|
|
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
My wife are going to travel to Thailand in about a month. Anyone have any reccomendations on must do things while there?
|
Woland Special user 680 Posts |
Eat, swim in the Indian Ocean, visit the Wats.
|
abc Inner circle South African in Taiwan 1081 Posts |
Where in Thailand?
|
Sid Helkule Inner circle Australia 1481 Posts |
I went there for my honeymoon last year. I wasn't a fan of Phuket at all (apart from visiting the Phi Phi islands).
Bangkok was great and Chiang Mai was hands down my favourite place to visit. We also did a three day hill tribe trek there which was painful but amazing. Staying in the villages was fantastic, but the hiking took its toll. In Bangkok visit MBK and the Patpong markets at night (although the markets are very seedy in parts, surrounded by strip clubs). Do a temple tour on your own, we went to Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew and a few others. Of course the Grand Palace is a must. Grab a boat and take a cruise on the river. In Chiang Mai the night Bazaar is amazing, as is Wat Doi Suthep. Tiger Kingdom was fun as well, although I had a full grown Tiger get rather aggressive towards me while I was sitting on him. Make sure to sample as much of the street food as you can, it's delicious. So much to do, but those places are a start! Hope you have fun... |
abc Inner circle South African in Taiwan 1081 Posts |
Stay away from Phuket. It is a ****hole.
Chiang Mai is a must. |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Different areas of Thailand are very different. No matter where you go, never point your feet at a Buddha.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
Bernard Sim Inner circle Singapore 1095 Posts |
If you're going to Bangkok on the last Sunday of the month, you can visit the Siam Magic Club. Apart from that, you must visit chatuchak market on weekends. Take a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River and visit the many temples along the river. To take the boat, just take the Skytrain to Taksin station and walk to the pier.
Don't be enticed by the "sex shows" in Bangkok (Patpong area), if there are touts asking you to visit their joint, chances are, you'll burn a hole in your pocket. Also, when in Wats (temples) or some tourist attraction, you will probably be approached by "friendly" Thais that will tell you where tourists should go, again, this is a scam. You will be led to a gem shop and if you buy, you will pay a premium for it. Don't let the negative spoil your trip. Thailand is a fun place and the people are very friendly. I'm going again in Aug.
Bernard Sim
|
jazzy snazzy Inner circle run off by a mob of Villagers wielding 2109 Posts |
My son says Thailand is the best place to buy custom made suits.
If you need special engineering, topits, etc., the tailors are very cheap and very fsst.
"The secret of life is to look good from a distance."
-Charles Schulz |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
Thanks for all the suggestions. We are spending some time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Krabi town which is south of Phuket and not supposed to be so commercialized. If we can do some rock climbing in Krabi, we will.
Thanks again! Glad I decided against Phuket! I'm surprised it's disliked so much! What is the Wats Woland? Mike |
Bernard Sim Inner circle Singapore 1095 Posts |
Wat(s)are temples.
Bernard Sim
|
Woland Special user 680 Posts |
Hi Rockwall!
When I was last in Phuket, about 15 years ago, it was very nice. I think the water of the Andaman Sea off Phuket is about the most pleasant swimming I have ever enjoyed. Didn't get into town much, just a beach holiday at the Meridien. All might be different now, after the Boxing Day tsunami. The "Wats" are the Buddhist shrines around the country. There is a complex of magnificent royal shrines in Krung Thep a.k.a. Bangkok. It is not to be missed. There is a huge reclining Buddha effigy, and even more importantly, the jade Buddha that was brought back to Thailand from I think Laos by the King Rama the First (current King is Rama IX). Some areas of the adjacent Royal palace were also open for a visit. The full name of the city, by the way, Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, means "Los Angeles": "The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarma". A genuine therapeutic Thai massage would also be a very nice thing to do. Woland |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
After I graduate and before I start my real job I want to go to the WMC Muay Thai camp at Lamai beach in Koh Samui for 2 months.
Supposed to be a real touristy island where everything is probably really overpriced but the camp is authentic and one of the best.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Thai one on!
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
Sid Helkule Inner circle Australia 1481 Posts |
I think I wasn't wowed by Phuket's beaches because we are quite blessed here in Oz for that sort of thing.
Patong really is a hole though; it's like Queensland's 'Surfers Paradise' on steroids. |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Phuckit looked pretty cool on the Andrew Zimmern. Or was it Anthony Bourdain? Whichever, it looked cool.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
Thanks for the suggestions! Just got back from my trip last Friday.
Visited some Wats, Chiang Mai, Phi Phi Islands, ate, swam in the Indian Ocean, did some rock climbing in Krabi, was an Elephant owner for a day, visited the MBK and the Patpong markets, had a custom suit made, (although by a highly reputed tailor so not near as cheap as possible), had a massage about 4 times, (you can get a 2 hour Thai massage for about $13!), visited the night bazaar in Chiang Mai, (but missed the Tiger Kingdom, darn it), rode a night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and bought a $9000 Tag watch for about $30! (And the good thing is that so far it's still working!) The people were super freindly, the food was fantastic, the beaches were the most beautiful I've ever seen, the day with the elephants was the most fun we had. I'm told you can rent a house in Chiang Mai for a month for around $300 so we may head back next year for a longer trip. Mike Click here to view attached image. |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Sounds like a great trip. I love elephants!
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
rawdawg Special user Southern California 686 Posts |
Especially with a side of nam prik...
One time, when I was young, I botched a sleight so bad, Vernon, Marlo & Miller rolled over in their graves. But I didn't see Elmsley, probably because he was behind the others.
|
foolsnobody Special user Buffalo, NY 843 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-09 11:32, critter wrote: It's the *soles* of the feet you mustn't point at a Buddha.(Unless Thai Theravadin variant is different from what I was taught) FN |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Yup. Bottom of feet. There's a traditional posture most Thais sit in for these occasions. I think with most white folks just remember not to stretch your feet out in front of you towards the Buddha when sitting down I think cuts it.
I've heard some folks get extremely angry there if they feel a Buddha is being disrespected. Thais seem to have kind of (to put it mildly) a different view of Buddhism than I do. Even though Thai Buddhism is where I began my studies. Not to say which is better or worse. Just different. If anyone wants to learn more about Thai Buddhism specifically this is an excellent website: http://www.thaibuddhism.net/aspects.htm If not, that's cool too.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Thailand? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |