Another weekend, another adventure...and with the number of my weekends quickly counting down, I feel I have to make the most of each of them. Thankfully, Thailand was the place to do so!
I have to start out saying that this was my first non-organized-tour trip. I'm usually not one for group tours, but the tourism and travel office here has been super handy in obtaining things like travel visas and cheap airfare. But it was time - probably overdue - to venture out on my own with a travel buddy and have an adventure!
So, here are my suggestions of the BEST To Do's if you ever find yourself in the former Kingdom of Siam - Enjoy!:
1. First stop: Bangkok!
Bangkok is the capitol of Thailand, and the seat of the King, currently Rama IX. There are modern and old parts, and I highly recommend staying and touring around the Old City. It has something like 50 gajillion Wats (temples), the Grand Palace, gardens, monuments, a fort, a river, cruise boats and water taxis, and is easily walkable throughout. The modern city is much like any dirty, old city in the States, and is nothing to write home about; but you can actually
feel the age of Old Bangkok. We stayed in a cheap little hotel along one of the canals, and were able to walk or take a short ride to anything we wanted to see.
2. Ride a Tuk-Tuk...but be prepared to argue!
Tuk-tuks are basically a scooter with a small flatbed in the back, rigged up to carry 2-4 people (but we saw many more crammed in them!) for short distances. For a mere 20 bhat, we hired a driver for 3 hours to take us to several Wats and statues. The arguing comes in when the driver insists on taking you to sites such as a jewelry factory or a tourist office, where he gets a kickback or a gas discount just for showing up with people; another common argument is when he tries to charge you double at the end of your time with him, saying that his rate was "for 1 person, and you are 2!" Just laugh it off and chalk it up to part of the experience...but don't pay more than your stated agreement. All the guidebooks recommend to agree on an amount beforehand, and you absolutely should...but also be prepared for them to change it at the end of the day.
3. Visit as many Wats as possible
There are so many wats in Old Bangkok that, after awhile, they may appear to be all the same. However, they are not, so perk yourself up with some good Thai coffee (the absolute BEST on this continent, I swear!) and keep going, because there will be
something - like a sitting or standing Buddha, or the "tallest" Buddha, or the "only" emerald or black Buddha in this hemisphere - in each one you see. And be astounded at the shear number of them, because they can be around every corner. Thailand, after all, is a theocracy, and you will see people turning with hands pressed together anywhere near a Wat, taking a brief moment to pay respect to the deity close by. The Thai people are a very good example of making some time for spirituality in the every day.
4. Buy auspicious bracelets
They are sold at Wats and monasteries, and are usually made of metal or semi-precious stones. Buy one for your friend, and lovely people at home. They bring good luck and blessings, and Lord knows we could all use those!
5. Travel with a good friend
Preferably one who's flexible and understanding, for when you screw up things like, say, your flight home... (more on that later)
6. Don't purchase or wear funny pants
You will see them everywhere, often hidden in the most unremarkable places, like a market stand selling fine crafts; you will see them on hippies and 50-year-old tourists from LA alike; you will see them at train stations and in subways and in tuk-tuks, but you will NEVER see them on a native Thai. They are funny-pants, and range from palazzos with elephants and bright prints to gauzy wide-legs with an indescribable and baffling third leg down the middle (supposedly, the crotch?). My friend Cadena calls them dookie pants, because they kind of hang like that. They are hideous...and still, they start to grow on you after about 3 days. Something about the patterns, I think, that are hypnotic. But resist, dear friends, because there is no where on this Earth that they are appropriate, and your friends and other tourists will just laugh at you behind your back:)
7. Go over your budget at Night Markets
People may head to China for all the wares, but Chiang Mai is where it's at for handcrafts and homemade goods that are impressive - and impressively inexpensive. You ALL are getting gifts, so yay for Thailand! There is everything from food to clothes to art to paper goods to Buddhist paraphernalia to little bits of culture. It is astounding, and all sorts of a cultural learning experience. And, luckily, there are plenty of ATMs nearby.
8. Get out of Bangkok and do something fun, like riding elephants! (I.e, don't screw up your plane tickets)
So, yeah, about that bit on the tickets...we're sitting at dinner on our first night in Chiang Mai, and we're reviewing our itineraries so that we can plan elephant riding and possible ziplining with gibbons or head-sticking-in tiger mouths - you know, that old chestnut. And I look at our flight leaving Chiang Mai, and it is about 11 hours AFTER our flight home from Bangkok! OH NO, because that's not the correct direction of travel!! So, instead of riding elephants, we headed to the airport to try to get on another flight...not the easiest task, considering it was a holiday (see below also), but we were so blessed the entire trip, it happened relatively quickly and painlessly.
However, I have seen many people's pictures with elephants, and it looks amazing. I highly recommend it!
9. Go for a night drive to see the Wats glisten
It rained our last night in Bangkok, so we hailed a taxi and drove to a night market after dinner. There is so much gold and filigree and gems adorning the Wats, they shine and sparkle in the moon- and streetlights. It is amazingly blissful, and much like being in a giant jewelry store.
10. Wear easy-off shoes
I recommend flip flops, and no additional straps or buckles, etc. Take my work for it, I shoe-failed for our first visit to a Wat, and ended up heading back to change into a pair I could just throw off quickly. It was worth it, and you spend 75% of your time shoeless, gaping in awe at the beauty of temples and stupas and gold and silver everywhere.
11. Pray to Buddha
Whatever religion you do or do not adhere to, you will feel a light and prevailing spiritual presence throughout the old city of Bangkok. Go with it, and praise Buddha in some Wat or at some chedi in whatever way you wish. It will feel wonderful, and you'll be that much closer to whomever your higher power may be.
Thailand is a theocracy, with the King as head of the religion. People frequently pause to place hands together and bow, and you'll look around to find a small worship space. You'll eventually, after a few days, pick up the habit yourself. It's contagious, and fun:)
12. Eat lots of good food
Also pervasive is the smell and presence of deliciousness. Be it street food or restaurant fre, you'll be able to find something tasty. I suggest something with coconut milk. Or Indian. Or Middle Eastern. Or, what the hell, THAI. Perhaps it's because I've lived in Korea too long, but everything - including the eggs at breakfast - was "the best thing I've put in my mouth in MONTHS!"
13. Be prepared to SWEAT!
The guidebooks say the best time to visit Thailand is ANY TIME BUT SUMMER. So, July is steamy hot, and incredibly humid. I think I will wrinkle 3 years later from spending just 4 days there. There were times when I was simply standing there, and would feel sweat dripping down the back of my leg. That doesn't usually happen when I RUN 8 MILES, so it was different. You get used to feeling disgusting and wet, and o just go with it after about 1 day.
14. Take things slowly (you don't really have much choice about this!)
Thailand isn't an island, but it certainly runs on Island time, a much slower clock than Korea (which is already slower than the US). We waited for an hour for dinner one night, and that was pretty common. So just go with the expectation that you need 2 hours for any meal after breakfast. And then enjoy the leisure time. Bring a book, drink more than you would...you're on vacation!
15. Just happen to arrive on an unpublished-in-the-guidebooks but very popular-among-the-locals holiday, where everyone will wish you well and give you many blessings!
Once again, me and my travel buddy just happen into a festival on an important holiday. This time, the holiday was the weekend celebrating the monk's entrance into a three month seclusion period. Lots of celebrations at Wats, lots of food being donated to the monks, then back to the public (see free lunch pics in slideshow!), and much good cheer. The people are very proud of their holiday and their temples, and are very giving and welcoming. It was a great time, and I highly recommend stumbling into celebrations that include praise, parades, fireworks, and a King's caravan.
Obvs, Thailand was incredible, I loved it, and I'm looking forward to going back someday!
