Land Of Smiles: ' Thailand '

Thailand is always welcoming, despite receiving hordes of tourists all year-round. Thailand’s majestic temples pull you in, and you can’t help but be drawn to the history of it all. Thailand’s pristine and turquoise waters are magical, warm and incredibly photogenic which add the perfect touch to a dream holiday.

Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Thailand is in the dry season. From November to April, temperatures are cooler and you can expect picture-perfect days for outdoor activities.

The only downside is that it’s also Thailand’s peak tourist season. Flights and accommodation prices increase and the beaches on Phuket and Krabi will be full of people.

If you want to avoid the crowds, plan your trip to Thailand between May and October. While you will have to contend with short-lived rainstorms, you’ll be rewarded with cheaper flights and lower hotel rates.

Language: The official language in Thailand is Thai.

Currency: The currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht . 1 USD is equivalent to about 31.32 THB.

Credit Cards and ATMs: In Thailand’s main cities like Bangkok and Phuket, you won’t have a problem finding ATMs and most businesses will accept credit cards as a form of payment. However, if you’re planning to go shopping at the local markets, you’ll need cash to pay for your purchases.

Plugs: The plugs in Thailand are type A, B C. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 60Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hair dryers and hot tools.

Safety: I consider Thailand to be one of the safest destinations for solo female travelers. While you still need to be aware of your surroundings, petty theft and tourist scams are usually the biggest things you need to watch out for.

Thai Food

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit intimidated by the offerings of street vendors upon arriving in Thailand. Why is that rice purple? What’s inside that banana leaf? How do I eat a whole fish on a stick?

Is that a fried cockroach?!

Fortunately,I had my lovely friend,Pratik, to show me the ropes while traveling through Thailand- educating me on the spicy, sour, sweet and strange eats that lay before me.

While cuisine varies throughout the different regions of Thailand, this guide will provide first-time travelers to Thailand some insight into Thai street food culture.

Thai street food is cheap cheap cheap! Even street vendors that get a lot of tourist traffic typically won’t charge more than 30-60 baht ($1-2 USD) for their offerings.

If you venture into a truly Thai market void of tourists, you can eat like a king for just a few dollars. Eating from street vendors helped me manage a budget of $20 a day in Thailand!

If you LOVE spicy food, like yours truly, be warned that “Thai spicy” is an entirely different level of HOT. I went to a locals’ spot and ordered as the locals do

Speaking of chile sauce, Thai food culture is all about customization. On the makeshift tables of street vendors, you’ll notice a caddy of four condiment jars filled with some interesting concoctions.

Typically, you’ll find jars of sugar, fish sauce, a chili/garlic/vinegar sauce and dried chile flakes. You can also request Nam Pla Prik which is a fish sauce with chiles, garlic and lime—and it’s the bomb.com.

Some Thai food can also be REALLY sweet. Like stomach-ache sweet.

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck! Thai desserts can be found in every color and shape imaginable, but you might not immediately recognize them as sweets.

Thai marzipan is made from mung beans and is sculpted and painted to look like little glossy fruits and vegetables.

Sticky rice is covered in coconut milk and served with fresh slices of mango. And rice is topped with a sweet custard and served up like a little present inside a banana leaf.

Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles,” but I also like to think of it as “The Land of Spoons.” There are a few things to know about Thai eating etiquette.

Do you have a favorite Thai dish?