Question of the week: 'What are your two most pleasant and your two worst experiences in Thailand?'
That is a question for those who stay here and those who were here on vacation. Wherever you are and wherever you go, you will always have to deal with fun and less fun things. That will be different for everyone. I'm curious about the experiences of others.
If you have not encountered any unpleasant experiences, you may still mention the pleasant ones. But just mentioning annoying things is not allowed. We hear that a lot already. Those are the rules of the game.
Let me bite the bullet:
Two fun experiences
- Years ago in Chiang Mai I took a XNUMX baht tuk-tuk back to the hotel. On the way I chatted a lot with the driver: family, politics, etc. When we arrived at the hotel, he refused to accept the hundred baht 'because we had such a nice talk'.
- I once stopped with my motosai because the gas tank was empty. Walking on my way to a gas station one kilometer away, a car stopped three times to offer me help.
Two unpleasant experiences
- My ex's father ran gambling dens with the knowledge of the police. He kept taking my ex there despite my pleas and his promise not to do so again.
- One day in a restaurant where we ate regularly, I saw that the receipt, written in Thai, had a dish that we had not ordered or received. I didn't have to pay but there was no apology. Mistake can happen. But a week later the same. It wasn't a mistake but a scam, especially for foreigners I think.
When I thought about finding examples, the fun experiences were by far the majority. I had trouble recalling a second unpleasant experience.
Tell me: "What are your two most pleasant and your two worst experiences in Thailand?"
My most beautiful experience
** Met my wife over 25 years ago and still together.
** My (step)daughter who loves me as if it were a biological father.
My worst experience
** My mother becomes seriously ill, fortunately still in time in NL and dies fairly quickly.
** My father-in-law is seriously ill, unfortunately already in a coma when we arrive and dies without his daughter
(my wife) could still talk to him.
we have been coming to thailand for about ten years now and the first time you still have to get used to the money paid way too much on a terrace in bangkok it was really our first experience, the waiter came all the way to give us our money back, that was our first and one of many good experiences.
The country and food are pleasant
The character of the Thai is annoying and that the girls have to enter the sex industry to collect money for the family.
The character of thé Thai? I didn't know that Thai rolls off the assembly line as a mass product. Assuming you're talking about what you consider common behavior (stereotyping, simplification of the more complex reality) here, what are 1-2 expressions of that kind of behavior? Please make it more specific.
Nice experiences book at least a 4 * hotel good service and delicious breakfast
Too bad that taxi doesn't turn on the meter and just drive away when your wildest has to turn on the meter self-cleaning thai woman woman this doesn't work
Always haggling to get involved
Long waits at the airport at the entrance to Thailand passport control, it is impossible to get rid of a smile
WELCOME OR SO
Maybe it's my pale skin and my blonde hair, but so far always friendly customs officer and sometimes even with social talk and a smile.
By far the most pleasant experiences are my many tours in Thailand by car and plane, where I enjoyed the climate and the beautiful nature and pleasantly spent time on the most beautiful beaches.
In Thailand I am also always pleasantly surprised because I have never experienced age discrimination.
As a third, I would also like to mention the dishes from Thai cuisine and the extensive buffets in hotels and restaurants.
My worst experiences were that money was stolen from me at least three times and money that was lent twice was not returned.
Furthermore, on my many car journeys I have often been stopped by the police for alleged offenses with the aim of contributing a mandatory contribution to their 'teapot'.
It was nice to feel really young again
Less fun, to realize that I am an old man after all
Cheers
Nice, the food and the bars, plus especially the weather during our winter.
Irritating, just about everything since the last coup. That's why I'm in Cambodia now. A relief.
The pleasant living (own house) with my dearest friend. The value of the money, 1000 Baht is really another thing. The weather, although March, April and May are too hot.
The entertainment. In Belgium you can empty a cannon after six and you won't even get into the newspaper, here it's a ball every day.
I think negatively that I just NEVER manage to get anything done. Everywhere, yes everywhere I keep hearing NO HAVE. There are plenty of examples and I don't want to bother the reader with that.
For the rest, I have found my niche.
The best experiences are easy. The best part, of course, is that I met my love there. She is, was, the most beautiful thing in my life so far. But if it really has to be an experience, these are just two of many experiences:
– The kindness of my dear's friends and family. The door is always open, took us and still like to take me out for dinner. They state “Rob, mai kreng jai (na), Mali is/was my friend so you are too”. While with such generous kindness and generosity I feel obligated to return the favor. Such a warm welcome is just fantastic.
– On one of my first visits to Thailand I didn't speak a word of Thai and I didn't know what normal prices were for a certain product or service. I saw a cart with coffee and was hungry for a cup of iced coffee. Made it clear with some effort that I felt like ice coffee, the seller understood that. But the price? There were various amounts on the cart, but all text was in hst Thai. I offered two twenty bath notes. The man slowly pulled away 1 bill and nodded as he spoke. If he had taken more I wouldn't have noticed. Now it's not strange not to be cheated but the idea that they could have done that and didn't convince me that most people are good.
Bad experiences? Difficult, then I really have to think about it.
– As an inexperienced Thailand visitor, being approached near Wat Saket (Golden Mount) and, after a short conversation about myself, being told that it is Buddha Day and that tuktuks will therefore drive you around between temples at a special rate of 40-50 baht. Was of course the famous tailor & diamond tour.
– Having to pay the foreigner price when visiting Doi Suthep (Chiang Mai) while I came there, together with my teerak, not only to be a tourist but also to make a profit. Normally I spontaneously donate something to a temple, but if they see me as a cash cow, they can go into the tree. I was insulted and went and I couldn't get any kind of generosity and respect from me. That was not the case for me either.
Worst experience: Unreliable park owner Central Parc Hillside (Pattaya) along with ditto lawyer
Ken, which made it possible to purchase my owner-occupied house. Litigation from 2013 until now.
Positive experience: Being able to leave at any time of the day/evening without having to think about whether you should take a jacket or umbrella. Enjoy a drink while relaxing on the coast. At some (regular) restaurants you will receive a warm welcome and they already know what your favorite drink is. Sometimes even a discount, despite the season, because you come more often!
I can't make choices about the two best experiences and the two worst experiences.
Generally speaking, I appreciate the 24-hour economy, the many places to eat and drink, the easy-going and friendly nature of the people here in Isaan (I live in Udon), the mostly pleasant climate (except in the very warm months of March / April / May), the Thais don't plan anything (they'll see what tomorrow brings, that way they don't suffer from stress) and don't let setbacks fool them.
The less pleasant things!!!. If I must mention one > the traffic in Thailand and the total lack of control of law enforcement. Drunk driving, speeding, driving without a helmet, double parking, running a red light and so on. There is no check and if fines are handed out, 60% of the money goes into the pockets of the police officer concerned. Many more checks (also in the evening / night), much stricter penalties (high fines) and the collection of the fines via a system in which the fines are delivered at home by post, so that the police officer can no longer collect tea money.
My most beautiful experience
** After a night out on the walking street with my wife and girlfriend. Back at the hotel in Jomtien we want to have a drink for the room at the 7-11. At that moment I notice that I have lost my scholarship.
Go directly back with the bathbus, to the 2 gogos but found nothing. At the third, a gogo dancer told me that my purse had been found and that I could return to the hotel. When I arrived at the hotel, my wife told me that she had been approached by someone who asked if this was her passport photo.
Yes, she said, because we had it made that afternoon. Then this is your purse, it had fallen out of my pocket when I got off the bathbus.
The Gogo dancer turned out to be a cousin of our Thai friend.
**After paying my Bin of 1050 Bath. We walked and people came running after us, that instead of a note of 50 I had paid with a note of 500 bath.
My worst experience
** So something happened to me three years ago in Kantharalak. I stayed overnight in the local simple hotel. Lucky would spend the night in the “dad house” with the children. I walked around the place in the afternoon and had a snack of rice.
I drank a large beer in three places and suddenly felt tired and went to my hotel. When I got there I decided to go straight to bed. I thought I had a little too much to drink. As I lie in bed I hear someone messing around at my door.
I get up and think hey Lucky has come back and wanted to open the door at first reaction. But see that there is a spy in the door and look through it.
I see a man hanging against the wall opposite the door and I think that is someone who chose the wrong door. So shout “false room” and go back to bed. Moments later, I heard a knock at my door again. I give a thump and shout again that it was wrong. This eventually happens four times, then I decide to put the chain on the door and take a sleeper. Because I really want to go to sleep.
The next morning Lucky comes and asks if I slept well alone. Now that I mentioned that some drunk had tried to get into my room.
However, when we walk outside we see that there are many police and photographers in the parking lot. I heard later that someone had been murdered, so that makes you quiet for a moment because the perpetrators have been at my door. Later you realize that it must have been two people, because the one I saw was standing against the wall and not sitting at the door. Furthermore, you realize that maybe I was intoxicated, because I was so tired from three beers.
But after this I never went here for a beer in the evening again. I also found it strange later that no one from the police asked me anything while I was the only guest after this incident. But it always stays with you and you remain attentive. But it can happen to you anywhere in the world.
** We were in a hotel in Bangkok and wanted to eat something with our girlfriend. We had never driven a tuk-tuk before and the driver knew a fish restaurant. He was willing to take us there for 60 baht. Now that we had, I must say, a delicious meal, while we almost had a personal servant, who kept refilling our drink when we had only taken one sip.
At checkout, the bill turned out to be quite high for Thai standards. The prices were stated per 100 grams. Anyway we had a good meal and a nice evening so no complaints.
However, when we walk to our tuktuk, our Thai friend is told that she was not allowed to ride. Well neither did we and we couldn't get another taxi in the parking lot.
But after a bit of walking, which is no problem for us, we found another taxi. And we were back at the hotel for less than 60 bath.
These stories also appear in my Diary of a Hiker on the internet.
Bad experience after being well prepared returning to Thailand and expecting to find a rental house in Udon Thani quickly but the 6 I had searched online and were supposed to be available all turned out to be occupied upon arrival, coincidence? The alternative offered was so bad that I immediately moved to Buengkan.
A good experience was having found a nice house in Buengkan and immediately adapting it, such as making a kitchen, and in the meantime I received a challenging invitation from a lady all the way from Chiangsean near Chiangrai, I had to meet her in real life and see where she lived. I ended up on top of a hill with a beautiful view surrounded by a 60 Rai Organic Tea farm that she owned. I didn't want to leave and we are neighbors because I rent a house next to hers and she is the landlord. I drink her tea in moderation and live and eat differently and have lost 2 kg of excess weight in 15 months and my health has greatly improved. The rent in Buengkan has been canceled and I drove up and down to pick up my things.
Positive experience at the moment here in phuket
The beautiful beaches and the back to nature wet all the concrete broken up on Surin Beach
Back to bamboo huts with affordable drinks
Negative experience
Again full of annoying Russians
And now the end is the new French (Algerians and Moroccans) who fly with cheap flights
From France spoil the atmosphere en masse and race through the streets with their rented motorcycles
I have been coming to Thailand for 13 years now but this was the last time for me
Many good experiences, I met a fantastic woman with a heart of gold, together for more than 4 years and not a single argument, she can also walk quietly on the street in the evening, without danger. Never been robbed before, the people are very kind to me, you are not a number here, everywhere you go you get attention, all in all pleasant experiences.
Negative experiences, Thais like noise, the louder the better, when they have a party, the house vibrates from the bass, which is way too loud, they also do karaoke, but most of them can't sing, so everyone has to handle this hear, of course the temple also participates in that, unfortunately we cannot change the Thai standard and we have to hear the dominated noise through the speakers and loud of course.
Another negative experience, waking up nights to the barking and howling of the dogs.
That's it, otherwise very happy here.
One of many pleasant experiences:
My wife buys some food at a night market in Chiang Mai for 100 baht.
She mistakenly gives a 1.000 bath note, thinking it is a 100 bath note.
The saleswoman goes to the neighbors to exchange the 1.000 bath note.
My wife is already walking away from the stall, unaware of the mistake.
The saleswoman calls her back, she explains that my wife still gets 900 bath change. All praise!
Another pleasant one.
Get a flat tire, pull to the side of the road and end up in front of a house.
The resident comes forward, sees what is there and gets a professional jack from the neighbor.
He spontaneously starts replacing the wheel, I am only allowed to provide hand and span services.
We just did some shopping at the Makro, after I'm done I want to give the man some money or something else from our Makro stash, but everything is resolutely rejected, no chance, he did it out of kindness, great.
One of the worst experiences:
Grandma is in a Thai state hospital with pneumonia and other things, the treatment and the intensive care unit are lousy, ventilation is taking place.
A doctor says that it would be better if grandma went to another much more expensive hospital, where the treatment would be more adequate and the recovery could be much faster. We endorse that.
We offer to the family to pay the higher costs in full.
A few relatives let it be known that if grandma goes to that other hospital, they want a contract that they will never be asked for a contribution afterwards and also that they will no longer contribute to the 24/7 rotation at grandma's so that grandma doesn't alone in the hospital.
Grandma does want to go to the other hospital, probably hears something about the requirements and complications communicated to us and decides that she will stay where she is, after resuscitation and after a longer period of time, Grandma will recover.
Nico B
One by one
It is positive that I am now enjoying a nice meal in Loei for 40 baht.
The negative is that my Thai wife no longer has time for me. But that will be over in a few weeks when we are back in the cold Netherlands.
annoying experience ,
Every time you have to go home and check in at the airport…
+ Friendly helpful people.
+ Beautiful nature, and good nature reserve management.
– Farang who feel they should show off their bare upper body where they shouldn't (where there is no beach or swimming pool). This is a gross disrespect for Thai people.
– Farang who are complaining that they have to pay more than Thai for nature reserves, temples, museums and other cultural activities. I'm sick and tired of that vinegar piss.
My best experience
**That is the moment now, now that everything is ready here in Isaan, first the start of the construction of our house, "Haus am See", then the interior and exterior furnishings, plantings around our house, including many fruit trees in the garden, which we can already enjoy, purchasing the many animals around us, including water buffalo, two sweet dogs, the ducks, geese and chickens, but above all... waking up under a radiant sun, and that almost every day, what more could you want!
https://youtu.be/gMqIuAJ92tM
**In the past, 2009, a serious accident with my motorcycle in Germany, not my fault, I must say, three months in hospital, it was a time I quickly want to forget, doctors and stressed staff, piled mistake after mistake, as a result of which the healing process did not want to go smoothly, it was, in a word, disastrous.
But now in Thailand, two months ago, I suddenly get a high fever with delusions, my love calls a doctor in a panic in the middle of the night, ten minutes later the ambulance is already at the door, a bacterial infection in my left leg was the cause It started in my foot, but in no time it reached above my knee. When we arrived at the small local state hospital, the doctor on duty was already present and immediately started the treatment, injection here, injection there and immediately on the IV. The admission lasted seven days, so not that long, I have never had to deal with so much. Enjoyed spending time in a hospital, what a nice and concerned staff, knowledgeable, and above all a listening ear for the patient, always smiling friendly, and above all NO stress, as it should be in a hospital, hats off.
My worst experience
** The death of my father-in-law, we had a very nice time together, unfortunately far too short, during the construction of our house he was there every day, always keeping an eye on things, making sure everything went according to plan, until one day, almost a year ago now, my father-in-law suddenly died, no one expected this, always cheerfully smiling, did not drink alcohol, did not smoke, was actually in perfect health, until the day he succumbed to cardiac arrest. Despite my contribution to a dignified cremation, I was not involved at all, as a stranger I felt like I did not belong to the family, like a Farang!
Positive :
- such lovely people
- to eat
Negative:
– who took my shoes from a massage parlor on Koh Samui
– always pay appropriately because sometimes you don't get good change back
+ freedom the moment you are in Thailand.
+ beautiful beaches and beautiful nature, just a shame that they often use them as a rubbish dump.
– that you are often not allowed to tell the truth because everything has to be seen through rose-colored glasses.
– that discrimination is simply considered normal and that no loss of face is more important than the
the truth
Dear Tina,
You expect to hear the best and worst experiences from commenters.
Of yourself you only mention two good ones and, after twenty years and with hesitation, two bad ones.
Foreign.
Most beautiful experiences:
1. Wonderful tour with my girlfriend through the middle and north of Thailand.
2. The many beautiful experiences and day trips on Koh Samui.
Bad experiences:
1. Tsunami 2004 (nothing comes close).
2. Accident at sea due to sudden storm in July 2004. We got into serious trouble with a whole group of sea canoes. Luckily only scratches and abrasions.
What I generally like is that people at least give the impression that I am a valued customer everywhere. That starts on the plane at Thai Airways, and also applies to the girls, bars, restaurants, motorbike taxis, 7-elevens, hotel, hairdresser, Samsung shop, Kasikorn bank, and so on.
Nice, unexpected things, you experience every day, but real highlights to think back on with melancholy I find Song Kran, International Fireworks Festival Pattaya, and a two-day stay in room 5511 in the Baiyoke Sky Hotel Bangkok with a priceless fabulous view .
.
Most unpleasant experiences: Once a fight with a drunken Englishman and once a dispute with a German.
Also nice,
New Year's Eve domestic flight booked,
Wanted to check in, I was told that I was too early and had to wait an hour.
After an hour back to the counter, I was told, sorry you are too late,
You understand my reaction at that moment,
I should book and pay for a new ticket
Got angry and asked for a manager, who was there pretty quickly.
Explained the situation and the man told me, that girl did that for the first time, but I could go on the first flight for free the next morning.
Was offered a hotel at the airport, solved well.
When we arrived at the hotel, a New Year's Eve party had been organized that evening.
Nice again a great party with show dance food and drinks, and
A free raffle
And yes, we won prizes, a dinner for two people, absolutely top.
Just no time to use it, too bad.
Just consulted and no problem exchanged for a great bottle of champagne.
Back on the plane in the morning, so a happy ending.
Positive: I am lucky that my Thai wife wanted me fully, averse to wealth or status, and that she took a lot of risk to do so, which was reciprocated. Also positive: a number of people from her family and circle of friends do everything they can to make it as pleasant as possible for me, knowing that it is not easy to live here as a Westerner.
Negative : the noise at night : roosters, dogs, music installations at parties : an attack on your patience. Also : you can't talk about anything important with the average Thai. They have a laugh and get away if you have a problem and bring it up. Their lack of interest in anything non-Thai, in short.
My best experiences concern the great personal freedom (examples galore)
My worst experiences involve the expressions of the truth about Thailand:
– Websites and newspapers censored, books banned,
– The rose colored glasses of many Thais and foreigners.
PLEASANT EXPERIENCES : :
At the laundry, we put money in the pocket and got it back neatly
get things repaired cheaply.
Cheap Gasoline
BAD EXPERIENCES :
terrible road users
always trying to scam the farang
Pleasant experiences:
1. the attention of people who are genuinely interested in what you think and do;
2. Hearing important people say what you have been venting in your own network not long before and apparently being passed on to the top.
Negative experiences:
1. Being threatened with death by your ex-girlfriend
2. a taxi driver tearing through Vibhavadi Rangsit at about 160 miles per hour, with my two children crying closer than laughing.
During the floods of 2011, our neighborhood was in danger of flooding, which in itself was not a drama because I live 25 high, but there was a danger that the power would be cut off with all the bad consequences that entailed.
Then we received a call from our real estate agent, through whom we rented our home, offering us and the flooded family (5 people) we were hosting a free home as long as there was a risk of flooding. When we arrived after a 200 km drive, the food was already on the table.
negative experience, after 40 years of Thailand. NO
What a fun topic.
It started with me on a journey of several months to get fit again. When leaving the airport on Phuket - and seeing the chaos in the traffic, the many ruins (food places) along the road and the cable gang - I thought 'I'm never going to be able to get used to this.' That turned out to be not too bad; After those first few months, I didn't want to go back home. Life is so much less complex here.
Another positive point is that there are few Dutch people. What a bunch of whiners have we all become, possibly because things went well for too long?
I think negatively that you can almost (?) only look helplessly at the negative spiral in which the country finds itself. In spite of the many idiotic plans of the 'National Center for Propaganda and Oppression'. It hurts to see that every day. For me, that is enough reason to move to another country. Vietnam is on the agenda.
Other negative experiences, such as a tuk-tuk ride past a beautiful diamond factory in Bangkok, are especially funny in comparison.
I don't really go to tourist places except Kanchanaburi, but I have only had pleasant experiences with Thai. They don't speak English in those areas so I do my best to speak Thai. Whether in the south or in the north, everywhere I find honest people who are hospitable. Regular Thai prices. Songklaburi, partying on stage during karaoke and being covered in flower wreaths. Sichon, everywhere we went we were given large amounts of fruit and because we couldn't eat it all, the monkeys were happy too. Drink tea with the fishermen at the fish market and taste delicacies... And don't pay for it because this was hospitality. Go to U Thong to see how a dozens of meters high budha is kept out of the rocks and then visit the market in U Thong and taste everything that is for sale and again pay nothing. We try to adapt to their norms and values. In Bangkok I watch with amazement how foreign tourists behave jerkily towards Thais. And yes, every taxi driver wants to charge you too much, but if you politely say 'Mai au' and go to the next one, the price is suddenly much lower. The same thing happens in Amsterdam, if you are naive, then you are fodder for the scammers, but this applies to every country. After having been to Thailand three times, I was really homesick for a month.
best experiences:
1. With dot on 1 my tour of a few days with Wim from Mae Rim as a travel guide, from ChiangMai to Mae Hong Son, The Cave Lodge and back. Had a very nice tour. Thanks again William.
2. I often buy from the countless saleswomen who pass by the bars in Pattaya. Those ladies from Nepal or something, with those multi-colored clothes and hats, sell those necklaces with magnets in various colors. They are doing quite well in The Gambia. 😉 The penultimate time I bought quite a few of those necklaces on my last evening and in a plastic bag with me. On my way to Villa Oranje, I always have a drink at DaDa's bar in Soi 12 (Pattaya Klang), and I accidentally leave those necklaces there. I come back half a year later and the first thing DaDa did was give me back the necklaces. 😉
bad experiences:
1. On the way back by car from ChiangMai to Pattaya. Already dark, road almost deserted. Suddenly 2 mopeds cross the highway, the 2nd without light. So we didn't see that until much too late. It was not possible to swerve to the left, because the 1st drove there. So god bless the hold and try to get past it, between him and the traffic island. But what we didn't know was that his engine stopped working because he was out of gas. And then he thought he wasn't going to make it and turned around.....
2. Had bad food once in the Big C, but otherwise had almost no bad experiences to date.
Pleasant experience .
My first holiday to Pattaya (Dec 2007)
Hotel found in Soi 13 Post Office . Sureena Hotel.
After showering and changing I walked out.
And what I heard about Massage, sexy, Young man is something that will always stick with me,
even though I'm also 10 years older now.
And the Thais are so hospitable and nice , and the food and the weather remind me of my island Aruba .
Nasty Experience ;
The Hotel next to Sureena Hotel, I think Anna Hotel or something, was in Vuur en Vlam,
I heard a knock on the door and told everyone to go outside.
I had a young lady with me and I told her we had to go outside but she was very tired,
through all the efforts she fell asleep again . In the afternoon we heard that 2 people died,
an Indian and a Thai girl, and that will always stick with me.
Of course I experienced a lot of good and bad things in all those 15 times in Thailand.
It is positive that I am already busy booking a trip again for May / June to that beautiful country Thailand.
Positive:
Been coming there since half 1989 (already 85 times), always in the same place, and have never bored me for a moment.
Recently, at the end of November, left a mobile phone in a local taxi (Pattaya), found out after getting out, and that was a bit of a shock, money and cards were also included, received back within 10 minutes from an honest driver.
Eating and sleeping really costs nothing compared to Europe
Negative
In the early days, helped a fellow countryman (local) to 1k gld (which was quickly through), I had to stay a week longer myself, with ditto costs and afterwards had to sit for another year,
to get it back.
More and more rules are coming from the regime, it used to be a bit more flexible.