Many people have Thailand as one of their "one day" places. As in, "one day I'd like to visit Thailand" or "one day I'd like to ride an elephant in Thailand".
However, for most these dreams are realistic and even today, many people can say that they've actually been to Thailand.
Thailand is a small country in south Asia, near other small countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It's largest and most popular city is Bangkok and as of right now, it's one of the top tourist cities in the world. It's no surprise - they have more shops, more sightseeing, more people, more expensive restaurants, more class and relaxation than you could ever ask for a vacation getaway.
But to me, these tourists are missing the point.
They planned to "one day visit Thailand" but never actually got to see the real thing.
Real Thailand lies in the countryside, where there are often no spas and no trendy restaurants. It's where you can see the culture, the language, the way of life before extreme urbanization, where you can eat real ethnic foods prepared by someone who is a descendant from a hill tribe and who fishes in the Me Kong River.
I got the chance to visit Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Thailand last summer. These two cities are on the northern most part of Thailand (Bangkok is in the center).
Sure, it's a bit poor, and there isn't proper plumbing in most places but this place allowed you to see what Thailand looks like. It's miles and miles of lush green, some of the most beautiful scenes to take in. Mountains are everywhere, all part of the fun of driving through it.
Take a glance at the Me Kong River and you'll know what I'm talking about. It's one of the most richest in biodiversity and home to so many endangered animals.
Just think - you're looking at one of the largest geologists/biologists treasure troves! This beats going to any aquarium.
Lastly, in these smaller cities, you will have to learn to rely on the people. Since it would be complete hell to travel across four mountains to get to the place you want, you would have to hitch a ride on the back of a rickshaw or hang on to the back of a beat up old Toyota to get you where you want. These actions involve communication.
At first you're probably thinking, what? I don't know Thai! That may be the case but don't turn back from traveling to the Thai countryside. The people here are so warm and so generous that if they even see that you need a ride, they'd probably pick you up, feed you, cloth you, and share some songs with you.
That’s how they treated me after seeing that I was a confused tourist.
So what to do here in Chiang Rai/Mai? It's obvious and you can see it in the peoples' eyes that this city is broken. It's filled with hurt and has a history of drug smuggling and violence.
There is so much that one tourist can do! Orphanages and schools are plentiful here and with the arrival of a tourist, I guarantee that the natives would let you lead. A small school saw me lingering around the school grounds and immediately invited me in and asked me if I would teach English (even though they were just struggling to ask!) I worked at an orphanage for a few weeks and what I learned in those days are more than I can ever learn from sitting at school, doing my daily routine.
It might not be your dream getaway and sure you might not be pampered but there is so much hope, so much change that you can bring to these cities.
You could turn your vacation to a memory that would last a lifetime. You could use your extra cash to help so many. This vacation doesn’t have to benefit only you. You have the opportunity to benefit an entire city.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that, yes, it's awesome that you're considering (or not considering) Thailand! Just try to look past the tourist attractions and what you dream have, and think about a difference you can make.
Think about how much you can learn, see, and do for a foreign city. Your vacation could turn into more than just a vacation. It could change the lives of everyone around you, including yourself.
When you visit a country do you visit the “real” people or the tourist parts of the country? Have you ever visited or thought about visiting Thailand? What was your experience like?
Comments (21)
Chiang Mai is a pretty big province and its center is probably the 2nd or 3d largest residential city in Thailand (not counting all the tourists-filled places like Pattaya).
It's actually really developed and, in my opinion, has trendier lounges than Bangkok b/c of all the foreigners that live there.
i love it though, it's not as crowded as BKK, not too hot and not too cold...probably why a lot of foreigners love it too
but yes, a large area of it is undeveloped...and a lot of fun
I've been to Thailand, but only to the two big tourist attractions, Phuket and Bangkok. Traveling your way might be more eye-opening but it's also more dangerous...
Hmmm...Thailand, overall has become a melting pot of different cultures. Take the city of Bangkok for example: there are many non-Thais that live, work and/or go to school there.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai aren't as bombarded with tourists, but they do have great resorts. These two cities probably appeal more towards those that are looking for nature adventures.
The north has a lot of mosquitos. That could be a reason why tourists that have heard about Chiang Mai choose to stay away from the city and areas surrounding it.
In regards to language being a barrier, I am sure that reliable tour guides/companies exist for the Chiang Mai/Rai area.
Hilltribes, like you mentioned exist. The majority of them are Thai by nationality but not Thai in terms of ethnicity. There's Hmong, Lisu, Akha, Yao, Karen, Lawa, Mien and other groups that I can't think of at the moment.
The culture of the north is one aspect of Thailand. Tourists should visit all regions (north, northeast, central and south) of Thailand, since every region has something different to offer. There are places in central Thailand that aren't as modernized as Bangkok and/or have been minimally visited by foreigners. These places are probably a bit hard to get to via government transportation. It can also be frustrating if you're not with a Thai person and are limited in the Thai language.
In the end, it really has to do with what the tourist/visitor is looking for. If he/she desires comfort, he/she will probably choose to stick to modernized areas of the country. It also has a lot to do with safety. For someone that is new to Thailand, as well as any other country, it is usually always best to value one's safety on top of an eye opening experience. (I agree with the last remark of the previous comment.) Paying an extra fee to be led by a reliable tour guide/bus/company is probably a good idea for those that value safety, yet want a bit of that eye opening experience.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the less modernized aspect of Thailand. :) I'm also happy to hear that people treated you well while you were there.
Traveling teachings you so much about yourself and about the world. You realize the things you use to make a big fuss about are so insignificant in the scope of the world. And many times, it's traveling through third world countries that open your eyes and your heart.
I agree with hitting the tourist attractions. Many are westernized to rake in money. The authenticity of a country is in the road less traveled. And it's always a beautiful one.
Personally, I like to get down with the nitty gritty. That's the realest way to travel.
i'm thai so i've been to the non-tourist and tourist-y places in thailand. but no matter where i am or what i do, i just love everything about thailand. seeing the small details and the huge developments are mind blowing. it's wonderful. i'm glad that you are exploring other places. i usually take the bus or train to other parts of the country. just remember caution. not all people are good no matter how much you want them all to be. and northern thailand is in some places very modernized. you should try east thailand. it's very rural and there are many hidden treasures.
I'd love to go.
IT really does look pretty!
-SgMl
That's true.. most people go places just to see the sites, not how the culture is. Props to you for helping others while on your vacation.
I think most people go to Thailand for the young prostitutes. I'm not even kidding.
One day I'd love to go. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the less touristy places. So far I have only been to Mexico and that was in Cancun. I loved it there but I'd like to see more than what they want tourists to see. but you know, for now, I think I need to focus on the tourist spots and come back to the places no one has heard of when I have more time (and money) to really learn about the place I am visiting.
I've been! And I love Thailand! And I actually was only in Bangkok when arriving and departing from the airport. But then again I have family that live down there and they're not wealthy and live in Patteya (sp?). And they showed us everything. We visited the tropics the beautiful islands, and temples and just got to know the real people pf Thailand, not the Asian industrialized version of LA or something. It was a once and a lifetime thing, and yes I rode elephants and chilled with monkeys ahahaha. Yay for being half Asian and getting to experience stuff like that. Laos is beautiful(even more so. I think anyway.).
Well I will be visiting Thailand at some point, so I'll make sure to see it all :). My future husband is half Laotian and half Thai, we will be visiting both countries before the actual marriage thing. The way you described it though seems so beautiful. :) Now I can't wait.
Great post!
I live in Thailand, in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok. It is an amazingly beautiful province, miles above and beyond Bangkok. The amazing mountain ranges, fun waterfalls, and (in some areas) mixture of Thai, Burmese, Karen, and Mon cultures... make for a great place to visit. I've been up in the North, also... Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Sai, Mae Salong... wonderfully beautiful, and again, miles above and beyond Bangkok.
Thanks for shining a spotlight on beautiful Thailand, the real Thailand!
i'll go there someday
I agree that you can't just go to the cities that cater to tourists because you don't experience the culture that way. That's what I look for in a vacation. If I wanted a massage and a beach I could just stay in the US.
i agree with you one hundred percent! i actually grew up in thailand in a small village called baan nan noon in the nan province and then i lived in chiang rai for two years. i have always found it sad that so many people miss out on what the country actually has to offer! while bangkok and chiang mai offer lots of things to do, they don't portray the country for what it really is. chiang rai is a wonderful place to visit for people who are not as outdoorsy, there are still lots of things to do outdoors but you are close enough to modern amenities so foreigners don't feel uncomfortable. if you are more into hiking and going on treks, the city of nan in the nan province is fantastic! another awesome thing is that most thais learn english in school, so you are never far away from someone who can communicate a little. also, one thing i definietly recomend doing while in chaing rai is going out a boat tour on the mekong river! its awesome!
When I went to Thailand, I stayed in Phon Pisai, which was closer to Laos. And it was so beautiful. I totally agree..
So true about visiting the "reals" of a country. When I l etched a month of Thailand into my itinerary, I tried to have tie in a bit of both. Some of the tourist strips, as well as the untraveled paths.
I definitely know what you mean by saying Chiang Mai was "broken". But I still had a good time there. (I would have liked it more, if the person I was traveling with didn't get food poisoning!!!!). In the mornings I visited the Wats, paid a tuktuk guy to drive around in widening circles throughout the city.
I forget the name of the temple I visited, but it was way up on a mountain top (not Tigerpaw, but that was one hell of a climb in Krabi). Simply beautiful. You could even see it at night, glowing high in the sky in the distance.
From Chiang Mai I visited Pai up in the mountains. Such a great laid back place.
And you're right about speaking Thai. Everyone was so amazingly hospitable it didn't matter. I made it a point to learn hello/goodbye/thankyou, which seemed to be extremely well recieved.
Bugs me when people go to another country and expect them to cater to english.
I'm rambling....
Happens when I talk about Thailand. I loved it!!!
Awesome post!
I'm going to Thailand next April for Songkran. I'm planning to visit some places in Thailand too. But you know, I'm Vietnamese and living in Vietnam. I see the countrysides in the Southern of VN and the ones in Thailand are pretty close to eachother, so I thought about skipping those places. But after I read this entry of yours, I think I should pay Thailand a proper tour more than what I've planned :)
Thanks!
And Happy New Year :)
I live in Chiang Mai thailand during my summers for the past 7 years but previous to that i spent my summers in Chiang Rai. I adore Chiang Mai so much more but i do love bangkok also but Chiang Mai is number 1 in my heart. Im glad you had fun in the north!