สวัสดี (Hello)
Khao San Road
Bangkok, Thailand is one of the major cities of Asia and it's also one of the most interesting ones. But many leave the city again after just a few days, most likely because of the smog, the traffic, too many people, the pollution, etc. But if you manage to hang around, I promise you will start to love it and actually enjoy the city. The atmosphere at the Khlongs (canals) and in the different districts is special and it's easy to spend a whole week just sightseeing.
Tuk Tuks and Taxis
Depending on the reason for your visit to Thailand, whether backpacking, family holiday or couples retreat, you may want to navigate around using the local transport. Tuk Tuks are great fun, and cheaper than taxis (depending on whether you can live without the air conditioning) but I wouldn't recommend trying to squeeze in more than two people.
Tuk Tuk
If you are getting a taxi from the airport to your hotel, it is customary to tip 50 Baht - This is around £1 although not compulsory.
Sleeper Trains
Sleeper trains are surprisingly luxurious. I travelled on the infamous Boogie train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, which means there's a disco carriage serving alcohol, with questionable taste in music and some budget disco lights until 11pm. Bad luck for those on the top bunk, you will get a much better sleep on the bottom bunk as they tend to be much more comfy and bigger!
Contacting Home
If you are away for a long time, and wanting to contact friends and family at home, then avoid extortionate roaming charging and phone bills and pick up a pay as you go SIM card. These are often handed out for free at the airport when you arrive, so look out for them and you can get your very own Thai phone number.
WiFi can be found everywhere it's nearly always free. Cafes, hotels, restaurants and shops lure you in with free WiFi but it is not always reliable enough for a lengthy Skype session.
Night markets
If you've got room to spare in your backpack/suitcase then its worth taking a trip to the infamous Chatuchak Weekend Market. A market like no other, it has 5 acres with almost 10,000 stalls selling everything imaginable.
Bartering is expected at the market and items can be discounted for sometimes up to 75% of the first given price. Be brave enough to bargain very, very hard and never be afraid to walk away if you can't come to a reasonable price. There will be other (in fact many other) stalls selling the same item.
Top Tip - If you're staying on Khao San Rd (backpacker paradise), save yourself the taxi fare and hop on bus 44 that goes straight to the market.
If anyone is heading to Thailand, I would love to hear your adventures.
