Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Travel Tips from Friends

  • bring condoms (this was everybody's first recommendation).
  • you don't need malaria pills where you're going, but you can still ride the elephants.
  • don't bother taking the dysentery pills; you'll lose tons of weight (eww).
  • just buy some flip flops when you get there.
  • it's hot there.
  • it's totally hot there.
  • you're going to soak in your own sweat.
  • make sure to eat the papaya salad.
  • don't bother with Bangkok, just head to the beaches.
  • make sure to bring your passport.
  • if a deal looks too good to be true... it is.
  • seriously, once you get there, if you don't want to come back... don't.

3 comments:

Smartbunny said...

Heh.

I'd of course say don't skip Bangkok--I love that city, one of my favourites in the world.

I love the tiny sois lined with gated, traditional teak houses; the temple festivals, where whole neighbourhoods gather at night in their pyjamas to watch Jackie Chan movies projected on to a wall; feeding the stray cat who lives with her kittens under your guesthouse; seeing the Chao Phraya river alive and sparkling with tiny, lighted, floating offerings of flowers and incense on Loi Krathong.

It's filthy, of course--but not nearly as filthy as any Indian city--and vibrantly alive. I hope you get to discover it and enjoy it.

Mata Hari said...

I'm with Oksana; don't skip Bangkok entirely. But my Bangkok experience was definately more GBS style...

There's a waterslide park on the outskirts of town (called Siam Park) that is an adventure to get to and a great way to escape the reality of being soaked in your own sweat. One of my favorite days was sitting at the bottom of the speed slide watching all the fat americans giving themselves chlorine enemas. There is also a theme park with hilarious animatronic dinosaurs. I don't recommend the rollercoaster though...you'll see.

There's a gigantic mall called the world trade centre that is fun to explore. You can shop for uber-cheap clothing (but all in a size 0-2) and tons of great knock-off shite.
*oh, I forgot. You're not a shpper are you Violet?*

The movie theatres are just about the only place you can find air conditioning if you're travelling Ghetto Bitch style (The only reason I ever sat through Titanic).

The Thai national museum in Bangkok was pretty interesting...but as girl you must wear a skirt and cover your shoulders. They will provide you with both if you show up and claim not to have known about the rule. Guys have to wear long pants. Believe me, it is better to arrive prepared. While you're there you can check out the Canadian toonie (donated by me and Matt) at the Thai National Coin Colledtion.

Plus don't miss the enormous reclining Buddha with inlayed mother of pearl toe prints...

oh, I'm getting so jealous. I feel a pout coming on.

Have fun little V. You're gonna be so relaxed when you get back. If you do nothing else, find yourdelf a little cabin ON THE BEACH (Splurge and get the one that costs $16 instead of the one that's close to the beach and only $10), lay in your hammock, read, listen to tunes and eat nothing but fresh pineapple all day.

Make sure your cot comes with a mosquito net (not for the mosquitos but...well it's hard to sleep when geckos are playing Mario Andretti on your bare flesh).

The condoms are a great suggestion and don't do the "slimming pills" on Full Moon party night (my head and neck swelled up like I had Down's Syndrome).

Have fun lovely and make it with some GPS boy whom you'll never see again...

*sigh*

Violet Chrome said...

Ladies, I love you ... and the "don't go to Bangkok" was bait...

Looks like I hooked me a couple of byatches.

Why the hell don't you just post these things as blog entries?

Hmm?

BTW - Mr. Valentine will be playing Violet in my absence... you take care of him in true GBS style.

Mata: waterslides? really? all the way to thailand for an n. american tradition? Interesting.