Thailand is in fashion
1. Everything is achieved faster with a smile. This is one of the keys to understanding countries like Thailand. You won't get anything by raising your voice, let alone getting angry with them. But if you smile at them and ask politely They will open the doors of their houses for you . It's worth a try.
two. There is a basic motto to buy. And it is none other than the 'Same, same, but different' (‘the same, the same, but different’), which refers to copies of all kinds of objects, from Andy Warhol paintings to high-end shoes. Did you think that the Chinese were the copy masters? Well, visit streets like Khao San Road in Bangkok.
3. It is time to face prejudices, especially culinary ones. We are referring to those animals that many nutritionists predict will become the food of the future: insects. A kilo usually costs 60 cents and, although we are very hesitant, they are nutritious, crispy and tasty . It's time to shake our papillae.
The best food in Bangkok is found in the middle of the street
Four. The monks do the military. Well more or less. Because in these countries it is tradition to become, for three to twelve months , in Buddhist monk. Although not required, Theravada belief says that those who do so give their parents the opportunity to reincarnate in a better life. The result? Dozens of monks walking down the street.
5. Never say Saigon. The Vietnamese only refer to the city with the current name of Ho Chi Min City, in honor of the leader of the communist revolution . It was the French who named Saigon in 1862, and also the area surrounding the metropolis: the not so distant Conchinchina.
6. Warlike ingenuity has no limits. And it is that defeating a superpower like the United States has enough merit. The American War (as “The Vietnam War” is known here) sparked the creativity of Vietnamese soldiers. The tiny Cu Chi Tunnels, an hour from Ho Chi Min City, run through more than 200 km of underground hiding place and include various death traps.
The tiny tunnels of Cu Chi
7. The Mekong is metaphysical. The rugged mountains of Laos make it very difficult to cross the border between this country and Thailand , which is why many tourists prefer to spend a couple of days on a wooden boat -sleeping, yes, on solid ground- until you reach your destination. Traveling on the Mekong River is something unforgettable: no shifts, no moves, no speed . The ideal place to discuss what we want to do in life.
8. And cross the street even more. A Vietnamese boy told me about Hanoi, the city with the most motorists in the world: “crossing the street is a metaphor for life. You have to take a first step, stand firm in the decision and keep moving forward. You can't back up, or stop dead, because you'll get run over. You also can't wait for motorists to stop for you. You have to look ahead, and move forward ”.
9. Chaos can be missed. No one in their right mind can defend capital trafficking like Hanoi, Bankok and Phnom Penh. The heat is usually suffocating, the motorcycles do not follow any type of indication and there is neither order nor meaning in the city. Stressful, yes. But when we return to our circulatory calm we can't help but miss that nice chaos a little.
There are many ways to navigate the Mekong, the river of the nine dragons
10. You're a dollar with legs. For natives there is no difference between Australians and Europeans who go looking for parties, young women or spiritual inspiration. Tourism in Indochina does not leave a very good taste , and you only need to see the western centers full of bars with football and The Simpsons, Family Guy t-shirts or the river tubing , a completely absurd sport practiced in Vang Vieng, in Laos.
eleven. Work comes first. And it is that most people work all day, from the morning until late at night . That is why there are always, always people on the street, selling, buying or exchanging products and services.
12. Tuk tuk drivers lie. You can never trust a driver who offers you a very cheap trip, because he is actually going to force you to stop at various stores to take a commission . Don't take this the wrong way, just let him know you know the rules of the game. And have fun watching The sounds they have to call tourists: pshh, hey, aaa!
Buddhist tuk-tuk in Cambodia
13. You are much tighter than you thought. Suddenly, paying one euro for a coffee or five dollars for dinner seems crazy to you. You don't want to be teased But maybe you're exaggerating a bit. Although Indochina can bring out all that is metaphysical in you, it can also bring out your most stingy self.
14. Ping pong balls exist. And they are used for things that our mothers could never stand. If you go to the center of Bangkok and find a man making a sound with his mouth , like a ball coming out of a hole, is that they are inviting you to visit the red light district. You know, to see what Winona Ryder did in the South Park movie.
fifteen. Angkor cannot be seen in one day. Not possibly in one lifetime. The must-see 9th century temple complex sprawls over 400 square kilometers of Cambodian jungle. Almost nothing. The symbol par excellence is the 'City of the Temple' or Angkor Wat, but this is just the beginning of the adventure.
The ruins of the temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
16. The Full Moon Party is the party of reference. It is held once a month on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Ko Pha Ngan. It started with 20 tourists wanting to dance under the moon in 1985 , and now he brings together thousands of them, who paint themselves in fluorescent colors and end up completely intoxicated. A real party imposition.
17. Genocides do not interest the media. And that is one of the reasons why, for years, nothing was published about the Cambodian situation. Pol Pot , a student at the Sorbonne in Paris and leader of the Khmer Rouge, returned to his native country to establish a harsh regime that annihilated a quarter of the population, including urbanites, intellectuals, polyglots and people with glasses . And we are talking about 1975.
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Haad Rin (Thailand) is famous for its Full Moon Festival celebrations
Ho Chi Min City: never say Saigon