My First Trip To Thailand - A Report - Part 1

[fareastcoastmover]

Just got back from our maiden voyage to Thailand last week and I have so many things to say about it. Firstly, I’d like to thank members of this forum in general for all the helpful tips and advice in all of the great posts here. Such a wealth of information. A lot of it was spot on and really helped us during our stay. I found myself going, “Oh…….yeah” several times recalling things I’d seen here on ThaiVisa.

The big trip’s purpose was twofold: One, to get an initial orientation with the country and it’s culture; to get a feel for the place (well, as much as you can in 2 weeks anyway) and see if we truly want to follow through with our idea of moving over there for an extended time period to attend college later this year. Secondly, to just do the “tourist” thing and enjoy our vacation. I’m happy to say our first visit to Thailand fulfilled both of those things beautifully.

I’m going to try and write this thing in chronological order and I apologize in advance if I get too wordy. When I’m feeling inspired about an experience I’ve had, I tend to get keyboard diarrhea writing about it. I also want to preface my report by providing a little background on myself for those that may not recall or have read my initial postings here months ago.

I’m a 31 year old American, 10-year Army veteran, married to a lovely Filipina girl for 4 years now. (my 2^nd one I’m bashful to admit). I separated from the military almost 3 years ago now and have been running my own web design and online marketing business since, enjoying the freedom self-employment has to offer versus years of authoritative submission. Currently living in the northeastern U.S., I spent 7 years living in South Korea, during which time, I literally made about 80 trips to the Philippines of varying lengths. I was without a doubt, what you could call, a “PI Junkie”.

Over those years, I had many friends and acquaintances always telling me I should visit Thailand; guys who had visited or lived in both places and had nothing but great things to say about the latter. They all, to a man almost, said Thailand topped the Philippines in so many ways: better food, better hotels, better beaches, better infrastructure, better quality of life, etc. The one thing the PI had on Thailand was better spoken English, which in turn, for those, ahem “sportsman”, like me at the time, made for better “companionship” experiences if you will. So mainly for that reason alone, I stuck to the PI during all my years in South Korea. But time inevitably changes things and people…

About 8 months ago, an ex-military friend of mine emailed me one day to reconnect and said he was living in Thailand, using his GI Bill to go to school. Soured and bored with life in the States, my wife and I were really intrigued by the idea ourselves and began to research things more and more. So researching forums such as this, watching youtube videos, reading lonely planet books, and everything else we could find about Living in Thailand became part of our daily routines. We quickly decided an initial “scouting” trip was in order before even considering such a drastic life maneuver.

So tickets were bought, hotels were booked and the trip to find new frontiers in life was all set for mid November.

And then the rains came.

Having to postpone everything until February was a major disappointment after so much built-up excitement. We both felt very deflated at that point, having to wait 3 more months, but the time went by and the big trip was finally upon us again.

Since we were to be in the same hemisphere, we decided it would be nice if my wife’s mother could join us on the trip from Manila. So we booked her tickets and accommodations as well. Added to that, another American friend living in the Philippines would be coming with his wife also. So now it was a full-fledged group tour, with about only 11 actual days on the ground and so much to see and do.

The winter had been unseasonably mild for the Northeastern US to that point. Temps in 50s and 60s in December and January. Naturally, the day we set out to fly came the first snowstorm of the year. The first flight left on-time ok, but the second flight from Detroit to Tokyo was delayed about an hour as we sat on the runway being “de-iced”.

Not to stray too far off on a tangent, I must say after years of flying on Korean Air, Asiana and Philippine Air, making this entire trip on Delta made me downright embarrassed as an American. Horrible….horrible in-flight food. Older, crappy looking planes. No “personal entertainment” things in the headrests for watching movies to kill time on the 13-hour flight to Japan. Rather “robustly” built, crotchety-tempered flight attendants aged not much better than the visibly “matured” 747 we were on.

But it got us there nevertheless. Flight from Japan to Bangkok was another grueling 6 or 7 hours. That trip is never easy. I can’t imagine making it with a young child, or as an older, larger or unhealthier person. You never really can sleep. You’re just in this weird state of semi-consciousness, trying to get comfortable, shifting again and again, but never getting it right.

So we arrive into Bangkok finally and getting off that plane was the only thing on my mind for starters. Head to immigration and it’s packed full of foreigners of all ages and nationalities. We get through, get our luggage, but then had to wait for my mother-in-law, who’s plane arrived about 20 minutes after ours did. Of course she had to go through immigration also, so it was another 45 minutes of standing in the baggage claim area waiting. Original plan was to have her fly in the next day, but this saved us another trip back to Suvarmabumi, which was best in hindsight.

So she got through with no issues, we got her bags, changed about $300 into Baht and headed out the door. This is where the actual trip report begins believe it or not.

I momentarily recalled some of the advice on here and the advice from my buddy living there, then pretty much forgot all of it. It was about 1 a.m. local time at this point and we were so deathly exhausted we just wanted to get to our hotel. I initially brushed past all of the touts asking where we were going and if we needed a ride. It’s the same type of scene in Korea when you walk out of the arrivals area so no surprise there. So we went downstairs and outside to the “public taxi” area and were shocked to see a huge line of people waiting with their bags. One of the touts, a female, who followed us out there door, said “see? No taxi now” with a devilishly delighted grin on her face that just made me laugh in resignation. I guess due to the late hour, there was not as many taxis as there were tired foreign travelers, so you had to wait in line there by the curb for Buddha knows how long.

Being it was our very first time in the country, how uber-fatigued we were, and having her mother-in-law in tow, I turned to the woman and said those infamous two words: “How much?” I remembered my friend saying it shouldn’t be more than 300 or 400 so when she said 1200, I laughed out loud. I replied with 500, and she pointed to the stagnant, snaking cue of smelly foreigners waiting for cabs that weren’t coming. Ok, 800? She agrees and motions us to come with her to an awaiting car.

Even an ice-cube filled bathtub with our organs missing sounded comfortable to me at that moment, so I took the risk and we loaded our stuff in the car with the steering wheel on the wrong side. Strange sitting in the seat where I’d normally be driving, but I had experienced it once before in Hong Kong. Don’t think I’d ever be able to drive there myself though. So we head towards the city and there’s no traffic of course since it’s 2 a.m. or so by now. We are booked at the Woraburi Sukhumvit for the first 4 nights of our trip which I based on decent reports from sites like TripAdvisor and Agoda.

What I wasn’t ready for was the route our driver took to get there. Now as I alluded to earlier, I’m no stranger to “playground” type of areas what for my previously-led “sporting” lifestyle in Korea and the Philippines, but remembering this is literally the Mecca of such things, and having my mother-in-law in the car with us, it was quite a “welcome to Thailand” sight driving through what we later learned was Nana/Soi 4 at 2 a.m. (*I think*) to arrive at our hotel only a few blocks away. Let’s just say I found my “second wind” at that point and was wide awake all of the sudden.

We check in to Woraburi and I liked the open-air, patio-style lobby & restaurant/bar area there. We are shown to our rooms, but are hungry so we head downstairs. I have my first Singha with a meal of beef-something & rice. The waitress speaks to the wife and her mother in Thai and looks befuddled when they don’t even acknowledge. This would be a comical, awkward, and sometimes unsettling occurrence the entire trip. Everywhere we went, they assumed my wife, her mother and my other friend’s Filipina wife (they would arrive tomorrow) were Thai and reacted with disdainful, almost offended expressions on their faces when the ladies did not respond or react to their words.

Looking back up at this monstrosity of what I call a trip report so far, I see now that my keyboard has once again had loose-bowel syndrome and feel it needs a break to make for an easier read, if it’s to be read at all. So I’m cutting this off here at the end of our first “night” in Bangkok and will continue the report in segments; hopefully breaking them down in some reasonably logical fashion.

[RAZZELL]

Looking forward to the next installment

RAZZ

[attrayant]

Ah that takes me back. The only thing you left out was the sweet smell of jasmine in the air when you exit the airport. I used to notice that every time when I came here as a visitor.

Used to.

[rakman]

Looking forward to the next installment

RAZZ

+1

On driving in BKK, it's no worse than Manila, but on the wrong side of the road. Driving in Thailand is about the same as the Philippines.

Coming off the plane of 20+ hours travel, and getting into a rental car could be a bit daunting. But at 1-2 AM it's not as bad as full on rush hour, just that the bars are getting out. A GPS map unit is a godsend.

[IsaanUSA]

I'm interested in your plans for the future. I'm assuming you had a good time for your 11 days. Of course living in Thailand will be different than vacationing in Thailand.

Which school are you thinking about? And where-abouts is it located?

What areas of study are you thinking about?

I'm assuming your wife would also need an educational visa to live with you in Thailand. So what does she want to study?

How many years do you plan on studying?

BTW, best winter ever here in North America!!

[PattayaPhom]

Fantastic post!!!, a real pleasure to read...keep the updates coming, look forward to them

[Daewoo]

Ah the Woraburi... I stayed there a few times, as some of 'the lads' organised a corporate rate discount...

Then one time I was in BKK with The Wife, so I changed hotels to one in a more respectable area... and then every night had to go to The Woraburi with the wife in a cab to meet a mate... past Nana ...

Looking forward to the rest of the report...

[Gweiloman]

Next time, spoil yourself a little and take a limo from the airport. For about US30-40, you will at least arrive to your hotel happily and not have the prospect of having the first day spoilt, especially after such a long flight.

[BigRick]

Good story. I always found just going to the 4th floor taxi drop off point saves a lot of time and you can get a metered cab. Basically they can say 800 and drive back to Bkk empty of get a metered fare. The trick is just being firm and walking away as soon as they pull the bullsh*t card. There is also a rail link right into the BTS Phaya Thai<maybe an Asoke stop too> station on the Sukumvit line <Sky train closes at 12am> but you can use it for further reference. Nana is actually located in a decent part of town you just have to travel 3 blocks to see it. Nana is nothing compared to Phuket and Pattaya. If you are still in Bkk there is a nice little canal water taxi that runs most of the length of Patchan Buri road for 14baht it goes up to Bang Kapi and down to the Golden mount. The Jim Thompson Silk house is also located on this waterway. Also understand the entrance to the Grand Palace is on the side and do not engage anyone in that area unless you want to end up with 4 new suits and a bunch of cut glass. The "Canal" tour is BS don't waste the baht when public boat transportation is really cheap. That area has some remarkable things all within a short walk. Wat Po, Golden Mount, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat crazy brass spires that was built for a princess <Name escapes me same area as the Golden mount> Koh San The flower market etc etc.

[Bakeman]

^{Great post for it brings back many 1st trip memories.}

[visarunservice]

Next trip to Asia do what other farangs don't do. Why do what every typical tourist does and get pick pocketed by inflated prices. If you want to visit all the places mentioned as top 10 on the search engines. STAY IN KANSAS! What's the difference between Bangkok and any metropolis. Not a dam_n thing, it might even be far advance than Detriot.

[smokie36]

Love it.

[Kodan]

Good story. I always found just going to the 4th floor taxi drop off point saves a lot of time and you can get a metered cab. Basically they can say 800 and drive back to Bkk empty of get a metered fare. The trick is just being firm and walking away as soon as they pull the bullsh*t card. There is also a rail link right into the BTS Phaya Thai<maybe an Asoke stop too> station on the Sukumvit line <Sky train closes at 12am> but you can use it for further reference. Nana is actually located in a decent part of town you just have to travel 3 blocks to see it. Nana is nothing compared to Phuket and Pattaya. If you are still in Bkk there is a nice little canal water taxi that runs most of the length of Patchan Buri road for 14baht it goes up to Bang Kapi and down to the Golden mount. The Jim Thompson Silk house is also located on this waterway. Also understand the entrance to the Grand Palace is on the side and do not engage anyone in that area unless you want to end up with 4 new suits and a bunch of cut glass. The "Canal" tour is BS don't waste the baht when public boat transportation is really cheap. That area has some remarkable things all within a short walk. Wat Po, Golden Mount, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat crazy brass spires that was built for a princess <Name escapes me same area as the Golden mount> Koh San The flower market etc etc.

Yep you can during the day but at 1 .am. there are NO meters. Its 500bt take it or leave it. I argued for the driver to turn on the meter....when he would not I got out and found another taxi.....same story. Even my thai wife couldnt change their minds. But during the day ... yeh just run up to 'departures' and snag a taxi.

[smokie36]

Good story. I always found just going to the 4th floor taxi drop off point saves a lot of time and you can get a metered cab. Basically they can say 800 and drive back to Bkk empty of get a metered fare. The trick is just being firm and walking away as soon as they pull the bullsh*t card. There is also a rail link right into the BTS Phaya Thai<maybe an Asoke stop too> station on the Sukumvit line <Sky train closes at 12am> but you can use it for further reference. Nana is actually located in a decent part of town you just have to travel 3 blocks to see it. Nana is nothing compared to Phuket and Pattaya. If you are still in Bkk there is a nice little canal water taxi that runs most of the length of Patchan Buri road for 14baht it goes up to Bang Kapi and down to the Golden mount. The Jim Thompson Silk house is also located on this waterway. Also understand the entrance to the Grand Palace is on the side and do not engage anyone in that area unless you want to end up with 4 new suits and a bunch of cut glass. The "Canal" tour is BS don't waste the baht when public boat transportation is really cheap. That area has some remarkable things all within a short walk. Wat Po, Golden Mount, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat crazy brass spires that was built for a princess <Name escapes me same area as the Golden mount> Koh San The flower market etc etc.

Yep you can during the day but at 1 .am. there are NO meters. Its 500bt take it or leave it. I argued for the driver to turn on the meter....when he would not I got out and found another taxi.....same story. Even my thai wife couldnt change their minds. But during the day ... yeh just run up to 'departures' and snag a taxi.

Honestly...at that time of night who wants to argue the point?

[fareastcoastmover]

I'm interested in your plans for the future. I'm assuming you had a good time for your 11 days. Of course living in Thailand will be different than vacationing in Thailand.

Which school are you thinking about? And where-abouts is it located?

What areas of study are you thinking about?

I'm assuming your wife would also need an educational visa to live with you in Thailand. So what does she want to study?

How many years do you plan on studying?

BTW, best winter ever here in North America!!

Thanks for the interest. Good questions.

We plan to first go to Union Language School to study Thai for 6 months. Yes, we'll both get Education Visas. Feel it's wise to learn a bit of the language first since we're going to live there for a few years.

Then we're both going to go to Rhamkamhaeng University and take the Business degree program. I believe its 3 or 4 years. We actually visited the school later on our trip and got some more information and such.

My friend living in Thailand went there; said it's not the best school in terms of quality but it's recognized by the U.S. Veteran's Affairs association, you will get a degree and it's pretty darned easy. This may sound asinine, but at 31, I don't want to slave in the books. I basically want to live in Thailand for a few years using my GI Bill entitlements and living off my online business' income. So Ramkamhaeng sounds like it serves those purpose just fine and we'll still both come out of it with degrees and possibly other oppurtunities. (My friend got his bachelors at Ramkamhaeng, then transferred to Webster for his masters where he is now.)

[fareastcoastmover]

Next trip to Asia do what other farangs don't do. Why do what every typical tourist does and get pick pocketed by inflated prices. If you want to visit all the places mentioned as top 10 on the search engines. STAY IN KANSAS! What's the difference between Bangkok and any metropolis. Not a dam_n thing, it might even be far advance than Detriot.

Well, I've never been to Kansas and from what I saw on Wizard of Oz, I don't plan on going any time soon. As I said in my opening, there was a purpose to the stay in Bangkok. Not only to do the touristy things found on the "search engines" (and in my oh-so-typical purchase of a Lonely Planet Thailand book thank-you-very-much), but also because we plan to move over to Thailand later this year and go to college there in Bangkok so we wanted to get a feel for the city. I'd call that smart, but what do I know. I grew up thinking I was bright until I later found out that every father calls his kid "Sun".

Furthermore, this was only arrival/night 1 of our 11 or 12 day trip, so we most certainly did "get out of the metropolis" kind Sir. That part of the story is forthcoming.

Edited March 2, 2012 by fareastcoastmover

[BigRick]

Next trip to Asia do what other farangs don't do. Why do what every typical tourist does and get pick pocketed by inflated prices. If you want to visit all the places mentioned as top 10 on the search engines. STAY IN KANSAS! What's the difference between Bangkok and any metropolis. Not a dam_n thing, it might even be far advance than Detriot.<Funny thing I saw a sign on the way to Rayong for a development "The Detroit of Asia" like it was a good thing.

What a retarded reply do they have the Grand Palace in Kansas or any of the other interesting things in Thailand? The reason why things are popular is because they are interesting and unique to the region. And Bangkok is hardly the same as any other metropolis this city is one of the grandest in the world. Love it or hate it Bkk is at the very least never a dull moment a bright city with an equally as dark heart. I have lived in some big cities like LA, HCMC, Chi town and living in Bangkok for the past two years I can say they are not the same.

That is surprising it must have changed with the cabs. The 6 times I have had to take a cab in late nite I would always use the departure and always picked up a metered cab. Sure I have had an occasional tout try and hit me for non metered high prices but I just wait until I get what I want and that has never been more than 20 minutes.max. No every cab driver is a scumbag drunk hillbilly tout from Essan. You learn almost a spider sense with the cabs I have met some really cool cab drivers far more of them than the bad ones<Had one that was strait out "creepy" looked like a Thai Riff Raff from Rocky horror and gave off the harvest your organs vibe>. I have had a couple of bad ones but always dealt with the situation when it arises. I think the worst thing I ever had to deal with was some idiot "pretending" to be lost and trying to run up the meter. As soon as I see it end of ride if he is disgruntled about it "Mai pen rai kun mai choc di no yelling no fighting just a "Whatever, bad luck to you"

Edited March 3, 2012 by BigRick

[Rumblecat]

Yeah, I just googled top 10 things to do in Bangkok.

First set of results-

1. Grand Palace + Wat Prakeaw

2. Chinatown

3. Floating Market

4. Wat Arun

5. Wat Pho

6. Chao Phraya River and Waterways (which I'd totally recommend- rent a boat and a driver, get them to take you down the river, and then drop you off at Wat Arun... a fascinating and sometimes eye opening journey...)

7. Chatuchak Weekend Market

8. Khoa San Road

9. Soi Cowboy

10. Jim Thompson's House

Now, that wouldn't necessarily be my top 10 list (to be honest I reckon you could happily ignore the last three, but each to their own) but to think that these aren't worth seeing and somehow are dull and commonplace is just plain wrong. And it's even crazier to suggest that if people want to see these things they should probably just stay at home instead.

Anyway... enjoyed reading the original report, look forward to more.

[ALFREDO]

Yeah, I just googled top 10 things to do in Bangkok.

First set of results-

1. Grand Palace + Wat Prakeaw

2. Chinatown

3. Floating Market

4. Wat Arun

5. Wat Pho

6. Chao Phraya River and Waterways (which I'd totally recommend- rent a boat and a driver, get them to take you down the river, and then drop you off at Wat Arun... a fascinating and sometimes eye opening journey...)

7. Chatuchak Weekend Market

8. Khoa San Road

9. Soi Cowboy

10. Jim Thompson's House

Now, that wouldn't necessarily be my top 10 list (to be honest I reckon you could happily ignore the last three, but each to their own) but to think that these aren't worth seeing and somehow are dull and commonplace is just plain wrong. And it's even crazier to suggest that if people want to see these things they should probably just stay at home instead.

Anyway... enjoyed reading the original report, look forward to more.

Likes and dislikes are different, from above list, I like only Nr. 9

[ALFREDO]

Next trip to Asia do what other farangs don't do. Why do what every typical tourist does and get pick pocketed by inflated prices. If you want to visit all the places mentioned as top 10 on the search engines. STAY IN KANSAS! What's the difference between Bangkok and any metropolis. Not a dam_n thing, it might even be far advance than Detriot.

Serious? All cities are the same?