Ten Foot Square Asia

A visit to a country’s museums should be part and parcel of any trip or tour in another country. A museum trip is a great way of discovering and learning about the history and culture of a country. It offers a very concise glimpse into the country and what makes it unique.

Thailand boasts of a number of museums that have very diverse specializations. There are some that focus on the monarchy, some deal with the vast cultural minorities that can be found in the country. From the serious to the bizarre (a museum on notorious murderers!), Thailand offers a wealth of museums that you will surely enjoy whatever your persuasions and interests are.

The most important museum and one you should never forget to visit is the Bangkok National Museum. This museum gives the most representative view of the history of Thailand. The museum, which was accorded its distinction as a national museum in 1887, is divided into many different sections with each one dealing with a particular aspect of Thailand’s history or culture. In fact, there are parts in the museum that tackle the very interesting topic of the country’s prehistory like the Lanna, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya periods. It should be noted though that each province in the country has its own National Museum that deals with that area’s cultural past. One would be hard pressed to stay in the museum for just a short time because there is just so many things to see.

Thailand was also a significant stage during the Asia-Pacific battles in World War II. Two museums cum memorials can be visited that will offer people a glimpse into the horrors of war.

The Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum commemorates the almost 700 soldiers – prisoners of war who were forced to work on what was dubbed as the Death Railway. These soldiers were forced to work digging and clearing an area that was supposed to be the passage for a railway that will connect Bangkok to Rangoon. Most of the soldiers who died here were Australian and British. Visitors will walk a trail that follows the railway track. The museum carries pictures and tools that were used in the area. There are also video presentations that give visitors a clearer picture of the events that took place there. Visitors who have relatives who either died or survived being imprisoned here say that the experience is quite heart wrenching. This place has a significant importance to Australians because of the large number of Aussie soldiers who died here.

A similar memorial is the JEATH (Japan, England, Australia, Thailand and Holland) War Museum. Built in 1977, the museum was built in the style of the huts in which the prisoners of war were incarcerated. The museum carries pictures as well as the bunks of the soldiers. Going through the museum gives visitors a clear idea of how squalid and cramped these prisoners were. Prisoners of war who survived the incarceration have donated their own personal belongings in order to help give the museum a higher degree of authenticity.

Thailand is a beautiful country and a delight to visit. There are just so many things that a tourist can do in Thailand that one will be hard pressed how to squeeze in all of the fun activities in the time that will be spent there. Take it from other tourists, there is never enough time to really enjoy what Thailand has to offer.

Of course, just like in any other country that you will visit, not everything is ideal or perfect. There are some things that should just be avoided in order to ensure that you will have the best vacation possible in Thailand without the attendant headaches of wrong decisions and bad situations.

Below are some things that you should be conscious to avoid when visiting Thailand.

Ask locals or the hotels which streets or areas to avoid. Bangkok is a safe place to visit but, just like in any other country, there are some areas that should be avoided because there might be shady elements in the area or if there is a common occurrence of crime. Nothing can dampen a vacation stronger than being a victim of a crime in another country.

Another thing that should be avoided is eating in stalls and eateries with questionable hygiene and preparation practices. The food in the stalls of Bangkok are generally prepared well and safe. But if you want to err in the side of caution then just avoid eating in street stalls altogether. You necessarily will not miss out on a lot because you can still order most of those dishes prepared on the street in traditional Thai restaurants. Additionally, try not to drink water from the tap as it can cause you to have a bum stomach. Who would want to have a vacation where you can’t even go farther than ten feet from the toilet?

Drugs or any kind of involvement in drug related matters should be avoided at all costs. Thailand may be located near the Golden Triangle, a notorious area where most illegal drugs are made but this does not mean the government of Thailand will tolerate any kind of drug offenses. In fact Thailand has very stiff penalties for drug related offenses. So if you want a trouble free vacation just say no to drugs.

Try to avoid staying in hotels that have dubious reputations. As a responsible tourist you should do your research even before you leave the country. Try to find out the best places to stay in. Even budget hotels should have standards. The most effective thing you can do to ruin your vacation is to book at a hotel that has crappy service and obvious security issues.

If you are against prostitution or averse to anything that has to do with sex or the flesh trade then do not even think of going to the red light district in Thailand. For most people the red light district is already a part of getting an authentic Thailand trip but if you’ll be uncomfortable with this then it will be better to just skip this particular attraction in Thailand.

Do as the Romans do says the popular saying. This is actually quite true. When you visit another country, you cannot be the boorish tourist who just goes and does what he does without really giving a second thought to the traditions and etiquettes that should be followed in another country. A responsible and culturally sensitive tourist will follow the established cultural rules and etiquette of the country he visits.

Asia has very strict and staid rules on etiquette. This is mainly because most of these rules are based not only on their culture but also on their religion. The people of Thailand follow very strict rules on etiquette that revolve around culture, religion and their love for the monarchy. These rules should be strictly followed in order to avoid any kind of social embarrassment or risk offending the locals or your hosts.

• Be very respectful of the King of Thailand and the Royal Family. The Thais revere the Royal Family very much so much so that any kind of aside that is seen as negative, even making a passing joke about them, is not only seen as extremely rude you can even end up in jail. The reverence also extends to places where the King is shown. For example, when you are in a cinema and a film on the King comes on. You will have to stand up until it is finished. Also, if you drop some money, do not ever step on it with your feet before picking it up. The picture of the King is in their national currency so it is highly offensive to put your feet (which they consider as the dirtiest part of the body) on the depiction of the King.
• The Thais put their head in high reverence because they believe that this is where the soul resides, also known as the Khwan. This means that you should not touch the head of another person. This also includes ruffling the hair of children. Additionally, you should not pass any object on top of a person’s head as this is also seen as very rude.
• If the head is the most important and most highly revered part of the body, then the feet is seen as the least important and dirtiest part. For this reason, nothing can be ruder than pointing at something with your feet.
• If you are in the country for a business meeting it is okay to give a gift to your business counterparts. A bottle of premium liquor is highly appreciated.
• When visiting temples always remember to remove your shoes. This also extends to approaching statues of the Buddha. It does not matter if the statue is in the open air, you will still have to remove your shoes.
• Removing shoes also extends to the home. Always remove your shoes when entering a home. Thais who live in the city are more understanding if you forget about this particular rule of etiquette but if you are in the rural areas of Thailand always remember to remove your shoes because a mistake will be less understood by the rural locals and this means that they will be highly offended even if it was just a mistake.

Travelling for the first time to another country is one of the most exciting experiences a person can have. There is an air of anticipation not just for the vacation or trip but also for the fact that you do not know what will be in store for you when you do get into the country.

Thailand offers many attractions for tourists. There are historical sites that should be visited, and nature attractions that have to seen to be believed. Whatever your interests are, you will most probably be able to experience it in Thailand. Usually when visiting a new country, the preference of the tourist will always take precedence. If you are the type who are into the tourist traps or the other well known sites and landmarks in Thailand then that’s where you would most probably go when you go on your vacation.

There are also tourists who bring their spirit of adventure with them and would look for places and attractions that are off the beaten path, sites that are not as frequented by tourists, and attractions that are more an extension of what they would usually do at home, only in a completely different environment. A big majority of tourists or visitors to other countries though would usually go with safer and more mainstream options, and that would be to go and visit the popular tourist spots and do the usual activities tourists would go for in Thailand.

If this is your first time to visit in Thailand then you should know the most popular tourist sites that you should include in your itinerary. Below are some of the spots you should not miss:

The Grand Palace – One of the most popular buildings in all of Thailand is the Grand Palace located about three hours away from Bangkok. This architectural masterpiece is widely considered as one of the wonders of the world in the present day. Your visit will not be complete without seeing the enormous complex that is a perfect example of the artistry and architectural adeptness of the Ayuthaya period craftsmen. The Grand Palace was were the Royal Family used to stay.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha – Located in one of the courts of the Grand Palace is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew. The temple is best described as a gilded stupas that gives the illusion or feeling that it is levitating above ground. Be prepared to actually look for the Buddha though as it is only 26 inches (66 cm) tall and is located so far above the worshippers that you might actually overlook it.

The Temple of The Reclining Buddha – this temple has become synonymous with Thailand, to a point that an image of a reclining Buddha would most certainly unconsciously set off images of Thailand. The temple is the largest “wat” in Bangkok and is also considered as the oldest. The temple holds two distinctions – having the largest reclining Buddha in the country, and also having the most number of Buddha statues in one temple.

Phuket – a trip to Thailand will never be complete without visiting the world famous beaches in Phuket. The island of Phuket is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and despite the tsunami that hit the area two years ago, the place has managed to rebound is now open to visitors. You should stay for at least three days to fully enjoy the natural beauty of Phuket as well as the different activities it has to offer.

Thailand is one of the few countries in Asia where homosexuals and lesbians can be open about their sexual preference and not worry about hiding it. In fact, Thailand has a very unique, if not peculiar, way of establishing the rules of sexuality and sexual conduct especially in a country that is predominantly Buddhist. As one description succinctly says, in the West you can say anything but not do anything about it, but in Thailand you can do anything as long as you do not talk about it. This is a mind scratching conundrum especially for Westerners but it works effectively in the context of Thai social life.

In Thailand, modesty and freedom are interwoven in quite a strange way. For example, most tourists from the west are surprised by the modesty of the Thais especially in terms of nudity. They are averse to showering naked in gym showers, and would even change their clothes under cover of a towel. The modesty also extends to the bedroom. One traveler commented that his lover went to bed without removing his clothes. But modesty does not mean inhibition either. When the boundaries or intentions have been established, the Thais can be quite uninhibited.

This psychological and cultural idiosyncrasies are what is in play when you travel and go to places that are oriented towards the gay traveler.

There are the cabarets that showcase transvestites (or gender impersonators) strutting their stuff on stage. The transsexuals in Thailand are quite world famous for being very beautiful. There are even comments that they are more beautiful than real women.
Of course, the red light district also caters to gay travelers. There are a number of gay bars that dot the red light district of Patpong as well as the two other districts in the country. Here, one can interact with other travelers while also having the opportunity to meet up and hook up with Thais of a similar orientation.

There are number of online sites and companies that are actually catering to gay travelers to Thailand. These companies make itineraries and identify the gay friendly places in Thailand that travelers can go to when they visit the country. This is a great service as it leaves the guesswork out of trying to find out the gay friendly establishments in the country, making the whole trip so much more enjoyable.

The previously mentioned cultural idiosyncrasies also play to the advantage of gay travelers in a number of ways. When out in public and your lover holds your hand, it is actually more accepted, unlike in a western country. Another thing is that you can ask a man to give you massage and no one will really care.

With the influx of gay tourists to Thailand, a number of establishments have opened to cater to a mostly gay clientele. From hotels to cafes to nightclubs and bars, a growing number of establishments are now being advertised that really give gay travelers a wonderful vacation time in Thailand.