So guys, this is it. The last entry about my journey to Thailand. As I promised, I will give you some advise. Some classic, some of my own.
Thailand is best to travel to between January and May, as it is the try period. That does not mean it won't rain, but chances are it will much less and shorter.
It may be very warm- around 30°C but be sure to have warm cloths with you. Trains, hotel rooms and underground, even shopping malls can be quite cold. And when you travel in the North, nights are much colder then in the South. So better have something to wear which can warm you.
As you may already expect, visiting a Wat or a Temple means to not show your knees and shoulders. Sometimes you even have to take off your hut. In Bangkok you must wear long trousers and they should be white/ large as all clothes which shows your body is not welcome.
As you travel, be sure to take your time. Busses are going often and there is usually no need to buy a ticket earlier then the day itself. It is cheap but has three different categories. Simple- which is better not for you, then the usually big busses and the mini bus. Mini busses are always the thing when you are going to Bangkok as it goes much faster.
Taxis/Caps are usually easy to get but not everywhere they work with taxameter. Sometimes you have to fix the price before you drive!
In Bangkok they all have to take the Taxameter and you should keep an eye on that when you get into a taxi. Always remind them to put them on. If they don't then tell them to stop and leave the car!
Mostly the driver can speak bit english but always have your hotel or the place you want to travel written on paper in Thai.
Airport taxi is the best way to get into town in Chiang Mai, right behind the baggage claim they will get you a taxi for the same price, always.
In Bangkok they all have to take the Taxameter and you should keep an eye on that when you get into a taxi. Always remind them to put them on. If they don't then tell them to stop and leave the car!
Mostly the driver can speak bit english but always have your hotel or the place you want to travel written on paper in Thai.
Airport taxi is the best way to get into town in Chiang Mai, right behind the baggage claim they will get you a taxi for the same price, always.
Well in Bangkok you can also take a motorbike. (I don't mean hire one- to much traffic!) Here you must also make up the price before and be sure to have enough with yourself but also make sure they don't see how much you have. So you better take out the money you are willing to pay and leave the rest hidden.
As we speak of money, as always make sure you keep an eye on it and keep it save.
Make also sure to always have a copy from your pass and license and put it in another bag.
The money must be exchanged- best in Thailand, best not on the airport, thought in the South it is no problem to exchange, in the North it can be a problem. In Chiang Mai you have to look out in on the Island, otherwise it is hard to find an exchange. Sometimes you can change in hotels too. Actually they should make it possible for you.
What more? There is a rule about food- nothing is save and you always have to be prepared for that you can get bad food. So have some medicine with you (for fever, flue and the rest of the classical).
Drink if able always with a straw.
You maybe will read in travel guides how to eat but actually eat as you know it. No special rules these days. The same is with the Buddha thing. They say it is not allowed to make a tattoo of a Buddah. They even claim to not have Buddhas at home, but it is because Buddhism has become a religious and so they try to play with power. So don't worry if you have a Buddha Tattoo, just don't show it at Temples and Wats open and absolutely not in Bangkok.
But back to the Busses, as there are those little open ones in towns. Mostly they cost about 10 Bath, but can be much more expensive, so ask in your hotel. At least ask before you drive.
By the way Hotel staff. You may expect that they know best, but no... Exception is when you are in an exclusive or four and more star hotel.
If you haven't planed any tours with your travel agency home, it is not a problem to plan some in Thailand. Most hotels offer tours.
You can even book fights over t.ex.: http://www.thaismileair.com/en/flights
It is also very good to book rooms and hotels on: http://www.booking.com/index.de.html?sid=495ea52d61ca2b653567baff9768595f;dcid=4
So... how much money a day should you plan in?
1000 Bath for one person. Sometimes you will need more, sometimes much less but at the end, it will make sure you can go on with your journey in an easy way and without worrying, even thought you should keep an eye on your economy.
Wanna hire a private guide? Look out on Facebook, ask friends and search on the internet.
Important thing is- make sure as much you can- all the prices and what you wanna do, when you wanna do it and so on. The guide should write you a plan, the prices in an e-mail and best you pay as near the time you can and not after. Be prepared they are not exact and can be unprepared the day you move. They are very flexible, but bad at communication and so just make sure the result is what you want. They are flexible and don't like critics as in Asia it is important to keep your face. Don't discuss much, but say what you want and what not. Calculation can get up and down, this is normal, just keep an eye yourself on all this. Have patience when you travel with them. Sometimes they have a reason, sometimes things just take a longer time. They are flexible, but so you must be too. Then a privat guide is a plus.
So.. I guess that was a lot again.. ask me, write me, give comments, leave a massage and follow my blog with writing your e-mail on the right side of this entry---------------------->
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Now some more pics and as always have a great time...
LOVE & LIGHT
