Work. There is relatively low unemployment in Thailand. Being a developing country, they still use high volumes of labour rather than technologies. We saw this all over, from people sweeping streets with brooms to staff at the airport collecting luggage carts. In all of our trips downtown or to the market, we only saw one lady begging. There was a difference when we visited the Sinclair-Peters in their community outside Bangkok. One of the issues they face is the large number of people living in the slum area who have no jobs. Or rather, don't want the jobs that are available. There is work, and many people have come over from Myanmar (Burma) in order to fill them. That problem seems to be the same between our communities. People too proud to work, would rather be homeless or live as squatters on someone's land.
Shopping. Everyone seems to be selling something. Even the malls we visited were comprised of mostly small (like the size of an office) boutique shops, rather than the larger stores we're used to. The streets outside the shopping centres were lined with carts and racks selling everything from clothing to food to hand made crafts and used watches/shoes/hats/cell phones...sometimes it was just a blanket on the ground with stuff laid out on it. Shopping in these markets could be fun, the price is always negotiable and there was no tax. Cash only of course.
Temples. Lots of temples. I guess I don't know enough about Buddhism to understand why they have so many temples. It seemed more like Hinduism, with all these different gods being worshiped in addition to the Buddha himself. Rox made the observation that the culture seemed to be one of founded on fear. So much superstition, so many minor gods or ancestors to appease.
Scam. It seems like everyone is looking to scam you. If someone offers to help, most likely it comes with a price. A taxi driver might offer a ride, but his route will likely take you past a tailor or a massage parlor or...someplace where he will get a cut of your business. Even when you ask for the taxi driver to put the meter on, it's likely they will refuse, and rather negotiate a price. The bargaining in the market is usually more fun than scam. They ask a price, you offer less and work out a mutually acceptable one. Accept that as a tourist you will pat more than a local. You probably have more money than the local as well.
Gas prices. Fuel prices were just over $1 Canadian per litre. about the same as here.
Fruit / cereal / bread prices. Fruit was surprisingly expensive. We often found cooked meats like pork to be much cheaper than even local fruits. Cereal was twice the price to here (any imported cereal's were $8-10, didn't see many national brands) The most common breads were white and usually sweeter than ours. Very hard to find a whole grain bread, and when I did, it was about double the price here in Canada.
Shopping. Everyone seems to be selling something. Even the malls we visited were comprised of mostly small (like the size of an office) boutique shops, rather than the larger stores we're used to. The streets outside the shopping centres were lined with carts and racks selling everything from clothing to food to hand made crafts and used watches/shoes/hats/cell phones...sometimes it was just a blanket on the ground with stuff laid out on it. Shopping in these markets could be fun, the price is always negotiable and there was no tax. Cash only of course.
Temples. Lots of temples. I guess I don't know enough about Buddhism to understand why they have so many temples. It seemed more like Hinduism, with all these different gods being worshiped in addition to the Buddha himself. Rox made the observation that the culture seemed to be one of founded on fear. So much superstition, so many minor gods or ancestors to appease.
Scam. It seems like everyone is looking to scam you. If someone offers to help, most likely it comes with a price. A taxi driver might offer a ride, but his route will likely take you past a tailor or a massage parlor or...someplace where he will get a cut of your business. Even when you ask for the taxi driver to put the meter on, it's likely they will refuse, and rather negotiate a price. The bargaining in the market is usually more fun than scam. They ask a price, you offer less and work out a mutually acceptable one. Accept that as a tourist you will pat more than a local. You probably have more money than the local as well.
Gas prices. Fuel prices were just over $1 Canadian per litre. about the same as here.
Fruit / cereal / bread prices. Fruit was surprisingly expensive. We often found cooked meats like pork to be much cheaper than even local fruits. Cereal was twice the price to here (any imported cereal's were $8-10, didn't see many national brands) The most common breads were white and usually sweeter than ours. Very hard to find a whole grain bread, and when I did, it was about double the price here in Canada.
Gluten. Rox had a crazy hard time trying to find gluten free options. For a country where rice is everywhere (and I mean everywhere and every meal) they still use wheat flour for baking and in the sauces.
Respect. Respect is a big deal. removing shoes when entering houses, wearing pants and covering shoulders when visiting Temples or the Grand Palace. They're serious about it. A lady in line at the Grand Palace was turned back because her shirt was too shear. There is a very high value on being polite. This translates over when you engage people in faith discussions. People will easily talk and listen to your perspective, no hostility. Also no commitment. Which by the way, they have no word for.
Not yes. There is no Thai word for "no". The word translates as "not yes". Part of the polite thing, avoid conflict and confrontation.
Developing. Bangkok is very much a developing city. We saw a number of areas, often from the sky train, bus, taxi or river taxi, and everywhere there was wealth there was also extreme poverty. a brand new highrise will be next to a squatters slum, an area of single family homes will be 100ft from a garbage dump/recycling factory.
Respect. Respect is a big deal. removing shoes when entering houses, wearing pants and covering shoulders when visiting Temples or the Grand Palace. They're serious about it. A lady in line at the Grand Palace was turned back because her shirt was too shear. There is a very high value on being polite. This translates over when you engage people in faith discussions. People will easily talk and listen to your perspective, no hostility. Also no commitment. Which by the way, they have no word for.
Not yes. There is no Thai word for "no". The word translates as "not yes". Part of the polite thing, avoid conflict and confrontation.
Developing. Bangkok is very much a developing city. We saw a number of areas, often from the sky train, bus, taxi or river taxi, and everywhere there was wealth there was also extreme poverty. a brand new highrise will be next to a squatters slum, an area of single family homes will be 100ft from a garbage dump/recycling factory.
Clean. The Thai people have a very high value on cleanliness. The public bathrooms have a little disinfectant dispenser so you can wipe the seat after you're done...I never really saw anything very dirty.
Hotel keys. The hotels and our resort room were outfitted with a little box you put your key in when you entered the room. the key triggered the electrical system. without the key in the box all the lights and electrical plugs (except the one for the fridge) shut down. This meant our room was always hot when we returned as the air wouldn't stay on.
Beds. Our beds were always very hard. More like a box spring than a mattress.
Hotel keys. The hotels and our resort room were outfitted with a little box you put your key in when you entered the room. the key triggered the electrical system. without the key in the box all the lights and electrical plugs (except the one for the fridge) shut down. This meant our room was always hot when we returned as the air wouldn't stay on.
Beds. Our beds were always very hard. More like a box spring than a mattress.
Burmese church. We visited two church services on Sunday. One was a Thai congregation, the other was a 5 year anniversary celebration for a Burmese congregation. The Burmese congregation has grown from nothing to a fair size in 5 years. There were around 100 people out at the party. God has really moved powerfully among this group of migrant workers. Also shows the difference good leadership makes. These are all new believes, people who have come to Jesus in the past 5 years. Lots of growth and big need for training. They do like a good party. Rox and I left before the food came out, 2 hours in and they a were still listening to preachers and singing....space was a little tight for dancing. Reminded me a bit of our Gathering worship nights. Once someone starts preaching too long, people go outside for a smoke, come back when the music starts again. Or maybe it was just how the timing worked out.
Smoking. Everywhere. Not in malls or sky trains, but outside and in the markets (although much less in the official markets)
Smoking. Everywhere. Not in malls or sky trains, but outside and in the markets (although much less in the official markets)
Slums. Tin roofs, wood floors on reclaimed land. All over the city it seems there are these pockets of slums along the river or one of the canals. The city seems to be pushing them right up to the waters edge. I also saw similar slums along rail lines. They seem to fill the space between development and transportation links.
Floors. The floors were unbelievable clean. Really, never seen anyplace were there was so much attention to keeping the floors clean, not just in hotels or restaurants, everywhere.
Rail line. The rail system was very efficient, fast and clean. It cost us each 47 baht (just under $2) to get from the hotel to downtown. This included one switch over from the airport link to the regular skytrain. The travel options in Bangkok are: Sky trains, rail line, car taxis, scooter taxis, Tuk Tuk's (3 wheeled converted motor cycles), or water taxi (there are three versions of water taxis, from tour size boats to moderate 8 person crafts to the quicker long boats with the big V8 motors)
