Thailand is in fashion
1) CHEAP AND VERY GOOD MASSAGES, TO DO IT EVERY DAY
It will be the first thing that catches your eye when you arrive. Accustomed to the prices of Spain, a country where getting a quality relaxing massage is only suitable for the wealthiest pockets, when you get to Thailand you will be surprised by the wide range of quality and cheap prices . It is so true that almost every day you will not hesitate between doing a massage or have a beer , both pleasures almost at the same price. What better than a foot or back massage when you've spent all day exploring the cities.
Cheap and great massages, to do it every day
2) THE ETERNAL SMILE OF THAIS
It seems like a cliché, but it is an absolute reality. The kindness of thai citizens leads them to always greet you with a smile from ear to ear and making a small bow forward clasping hands . If the one who greets is a man, he will say sà-wát-dii krhàp and if she is a woman, sà-wát-dii kaa . It is a sound that is repeated so often that you will soon find yourself using the same expression and giving the best of your smiles in return because, without a doubt, you will feel indebted. And not only that, but when you return to your country of origin, without realizing it, for days or weeks you will keep repeating the same pattern: smile, join hands, say good morning.
3) THE RICH AND CHEAP PAD-THAI IN THE STREETS
One of the main reasons to decide to travel to Thailand, apart from the beaches in the south, is its extraordinary food. And within gastronomy we must highlight the most well-known dish, the Pad Thai . It's a stir-fried in wok with rice noodles with eggs, Tamarind sauce, Fish sauce, Red pepper , and a combination of bean sprouts, shrimp, chicken or tofu, decorated with coriander and chopped peanuts . What sounds good? Well, savoring it is much better. In a Thai restaurant in Spain, this delicacy would cost you around 20 euros. In street stalls anywhere in Thailand you will find it for 2 or 3 euros and much tastier.
The Pad-Thai in Thailand is delicious and for two or three euros
4) THE LADY-BOYS
Everyone has heard the story of the friend who went to Thailand, he met a lady in a dive bar at night , after a few drinks she took it to the hotel and it turned out that she had more than a surprise . She was not a woman, but a man . It is a myth? The truth is that in Thailand the border between masculine and feminine is a fine line that is often crossed. It is also true that many European transvestites flock to Thailand attracted by the sex change operations and for their good finish.
The point is that you always have the doubt when you see a pretty girl . Will she be one woman or a man ? If you already decide to enter one of the many strip clubs called lady-boys , if only out of curiosity, you will be able to see how numerous girls who shout in unison crowd before you, whether you are a man or a woman, sounds in which you can detect suspicious low notes.
5) ALTARS IN STREETS AND BUSINESSES FULL OF CANDLES AND SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE
In any place, be it a place of doubtful reputation, a corner in a crowded commercial area or an ethnic neighborhood, you will find an improvised construction in honor to buddha . Numerous Thais will swarm around the area in search of the favor of their God , even when all the principles of our Western morality are being betrayed next door. The religion , although sometimes it is not noticeable, is everywhere.
In Thailand, religion is everywhere
6) LOS MONJES DE ORANJA WHERE YOU CAN PRACTICE ENGLISH
They are everywhere, with their clothing orange, his flip flops and their hairless heads . you'll think i know dedicated to the contemplative life and you will be right. They almost always go in pairs or in groups and it is not difficult for them to greet you with the eternal smile and folded hands. Most are totally untouched by foreigners, but there are some temples where you can talk to the monks at certain times. To these they like to practice English and get to know the points of view of distant cultures . Most of the time you will end up talking about the Universal language , football, and if you are more of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
7) MARKETS AND COUNTERFEITS EVERYWHERE
It happens in many Asian countries, but Thailand is, along with China, one of the countries in which the counterfeit market has its largest distribution. To give an example, the day after the presentation of Bale with Real Madrid you could buy it Welsh player's official jersey on the white team to a price four times lower to which the club puts it up for sale Florentino Perez . They are gigantic markets that cover dozens and dozens of blocks. both in bangkok for example, chiang mai , You could say that the whole city is a gigantic market . Not only can you find counterfeits, but also crafts of all kinds and from surrounding countries. A paradise for haggle lovers , of "from stall to stall and I buy because it's my turn" and of calculations and currency exchanges.
Buddhist monk walking through the narrow streets of Bangkok
8) THE KHAO SAN ROAD OF BANGKOK
30 years ago in Khao San I know sold rice , but someone decided to set up a cheap hostel for travelers and today it is the largest backpacker center in the world , a real madness. Almost all travelers to Southeast Asia pass through this street at some point on their route, full of neons, pubs, hostels, lust centers, massage parlors and people with worse intentions . It is always crowded with people. backpackers share buckets either beer towers in the bars while their traveling adventures are told. It is a place to pass through, but never to stay for a long time. Yes indeed, never forget.
9) THE ANTHEM EVERY DAY AT SIX IN THE AFTERNOON
Come rain, shine or shine in the big cities you will hear the anthem at 6:00 p.m. . And not only that, but you will see how many people stop in the street, they stop everything they are doing and start listening with the greatest respect , some even to sing. Something clearly unheard of coming from a country where the anthem is played in certain football stadiums.
In Khao San, today it is the largest backpacker center in the world
10) THE FULL MOON PARTY
It is celebrated every month in the haad rin beach from the island of Koh Pha Ngan , near Ko Samui in the gulf of thailand . In the 80's a group of backpackers decided to organize a party on the occasion of full moon and the event became popular, becoming the great attraction of this island. All backpackers who come to Thailand make a mandatory stop at this beach party that they attend monthly 20 or 30,000 people from all over the world . It is the best of the best when it comes to beach parties since you will not find any other with such an attendance number. Alcohol and other substances run everywhere, dancing, new friendships and who knows if love stories are the bread of every night of the full moon.
11) EXQUISITE JUICES AT BARGAIN PRICES
Accustomed to being charged two euros in Spanish cafeterias for the juice of an orange that costs 20 cents in the greengrocer, Thailand will seem like the juice paradise. Mango, guava, papaya, rambutan, dragon fruit, snake fruit These are just some of the fruits that you will find there. And yes, you will want to try them all and you will find magnificent concoctions at cheap prices that will become your go-to drink during your stay. The bad thing is that later you will have to taste the insipid fruit of the Spanish capitals again.
Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Beach
12) THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF THE 2004 TSUNAMI
The December 26, 2004 the tsunami with epicenter on the coast west sumatra, Indonesia , took the life of 225,000 people in 11 countries . One of the countries that suffered the most from the attack of the waters was Thailand and that episode marked the population , especially islands and coastal places. They are constantly doing drills and there are evacuation plans and security in case the sea became demonic again. In many places there are posters with photos of what the place was like before and how it stayed after. Many parts of the country are still being rebuilt 10 years later. It is something that when you see it makes you eat inside, in a seen and not seen life can change suddenly.
13) WHOLE FAMILIES IN MOPED
Accustomed to the fact that only two people can go on a moped and with helmets, you will be amazingly surprised to observe, not only the number of mopeds, but the capacity to transport people they have. Sometimes you will meet families of up to five and six members without a helmet or any protection , mounted on the moped and, at the same time, transporting boxes of vegetables or chickens . The balance exercise is impressive and they will criss-cross through the most unexpected places with masterful skill.
Entire families on a moped
14) THE TUK-TUK
It is the motorized version of the rickshaw (a small two-wheeled cart pulled by one person) or the velotaxi (on pedals). The first appeared in the 1960s as an advance on the previous two and are very popular in many asian countries . They are used by tourists who hire their services for the mere fact of using them, or by people who use them as a taxi or to transport goods. Is he cheapest means of transport to move from one place to another in big cities and it is always interesting to have a chat with the tuk-tuker for exchange worldviews . An experience that will become something habitual during your stay in Thailand.
The tuk-tuk, the cheapest means of transport
15) THE LEMMONGRASS
The constant presence of a aromatic herb in thai food , excellent gastronomy, as we have said, will make you wonder all the time what it is all about. A flavor, obviously, that we don't have in Spain , except in restaurants specializing in this cuisine. At first it will be a particularly pleasant aroma, but over time and depending on how long you stay there, due to saturation, you will eventually start to get tired of it. And you will miss, of course, the very Spanish potato omelettes. Everything in moderation never tires, but in excess you can come to hate it.
16) THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF THE KING
Photos, posters, images in the television stores, continuous public events for the people, souvenir stalls that sell articles related to the monarch. It is clear, on the one hand, that the Thais are proud of their king. Having a photo with him is the best. But of course, we do not know to what extent this sympathy for the president is not due to the spectacular propaganda apparatus created by the power . More or less the same as in our country.
*** You may also be interested in...**
- Guide to eating street food (and luxury) in Bangkok
- Thailand, the bastion of inner peace
- Mini destinations (I) : Thailand with children
- Spaniards in Thailand: Open the rare (in a good way) Hotel Iniala
- What to do if you are bitten by a monkey in Thailand
- Thailand for (romantic) beginners
Leonardo DiCaprio's beach