The Thai Way

here are some more Thailandism's for you to enjoy! :) i find them amusing.

*Gas is 5 liters to a gallon. it's around 30THB a liter = 150THB gallon. 40 THB = $1. it equals about $4 a gallon!? that's expensive! (of course, math is not my strong suit, so i could be miscalculating!?)

*It's the rainy season here (july - oct) and there was severe flooding last year - this year is not half as bad, but when it rains - man - it pours! i have changed clothes a few times a day from riding on my motorcyc! :( i wear a raincoat and poncho - but i can't get myself to wear a 'rain suit' - elastic pants and coat! too much work...and just not fashion forward, friends! :)

*In the rainy season there is a lot of dragonflies and crickets that come out after the rain.

it was really hard to sleep for awhile, but now they lull me into a slumber!


*I've noticed that most Thai people - even business people - have loud and childish cell phone rings...ALWAYS leave their phones on (not silent or vibrate) and answer it ANYWHERE! (bathrooms, church, even work meetings!?) it's actually really rude but seems to be socially acceptable here...?

*Breakfast Thai style and be rice soup or mainly stirfry - fried rice with egg and greenery, or pork and white rice (all with a side of cucumber slices!. you could eat stirfry breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you wanted to in any given day! i get really bored with it though.

*I really can't stand seeing little kids dressed up like little adults...it's totally cultural for parents to have their children in dancing, modeling, and singing competetions or just to be a part of a 'dress up' activity...it makes me sad cause i see that these girls will be the same girls as teenagers with 'playgirl' and 'foxy' on their clothes and jewelry, with tatoos and lots of makeup - they learned it young, that's why! and the sad fact is that many end up selling themselves too - and for very little money - but with much cost....

*On a funnier note...I guess being the 'tall fat american' pays off when its time to ride in the car - i ALWAYS get dibbs on the front seat when we need to pack people in...cause most Thai's are tiny and can fit 5 in the back if needed!!!

*The scenery here is really beautiful on the country side - green rolling hills

banana and palm trees

and rice fields. it's great and keeps me at ease.


*The King is definately revered around here - the Thai people are very respectful and honoring of their King. It's actually nice to see a country be unified in that way...unlike in America it seems.... I do get a chuckle out of the ways they display their affection though. between the bright yellow t-shirts (to represent the King and his birthday) and powder blue T-shirts for the Queen's birthday...it seems that everyone is in a color war! i feel like you have to be part of a gang! i have not conformed yet - maybe i should, to show my respect for hierarchy and be more "thai" that way. but i still weird about it cuz it feels like Idol worship most of the time. i have mixed feelings, obviously. but with their bright yellow gear - it really looks like a group of asian tourists walking around site-seeing (but in America)!! here, i am the tourist! :) i'll have to get a picture sometime. *speaking of the King - this is an example of overkill...tons and tons of billboards honoring the King (all year for his 60th anniversary as King).

*I have this weekend debate issue in my head. i swear there is controversy with SOMEONE whenever we discuss weekend plans. it goes like this: monday 10/2 - "do you want to get together next weekend"? now that to me, means the NEXT weekend (9/14), not the coming weekend (7th). but that's what they meant. now, without fail, one of us gets the date wrong...why is this so hard to figure out?! some people think that when they say 'next weekend' (even if it's on a friday) they mean the next day. i sort of see the logic, but not really. i truly don't get it. am i right? what do you think? actually, i don't care if you don't agree with me - i think i'm right! ;)

*I haven't decided which is worse when entering a Thai bathroom: using the floor squatty potty (with it's obvious challenges - PLUS manuvering the pull down your pants and hold them so they don't touch the floor), the discolored water in a bucket with bowl to flush the toilet, the damp toilet paper (if there is any!), or using the "communal" bathroom flipflops - that are ALWAYS soaking wet OR dissing the flipflops and going barefoot on a wet bathroom floor....??!!

*Cabbages and Condoms is a restuarant and store that promotes safe sex - they started up business to teach hilltribe women how to protect themselves from pregnancy and disease. it's a funny tourist stop to make and the food is good...and "guaranteed not to cause pregnancy"!! (really - that's their motto!)

*'Mama' is the Thai form of Ramen noodles! they LOVE it here! and it's like 5 cents a package!

*I passed by a cemetary in Northern Thailand (Chiang Rai) and the coffins were above ground!? it was strange...i don't now if it's like that everywhere or not? very creepy though.

*I saw the best sign at a bakery advertising their specialties: Ice Cream Sundays (and really, shouldn't EVERY Sunday be Ice Cream Sunday?!) :)

*There are so many little store fronts, outdoor shops, roadside stands, street vendors, and market sellers...the more popular ones are also referred to them as "villages": like basketvillage, woodvillage, umbrellavillage - whatever they sell! it's pretty easy to find what you want that way!

*Salad dressing in most local/street Thai food stands, and even restaurants, are mostly mayonaisse based! it's really not appetizing - or especially tasty.

*I have gotten to like visiting hotels around Thailand. i mean i love my home, but sometimes there is something nice about just chillin in a bed with crisp sheets and a different view! and this one in particular in BKK had the cutest little towel arrangement! only in thailand! i love it i love it!

**p.s can you see what i see on the bathroom floor??
i looked down and thought the dark and light section looked like a little chubby asian baby's face with a finger in it's mouth!? my coworker thought if you looked at it sideways, it looked like 2 dogs - one white and one black facing the same direction?! you decide! or what do YOU see?? ;)

*If you go to a Buffet restuarant - you pay MORE if you don't finish your food!!! hahaha. that means you can't allow your eyes be BIGGER than your stomach, for sure! :)

*Kentucky Fried Chicken is only known as "KFC" here! And besides having their own soft serve ice cream station - they have a sink to wash up afterwards (awesome!), real glass cups, plastic plates, and silverware! sweet. ***The best name ever for a Cabbage Patch Kid (that my friend had): "Kentucky Fried Chicken"!)

*Thai's like their ketchup - they eat it on their eggs, noodles, and Pizza!

*Northern Thai folks in the markets sell (and consequently eat) Water Buffalo fetus' (it's a delicacy!?) i can't really even imagine eating that...

*In Lampang (on a billboard entering the city) is quoted as being "Green, Clean, and Ceremic"! hahaha i thought that was odd - but it's actually TRUE! it's a very green and mountainous ride up, you can buy all kinds of ceremic products - everywhere...and it's quite clean! :) they also have horse and carriage rides!!!

*Paper products that are made out of Elephant Dung! I think it's quite fascinating concept. It really isn't that gross either - i mean, they only eat sugar cane, bananas, and grass. They crush it (it's really dry), boil it, bleach it, and spread it out on screens to dry and dye different colors! SWEET!


*Thai people are non-confrontational, but they will for sure tell you what they think...i haven't quite figured it out yet...how to approach that well without ruffling feathers...? they smile but you know that there is something behind it that they will never tell you.

*I frequently get comments that i am "kwamsuk maak" or "jai dii" - a very happy person and that they love my laugh! :) i personally feel like i sound like a man when i laugh and i'm pretty loud. but a nice compliment all the same. The BEST one was last week when a friend of a coworker told me that i have a "delicious laugh"! that's rich! what a charmer...consequently, now i'm in love! (just kidding!) hahaha