Thailand as a tourist or an expat
When I booked my trip to Thailand, I knew I’d learn about Thai culture, but I had no idea what I learned would have such an impact on my lifestyle after the trip. The way Thai people live their lives not only taught me so much about priorities and gratitude, but showed how accurate the nickname Land of Smiles actually is.
GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HAPPINESS
Thai people choose to be grateful – and in turn happy – even in far from perfect situations. Coming from South Africa , I’m no stranger to traffic and the frustration that usually comes with it. As bad as South African traffic is, you don’t know traffic until you’ve sat in a taxi in Bangkok that’s completely stopped for over an hour to get to a destination supposedly 15 minutes away. While sitting in this taxi, I was sure frustration would overtake the mood of the night. A taxi driver all of a sudden will say something I didn’t understand through his thick accent and started giggling and smiling uncontrollably. He continuously pointed outside at the lines of stopped cars and giggled and smiled at me, so excited that in the car I couldn’t help but laugh and smile as well, completely forgetting that we were stuck in non-moving traffic and late to our scheduled tour. The joy this man so clearly felt and so easily expressed just showed how easy it is to be grateful and joyful in even a frustrating situation. It made me realise how often people let small setbacks and annoyances alter moods and atmospheres. Every person I encountered in Thailand radiated joy and gratefulness for the little they often had.
In general, Thailand is one of the safest countries in southeast Asia for travelers. But laws are strict, and you have to take precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable vacation. Where you go and what you intend to do in the country can mean different levels of safety for some travelers.
Overall, Thailand is a pretty inexpensive place to travel. But if you’re looking to save a few bucks, the North is the place for you. The main spots in Northern Thailand for travellers are Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai. With so few tourist hotspots, the north has yet to hike their prices like the South.
Thailand is particularly well set up for solo travellers. It has excellent tourist infrastructure, making it easy to get around and find places to stay.
South African Passport Holders Do NOT Require Visas For Tourism Purposes and For a stay not exceeding 30 days.
Day and night, humidity is high, so it’s best to pack loose clothing. Think short sleeved cotton t-shirts, comfortable skirts, and shorts. Women should opt for a long maxi dress and thin shawl for evenings, while men should keep a pair of linen trousers and a long-sleeved shirt handy to prevent pesky mosquito bites!
1 | Treasures of Bangkok: Buddhism and Monks.
2 | Muay Thai Fights Experience it
3 | City Escape: Kanchanaburi Day Trip
Alternative Bangkok: Urban Jungle Tour
Food –
Spicy shrimp soup. Tom yum goong. Good
Spicy green papaya salad. Som tum. Good
Chicken in coconut soup. Tom kha kai. Good
Red curry. Gaeng daeng. …
Thai-style fried noodles. Pad Thai. …
Fried rice. Khao pad. …
Bangkok’s bustling streets overflow with Thai men and women selling food from carts, all putting their own spin on the same dishes and street-snacks. Where you’d think there would be negative competition and potential rivalries, there was actually the kind acknowledgment that everyone simply had the same shared goal of supporting their families. I often even saw different food-cart owners trading food or buying from another person’s cart. This was shocking and inspiring, especially coming from South Africa where competition and rivalries ruin so many businesses and relationships.
Sitting on a long tail boat in the Floating Market outside of Bangkok, I saw numerous shopkeepers dripping in sweat, forced to sit in the sun as they attempt to sell as many items as possible. The heat seemed to have no effect on these people as they still laughed with each other and continuously smiled. Tourists in boats passed by and several times, I heard complaints from both adults and kids about their “misery” and discomfort from the heat. Throughout my whole trip, I saw Thai people accepting the conditions out of their control, like the weather or the pollution surrounding them, and lived their lives worrying about what they can control.
Whether it is the shared Buddhist mindset, or simply the Thai culture that drives it, people throughout Thailand are friendly, happy, and grateful to be living the lives they do, regardless of how much money they have or the tediousness of their jobs. This atmosphere was refreshing and inspiring, and the “Land of Smiles” was exactly that and more.
It’s so easy to meet people when traveling anywhere. You are immediately in a minority by being an outsider in a foreign country, and this means that when you encounter other travelers, you will immediately have something in common and a good starting point for conversation to flow from.
Thailand is no exception to this rule, and in fact, it’s probably an even more prominent phenomenon in the country. Every fellow traveler you meet seems to be in a permanently good mood and immensely laid back. And why wouldn’t they be? The weather’s exceptional, the scenery is beautiful, and there are enough things to do to keep anybody busy all day, every day.
Aside from other travelers, the locals in Thailand are generally extremely friendly and eager to chat. I found it very easy to strike up conversations with locals and ended up becoming friends with several Thais, some of whom I have visited since.
Another amazing outcome of my trip to Thailand was that I learned a huge amount about the history and culture of the ancient kingdom. By visiting museums and reading books, I learned about the ancient Kingdom of Siam, as well as the history of neighboring countries like Cambodia and how the Khmer civilization ruled the region of Southeast Asia so long ago.
Before I set off, I knew nothing of the country, but during my time there, I saw temples, began to understand the role of religion in Thai people’s. I tried some of the best food I’ve ever tasted and learned to cook it myself (I still cook it regularly today). I found the openness and welcoming nature of the local people eye-opening.
All in all, I feel I got a real view of Thai culture, and I loved every minute of it.
I saw some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen
