Happy Monday and Thailand Do’s and Don’ts

Happy Monday! This chilly fall weather we’ve had lately (and it is only going to get so much worse!) has me thinking about being in Thailand! Mark and I went to SE Asia to visit my friend Kim for a couple of weeks this past March, it was a trip to remember. While reflecting on the experience, I have come up with a quick list of Thailand Do’s and Don’ts based on some lessons we learned while we were there.

Don’ts:

• Don’t eat vendor food that has been sitting out in the sun for a while. This includes food from any boat cruise or long tail boats.

Longboat off Phra Nang Beach, Krabi

• Don’t drink anything with ice, as ice could be made from contaminated water.
• Don’t touch anything with your feet or point anything with your feet (note that this was not a lesson learned).
• Don’t touch a Thai person’s head (this also was not a lesson learned).

• Don’t feed monkeys, even if they are cute.

Krabi Islands

Do’s:

• Drink water throughout the day and stay hydrated- the sun is intense in SE Asia!
• Regularly apply sunblock.

Krabi

• Do keep calm, enjoy yourself, and smile a lot.
• Do bring maps wherever you go, but maps may confuse you more.

View of Bangkok from Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn

• Do dress appropriately when visiting temples- this includes wearing shawls (for the ladies), and in some cases, long sleeves. Long skirts or pants are a must too.
• Do respect all Buddha images.

Wat Pho temple, Bangkok

If you forget a hat at home, there are many options for purchasing hats of all shapes and sizes in Bangkok and Krabi.

• Do come prepared with medications from home, even over the counter drugs. Items like Pepto-Bismol are harder to come by in Asia.

Chao Phraya River, Bangkok

We loved our time in Thailand and hope to visit again one day!