Anybody ever been to Thailand ????
Discussion
My sister did - she never told me what she got up to tho - 
However on a similar note - I think I am going to go to Peru for 2/3 months to do my bit and help build a school and do some conservation work (Just the matter of a couple of thousand pounds to find!).
So if anyone knows anything about Peru at all - please let me know. (I think I will be based in Hurauz (apparantly about 6 hours drive away from Lima))
(sorry to jump onto your thread Monty)
>> Edited by mannginger on Friday 14th February 15:07
However on a similar note - I think I am going to go to Peru for 2/3 months to do my bit and help build a school and do some conservation work (Just the matter of a couple of thousand pounds to find!).
So if anyone knows anything about Peru at all - please let me know. (I think I will be based in Hurauz (apparantly about 6 hours drive away from Lima))
(sorry to jump onto your thread Monty)
>> Edited by mannginger on Friday 14th February 15:07
Me and a pal wanna spend about a month there in august.
Was wondering if anybody could tell us what to expect , things to do , things to avoid , yada yada.
And of course we'll stay as far away from gogo bars as possible...
Myself and Fish went in October last year. It was fantastic. Where about in Thailand are you planning to go, are you travelling around?
I may be wrong but I think you might find it hard to get a flight to Thaland in August. Rainy season.
We wanted to honeymoon there (getting married this Aug) and no-one seems to sell holidays till September time.
Supposed to be a cracking place though, I'd really liked to have done a couple of days training at a Thai boxing gym over there. Maybe next year.
>> Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 14th February 15:19
We wanted to honeymoon there (getting married this Aug) and no-one seems to sell holidays till September time.
Supposed to be a cracking place though, I'd really liked to have done a couple of days training at a Thai boxing gym over there. Maybe next year.
>> Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 14th February 15:19
Things to avoid: dengue fever!
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>> Edited by Bonce on Friday 14th February 15:25
www.armchair.com/info/spira7.html
>> Edited by Bonce on Friday 14th February 15:25
One of the best places ever -
Chang Mai and around for about three weeks - trekking and chilling out then round the islands - Ko Samui/Ko Pang Yank/ Kotoa for a month - just superb.
really cheap accom,great beaches and some TIGER BEERs !!!!
Bangkok was a differnt strory - very polluted but once you got used to the place it wasn't too bad.
Have a great time.
email me off list for accom/info if you wish.
Chang Mai and around for about three weeks - trekking and chilling out then round the islands - Ko Samui/Ko Pang Yank/ Kotoa for a month - just superb.
really cheap accom,great beaches and some TIGER BEERs !!!!
Bangkok was a differnt strory - very polluted but once you got used to the place it wasn't too bad.
Have a great time.
email me off list for accom/info if you wish.
Keep away from the "year out student gap" trail. However a good idea is get to one of the tourist hot spots Phuket would do, then do either a live aboard yacht charter or better still a week long dive trip up onto the outer islands, Its cheap as chips if you book locally and you get to see the best parts of Thailand in the outer islands up around the Burma border.
Oh yes and make sure you do take in the girly bars and play the bar girls at connect 4 but try to remember the soy's (streets) are numbered soy1, soy2, etc normally the higher the number the more likely it is to be a ki tai (lady boy) bar, and the higher the level of sexual depravity on offer, Soy 40 at 5 in the morning totally shit faced is always good fun
. Do excuse my thai spelling I've made it up from what the words sound like.
Oh yes and make sure you do take in the girly bars and play the bar girls at connect 4 but try to remember the soy's (streets) are numbered soy1, soy2, etc normally the higher the number the more likely it is to be a ki tai (lady boy) bar, and the higher the level of sexual depravity on offer, Soy 40 at 5 in the morning totally shit faced is always good fun
. Do excuse my thai spelling I've made it up from what the words sound like.Spent a month there a few years ago after a Raleigh International Expedition in Malaysia.
First went to Krabi, otherside of the bay to Phuket, and stayed at Ao Nang. Quite a small place but 3 dive schools and plenty of bars/food. Stayed in a beach house for about £5 a night which had ensuite and air con. Learnt to dive at the Poseiden dive school, which was run by Germans and very professional. Cost worked out about £120 for Open Water padi. Diving is excellent in the area, especially around Ko Pi Pi where The Beach was filmed.
Arrived in Bangkok and hated it straight away, although you can get a fantastic suit made to measure in a couple of days for bugger all (2 wool blend suits with 2 pairs of trousers each, fitted, made and sent to England for your return - £105, bargain. You even get to choose the style you want)
Night train to Chang Mai and do the trekking bit. Any of the hostels around will organise something, but best bet is to talk to other travellers as they will tell you what the best deals around are, there are are some right rip off merchants and dodgy deals about if you are not careful. Plenty nightlife shopping opportunities as well.
Then flew to Ko Samuii which is very touristy these days, but you can find every level of accomodation from 5* down. We took the boat to Ki Phangan which is much more back packer orientated, but has probably moved on a bit since I was there. If you want to take in total party decadance then make sure you hit the Full Moon party
www.thaisite.com/fullmoonparty/
The island gets packed around these dates, but it is an experience!!
If you want to get to quieter places then try and get over to Ko Tao (I think) which is the next island.
If you want any other names and places give me shout off line and I will try and help, although things have probably changed a bit in 5 years.
First went to Krabi, otherside of the bay to Phuket, and stayed at Ao Nang. Quite a small place but 3 dive schools and plenty of bars/food. Stayed in a beach house for about £5 a night which had ensuite and air con. Learnt to dive at the Poseiden dive school, which was run by Germans and very professional. Cost worked out about £120 for Open Water padi. Diving is excellent in the area, especially around Ko Pi Pi where The Beach was filmed.
Arrived in Bangkok and hated it straight away, although you can get a fantastic suit made to measure in a couple of days for bugger all (2 wool blend suits with 2 pairs of trousers each, fitted, made and sent to England for your return - £105, bargain. You even get to choose the style you want)
Night train to Chang Mai and do the trekking bit. Any of the hostels around will organise something, but best bet is to talk to other travellers as they will tell you what the best deals around are, there are are some right rip off merchants and dodgy deals about if you are not careful. Plenty nightlife shopping opportunities as well.
Then flew to Ko Samuii which is very touristy these days, but you can find every level of accomodation from 5* down. We took the boat to Ki Phangan which is much more back packer orientated, but has probably moved on a bit since I was there. If you want to take in total party decadance then make sure you hit the Full Moon party
www.thaisite.com/fullmoonparty/
The island gets packed around these dates, but it is an experience!!
If you want to get to quieter places then try and get over to Ko Tao (I think) which is the next island.
If you want any other names and places give me shout off line and I will try and help, although things have probably changed a bit in 5 years.
When I was out in Singapore for a year me and a mate went to Thailand for a couple of weeks. We were so skint we couldn't even afford to fly up from Singapore so got the train instead. That was quite good, cos the train was so slow we could open the doors and lean out the doorway... Specially good when going through the rainforest.
Once in Thailand we tried to avoid the touristy spots but ended in Phuket. Thing is we were so cheap we took the "locals" bus. We were the only white people on that bus... but it was wayyy better than taking the tourist bus.
We also stayed in Bangkok for a while as well. We mananged to royally piss off the tuk tuk drivers by not buying anything from any of the shops they took us to
They kept on taking us to tailors and gem shops between the tourist sights. They do this cos they're on commission from the shops. In return they didn't charge us for any of the journeys.
however they get commission on sales. The driver we had must've been the Thai equivelant of a numpty cos why he'd chose to take two skint Scots students anywhere on Commission is beyond me.
I don't think he made a cent on us
Having said that a word of advice. If you actually want to get anywhere don't get a tuk tuk. Cos they'll only take you to a shop or something. If you actually need to go somewhere then you'll have to pay in advance and it won't be any cheaper than a taxi.
Oh and the tuk tuk drivers are f**kin MAD. has to be experienced to be belived.
We didn't go diving in Phuket only KO Tao, which was meant to be better than Phuket.
In the end Ko Tao wasn't that impressive. But then I think we were spoilt by the diving we'd done prior to that in the Philippians. That was amazing. Best I've ever seen and I've dived in Maylaysia and Austrailia (Great barrier) as well.
Ah the memories. Just typing this makes me want to get up and go again.
And a word of advice on travelling around the country.
If you use the trains use SECOND class. Don't go for third class thinking that if its good enough for the locals then its good enough for me.
The reason? Well third class is indeed complete shit. But even more amuzingly there are no Thai's on it. Only westerner "travellers" looking for the "authentic" Thai experience....
That really had me in stitches as I was in second class sleeper at the time and I had to walk through 3rd class to get to the restuarant car. All those hippie freaks in a stinking old carridge and not a Thai person in sight. Hoho.
And also be warned some things are not as they seem.
When my friend and I got stuck in a one street hovel town between train changes we were bored so decided to kill time by going to the local pub. 'Cept it wasn'ta pub at all. It was a brothel. Doh.
So here was two 19 year olds walking straigh into a brothel and ordering two beers then realising where they were.
Suffice to say we drank up and left pretty quickly but not before the manager took an interest in us. Was all we could do to prevent him giving us free booze and making our escape.
Oh and this wasn't our worst mistake either. Not by a long shot.
Sometimes I wonder how the hell we managed it.
Ah the memories.
Ah well this post is long enough as it is.
Andy
Once in Thailand we tried to avoid the touristy spots but ended in Phuket. Thing is we were so cheap we took the "locals" bus. We were the only white people on that bus... but it was wayyy better than taking the tourist bus.
We also stayed in Bangkok for a while as well. We mananged to royally piss off the tuk tuk drivers by not buying anything from any of the shops they took us to
They kept on taking us to tailors and gem shops between the tourist sights. They do this cos they're on commission from the shops. In return they didn't charge us for any of the journeys.
however they get commission on sales. The driver we had must've been the Thai equivelant of a numpty cos why he'd chose to take two skint Scots students anywhere on Commission is beyond me.
I don't think he made a cent on us
Having said that a word of advice. If you actually want to get anywhere don't get a tuk tuk. Cos they'll only take you to a shop or something. If you actually need to go somewhere then you'll have to pay in advance and it won't be any cheaper than a taxi.
Oh and the tuk tuk drivers are f**kin MAD. has to be experienced to be belived.
We didn't go diving in Phuket only KO Tao, which was meant to be better than Phuket.
In the end Ko Tao wasn't that impressive. But then I think we were spoilt by the diving we'd done prior to that in the Philippians. That was amazing. Best I've ever seen and I've dived in Maylaysia and Austrailia (Great barrier) as well.
Ah the memories. Just typing this makes me want to get up and go again.
And a word of advice on travelling around the country.
If you use the trains use SECOND class. Don't go for third class thinking that if its good enough for the locals then its good enough for me.
The reason? Well third class is indeed complete shit. But even more amuzingly there are no Thai's on it. Only westerner "travellers" looking for the "authentic" Thai experience....
That really had me in stitches as I was in second class sleeper at the time and I had to walk through 3rd class to get to the restuarant car. All those hippie freaks in a stinking old carridge and not a Thai person in sight. Hoho.
And also be warned some things are not as they seem.
When my friend and I got stuck in a one street hovel town between train changes we were bored so decided to kill time by going to the local pub. 'Cept it wasn'ta pub at all. It was a brothel. Doh.
So here was two 19 year olds walking straigh into a brothel and ordering two beers then realising where they were.
Suffice to say we drank up and left pretty quickly but not before the manager took an interest in us. Was all we could do to prevent him giving us free booze and making our escape.
Oh and this wasn't our worst mistake either. Not by a long shot.
Sometimes I wonder how the hell we managed it.
Ah the memories.
Ah well this post is long enough as it is.
Andy
In Bangkok make sure you do the temples -superb!
Hire a river boat (barta) - longtail - and go to the royal barges / crocodile farm
Beaches can recommend Ko Samui - superb when I went - hear its a bit more touristy now but still great place
Phuket is lively and there are great canoing trips round the sea caves and PiPi (spelling?) island - where Man with the Golden gun was filmed
Brilliant place to visit - just dont offer to carry anyones bags!
Hire a river boat (barta) - longtail - and go to the royal barges / crocodile farm
Beaches can recommend Ko Samui - superb when I went - hear its a bit more touristy now but still great place
Phuket is lively and there are great canoing trips round the sea caves and PiPi (spelling?) island - where Man with the Golden gun was filmed
Brilliant place to visit - just dont offer to carry anyones bags!
Patpong market in Bangkok is hilarious. Just for laughs, bargain with them, especially if you have no intention/need to buy what they are selling. If they ask a 1000 bhat, offer them 100 bhat, see how quickly they get near your offer!
The temples are nice to see, and you can get a proper massage their too (not ladyboys etc).
There is a crocodile zoo type thing there too, and this is a good laugh for watching the crocs munch anything you throw at them.
The Dhusit Thani is a good hotel, and I can recommend it. Unbelieveable, never got to visit the beaches, had to change plans last minute. You can buy Gold jewellery for decent prices there too, but beware, only buy at the big department stores.
The temples are nice to see, and you can get a proper massage their too (not ladyboys etc).
There is a crocodile zoo type thing there too, and this is a good laugh for watching the crocs munch anything you throw at them.
The Dhusit Thani is a good hotel, and I can recommend it. Unbelieveable, never got to visit the beaches, had to change plans last minute. You can buy Gold jewellery for decent prices there too, but beware, only buy at the big department stores.
We went a few years ago - and I agree with all that's written about Bangkok so far - but it's a must! Take the overnight train to Chang Mai - amazing experience - but watch your luggage.Also check all the crafty things that you buy - people have been known to pack drugs into tourist souveniers then 'follow' them home - back through customs and nick their luggage.
We stayed on Pi Pi Island - absolute paradise - get to Phuket then get a boat over - but it can be a bit rough on the waves...! First we had an idyllic hut on stilts in the edge of the forest overlooking the beach - we found out we were sharing it with rats so moved out prompto and stayed in PP Princess Resort - a much better idea - hut with all amenities on the beachfront! Get a Thai massage - they crack bones you don't know existed! PP Nightlife's pretty good - lots of bars.
Weather - we went in November when the rainy season had supposidly ended - that year it overran by 2 weeks - we ended up paddling (no word of a lie - I have photos to prove it) down the streets over 150m from the river boat drop off. Not pleasant!
Any more info - mail me from my profile. Have fun!
We stayed on Pi Pi Island - absolute paradise - get to Phuket then get a boat over - but it can be a bit rough on the waves...! First we had an idyllic hut on stilts in the edge of the forest overlooking the beach - we found out we were sharing it with rats so moved out prompto and stayed in PP Princess Resort - a much better idea - hut with all amenities on the beachfront! Get a Thai massage - they crack bones you don't know existed! PP Nightlife's pretty good - lots of bars.
Weather - we went in November when the rainy season had supposidly ended - that year it overran by 2 weeks - we ended up paddling (no word of a lie - I have photos to prove it) down the streets over 150m from the river boat drop off. Not pleasant!
Any more info - mail me from my profile. Have fun!
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