Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Kreng Jai: When Being Polite Becomes a Full-Time Job In Thailand, politeness isn’t just good manners, it’s a philosophy. Known as kreng jai , this cultural code guides how Thais avoid causing inconvenience or offense to others. It creates harmony, warmth, and occasionally, total emotional chaos and destruction. Read on to find out what happens when being “(too?) considerate” runs your life and what we can all learn from it. If you’ve ever been to Thailand, you’ve probably noticed that the people are absurdly nice. The kind of nice that feels almost supernatural. They’ll smile while stuck in traffic, apologize for things that weren’t their fault, and offer you the last mango sticky rice even though they haven’t eaten all day. This isn’t because Thais are saints (though some might be). It’s because of a deeply ingrained cultural concept called kreng jai (เกรงใจ), which loosely translates to “consideration mixed with a touch of self-suppression and mild existential crisis.” What is Kre...

Bangkok’s Blinged-Out Temples (and a Few Hidden Gems): How to Sweat Your Way to Enlightenment Guest Contributor: Fabulous Firefly  If you think “temple-hopping” sounds serene and reflective, you haven’t done it in Bangkok, a city where “spiritual journey” meets “personal sauna.” Still, the temples here are jaw-dropping: gold-tipped, mosaic-covered, incense-scented masterpieces that make you forget (for about 3 seconds) how hot it is. Here’s your guide to the must-see holy hot spots, plus a few lesser-known gems for when you want to escape the selfie-stick crowds and actually hear your own prayers. 👑 1. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) Mood: “Royal vibes and divine drip.” This is the Beyoncé of Bangkok temples: everyone wants a piece of it. The Grand Palace is so shiny you’ll need sunglasses, and Wat Phra Kaew houses the Emerald Buddha that was stolen from Laos in 1779, a petite yet powerful icon with three seasonal outfits changed personally by...

Thailand vs. Cambodia: The World’s Pettiest Border War Ah yes, the famous Thailand–Cambodia border “conflict.” You’d think it’s about something serious like oil fields, gold, maybe even national security. Nope. It’s about a temple and some wasteland . Not a new temple, not one under construction, but an ancient ruin that’s been sitting there for nearly a thousand years , collecting moss and tourists with selfie sticks. Welcome to Preah Vihear Temple and its immediate surroundings , or as it’s known in diplomatic circles: “That Thing We’re Still Arguing About.” The Temple with a Thousand Years of Drama So here’s the story: the Khmer Empire built this majestic temple long before Thailand was even Thailand. Fast forward to modern times and suddenly both sides want to claim it. The International Court of Justice even said decades ago, “Guys, it’s Cambodia’s.” But Thailand replied with the diplomatic equivalent of, “Yeah, but the stairs are ours.” Because yes, what we have here is es...

The Great Hidden Gem Hunt in Thailand: Spoiler Alert, They’re Not Hidden Every tourist landing in Bangkok has the same dream: “I’m not like the others. I’m here for the real Thailand. The hidden gems. The untouched places.” That’s right. You, fresh off the plane in elephant-print harem pants, believe you are the Indiana Jones of Southeast Asia. You will boldly go where no tourist has ever gone before, along with the other 10,000 backpackers who read the same blog post last night. In fact, if you scroll travel forums, you’ll always find the same question: “Where can I go in Thailand that’s non-touristy?” As if the 70 million locals all live in the shadows while you get to stroll around discovering the “secret Thailand” like it’s a limited-edition treasure chest. Locals usually answer with polite patience, but the truth is: if you’re asking on a forum with 200 replies, the place is already touristy. Let’s start with the mountains of Chiang Mai. Somewhere, someone will whisper about a hid...

🇹🇭 Thailand in One Month: The “You'll Need A Holiday After This” Itinerary Guest Contributor: Fabulous Firefly  Thirty days. Seventeen buses. Four tuk-tuk scams. Two missed trains. One questionable tattoo. You're doing Thailand the hardcore backpacker way, the kind of trip that makes your calves cry, your backpack straps smell, and your Instagram followers jealous. PSA: There's no need to follow the route below blindly. Be creative and flexible. Create your own adventure. Also, be aware that this is an itinerary for travelers who want to see it all in a fairly short time, for those who love a combination of road trip, culture, beaches and temples; and for those who don't want to do the traditional Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Phuket itinerary by air. Let’s go. 📍 Days 1–3: Bangkok – Chaos & Cheap Noodles Arrive. Immediately get hit by heat, humidity, and 11 taxi drivers asking “Where you go?” Visit the Grand Palace, get scolded for wearing shorts. Khao San Road initiation: ...

Khao San Road Survival Guide: How to Lose Your Dignity and Find Cheap Booze Khao San Road isn’t really a road. It’s a rite of passage. Backpackers call it “home,” locals call it “a zoo,” and every tuk-tuk driver within a 5 km radius calls it “profit.” Whether you’re here for one night or get stuck for three months “finding yourself,” here’s how to survive Bangkok’s most infamous street. 1. The Backpacker Welcome Ritual The second you arrive, you’ll see: - Someone with dreadlocks playing guitar badly - Someone else selling scorpion-on-a-stick - A tuk-tuk driver offering a “special price” tour to see ping pong shows  And three people who came for one night 15 years ago and never left. Congratulations. You’re officially in Khao San. 2. The Dress Code: None Shirts? Optional. Flip-flops? Mandatory. Pants? Debatable. The uniform is basically elephant-print harem pants, a Chang Beer singlet, and a sunburn that could guide ships to shore. 3. The Buckets of Doom Beer flows freely and is ava...

Yaowarat Survival Guide: How to Eat Like a Local Without Dying Like a Tourist Bangkok’s Chinatown, better known as Yaowarat, is not just a street but rather a gladiator arena for your stomach and your camera. Here’s how to survive the chaos, eat like a pro, and maybe even see something other than the inside of your noodle bowl. 1. Rule of the Sidewalk: There Is No Sidewalk Forget what you know about sidewalks. In Yaowarat, they are: - Half street-food kitchen, - Half dining room, - Half motorbike racetrack. Yes, that’s three halves. Don’t argue with the math; just try not to spill your noodle soup while dodging a scooter. 2. The Plastic Stool Olympics If you’re lucky, you’ll get a tiny plastic stool and table. If you’re unlucky, you’ll eat standing up, balancing a soup bowl like a contestant on Fear Factor. Either way, crouch low, stay humble, and accept that the stool may collapse under you at any second. 3. Don’t Trust the Queue, Trust the Chaos Some stalls have long lines of tourist...

Trash Talk: Thailand’s Never-Ending Battle with Waste If Thailand’s politics are a soap opera, then waste management is the tragicomedy spin-off. It has all the drama, none of the happy endings, and the main villain is a plastic bag that refuses to die. Season 1: The Plastic Bag Apocalypse For decades, every purchase in Thailand came with not one, but seven plastic bags. Buy a bottle of water? Bag. A single banana? Bag. A pack of chewing gum? Double-bag it, just in case the gum escapes. By the time you walk out of 7-Eleven, you look like you’re preparing for a three-week jungle expedition. Season 2: The Big Ban (Sort Of) Then one day, the plot twisted: some supermarkets and big-name stores finally said, no more free plastic bags! Shoppers looked shocked. Panic erupted. Tote bags, woven baskets, even pillowcases were suddenly pressed into service. People proudly carried their groceries home in style, until they remembered the fresh fish they’d just bought was now dripping juice through ...

Thailand’s Political Drama: Season 20 and Still No Ending If Thai politics were a TV show, it would have run longer than Friends, had more unexpected plot twists than Game of Thrones, and more cast changes than Power Rangers. Except in Thailand, instead of dragons or aliens, the villains are usually corruption, coups, and a mysterious guy in sunglasses who somehow becomes Deputy Prime Minister overnight. For the last 20-odd years, Thai politics has been like a soap opera that nobody asked for but everybody watches anyway because, well, you live here and it’s on every channel. Season 1: Enter Thaksin Early 2000s. A billionaire with a love for populist policies and big ideas takes the stage. Suddenly, rural voters adore him, city elites hate him, and the military looks at him like a cat staring at a wobbly glass on the edge of a table. You can guess what happens next: smash. Coup! Season 2: Coup, Counter-Coup, Rerun Since then, Thailand has followed a pattern so predictable it could be t...

Why Some People Might Not Like Bangkok (And Why That’s Perfectly Fine) Ah, Bangkok. The city that never sleeps, except when it’s literally too hot to function. For many, it’s a dream destination with its bustling markets, stunning temples, and delicious street food. For others? Well, let’s just say their fondest memory of Bangkok is finding a shady spot to recover from heatstroke. So, why might some people not like Bangkok? Let’s break it down, and investigate. 1. The Heat That Could Grill a Chicken Midair Let’s start with the obvious: the heat. Bangkok is like stepping into a sauna with no escape,  except that the sauna is always set to "Inferno." You’ll get out of the air-conditioned comfort of your hotel, and BAM! You’ve entered an oven. At first, it’s cute. Then it’s oppressive. By noon, you’re sweating in places you didn’t know you could sweat. No amount of deodorant or optimism can save you. Welcome to the Bangkok heat, where dashing from one 7-Eleven to the next is a c...

Surviving a Day Trip to Koh Kret: An Adventure in Sweat and Snacks Ah, Koh Kret, the tiny island in the Chao Phraya River where Bangkokians go when they want to pretend they're escaping the city without actually leaving it. If you've ever thought, “I really want to feel like a tourist in my own country while also sweating profusely,” then congratulations, Koh Kret is the day trip for you! Step One: The Journey Begins Getting to Koh Kret is an experience in itself. First, take a Skytrain or boat, a a van, a bus or a tuk-tuk, and possibly hitch a ride on the back of a tricycle powered by a elderly man who actually rides more slowly than you could walk. Alternatively, just take a taxi or Grab to the pier in Pak Kret where ferries cross the river to Koh Kret. Once you arrive at the pier, you’ll be greeted by a charmingly rickety wooden boat that looks just stable enough to make you question your life choices. Hold on tight as the river water isn't the kind you'd want to go ...

Makha Bucha Day: A Spiritual Fiesta with a Side of Serenity (and Maybe Some Fire Hazards) Guest Contributor: Bulletproof Monk Alright, folks, buckle up because we're diving headfirst into one of the most serene, spiritual, and slightly chaotic festivals in Thailand: Makha Bucha Day. Picture this: a full moon night, thousands of candles flickering, and Buddhists everywhere gathering to celebrate one of the holiest days in their calendar. It's like a spiritual New Year's Eve, but with more incense and fewer fireworks (well, mostly). First things first, what exactly is Makha Bucha Day? It's a Buddhist festival that falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month, usually in February or March. The name "Makha Bucha" comes from the Pali language, with "Makha" referring to the third lunar month and "Bucha" meaning to worship. So, it's basically a day dedicated to worship and reflection, aligning with the teachings of Lord Buddha. Now, let...

Burn It All for the Mushrooms: The Smoky Quest for Thailand's Truffles Ah, Chiang Mai, land of misty mountains, tranquil temples, and a three-month period every year when you can’t see any of it because the air turns into a smoky apocalypse. Why? Sure, some of it’s due to large-scale agriculture and cross-border burning, but a surprising amount of haze comes from a much humbler source: villagers setting the forest on fire to hunt for mushrooms. Not just any mushrooms, but the illustrious  het thob (เห็ดถอบ), also known as earthstar mushrooms or Astraeus hygrometricus . These round, truffle-like fungi are delicious, elusive, and most importantly, they thrive in recently burned forest soil. So, come dry season, locals grab their lighters and head to the hills to light things up, unfortunately literally. To be fair, this isn't just chaos for chaos’ sake. It’s tradition, it's seasonal income, it's dinner. These mushrooms fetch high prices at the market and can mean serious...

Songkran: The World's Biggest Water Fight (with a Side of Spiritual Cleansing and Chaos) Guest Contributor: The Soi Dog Whisperer  Alright, folks, grab your super soakers and get ready to dive into the wild, wet, and utterly wonderful world of Songkran! This isn't just any festival; it's the world's largest water fight, mixed with a healthy dose of drunken madness spiritual renewal, family bonding, and a whole lot of "Did I really just get drenched by a stranger?" moments. Picture this: streets filled with people, water flying in every direction, and a sense of joy and camaraderie that's absolutely infectious. First things first, what exactly is Songkran? It's the Thai New Year, celebrated from April 13th to 15th, and it's a time for renewal, reflection, and a whole lot of fun. The name "Songkran" comes from the Sanskrit word "saṃkrānti," which means "astrological passage." It marks the end of the dry season and the b...

Trat: The Gateway to Paradise (That You’ll Probably Skip) So you’re heading to Koh Chang , Koh Mak , or Koh Kood  but wait, what’s this " Trat " place you keep driving through? Oh, just the most overlooked province in Eastern Thailand, that’s all. This is where backpackers speed through on their way to islands, where road-trippers stop for a quick coffee, and where absolutely nobody plans to stay. Which is exactly why you should.   ——————— Why Trat? (Because You’re Not a Basic Traveler) - It’s the last real Thai town before the islands. Once you hit those fancy resorts, prices triple and authenticity disappears.   - Insanely good fruit: This is durian and mangosteen heaven. Your taste buds will throw a party.   - Zero crowds: No tour groups, no influencers, just markets, temples, and locals who don’t care that you’re there.   ——————— What to Do (Besides Wondering Why You’re Not on a Beach Yet) 1. Trat Town – The Quirky Pit Stop You Didn’t Kno...

The Lopburi Monkey Buffet: Thailand’s Wildest All-You-Can-Eat Food Fight Once a year in the ancient town of Lopburi, central Thailand, hundreds of monkeys gather for a buffet so chaotic it makes human brunch look like a silent retreat. It’s called the Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival, and it’s part religious offering, part tourist spectacle, and part full-blown monkey circus of destruction. Lopburi is home to thousands of long-tailed macaques, especially around the Khmer-style Phra Prang Sam Yod temple, which they have pretty much claimed as their own monkey kingdom. In response, the locals have wisely decided, “If you can’t beat them, feed them.” So every year sometime in November (check your calendar), residents put on a feast for the furry freeloaders. We’re talking heaps of bananas, pineapples, sticky rice, corn, watermelon, and Coca-Cola, all laid out on banquet tables like some surreal royal reception where the guests arrive swinging from lamp posts and pooping on the appetizers. ...

"Sai Sin" Wrist Strings: Blessings, Threads, and a Bit of White Magic Tl;dr - Thai Buddhist string bracelets, also known as “Sai Sin” or “Monk's Cord,” are traditional wristbands made from colored strings. They are often tied by Buddhist monks or given as blessings in Thai temples. If you’ve spent any time in Thailand and suddenly noticed a white cotton string tied around your wrist, congratulations, you’ve been saisin-ed . Or more accurately, you’ve received a sai sin blessing, a quiet but powerful little ritual that says, “Hey, may your life not fall completely apart this week.” These simple white threads might look like someone tied a shoelace on you while you weren't paying attention, but they’re actually packed with spiritual horsepower. They’re given during ceremonies, temple visits, housewarmings, weddings, monk blessings, and pretty much any situation where some divine backup feels appropriate. Here’s how it works: a monk or elder says a prayer (called a kath...

Amphawa & Damnoen Saduak: Floating Markets, Fireflies & Fried Things on Sticks Thailand isn’t just temples and tuk-tuks. It’s also a place where shopping on water is totally normal, and dessert for breakfast is encouraged. If you’re ready for a day (and night) of floating feasts, chaotic canals, and glowing bugs, buckle up. We’re diving into the Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market combo extravaganza. First Stop: Amphawa, Where the River Parties Begin Located about 90 km from Bangkok, Amphawa is where city folk escape to eat, shop, and float their worries away. Unlike its more touristy cousin Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa is more popular with locals, which means better prices and fewer people yelling “Special price for you!” Here’s what to do when you get there: Eat like you’ve never heard of cholesterol: Grilled prawns, crab omelets, coconut ice cream, and fried squid on skewers. If it can be cooked and served from a boat, it’s here. Shop along the canal: Think vintage cloth...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: Where the Fruit Comes to You (on a Boat!) Guest writer: Happy Hippo Let’s talk about one of Thailand’s most delightfully chaotic experiences: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Picture this: you’re on a narrow wooden boat, bumping elbows with tourists, dodging selfie sticks, and a Thai granny in a straw hat paddles up to you, trying to sell you a coconut, some mango sticky rice, and possibly a hat shaped like a fruit. Welcome to the floating market circus you didn’t know you needed. How to Get There (Hint: Not by Floating) So, Damnoen Saduak is about 100 km southwest of Bangkok. That’s around 1.5 to 2 hours if you’re in a car, or 3 hours if your local bus driver insists on stopping for noodles every 20 minutes. The easiest ways to get there are: Group tour vans : Cheap, fast, full of sweaty tourists who will later photobomb all your shots. Private car : A bit pricier but more comfortable. Also, no awkward van small talk. DIY adventure : Bus to Damnoen Sad...

7 Hilarious Cultural Mistakes Every First-Time Traveler Makes in Thailand (and How to Avoid Them) So you’ve booked your flight, overpacked your suitcase, and you’re ready to explore Thailand’s temples, street food, and Instagrammable beaches. But wait. Before you dive headfirst into a bowl of spicy tom yum , let’s make sure you’re not about to commit one of the many hilarious cultural faux pas that newbies are famous for. Here are 7 funny (and totally avoidable) mistakes travelers make in Thailand, plus how to navigate Thai etiquette like a pro. 1. Touching Heads: The Accidental Insult In many cultures, patting someone on the head is a sweet gesture. In Thailand? It’s basically spiritual assault. The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Even ruffling a child’s hair can earn you a polite smile masking deep internal panic. Pro Tip: Keep your hands away from heads unless it's one of your own, unless you're offering a blessing (which you’re probably not qualified f...

Loy Krathong: The Festival of Lights, Love, and (Occasionally) Fire Hazards Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round because we're about to dive into one of the most magical, romantic, and occasionally chaotic festivals in Thailand: Loy Krathong . Picture this: thousands of twinkling lights floating down rivers, couples making wishes under the full moon, and just a hint of danger as you try not to set your krathong (or yourself) on fire. It's a night to remember, alright. First things first, what exactly is Loy Krathong? Well, it's a festival that takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month, which usually falls in November. The star of the show is the krathong – a small, beautifully decorated float made from banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense. The idea is to release your krathong into the water, symbolically letting go of all your negativity and bad luck from the past year and also asking forgiveness for polluting the waters, ironically by polluting...

Where to Stay in Kanchanaburi: For History Buffs, Nature Nerds & People Who Love a Good Floating Bungalow Kanchanaburi is Thailand’s ultimate combo deal: waterfalls, history, jungles, and riverside chill, all for less than the price of a Bangkok cocktail. But where you stay can make the difference between “peaceful riverside bliss” and “accidentally slept in a museum gift shop.” Let’s explore the main areas to stay in, complete with pros, cons, and occasional snark. (Click here for the basic tourist guide) 1. Kanchanaburi Town – “Bridge, beer, and budget beds” Vibe : The main town. Not quite a city, not quite the jungle, but the epicenter of most things with a price tag. Pros : Close to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, museums, and 7-Elevens (a sacred Thai trinity). Great for history lovers, day-trippers, and people who want food now. Loads of accommodation: hostels, riverside guesthouses, and even “retro” hotels (i.e., old). Cons : Town is functional, not magical. Can feel ...