Bangkok, Thailand

What to expect in... Bangkok

15. Old white men and young local girls
If you're a single old white man, Thailand is the best place to pick up a wife 20 years younger than you.



14. Ka and Krap
If you're a female (or ladyboy), you say ka at the end of most sentences.
If male, you say krap (pronounced just like the English word crap!)
The language sounds really nasaly.

13. The bum gun
You have to spray your butt with a hose and flush with a bucket.
byoTP.

Don't expect all the bathrooms to be this nice

12. Tuk tuks
A cheaper and more fun way to get around.
These are old school, so you'll only find them in the tourist area nowadays.

11. Tourists
They're everywhere. It's estimated that 20% of the GDP is from tourism. Thailand really is a perfect place to vacation. I recommend it to everyone for their first time in Asia.

10. Massages
Even on the sidewalk. Pay as low as $6/hr for a full-body massage. The massage involves lots of stretches and feels really good if you tell them to go soft.

9. Traffic
When driving, you will always be in traffic.
Take one of the 3 metros (yes, it's confusing because they're run by different companies) or take the Saen Saeb canal, which is an authentic Bangkok experience!



8. 7-11
Even more 7-11s (pronounced "sewen" because they don't say the letter "v") than in Taipei! You will see 7-11's across the street from each other and I've even seen 2 next door to each other.
Funny observation - 7-11 has the same color scheme as the palaces.

7. Temples
Typical of Southeast Asia. They're awesome, but you'll get sick of them quickly.



6. Cheap stuff
Prices are crazy cheap and Bangkok offers endless shopping.
The street markets have cool and crazy clothes. T-shirts cost $3.

5. Smiles
Thai people are generally friendly and smiley.

4. Royals
Pictures of the Royal family are everywhere. People adore them.
I don't understand Thailand's political system. They have a military that takes over the democratically-elected government whenever it wants to and the country seems to be doing pretty well. Huh?

that kind of luxe just ain't for us

3. Eating all day
Not only cheap, but also delicious!
You can get a (very spicy!) plate for a $1.00 if you go to local places, $3+ in tourist places (where it's much less spicy.)
To eat: pad thai, all curries, mango sticky rice.



2. Lively streets

People practically live in the streets. It's very exciting! You'll find washing machines, water stations, lottery tickets, food stalls, and all sorts of stands. The streets especially come to life at night when it's a little cooler.

1. Red lights and parties
There's all sorts of wild stuff going on from dusk till dawn.

----- The End. Click on the archive to view more cities.