Today I am taking a look back at my recent Thailand holiday in a question and answer format. Thank you to everyone who submitted a question to me, some of them have given me plenty to think about.
I have included on the right one of my holiday photos that I really liked but for one reason or another didn’t make it into my blogs.
The photo was taken on December 27th passing through Udon Thani on our way to Muang Loei. Here in England a blue siren would have halted the vehicle and the driver asked ” I gather you’ve just come from a party sir, would you blow into this please.”
As we followed the pick up through Udon Thani it was hardly given a second look. To me the photo says a lot about Thailand, it’s a party country that will sure make you smile.
What draws you to Thailand ? Talen - Thailand, Land of Smiles
Originally it was sun, beer and sex, pick what order. Pattaya was where it all happened and I happened to get myself there three or four times a year. I had a mate who went up to Udon Thani and he kept telling me to get out of Pattaya and up to Udon, so one holiday I did and I really liked it. I met Wonderful Wi who is an Udon country girl over five years ago and she’s the reason I visit Thailand now, but I believe you probably want an answer void of any personal attachment, so here we go.
I really do love the chilled out way of life that exists in Thailand. I want for myself the laid back mannerisms and charm of its working class people, their peaceful acceptance of whatever will be, will be. I will never become the type of character I have just described because westernization is to deeply embedded into me, but every time I leave Thailand I feel I’m a little bit nearer to who I want to be. That is what attracts me to Thailand.
What is your favourite blog entry and why ? winters SEO
The blog I most enjoyed writing on my holiday was the one that received least comment and that was Living A Dream. I had dreams when I was younger of becoming a sports journalist but realistically it was never going to happen. When we were staying at our house in the village I mentioned to Wi that I wanted to see a village cock fight or “chicken box” as she calls it. Later that evening her aunt came visiting and told Wi there was a cock fight the next morning. I set off in the morning very excited about covering my first sporting event and later reporting it in my blog. I watched the contest and had quite a few beers after and slept things off on the living room sofa. That evening when it came to writing the blog I realized I didn’t know either of the chickens names and I couldn’t remember who had won, so I just sat down and made up a fantasy story. I really enjoyed doing that.
If there is one piece of advice or tip you would give to visitors to Thailand, what would that be ? Martin – Bulgarian Slivatree – An Expatriate’s Eye in Bulgaria
I thought this was a great question and one that I was very clear about with my answer. Always show respect. Show your up most respect for the King and respect religion, culture and the Thai people. Respect costs nothing and in Thailand it will open doors, bring smiles and make your holiday a wonderful experience you will never forget.
Did you have any embarassing moments on your holiday and if you did what were they ? Maria Lopez, 42, Swindon
I did not have any embarassing incidents on this trip but Wilai did have a minor one although she considered it major. We were staying at the Napalai Hotel in Udon Thani for the last three days of my holiday. After having a nightcap at the hotel bar Wi decided to go up to our room and sleep, I needed to stay up to work on my latest blog. Five minutes later my phone rang and it was Wilai talking in rapid desperation ” Hus…band I cannot get in room…try everything…key no good,” I headed to the lift and up to room 1009, no sign of Wilai. I quickly remembered that when I had arrived in Thailand 17 days before, our room at the Napalai had been one floor below. I headed down to the ninth floor and was met with the sight of Wilai trying to force her way into room 909. She was most embarrassed but like most Thai people would, she found it extremely funny. Over the last couple of days I teased her about the Chinese hotel owner still trying to find out who was breaking into room 909. It took the near permanent cartoon like grin off her face each time for a couple of minutes, but it quickly returned to its normal state of facial glee.
If Thailand was a wild animal, what kind of animal would it be ? ( I’m going for Spider Monkey ) winters SEO
The obvious choice would be the elephant, a great symbol of Thailand but one that I have decided to ignore. If I may I am going to ignore animal and select a bird. A bird that has three types, two of which are Asian. Thailand is a bright, colourful, vibrant country and its people have great pride in themselves and their nation. My choice is the Peacock or Peafowl as it is also known, the bird has a magnificent train of colourful feathers which it spreads out and proudly shows, very, very Thai like indeed.
Of all your travels which one would you say was the most memorable ? Nawal Singh, 40, Swindon
I think your first trip to somewhere is always memorable and I covered part of this in one of my Thai Tales The Beginning Part Two. I find with Thailand that with each holiday there, my knowledge and experience grows and through that I think each visit to the Land of Smiles becomes better and better.
Hus…band what food you like number one for holi…day ? Wonderful Wi, Beyond The Mango Juice
I really do like the Thai Yai restaurant in Udon Thani, green curry and golden noodles. I also enjoyed the Steak Sizzler meal you paid for but are you sure you left a tip, that was the quickest we’ve ever left a restaurant. But Wilai believe me, number one food for my holiday was the steak and chips you cooked for me on Christmas Day. I know you think I didn’t enjoy it because I took so long to eat it, honest it was absolutely lovely…… but it was just so difficult trying to cut a steak with a bloody fork and spoon.
Once again, thank you for submitting your questions to me. This looking back blog was very much a trial format and I would be interested to know your opinions on whether it is worth pursuing for my future holidays. I would also be interested in your answers posed by some of the questions, I know I found a few of them very difficult to answer.
If there is an animal in you today, make sure it’s a cuddly one. Hoo Don.
© 2009, Martyn. All rights reserved.
Popularity: 1% [?]
London to Bangkok and Udon Thani
Funny YouTube Video – The Saucy Pizza Man
Funny Thai TV Commercials – The Odd Couple
The Best Hotels in Udon Thani – The Napalai Hotel
Thai Village Life – A Star is Shorn
PC Air’s Thai Ladyboys Finally Join the Mile High Club
Spicy Thai Green Papaya Salad – A Passion Thriller or Killer
Some great questions and some well thought out answers. A good read whether you’re an old Thailand hand or someone thinking of coming to visit.
Lets have some more of the same.
The bird for me would be an Asian Hoopee. Beautiful but hard to photograph. Little bit like Thailand beautiful but sometimes hard to figure out what makes it so different.
Like most wild animals, proud, graceful in their own environment, clumsy, vulnerable, sometimes helpless when out of their element. So many Thais are hardly worldly-wise, and the fresh-eyed innocence is under threat from the invasion of certain non-indigenous species. In some ways it’s a particularly fragile ecosystem…
Apologies for not coming up with a question in time, but various pressures combined with lack of inspiration have limited my internet presence in recent weeks!
Here’s a belated question for you…
How do you cope with the return to the UK?
Thanks for your support Mike, perhaps you should try one based on your UK trip.If you do my simple question will be – How do you rate British beer compared to Thai beer ?
Pete – As far as the return to the UK goes I’m quite lucky. I have telephone banking and a call to it from Thailand leaves me in no doubt that I have to return home.
Your blogs are always funny and full of inspiration, you are a natural.
Cheers Martyn, but my comment about lack of inspiration was kind of tangential to the part of my question I reckon you didn’t answer! Sure we may have no choice but to come back, for whatever reason… but how do you cope with leaving a ‘better’ life, a loved one, behind? JD? Remnants of the mai pen lai, live for today, attitude?
For me the buzz lasts about a week, then the longing to return begins.
Pete – I long to return, but I know the longer I stay away the more money I can salt away, and one day I won’t have to return. It’s a sort of circle of torture, chasing your tail but it’s either that or give up and go to Benidorm once a year.
Martyn, thanks for the idea, can I answer your question now?
Well I will anyway, I love Real Ale so there is no competition here.
Singha is nice cold but two or three and I start getting illusions about my looks and the depth of my wallet.
Your answers have given even greater insight to who it is in Thailand. There is so much familiarity with Thailand and Bulgaria it is uncanny. But there is one or two thing that differs. The colour, it is only nature and town women who provide that. Then there is the food, although different, like the Thais, Bulgarians eat most things that move. Everything else is a carbon copy.
I agree with you entirely and have written many times about the most important aspect as a foreigner, that is respect. Respect, as you well know, is something that many, unfortunately, don’t even have for their own country.
Good luck in the UK. A little turn on the postcard preach – ‘Wish you wasn’t there!’ (lol)
food is my real love in Thailand i can take our leave the wife sometimes when she.s nagging me
but doesent Thailand have great food in udon thani we used to catch are own grasshopers with a blue light and a sloped sheet of steel forget about bush tucker man i was tickleing my own fish out of the mud
my farther inlaw gets me involed in everything love the old sod issan is a great place
full respect.for there style of liveing
Some great questions and answers.I can see where you’re coming from with the answer to my question. When I’m in Thailand I feel more like me or like you said nearer to the person I would like to be.