What could be unusual in Thailand if it is traveled far and wide by tourists, bloggers and journalists? Anyone who has been interested in the country already knows that the country is ruled by a King, Thais love to smile, and even that the monarch of Thailand has American citizenship. But no! You don't know everything...
Never! Listen, never think of leaving the house without underwear in the Land of Smiles. Why? This is one of the taboos that exists in Thailand, and breaking it is punishable by law. If you didn’t intend to anyway, read our selection of facts about the Kingdom - and then you will avoid trouble or, at least, be known as an erudite. It's also useful!
No surnames
Before 1913, Thais only had names. And even now in school, court, and official presentations, surnames are not used. The name is preceded by the prefix Khun, no matter whether it is masculine or feminine.
Photo: Shutterstock 2 King Almighty
He is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving monarch. It is everywhere: on baht, on stamps, on posters, on houses... In Britain, Norway, Denmark there is also a monarchy, but in Thailand it is not symbolic and for disrespectful attitude towards Bhumibol Adulyadej (for example, for an abusive post on Facebook) they can plant There was a case when a Thai almost went to jail for insulting the King’s dog.
Photo: Shutterstock 3 Don't throw things
In Thailand, you are prohibited from throwing objects at a person, regardless of whether it is your friend, a passer-by, or someone else. Find the time and energy to pass a pen, sock or suitcase from hand to hand. Ask how Thais play volleyball and the bride throws a bouquet into the crowd? We don't know this. But we know for sure that such a gesture is understood as an insult.
Photo: Shutterstock So that your legs are gone
Putting your feet on a table, chair, or sitting cross-legged so that your feet are visible to your interlocutor is an extremely rude act in Thailand. Even while sitting on the ground, you should not show your dirty feet.
Photo: Shutterstock 5 Fork spoon
Thais, like most peoples, eat with a spoon and fork. But they use these items in an unusual way. Holding the fork in the left and the spoon in the right, for example, put rice on the spoon with a fork and only then bring it to the mouth. Or another option - use a fork to direct food onto a spoon while still on the plate. The main thing is that both hands are busy.
Photo: Shutterstock 6 Elephants instead of Santa
Animals with red caps and beards bring gifts to Thai children for the New Year. We especially honor this holiday, and if in Russia in the evening they watch “Blue Light” or “The Irony of Fate”, and in the USA - “It’s a Wonderful Life”, then in Thailand there is an elephant show. Even everyone well-known tradition According to one version, the Thais spied on dousing with water from proboscideans.
Photo: Shutterstock 7 Unlucky Wednesday
For a long time in Thailand, neither hairdressers, nor massage parlors, nor dentists were open on Wednesdays... This day was considered unlucky, especially for such important procedures. But everything changed when the Kingdom became a tourist mecca.
Photo: Shutterstock 8 Finish your rice
Never leave rice on your plate, even if you can't see it. This is considered a terrible waste - just as in Slavic cultures it is not customary to throw away bread. Moreover, the Thais take their tradition extremely seriously. If the last spoon does not fit into your throat, ask to wrap it with you or share it with a neighbor. Just explain why!
Photo: Shutterstock 9 Thai keyboard
In the local keyboard, there are two Thai keys for every English key. Thailand's alphabet is the second largest in the world: it is second only to Khmer, and has 76 letters.
Photo: Shutterstock 10 Ladyboys imported
Those who make the Land of Smiles famous are either visitors or people from remote provinces of Thailand.
Photo: Shutterstock 11 City of Angels, but not Los Angeles
Bangkok has the longest name in the world. It reads in full like this: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintarayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Nopparat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Avatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Vitsanukam Prasit. The first two words - “Krung Thep” - mean “City of Angels”: on behalf of the village that was once here. Therefore, do not be surprised if they tell you that the City of Angels is not in America!
Photo: Shutterstock 12 About the anthem
In 1939, the author of the work, Prime Minister Phibunsongram Luang Saranupraran, decreed that the anthem would be played daily at 8:00 and 18:00. That same year, another law was introduced, according to which anyone who does not stand during the playing of the national anthem will violate the Constitution. Both decrees are still in force, but so far no one has been arrested for not standing up.
Photo: Shutterstock Each Thai - according to his personal spirit
All Thais have their own spirit, which is called Khuan. According to legend, he lives in the head. Therefore, under no circumstances should you touch this part of the body - the Thai will be offended for disrespecting his personal deity. Only a mother, a doctor or a monk can touch the head.
Photo: Shutterstock Thais, accustomed to tourists, will forgive you a lot. But still, show respect for local traditions and be inspired by Thailand!
The cost of travel to Thailand has made it one of the most popular countries for expats to travel to and live in.
The combination of a culture understandable to Russian people, gourmet cuisine, beautiful beaches and good prices has made Thailand a global destination for millions of tourists and downshifters, including Russian tourists. Although some areas of the country have already seen crowds of foreigners, there are still many places that are not associated with the well-known tourist routes, and therefore are rarely visited by tourists. As you might expect, the cost of living in popular places in Thailand is higher than in the center of the country.
How much does a flight to Thailand cost:
The currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB), due to the unstable exchange rate of the ruble we will convert everything into dollars, 1 USD is equal to approximately 30 baht.
Cost of living in Thailand. Accommodation in Thailand
Depending on the capabilities of the tourist, Thailand also has a huge selection of accommodation options and price categories. Accommodation in Thailand can be either super-cheap or super-chic and expensive. Below are examples of the cost of living in Thailand:
- Bed: 100 – 200 baht ($3.31 – $6.62)
- Double rooms with fans: almost all over the country cost 200 – 300 baht ($6.62 – $9.93)
- Double rooms with air conditioning: usually in the range of 300 – 500 baht ($9.93 – $16.55)
- The next level includes hotel accommodations with air conditioning, refrigerator, and sometimes a safe: 600 – 1000 baht ($19.87 – $33.11) per night for a double room
- More comfortable hotels: a very good hotel room - 2000 baht ($66.23) per night.
As you can see, life in Thailand can be very inexpensive, and if you go for a long time, then everything will be much cheaper. We met Russians living in Thailand; they rent apartments and villas for very small sums.
Cost of living in Thailand. Cost of food in Thailand
Thailand welcomes food lovers with open arms. Food throughout Thailand is very affordable, healthy and always fresh.
Street Food
For a dish cooked on the street, consisting of rice, vegetables, and a small amount of meat on one plate (more about Thai cuisine), you will have to pay from 30 - 50 baht ($1 - $1.66)
You can also buy more expensive dishes on the street, such as whole fried fish, for 60 - 200 baht ($2 - $6.62).
Restaurants in Thailand
- Dinner at an air-conditioned indoor Thai restaurant costs 100 – 200 baht ($3.31 – $6.62) per person.
- Dinner at a Japanese sushi buffet or other fine restaurant: 300 – 400 baht ($9.94 – $16.56)
Bangkok is a mixture of different cuisines from around the world; and restaurants serving dishes from all over the world can be found throughout the city.
Cost of living in Thailand. Drinks, drinking in Thailand
1.5 liter bottle of water: 13 baht ($0.43)
- Most cheap way to get drunk in Thailand - buy alcohol at 7/11 (7Eleven) or another store.
- Large bottle of local beer costs: 40 – 60 baht ($1.32 – $1.98)
- 1 liter of whiskey: 150 – 400 baht ($4.96 – $13.22)
- The cost of drinking in bars in Thailand: 100 THB for a beer ($3.31), about 100 – 200 baht ($3.31 – $6.61) for a small bucket of whiskey and soda (the so-called bucket in Thailand). In some clubs in Bangkok, prices are several times higher.
Cost of living in Thailand. Transport in Thailand
Bangkok
- Taxis are plentiful in all areas of Bangkok - fares start from 30 baht ($1). Traveling through the center of Bangkok will not cost more than 150 baht ($4.97)
- BTS/MRT: BTS is an elevated train and MRT (metro) is an underground train. The lines are not too long, although they cover the entire center of Bangkok. The fare costs from 20 – 40 baht ($0.66 – $1.32) per trip depending on the distance. The buses are quite easy to use and routes cover all over Bangkok. Fares range from 6.50 – 20 baht ($0.22 – $0.66) depending on the route. If you plan to take the bus, I would recommend purchasing a bus route map before doing so.
- Tuk-Tuks: Many tourists like to take a tuk-tuk for the thrill, but taxis are usually cheaper if you're really good at haggling - upwards of 30 baht ($1) per ride. Motorcycle taxi: used for short distances -10 – 20 baht ($0.33 – $0.66) per trip.
- Outside Bangkok. There are many options for traveling around the country of Thailand. Buses are easy and accessible view transport. Motorbikes can be rented throughout Thailand for around 200 baht ($6.62) per day, but be careful as scooter accidents are very common.
Bus
- VIP from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (10 hours): 700 baht ($23.14)
- Regular bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (10 hours): 350 baht ($11.57)
- VIP from Bangkok to Krabi (12 hours): 800 baht ($26.46)
- Regular bus to Krabi (12 hours): 350 baht ($11.57)
- Local bus to Aranyaprathet (4 hours to Cambodian border): 200 baht ($6.62)
Train
- 1st class slip train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (12 hours): 1200 baht ($39.66) with own bed and air conditioning
- 3rd class to Chiang Mai (12 hours): about 250 baht ($8.26)
Airplane
- Asian Airlines offer very competitive prices on budget flights.
- We have previously written about life in Krabi and Ao Nang.
Cost of living in Thailand. Cost of sightseeing in Thailand
- Grand Palace in Bangkok entrance: 250 baht ($8.27)
- Bangkok snake farm: 200 baht ($6.61)
- Thai cooking course: 1200 baht ($39.67) per day
- Tha pom khlong son nam natural Park to Krabi: 50 baht ($1.65)
- Tiger Temple Kanchanaburi (PET Tigers): 400 baht ($13.23)
- Thai massage: 200 baht ($6.62) per hour Description of my trip to the Krabi Tiger Temple.
Cost of living in Thailand. Total travel costs to Thailand
Thailand is not as cheap as some other neighboring destinations in South-East Asia. However, if you do not go to a tourist place, the cost of a trip to Thailand will be very cheap. And if you stay in Thailand, the biggest expense is the flight; everything else is available and cheap. In general, life in Thailand can be much higher in level than in Russia, especially if there is a business in Russia that generates a stable income. Working in Thailand is highly discouraged: in addition to very low salaries, foreigners are prohibited from working in most professions. And being an illegal immigrant is even worse.
Read the latest articles on my blog .
What is happiness and where is it hidden? To answer this question, come to. You will be amazed constantly smiling thai people. It seems that they all feel quite satisfied with life and completely happy. Despite the fact that the huge difference in the property status of the country’s residents is immediately apparent. Thais in Thailand live either fabulously rich or completely poor - there is practically no middle class.
But despite all this, one gets the feeling that the poorest Thais in the country feel calmer and happier than the wealthy. They have practically no material wealth, but they have learned to be content with the minimum, and this is enough for them to be completely happy.
Even in tourist places in Thailand, the hostile attitudes of some, or else, do not stop them from smiling!
There are also places in Thailand where foreign tourists are not taken. These are the poorest regions; there is nothing to show a spoiled tourist there. But it is in these places Thai life truly happy. Those who have comprehended the true values of this life. Freedom and family are important to them. Well, they also truly and sincerely love their King. And such conventions and benefits of civilization as the Internet, apartments, cars are unknown to them. And they often do not strive to take possession of it all.
Some Europeans may be jealous in their hearts happiness for Thais. Of course, living in such a fabulous climate and eating delicious fruits is all wonderful. The local residents have no idea what cold and snow are, they don’t need warm clothes. How can you not envy them? But the secret is that the Thais themselves do not seem to envy anyone, and they do not intend to do so.
Their distinctive feature is a deep love for their country, respect for their own traditions, their religion. There are enlightened ones among them Thai monks- they live in harmony with nature and with themselves, devoting a lot of time to meditation and improving their spirit. And those who have comprehended true harmony have no reason to frown.
Inexperienced local flavor A tourist may be amazed by the large number of hammocks strung directly on palm trees. It turns out that they live here. Imagine, a person does not have his own home, but he has a bike, thanks to which he can earn money. And if on some day they don’t have any money, the smiling Thais won’t even think about being particularly upset about this - after all, they will definitely show up tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, so why upset yourself today!
A wonderful art is to be able to see what you have, to be grateful for everything. This is probably the main answer to the question, why do thai people smile so often?. They just love life! Therefore, it is quite common to see a Thai relaxing carefree in his hammock. Enjoy life - what more do you need! This is why Thais feel happier than us.
There are also a lot of them. This is due to a number of reasons, such as: reluctance to serve in (now this trick does not work) and the fact that it is easiest for them to make money on.
When you read this article, we are already wandering through the concrete jungle of Singapore or the real jungle of Bali. So we won't be able to respond to reviews for the next few days. But our trusty computers are with us, soon we will find the Internet and be in touch! In the meantime, we offer you answers to the main questions about our life in Thailand, which we hear all the time.
Hello, our dear readers! We have been living in Thailand for almost five months now, and some questions are still being asked both from our friends and from other people. For example, “Who do you work there?” or “What language do you speak?” Therefore, we decided to compile a selection of the most frequently asked questions and answer them.
Why Thailand?
Firstly, Thailand has favorable visa conditions for Russians for a long-term stay in the country. Secondly, prices in Pattaya are approximately the same as in Russia, the main thing is that they are not higher. Thirdly, here all year round summer. Fourthly, Thailand has a warm sea. Fifthly, the people here are friendly. In more detail about why Thailand and not Türkiye, we. They told us why we live in Pattaya.
We often visit Pattaya. In this photo we are visiting the local Buddha on his personal hill.
Why not Europe?
Firstly, in European countries, visa conditions for Russians are much more difficult for long-term stay in the country. Secondly, prices in Europe are higher, and we did not count on an increase in budget expenses at the time of moving. Thirdly, in Europe there is no summer all year round. Fourthly, not everywhere in Europe there is a warm sea. Fifthly, in Europe they don’t like Russians. I hope this is not a secret to anyone.
And how were you not afraid?!
Fear comes from lack of information. We had been preparing to move to Thailand for more than a year and a half, and there were fewer and fewer “blank spots” in our information preparation. And with them, all sorts of fears disappeared (which, of course, were serious in the beginning).
Was everything so bad at home that you decided to leave?
Vice versa. Our life in Russia only got better from year to year. Both in terms of work and in terms of living conditions. But this “better” did not just happen; we did a lot to improve our lives. Moving to Thailand is a new round.
Are you there for permanent residence?
We are here for as long as we want to be here.
Will you come to visit Russia?
No. Let guests come to us.
Do you often travel abroad?
More often than when we lived in Russia, but less often than we would like. For example, we have already managed to travel to and from, we are going to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam.
Do you rent or live in your own apartment?
Our beautiful apartment in Pattaya.
Does having an apartment in Thailand give you any additional opportunities? For example, residence permit, citizenship?
No. There are no advantages over those who do not have an apartment.
Do you have anyone to communicate with?
Yes, we have made wonderful friends here! Lena and Dima from Kyiv, Yulia from Izhevsk are those with whom we see all the time. And dozens of different acquaintances from a language school, couchsurfing, neighbors, and so on. Most often we meet the Dutch on our life's journey here.
Update. Two years later, we stopped communicating with local Russians altogether and are only friends with the Dutch.
A cat at its main occupation: contemplation and comprehension of reality. And she also looks after the local birds - well, so that they don’t misbehave.
Wait, what about the cat???
The cat Cuckoo survived another move. First, she moved with us from Voronezh to Moscow, and then from Russia to Thailand. And if any person with tuberculosis can buy a plane ticket and fly with impunity for 10 hours in a closed space with other people, then transporting a cat is a whole epic.
Do you miss your homeland?
In general, no. We only miss .
How did your parents react to the move?
For a long time they did not believe that this was serious. They asked a million questions, wanting to check whether our information preparation was good. They even tried to dissuade me.
And now they are happy for us, because they see that we are happy. And they seem to be proud of us. Parents, if this is not the case, write in the comments!
By the way, how do you communicate with them?
Skype with video. The same way we communicated when we lived in Moscow.
Do you probably swim in the sea every day or go for a Thai massage?
Zhenya sometimes swims on the city beaches of Pattaya, and since September 18 I have swum in the sea 5 times. I'm generally indifferent to swimming. But with Thai massage it’s the other way around – Zhenya goes once every two months, and I go often.
And this is Zhenya and his brother Lesha, who came to us in January! Pattaya, Koh Larn.
From Zhenya: Just don’t show this photo to grandma, okay?
What language do you communicate with locals?
In English. Most Thais speak English quite well, and some speak English generally well. In 90% of cases in markets, shops, cafes, pharmacies, gas stations, or just on the street, it is not a problem to be understood and understand what is being said to you.
But there are also severe cases.
Are you okay with English?
More than))
What visa do you have?
We have student visa. This gives us the opportunity not to go to visaran every 30 days. But then we have to come to the immigration office every 3 months and pay 1800 baht for each (and yes, we are not happy with this). In addition, we paid 22,000 baht for school tuition for 15 months per person. We also had to go to Laos to get a student visa. This is what it is, a tax on white skin.
Why do you learn Thai and not Chinese, because it is more popular?
Because we live in Thailand.
And if you need to see a doctor, what will you do?
We bought health insurance in Moscow. Ingosstrakh costs 13,000 rubles per person. Lasts a year, covers 30 thousand dollars. According to this insurance, we are tied to " Bangkok Pattaya Hospital”, the most advanced medical institution in the country. There are no such clinics in Russia, which is not Moscow. I mean by its coolness and high cost :)
Well, do you generally like it there?
Let's be honest with you: of course, we cannot do without various unpleasant situations related to differences in mentality, and sometimes due to the language barrier - those same 10%, the “severe cases” that I mentioned above. But this is all complete nonsense. Because our life has become much richer, more interesting and enjoyable (one healthy sea air what is it worth!)
Living in Thailand is probably much cheaper than in Russia?
It all depends on who spends how much on the same things in Russia. Yes, you don’t need to buy winter boots and jackets (and this already saves many thousands of rubles). The rest: a minute of local calls on a mobile phone - 1 baht, travel by minibus - 10 baht, Internet - 640 baht per month, electricity for two - 400 baht per month, lunch in a cafe (not Thai) for two - from 300-400 baht, gasoline for our motorcycle is about 40 baht.
Cheaper than in Russia: fruits, massage, summer clothes on the market, .
In principle, we spend more money than we spent in Russia, but we also get a lot more for this money - things, goodies, impressions.
Who do you work there?
Of course, this is question No. 1 :) In fact, no one is particularly interested in everything that was written about above. The only interesting thing is how you can earn money not in your HOME country. And many people think that, of course, we work here in the tourism industry - as guides or in hotels. No. We never planned to do this.
We make money using the Internet. During the first four months of our life in Thailand, Zhenya in Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Now we are developing other ways to make money remotely related to the Internet. For example, we recently opened our own. There are other ideas that we are gradually implementing. We will gradually report on how the process is progressing on this website. So if you are interested in ways to make money online, you can subscribe to our website news (in the column on the right)))
This story was kindly written to us by Alexey, who has been traveling around Asia for more than 6 years and is one of the authors not only of , but also of the travel website byvali.ru. He traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and lived in Thailand for a total of more than 3 years.
Having made Thai friends, he can not only visit popular tourist places and resorts, but also to get closely acquainted with the life and way of life of the provincial outback. There is not much information on the Internet about this side of the Land of Smiles, and what is available usually talks about trips to the relatives of a Thai prostitute in Isan (it is no secret that most Western men have girlfriends of this kind, whom they can easily meet in bars, at discos, in massage parlors).
All the more interesting will be the story of Alexey, who has a Thai girlfriend who has nothing to do with Isan or the sphere of intimate services and has nothing to do with the tourism business at all. She was born in the province of Saraburi, in a rural area located 2.5 hours drive from. Alexey talks about a few days in his life when he went to (Thai New Year) to visit his friend's family. This is an ordinary traditional Thai family who is busy growing rice. Its oldest members have never seen Western people “live”, only on TV.
The article also shatters the myth that Thais do not like Europeans, despise them and try to deceive and deceive them at any opportunity.
With this we finish the necessary preface to these notes and give the floor to Alexey.
Hello!
I want to introduce you to a traditional Thai family that lives in a remote province, far from the tourist trail. They grow rice, beans and mango trees, just like their ancestors. Naturally, the way of life is not the same as a hundred years ago, since now there are some benefits of civilization - television, Cell phones, fans. However, these are only external attributes, but inside they remain the same simple peasants who honor traditional family ways, make offerings to spirits, and go to temples.
I was lucky enough to see how they celebrate in the Thai province, it was especially interesting to see how this happens with family, so to speak, “behind closed doors.”
The first day
A few days before Songkran, I agreed with my friend that I would come to her for the holiday in Saraburi, where her family lives. This province is completely unknown to tourists, since there is no sea and no major attractions such as temples or waterfalls. Large areas are occupied by rice fields and villages local residents who grow this crop.
The provincial capital of Saraburi is an average city, which is not much different from the capitals of other little-known provinces. No skyscrapers or high-rise buildings, large shopping centers, noisy nightclubs, massage parlors and bars with girls, a minimum of hotels.
Nevertheless, this is not a corner forgotten by God - there are large Tesco Lotus and Macro hypermarkets, a cinema, a bus station, shops where you can buy the latest new phones, etc.
And if in Pattaya, Phuket or Samui Tesco Lotus is full of foreigners, here I saw only a few people, both elderly and with their already middle-aged Thai wives. And when I went to the village, I was probably the only white person for 10, or even 20 km. A lot of people came up to me and wanted to meet me or just chat. Moreover, with the most sincere interest, without trying to sell or offer anything. Moreover, they themselves treated me and offered me a drink. How different this was from the tourist places where all sorts of rabble flock, constantly trying to deceive and cheat. However, I got carried away, but I need to tell you in order, day by day.
So, on April 13, I woke up at 5:30, took a shower and went to the one on North Street. I needed to buy a ticket to Bangkok, where I could catch a bus to Saraburi. I arrived so early because I was afraid that all tickets would be sold out on Thai New Year. As it turned out, I was afraid in vain. Upon arrival, I bought a ticket for the next flight for 133 baht. By the way, the most expensive, before the other two bus stations it cost 124 baht.
Departure at 6:50. There were no traffic jams, the bus drove the rest of the way along the expressway, so at about 9:00 it was already at . I didn’t go to the ticket office because I knew that the bus to Saraburi departs from platform 122. Having reached the platform, I saw a bus, but all the inscriptions on it were in Thai (which is not surprising, since foreigners almost never ride them). Therefore, I asked the driver where his “car” was going. Having received the expected answer, I asked the driver to stop at Tesco Lotus in Saraburi, where a friend would pick me up and take me to the village. Then he went inside the salon and sat in the back, by the window. The bus was air-conditioned, the ticket seemed to cost 56 baht, although I could be wrong. But less than 80 baht that's for sure.
We drove for about 2 hours. At first there were few people, but after he passed several provincial towns, there were a lot of people, many were standing in the aisle.
By the way, 20 minutes after the start of movement, a bus passes to Saraburi (more correctly in Thai it sounds like “Don Muan”). Thus, you can use it to get from the Mochit bus station to the airport for mere pennies (20 baht, in my opinion). By the way, almost all other buses going north or northeast also pass it, for example the one to.
Around 11 o'clock I landed at Tesco Lotus and called my friend. She said she would arrive in about half an hour, so I didn’t bother to bask in the sun (mid-April is the hottest time in Thailand) and went to the air-conditioned Tesco Lotus. It is two-story and not much different from its twins at other resorts. In addition to the supermarket, there were ATMs and all sorts of boutiques with clothes, shoes and mobile phones. There are restaurants and a food court on the second floor.
Around noon, a friend arrived in a car (by the way, her name is Daruni - Darynee, otherwise I keep calling her acquaintance, and acquaintance). I took it out on credit in installments for several years - this is only possible for Thais - and pays around 12,000 a month. She explained her lateness by the fact that the approaches to the provincial capital are full of Songkran celebrations and there are traffic jams.
She came with her 14-year-old cousin, whom she simply called brother. In general, in Thailand, even distant relatives, for example, a second cousin, are simply called uncle. Close friends whom you have known for many years also call each other sisters. And only after asking in detail, it turns out that she is the only one with her parents.
We had a snack on the second floor of Tesco Lotus, either at McDonald's or at KFS. They also waited there for one of her relatives, whom she called her sister. I did not ask in detail, so as not to get confused in her pedigree, who she is in “Western terminology.” She came not alone, but with her husband. Naturally, they immediately became interested in who I was. They started asking questions, and for some reason my husband asked me what he looked like. I replied that it was cool that he seemed like an athlete.
Songkran Province of Thailand
Then we went to see how Songkran was celebrated in Saraburi. About 15 minutes later we arrived at the “point” where Daruni’s sister’s parents were, as well as their child. The “point” was “equipped” with a barrel of water, a basin, a hose and jugs. Plus they sold food - rice, meat, ice cream.
The holiday was in full swing. Those who were in Thailand could see how it passes on popular resorts. All the tourists buy water guns and shoot each other indiscriminately. Some people fill their weapons with seawater, which is especially unpleasant if it gets into your eyes or mouth. Not a single Thai would show such disrespect for others - it would never even occur to him to shoot salt water. In general, this method of “war” is not common among adult Thais, and only children and sometimes teenagers carry machine guns. Everyone else fills the barrels, places them on the sidewalk, takes jugs and waters from them. Others place barrels on pickup trucks, drive along the road and water those standing with barrels and jugs on the street. They drive very slowly on purpose, so that they can water others thoroughly and with pleasure receive a jug of water from them in return. This is all done for fun and brings a lot of joy. Children are especially happy.
By the way, both then and all the following days, they treated me very respectfully in terms of dousing me with water. The children, shyly, shot in a small stream, but the teenagers either didn’t shoot at me at all, or first asked and only then (also in a modest stream) poured the contents of the water dispensers onto my belly.
How different this was from the Pattaya bar girls a few days ago, who stood on the streets and, without warning, shot straight in the face or poured a tub of cold water down my neck without even thinking about how I would feel after that. But most tourists judge Thais by such girls who fill all the bars and massage parlors. It is because of them, as well as taxi drivers and traders, that one gets the impression that Thais need tourists to take as much money from them as possible. They even sell T-shirts with the words “Walking ATM,” which translates to “Walking ATM.” Yes, that’s how they treat us in tourist places.
But let's return to the streets of provincial Saraburi, where in 2 hours I did not meet a single foreigner. It was a purely Thai party. In addition to water, they also smear each other with talcum powder. This somehow has not caught on among tourists and is practiced only by the local population.
At about 17 o'clock we finally reached Daruni's house. It takes 25-30 minutes to drive from the center of the provincial capital. The house is located among rice fields, next to a river. There is so much space and beauty, everywhere you look - there are trees and meadows everywhere and almost no buildings.
The family does not live in the village itself, about a kilometer away from it. There are three houses in total, standing at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. Daruni’s brother, his parents and grandmother live in the most important and beautiful one.
In the simpler house next door are their cousins. My friend’s father actually lives in a hut, which is blown by all the winds, but he likes it. An iron roof was made to protect against rain, and a mosquito net was installed over the bed to protect against mosquitoes. His house is not locked and has no doors. And there’s nothing to take there - there’s nothing except a fan.
The main house, where the brother lives with his parents, is the most substantial. It has two wings - one-story and two-story (see photo). The first is where the younger generation lives, and the second is where the older generation lives. In the middle there is a through passage, open to all winds. There is a “relaxation area” with benches and sofas, as well as a kitchen. It is here, in the open air, that the pots, pans, rice cooker, refrigerator and stove are kept, and it is here that everyone prepares the food.
There are several mango trees, greens, cucumbers and tomatoes growing around the house. At first I thought that the water for washing dishes came from the river, but I was told that it came from water pipes installed by the government. The toilet and shower are on the ground floor - these are two separate doors. No hot water and, of course, no baths (this is not customary in Thailand). My toilet was broken and I had to go to a neighboring house.
Daruni decided to play a joke on me and said that “in a big way” I should go somewhere under the bushes away from home. A few hours later I felt the urge and I went where she sent me. The next morning she said that if I needed to relieve myself, then I should go to the next house. I said that I had already gone into the bushes. Her laughter knew no bounds. Then she ran to tell this funny episode to her relatives in order to amuse them too. I used this example to show that in Thailand, and in Asia in general, people laugh without malice, without trying to offend or humiliate. It is a carefree laugh, devoid of superiority and desire to offend.
After arriving home, we washed the car and had dinner. We rested for the rest of the evening. I was given the most luxurious room in the one-story wing. It was large, with a double bed. It belonged to another of Daruni’s cousins, but he gave it to me, and he went to spend the night with his girlfriend.
Before going to bed, I helped my friend’s 14-year-old brother solve math problems. He is a terrible truant and goes to school, God willing, once a week. Parents turn a blind eye to this, since they are not expelled for absenteeism. Why didn't I care about them? He's probably not going to college, although without higher education It's hard to get a well-paid job in Thailand. Those who have just completed school can rarely count on a salary higher than 15,000 baht per month... By the way, I never solved those math problems, despite the fact that I was good at school. I just completely forgot the school course, all sorts of tangents and cotangents. And to be honest, few people need all the school knowledge in the future, with the exception of the ability to write, read and count (although the latter is no longer needed now, since every mobile phone has a calculator). The guy also did not solve the problems on his own, but looked them up on the Internet and wrote down the solution in a notebook. On this happy note we went to bed.
Second day
Darunia went grocery shopping in the morning, and I helped her father put on the roof. It’s not that they “harnessed” me - they didn’t say a word - I just had nothing to do.
After breakfast we went to the “continuation of the banquet”. This time we didn’t come to the street with water sprinklers, but to the temple. Oddly enough, a social “get-together” was taking place on its territory. A stage was set up where local bands sang popular Thai hits. Young people were dancing around to the music. As usual, not a single celebration takes place in Thailand without food. Therefore, next to the stage there were tables and “mobile cafes” where they sold rice, meat, drinks and sweets.
In addition to singing, dancing and eating, you could play the lottery. It is a win-win and if you bought a ticket for 50 baht you could get a prize. I had to use a net to catch one of the balls from the container and open it. The name of the prize was written inside. There were many of them - from Pepsi Cola bottles to fans and bicycles. We were unlucky - only chips and juice won.
At the height of the celebration, a fire hose began spraying the party from a fire truck that was still standing peacefully. Everyone had a lot of fun.
I was the only white person at this celebration of life. One very tipsy young Thai wanted to make friends with me, asked questions in broken English, wanted to learn a lot from me. I think others also wanted to, but they were more sober and, due to the innate Thai shyness, did not dare to approach. Some expressed their interest and affection by asking if they could throw water on me. I agreed and they shot at me with a modest and purely symbolic stream. No one tried to unload a full clip.
Towards evening, the service began in the temple. Or rather, not a service, but an expression of respect to the Buddha and the monks and receiving their blessings. It went like this. A small altar with a statuette of Buddha was installed in the open air, and monks of different ages sat on chairs nearby. Each Thai first poured water from a small cup onto the Buddha, and then poured a few drops onto the shoulders or palms of the monks. They called me too, but I was embarrassed - after all, I was raised in a different culture and for me it did not matter as much as for the Thais.
Afterwards we stopped at another temple, where music was still playing. There, Thais also came up to me and began to offer me a drink (and a snack). Therefore, again I was in the spotlight, which I actually don’t really like.
We returned home already after dark. We had dinner, chatted and went to bed.
Day three
In the morning, Daruni and her family left for the cemetery where her mother was buried (she died of cancer at the age of 40, when her daughter was only 20).
Since many people thanked us in comments to articles and in private messages, it was decided to create a new website that would tell about other countries in exactly the same detail, with photos and videos. They called it symbolically - Byvali.ru, to emphasize that everything written is verified information and we really “were there” and saw it all. It’s no secret that the Internet is full of sites where articles repeat each other letter for letter, which are simply copied and the authors have never even been there. Naturally, they are full of all sorts of blunders, the most popular of which are essays about the island of Krabi. There is no such island in Thailand and never has been! This is the name of the province and the city that is its capital.
But let's return to the story about my stay in the Thai province of Saraburi. Soon after I wrote the article about Mui Ne, Daruni arrived from the cemetery. We ate and again went to the temple where we were yesterday. There is the same program: songs, dances, food, lottery. You could feed the goats for 10 baht.
Afterwards we decided to have a family dinner. We went to the Macro hypermarket, where we bought groceries for 1,500 baht.
We returned home at about 7 pm. By that time, several more relatives had joined us and in total more than a dozen people had gathered. They put 2 braziers outside and began cooking meat on them. Other dishes included salad, rice and vegetable and mushroom soup, naturally all with chili pepper, without which they don’t eat in Thailand. To make it more fun, the TV was placed outside the room. The feast lasted for two hours.
Then they began to creep. I was given the most the best place on a large bed, and visiting relatives with children slept on the floor on mattresses next to her.
Day four
In the morning they told me to pick a mango for my trip (today I had to leave to renew my visa). There were several trees growing nearby, I took a net and removed a couple of them.
But Daruni’s relatives considered this not enough. In addition, they gave me a bunch of bananas, a bag of some sweets, and fish chips.
Then I attended the “home” Songkran. This custom is very old, much older than pouring water on the street. The oldest member of the family blesses the others. Here it was an 80-year-old granny. Each of the younger members approached her in turn, dropped a few drops on her hands, knelt down and folded their palms as if in prayer. Then grandma put a cord of thick thread on everyone’s hand - a kind of talisman-amulet that cannot be removed until it breaks and falls. At the end they invited me to go through this ceremony.
Before leaving, we clicked goodbye to each other, everyone wanted to take a photo with me. Those who spoke English invited me to visit them again in the future.
Daruni then drove me to Saraburi Bus Station where I caught a bus to Bangkok.
Final word
In conclusion, I would like to summarize my impressions of visiting the Thai hinterland and its inhabitants.
Everyone showed sincere interest and care for me, and disinterestedly: they gave me the best bed, constantly offered sweets and asked if I was hungry, strangers wanted to get to know each other. No one ever asked for any money or to buy anything, or to provide any service.
I realized that ordinary Thai people are very hospitable and welcoming, kind and always ready to help. And for them, a foreigner is an interesting guest who needs to be taken care of. But in order to meet just such, real Thais, you need to get away from tourist places where a white person rarely sets foot. Unfortunately, the worst representatives of this nation come to tourist places, with whom normal Thais will not even communicate. For these people, the main thing is to rip off more money from foreigners, and this gives many the impression that we are just a source of money for them, that they smile falsely, etc. In fact, the vast majority of Thais smile sincerely and are ready to help you themselves, without demanding anything in return.
