My new travel goal.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

Just wanted to post this, my new travel goal that has helped me get up every morning and deal with work lately.....once things slow down in May and I will be able to take some time off (provided I go back to serving again) I am thinking of visiting Thailand. This is a place I've wanted to visit for many years and since once you get there meals are cheap (less than $1.50 if you eat with the locals at a sit down street food type of place I've been told) and safe and clean but not luxurious hotel rooms can be found for USD $20 a night in Bangkok....this seems very much possible. I also found decent airfares on EVA Airlines (based out of Taiwan) for flights in Premium Economy (more seat room, more recline, better baggage allowances)....and this airline has a rep for doing things right and for not being stingy with food and drink (a travel pet peeve of mine).

So we'll see.....I'd very much like to visit someone new and different and inexpensive with my husband.....and also a place where gay is not a big deal AND a place where time does not equal huge amounts of money - meaning that lodging and meals are inexpensive. Thailand seems to check all these boxes.....will update once decisions have been made......but very excited that this may come to be! Rob

[iris lilies]

I love the idea of thailand. I have been there once and plan to go back again.

[ToomuchStuff]

I only know of two people that went there. In the last couple years, someone convicted of child porn, who used (prior conviction) to always have underage girls in the car, and a buddy of his, also into underage girls, went there for hookers.
One other person I know went close, but didn't go to that country, as she was fighting against sex trafficking. It was after she got back, she approached me and wanted me to father her kids. She is WAY too young for me (20+ years, I used to hit on her mom).

[sweetana3]

My hubby and I have been to Thailand twice. We explored North, South, and Northeast Thailand. Yes, they have a sex business "problem". They do not think of it the same way we do. The US just hides or tries to hide their issues and violence/criminalization is much more prevalent.

It is a beautiful spot with many interesting things to see. The people are friendly and very hard working. The food is amazing. I suggest flying into Chiang Mai rather than Bangkok. We both loved that place and agreed to go there and stay for awhile next time. You can arrange a visit or volunteer stay at the Elephant Nature Park where elephants are cared for and removed from the harsh tourist world. It is a pretty walkable city. Bangkok on the other hand is a huge (did I say huge?) crazy busy noisy and car filled city.

Eva Airlines is amazing. We used Premium Economy both times and would use it again. If you want some info and great pictures, check out Thaifoodandtravel.com. Kasma has been leading tours for 25 years on her own. She is a professional chef/photographer who teaches Thai cooking in Oakland.

[frugal-one]

I am thinking of Thailand also. So... you would fly to Taiwan then to Thailand so you are able to hook up with EVA air? How are you thinking of doing this????

[sweetana3]

We flew to San Francisco to catch Eva and then it was Taiwan then Bangkok. Nice layover in Taiwan in a very modern airport with lots to see and do.

[Teacher Terry]

When I went in 1998 we flew to Japan and then Thailand. It was very beautiful. We went in NOv which is winter but it was still in the 90's and very humid. The air was very polluted and so was the river. The bathrooms were a squat over a hole situation that they made you pay for. I am glad that I went but would not go again.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I am thinking of Thailand also. So... you would fly to Taiwan then to Thailand so you are able to hook up with EVA air? How are you thinking of doing this????EVA Airlines flies direct from LAX to Taipei and then it's a three hours on a connecting flight to Bangkok. There are other airline options but EVA Airlines is well regarded and is considered one of the world's better airlines. Rob

[sweetana3]

Rob, be sure and check out Premium Economy on Eva. We found it fantastic and comfortable while being way more economical than business. We did it twice and had no issues or complaints about service or quality. Did get bummed out over 1am departure time in SF but just slept on the plane.

Thailand is both primitive and modern at the same time. You can stop in a convenience gas station stop and find grocery, restaurant, fancy coffee shop and both squat and regular toilets. Take your own paper and paper is not flushed.

[flowerseverywhere]

I have been to Thailand. I went on a tour as I was going with another woman. Everyone on the tour thought we were gay and did not really have husbands. Early on the couples partnered up and we hung around with the two gay guys who incidentally were the nicest and most adventurous. They took us to boys town and I had no idea we were looking at young men instead of women.
Most of the food was very good. There had been flooding so there was way more river trash. We went to a factory where they made bamboo shish kabob skewers. OSHA would have had a field day there. Barefoot with no protection working around dangerous machines, wood flying everywhere, noisy and pretty much outside.

Here is my fondest memory. A truck rolled through a rural town announcing the monks would be there the next day. The next morning we got up early and went out on the street. People were lined up on the side of the road with their offerings to the monks, And they lived in grass huts and shacks with dirt floors and no indoor running water. They were happy to be so generous. That was four years ago and they were under martial law but we had no problems.

I was was so impressed by the Buddhists, as they helped the poor we only saw one street beggar. Since I have been back I have studied with a Buddhist group and studied their philosophies. It has greatly enhanced my life and made me appreciate the exhorbitant wealth and lavish lifestyle we lead here in the US. We had access to flush toilets most places, but carry your own paper. We stayed in very nice hotels.
many of the souvenirs were made in China. We visited the Hmong longneck village but it seemed to me to be a tourist trap.