Notes about Thailand

1. Thai Spicy is spicy, but I think that if you grew up in Texas it really isnt a big deal. I asked them to do as spicy as they could everytime i ate anything and was never overspiced. However, my friend Byrd was a wuss with even mellow yellow curry. She is not from the south though. Cant blame her. haha

2. The best food you can find is ALWAYS about 5 minutes walk from all the tourist traps. It is always about half the price. Ex. Song's Pad Thai on Ko Phi Phi, wouldnt have found it if i hadnt asked a dude where the best pad thai is. But we were looking at 150 baht for crappy tourist food then we found heaven on a plate for 70 baht.

3. Thais live on very little. So sometimes realizing that this mans entire source of income is his motorbike taxi or tuk tuk rides really puts your exorbitant life in America into perspective, ie expensive handbags, luxury cars, expensive food, and bitching about things these people couldnt even imagine.

4. Unlike some other third world countries, Thailand people really do put forth effort to make a living. They havent exactly been taught an effective or efficient way to do it but they are always willing to learn and are so happy to be taught anything.

5. Old white men and little Thai girls is disgusting and there is nothing else to add to that.

6. A house on one of the most amazing island in the world costs $30,000. Now you wasnt to glitz it up you can own a mansion for 3,000,000 baht, that is under $100,000. So who wants to split a vacation home here with me?

7. COdy and I did a cost analysis on living here for a year and we did it considering pretty nice accomodations and food. here it is:

Room: 200*12 2400

Food: 15*356 5340

Travel:
Weekly Trip 1300(400B*2*52)
Trip to States 1500 2800

Drinking etc: avg 3 changs/day 1335
this takes into account you
dont drink every damn day

Activities:
Diving 1* per month
climbing 2* per month 1540

Miscellaneous: 200


Total Living Exp or 1 YR: $13,615


8. If you smile, or even better, smile, clasp your hands and bow a little bit, the Thais love you and treat you like family. Just assimilating a little goes a long way.

9. Thais are very nice people, although you must understand that there are punks and thieves in any nation. They sometimes get touristed out, but usually wil do anything to help you with whatever whim you have.

10. You will always be "Phalang" which just means white westerner, so you might as well own it and refer to yourself as the good looking phalang and know how to say "Sawatdee Krop, Pom Chue John" which means hello, My name is John.

LIfe is good here, people are nice and the landscape is beautiful. Hard to leave when the waves are crashing and the sun is setting.