Travel Tip #2

Sunday while I was taking a form of Bangkok transportation, I overheard a group of three men say "let's just pick a side - we will figure it out".

2. Never just "pick a side"! Most public transportation goes one way or another and if you choose this route, you'll end up lost in a foreign city. Read the train maps and know your destination it'll get you far.

-Blonde in Bangkok

Travel Tip #1

Ready for my top travel tips??

This is a random yet very useful list of things to know based on my own experiences.

1. Don't look like a tourist. Whipping out your map on a crowded Bangkok street is a GREAT way to get scammed by a tuk tuk driver for the infamous jewel scam! Ready your map in the hotel room before hitting the streets to avoid this traveler faux pas.

-Blonde in Bangkok

Episode 3 - 10 things to do in Thailand

Episode 3 is finally here! What should you do on your trip to Thailand?? Here are 10 (sometimes unusual) ideas.

-Blonde in Bangkok

Thangksgiving Thai Style

   I spent my second Thanksgiving in Bangkok last week (the first was in 2009 when I visited Bangkok for the first time) and it seems everything but normal for a girl from the States.

Waiting for the train at Hua Lamphong in Bangkok...for 2 hours!

   In 2009, on Thanksgiving day I spent two hours on a rickety train (which by the way was also two hours late since they were apparently running on "Thai time") without air conditioning in weather that had to be around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It was miserable but in the end, like most things that happen here, it was worth it!

Buddhas in a ruined temple in Ayutthaya

Arriving in Ayutthaya was incredible! It's a Thai city filled with gorgeous ruins from a war with Burma. Although it's in ruins, you can see the amazing architecture that existed before the war.

Dim Sum Thanksgiving

We rented a tuk tuk for the day and traveled to several different temples before having Thanksgiving lunch which also was anything but ordinary. We had some kind of dim sum (which I hated and have now, 2 years later, grown to love) and a Pepsi. Although this year my dad and I were together in Ayutthaya, it did not feel like the Holidays. It's HOT outside, there's never any turkey, and we don't set up a tree but I wouldn't give up that Thai Thanksgiving for anything in the world! :)

Next holiday?

Christmas in India...stay tuned!

-Blonde in Bangkok

Thai Flood Diary: Episode 2

Finally, my internet has cooperated long enough for me to upload my second video blog! I visited a local Sukhumvit market to see how they were being affected by these terrible floods...

-Blonde in Bangkok

Loy Krathong in Flooded Bangkok. Ironic?

Loy Krathong is a holiday celebrated in November annually here in Thailand. It's a time to give thanks and apologize to the Water Gods. You float a Krathong in the river (or khlong) and make a wish as you do. This year, I've heard something new about Krathongs. I made paper ones with my students today and a Thai teacher told us to place 1 baht on our Krathong as well as a piece of our hair so the Water Gods know that the Krathong is yours. These weren't proper Thai Krathongs but since the area is flooded it seemed that only a toned down celebration was in order.

I had terrible luck last year for Loy Krathong. My Krathong tipped over immediately after I placed it in the water! That could not have been good luck!!! This year, my paper Krathong floated nicely into the kids' swimming pool and I made quite the wish....let's hope it comes true!

Happy Loy Krathong. Think about Thailand today and wish this country and it's beautiful people good luck in this difficult time.

(I also found this photo well suited for this holiday and situation here in Thailand.)

Until next time...
-Blonde in Bangkok

The Erawan Shrine: Tiring??

Just found this photo I took on one of my many trips to the Erawan Shrine. It's a beautiful, very famous, Hindu shrine in Bangkok near the Chit Lom BTS stop. This guy must have found the shrine too overwhelming on this day. Did he fall asleep after taking only one shoe off?? Just another day in Bangkok, I guess...

-Blonde in Bangkok