Three years ago, my family faced a difficult question: where to go on vacation abroad? We're a middle-class family, but we wanted our own piece of paradise, even if it was for two weeks.

The embodiment of our desires and opportunities is Thailand. We heard different opinions from friends, read reviews and understood the main thing for ourselves: Asia lives by its own laws, which are very different from ours, which makes it mysterious, but also fraught with danger. So we drove with a little caution.

What to see in Thailand?

The first thing that caught my eye was the cloudy sky. The Russian holiday season in Tai is the rainy season (June to September). At the same time, there is a lot of humidity and heat: you just take the first step from the plane and get into the bath. The second is the contrast of unearthly beauty and construction sites, with the adjacent garbage. It’s important to remember that Thailand is still developing, it’s still being built and that’s normal for it.

In Ty's case, the first impression is deceptive. This country is like a good book, whose beginning is not very interesting, but with each new chapter the plot unfolds more interesting and interesting.

Pattaya is the most popular resort in Thailand and is conditionally divided into the northern and southern half. The southern part is called Jomtien Beach, where our hotel was located. We did not choose the city center for a number of reasons: first, the sea and the beach in the city itself is dirtier than in the surrounding areas; second, we were looking for a quiet place to relax.

The sea during the rainy season is turbulent, so it becomes muddy due to constant waves that lift sand from the bottom.

However, during this period there are various opportunities for active and fun pastime. You can hire a personal trainer and surf. Or, as I usually do, buy a big inflatable circle and ride the waves. It is not difficult: go into the water with a circle as deep as possible and safe, lie on it and everything else will make waves that will push you to the shore. The bigger the wave, the more fun!

But if you are going for blue clear water, then safely head to the islands!

White sand, gorgeous views - this is the piece of paradise we were looking for!

Each travel agency offers an excursion to the islands with an extended program, where you can catch fish, dance, etc. Also in Pattaya from the pier to the islands there are private boats that recruit a group of tourists or for a large amount carry only you.

Those who have been to Turkey know what cleanliness is when the sidewalks in front of hotels are washed with a brush and soap. You won't find that here. And that's great! Such “unpolished” is part of the local charm, it is harmoniously combined with natural beauty and perfectly reflects the attitude of Thais to life.

 

The population of the country is Buddhist. They believe that this life is not the last, so they treat it more easily. All our everyday life is spent in running and bustle, and here you find peace and learn from the Thais to be content with small things, to appreciate the moment.

The inhabitants of the kingdom really do not bother, and their laziness sometimes reaches absurdity. A vivid confirmation of this is the poles hung with telephone and Internet cables. If one of them is damaged, then it is not removed, but simply lead a new line. As a result, the whole country is entangled with such peculiar “lianas”.

Bypassing the Buddhist gods, Thais believe in evil spirits - phi. There is a belief that in every piece of land live disembodied entities, and according to tradition, before you put a house you need to provide living space for these inhabitants. Therefore, here and there are all sorts of “hotels for spirits”, from luxurious thought-out structures – to simple and small. And what is remarkable, the most common offering - soda "Fanta".

You can move around the city and beyond by bus, taxi, you can also rent a scooter. But the most common transport in Thailand, which many tourists call its business card, is a “tuk-tuk”.

There are two ways to drive this kind of vehicle: cheap and not very. Tut-tuk has a specific route that he drives every day. And on any part of the way you can "catch" him, going out on the road and putting his hand out. To drive for 20-30 baht - silently sit in the rear seats and continue the way when you need to stop - knock on the driver's cab, or press a special button. If you start asking about any store/restaurant, get ready to shell out 200-300 baht, because now it's not just a knock-knock, but your personal taxi. By the way, he's got other passengers now. But remember! If you decide to drive "cheap" closely follow the route of the driver, if he (suddenly!) turned somewhere wrong, immediately stop the vehicle and wait for a new one. There is a possibility that you will drive to the edge of the city in an unknown direction, simply because the driver decided to have lunch.

You can dine yourself in all kinds of restaurants, eateries - there is a pond of them, you just have to go outside the hotel. I recommend dining at local diners – these are usually family, home and cozy places.

Cook in such is no worse than in expensive restaurants, and the menu is designed for every taste: traditional Thai, European, and even Russian dishes. And the prices are much nicer. Often the names in Thai are duplicated in Russian translations, not always accurate. Such incidents always increase the mood.

Another tip: Try traditional banana and chocolate pancakes. They can be bought on the street in the diner "on wheels", where they are cooked before your eyes.

You also have the opportunity to eat by the sea. Shrimp, fish, corn - a typical beach menu. For a long time we were afraid to take seafood, because the Thais cook it in the morning and wear it all day in the heat – there was a high probability of food poisoning, but on the last day I gave up and tried bass baked in foil. To be honest, it was the most delicious fish in my life.

Eat the fruit! Where else to enjoy the most delicious pineapples, mangoes, mangostans, "dragon eye". When buying, you can ask them to clean and cut. There's no extra charge for that! And before leaving, you can negotiate with the seller and he will collect you in a special basket of fruits “greener” so that they safely reach home.

The most daring travelers can try and buy fried cockroaches, grasshoppers, etc. at the night market.

The night market is a place to visit. It opens with the onset of darkness at 6-7 p.m. Here you can find everything you want: souvenirs, medicinal ointments, clothes, jewelry, decor items, etc. All at low prices. I assure you, you weren't a shopaholic until you hit the night market. Prepare a separate suitcase for shopping - there will be a lot of them!

There are many beautiful gardens and temples in Thailand, and many tourists enjoy visiting such places to take beautiful photos and enjoy the view. My family is bored in such places, so the maximum we agreed to is a sightseeing tour of Pattaya, besides it was received for free from our tour operator. Here are some of the most interesting places you can visit yourself.

Excursions in Thailand

Pratamnak Hill, which houses the Great Buddha Temple

A beautiful staircase leads to the hill, but its beauty is not at all in beauty. When climbing and descending, count the steps. If the number up and down coincides (which logically must happen), then your karma is pure! If you're lost, she's not okay! That must be fixed immediately! Fortunately, this is not a reception from a fortune teller, where a tidy sum will be requested for the “ritual of purification”. At the foot of the hill, on the sides of the stairs weigh bells (about 60 pieces) – they need to knock a special stick, and – that’s it! We all laughed and said, “How can you make a mistake!”, but our mother lost her!

The Great Buddha Temple can only be entered with closed shoulders and knees, as well as barefoot. Here you can light incense, see how Thais pray, and for 20 baht make a wish (not material!) and receive a blessing from a local monk. A white thread is tied on your hand, and when it breaks, the desire will come true. As a gift for 20 baht you will receive juice or fruit.

Snake farm is another visiting card of Thailand. In the country, on the basis of snake venom, medicines, tinctures, ointments are produced, and the snake itself and its organs act as one of the most colorful and exotic dishes. On the farm, for example, you can try a cocktail with snake blood – this is for gastronomic extremes.

And just a curious traveler will linger on the Snake Show. Under the strange Thai music, a brave tamer communicates with creeping bastards and challenges them - a spectacular sight.

We continued to explore Thailand in the northwest.

Our family wanted something lively and active, so the choice fell on the most popular and rich excursion - "River Kwai". One of the advantages is that while you get to your destination, you visit many interesting places, such as:

Domyen Saduak Floating Market is a village built on the banks of the canal. “Thai Venice”, where you can swim on the famous “tailed” boats and stop at the counters with souvenirs. But we did not buy anything there, because in such tourist points prices are three times more expensive (and the same can be purchased at the night market).

Seven-level waterfall Erawan is the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand. You need to climb a long asphalt path, but the effort is rewarded with beautiful views. Each level is a small tropical fairy tale with vines, moss-covered wooden steps and moist but fresh air. By the way, dear girls and women, it is there that fish live, who make pedicures, eating coarse skin of heels.

The next stop is a small clearing, where several dozen wild monkeys run from the jungle. They can be fed bananas, but it is better if you take a pack of cookies with you - they will be more happy with this delicacy. And remember! Males have a hierarchy, so the older and larger eat first, but if you feed the young and the young first, you will provoke conflict and fight between them.

The culmination of the trip is rafting along the river “Kwai” in life jackets. We were caught in the rain that morning, and in the north it was cooler than the usual warm Thai rain, so we froze a little while in swimsuits rafting. But when we were thrown into the river – pleasantly surprised – the water was very warm. We like floats – serenely moved, succumbing to a small current, and admired the wild beauty – an indescribable feeling!

From the water to Elephant Village. First, we were offered a ride on the “eared giants”. When you ride an elephant, you “talk” in different directions, and under you feel every muscle, and in general – the animal is very pleasant, cute and you want to hug him all the time. After us, there was a whole performance in their performance with games and dances!

Another incredible place is the Iron Death Road and the ritual cave. Incredibly creepy, I would say. During the construction of the railway in the 40s of the 20th century, several hundred people overtook death - British and Thais, their corpses were laid in this cave. Today you can hit the gong and make a wish. Here's the thing... Thailand is a land of contrasts.

A trip to the north is a separate page of a completely different Thailand – more rainy, green, filled with life, mysticism and unique freedom of the soul. Such adventures give the feeling of wings behind your back.

If you like amusement parks as much as I do, then I suggest you visit the largest entertainment complex in Thailand - Siam Park in Bangkok. This place is suitable for adults and children. Water park, children's attractions, and - the coolest - zone of extreme attractions. Do you want to ride a roller coaster that really takes your breath away? Come on! One entrance ticket costs 900 baht and all the entertainment at your disposal. The area of the park is so large that it was simply not possible to visit everything in one day. I got positive emotions for the whole year!

The most extreme slide in the park.

And my reaction after it – this adrenaline I have never caught in my life!

And all of the above is only a tenth of what can be seen in Taia. The main thing is not to sit in the hotel. This country requires movement – walk, drive, communicate, but don’t rush headlong! Stop and enjoy the moment that fate gives you. Let go of doubt and open your heart to new things; you will be richer than you were before. Two weeks is hardly enough to get to know Thailand, so don’t limit yourself to one trip! Anyone who has been here once will return. And I'll be back.

Author of text and photo: Tatiana Goncharova