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Off to Thailand

DTR

DTR

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It has be a quite a while for me without a real break other than taking a weekend off or a family/personal issue which put me down for a few days and I am starting to feel it. Really need a real vacation and taking advantage of something that came up I am off to Chiang Mai in Thailand in a few days for some relaxation, food and enjoying the lantern festival which will be going on the last few days I will be there. It is a bit of a spur of the moment deal so sorry for the lack of notice. I will be back 12/4 and get things back up and running. Any orders that are in will be sent out before leaving. I am in a bit of a scramble to clear all my outstanding stuff so please understand I can't take any new orders before I go. Not sure my access or availability to check messages while there but I will try to keep up with replying as best I can.

If anyone has been would love to hear any thoughts on things to do while I am there.:beer:
 





Sounds like fun, Jordan, have a good time! :beer:
My coworker just went to Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday for three weeks.
 
After Chiang Mai, head south via 5.5-6hr long distance bus from BangKok (MoChit) bus station to Bang Suphan Noi (Chumphon prov.) You'll stop at some very interesting "rustic" roadside stalls.. and watching Thai movies on the bus. It could be a very interesting experience.

Bang Saphan is an untouched reasonably non-touristy area with several locally run resorts. The one we stayed in is family friends of friends... The name escapes me right now but I'll ask my sister-in law about the name. We stayed there in 2012 Dec, and it was the best resort experience ever! Food was top notch and the staff also lived on site and interacted with the tourists and local groups that stayed there. IT was a very respectful atmosphere. Internet is very slow but does exist. Think, basic high speed.
Nothing was overdone and it was clean and the locals were treated very well.


Word of caution: Many of the resorts are run by mafia/ shady offshore businesses and treat the local staff as slaves.

You get huge issues with theft, extortion, fraud and various forms of prostitution in the touristy areas due to the land prices skyrocketing displacing the locals .
Go off the beaten track and you'll find "golden" experiences that you'll be talking about for years!
 
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Hi Jordan,
Take some pics of the lantern fest for us to share and some other pics of that awesome culture enjoy your vaca see you on the 4th ..

Rich:)
 
Enjoy your well earned vacation, Jordan. I got the items I ordered yesterday.....thank you for that. Take some photos and give us a way to enjoy it vicariously through you. :yh:
 
Go and enjoy Thailand, it's one of my favourite countries for sure (after Indonesia). Chang mai sounds good as well, away from the bangkok madness but still a decently sized city that has most things you could need.

Also a great place to plan a trip to Laos from, but that'd probably take a bit more time than you have :D
 
RedCowboy said:
Sounds like an exciting trip, stay safe and have a great time.

I don't see any major travel warnings but I'm sure you know all about where you are going. :beer: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/thailand.html
Click to expand...


Further note :

Stay well away from Yala/ Patani (Hatyai, Songkala). There is an active conflict between the Thai Govt and the Juwae (warriors) some of whom have pledged allegiance with ISIS.
Muslim separatist are fighting for control over the region. Attacks have included scooter bombs, car bombs, drive bys... targeted attacks on teachers, monks... etc. Tourists have been killed.
Under NO circumstances travel in the extreme south, especially along the border with Malaysia.

We have a mutual friend in the Thai military who has been deployed down there.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/1364447/policeman-killed-another-wounded-by-yala-bomb

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security
 
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Don't eat any fresh water crabs that have not been thoroughly cooked as 80% are infested with a nasty parasite. I'm certain there are other foods to avoid.
 
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paul1598419 said:
Don't eat an fresh water crabs that have not been thoroughly cooked as 80% are infested with a nasty parasite. I'm certain there are other foods to avoid.
Click to expand...


hmm, thinking about Thailand... Advice..


* Use the Wai when you speak to Thais! It is polite. (prob. already knew this/ restating obvious)

*Turn your shoes upside down... scorpion stings are not nice first thing in the morning.

*Stay away from any rentals in resort towns.

*Wash all fruit thoroughly.

*Stay out of pools that haven't been thoroughly chlorinated. Any cuts in water that hasn't been chlorinated (especially around Kochang/ on resort islands) can result in an out of GI tract infection by protozoa. This can go directly to your organs... eventually going to your brain.

I made that mistake and it nearly cost me my life 4 years ago.


*If you feel ill, or scrape yourself on something go directly to an International clinic or local hospital (if you have to)... failure to do so could wind you up with serious complications/death.
I have seen many tourists get tetanus from something as small as a light scrape.

* Not all ladies are what they seem..
 
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Seoul_lasers said:
hmm, thinking about Thailand... Advice..

* Not all ladies are what they seem..
Click to expand...


i seconded this :crackup:

to add to this.

before you 'Bang' 'em check for the Kok and apples..

there's a place in Thailand called Bangkok for a reason.. if you know what i mean.:shhh:


the famous ladyboy show in BangKok is another Thai attraction and a muay thai stadium around the area as well.
 
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I had read about a musician who washed his contact lenses in a hotel sink in Thailand and lost his eyes to a parasite/infection, this is why I checked the travel advisory.

How often these things are fought off naturally and how often they need treatment I really don't know, I just remember reading about it as well as jet skiers getting nasty stuff, most that I have read about is water related.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, just reflecting on what I remember reading.

I did just do a quick search and found this page > Thailand Major infectious diseases - Demographics
 
317718 said:
i seconded this :crackup:

to add to this.

before you 'Bang' 'em check for the Kok and apples..

there's a place in Thailand called Bangkok for a reason.. if you know what i mean.:shhh:


the famous ladyboy show in BangKok is another Thai attraction and a muay thai stadium around the area as well.
Click to expand...

(ah..yeah) ... I really discourage people going to Thailand to engage in that kind of behavior. ( especially red-light districts)
We have a mutual friend who is a professional photographer and "Katheoy". Life for her has been very difficult as Thai society has double standards for them.
One one hand they are on the surface tolerated by society, and yet in another breath, they are labelled as entertainers and not taken seriously or respected.
Anyways... that's a rant for another time. Thai society has some interesting "quirks" and a lot of them to "westerners" don't make a damned bit of sense.

Bangkok is a shortened version of the true name of Krung
Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร) ---> Commonly it is referred to as Bang Ko ( bang = city/villange on the river) Ko = island.



On the part of infectious diseases:

Thailand is right now experiencing the some of the worst flooding it has in many many years.
This means that mosquitos will be very prevalent. Right now is the start of the cool, rainy season.
(monsoon).

Malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis are all prevalent right now.

Malaria is very easy to treat thank goodness. The others aren't and require immunizations.
 
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