As a keen traveller, Thailand would always be on your list of places you really want to visit or where you want to go again. Though my Singaporean peers have visited the country on every other long weekend, I made my first trip to Bangkok, Thailand just this year.
Bangkok is a mere two-hour plane ride from Singapore, so it presented a pretty ideal for a short getaway trip to unwind. I had a lot of misconceptions about the country before, but all of that changed after this trip -
[pullquote]If Thailand was never on your travel list, maybe you should reconsider![/pullquote]Not knowing the language
The only phrases I can utter in Thai is “Sawatdee-ka” (‘Hello’ for girls) and “Khop Khun-ka” (‘Thank you’ for girls). But don’t worry, I learnt that you don't need to know a single Thai word and still survive there as a tourist. There are clear signages in English and your trusty Google Maps to guide you around. Bangkok is a city filled with tourists, so the friendly locals are well-adapted to converse in English if you ever need assistance!
Safety concerns
Considering it’s just me and another female friend on the trip, we were clearly easy preys to scams, theft and danger imaginable on a foreign land. While there is no hard foolproof methods to avoid inevitable danger, the best precaution is to always be aware of your surroundings, since the night markets and shopping malls are usually crowded.
But otherwise, as long as you don’t dress to the nines or embellish yourself with expensive goods, you are pretty much on the safe side.
Getting the runs easily
Thailand is well-known for their street food but if you have a weak stomach, you might be susceptible to food poisoning, especially if you aren’t careful. On the other hand, Thai street food are usually freshly prepared upon ordering. Though the Thais aren’t the most conservative when it comes to using plastic, at least you know your Mango Sticky Rice is safely tucked away from dust particles.
If Thailand was never on your travel list, maybe you should reconsider! Cheap thrills like getting on a Tuk-Tuk or walking through the bustling indie night markets will leave you wanting for more!