welcome to Mojo travels and today we're discussing the expectations versus the
reality of traveling to Thailand are you a fan of our videos be sure
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for this list we are looking at the preconceived misconceptions tourists
might have about Thailand and what you should actually anticipate upon arriving
expectation cheap shopping means spend spend spend you might have heard that Thailand is among Asia's
top destinations for shopping which is absolutely true from outlet malls to Street Markets there's
a wide selection of spending opportunities with merely places open until late at night best of
all Thailand has developed a reputation for cheap prices attracting visitors on a budget with the
Thai bass converting to around a quarter U.S you can live like royalty in Thailand saving hundreds
or even thousands right reality be careful how you spend while Thailand is overflowing with great
deals you should still put thought into every purchase Street shops and even major shopping
hubs like MBK Center offer a mix of genuine merch and not so genuine many knockoffs are
of high quality at low prices which will appeal to budget Travelers who don't care about owning
the real deal just keep in mind that some bags and sneakers are discounted for a very good reason but
there's still plenty of solid match to go around not everything is as cheap as you'd expect either
as rates have increased along with the quality of products so be prepared to sniff out the best
bargains as long as you spend wisely you're literally in store for one of the most varied
and Atmospheric shopping experiences of your life expectation it's dangerous some might be hesitant
to visit Thailand under the impression that it's unsafe not only are the concerns of being scammed
or attacked but the streets are notorious for being danger zones the New York Times reported
in 2019 that Thailand had the second highest rate for Road deaths per capita stats like this can be
a specially nerve-wracking for those who've never traveled to Asia or perhaps even left their home
country reality it's relatively safe while traveling anywhere of course comes with risk
you'll find that most of the people in Thailand are helpful welcoming and beaming with positive
energy it's nicknamed The Land of smiles for a very good reason juvenile delinquency has seen
a recent Spike post-covered but crime in general has been on the downward spiral ever since 2003
or so it's also considered relatively safe for cautious female Travelers even those flying solo
the traffic is admittedly the most dangerous part of Thailand although this is easy to overcome if
you're smart about it take the BTS SkyTrain seek out the most reliable taxi companies and steer
clear of walking on the streets whenever possible do this and you'll see why Thailand is among South
East Asia's safer countries expectation it's not prosperous knits will have you believe that
Thailand isn't a booming country Thailand has seen its fair share of difficult economic eras such
as a 1997 Asian financial crisis policies still exists in Thailand as is the case with any country
looking past the lower wages and prices though Thailand is thriving in numerous ways reality
its economy is on the rise while still developing Thailand's economy continues to rise with each
passing decade this is evident through the growing abundance of high-end apartments and stores beyond
the surface the numbers speak for themselves the world bankers described Thailand as one of the
great development success stories from 1960 to 1996 Talon saw an average annual growth rate of
7.5 percent even during the Asian financial crisis the rate only fell to five percent with jobs
skyrocketing people under the poverty line shifted over 65 percent to just 8.6 within just under
30 years there's always progress to be made but Thailand has become a flourishing environment for
upper middle income expectation it's overcrowded with a population that stretches over 70 million
one might jump to the conclusion that every inch of Thailand is packed to the brim the numbers are
only more overwhelming when you factor in tourism which saw over 32 million foreign visitors in
2016. expats are estimated to be between three to four million and Bangkok is said to be the
world's second expats are estimated to be between three to four million and Bangkok is said to be
the world's number two City for digital Nomads just taking a glimpse at one of the streets it's
easy to assume that you'll need to fight through a crowd to get anywhere reality there are more than
enough spacious areas while it's easy to get lost in the crowd Thailand offers ample space if you
know where to go and when to visit there are fewer tourists between March and July but the rising
temperatures dispersing the crowds as long as you can handle the heat you'll have plenty of room
to take it all in outside of the sprawling cities Thailand is a natural Paradise with mountains hot
springs and various Resorts where you can unwind if you have a boat feel free to relax out at sea
or set a course for an island like copayam also 70 million isn't an insignificant number but Thailand
isn't even among the 10 most populous countries in Asia expectation the food is all spicy for some
the biggest concern while traveling is what's on the menu Thailand can seem off-putting for those
with no appetite for serious heat because of its reputation for spicy food and for those with an
adventurous Bend Thailand is definitely bursting with deliciously scorching dishes they'll put
your taste buds to the test but if this faces too much Thailand still has you covered reality
milder options are wide and varied if anything traditional Thai food has taken a step back from
the spicy stuff in recent years there are still dishes that will obtain your face red like Tom
Yum Kung well Thailand provides an extensive array of iconic easier going meals like Pad Thai as well
most food Merchants know that some patrons can handle the heat better than others so don't be
afraid to ask for the non-spicy auction or my pad on another food related note if you don't
know how to use chopsticks don't sweat it forks and spoons are mostly the utensils of choice in
Thailand with chopsticks typically only used for Chinese style dishes expectation cow San road is
the only place you need to go in Bangkok when visiting Thailand khaosan Road will probably be
your number one destination with good reason with an abundance of bars shops and exotic eats this
Bangkok Street might be short but you can spend all day or night exploring what it has to offer
while Khao San may be a top your list it shouldn't be the only destination on your list not by a long
shot reality there are endless places to visit for those who assume that if you've seen cow San
you've seen it all just Step Beyond its boundaries not far away you'll find the Bangkok National
History Museum the Grand Palace and the Temple of the emerald Buddha Bangkok is a massive Urban
playground bursting with Rich culture architecture and experiences and even Bangkok is the only tip
of the iceberg venturing to other Thai cities you can lose yourself in the ancient sites of
arutia the picturesque scenery of Chiang Mai and the sleepless nightlife of Patia expectation it's
not worth visiting during rainy season there's nothing worse than spending months planning a
trip cashing in your travel funds finally getting there and then it rains in Thailand monsoon season
persists from July to October thus you should just avoid those months entirely correct reality not
every day is rainy although those months bring a higher chance of rain you shouldn't be so quick
to discount them with more rain comes lower temperatures at appeasing those who don't care
for the hot season even when it rains in Thailand there's no shortage of indoor activities such as
the aforementioned malls taking a cool spa day or hopping between bars plus just because its rainy
season doesn't mean that it rains all day every day it's quite uncommon for rain to persist 24
hours straight some days you won't get wet at all we wouldn't suggest basing your whole trip
around the beach since there's some risk but if you're staying in the city it shouldn't rain on
your parade expectation all activities involving elephants are cruel more than ever people have
been rightly reevaluating how history has treated wild animals like elephants while the elephant is
Thailand's official national animal the species has also been endangered there since 1986 despite
mixed results Thailand has made efforts to preserve the species and you can do your part
too while still appreciating these Noble creatures reality respecting and helping the elephants is
the new Norm Thailand of course hasn't completely done away with some activities considered cruel to
elephants riding an elephant sounds fun but only for the humans as steady as the elephant seems
constantly having people on its back will stunt its growth however there is nothing wrong with
observing elephants from a safe distance Thailand now has respectable animal sanctuaries including
elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai visitors can watch the elephants bathe themselves and can even
accompany them on Jungle walks close contact is rightfully kept to a minimum allowing the
elephants to live as harmoniously as possible feel free to also volunteer and donate to this worthy
cause expectation the beaches are all spacious the creepy Islands kosamui Patong Beach these are just
a few of the sunny locales you might see showcased on a Thailand travel brochure while these beaches
are even more gorgeous in person those brochures leave out one little element the crowds reality
beaches can get crowded as discussed while people travel to Thailand expecting the cities to be
congested they Envision the beaches as their own private islands Thailand's beaches can attract
some of the most activity though especially during the high season as immense as the beaches appear
on Google Images a few hundred people can take up space quickly that doesn't mean you should
avoid the beaches as they're still some of the country's biggest draws just try getting there
early to grab out a prime blanket spot if you're dead set on the whole private Paradise idea seek
out some of Thailand's more underrated beaches in Riley or even head to a lesser known remote
island like kokud expectation English isn't common for anyone traveling overseas anywhere the most
daunting hurdle can be the language barrier just walking up to the hotel front desk can't
seem daunting feeling that the person behind it might not understand you and vice versa while it
doesn't hurt to know some of the Thai language before visiting Thailand those who only speak
English shouldn't worry too much reality it's a multilingual country Thai may be the country's
official language but you're bound to hear almost 70 other languages if you live there long enough
English is one of the most prominent languages that various locals speak or at least know a
few words of to some it's essentially a second language especially in cities like Bangkok Chiang
Mai and Phuket even many of the signs are written in English if you get lost and the signs are in
Thai don't hesitate to ask somebody nearby for directions there's a good chance they'll be able
to help especially if you point to where you're going on a map who knows you might pick up some
Thai phrases along the way do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from Mojo
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