Thursday, August 21, 2008 My Thai By Jinggoy Salvador
NOT the drink and not Siam's national sport- unless of course there's something wrong with my dictionary, but my undying love for this nation- Thailand. No matter how many times I visit this place- three times a year to be exact- there is something new to discover.
Yes, there are the neighboring nations just as exciting, just as rich and just as worth visiting even once. But I have this certain obsession of sorts -- I won't let go until I had enough of anything. With the vast things to discover in this Southeast Asian territory, call it an endless love.
Thailand must be the most visited nation in this part of the world. It's truly unfathomable why a big chunk of the nations on the other of the globe only know of Thailand and the beaches and s good number never heard, sorry to say, our native soil.
Somehow, this nation tops the list of any travel agency's must-visit Asian country if not the only one on the list. Well, China is gaining the edge pretty fast, with or without the Bird's Nest. Theirs is a certain truth about their tourism battlecry- Amazing Thailand. This place is indeed amazing.
Seeing is believing. On the times that I got to visit, the aircrafts arrive and take-off like toy planes of hyper active kids. And if that's not enough, you have to bear the hours of queuing the immigration line -- and there is a slew of windows open. But still, the lines seem to be snakes on an Indiana Jones movie.
But once you get your stamp of approval to stay and get to your hotel an hour later depending on what mode of transportation you take (I tried the airport bus and the taxi), Thailand is all yours to discover.
Bangkok alone is a maze of surprises. I may have eaten on the sidestreets, the mall's chic fastfoods and the fancy restaurants, there is some knew food aroma and eye-candy treats that always make your stomach digest a full meal faster than it usually does to make room for this lovely to see and perhaps lovelier to taste edible goody that's before you.
That goes for entertainment (wink, wink) but that depends on what street you stumble into. Pat pong is the notorious red district but somehow the "feast offering" is camouflaged by the night market. Khao San road is very hip with the young backpackers' destination milling day in and out.
Like any other visitors, it is always exciting to check out what the day tours are. Something to do out of the city center, trek, watch elephants play football or the crocs play the Russian roulette with their handlers (or is it the other way around?), the floating market is very exciting and not to forget, everybody's favorite past time- shopping- in and out of the city.
Chatuchak seems to be a shopper's haven (open weekends only) but if you want the Divisoria feel, then there is Pratunam. Never despair because even when night falls, shopping is still alive in Silom Road and by the Lumpini Park.
The entrepreneurial minds of the Thais never stop them from owning shops in all these spots. So don't be surprised that the same person who entertained you in Chatuchak will be the same guy in Pratunam on your weekday shopping.
Haggle. Like we Pinoys don't know that. That's part of the ultimate joys in shopping. You may not need the item you bought but somehow you feel ecstatic that you got a good deal for it. Then it gathers dust. Who cares! It's a feeling money can't buy.
If you have done shopping in Thailand, do you get the feeling that you peso can go a long, long way? Even with the Baht a third higher than our peso (1 Baht = P1.35 on the average) it seems like food and everything else is more affordable in this country. Nice.
But if you want to go upscale, head to the malls. The local designers have their wares in here. They are so chic and uber fashionable. Luxury brands come plenty as well. No haggling here.
Being in love with the culturally rich nations around us and Europe, I don't think will stop from visiting this spot again and again. In fact, I think I am booking my ticket pretty soon. I have this club and restaurant to check out and of course, discover an island I haven't been to on the next visit.
I think I will tell you about??? Catch me next week. I'm sure I have something that will interest you. Sawadee Ka.
