Asia Travels

[PorscheGAL]

Looks like my son will be traveling to Thailand in May with his engineering school and Hong Kong for Summer School.

Itinerary in Thailand takes him to Bangkok, Pethchaburi Province, Ayutthaya Province, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Mai.

Any tips or tricks? Things to see during his free time? Are credit cards acceptable or is it easier to get cash from an ATM for purchases?

Thanks guys!

[Seahawk]

I have spent a lot of time in Thailand and he will have a wonderful time.

May is the start of the rainy season, and it will be hot and humid. Plan accordingly.

There is so much to see where he is going...difficult to recommend a particular side trip for a young man.

I am most interested in the Chiang Rai Province. I have never been there...in the mountains of Thailand, the Golden Triangle. I would love to see it. Very cool.

A few things:

Traffic in Bangkok is not for the faint of heart - no real road rules and the most amazing assortment of dissimilar vehicles all on the same road to ruin. The country side is worse.

Have him sit anywhere but in the front seat of whatever vehicle he is riding in.

Bathrooms on the road: He'll need to understand in advance that the filthiest restroom he has ever been in in SC are really quite nice in comparison...and have a toilet.

You get used to it.

All the usual warnings about non bottled water, etc. Be careful in the markets, pick-pockets are legendary.

He will also see some of the best looking women on Earth, and more than one of them will be a man.

What a great adventure.

[David]

Cash and credit card are good. Get cash at an ATM in Thailand.

My rule on water is only out of a bottle unless it's a really nice restaurant and only ice if I see where it came from (not broken up on the floor with a hammer).

WEAR YOUR SEATBELT! It's not that common to do although it's gotten better in the last few years. When I travel with my in-laws, I usually have to tell them to put it on. I wouldn't ride a scooter in Bangkok, not worth the risk and I'm a risk taker.

As crazy as the traffic is and lack of obeying traffic laws, I've never seen road rage.

Tell him not to fall in love with a bar girl. There are nice girls to choose from

[vash]

I pack one of those SteriPen water things. Saved my ass (literally) in Peru.
For the most part I bought water from these water stations where I could fill my Nalgene bottles. That country produced a crapload of plastic waste and it felt good to keep some out of the landfill.

Money. I used my CC at an ATM. It got me the best rate. I did however bring some cash and a few other options.

And it is AWESOME how long that ATM will chug out money if you withdraw $300 American.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

A Thai sandwich is not something you can order at McDonald's

Thailand is great place to experience the Far East, I plan to go back and really explore the country

[TimT]

Land of Smiles...

Let your sons bank know the cc will be being used in Thailand, that way it wont get shut down if the bank suspects fraudulent activity...Same with HK

OT, I loved some of the ATMs in Lima, you could choose either $ or S/ (Nuevo Sol) from the machine..


Loved Thailand (been a few times) the food is amazing..

[PorscheGAL]

Thanks Guys. This is all great info. As mom, I am super nervous to send him away and excited for him at the same time. Never thought of the car issues. Keep the tips coming!

[Geary]

Take the train north, rather than the bus. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are a nice change from hot & humid Bangkok.

The street vendors have decent food, but stay away from any hamburgers (cat burgers) ..
Chinese restaurants rule .. especially if ordering Beggar's Chicken or Peking Duck.

If he has interest in gold, he should visit the gold shops in downtown Bangkok (the major shops are all clumped together). Buy only "24k" .. it'll be 23k, but it's the only regulated purity (must be 23k). Hong Kong sells true 24k, but the Chinese chain designs aren't as popular as the Thai "baht link".

[cstreit]

Be smart. Stay with the group.

Usual stuff....

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have spent a lot of time in Thailand and he will have a wonderful time.

May is the start of the rainy season, and it will be hot and humid. Plan accordingly.

There is so much to see where he is going...difficult to recommend a particular side trip for a young man.

I am most interested in the Chiang Rai Province. I have never been there...in the mountains of Thailand, the Golden Triangle. I would love to see it. Very cool.

A few things:

Traffic in Bangkok is not for the faint of heart - no real road rules and the most amazing assortment of dissimilar vehicles all on the same road to ruin. The country side is worse.

Have him sit anywhere but in the front seat of whatever vehicle he is riding in.

Bathrooms on the road: He'll need to understand in advance that the filthiest restroom he has ever been in in SC are really quite nice in comparison...and have a toilet.

You get used to it.

All the usual warnings about non bottled water, etc. Be careful in the markets, pick-pockets are legendary.

He will also see some of the best looking women on Earth, and more than one of them will be a man.

What a great adventure.

Seahawk, when you last there? The traffic in BKK, while still utterly mental, is much better than it was 10, 20 years ago. The Skyrail has changed the city, as has wealth. The car fleet is now thoroughly modern, you rarely see the clunkers even in the sticks. The whole city, indeed the country, is very different to when I first went there in the mid 80s. Must say- the same for the bathrooms. Even in rural areas- much better.

PorscheGal- just encourage him to suck it up. Thailand has one of the great cuisines, I hope you've raised an adventurous eater. The Thais are lovely, but can be very er, transactional. As anywhere, basic language greetings and pleasantries go far.

My one big tip- last year, after maybe 30 trips to Thailand over many years, wife and I both came home with Dengue fever. I can assure you this is an extremely unpleasant way to spend two weeks (and knocks you about for months). Encourage him to kill any mosquito he sees, especially the big ones, and to travel with and USE repellent, especially if in the regions.

Ayutthaya , the ancient capital, is stunning.

[Cajundaddy]

Yep, the lowly mosquito is probably the greatest risk to travelers there so go for a zero tolerance mosquito policy. They carry malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis and there is no upside to these.

The food, people and history are pretty great. Tell him to enjoy but use his head and he will be fine.

[vash]

The kid getting all his shots. ?

[Tishabet]

How old is your son? I lived in SE Asia for a few years (2010 to 2012) and traveled extensively in the area, Thailand (and Chiang Mai in particular) is a wonderful place.

Check with your bank about getting a card with both chip and pin, Chase Sapphire offers this and also has no foreign transaction fees.

[PorscheGAL]

My son will be 19 when he travels. We have travelled as a family through Europe so this won't be the first time out of country; Just the first time without us and in Asia.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by vash

The kid getting all his shots. ?

He has an appointment for shots next month.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

He will also see some of the best looking women on Earth, and more than one of them will be a man.

What a great adventure.

This has had him laughing this morning. Warnings about the women are common. He has a friend who is Russian and she told him Thailand is great just don't bring home a wife.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Seahawk, when you last there? The traffic in BKK, while still utterly mental, is much better than it was 10, 20 years ago. The Skyrail has changed the city, as has wealth.

15 years!

That is really good to hear.

When I was in the H-60 Program Office managing the development of the S/R, out Foreign Military Sales (FMS) head let me work Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.

Every six months for five years we did the FMS shuffle.

The Royal Thai Navy and Air Force were station at the U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport, a former B-52 base during Vietnam. The drive south from Bangkok was always a thrill! They fly these two variations of the H-60:




PG, my son did a summer at language school in Japan when he was 19 - different experience for sure but it is wonderful time in life to travel.

Best!

[PorscheGAL]

Another question:

We have T-Mobile Cell Service. They say that phone calls, text etc will work. How reliable is cell service in Thailand? Is there a better way to communicate with him in Thailand and Hong Kong?

[stuartj]

Very good mobile services, several major carriers. A more phone obsessed country might exist (China, maybe Japan by TH is right up there) Pre paid SIMs available widely, and free wi fi in just about every bar, café, restaurant.


Funnily I think they are still blueing about 3/4G data licences, the carriers there have operated wide WI-FI services instead for years. This is part pf the phenomena (phone-omona?) we call "Amazing Thailand".

Also, as yours will be a polite and culturally sensitive young man, he should understand the "wai". This goes a long way.

The political situation is fractious - currently a benign military dictatorship, a recent change of King, the death of a beloved King a few years back. The relationship with their royalty is baffling to Westerners, lèse majesté laws exist. Political discussion with Thai people not recommended.

Shame he wont be there for the Songkran water festival in mid April, unbelievable fun.

[PorscheGAL]

I try not to assume phone service will be available. Traveling in Scotland we found places with no service.

My son has been learning Mandarin for the last 10 years and he is well aware of staying away from politics. In Hong Kong Politics of China and Global Relations was a couple of the classes offered. He is going with a cultural classes.

In Thailand, he is traveling with the engineering Dept. as guests of the Thai government to study sustainability efforts. He will have free time almost everyday there in addition to the planned activities for his studies. He is very excited about picking up a few phrases of a new language.

He would really like to be in China for spring semester next year so that he can experience the spring festival. I'll have him look into the water festival. Might be a good side trip.