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Uncategorized / January 1, 1970

An Education on Thailand and Toilet Paper

Sawatdeekah!

Lindsay here, the Asia Tour Specialist at BikeToursDirect.

It was in 2007 when I first visited Thailand, home of succulent green curries, cheap massages, golden temples, orange-clad monks, exiled Burmese hill tribes, and elephant rides.

[caption id="attachment_558" align="alignright" width="448"] BTD Asia Tours Specialist Lindsay Nash with her husband on a trekking adventure in Chiang Mai, Thailand[/caption]

Thailand is a traveler's dream. From cheap food and lodgings to colorful sights and strange smells, it's a beautiful snapshot of Asia. It is a popular destination for Asia first-timers, but this does not mean it's over-trodden or any less authentic (minus a few tourist-trappy monkey shows and amethyst museums made specifically for tourists).

I've learned a lot in my travels in Asia. But Thailand was where I learned the most, as it was the first Asian country I traveled in. Here are a few tips for traveling around Thailand.

1. Don't miss Bangkok. Sometimes people give it a bad rap. It can be dirty, smelly, smoggy and seedy. But I spent five days in this city and am so glad I did. From famous temples to floating markets and royal places, this city is a treat.

2. Speaking of royalty, read up on the king and queen before you go. Thai people LOVE their royalty. Picture Wills and Kate, minus the stuffiness, plus a lot of royal yellow splashed all over the city. It’s difficult to visit Thailand without realizing the genuine affection and admiration the Thai people have for King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. Bangkok’s international airport has banners proclaiming ‘Long Live the King’ and portraits and pictures of the Thai king and queen can be seen in homes and businesses throughout the land. Wherever you venture in Thailand, you are almost certain at some stage to pass a roadside placard with their image.

3. Never, ever, stand on what is considered sacred grounds or a praying area around a temple with your shoes on. You should also never point your feet directly at a Buddha statue or shrine.

4. Speaking of never-evers, never ever ever put your used toilet paper into the toilet. It just won't flush. No ifs, ands, or buts (excuse the pun) about it. No matter how many signs I saw warning me about this, I still couldn't remember the rule from when I first read it to when I mechanically tossed it in the toilet.

5. And speaking of bathrooms, this is a BYO-toilet-paper kind of country. There is nothing worse than finally getting the hang of using a squatty potty (you better learn to squat before coming to Asia) and then looking up and around to discover you are stranded without a shred of tissue. Pack your own. Bring it everywhere.

6. No chopsticks here. When you eat Thai food in Thailand, eat it their way: a spoon in your right hand and a fork in your left, which is used to push the food onto the spoon.

[caption id="attachment_560" align="alignright" width="225"] Lindsay discovering the hills of Chiang Mai, Thailand.[/caption]

7. If you're on the roads, take note that motorists drive on the left in Thailand. Honking is common. It's not an angry behavior, it simply means you want to pass, you're about to turn, or even hello or thank you. Thais are Buddhist, peaceful, and patient. An aggressive honk just doesn't translate.

8. Learn to bow. This is a respectful way to say hello or thank you.

 

At BikeToursDirect, we have a large and still growing contingency of Thailand tours. Be sure to check them out all our current Thailand listings here. They range from leisurely tours along the beautiful beaches of southern Thailand to the mountain bike tours in the hills of the north to a good selection of challenging road biking tours in all corners of this beautiful country.

BikeToursDirect’s new and growing selection of bike tours in Thailand:

In addition to these Thailand bike tours, we now have more than 60 guided and self-guided bike tours in AsiaStart searching these offerings now, and feel free to email me with questions on tours in Asia!

 




 

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