passage £4.50 £4.50|| Issue Issue 22
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India’s Holi Festival The experience of a lifetime
Asia Issue
Thailand From gaudy temples to golden beaches, fried worms to the full moon party, it’s easy to have a good time in the heart of South East Asia...
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Why Thailand?
Kirsty, 19, began travelling when she left schooL. after spending a month with friends building classrooms in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, She set off for five months in South East Asia, island hopping, seeing the sights on mopeds and visiting every single bar in Thailand and the surrounding countries.
What made you choose to visit Thailand? I’d met a couple of people who had been there before and loved it so I thought why not. South East Asia is also known as a good place for first time travellers to start. I wanted to go somewhere completely different from the UK and Thailand was definitely that. Plus it isn’t as far as somewhere like Australia and everything is really cheap out there.
Was it what you expected? Yes and no. I expected it to be completely different to anywhere I’d been before but I didn’t know exactly how different it would be. Everything is so crazy out there but relaxed at the same time. We were able to jump on a boat to another island, without having any plans for where we were going to stay or what we were going to do. But within minutes of getting off the boat we were offered a room for pennies, and we’d met another group of tourists like us and were planning the night out or the next day with them. One thing I definitely wasn’t expecting was the heat!
What were the best bits about your trip? The best bit, for me, was meeting so many other people like me, and getting to experience Thailand with them. You know how you randomly befriend people in the toilet queue in a nightclub or whatever, it’s like that except you’re not drunk (usually) and you actually stay friends with them. Meeting other people gives you more ideas of where to go and what to do. We met a girl who’d spent a month scuba diving in Malaysia so later we went there and tried that out. It’s also great seeing so many new and different places. The beaches are absolutely incredible and it was so nice to have nothing to worry about.
And the worst? Hmm, probably the mopeds. The first time we got them there were nine of us. I had no idea how to ride a moped and the thought of doing so scared the life out of me so I opted for clinging onto the back of a friend’s - thank god. it was so much fun but it was terrifying trying to navigate our way through the streets with all the crazy Thai drivers whizzing past us. There were a few crashes - it just wasn’t pretty. Another bad bit is probably travelling from place to place because it takes so long. You can be on a bus for more than 10 hours!
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What about Travelling companions? Who did you go with and who did you meet? I went with two of my best friends from school which I definitely think was a good idea as I couldn’t have done it by myself. We’d all applied to university but after coming up with the idea of going to Thailand we all deferred our places and set about saving money. I’d known them both for years and they were definitely the best two to go with because we mix really well - no fights! Whilst out there I probably met hundreds of people. Early on we met a couple of small groups like us and moved around with them for a while. We kept in contact with all of them and would all meet up for a few days if we were in the same area. We also met another girl who had been out there for a year so she knew the best places to go.
How far in advance did you plan your trip? I think I decided I wanted to travel again after the month I spent in Costa Rica. Once you’ve started you can’t stop! We started planning about six months in advance. Although, to be honest not much planning was involved. We booked our flights and our first night’s accommodation about three months before we went and that was it. We played everything else by ear which was perfect as our plans were flexible.
How much did it all cost you? How did you save up for your trip? I think I saved about £5000 for the whole trip. I had some money from some inheritance and then I worked in an office in the day and a pub every night for about four months. I didn’t give myself very long - I probably only had about five hours sleep a night in that time. I just decided it would all be worth it in the end, plus working that much meant I didn’t have the time to spend it!
What were the five most important things you took with you? Or things you wish you hadn’t forgotten? The most important thing, of course, was sun cream (thanks mum!). One of the girls I went with didn’t even take any - she said she didn’t need it. I think it’s safe to say she regretted it when just a few days in she’d lost about three layers of skin from her back! Luckily I’d
Get the right jabs:
We know needles can be scary but Thailand has lots of nasty diseases floating about. You’ll need...
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Rabies
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brought extra... Other important things were my phone, so that I could contact my family; clothes, a travel guide and my passport. I don’t think that I forgot anything, but I wished I had taken a real towel. I took one of those thin travel towels and it was useless.
One thing I took that I didn’t need was a tiny pair of straighteners. Yes, they were only small, and yes there were plug sockets in all the rooms so I could of used them but I just didn’t. You don’t care about that sort of thing out there.
What are the must-go-to places that you think anyone planning to go to Thailand should visit?
Be well prepared: Sun cream goes without saying but you’ll also need a few bits to stop those itchy red bites... A mosquito net
DEET bug spray
Malaria tablets
Koh Phi Phi is definitely a must. It’s an island in the Krabi province of southern Thailand. It has stunning beaches and great night life. It’s cheap and there is so much to do. It’s where The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio was filmed which was cool to see. Chiang Mai in the north is a must too; it’s Thailand’s cultural and natural wonderland. It’s where you can visit elephant camps and play with baby tigers in the heart of the jungle and see the elaborately carved and brightly painted ancient Buddhist temples. Anyone thinking of going to Thailand will already know this but you HAVE to go to a full moon party in Koh Phangan, you will never see anything else like it. Make sure you get lots of neon paint and glow sticks!
What is your best bit of advice for potential travellers of thailand? Don’t plan everything before you go. Keep your options open and be flexible - plans can change every single day and you don’t want to miss out on anything. Save as much money as possible before you go and try to stay within your budget. I know that makes me sound like a mum but it’s really the best thing to do to get the most out of your trip. Also be openminded and try new things; jump off the cliff into the sea, eat the fried worm!
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Thailand’s Top 7 Places to go and things to do during your first time in Thailand
The Grand Palace
Island hopping
Situated in the heart of Bangkok, not far from Khao San Road is the spectacular complex of building that make up the Grand Palace. Once home to the King of Siam, no visit to Bangkok is complete without seeing the city’s most famous and impressive landmark.
With over 5000 miles of coast line, this is something every traveller needs to do to see the white sands and crystal clear waters. Take a surf lesson or go snorkelling with the fish while you wait for the Full Moon parties!
The Golden Triangle The point where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet at the Mekong river, the journey up through Chiang Rai alone is worth it. Take a long-tail boat ride along the Mekong to Laos and soak up the amazing sights.
Hill tribe villages
Elephant trekking
Festivals
As the Asian elephant is Thailand’s national symbol it would be rude not to! Ride and get wet with elephants of all sizes in Chiang Mai. One will lift you into the air with its trunk if you’re lucky.
Festivals are a huge part of Thai culture and visitors are more than welcome to join in the celebrations. If you’re there during April watch out for the Songkran Festival, a huge, three-day-long water fight in celebration of the Thai New Year. Be prepared.
Across the north of Thailand you’ll find the colourful Akha, Lisu and Karen tribes. Spend a day or two with a local family to experience a way of life that no guidebook can teach you.
Khao Sok National Park This beautiful nature reserve is home to much of Thailand’s native wildlife. Take a bike ride through the jungle to see elephants, snakes, more species of monkey than you’ll be able to count and even the huge, stinking corpse flower.
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WHAT it costs... A beer A portion of Street Food Three course meal
The Little Things 100 THB / £1.83 30 THB / 55p 175 THB / £3.21
Bangkok to Phuket flight 1250 THB / £22.31 A bus ride ride in Bangkok A night in a hostel dorm
10 THB / 18p 150 THB / £2.75
An hour-long Thai massage 200 THB / £3.67 A short tuk tuk ride Moped rental for a day
30 THB / 55p 220 THB / £4.03
What to pack...
Travel documents, Visas and money Passport and photocopies Sun cream and sunglasses Plasters Imodium tablets and paracetamol Camera and charger Plug socket adapter
As little clothing as possible One jacket for overnight travelling Conservative clothing for entrance into temples Flipflops instead of heavier shoes Shoes for hiking if you plan to do so Bug spray Mosquito net Elecrtrolyte drink mixes Swimming stuff One small towel
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