Songkran " Thai water festival "

Songkran

What is Songkran?

Songkran is the occasion for family re-unions, temple visits and annual house cleaning. Many Thais observe the holidays by spending time with families and friends. Traditionally, Thais perform the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran, which is officially the National Elderly Day. During the ritual, young people would pour fragrant water into the elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and to ask for their blessings.

The second day of Songkran is officially the National Family Day. Families would wake up early and give alms to the monks, then ideally the rest of the day would be spent sharing quality family time together. An important religious ritual on Songkran is ‘Bathing the Buddha image’, in which devout Buddhists pour fragrant water over Buddha statues both at the temple and at home. More religious Thais would engage themselves in Buddhist ceremonies and merit-making activities throughout the holidays

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Having fun is a big part of Thai culture, 

and having fun amidst scorching heat is no exception. The hottest month of the year, April sees the entire country go bananas in friendly water fights and street parties that last nearly a week. During Songkran, most office buildings, banks as well as family-run shops and restaurants shut down completely, while big shopping malls usually remain open. Bangkok experiences a mass exodus, as at least half of its residents travel back to their home towns for family re-unions. In their place are tourists, who fly into Bangkok particularly to enjoy one of the most colourful and festive times of the year.

So if you wanna have fun at April your only destination , is Thailand your destination.

GRAND PALACE -Bangkok must visit places

The Grand Palace 

A palace worth to visit when you are in Bangkok

 * For just about 150 years, Bangkok's Grand Palace was not only the home of the King and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Within the crenelated walls were the country's war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn of the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom.

Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.

  Admission Fee

Admission to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Central Court of the Grand Palace is 500 Baht (14.05 USD). Note that the admission fee also includes an admission ticket to Vimanmek Mansion and some other sights around Bangkok (the exact list varies from time to time) that can be used within seven days of your Grand Palace visit.

Soi 4 ( soi nana ) vs Soi 3 ( soi Arab )

Sukhumvit soi 4 vs sukhumvit soi 3 

( soi nana plaza vs soi Arab )

These two opposite soi's located in sukhumvit area Bangkok, soi nana and soi Arab are totally different stories or pictures.

In another way let us start by defining what goes on each soi and you will conclude the odd between them.

soi 4 as known soi Nana.

Well soi. Nana is famous of its red light district gogo bars that are located mostly in nana plaza, which is a Disney land to adults , and satisfies every ones pleasure, what ever he or she is looking for.

Just when you enter that soi you see the ladies and the ladyboys all arround offering their companies to satisfy your darkest desires.

No way to run they are everywhere at every corner . And the nana hotel that is opposite to nana plaza is where you can find the action is going on.

The street food is also all around, specially pork meat and insects section too.

As you can see its a totally red light district and hustle and bustle area..

Soi 3 as known Arab street 

 This soi is know by its Arabic culture, and tradition, since almost of it , are Arabic restaurants , Arabic traditional food as known halal food, and you can also see Arabic signs and writings all over the soi.

Well as Arabic culture known, its traditional and conservative, no pubs or night scenes arround , its all about shopping and eating no ladyboys or gogo bars .

So as you see the total difference between the two soi's that are just 500 meter away from each other.

That's Bangkok ;-)

Sukhumvit , Bangkok

Sukhumvit, Bangkok

Sukhumvit (Thai: สุขุมวิท) is an exclusive district in Bangkok. It is home to fancy apartments, villas, restaurants, bars and clubs. Popular among foreign visitors and expats, it becomes more and more a Thai residential neighbourhood as you follow the road southeast. Khlong Toei is also dealt with here, which, by contrast, is one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Bangkok.

The lowered-numbered sois (roughly between Soi 1 and 63) are a popular residential area for western expatriates and affluent Thais. It is densely packed with shopping centres, restaurants and hotels. The fleshpots of Nana Entertainment Plaza (in Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (between Soi 21 and 23) are also in this area, as are plenty of more (and less) salubrious bars. Also, the pavement of Sukhumvit itself has become a huge market carrying everything from luggage to fake Rolex watches, and after midnight they turn into roadside bars and pubs. Sukhumvit offers the best dining in Bangkok, from five-star dining to street stands, the variety of choices and tastes are almost overwhelming. Japanese nationals can be found in the area Soi 21 and upwards, but most tend to congregate around Soi 55. Indians have settled around Soi 12, while Arabs are grouped at Soi 3/1, which informally is known as Soi Arab. After Soi 63, Thais take over again, though this might change when the Skytrain extension is completed in late 2011.

Skytrain

The BTS Sukhumvit Line runs, as the name suggests, over Sukhumvit Road from west to east. Sukhumvit can directly be reached by Skytrain if you're coming from Siam Square or Phahonyothin. A ride from Mo Chit takes about 25 minutes to reach Asok station, while a ride from Siam station takes about 10 minutes. If you're coming from Silom, you'll need to take the Silom Line north and change onto the Sukhumvit Line at Siam station. It takes about 20 minutes for a ride from Saphan Taksin station to reach Asok station, including the transfer at Siam. Trains leave every five to ten minutes for a fare of about 15 to 40 baht.

What to do when you 1st arrive to bangkok ?

What to do at night , when you 1st arrive to bangkok ?
Specialy when its almost the end of the day and couple of hours to midnight.
Well let me say maybe that the best time to experience bangkok for the 1st time.

Its 9 pm you just arrived to bangkok and you think you should rest because ur jetlaid and tired, so that you hit the city next morning. Well no your wrong , its the perfect time to explore bangkok.

1st go to your hotel . Arrange your stuff take a shower put your shorts and tshirts on grap some money and time to hit the roads and explore the city of smiles.

Hit the main road go to a  nearest restaurant have a nice thai dinner dont have too much spicy cause you will spoil urself from the 1st night. Than hit a massage place have a nice foot massage and your feets get fresh again.

After you won't go to sleep no . Its the time to explore the nightlife.  Hit the nightlife grap some drinks enjoy the thai company but remember don't get drunk keep your eyes open .

After you had a nice dinner and a cozy massage and superb nightlife experience. Its time to go to your room maybe to continue the hustle and bustle with your company. Even if you are single well thats the best part your fun will continue till the morning light.

Well if that was the 1st couple of hours in bangkok. Imagine what would it be the coming days.

So enjoy your time in the land of smiles to the max.

Papaya salad

Papaya salad is one of the dishes you must not miss eating and enjoy it , when you are visiting Thailand. 

This green papaya salad, also known as "som tam", is popular the world over, and when you taste it you'll know why. The slightly tart flavor of the green papaya combines wonderfully with the spice of red chili and the saltiness of fish sauce and the sweetness of honey (note that it can also be made vegetarian/vegan - see recipe). Green papaya salad is a beautifully unique and flavor-filled dish that will make a great impression. It's also easy to make, low-calorie, and very nutritious. 

One of the best places to try and enjoy this salad is at condom and cabbages restaurant that's located in sukhumvit soi 12 in Bangkok. 

I recommend that you order it spicy and enjoy it to the max.

Thai people

Thai people

1. Thai people are tolerant and hospitable. Normally tourists will have no difficulty in
   adjusting to the local customs. However, they may find it useful to be aware of certain dos and don’ts.
2. Thai people deeply revere the Royal Family. A visitor should be careful to show
   respect for the King and the Royal Family. The best guide as to how to behave is
   to watch the crowd and do what it does.
3. When going inside a chapel, shoes must be removed.
4. Never climb onto any image of Buddha or chedis to take a photograph.
5. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by women, or to accept
   anything from the hand of a woman. To give anything to a monk, a woman will
   either hand it to a man who then passes it to the monk, or the monk will spread
   out a piece of handkerchief in front of him for her to lay down her offerings on
   the handkerchief.
6. When entering a Thai home, take off your shoes.

1. “Nam-jai” (which literally means water of the heart) is very important for Thai people. When Thai people say that a person has “nam-jaii,” it means that this person is happy to make sacrifices for friends and extend hospitality to strangers. 
2. Thai people always say “mai pen rai” (never mind or it doesn’t matter) when something unfortunate happens. They think that everybody and everything is acceptable. Conflicts should be avoided. 
3. Thai people also have a feeling of “greng-jai.” They are very reluctant to impose on anyone or disturb other people. 
4. Thai people are also expected to realize “thii tam thii soong”(literally, high place and low place). People can be “high” or “low” according to their age, family background, occupation, and professional position. They should behave and treat other people according to their own and other people’s status. Body parts such as the head and face are considered “thii soong” (high place) and feet “thii tam” (low place).Therefore, Thai people feel offended when someone touches or passes something to another person over their heads. They are also offended when a person points to them or at something with his foot. Head is considered “thii soong” (high place). Therefore, Thai people feel offended when someone touches their heads.
5. Thai people think that everything is acceptable. Conflicts, therefore, should be
   avoided.

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   In my experience .

   
   

   Thai people are mostly good hearted , generous , happy always smiling whatever the situation is.

   The show respect and loyalty, all those virtues will be yours as long as you do the same with them.

   My advice to you is so short , eat like them and you will understand them and be one of them.