When you hear of Southeast Asia, Thailand is generally the first country that comes to mind. No trip there would be complete without visiting Thailand. Whether it is enjoying the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, the multiple tropical islands or Chiang Mai, Thailand is a must on every traveler’s list. I spent nearly 2 months there and this is my recap of my time there and my takeaways.
1) Thailand is like a Mexican resort.
Out of all the countries in SE Asia, Thailand is by far the easiest for travelers, especially for new travelers to Asia. In the touristy areas the majority of the Thai speak English well or fluently and everything is in English. I had a love-hate relationship with how easy it was to get around Thailand, as it was nice to be able to ask for everything in English and not really have to use my skills to communicate in Thai. The same is true for many Americans who travel to Mexican resort towns like Cozumel or Cancun. You can land, go straight to the beach resort and never need to have any interaction with the local culture.
However, I didn’t like this, as I felt there was always a “wall” from me getting to know the Thai culture well. To be fair though, I didn’t get much off the normal tourist route of going to Chiang Mai in the north, Bangkok and the touristy islands in the south. I felt if I went to less well-known cities, I would have been able to get more of the local Thai experience.
I hope to return in the future and be able to explore more of the country and its culture.
2) Thai Culture is different than much of its neighbors
Thailand was unique in how their culture is and how they act compared to their neighbors. For one thing, Thailand was never colonized by European powers like its neighbors, so their culture was never changed by European influences. Even in World War II, Thailand aligned with Japan, so it was technically never conquered then either.
What are unique aspects of Thai Culture?
- Muy Thai – this is a traditional martial art going back many years. This is very popular for Thai locals and tourists to attend, when they are visiting. I was lucky enough to be able to go for a night to witness a few matches.
- Land of Smiles – Thailand is known as the “land of smiles” and for good reason. Many of the Thai’s I met were always smiling when I met them. This is engrained into their culture and I really liked it. Thai’s also like to do the “wai,” which is a way to express greetings to others. It’s so common here that even Ronald McDonald does it here.
Ronald McDonald doing the “wai.” You’ll find Ronald all over Thailand doing this at various McDonalds locations. I personally find the look on his face creepy.
3) Elephants are the animal symbol of Thailand
The elephant is integrated into Thai culture and you can see it everywhere around the country. From the tourists who are wearing shirts and pants with elephant patterns to the multiple statues with elephants, you are able to sense their importance from the moment you land in the country.
4) Thai Curries are my favorite food from Thailand
I was lucky enough to try all sort of delicious Thai meals and experience their cuisine. My favorite foods were definitely the curries – some which went a bit on the spicy side. Curries are enjoyed with steamed rice. My favorite version was the massaman curry, which is super common across Thailand, and it is generally less spicy compared to the others. I would strongly recommend trying some if you make it there.
5) Chiang Mai and Koh Tao were my favorite parts of Thailand… I really enjoyed Bangkok too!
Having spent nearly 2 months in Thailand, I went to a lot of parts of the country: Bangkok, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Tao, Krabi/Aon Nang, Koh Lanta, Chiang Mai, Pai and Phuket. My favorite spots were definitely Chiang Mai and Koh Tao. I like Chiang Mai, as there is lots of nature and temples there. I also really enjoyed celebrating new years there. With Koh Tao, I enjoyed the snorkeling there so much – I was able to see a wide array of different sea life in the ocean and coral. It was some of the best snorkeling I’ve done so far in Southeast Asia.
Most people I talk to don’t care for Bangkok, but I frankly liked it! There are so many things to do in the city and I just like the vibe of it.
6) I had the best new years celebration ever in Chiang Mai.
With being abroad for New Year’s Eve for 2023, I wanted to celebrate the new year at a special spot. No place was more special than Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is home of the world famous lantern festival every November, and for its New Year’s celebrations, they don’t skimp on the party. I was lucky enough to join some friends from the UK. We were able to launch off a lantern and watch the fireworks at midnight. It was an unforgettable experience for me! It was one the best new year’s I’ve had in a long time.
To conclude, I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel around Thailand for as long as I did. I hope to visit again in the future!