By: Bill Pyle
During my 3 week stay in Thailand I was pleased to have
visited many areas of the country. First, anyone that wants
to feel warm and fuzzy and accepted needs to visit
Thailand. The people are beyond compare. Always
warm and welcoming.
I traveled from just south of Bangkok to the northern most
tip in Chiang Sean at the Golden Triangle and many
spots in between.
Bangkok is everything I have heard of and more. Yes, it is
crowded and yes the air is thick. Traffic is not to be belived
until you actually sit at a traffic light for 45 minutes in a Tuk Tuk.
Yet, everyone gets along. Although very crowded people are
easy going. All taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers were pleasant and
eager to help us with our destination. Not one time did a
driver attempt to rip us off for being tourists.
I get to see the magnificent Grand Palace, although some
communication problems getting there created a chuckle
(we got into the taxi and asked the driver to take us to the
Grand Palace, he said no problem and drove away. About an
hour later we arrived in China Town at the Grand Palace
Hotel -- 20 minutes later we arrived at the real Grand
Palace).
The Palace is wonderful, full of royalty and history.
Beautiful architecture. A must for everyone to see at
least once in their life.
I spent Christmas day on the River Kwai, visited the JEATH war
museum. I was stunned by the conditions the people lived in to
build this bridge and the hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
The floating hotel we stayed in had no electric which made
morning showers a real eye opener. We also got to see
the local hill tribe people -- very adaptive people for sure.
New years was spent in Chiang Sean overlooking Thailand,
Laos and Myranamar. While the Bon Boran hotel was great,
the people made it greater. We visited many Temples and the
Karen Hill Tribes (the ladies with the rings around their necks).
Surprisingly I met a Karen lady that spoke fairly good English.
She said that if she had a daughter she would not force the
rings on her.
Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, Bangkok, Chiang Sean -- always the
same -- people of graciousness that I have never experienced
before. No matter how hectic or relaxed I always felt warm
and welcomed.
Shopping:
Of course one cannot go to Thailand and not SHOP. We shopped
everywhere we went. Seemingly endless days of shopping. On
the streets, side roads, malls and even in the hotels. We
shopped and shopped. I actually had to buy another suitcase
to bring everything back. One problem is that yesterday I had
to go grocery shopping.
At check out, I felt compelled to bargain down the prices and
then was in shock with the price tag for everything. A true
Reality Check.
Some of the funniest things were the 4 story KFC, Burger King
with real silverware and real glass, the warnings about not
walking on the grass at night due to Cobra's and how valuable
hands signs can be when trying to find something from a taxi
(you know, like pointing right or left and the panicky
STOP, STOP signs).
All in all I am still honored to have been a visitor in Thailand. I
simply cannot speak well enough of the people.
The people of Thailand make the LONG air flights (about 28
hours) all worthwhile.
I hope to be blessed by relocating to Thailand in my future, but
if not, I will forever remember the Thai people with the warmest
of thoughts.
Bill
Sunday, 13 Jan 2002
ST. THOMAS
By Bill Pyle
MORE THAILAND TRAVEL
By: Jack Ellis
PANAMA
By: International Living
