different locations here in Thailand, I have definately gained a greater appreciation for the whole notion and importance of good town planning... infrastructure services... the location of points of interest, transport systems... it really does contribute to the whole energy and ease of enjoyment or non-enjoyment to ones visit... I wonder if one can go study to become a town planner... I think it would be such a fascinating subject to learn about...
Bangkok - The City of Angels... What a terribly unappealing and unnattractive city it is and is far from being an easy place to get around... Traffic is not the best as can be expected in a city of over 8 million, unfortunately the public buses have to sit in that awful traffic so its quite an unpleasant task to get anywhere... I had to sit on a bus for an hour just to travel several km's to the central train station... I did also try walking and it was shorter @ 45min, but then you have to deal with the scorching heat...
The absolute best part about Thailand has of course been all
THAILAND
sorry... I know its a bit gross... the food... Pad Thai, Green Curries, Red Curries, all manner of Noodles... all of it just scrumptious... You would have to live here for years to be able to sample everything thats on the streets... Bangkok definately has the greatest variety...
My favourite part of each day has been going into the markets at each of the towns/cities I stopped into... and they all have at least one and in most cases several markets to look at... They are just amazing and filled with so many things you wouldnt encounter back home...
Best location in Thailand for me has been Chiang Mai... Another spot to pop into if you have time in your schedule is Hua Hin... Hua Hin is a little seaside town in South Thailand on the East Coast... Apparently the Kings choice of seaside holiday in Thailand... A very well kept secret... Well... kind of... Hilton, Sofitel and the Marriott have made their presence known... but still its a very small place... kind of rustic and exclusive and just gorgeous...
Hope you enjoy the photos...
Off to Laos now... not a huge country, so only expect to be there for a few weeks...
Nic
THAILAND
these chickens have been boiled in cumin... x
Hmmm... I feel like doing a few P.S's
P.S... Asking for something as simple as Pad Thai doesnt necessarily mean that you will be understood... How bizarre... I thought that Pad Thai was like a national dish or something and that everyone would know about it... Not so...
P.P.S... Kob khun kha - Thankyou in Thai... remember this if nothing else...
P.P.P.S... I overheard a conversation today... A fellow traveller making a skype call back home to the States... He was saying... There are 3 reasons most people come to Thailand... Drinking... Sex... Food... and in that order...
Says it all really...
Ciao for now... x
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Jessica
non-member comment
Hi Nic!
I'm sorry that Thailand wasn't all it's said to be for you. We are actually not heading over anymore.. other exciting things in the works (hopefully!!!) I hope that you enjoy Laos. I have a friend whos family is from there and they are lovely people... not that that means anything at all but it's all I know about the country!!! Have fun.... Love reading your updates too! Lots of Love - Jess