Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Best travel destinations by Lonely Planet


My favourite mode of transport to Chiengmai and back to Bangkok is the train. I'd get a sleeper, have a restful sleep and by morning arrive at my destination.

According to travel guide guru, Lonely Planet, among the top ten travel destinations are Iceland (No 1), Malaysia and Singapore.

Having travelled to Thailand many times its No 2 spot comes as no surprise. In  my view there are  7 reasons for its best-value tag:

  1. reasonable cost of accommodation
  2. cheap food
  3. friendly people
  4. interesting culture
  5. safety
  6. reasonable transport costs
  7. beautiful beaches
Have you been to P'ai in Thailand? More about this destination in future posts.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Vietnamese brides

Vietnamese lasses on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam (click on picture to enlarge it for a better look at the pretty Vietnamese ladies, then make your choice, haha)

What prompts me to write on this topic was a recent article in the newspapers about a Singaporean man who found a Vietnamese bride in Vietnam.

When I was in Vietnam not long ago, I learned that Vietnamese girls marry before they are 20 while for Vietnamese men it's around 24 years. A Vietnamese girl gets panicky when she is her twenties and still unmarried.

Men from Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia have been flocking to Vietnam to find a bride, and they are generally successful in their quest if they are not too fussy.

When I was in Vietnam I had had offers of marriage. A young shop assistant out of the blue offered to marry me.

"I'm too old for you,"I said.

"Never mind," she said in fluent English.

"But you're working here," I said.

"No problem. You just ask my boss."

She was in her twenties, and can you imagine me with one foot in the grave walking hand in hand with her? LOL.

Ok, Ok, I've seen balding, ancient Americans frolicking with Thai babes in Chiengmai and Chieng Rai in Thailand.

Watch this blog in case I change my mind.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Bangkok Airport Scam, Thailand

Are you aware of the terrible Bangkok airport scams highlighted in the media recently?

It's so terrible that I feel obliged to describe it here. Briefly this is how it works.

You browse in the duty-free shop, pick up a few things and here and there, and without realising it you've wandered out of the shop.

Suddenly, Security people pounce on you, accusing you of shoplifting. You can't speak Thai and they don't speak English so your protests are useless.

They take you to an office for interrogation. During questioning a guy enters, and offers to help since he speaks Thai (for a fee).

You are given a choice. Either settle the case with US$10,000 or go to a notorious Thai jail while you wait for your case to be heard in court.

Many western travellers have fallen prey to this scam. Thailand might be the Land of the Smiles, but there are corrupt Thai people and officials waiting to fleece tourists.

The Thai Prime Minister has promised to take action. Meanwhile, be very very careful when you shop at Bangkok international airport.