Travel Tips for Thailand
First, let's get things squared away. Thai food is hot, hot, hot! So unless you can handle spices, I suggest having a nice, cold, sugary drink next to you whenever you have a meal. "Sugar" is the key here- without the sweetness, all the water will do is move the heat around in your mouth and throat.
Next, you must know Thailand's border countries which are Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar (Burma). Why? If you're travelling around, you probably will want to pop over the other countries to taste some of the real Asia as opposed to the tourist-friendly Thailand.
Thailand has a population of around 66 million people, and a few hundred thousand of those are avid Thaksin supporters!
Most Thai, around 95%, are Buddhist and literate (over 90%). But it seems that they like to sing more than read with many Thai bands and singers releasing VCD's that fill karaoke halls. Oh yes, they also love their comic books which makes for a jovial nation.
Currency Exchange Rate: US$1 - THB 32.50
Pai Paradise
We first came to this sleepy hippie town 7 years ago. It took a long bus ride from Chiang Mai (135 kms away) and lots of puking on the mountain road before we reached what was an incredible paradise of green valleys, friendly elephants and a quiet river that ran through the town.
The accommodation consisted of a simple mat on the floor and the bathrooms were all communal and outdoors. Everyone made sure that they kept things clean. The restaurants that lined the one main street offered free movies on a tiny tv and internet was readily available and frequented by the many young people who had decided to stay a month or two instead of the couple of days they had initially penned into their itinerary.
We all got to know each other after a few days as many of the "village conversations" congregated around the multi-lingual Burmese man making pancakes. A former professor who could speak eloquently about the regions economy and governance, he had to flee his own country due to his political convictions. Wonder where he is today. He said he intended to go back.
It's now 7 years later and word has obviously spread about the wonders of Pai so that it has become a hot destination for backpackers. Fortunately, it has retained much of its down-to-earth feel and the prices are still cheap enough to make staying on a long term basis affordable for backpackers.