101 tips for living in Thailand
Some light heartedness. Here’s some tips I have collected. I understand they are personal, but take what you wish from this bigger than small list of Thailand tips.
- Eat street food.
- Learn to ride a motorbike.
- Make effort to speak the language.
- Go to a local football match.
- Beware of salty toothpaste.
- The words, “Mai bpen rai” (no worries/no problem) will get you far.
- Coconut ice cream is always the best.
- Always get a fried egg with your gra pao muu (Friend basil and pork).
- Chicken (gai), pork (moo), beef (neura), fish (blaa), prawn (gung).
- If you are long sighted, get your contacts out of Thailand.
- Choose your opticians wisely.
- Go to the dentist, it’s cheap and good.
- Always wear a helmet on a motorbike and don’t drink and drive.
- Experience it.
- Check out the temples during festive times. They can be magical.
- Go to Chiang Mai for Songkran (at least once).
- Yee Peng, Mae Jo university. The best thing in in Thailand by far.
- Learn to SCUBA dive. There’s a whole new world out there.
- Learn about your VISA’s.
- Ensure with every VISA run there’s an experience within it.
- Accept that this isn’t your country and to roll with it.
- If in the North, buy a face mask during the months of January to May.
- Learn to love Thai food. It isn’t all rice and noodles.
- Be open to yourself and others
- Avoid Beer Chang and avoid buckets.
- If it’s monsoon season, be prepared to get wet.
- If alcohol is your thing, do it Thai style: whiskey and soda (healthier and cheaper).
- Find a good pharmacy, they’ll be as good as a doctor (and cheaper).
- Always carry charcoal in case you get a dodgy gut.
- Buy Skype credit to call home. It’s cheap cheap.
- Be wary of dogs, but understand most of the time its all bark.
- Don’t get temple’d out; they are unique, beautiful and important to Thai culture.
- Avoid confrontation and raising your voice.
- Shoes off in temples.
- If you see a pile of shoes, take yours off too.
- Always point your feet away from statues of Buddha, especially when taking a photo.
- Same goes for teachers.
- Never touch a persons head.
- Go for a Thai massage, but be wary some are crappy crap crap.
- Be an onion, be prepared; wear layers.
- Don’t itch and don’t scratch mozzy bites. Get some Tiger Balm.
- Cover up during dusk.
- Ensure you have a visor on your helmet if riding a bike during dusk or at night.
- If at night, make sure its clear for night driving.
- Bungee cords are an invaluable accessory for bikes.
- If riding, wear a full face helmet at all times.
- If you’re head is worth 1200B then the REAL Helmets are safety tested to international standards.
- Keep a close eye out for dogs, cats and elephants when riding.
- Get used to the bum spray, you will never look back.
- Get a portable Wifi device, it is everywhere.
- If you want to guess a WiFi code try the username, 0-9, 9-0, A-J, or the telephone number.
- If your Thai is lacking, gestures help a lot.
- The Nancy Chandler Map is magical. Get it for Bangkok or Chiang Mai
- Get to a rooftop bar in Bangkok for sunset at least once.
- Visit Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai at least once.
- Learn some local dialects, you will get some smiles.
- Money belts and backpacks on your front are not necessary. Have trust.
- If you have lost something, don’t panic. Just return and it will likely be there.
- Look after your passport :)
- If in Chiang Mai, eat Khao Soi.
- Learn about Buddhism. It will help you in Thailand and help your inner-self.
- If you have the opportunity, go on a 10 day Vipasanna meditation retreat.
- Learn the culture, watch the movies. Shutter, Nang nak and Ong-Bak.
- Go to the cinema.
- Banana shakes are amazing.
- Banana (gluay), coconut (ma praao), pineapple (sapparot), orange (som).
- Noodle soup for a late night snack.
- Bummii giaow moo daeng is the bestest.
- Delicious (arroy).
- Eat a cricket.
- Go to the supermarkets and you can buy anything.
- Go to the markets and you can buy cheap cheap cheap.
- Second hand stores for clothes
- Learn to drive a semi-automatic as it’s cheaper and more fun.
- Thailand has tendencies to be unstable, learn about the politics.
- Satisfy your curiosity and try something new
- 1669 is the emergency number
- The water vending machines are the cheapest way to drink water
- Real men don’t buy girls.
- Respect women wherever they are from.
- Respect Thai culture, especially in more conservative areas.
- Start the day with an amazing sunrise, wherever you are.
- Buses are cheap.
- If you’re ill, eat Tom Yam Gung.
- Eating frog is weird.
- Western and tourist bars are expensive, go check out some local bars.
- Relationships are good, but be aware living in a place like Thailand things can become complicated.
- Cover up. STD’s are rife, condoms are cheap.
- Drive with a reactive mind more than a proactive mind.
- If a local isn’t doing it, maybe you shouldn’t.
- Contact lens solution is good for the heat, even if you don’t wear contact lenses.
- Be careful when you fart, it might be more.
- Don’t be scared to chat about number 2’s, it’s general accepted here.
- Avoid the centipedes.
- Always smile, a good heart goes along way.
- Try hitching, its fun and doable.
- Do good things, good things will happen. Be karmic.
- Thailand is very different, accept it and concentrate in why your living here.
- If you never try something, you will never know.
- Mango stick rice is hella good.
- Have fun, be mindful, be respectful.
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12/03/2012 | Categories: thailand | Tags: list, tips, travel | 12 Comments