Traveling Thailand
What we loved…
The Food – Every aspect of Thai food excites us! We love the bold, rich, fresh flavors are infused into every dish – soups, salads, noodles, seafood, desserts, etc. You simply can’t go wrong when traveling Thailand. Beyond being delicious, it’s super easy to find anywhere, anytime. There’s an abundance of street vendors serving up anything from Fresh Fruit Shakes and Bangin’ Banana-Nutella Pancakes to Homemade Pad Thai and Spicy Som Tum (papaya salad). Best of all, you can get it for pocket change.
A Vast Range of Activities – There’s something for everyone in Thailand, no matter what your interests. Ruins, cooking, temples, shopping, eating, parasailing, partying, scuba diving, island hopping, elephants, kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, trekking, zip-lining, wine tasting, fire dancing, beaches, rivers, mountains, jungles, big cities, deserted islands, etc. All this packed into one passport stamp, and it’s all very accessible.
Western Conveniences – Maybe this isn’t as important to those just on a short vacation, but for someone who has been on the road for quite some time, or for someone not used to going too far from home, the western conveniences of Thailand are quite a treat. There’s a 7/11 on every corner. Literally, there are over 8,300 7/11s across Thailand. Icy cold western malls, fast food joints, easy public transport, western toilets, trashcans, and clean restaurants and bars are taken for granted at home, but they sure do add to the ease and comfort of traveling Thailand.
What we didn’t love…
Elephant Pants with Chang Tank Tops – Haven’t I seen pictures of Rob in a Thai elephant tank and Kari in peacock pants? Yes, but it’s not the clothes. The clothes are a great choice in sweaty Thailand. It’s the people that elephant pants with Chang tanks represent – douchebags. Unfortunately, better locations mean more tourists, and more people means more assholes. Everyone parties in Thailand, but we should all do it responsibly. The elephant pant and Chang tank crowd comes to Thailand just to party. They don’t respect the culture, they’re rude to the locals, they make a mess, they cause trouble etc. The bad news is, there’s a lot of them. The good news is, the jerks in elephant pants with Chang tanks can’t ruin spectacular Thailand.
The Money Myth – Maybe we’d been told for so long that Thailand is this amazingly cheap destination, that we had unrealistic expectations, but Thailand is not that cheap. Yes, Thailand is remarkably cheap compared to say Australia or Hawaii, but so is most of the world. Don’t get me wrong, traveling Thailand is absolutely affordable, but you can’t survive on $5 a day like many backpackers like to claim, and it’s not nearly as affordable as many of its neighbors. There are some great budget options, but remember, you get what you pay for.
Thai Tummy – Montezuma’s Revenge, Delhi Belly, Thai Tummy, Hershey Squirts, Back Door Trots, you know what we’re talking about…diarrhea!!! You can run, but if you’re traveling Thailand long enough, you can’t hide. Thai Tummy will catch up to you at some point. The good news is, whatever you ate was probably so delicious that it was worth it. Plus, as we mentioned above, they have western toilets and 7/11s selling Gatorade! Don’t let Thai Tummy scare you away from trying any and all food in Thailand, but please be prepared.
