SAWASDEE Thailand

What makes Thailand amazing is that even if it is competing in the modern world and civilization it has preserved its nature and the history and culture that it prides itself. From thai food, monuments, massage, culture, Buddhism, its monuments, grand palaces that depicts its ancient civilization, the famous floating market which is famous all over the world,  what is more amazing is that for 100 baht you get ggod thai massage with aromatic oil for  an hour right there at the sidewalk. 

Street food like the sticky rice with mango, coconut pancake, grilled banana, pad thai, fish balls, and dimsums, and above all the fried cockroaches and other exotic foods are available in the sidewalk at night.

As you go with your tourist guides they explain to you what is Buddhism and some of its teaching in which I will be uploading a video while we are on our way to the floating market. The concept of NIRVANA and life after death are just among the teachings of the great Buddha.

You will also see that nature has its best in Thailand. The variety of fruits and vegetables, the existence of elephants without tasks which are fed of about a minimum of 25 kilos of banana and some fruits and vegetables, the tigers which are tamed and donkeys and horses and cows and  a lot more.

Security wise, people respect their police officers and they have high regard of them.  Like the tuktuk drivers could not charge more and they are licensed and registered to their government. Secondly, the taxi operators are under the government that they have to really use their meters to charge the passenger( I must say, it should be a must), you can walk in the street safely as police officers are visible everywhere.

You will wonder why in the heart of Bangkok you could not see high rise building, which means higher than 5^th floor. The reason is that it is not allowed by their government to build such buildings because it will shadow their grand palace( the home the the Royal family). It is a law  and it is strictly implemented. One frustration I got because I thought I will be able to get an aerial  view of the majestic Grand palace.

Apart from that, I could really say Thailand is simply Amazing.

You could not tell the weakness of a place unless you are able to live in it. But as a tourist, I will recommend Thailand as a must visit. Explore Thailand and appreciate the beauty of its place and the richness of its culture.

Getting Around Thailand:

I took the flight of Thai Airways from Dubai. Bearing a Philippine passport doesnt need to pay for visa in Thailand. They will grant you a 1 month visa upon arrival.

I took a cab from Suvarnabhumi Airport to my hotel - Boon Siri Hotel which costs 200 Baht.

 When travelling, essential things are: your camera and a good map. 

Most Photographed 

The best way to get around Bangkok is by foot. Apart from the benefits of walking, you can explore the place and know more about their people and the history of some temples. One thing about Thai people is that, not all of them can speak nor understand English, so if you have extra money, you can ask for a travel guide from their TNT office or travel with Thai friend.
Here are some Thai phrases that may help:

Greetings and Small Talks:

Hello= sawasdee
thank you= kob-koon
good morning= sawasdee- torn chow
good afternoon- sawasdee torn- bai
good evening- sawasdee torn-kham
how are you= sabai- dee-mai
i am fine= sabai dee
you are welcome= yin-dee
i don't understand= mai kao jai
i understand= kao jai
i cannot speak thai= pood thai mai dai
can you speak english?= pood pa sa angrid mai dai
sorry/excuse me= kor thod
beautiful= suay
handsome= lor
i like you= chan chorb khon
you are beautiful= khon suay mark
what is your name?= khun cheu arai
nice to meet you= yeen dee tee dai pob khun
see you again= pop gun mai

DIRECTIONS:
can you tell me to go to...= bok dai mai yang rai
i want to go to...= chan tong karn pai
turn right= leaw kwa
turn left= leaw sai
straight= trong pai
near= klaih
far= glai


Bank= ta na karn
Exchange= laeg ngern
exchange rate= at tra laeg ngern
change= ngaeg ton
refund= kuen
receipt= bai sed

Thai Currency is Thai Baht
1 Baht is 0.03 US dollars or 1.33 philippine peso. Bank notes nominal are 20,50,100,500, and 1000.

Things to do in Bangkok
1. Visit The temple of Emerald Buddha( WAT PHRA KAEW)

Located within the Grand Palace, the temple is a kind of national cathedral, housing a venerated Buddha image carved from a large solid piece of a green jasper.  Chao Phraya Chakri, who afterward became King Rama I, brought the image from Vientiane when he conquered it in 1778. He constructed the temple and enshrined the Emerald Buddha there as a symbol of Siam's regained nationhood. The temple doesn't house any monks. It is enclosed by a covered gallery, the outer wall of which is painted with sophisticated scenes from the Ramakien, the Thai epic based on the Hindu Ramayana. Each entrance is guarded by a pair of giant demons.

Entrance fee to the temple is included when you pay the entrance to the Grand palace which is 200 Baht.  

2. THE GRAND PALACE

Entance Fee: 200 Baht

Dress Code: Women: shorts and sleeveless not allowed

you can rent for sarong from the entrance worth 200 baht

Men: shorts and sleeveless not allowed

Open everyday from 9 am til 3:15 pm

The Grand Palace Complex

It was established in 1872 and it consist not only of the royal residence and throne halls but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple ofThe Emerald Buddha. It covers an area of 218,oo sq meters and is surrounded by 4 walls, 1900 mtrs in length. This comples is built after King Rama 1 ascended the throne in 1782.

3. Wat Pho- The temple of the Reclining  Buddha

Entrance fee: 50 baht

It is one of the largest and oldest Wats in Bangkok.It is home of more than one thousand buddha images  and the home of traditional Thai massage since it houses the Thai massage school. It has the largest Buddha(reclining Buddha) which is 160 ft. length. 

Wat Pho is named after the monastery in India where Buddha believed to have lived. 

The image of the reclining buddha is 15 mtrs high and 43 mtrs long with his right arm supporting the head with tight curls of two-box pillows of blue, richly encrusted glass mosaic.

The 3 mtrs high and 4.5 mtrs long foot of buddha displays are inlaid with mother of pearl. It is divided into 108 arranged panels, displaying images of elephants, dancers, flowers and altar accessories.

4. The Floating Market

There are lots of floating market around Thailand, but the most famous of them all is the Floating Market in DAMNOEN SADUAK, Ratchaburi, Thailand about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. It is an old traditional way of selling fruits, vegetables, and other goods from a small canoe. As you take the boat ride along the river, you will see traditional THai houses, the way they live and travel by boats.

Organized trip to the Floating market by the TNT coast around 1800-2300 Baht which includes River kwai, the elephant village, the king cobra village, the Tiger temple and the floating market, which is really an experience of a lifetime. 

5. Tiger Temple/ Elephant Village and Hirtorical Trip to River Kwai

6. Wat Arun= THE TEMPLE OF DAWN

open daily from 8:30 am til 5 pm

entrance fee= 50 baht

It is a Buddhist temple in the Bangkok Yai district in Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of Chao Phraya River. It is named after the Indian God of Dawn, Aruna. It is so named because the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple.

7. The Flower Market

8. The Giant Swing

Locally called Sao Ching Cha, the Giant Swing is a religious icon set in front of Wat Suthat. It was used in an old Brahmin ceremony ans now amongst Bankok's tourist attractions. King Rama I commanded it built in front of the Devasthan in the center of the city. It was moved to its present location in the reign of King Rama V. Historically, The Swing Ceremony was one of the 12 royal ceremonies held in each of the months of the Thai Lunar calendar in the Sukhothai Kingdom.

9. Khaosan Nightlife/ Calypso

10. A must Try: Exotic Food tasting and Thai Delicacies

ENJOY THAILAND!!!