Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with Thailand

Travel Packages to Thailand?

natteringnabob — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:01:15 -0800

I'm planning a trip to Thailand in January. Airfare prices can be steep so I'm looking for a package deal. A few months ago I saw a package that included airfare, shelter, food, and a day at the Elephant Nature Sanctuary. No funds at the time and now that trip is all booked up. Does anyone have any other ideas/know of any sites to search for this kind of overseas package? I'd really like to have a visit to the Elephant Nature sanctuary included.

In my ideal situation I'd leave the states with a group of other
Americans instead of flying alone and I'd like to see a little more of
Thailand than just Chiang Mai. Also my budget for this caps at around $2500.

How do I get around Thailand and Laos?

slopepheasant — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:14:14 -0800

I am wondering if I could get some advice with specific transportation and itinerary information for a first-time trip to Thailand and Laos this December. My girlfriend and I are going for about 2 weeks over Xmas and New Years. We are flying in and out of Bangkok. I would like to visit my friend in Vientiane and would also like to spend a few days somewhere on an Island relaxing. Regarding the island, I would prefer something at least a little authentic rather than a place that feels super-touristy.

Currently, we are thinking a day or two to start in Bangkok, 4 days or so in Koh Chang (the one closer to Cambodia, as I believe there are two) and a few days in Vientiane and back to Bangkok. Any ideas and specifics for how to get between them as well as any suggestions for changes to the plan and/or the order of travel would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Should I travel to Japan or Thailand in January?

Dasein — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:04:14 -0800

Should I spend two weeks in January in Japan or Thailand? I'll be flying to Australia in January. I have two ticket options, one of which will let me stop in Tokyo, while the other would let me do a side trip from Hong Kong to Bangkok. I would really like to see Japan, but in January it will be freezing in Japan, but warm in Thailand, and I gather than Thailand is easier to travel in because people speak English.

I would appreciate any advice/experience you can share. Where should I spend two weeks en route to Australia, and what factors weigh one way or the other?

Buying jewelery in Thailand.

latentflip — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:08:58 -0800

Buying jewellery in Thailand/Bangkok. Need good advice/website/stores to go to so that I don't get ripped off. I am off to Thailand for a month on Saturday, and would like to bring some nice jewelery back for my girlfriend. However, I know next to nothing about jewelery, and want to avoid getting scammed. Has anyone here done this successfully? If so any advice on which websites to read before I go, or which stores in Thailand/Bangkok are reputable.

Google comes up with lots of general "talk to them a lot to make sure they seem reputable" type tips, but personal experience would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

What to send to a friend in Thailand, from the US?

Xere — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:13:50 -0800

Putting together a fun-filled mail package for my friend. He is currently studying abroad in Thailand. What things are unobtainable, nearly unobtainable, or coveted, that I can send him? I'm in the US. Help me be awesome.

Please help me kill these suckers dead.

plaingurl — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:52:22 -0800

How can I make sure that I get rid of all lice and their eggs when I don't have the option of washing my clothes/bedding/etc. in hot water? Conflicting google information has made me resort to AskMe for now. After three months of living in Thailand and not even getting sick off of the food, I've come down with head lice a week before I head back to the States. (And it is unfortunately without-a-doubt head lice.) Oh, and did I mention that I'm bug-phobic? Awesome.

I'm headed to the doctor tomorrow with a Thai friend to help me translate to get some medicated shampoo stuff that should take care of the actual problem with my hair. What I'm really concerned about, though, is the bedding/clothing issue. I know that generally in the States they're not the most difficult things to get rid of as long as you clean well and wash everything in hot water. The hot is a problem for me here. Washing in hot water is literally not an option in the town I'm living in. The washing machines at my apartment building only operate on cold, and I even talked to some of the laundry places around and they can't do it either. So, if I can't wash my clothes in hot water, what on earth can I do to ensure that I get rid of these little suckers for good?

I've been looking a lot on google, and I'm getting conflicting information of how to ensure to really get rid of head lice. Some sources say that they can only live for up to a few hours without human contact, some say up to two weeks, some say something in between. I don't know if I can treat my head and just go away for th weekend and everything in my apartment will be dead, or if I need to do something else. While some websites suggest that will work, it seems way too good to be true. If I could just wash everything in hot water I wouldn't be so worried. But, as I said, I can't.

So. Any methods to make sure lice and their eggs are not in clothing/bedding/etc. other than washing everything in hot water? What on earth can I do to make sure when these suckers are gone, they're gone? Please keep in mind that I am in Thailand, and that not everything that may be available in other countries is available here.

What are the Best books that list Best cosmtic surgery clinics or hospitals only in Bangkok, Thailand?

omaralarifi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:50:29 -0800

Where can I buy book(s) that list best hospitals/clinics for cosmetic surgeries in Bangkok, Thailand? I am looking for the best clinics or hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand.
I prefer these books that list only the the best of the best clinics or hospitals specialized for cosmetic surgery only in Bangkok, Thailand.

Please I am only looking for books not websites.

Thailand or bust

smackfu — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:22:42 -0800

I want to go to Thailand. I have a lot of airline miles. Alas, I can't find an award ticket to Thailand for November or December at all. OTOH I can get to Singapore and pay to fly onward. Is Singapore a good choice or is there somewhere better?

Traveling With a DSLR

paulfreeman — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:43:22 -0800

Backpacking with a DSLR Camera - Any advice? From December I'll be traveling around Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam with my DSLR in tow. I'll be sorting out specific travel insurance for it, and have taken into account the fact I am carrying expensive kit from a financial point of view.

But given there is little point in owning a nice camera and leaving it behind when going places you really want to take good photos, does any one have any experience or advice regarding SLR photography when backpacking?

Looking for a classical guitar in Bangkok

ageispolis — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:19:34 -0800

Where can I buy a classical guitar in Bangkok? My friend is heading home and he's taking his 6-string with him leaving me fingerpicking the empty air. I'm heading back to Bangkok in a couple days and would like to pick one up myself. The guitars sold near Khao San Rd to the tourists are unplayable. My price range is 3000-7000 baht depending on tone and quality. Ideally, it would be 3/4 size for mobility sake so if anyone knows the address to any acoustic guitar stores with a sizeable inventory it'd be much appreciated. Thank ye.

Where have people seen this before?

djstig — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:49:39 -0800

An image that my friend has created has been seen before by other people. How has this happened? A friend who I run a record label with created this image a couple of years ago for a flyer. We have since expanded into making T-shirts as well as records and made up a few shirts with this image on. A couple of people have said that they have come across the image before. One person in the UK and another in France - they both said they had seen the image in Thailand. However my friend created the image from a health leaflet found in the UK.
Are they mistaken and have seen a similar image, or has my friend appropriated an image already available accidentally?
I don't know how to search for an image of two children looking at each others bits, without coming across dodgy stuff so thought I'd ask here.

Ultra cool Thai hammock/tent query.

zardoz — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:29:44 -0800

Years ago I was backpacking in Thailand and came across a combination hammock/tent being sold in Bangkok. They are made of nylon and seemed incredibly light and compact. Has anyone here ever bought one of these hammocks? Was it a good buy? And more importantly, where can I get one? The person selling these had a cart just off Khao San Road, but IIRC it was part of the shop across the way. I believe it was a trek tour office that used the tents in the jungle. I've been kicking myself for years for not buying one of those hammocks, and frequent searches in the U.S. and Japan turned out fruitless. BTW, I'm living in Japan now.

Any of this ring a bell?

peace and purpose in the rain?

paradoxflow — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:54:43 -0800

How would a westerner go about participating in the Theravada tradition of Vassa in Thailand? First a bit of background: I am a 24 year old recent university graduate living in Canada who has been looking to take a trip since finishing school, and before perhaps returning and studying law (to be honest I have no idea what I want to do). I have been to Europe, and have never really been interested in the whole backpacking through Europe and seeing the sights trip, nor have I been interested in taking a strictly hedonistic vacation. I would like to take a long-ish trip (three months sounds about perfect) to really change my life and my perception of the world, I am a very spiritual person and my idea of this trip has always included some kind of extended stay at a monastery.

I have always been interested in Buddhism, but especially what I see as the more individual and self-reliant tradition of Theravada/Hinayana. I had been considering going to Japan to study Zen, or Tibet to study Vajrayana, thinking that Theravada monastaries were mostly only existent in countries which I would otherwise not really be interested in visiting. After having heard of Vassa/Phansa/Rain Retreat in Thailand, I think it sounds perfect, in terms of the duration, timing, and experience.

From what I have read, it is common for locals to take up the vows of a monk for the three month period of Vassa only to return to a lay life afterwards. I'm wondering if it would be possible for a westerner with good amount of academic background in Theravada Buddhism (and of course some practice in following the tenets and practices, including meditation), and next to no knowledge of Thailand to do the same? I have the money, I have the time, and I have the desire. To me the idea of spending three months in a monastery developing personally and spiritually is so much more appealing than seeing historic places or lounging on the beach.

I would like to avoid the tourist trap type places which would offer a watered down experience, and have tour-groups constantly wandering through (that would really defeat the purpose of the trip). The more remote and the better the reputation of the monastery and teacher/s the better. I don't really care about comfort, that isn't the point, I want an authentic experience.

southeast asia itinerary help

nyu2 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:22:37 -0800

Which city/cities should I cross off my south east asia itinerary? I will be traveling to South East Asia from 6/9 to 7/7 but am having a difficult time trying to put together an itinerary I am happy with. I have spent hours mulling over which cities to include and which ones to skip given my limited time. The logisitics of traveling from place to place and the varying weather during the wet season also complicates things....I was hoping to get advice on which countries to include/exclude or add/subtract days to.

my tentative itinerary is:

2 days in Ho Chi Mihn City
5 days Easy Riders Bike tour from Dalat to Hoi An
3 days in Hoi An (I've been told hoi an is famous for their tailored clothes and that three days is the minimum days to spend here if you want to get it done)
3 days in Hanoi 2 in Ha long bay
3 days in Luang Prabang
2 days in Vang Vieng
4 days in Chiang Mai (can anyone give advice on whether the hill tribe treks are worth it)
3 days in Bangkok

My original itinerary included a trip to Northern Laos for the Gibbon Experience, a trip to Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, and a few days in Phenom Phen and Angkor Wat.

Am I foolish for leaving these places out, and what would you suggest in order to fit them in to my current itinerary?

What complicates things:

I was thinking about cutting out Ho Chi Mihn City to even out the time spent in each country, but there is no way to fly directly into Dalat for the Easy Rider Tour and Ho Chi Mihn seems like the easiest entry point. I also have to be going from south to north vietnam in order for the bike tour to work.

We are stretching to see a lot of places, and to save time we are going to have to fly into most of the cities. However, this really limits where we can get to.

some people suggested that Vang Vieng was a tourist trap, but have also heard that the scenery there makes up for it...

I decided to reluctantly cut out Cambodia b/c I have been told the rainy season during June/July is worst than the rest of Southeast Asia.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

What are some good, quick boxed international lunches?

nitsuj — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:58:04 -0800

I really love these easy-to-prepare, not-too-expensive A Taste of Thai/India/China meals for lunch. What else would I like? My local grocery stores don't stock very many things like this, but with Amazon Groceries, I figure I can get pretty much anything shipped to my door.

The Asian stuff is great, so any other brands/styles/flavor recommendations are welcomed. I'd also be interested some other international flavors, like Mexican, Spanish, Canadian, et. al.

Emphasis on easiness to prepare and quality of ingrediants.

I'm Feenin'!

matkline — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:10:13 -0800

What is the cheapest, fastest, way to get as many 21 Jump Street DVDs as possible? One (major) caveat --- I'm in northern Thailand.

What's the best way to prove ongoing transit for the purposes of Thai immigration for the least amount of money?

matkline — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:47:13 -0800

What's the best way to prove ongoing transit for the purposes of Thai immigration for the least amount of money?

Semester in SEA.

jne1813 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:04:09 -0800

A friend wants to spend 3 or 4 months in South East Asia. His budget is US $3000 (including transportation). Is this enough money, if he stays in mid-range guesthouses? He is a writer, and is wondering if bringing his laptop is a good idea. He's been to China before, but is completely unfamiliar with South East Asia, and hasn't traveled extensively in the past. Any itinerary ideas would be appreciated.

buying a laptop in Bangkok

verisimilitude — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:43:06 -0800

Where should I buy a laptop in Bangkok? I'm in Bangkok for a couple of days next week and wish to avoid the chaos and make the most of the cheap shopping.

I'm after a basic laptop for general email, document writing, USB syncing, occasional cd burning, dvd watching etc. The main feature I am looking for is cheapness. Ideally it would have enough grunt to run dreamweaver, photoshop, or some of the other programs I have been getting round to trying. But the main thing is cheapness and relative reliability.

I'm from the UK and dont know Bangkok well. I do have an MBK experience under my belt, which has led to me posting this question!

How smart is filming without a permit in Thailand?

mordecai — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:53:32 -0800

Filming without a permit in Thailand? Good idea or no? I'm doing a short film in a Thailand that will be shot on a PD170. I have about 4 or 5 cast members and crew only consists of me and a friend.

Getting a permit for filming in Thailand is proving to be a headache and more importantly, tearing a huge hole on my pocket. Apparently, you need a Film Officer onboard with you overseeing the production and he'll cost about 2000 Baht (US$50) per day. You also need to pay for his lodging and food. On top of that, you also need a Thai Coordinator who'll cost about 10000 Baht (US$250) per day. It's ridiculous coz I'm just doing a nice, sweet, low budget, short film. I'll be in Chiang Mai for 7 days and these guys are gonna cost a bomb. That's money down the drain, frankly. I only need the permit. But then, I can't get a permit without hiring these people as well.

So my friend's suggesting that we just bring the equipment in and shoot. We have a PD170, a sun gun and a tripod..that's it. How feasible would it be to pull it off? I don't think we should have much trouble at the locations themselves coz it'll be in Chiang Mai and it's huge but I'm just worried about the airport security.

Just for the record, we don't know anybody there in Thailand. Well, we do but they're not filmmakers or close friends.

Things are pretty much confirmed and we will be going to Chiang Mai without a permit but I need some sort of reassurance or at least some ideas to make sure we don't get into trouble. Anybody? Thanks in advance!

Make me want to go to Asia.

djstig — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 08:18:35 -0800

Make me want to go to Asia. Next summer I will be heading off to Singapore for a really good friends wedding, however it is only for a couple of days. The vague problem is that most of the other friends of the wedding party are planning on travelling around that part of the world for a few weeks afterwards.

However I have had very little interest in looking to travel in that part of the world. As in Malaysia, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia etc. So I am asking the Uncle Travelling Matt types of AskMe to sell Asia to me.

Interests include walking, swimming, historic sites, food that kind of thing. All of which I know are plentiful around those parts, but because I've not ever fancied Asia then I'm kind of clueless.

How Do The Postal Services of These Countries Compare?

Rykey — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:07:55 -0800

The Postal Service of a few different countries is a factor in where I decide to move. I'm in the USA and am considering moving out of the country for at least a couple years. I've been fairly successful selling stuff online for extra cash, and would like to continue to do so if I move abroad. I'd sell goods I found in my new country of residence. We're talking supplementary income, not a full-time business.

Crucial to this possibility is the quality of the Postal systems of the countries I've narrowed down: Thailand, Czech Republic, Greece, Germany, Panama. Cost is of course a factor, but I'm more concerned about reliability and consistency, especially with international shipping. I have to have a reasonable assurance that my packages (which will probably never be bigger than a breadbox, or over a few pounds) will get to where they are supposed to undamaged within a decent time frame.

Has anyone mailed several (a dozen or so) packages a week from any of the countries I mentioned? What were your experiences? What were the laws governing how much was considered to be subject to tariff, or when you were required to get a permit to sell stuff from that country?

For what it's worth, I'll be selling consumer goods and/or souvenirs to individuals (yes, as in online auctions). I would be fine with taking these items to the post office myself (as opposed to pickup by the postal service).

Looking for paradise in Thailand

Brittanie — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:36:39 -0800

Traveling to Thailand, but we don't want to relive "The Beach." My husband and I would like to spend a week or so in Thailand but we have no idea where to go. A friend recommended Ko Samui, but internet searches reveal terms like "full moon parties", "plenty of nightlife" "a row of bars near the Pizza Hut." With respect, the last thing we want to do on vacation is be surrounded by a bunch of drunken expats fulfilling their Hollywood backpacker fantasies. Here's what we *would* like to do, in order of importance:

— Scuba diving. This is the number one reason we're going.
— Laying on the beach/a balcony/porch/deck. That's it. Just relaxing. Maybe with a book in hand.
— Hiking through the jungle. Bonus points if there is wildlife or waterfalls.
— I'd like to see a native dance performance.
— I'd also like to see and maybe ride on some elephants, but I want to be sure the animals are well treated.
— Tasty cuisine and other cultural goodies (temples, etc.)
— Maybe go to a spa

Our accommodation budget is around $100 a night but that's very flexible. I've searched the "Thailand" tag but most of the questions involve teaching in Thailand or travel to Bangkok. I've tried Google but it's annoying trying to wade through all the advertising just to get to decent reviews.

Bangkok logding suggestions?

altcountryman — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:31:28 -0800

Places to stay in Bangkok, and cool things to do there... My wife and I are going to Thailand from mid-December into the 1st week of January. We'll be in Bangkok part of the time, with side trips planned to Hua Hin, the Chiang Mai area, and probably Cambodia.

We're looking for a cool hotel in Bangkok, not too expensive, but we don't want to do the hostel-type thing either. We'll need a place where the staff speaks English (I'm trying to learn some Thai but it's not progressing much) but it would be cool if we're not totally surrounded by other farangs. The Arun Residence and Eugenia both look really nice.

Bonus points for recommendations of interesting things to do in BKK. We're planning on a lot of sightseeing in the city, some shopping, and, of course, lots of Thai food!

Thai spas

Mossy — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:04:59 -0800

Spa recommendations for Bangkok/Chiang Mai? Headed out in a month or so to this region with the missus and am looking for some nice spa recommendations for 3-4 days of various treatments (currently booked at hotel spas). Cleanliness and relaxing environment are key.