Thailand

Thailand, a unique culture

Thailand also has to be one of my absolute favorite countries. I’ve been there twice, and both times, I was overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality of the locals—they almost treated me like family.

Both times, I traveled with one of my friends and her family. Her mother is Thai, so they have a house out in the countryside. Being so far away from all the touristy areas has definitely had a positive impact on my stay.

The first time I went, I spent a week in the countryside and a week in Bangkok. The second time, I spent two weeks out in the country. And honestly, I think I prefer being way out in the boonies rather than in the heart of the capital.

Why?

Firstly, the views are absolutely divine. Secondly, the locals are incredibly sweet. As I said, I genuinely felt like I was part of a huge family. None of them spoke English, but we found other ways to communicate—using a good mix of body language, random sounds, gestures, and a pinch of Google Translate, haha.

So even though it was far away from everything, I still felt like the two weeks flew by in an instant.

Touchy locals

As I said, the locals were extremely sweet, and everyone wanted to talk to me. But then again… EVERYONE wanted to talk to me. And the people who weren’t part of the family were, of course, curious about what a white person was doing so far out in the middle of nowhere.

So, I had a few instances where some people got a bit too close—either following me or straight-up touching me. I didn’t mind when the family did it, but when a complete stranger suddenly came up and started stroking my arm or touching my hair, it definitely felt uncomfortable. I know that’s just part of their culture, but it still took some getting used to.

Another thing I had to adjust to was how upfront Thai people are. I had several grandmothers tell me I had a nice figure, and I got multiple comments about my skin, hair, and even my clothes—both good and bad. They really don’t hold anything back.

It can be nice because they don’t hesitate to give out compliments, but more often than not, it’s comments about your weight or how dark/light your skin is.

Sensitive stomach

One thing to be aware of when visiting Thailand is hygiene—or rather, the lack of hygiene. Many locals don’t believe in refrigerating meat or washing their hands regularly. Most people don’t get sick as long as they follow this one tip: do as the locals do.

If you’re at a market and see some street food but don’t know what to get, join the longest line. The locals know which stalls are safe and which ones aren’t (plus, they know where the tastiest food is). When picking a restaurant, check if there are locals eating there. If it’s filled only with foreigners and not a single Thai person, that’s not a good sign—either the hygiene is questionable, or the food isn’t that great.

Besides that, just remember to wash your hands often and take the usual precautions, and you should be fine… but I wasn’t.

If you have an extremely sensitive stomach like me, odds are you’re going to get sick, and that’s just part of the experience. But if you want to give your stomach a break, 7/11 is your savior.

They have the best ready meals imaginable—I especially recommend:

Teriyaki chicken with steamed rice
Pasta with tomato sauce and sausages

They’re soooo good, and your stomach will thank you. 7/11 also has delicious desserts, fresh cakes, and local treats at really affordable prices. Even in the countryside, you’ll find a store every 50 meters or so.

So if you have a sensitive stomach, 7/11 is heaven-sent. (This is not sponsored by 7/11, haha!)

Last tips and tricks

Stay Away from Stray Dogs

They might be cute, but they can and do bite—and the risk of getting an infection or even rabies is real. So please, for the love of God, just let them mind their own business. Honestly, that goes for any stray animal. No matter how adorable they look, it’s not worth the risk to pet or feed them.

Don’t Count on Driving Yourself

If you’re in the city, you can take a taxi or a tuk-tuk (though I don’t recommend tuk-tuks due to safety concerns—but that doesn’t stop people from using them anyway).

If you’re out in the countryside like I was, you’ll have to figure out how to get around. Locals have cars and know how to navigate the confusing and chaotic roads, but I would definitely not recommend renting a car and driving yourself.

If you decide to do it anyway, be prepared for frustrating drivers and roads so confusing even Google Maps can’t help you. Instead, I suggest hiring a private driver—it’s a bit expensive, but definitely worth it.