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Thailand |
From our own experience:
Accommodation:
Hotels are available all over the country in every smaller city and in
villages along main roads and on main crossings. About 200-300 Baht (2003: 40
baht for $1).
Money:
40 Baht for $1 (2003). ATM’s widely available, credit cards and traveller
cheques are accepted but not necessary to bring because of the ATM’s. Consider
Thailand a western country when it comes to facilities.
Food:
Love it! We took a cooking class in Chiang Mai several years ago and during
this year again a cooking class in Krabi. Curries are available in green, yellow,
red, jungle curry etc, better take the yellow curry to prevent your tongue from
burning.
Water:
Widely available. Two types of mineral water, the one in cheap plastic bottle (which
fit inyour normal bottle holder) are 60 Baht if you buy a 6-pack but the water
in the thicker plastic bottles are much more expensive. Taste is the same :-)
Safety:
Alike western countries, only pickpockets in bigger cities. The difficulties
in the (poorer) South eastern (muslim) provinces are directed to the government
institutions and military/police buildings and not to tourists. We don’t see
them as dangerous to go there.
Visa:
a simple stamp in your passport where ever you arrive in the country and you are
set and done for three months.
People:
Very eager to talk with tourists, almost everybody speaks English especially
the younger ones. Still take a phrasebook to break the ice and have some
language fun that is highly appreciated by the Thai.
Language:
Thai and English.
Clothing:
Alike western countries but still I felt more comfortable in 3/4 pants and
didn’t dress in tops showing shoulders. After countries like Laos and China we
felt relieved to see that the Thai dress according the latest trends.
Vaccinations:
None, malaria area only in the
Northern Thailand against the Burma border.
Road
conditions: Very good, flat
smooth roads (not our favourite). The scenery can be very boring (rice, rice,
rice). Thailand is not our favourite country to cycle, there the roads are
boring, easy cycling for children maybe. Try to skip the main roads (to prevent
you fall asleep)
Map:
We used a local map, which is easy to get anywhere in a large bookstore. Lots of
road atlases are available. .
Traffic
behaviour: Normal, no aggressive driving.
Public
transport and bicycles: Train: We took the train from the Cambodian border
to Bangkok and from Bangkok southbound to Suratani. Taking your pushbike on the
train is easy. Buy a ticket at the ticket office for yourself, and then purchase
one for your bicycle at the same counter or at the special ‘cargo desk’. In
a 3rd class train put your bicycle at the back side of the train, at
the area where the train manager is sitting. In an ‘express’ train, place
your bicycle in the cargo wagon at the front/rear side of the train and take a
relaxed seat there the cargo master will take care of it (without difficulty). http://www.railway.co.th.
Expect to pay 70 Baht for the bicycle, what can be more the you pay for yourself
on a short trip.
To
the airport: http://www.thaiairports.com/
In Krabi we arranged a ‘pick-up’ by the guesthouse.
Bicycle
parts/shops: In Bangkok it should be easy to find bicycle parts.
Post/Internet:
The post (sending) is very quick, cheap and efficient (for those illegal
DVD’s you want to send home and don’t want to take through customs).
Internet: Every town has an internet café, most of them have a good connection
and is cheap (not high speed).
From the CIA The World Factbook:
Background <under construction>
Geographical facts <under construction>
Population <under construction>
Government and economy <under construction>
This page is last updated: May 2004