Thailand Travel Facts & Tips - A few things you should know before your arrival

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Make sure to check out my previous post, "My Week in Thailand" here!

Facts + Tips

One reason why I love to travel so much is because no matter where you go, whether it is a different city in the country you are from or somewhere on the opposite side of the world, they will always have a different way of doing things. Some of those things make sense to you right off the bat, and other things are so bizarre that you have no idea what to think of them. 

While I was in Thailand, I kept note of different facts that popped up that I knew would come in handy for others to know while planning their trip to Thailand. Here is a list of a few things that stood out to me (I will continue to add to this list as I think of more facts worth knowing, and if you have any questions feel free to ask me in the comments section at the end of this blog post):

You can't flush toilet paper down the toilet. 

This was a bit of a shocker for both Jordyn and I when we first arrived to our Airbnb, but I have heard of other countries not allowing this as well. There was a laminated manual right next to the toilet on how to use it, including the highlighted, bold, and capitalized instruction to not throw toilet paper down the toilet. Restrooms commonly have a little wastebasket with a lid right next to the toilet for you to throw used toilet paper into, as well as a hose to clean in case that is needed in certain circumstances...  

Washing hands isn't really a thing. Some bathrooms don't even have soap.

We first noticed this when we landed in Taipei for our layover. We stopped by the bathroom after landing to freshen up, and all of the women coming in to use the restroom would walk right out without washing their hands. 

One bathroom we used while we were at the White Temple in Chiang Rai didn't even have soap... so bring some hand sanitizer. :) 

The Skytrain is a great way for tourists to get around.

To be honest, if Mook wasn't with us I was most confident with getting around the city by using the Skytrain rather than taking a taxi everywhere. The public transit map was pretty simple to figure out, and the air conditioning in the train felt SO GOOD. The stops were very cool too - the ones that we saw had vendors that sold coffee and pastries, souvenirs, clothes, phone cases, jewelry, etc. 

The way that tickets work for the skytrain (if you are a tourist) is that you have to go up to the stations booth and tell the ticket person what stop you were travelling to. They would tell you the price and give you a ticket to swipe in, as well as to swipe out so you never keep the ticket. That was kind of a bummer for me because I love to keep tickets and maps of everywhere I go to put in my travel sketchbook. 

If you need to get somewhere that is an hour or so outside of the city, you can hire a driver for the day (no, it is not as expensive as you'd think).

You can either use Uber or Grab (which is also a taxi service app similar to Uber, but more popular in Bangkok) to schedule rides. Uber was pretty dodgy for me but that might have been because I turned my data off and was only using wifi for internet. 

There were two days where we had one driver for the whole day - one being in Chiang Mai when we did a whole lot of activities in one day, and the other when we went to an Island off the coast of a Thai Navy base (you can read more about that here). It ended up being a whole lot easier rather than waiting around for a car to pick us up when we knew that it would take a while for them to get to where we were. I felt a little bad though, because while we were out and about doing touristy things, the driver would stay back and wait until we were done - but it turns out to be a common thing. 

At the end of the day, it cost us around ฿3000 Baht (about $90 USD each) split between the three of us to have a driver for the entire day. Honestly, that is not bad at all and worth the money. 

There is a ฿5000 Baht ($150 USD) fine for not wearing a seatbelt in the car.

So wear your seatbelt... the traffic in Bangkok is crazy. Like NYC on steroids crazy. 

Taxi drivers are picky and sometimes refuse riders.

I am not sure exactly why taxi drivers are picky, but I think it is most likely to do with where the passengers are going. There were a few times when we wanted to hop into a cab but the driver told us to find another one. 

A lot of taxi drivers will scam tourists by charging them a flat fee rather than turning on the meter.

You can read more about our experience here in my Thailand trip summary post.  Whenever they tell you a flat fee rate before the trip, it is always a few hundred Bahts more than what the original cost will be. Make sure you tell the driver to turn on the meter, or you will find another taxi. 

There are stray dogs and cats everywhere.

It broke my heart to see all of the strays in the street, especially when it was late at night, pouring rain, and/or extremely hot and humid outside. These strays would commonly be abandoned by their owners and left at a temple so the monks could feed them. 

Yes, they are very cute but I would refrain from petting them because many strays we saw were very skittish or anxious. It is better to admire from afar rather than risk upsetting the stray and getting bitten. 

You can get a Thai massage for about $10 USD (except the good ones cost closer to $40 USD).

Thai massages are definitely a popular thing. Whenever we walked down the street in Bangkok, we would always pass a few spas that advertised Thai massages (for cheap). We were originally planning on stopping by one of the spas early on in our trip but never got the chance to. We ended up getting massages when we were in Chiang Mai at the resort we stayed at, which was one of the best decisions we made, because...

It. Was. Phenomenal.

Even though it was the first massage I've ever gotten, I knew that the bar was set high. Massages like that would easily cost $200-$300 back in the states. 

If you are a tourist, people claiming to be information guides may approach you and offer to take you all over the city. These are most likely scams.

This happened to Jordyn and I literally right after we landed in Bangkok and got through customs. As we were heading out to grab a taxi to our Airbnb, a man from the information booth approached us and asked where we were heading to. We showed him where our apartment complex was, knowing that it was going to cost somewhere around ฿300 Baht ($9 USD) according to Mook. He told us that he could get us a car for a flat rate of ฿1000 Baht ($30 USD) including the charges for tolls, so we said no and headed outside. 

At Suvarnabhumi Airport, the way you grab a cab is by taking a ticket from this machine that is outside and it will give you a number to tell you which cab to go to. There is also a sign that says you will be charged a ฿50 Baht ($1.50 USD) surcharge, plus the amount that is measured on the meter. Great, so with that in mind, we went to our cab and got into the car. After seeing where we needed to go, he called the Airbnb that we were staying at - I think to make sure we were legitimate and had a reservation (it was kind of weird). After that was settled, he told us the flat rate of ฿600 or ฿700 Baht ($18-$22 USD), to which we responded by pointing to the meter that was covered by a cloth and asked him to turn it on (he thought he was so clever...). He then started negotiating prices with us, which made it obvious that he was definitely trying to scam us. Eventually, he turned on the meter and we were on our way. So if that ever happens to you, make sure the cab drivers turn the meter on, otherwise find a different cab. It may sound like a big fuss considering that cab rides are much cheaper than ones you would take in Chicago or NYC, but it is bad for Thai tourism and it is just not right to be scammed in general no matter what the cost is. 

Food

There was A TON of food that I tried, and with Mook being a local, there were some things that she bought and made us try without telling us what it was. My suggestion is to do just that! Just be careful with the type of food you eat. Luckily, I did not end up getting sick; when I went to get my vaccinations, the doctor told me to avoid foods with uncooked vegetables, lettuce, fruit with a thin skin (apples, grapes, etc. Probably also mangoes but I had them everyday because they were the best mangoes I have ever had in my life) and DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER (however I brushed my teeth with it and I was fine). 

Here are some of the foods that we had:

• There is street food everywhere you go (so you don't have to worry about starving)

• Thipsamai (Restaurant): They are known for their Traditional Pad Thai and makes some of the best in the city (even Mook said that it was the best she's ever tried). Also order their orange juice that comes in a bottle. I have never tasted orange juice that was so fresh.

• Fresh mango and sticky rice - We bought some from a street vendor in Chinatown

• Coconut ice cream served in a coconut from a street vendor

• MOS Burger (Fast food joint): Japanese style fast food burger (patty, cheese, special sauce that tastes like marinara, tomato). We went to the one that is in Siam Shopping Center.

• Art Bar (I'm not sure if this is the correct name, I'm having trouble finding it online): Thom yum goong (shrimp), tom kha (coconut curry), Thai basil stir fry.

• Khao Soi - This is a traditional northern dish that we had when we were up north in Chiang Mai.

• Sweet snack (little tortilla shells with sweet plum and something else (maybe a vegetable?) that is shredded)

Thai Phrases

Note that this is my interpretation of how these phrases sound vs. how they are actually spelled. The majority of restaurants we ate at or stores we shopped at, the people who worked there would say 'thank you' to us in English, but we would say 'thank you' in Thai and you could tell that they really appreciated that. Personally, languages are not my strongest subjects so it took a while for me to say it right and with confidence... Mook would always yell and me to say thank you in Thai. (lol)

• Cob-poon-ka : Thank you

• Sa-wad-de-ka : Hello/Hi

• Chai-ka : Yes

• Mai-chai-ka : No

• Suai-jung-ka : You're pretty

• Rak-nak-joob-joob! : Love you, kiss kiss!

• Kaw-toad-na-ka : Excuse me/Sorry

• Aroon-sawat : Good morning

If you have any questions about anything that was mentioned, or anything that I didn't cover, feel free to leave me a comment below!

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Studio Vlog 001 // Finding My Rhythm as an Artist

Finding a rhythm to my art style has been a challenge for me over the past couple of years (honestly, more like ever since I got into art). With social media being an ever-growing platform for creators, I (and probably many other artists) have found it to be difficult to figure out what my style is and how to portray myself through my work as such. 

I've been wanting to start studio vlogs for a while now, which is basically "behind the scenes" looks of projects I'm working on. I have been putting these videos off for a couple of reasons... One is that I didn't think I had enough time in the week to do it. Then I came to the conclusion that if I want to do something, I will find time in my schedule to do it. The other thing (being super lame) was that speaking to a camera to put it out for my friends, family, and anyone else to see has always been daunting to me.

I know that I just have to bite the bullet and go for it if I want to continue to grow as an artist. I have seen other artists on YouTube grow with their work over the past few years through their studio vlogs and have learned so much from them. I love seeing what they do in their workday because every single one has a different creative process, and it is also an incredible way to connect with the audience on a more personal level. 

So, I finally sat down to do an introduction video so you can put a face to the name and the channel (since this is my first video where I'm speaking to the camera, please excuse any of my awkward and cringy mannerisms. I promise that I will get better...).

I can't wait to not only show others what I do throughout the week as an artist but to also document my growth and learn by doing. Feel free to subscribe to my channel to follow along - I hope you enjoy. :) 

Cheers,

-TJ

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10 Facts About Me

(This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of my affiliate links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission for referring you. This comes at no additional cost to you. Please note I only offer resources that I have used and strongly recommend!)

Hey there, welcome to my very first blog post! If you do not already know me, my name is TJ and I am an artist, designer, photographer and now a new blogger! Hopefully, you are not too harsh with words when it comes to critiquing writing and grammar - said subjects were not my strongest skills in my high school and college days... although I will gladly take constructive criticism from those willing to give it!

For many months now, I have been interested in starting a blog of my own to not only improve my writing skills but to also step out of my comfort zone of avoiding any attention and criticism from the internet world. I came to realize that putting this off is not going to help me grow in the way that I would like, and that I can also create content that is useful and enjoyable to others!

Nerves set aside, I thought that a "10 Things About Me" blog would be a great way to kick things off and for you to get to know me. Well, here we go!

1) MY PASSION FOR ART AND DESIGN STARTED WITH THE PRINCESS DIARIES. 

It all started when Mia Thermopolis stormed up to her tower when she didn't want anything to do with the royal throne. I was about seven years old when the movie came out and automatically fell in love with the old fire house that Mia and her mom lived in. 

My dad has a creative side and always has some sort of project going on around the house. I turned to him after I saw Mia's tower and I said, "Dad, you can build that for me!" He told me to draw up a floor plan, not thinking that I would figure out what that was at seven years old. An hour later I brought him a piece of craft paper with gel pen markings indicating the space from a top view. Surprisingly he was able to read it, and from that day on I would draw up floor plans of my dream homes for fun. I'm sad to say that I never got that tower built in my room.

2) I BACKPACKED AROUND EUROPE AND GOT STRANDED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORWAY.

Trolltunga, Norway, 2015

Most details of this experience will have to wait for a future blog post, but long story short I thought that my friend and I were not going to make it home from this hike! Thankfully we ran into some hikers who were so kind and offered us help with the proper gear, food, dry clothes, and shelter.

An eight to ten-hour hike turned into a twenty-four-hour experience... The hikers who legitimately saved us were from Milan, Norway and Little Rock, Arkansas, one of which has a prosthetic leg that led our group back to the camp grounds. 

The only regret I have with this experience is that I did not take the hikers contact information down. They were an amazing group of people and I would have loved to keep in touch with them!

3) LATELY, I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GRASPING INSPIRATION AND COMING UP WITH IDEAS FOR CONTENT.

It's a bummer when this happens, but I am learning that it is okay and normal to find yourself in a rut. Since graduating college, it has been a while since I have created something of my choosing. I work an 8-5 job, and sometimes 8-5 turns into a thirteen or fourteen-hour workday in addition to my hour and a half commute. On those days, I end up coming home and going straight to bed to do it all over again, which is where I get away from working on my own stuff leading me to a creative block. 

Lately, I have been easing back into my work to gradually get my creative thinking back. Even if I do a ten-minute sketch, that is still better than no sketch. 

4) WHEN INSPIRATION DOES HIT ME, IT USUALLY COMES FROM MUSIC. 

I usually get inspiration not so much from the lyrics but from the instrumental part of the song. I think it is because I was a music student in an orchestra growing up and that was the only part of the song we would play. Music tells stories even without words, and with me being a visual person I always picture some sort of animation or graphic that goes along with the melody.

5) I PLAYED THE VIOLIN FOR TEN YEARS.

Playing off of my last fact, I was a violinist for about ten years growing up. My great-aunt, cousin, and sister all played the violin so naturally, I followed in their footsteps. It has been about five years since I picked up my violin but every now and again I feel nostalgic and miss the feeling of playing. 

6) THE FIRST ART CLASS I EVER TOOK WAS DURING MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AFTER I DROPPED OUT OF CALCULUS.

This is classic. I feel like everyone has a story similar to this where they dropped out of something that they should have taken to pursue something they were interested in to end up loving it and wanting to make it into their career. Back at this time where I decided to take a failing grade and drop the course, I really felt like I was making a horrible mistake. The Calculus course was going to knock off one of my college credits before I even started college, but looking back on it now makes me happy that I decided to do that. That class kick started my art hobby and later became one of my passions.

7) MY INTEREST IN SCENIC AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY PEAKED ONLY TWO YEARS AGO.

I have always appreciated a photo that was taken well and looked like something that I would frame and hang up in my house. It wasn't until I traveled internationally for the first time when I became interested in being the person behind the camera. By this time, I was going into my senior year of college and had a few years of design education under my belt where I knew how to use programs like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. These are the computer programs that photographers frequently use to edit their work, and they are ones that keep me interested because there is something new you can learn every day from them. 

8) IF I WERE TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH, I WOULD WANT TO WORK IN CRIMINOLOGY OR FORENSIC SCIENCE.

This is obviously a field that is completely opposite of being an artist and designer, but my favorite documentaries, shows, and movies to watch are usually very morbid. I have always been intrigued with the psychology of a criminal's mind and how crimes are investigated.  

9) I HAVE HAD A PIECE OF ART STOLEN, AND I WASN'T REALLY UPSET ABOUT IT. 

St. Charles 'Chair-ity' Art Festival, 2015

A couple of summers ago, I participated in a charity event where local artists painted adirondack chairs for a city nearby my home town. These chairs were put on display around the city's river walk and then later assigned to locations at local shops and restaurants. While my chair was on display near the river walk, it was unchained and stolen from its location. It could have been thrown into the river for all I know, but thinking that it was actually stolen is kind of a compliment!

10) IF I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IT WOULD BE IN BARCELONA.

Barcelona, Spain, 2015

I left my heart in Barcelona. It is such an amazing city with an artistic vibe and lovely people. I was there for a month and wish it were longer. The only Spanish course I had taken previously was in grade school where all I remembered to say was rojo and mi llamo Taylor. By the first couple of days I was there I learned how to order my meals in Spanish and some basic food vocabulary. I am someone who always struggles with learning a foreign language, but found that it is much easier to learn when you are living like a local.

What are some fun facts about you? Let me know in the comments below!