Thailand bound

[warpus]

In 7 days or so I am going to be landing in Bangkok, Thailand. I have 4 nights booked at a hotel right downtown, but after that there are 24 days that need to be filled with activities. I have done a fair bit of research, but nothing is set in stone other than the above.

I essentially have a list of "top" things I would want to do in various places, should I end up there. A number of possible itineraries have started to form in my mind as a result of where most of these places are located, but I'm willing to do whatever. It's wide open.. I wouldn't even be against flying to Laos, Vietnam, or Indonesia.. or whatever, if there's time, it makes sense, visa/passport stuff checks out, and it's cheap enough. I probably won't end up doing that - there seems to be enough in Thailand to keep me busy for 4 weeks, but I'm open to anything.

So if you know anything at all about the things and places I am about to list, please chime in! Or if you know of a place or thing that isn't on my list but might be worth looking into. First or secondhand experience can help, be it a food, market, beach, hostel, nightclub, museum, trail or whatever recommendation, warning, or just assorted information that could come in handy.

And what sorts of activities am I interested in, you may ask? I want to experience the culture, have a bit of an adventure, do a couple things I've never done before, eat some unique foods, relax a bit on a beach or two... I want to backpack through the country and enjoy its various flavours, whatever that may entail. This is by nature going to involve things I haven't thought of by myself and never will, so let's see what you guys have to say.

Bangkok

In Bangkok I will spend at least 5 nights, 4 when I land, and 1 before my flight home. Those first 2 days are probably going to be rest days (The journey there will take 38 hours), but I will definitely have more than enough time to explore the city. My hotel is right on 2 subway lines, so I can go anywhere easily.. at least that is the plan.

I want to see the temples: - Wat phra kaew temple, Grand temple, Wat pho temple (with the big golden buddha), and Wat arun temple.

Also on my list for Bangkok are markets: Terminal 21, J2J, Chatuchak, Khao San Road, Wang Lang classic market.

Lumphini park and Benjakiti park are on my "maybe" list, but Benjakiti park is close to my hotel, so I will probably go there. It is also apparently close to a Japanese neighbourhood with good Japanese food - Emporium?

I also have Asiatique - the waterfront down as a place to check out if I'm in the area, and for glitzy & cheesy nightclubs I have Route 66 and RCA Alley, although those were suggestions by a person I don't know very well. I think it might be fun to show up at a fancy nightclub though, have a couple drinks, bust out a couple moves, dance with a bunch of Asians, and then take a cab back to my hotel late at night. I usually hate nightclubs, but I do like to dance.. I've got rhythm baby and I'm not afraid to use it! Plus who's going to see me there? I can pretend I totally know what I'm doing.. which when it comes to nightclubs I most definitely don't.

The Loy Krathong lantern festival was scheduled for my 2nd night there, but it's since been apparently moved to November 22nd, so I might not be able to make that.. not sure. Seemed really cool though, I would definitely want to be there for something like that if it comes up elsewhere.

I also wouldn't mind getting some sort of a Thai massage, because from what I've heard that stuff is just amazing and can be quite theraputic, and I'm not even talking about the "happy ending" type of massage either. I've had a long year at work, I need to relax. I think I remember reading that there might be some tourist-oriented massage places at Khao San, but then again I might want more of a traditional flavour.. and not something artificial designed for tourists only. So I guess I need to do more research on that front. Either way though, oil me up and make me feel awesome Thailand!

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap isn't in Thailand by any stretch of the imagination, but I am 95% sure that I will want to go there at some point, possibly right after my 4 nights in Bangkok are up.

Visa entry requirements for Canadians to Cambodia seem to be the same as Thailand, so I should be good there. From the looks of things I need to take a bus from Bangkok, and then transfer at the border, after paying a border crossing fee. The details of this journey are not yet fully clear to me yet, but for some reason everyone says to take the bus and not to fly, even though flying there can be quite cheap.

Here's the list of temples I want to see in Siem Reap: - Angkor Wat temple - experience sunrise there, Bayon temple, Ta prohm temple, Angkor Thom temple, Banteay Srei temple, Preah Khan temple, Banteay Kdei temple.

So what the hell, am I a temple freak or something? Nah, I've just looked up all the above temples (for both cities), and they all seem like something I need to visit and photograph, if I'm in the area. I need to see all this firsthand, it seems kind of amazing.

Beaches and islands

It seems like I should at some point make my way towards Phuket, but perhaps avoid it. Krabi, Railay, and Ao Nang are down in my notes as "must visit" beaches, so I want to be down there for sure.

Phi phi island near Krabi is down as "paradise" and Ko Tao island I have down as a great place o to get my scuba diving license, although it would be a bit out of the way. I also have kho pipi island down for scubadiving, which is nearer to Phuket. I also have "islands near Trang, south of Krabi" on my list of islands to maybe check out, but don't remember anything about that.

Chiang Mai

I really hope I have time to stop by here, although I don't want to rush myself either. On my list for Chiang Mai I have: - Mae Ya waterfall in doi inthan national park - 75km away from Chiang Mai, Doi Inthan national park - Thailand’s tallest mountain, go to aThai kickboxing event, take a Thai cooking class, see Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - golden temple, explore the old city, and maybe visit Tiger kingdom.

Other

Khao sok national park looks just amazing - I would love to do some hiking and/or kayaking there, especially on or near Cheow larn lake. Could also ride an elephant there. It's under 200km north of Phuket, so near parts of the country where I might be at anyway..

Phang Nga bay, near Krabi is another place that I have down as worth kayaking at.

Ayuthaya would be a possibly interesting daytrip to see the ruins of the ancient capital, but I'm going to be seeing so many temples.. It is definitely on my "hmmm.. probably not but.." list. Then again wat phra si sanphet temple seems really cool.

The sanctuary of truth in Pattaya looks incredible, I wish it was in Bangkok or something, as I really don't think I will be anywhere near Pattaya.. although mind you it is not that far from Bangkok or anything.

Khao yai park is supposed to be good for elephants.

Chiang Rai is another potential city I'd visit if I had more time or if it turns out that there's a lot more cool stuff there than I think there is.

And it looks like I will miss the full moon parties, which is a shame. I land November 16th close to midnight, and the full moon parties would be on the 17th. I am going to be exhausted and in Bangkok with a hotel for 4 nights.. I've heard of half moon parties, which might be an option, but I don't know anything about them yet.

---

That's pretty much all I've got. At one point I considered checking out Vietnam and Laos, but 4 weeks is just not long enough... it would make the trip too hectic - I need it to be relaxing enough..

So remember, the above are all the things that have struck my fancy, for one reason or another. It is meant to be a list of options to have available while I'm there, instead of a definite list of everything I want to do or anything like that. So if you can contribute to the list.. or convince me to cross anything off it.. or if have anything useful otherwise, thanks in advance!

 

[warpus]

In terms of "generic tips" I have:

- only use cabs that have meters running, skip those who refuse
- eat at least all of these things
- definitely do not step on any Thai money. If bills start flying away, do not use your feet to stop them.
- when in temples, don't wear shorts.
- be wary of women who say things like "where you from mister?" and who want to form an emotional connection with you..

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Be cautious about women in bars who are very accommodating. They are probably hookers. Though a friend of mine actually made out with one of those hookers several times without paying anything (and he wasn't deceiving her or anything). So there is that.
If you ever wanted to be open-minded about casual sex (and now I am explicitly referring to none-hookers), realize that Thailand will be a golden opportunity, though that may raise a moral issue or too. Think about that beforehand.

 

[AlpsStranger]

This isn't nearly as kinky as expected.

I am disappointed.

 

[warpus]

Be cautious about women in bars who are very accommodating. They are probably hookers. Though a friend of mine actually made out with one of those hookers several times without paying anything (and he wasn't deceiving her or anything). So there is that.
If you ever wanted to be open-minded about casual sex (and now I am explicitly referring to none-hookers), realize that Thailand will be a golden opportunity, though that may raise a moral issue or too. Think about that beforehand.

I have read a bit about the apparent contradiction of the acceptance of prostitution in the country with how conservative it still is. I find it fascinating that I can walk through the world's largest sex complex and 5 minutes later walk into a bunch of monks and women walking the streets who will not dare look me in the eye.

See, that's fascinating and all, but prostitutes aren't really for me, unless I can convince one to do it for free. I like to cheat the system you see... But nah, otherwise prostitutes are right out. I'm going to be on the lookout for Swedish twins instead.. Swedish twins backpacking through the country, looking for for adventure...

But let's say that any tips regarding sex tourism or anything of the sort are right out, for the purposes of this thread.

This isn't nearly as kinky as expected.

I am disappointed.

I have a friend from Thailand who is annoyed that people think that Thailand is a sex n' party paradise, or whatever. She blames movies like the Hangover. She even got slightly annoyed at me, for asking questions that might be construed at me attempting to partake in a bit of that culture!. So I am sending a bit of her glare your way now.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Killing you own thread warpus...

 

[AlpsStranger]

That's okay. Tell her I have a much more enlightened view of Thailand and know it's really all about weird music and chess.


Link to video.

 

[KmDubya]

Warpus,

I live in Thailand when not working in Afghanistan and am married to a Thai.

For a good beach look into going to the island of Koh Samui. It is nicer than Phuket but is more on the quiet side.

While in Bangkok go to Soi Cowboy to see the bars and people watch. Walking Street in Pattaya is also entertaining.

Go to a ladyboy cabaret show.

Have a great time there, it is a lot of fun and has some great food.

And finally remember that you are not paying for sex, you are paying them to leave

P.S. If you are in Phuket look into going on a sea kayak tour of the rock formations.

 

[AlpsStranger]

I seriously can't believe a country stereotyped for sex tourism has a place called Phuket AND a place called Bangkok.

If stereotyping is a problem I think the universe is creating it on purpose guys, sorry.

Spoiler :

Obviously being a little silly

 

[Kyriakos]

Thai (Khmer and Siamese) architecture is very distinctive and based on an unusual repetition of lean forms mostly made of wood (siamese) or more imposing forms which are of stone (khmer).

 

[Camikaze]

When in Siem Reap, tip your driver well, seeing as they cost a pittance anyway, and you want them to be helpful. A trip to the landmine museum is fairly worthwhile - it's on the way to/from Banteay Srei (I think?).

 

[warpus]

When in Siem Reap, tip your driver well, seeing as they cost a pittance anyway, and you want them to be helpful. A trip to the landmine museum is fairly worthwhile - it's on the way to/from Banteay Srei (I think?).

Oh yeah, I remember somebody suggesting this a while ago! Not sure why I didn't have it on here, thanks

 

[warpus]

Warpus,

I live in Thailand when not working in Afghanistan and am married to a Thai.

For a good beach look into going to the island of Koh Samui. It is nicer than Phuket but is more on the quiet side.

That sounds good! Koh Samui is close to Ko Tao island too - where I wanted to maybe scubadive and get my snorkeling (or whatever) certificate. I will keep Koh Samui in mind - how are the beaches?

While in Bangkok go to Soi Cowboy to see the bars and people watch. Walking Street in Pattaya is also entertaining.

Soi Cowboy looks interesting.

Go to a ladyboy cabaret show.

I actually heard some good things about those ...

Have a great time there, it is a lot of fun and has some great food.

Any dishes you recommend?

P.S. If you are in Phuket look into going on a sea kayak tour of the rock formations.

Will write this down, thanks!

Thai (Khmer and Siamese) architecture is very distinctive and based on an unusual repetition of lean forms mostly made of wood (siamese) or more imposing forms which are of stone (khmer).

Yeah, it all looks incredibly interesting to me - almost alien. Can't wait to see the details up close!

 

[KmDubya]

Some food to try would be:
1.) Tom Yong Gung - A soup with prawns, lemongrass and mushrooms. Really good, can be hot.
2.) Green, red or yellow curry - Thai curry is made from chili peppers and cut with coconut milk, Indian curry is made from spices and is different. The seafood is all fresh so any added to a curry is great, pork and chicken also make for good curry.
3.) Fresh coconut - soft and tender, not like the hard crunchy coconut you get in the US that is brown and hairy.
4.) Sam Sung Thai whiskey - cheap and not bad, similar to Jack Daniels. Many bars use counterfeit alcohol but no one makes fake Thai whiskey.
5.) Singha Beer or Tiger

Also, to avoid a Danny Bonnaduce (the guy from the Partridge Family) type situation learn how to spot a katoey (ladyboy), unless that is what you are looking for The presence of an Adam's Apple is a sure giveaway but surgery can fix that as well. The average Thai women is five feet, if someone is much taller might be a katoey. Finally a C or D cup is another sign that it might be a katoey.

Another tip is don't get in a fight with any Thai especially tuk tuk drivers, there never is just one.

P.S. Get a Thai massage - not the oil type but the traditional dry Thai style. The massage parlors on the street with the girls all wearing the same t shirts will work fine. Just pick an older or not so pretty one and tell them you just want a massage nothing extra. If you pick one of the little pretty ones she will be better at the happy ending part but might not be strong enough to give a good massage. Paying ten times the price to go to a fancy spa isn't going to get you a better massage.

Also, just stating the obvious here, don't do any drugs here. The laws are pretty severe and many tuk tuk drivers will offer to sell but are actually working with the police in order to entrap you into paying a large bribe to make the problem go away.

 

[AlpsStranger]

Tom Yong Gung sounds really good, I have to say.

 

[Camikaze]

BTW, in Siem Reap (and I assume this holds for other places with a tuk-tuk driver), beware of where you eat or shop, because prices are marked up like 100% near tourist attractions, and your tuk-tuk driver will take you to them for commission. For instance, your tuk-tuk driver might suggest you eat at the restaurant next to Angkor Wat, and if you eat there, they get a free meal. But the price of an Amok Curry, for example (which you have to have!), is about $8 there, as compared to like $3 or $4 in a non-tourist trap place. Sometimes there may not be too many options (e.g. eating near Angkor Wat), but you might prefer to save money on relatively expensive food and tip your driver extra instead. Not that matters much because the prices are only ever going to be relatively expensive, but it's the principle.

In Thailand, apparently the tuk-tuk drivers are more aggressive (or more brazen), and you can get ripped off if you're not careful. For example, a family friend got agreed upon a return price for a tuk-tuk to some temple and back, but when they got there, the driver demanded about triple for the return journey. In this sort of situation you don't have much of a choice but to still accept a ride, but if you remain calm and firm, you can at least negotiate the price down.

And try not to get yourself shot along the Thai-Cambodian border.

 

[warpus]

Tom Yong Gung sounds really good, I have to say.

I love Tom Yum, I will definitely be trying all the soups while I'm there, especially ones with similar names

1.) Tom Yong Gung - A soup with prawns, lemongrass and mushrooms. Really good, can be hot.
2.) Green, red or yellow curry - Thai curry is made from chili peppers and cut with coconut milk, Indian curry is made from spices and is different. The seafood is all fresh so any added to a curry is great, pork and chicken also make for good curry.
3.) Fresh coconut - soft and tender, not like the hard crunchy coconut you get in the US that is brown and hairy.

It looks like I might just gain weight on this trip...

My plan is to eat mainly at restaurants for the first 3 weeks and then for the last week to go heavy on the street vendors.. so that if I get sick, it won't impact as much travel time

4.) Sam Sung Thai whiskey - cheap and not bad, similar to Jack Daniels. Many bars use counterfeit alcohol but no one makes fake Thai whiskey.
5.) Singha Beer or Tiger

I've had both of those beers in Thai restaurants so for that I am ready..

And the thing is I am used to good Canadian whiskey.. and I mean no disrespect to cheap Thai whiskey but it used to be my drink of choice so my whiskey palette is now slightly snobby and demanding. I'll see what I run into though.. I will probably end up trying that Sam Sung whiskey anyway.

Also, to avoid a Danny Bonnaduce (the guy from the Partridge Family) type situation learn how to spot a katoey (ladyboy), unless that is what you are looking for The presence of an Adam's Apple is a sure giveaway but surgery can fix that as well. The average Thai women is five feet, if someone is much taller might be a katoey. Finally a C or D cup is another sign that it might be a katoey.

Yeah, that's all on my "oh no, ladyboy" checklist, plus: ladyboys tend to try to appear as feminine as possible, at least compared to other women. Plus square elbows. I think that's all I've remembered to check for, should I be in an emergency type situation.

P.S. Get a Thai massage - not the oil type but the traditional dry Thai style. The massage parlors on the street with the girls all wearing the same t shirts will work fine. Just pick an older or not so pretty one and tell them you just want a massage nothing extra. If you pick one of the little pretty ones she will be better at the happy ending part but might not be strong enough to give a good massage. Paying ten times the price to go to a fancy spa isn't going to get you a better massage.

I'll just point to an older experienced masseuse and a cute younger one and ask for them both! After having some cheap whiskey.. am I getting the hang of this now?

BTW, in Siem Reap (and I assume this holds for other places with a tuk-tuk driver), beware of where you eat or shop, because prices are marked up like 100% near tourist attractions, and your tuk-tuk driver will take you to them for commission. For instance, your tuk-tuk driver might suggest you eat at the restaurant next to Angkor Wat, and if you eat there, they get a free meal. But the price of an Amok Curry, for example (which you have to have!), is about $8 there, as compared to like $3 or $4 in a non-tourist trap place. Sometimes there may not be too many options (e.g. eating near Angkor Wat), but you might prefer to save money on relatively expensive food and tip your driver extra instead. Not that matters much because the prices are only ever going to be relatively expensive, but it's the principle.

Sounds like very similar dynamics as what I encountered in Peru actually. At times I didn't mind paying a bit more, just because it was all cheap anyway, but at the same time I'd try to stay away from anything too blatant. I've been warned of the tuk tuks and.. I'm supposed to negotiate the fare beforehand, right? I know that with cabs you only get in ones that agree to start the meter when you get in and use that for the fare, but with tuk tuks I can't remember now.

And try not to get yourself shot along the Thai-Cambodian border.

...

But.. okay, seriously now, how does that whole thing go down? It sounds like you have to take a bus to the border, get processed, and then arrange another bus to take you to Siem Reap, with scam buses waiting there to take advantage of you..

I want to have a hostel booked ahead of time, so that part should be fine, but the whole border crossing and jumping on a new bus part I'm still unclear about.

 

[Camikaze]

Sounds like very similar dynamics as what I encountered in Peru actually. At times I didn't mind paying a bit more, just because it was all cheap anyway, but at the same time I'd try to stay away from anything too blatant. I've been warned of the tuk tuks and.. I'm supposed to negotiate the fare beforehand, right? I know that with cabs you only get in ones that agree to start the meter when you get in and use that for the fare, but with tuk tuks I can't remember now.

Probably depends on how you organise your driver. My hostel had a number of drivers who worked there and served the people from the hostel, so we didn't negotiate the fare beforehand, on the basis that the hostel wouldn't recommend them if they were frauds (though this obviously depends on how trustworthy your hostel is!). At the end of the day, after he'd taken my friends and I around everywhere, we paid him what he asked for plus about a 50% tip. So about $10 each. Your hostel should really be able to point you in the direction of a tuk-tuk driver that is trustworthy, and because they work as your private chauffeur for the entire day, you don't need to find another. They don't have meters in the first place, so if you have to organise your own, then negotiating beforehand would be wise (though not foolproof as they can just change the price on you anyway).

...

But.. okay, seriously now, how does that whole thing go down? It sounds like you have to take a bus to the border, get processed, and then arrange another bus to take you to Siem Reap, with scam buses waiting there to take advantage of you..

I want to have a hostel booked ahead of time, so that part should be fine, but the whole border crossing and jumping on a new bus part I'm still unclear about.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24879008

If you've booked a hostel beforehand, then they should be able to help you out with that, and you might even get free pick up when you arrive in Siem Reap. I haven't been to the Cambodia-Thai border, so I don't know if you have to change buses or not, but it's probably just like a normal land border where you have to walk up to the guy lazing around in his office while he flicks through your passport and stamps it, then the same on the other side of the border. With a bit of added military tension thrown in, apparently.

 

[warpus]

Probably depends on how you organise your driver. My hostel had a number of drivers who worked there and served the people from the hostel, so we didn't negotiate the fare beforehand, on the basis that the hostel wouldn't recommend them if they were frauds (though this obviously depends on how trustworthy your hostel is!). At the end of the day, after he'd taken my friends and I around everywhere, we paid him what he asked for plus about a 50% tip. So about $10 each. Your hostel should really be able to point you in the direction of a tuk-tuk driver that is trustworthy, and because they work as your private chauffeur for the entire day, you don't need to find another. They don't have meters in the first place, so if you have to organise your own, then negotiating beforehand would be wise (though not foolproof as they can just change the price on you anyway).

So it sounds like the best way to get around is to book a trustworthy tuk tuk for the whole day in Siem Reap - morning till evening or at least late afternoon to drive you from temple to temple that you want to go to.

I'm going to start looking up hostels that might be good for recommending that sort of thing - or at least has a good reputation or something, thanks.

If you've booked a hostel beforehand, then they should be able to help you out with that, and you might even get free pick up when you arrive in Siem Reap. I haven't been to the Cambodia-Thai border, so I don't know if you have to change buses or not, but it's probably just like a normal land border where you have to walk up to the guy lazing around in his office while he flicks through your passport and stamps it, then the same on the other side of the border. With a bit of added military tension thrown in, apparently.

For some reason I remember reading that I'd need to change buses at the border, which seemed weird.. I am going to have to look that up ..

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

Looks like after New Zealand you beat me to Thailand as well. Well at least I will go more informed by what I read on in here. Subscribed.