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Anyone been to Thailand?

Started by Hat FM, February 05, 2019, 02:18:21 PM

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gatchamandave

The overhead train is also very good, and runs to and from the airport right into the centre and then out to the Siam plaza so if you are worried about taxis and tuk-tuks use that to get about, as well as the water taxis which are pleasantly cool and wet on a hot day.

Don't touch a Thai on the head, that's a huge cultural no-no, and be warned that you cannot buy alcohol between 2 and 4 pm because the kids are being discouraged from getting boozed up.Try to take regular breaks in the plentiful malls, just to take a chance to cool down and get a toilet.

Relax and enjoy - you really have to be a nob end to piss off the Thai folks.

Cuellar

Despite the porn watching guard the night train to Chiang Mai was great. Waking up to mists in the woods out the window.

Buelligan

Quote from: MidnightShambler on February 06, 2019, 07:26:50 PM
I'm all for bus travel generally, it's a great way to see a country (one that's not just all motorways, anyway) but sometimes you've got to weigh up how much of your life you're gonna lose by doing it that way. I'd happily get the bus to Chiangmai from Bangkok for the experience cos it's not ridiculously long (it's about 8 hours isn't it?), although only in the daytime so I could actually see something. 14 hours is just too long to be sat on a cramped, sweaty bus though. If you don't like flying then obviously, fair enough, that's the way it's got to be. But to save £6? Unbelievable.

Her boyfriend was the youngest Neurosurgeon in Denmark (which is an odd but marvellous claim to fame) as well, so she was hardly short of a bob or two. Tighter than two coats of paint.

I can't remember how long it took.  Eight hours is probably about right, it seemed interminable but that's partly because they were showing a video on a loop of a weird violent family drama that revolved around domestic abuse and murder.  It was originally German, I think, dubbed into Thai with English subtitles that meant nothing at all.  All set in a caravan with a man drinking beer, shouting, beating his wife and then killing her.  And then doing it again.  And again.

The bus had no toilet.  It stopped once, half way, at some kind of farm where we ate rice with eye-watering chili sauce.  All the seats were covered in frilled pink nylon and we had frilly curtains too.  I was glad to get to Chiang Mai and took the train on the return trip.  The train was lovely.  The End.

MidnightShambler

Sounds lovely. How was the air-con situation, open the window? The other thing about road travel in Thailand that scares me is the standard of it. The drivers are all maniacs who've been awake for a week and some of the roads are treacherous to say the least. That's why I fly everywhere in Thailand (when possible) because it's cheap and quick, it's too hot to be pissing about on buses. The farm and the chilli sounds alright though.

One other thing in answer to the original poster, if you do fly internally then don't get a shared taxi/people carrier from the airport. They are ridiculously cheap but they take forever to get to your destination and the driver never knows the drop off points, which causes huge arguments. I've been in two, at opposite ends of the country, and it was the same story both times and everybody else I spoke to had the same experience.

Oh and be a bit choosy about the street food, it's not all good quality or cooked well. As some of the toilets in Krabi will testify.

BlodwynPig

Quote from: MidnightShambler on February 06, 2019, 07:26:50 PM
I'm all for bus travel generally, it's a great way to see a country (one that's not just all motorways, anyway) but sometimes you've got to weigh up how much of your life you're gonna lose by doing it that way. I'd happily get the bus to Chiangmai from Bangkok for the experience cos it's not ridiculously long (it's about 8 hours isn't it?), 

12 hours from Newcastle to Bath by National Express, mate.

MidnightShambler

Quote from: BlodwynPig on February 06, 2019, 09:51:54 PM
12 hours from Newcastle to Bath by National Express, mate.

And at the end of it, you're still in fucking Bath. Land of the £7 pint and those men in pink trousers.

amputeeporn

Ah, this is a good thread! I'm also going to Thailand next week - and probably to Bangkok, Chang Mai etc. Bars, restaurants, hikes all greatly appreciated.

Has anyone else read Lawrence Osborne's brilliant Bangkok Days? Nominally travel writing but more about the existential despair/elation of being a boozy British expat in Thailand.

dex

Echoing the thumbs up for Thailand. They have walking markets in various towns and cities which are awesome for the food. Had the best fried chicken of my life in one. Beats Chicken Cottage hands down.

Hat FM

all these buses and trains sound delightful but i'm flying from Bangkok to chiang mai and then chiang mai to krabi (i think).

thats good to hear that, although a high temperature in chiang mai, it won't be too bad.

can see me being locked up for insulting the royal family in any event. hey ho.

MidnightShambler

That's exactly what I did, you won't regret it. Each flight is only about 40 minutes and it'll gain you the best part of two days and only cost you about £50. Don't mess about.

I hope you have a great time, don't forget to go to Zoe In Yellow in Chiangmai, it's a great night out. Also, Chiangmai is strictly dry between 2 and 4 and you absolutely can't get a beer anywhere, not even at the reservoir  (another top place to go, the water park is great). The whole of Thailand is supposed to be dry during those hours but the only place I've found it to be strictly enforced was there. Enjoy mate.

amputeeporn

Quote from: Hat FM on February 07, 2019, 10:47:13 AM
all these buses and trains sound delightful but i'm flying from Bangkok to chiang mai and then chiang mai to krabi (i think).

thats good to hear that, although a high temperature in chiang mai, it won't be too bad.

can see me being locked up for insulting the royal family in any event. hey ho.

Sounds like I'm gonna be hot on your heels - but think I'm going Chiang Mai, krabi, Bangkok.

Thanks for Zoë In Yellow hint up top - sounds great.

Paul Calf

Quote from: Hat FM on February 07, 2019, 10:47:13 AM
can see me being locked up for insulting the royal family in any event. hey ho.

Well, you say that now...

Hat FM

thanks for all the tips guys. Much appreciated.  I'm going to pretend i've been researching hard and not just started a topic on a forum.

One last question. does anyone know a good place to buy a tailor made suit in either bangkok or chiang mai? I've heard its cheap so might take a look...

Buelligan

There were dozens of places when I was there and places that would copy something you already had overnight.  I can't recommend anywhere though, I'm not really a suit kind of person.

Hat FM

ah okay thanks. I'm just worried i'll end up paying for a tailor made suit made out of paper!