Usually when I write blogs there’s some type of revelation happening or I’m seeing God move in a new way or have a lot to say. This is not that type of post. This a list of little things I’ve experienced or noticed in Thailand. None of them are critical in any way or a list of “wrong” things, they’re just different…and pretty funny.
- Paper towel: I didn’t realize how much Americans use paper towel until I wanted to wipe something up and I was left with using a dirty shirt of mine. Or when I wash my hands in the bathroom and I’m left to drip dry almost every time or try to use toilet paper (if that even exists) and then I have little white balls all over my hands and they are also still very wet. Hand towels, paper towels – they are not a thing here. Go team hand sanitzer.
- Public trash bins: There’s this game we play after we eat, it’s called Find that Trash Bin. They just aren’t around or if they are, they’re just lone black trash bags on the side of the road and you hope no one gets mad when you stick your sticky plastic bag in it. I’ve walked a mile with an empty coke can in my hand in search of a rare trash bin, to no avail.
- The exchange rate: 30 baht = 1 USD. I have eaten dinner many nights for 50 baht. Do the math…cha ching. (That hasn’t really kept me from spending money because there are so many awesome things, it has allowed me to do a lot of things without feeling too much pain in my wallet.)
- Rotee: This is a food gift from our Lord who art in heaven. It’s actually a Indian food and it’s sold on the street in little stands. Take a little ball of dough and slap it around until it’s paper thin and stuff it with stuff (like bananas) and fry it on a really hot pan then cut it into 16 little squares. Lay 8 square on styro foam tray and coat them in chocolate and condensed milk. Repeat. Eat with a little stick. And it costs 35 baht. You’re mouth is probably watering. Totally normal.
- Thai (tourist) pants: These are mega pants that come in many shapes and sizes. People call them thai pants but…but I’ve seen very few if any native Thai people where them. So we love them and all have two pair.
- Tuk tuks and sung taos: Chiang Mai taxis service. In a sung taos, riding in the bed of truck just got so much fancier and ok. A tuk tuk is a very nice and motorized, three wheeled taxi. Fun fact: if you’re wearing a skirt, it’s best to have a handle on that situation before you’re going 35 miles an hour.
- Coffee: Thailand and America have pretty much the same number of coffee shops and this was shocking to me. There’s almost no drip coffee available, it’s all espresso. Yay caffeine.
- 7 Eleven: This is the grocery store, Walmart and Dollar General all in one. They are every 100 yards and I am so grateful for them. I’ve walked out with water, a cheese toasty (grilled cheese), seaweed chips, a tweezers, diet coke and toilet paper. All that for less than 5 USD thanks to my friend, the Exchange Rate. The richest man in Thailand is the owner of 7 Eleven – this fun fact provided by my Thai friend, who is an amazing father and his name is Aaron.
- Street aromas: My nose has never been such a guide as it has been in the city. There’s the smell of the undead that rises from the stream that I walk by most days; the wonderful smell of fresh fruit stands; the tempting smell of rotee; the sharp smell of pounded chillis that can make my mouth burst into flame; and the unknown smells of the bar street, to name a few.
- Street dogs: These guys come in all shapes and sizes. What’s amazing is that they go about their lives like they own the streets. I’ve been passed up by a dogs on the side walk as he jaunts to his next location without a glance at me and I’ve seen a dog look both ways before crossing the street. If a dog has a giant shirt on, that means somebody owns it. Collars kind of indicate ownership but it’s much less clear. There was even a dog with a huge cast on its front leg, so he looked like a stray but someone loves him enough to fix his leg. They sleep where they want, and they eat what they want.
- Motor bikes: Cars are a luxury item here. Maybe 2/3 of people travel exclusively by motorbike. And by people, I mean ALL people like toddlers and babies. Toddlers are sandwiched between two people or held behind by a belt wrapped around the parent. They’re taught to ride very early and they make it look so easy. I can’t imagine driving one and managing so much body weight.
ROOOTTTTEEEEE
