Villa Cha-Cha

Thailand was Great

by moe217

"Overall"

I was really scared to go to Thailand and now that I have been there can't wait until I can go back. Although it is hot I managed and really loved the heat. we basically R and R'ed and really had a relaxing vacation.

"Bangkok"

We only stayed 4 days in Bangkok. I liked it but my husband did not. Thjere is lots of shopping although most of the shop sell the same things, bartering for things is half the fun. We stayed at hotel called Villa Cha Cha and it was quite nice. Although the bathroom floor was always wet from the air conditioning water running on the floor. The bed was quite confortable and we only paid 1200 baht per night. It is very closeto Khosan road where there islots of shopping and resturants. It was fun just sitting in a resturant and watching the people.

"Ko Chang"

We moved to Ko Chang and stayed there a week. We stayed in a hut at Nature's Beach. They costed 1200 baht per night. Has air con and hot water but the bed was the hardest thing I have ever slept on. The bathroom desperatley needed a good cleaning, but we managed.The food was great and it was close to the beach. The beach was also very nice. You were a short walk up to a little town called Lonely Beach where we took laundry to be done and had a few meals.

River Cruise - Sala Rim Nam

by Audrey118

This is a super dining house and cooking school which belongs to the Oriental Hotel. I have been there once for a dinner cum classical dance performance. You wait at the hotel pier and a shuttle boat will take u up to the Sala Rim Nam. You will have a pleasant evening there.

Spirit Houses

by stevemt

You see these everywhere, form the small and humble to the elaborate and not exactly small.

These are built to applease and house any spirits (mainly tree dewlling ones,) that are displaced due to development and redevelopment, so that they have somewhere to live now that their previous home was destroyed/moved by the people.

Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location is often chosen The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature temple and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais.

The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. Offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits.

As you can see in the pictures, they are quite elaborate

Thai Social Protocol

by Audrey118

I read of this social skills to do and not to do while in Thailand.

The Thais have a deep reverence for the royal family - show respect.

respect their religion - do not wear shorts, sleeveless outfits, short skirts etc to their temples.

Women do not touch or reach out to the monks

Thais address each other by first name, and call each khuns...so I am Khun Audrey

do not clamber on images for pictures

Thais prefer to WAI than to shake hands

Do not point foot at anyone or anything

Do not touch the head of anyone - it is disrespectful but elderly can touch yong ones out of affection

do not sit on pillows meant for head as it means touching the head!

do not sit on books etc - the source of knowledge

Public displays of affeciton such as kissing is not acceptable, nor is losing temper in lublic - it is ill mannered

The universal language

by TylerB

Ah the race track, where everyone speaks the universal language of odds. For a spot of some of Bangkok's biggest characters, go to the Royal Turf Club on Sunday only. The stands are filled with screaming locals hoping to get lucky. My buddy hit his only bet. How many people can say they got a winning ticket in Bangkok? A must for sports fans. Entry is 100 Baht. None.