Thailand Holiday Deals

Do you want to know how to get a cheap Thailand holiday deal that is packed with quality 4 star accommodations? The secret will be revealed below!

The best thing about Thailand is everything is so modern and the people are so friendly. The food and accommodation is so cheap. Remember to stay at least two weeks to enjoy your time there.

Thai Food

The other highlight about Thailand is people speak good English there so it isn't hard to communicate.

Thailand Holiday Deals

I advise that you go to Thailand and ask the local travel agents for cheap hotel deals. Buying them overseas could be more expensive and you wouldn't have the benefit of the local knowledge. You can also score a bargain and get free tours. Top 10 destinations you should visit include:

Thai Food

1. Bangkok - hustle and bustle, great for shopping and bargain hunting

2. Phuket - gorgeous beaches

3. Chang Mai - where there are plenty of historical relics

4. Chang Rai - beautiful temples

5. Phuket - lovely resorts and delicious seafood

6. Hua Hin - beautiful beach near Bangkok

7. Pattaya - shopping and water sports

8. Krabi - natural mountains and beaches

9. Koh Samui - paradise and coconut island

10. Phang Nga - conservation park and unspoilt beaches

If you are planning for a trip to Thailand, always do a quick research on the reputable Thai eateries and plan to make a visit to them.

The top 10 food you should try include:

1. Tom yum Gar soup

2. Pud Thai noodles

3. Juicy red curry with roast duck

4. Hot Green curry with fresh coconut juice

5. Basil seafood

6. Chilli fresh mud crab

7. Spicy beef salad

8. Crispy green papaya salad

9. Cashew nut chicken stir fried

10. Open grill BBQ satays

I am a chef and I love my Thai food! Why? Thai cuisine is so interesting with all its flavours and fresh ingredients, you can hardly fault it. Thai food can also be very healthy for you if you use lean meat and fresh ingredients in your cooking. To be honest, it isn't hard to cook Thai food. The most important thing to remember is to use fresh in season produce and avoid frozen ingredients. Frozen ingredients usually have lost a lot of their flavours. Thai food can be made and served at dinner parties. It is also very easy to adapt to different peoples tastes. So if you have fussy guests it isn't difficult to satisfy them. The food has so many rich flavours it is hard for any food critic to find weakness in properly made Thai cuisine.

Have a safe trip and have a lovely time!

Thailand Holiday Deals

Lam Bong is an Author living in Sydney, Australia. He is interested in reading and creating websites. His latest website is about Best Thai Holiday Packages and finding the Easy Thai Holiday Tips on the web today.

Tiger Muay Thai Camp Review (Phuket, Thailand)

This is a review for Tiger Muay Thai & MMA in Phuket, Thailand. I turned up and originally planned and paid to stay here for 1 week... 1 week turned into 2 weeks. Then I came back for a month.

Pricing
The cost for training is about average for a Farang training in Thailand, and is as follows:

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• Half day 300B
• Full day 500B
• Week 2500B
• Month 9000B
• 3 Months 24000B

Tiger Muay Thai Camp Review (Phuket, Thailand)

A strong recommendation I will make, is that if you are coming here on a budget and/or have not done much intense training before, then only pay a week or so in advance. Time and time again people pay up for 3 months in advance, then only train a few times a week. Pay a week in advance and then see how much you think you will train before shelling out loads of cash in advance.

Thai Food

Payment is accepted via cash or credit card (Visa & MasterCard).

Accommodation

Rooms vary from 2,500B (small room with fan) to 20,000B+ (room with air con and all modern facilities and a swimming pool)/month. I was paying 12,000B for a very nice double room with cable TV, Wi-Fi, hot electric shower etc. at a place just down the road called 'The Nature House'.

My advice for accommodation is to only pre pay a few days or a week to start with. As you may find something much cheaper or if you already have a cheap room you may not like it and wish to upgrade.

A good (but not exhaustive) accommodation list is available on the TMT website.

Food

Eating in the local area can be anything from 40B a meal to 350B+ depending on where and what you eat. The cheaper meals tend to be Thai food (generally consisting of rice or noodles dishes), western food is much more expensive. A restaurant called Mama's is one of the cheapest around here and has a solid reputation. They also have cheap rooms available (9,000B/month).

Whatever you do, DON'T pay in advance for the food plan at the gym. It is overpriced and many people end up missing meals. There are plenty of other places to eat, variety is more fun than eating at the same place every day.

Training

As well as Muay Thai, the gym offers classes in MMA (mostly no gi jiu jitsu and sparring), Western Boxing, Krabi Krabong, Yoga and Circuit training.

In all honesty, the Muay Thai classes are overcrowded, and you will unlikely be recognised and given individual attention unless you stay a long period of time, or pay extra for private sessions. But you can still get a good work out.

The western boxing classes are good, with two world champions and a stadium champion instructing. But can still get very busy.

The MMA classes I have mixed feelings towards. The mornings are just no gi jiu jitsu (which is taught to a fairly decent level by Ray Elbe) and the afternoons are fairly intense sparring. And they do have a nice cage to train in. However no wrestling is taught.

If you want to do MMA here then my advice is to get the best of it by training the morning no gi BJJ class and then do the Muay Thai or Western Boxing class in the afternoons.
The gym also hosts seminars often (most of which are free) with visiting fighters. Whilst I was there Royce Gracie, Alberto Crane and Roger Huerta gave seminars!

Facilities

Tiger Muay Thai has some of the best facilities in all of Thailand. At the time of writing they have 6 rings, a MMA cage, a weights room (with enough benches, racks, machines and weights to get a really good workout), another weights area with lots of kettlebells and several spinning bikes, and many heavy bags. They are also having a large extension built.

Location

Phuket is a very large tourist destination. However, Tiger Muay Thai is located in the subdistrict of Chalong, which is cut off from most of the distractions this brings (beaches, bars, nightlife etc), but these are easily accessible by taxi or if you rent a scooter for 3-4,000B per month.

I'd recommend a scooter if you are staying for any period of time (just be careful, there are some 10,000 accidents a year in Phuket alone involving bikes).

With the freedom of a bike you can access the food and clothing markets, Central Festival shopping centre (including cinema), Beaches, Bars & Clubs, the local Zoo, the aquariam, Elephant trekking, Snake shows etc!

Equipment Shop

The price of most things in this shop are jacked up. Shop around unless there is something really specific you want here.

Personal Comments

Your time at Tiger Muay Thai will be what you make it. It can be a serious training camp or you can come here with the best of intentions yet get caught up in boozing most nights and spending your days on the beaches... or you can do a bit of both.

This place is aimed more towards the casual trainer on holiday with plenty of cash to spare, so unless you are quite tight fisted you can easily spend a lot of money.

I made lots of friends and enjoyed myself and what all the different classes had to offer, but after a time I grew tired of the overcrowded and commercial side to the gym and decided to switch over to Dragon Muay Thai just down the road...

Tiger Muay Thai Camp Review (Phuket, Thailand)

Check out my blog for more reviews: MMA & Muay Thai blog.

Why I Don't Date Thailand Bar Girls

Thailand is a magical place, the beaches, warm climate, unique culture, great food and beautiful women. It's easy to see how a visitor in Thailand may think that he has found paradise at last. Every years, thousands and thousands of Western men return home from a holiday in Thailand wanting to return as fast as possible. Many times, the reason for this is a woman, and more often than not it's a bar girl who has put a spell on him. Sometimes, everything works out and the couple live happily ever after, but in other instances, cultural differences and mistaken expectations lead to nasty breakups. Over the years, I've seen many Thai-Farang relationships. Those that lasted were generally not those who began in a bar.

There's nothing wrong with meeting your Thai sweetheart in a bar, I mean, that happens all the time back home, but I think there are good reasons to be vary before entering into a serious relationship with a 'bar girl'.

Thai Food

I am not one of those people who think that Thai women working in a bar are necessarily 'bad' or only out for money, far from it actually, but I do think that their lifestyle may present some problems in the long run.

Why I Don't Date Thailand Bar Girls

Picture this: A young, attractive girl from the countryside goes to work in a bar. She's never been out of the village before, let alone met any foreigners. Her daily life probably consisted of working in a rice paddy or falling asleep at some menial and boring job. Then she comes to Bangkok or Pattaya, with her head full of dreams and hopes. What she finds is a place where the neon lights are bright, every day is a party, drinking, sleeping until noon and then starting over.

Thai Food

For a young inexperienced girl anywhere, that kind of lifestyle has to be exciting. So, you see, when she meets you in a bar, is she really looking to settle down with a guy who is often significantly older than her?

Even if she is, is she ready to leave the easy work and big money behind and start working in a 9-5 job again? Leave her new friends and be the perfect stay at home wife? Most likely not.

The bar scene attracts a certain type on both sides of the equation. If you're looking for a nice Thai woman to settle down with and eventually marry, then I recommend looking elsewhere.

Take a walk down any street in Thailand; do you notice at least one girl sending you a shy look, maybe a smile? Maybe you don't, cause we as Westerners are not in tune with the subtle signals Thai women send to men they are interested in. Don't expect a 'good' Thai girl to make the first step.

Why I Don't Date Thailand Bar Girls

That's why I generally tell my friend to meet Thai women online first.

You'd be amazed how many Thai women are interested in meeting you. And it's definitely not only bar girls. Most of the time, the women you meet online are smart, educated women who want the freedom and stability a foreign man can provide. Believe it or not, Westerners still have a good reputation in Thailand.

So, go for it, sign up for a dating site and see what happens! You really have nothing to lose!

Running Your Own Small Business in Thailand

Thailand has many allures: beautiful beaches, a warm clime, a beautiful people, delicious food, impressive Buddhist temples, romantic and sunny isles, a low cost of living...

Many foreigners--frequent visitors to Thailand-are persuaded to set up and manage their own businesses in Thailand. They see it as the best of both worlds: settling down in paradise with its easy-going lifestyle, while earning enough money to pay the bills.

Thai Food

Without compromising your dreams, you need to know the pitfalls that might arise and how to avoid them. Here are some of the issues:

Running Your Own Small Business in Thailand

1. It is entirely possible to set up a small business in Thailand and meet your goal of covering your living expenses. However, you need first and foremost to know what you are doing. If, for example, you want to set up a small gems-trading business, it is critical that you bring solid experience to this line of work. If you wish to open a bar or restaurant-something many foreigners have tried-prior experience in setting up and managing such a business is critical. Without relevant experience, you may be in danger of losing your entire investment in a very short period of time.

Thai Food

2. Once you've determined that you bring enough experience to the task, you need to investigate the Thai market to determine who will be your customers; how to reach them (marketing); and where to locate your business in order to be most successful.

3. Once you decide to take the plunge, it is important you seek out a competent legal advisor to guide you through the process. There are a number of law firms that have Western advisors, so you can settle on someone who knows the in's and out's of these rules, and in whom you can trust.

4. In most cases, you will need a Thai partner-a true co-investor, or a nominal partner. This will meet the requirement of the Thai authorities for Thai shareholders to hold a minimum 51% of the business. However, don't be put off by this particular requirement: there are legal ways to insure that the foreign investor remains in complete control of his/her investment and your legal advisor will explain those to you.

5. Furthermore, your business will need a registered business address: this can be a small one- to four-man office, or an entire suite of offices, depending on the number of staff you need to hire. There are many office rental options in Bangkok and in the smaller cities and towns to suit your budget; however, if you are thinking of running your small business out of your apartment, your advisor will need to work with you carefully to find the location that meets the expectations of the Thai authorities.

6. If you are running the business in Thailand yourself, you will need to obtain a work permit, failing which you will be in conflict with immigration and labor law: that you want to avoid at all costs! The need for the work permit in turn brings up the issue of the number of Thai staff you will employ: there is a minimum stated in the rules (4), however these Thai staff can be phased in according to your start-up plan. Your legal advisor will tell you how to meet these interlocking rules without causing yourself too much of a headache.

7. It is critical that you retain a competent accountant (it is not likely you will need to hire a full-time accountant if your business is small). Accounting services are not expensive, starting from a low of GBP 100. (US$ 167) per month. You do want however to chose an accountant with whom you can comfortably communicate in English, as you need to be on top of the tax and accounting issues: the interlocking nature of the rules for Thai business is such that tax and accounting issues are linked to the renewal of your work permit & visa each year.

8. You will want to insure that the Thai staff you hire for your business are competent as well as capable of communicating effectively in English. You will be pleased to know that there are a number of Western-managed recruitment firms that have solid experience assisting Western managers with the selection of technical and administrative staff. You will need to pay a fee for this service of course, but it will allow you to avoid the lengthy process of newspaper advertising, pre-screening and the short-listing of candidates.

9. Some legal advisory firms can provide additional services to assist the investor setting up his new Thai business: help with the selection of office space to suite your needs-or an apartment for yourself; help to find a reputable office furnishings center; and many law firms can introduce you to an English-speaking accountancy service.

Running Your Own Small Business in Thailand

Should you wish to meet with an experienced legal advisor in Bangkok to discuss how to set up your new business, feel free to contact the author of this article, Mr. Phillip Venne, an American with over 15 years' business experience in Thailand. I can be reached at cell-phone +66-8-7595-0501 or via e-mail at info@gam-legalalliance.com. Details about the range of services available from our firm can be found at http://www.gam-legalalliance.com.

Mr. Phillip Venne is an American Legal Advisor who has 15 years of experience providing legal consultations in Thailand to foreigners concerning Thai Immigration, Setting Up a Business in Thailand, Family laws, Property Conveyancing and Foreign Visas Applications.

How to Make a Good Income When You Live in Thailand

The one thing that most (western) people don't know about living in Thailand is that you're a bit limited to what sort of work you can do. You can't take the job of a Thai, nor would you want to, because the wages are way too different to our western country wages. And you need the income. So, what sort of work can you do?

Well, a lot of westerners rock up in Thailand and immediately start teaching English. Now that's definitely a job you CAN do in Thailand, especially if you come from a country where English is widely spoken. Some westerners can teach English and love it. For others it's about as foreign as a Thai person feels trying to understand the meaning of English jokes.

Thai Food

Instead of trying out for the 'school teacher' job, there's a much better way to earn your dosh. And this is simply by tapping into the Internet, and either setting up a website, or just doing some effective online promotion. And actually it's not that difficult. Nor is it easy too, but hey - you won't know until you try.

How to Make a Good Income When You Live in Thailand

What's particularly great about using the Internet for earning an income is that more often than not you'll be paid in US dollars or an equivalent. And remember, you're living in Thailand so the cost of living is pretty low compared to back home. As an example, if you were to earn a mere US a day, that'd be around 1000 Thai Baht, which will go a LONG way in Thailand.

Thai Food

Plus the Internet is basically universal too. So you can have customers all over the globe, promote your product or services to a targeted market, communicate to your customers before USA even thinks about waking up, and all the while be kicking back in a healthy, sun-filled location where the food is absolutely divine. What are you waiting for?

How to Make a Good Income When You Live in Thailand

Martin has been writing articles for nearly 3 years. His latest website over at photography lighting kits gives advice about photography backgrounds for photographers who want to start up their home photography studio or product photography business.

Political Unrest in Thailand

The situation in Thailand reminds me the old saying - be careful what you ask for you may just get it. In September of 2006, Thailand went through a military coup. The military asked for the Prime Minister to step down. After the coup, the provisional government investigated the ousted Prime Minister and charged him with many things, mostly related to a misuse of his position as PM, which lead to a huge increase in his and his family's personal wealth.

I had the fortune to be seated next to another expat on my travels from Thailand recently, he from the UK and me from the US. He lived in Thailand outside Bangkok and me living in Bangkok. We had a discussion about ousted PM Taskin. He indicated that he believed Taskin did great things for Thailand, giving more money to people living outside Bangkok. I believe ex-PM Taskin did give things and money to people living outside Bangkok. However, the amount of wealth distributed in these outlining areas is quite small compared to ENORMOUS increase in personal wealth of ex-PM Taskin and his Family.

Thai Food

In a capitalistic economy, wealth is distributed by competition. Basically if something is desired by the people, the person/company that can manufacturer the item better and cheaper will sell more, gaining wealth. The company produces more of these items and hires more people. These people spend their money on food and things they desire and the economy hums along. When normal competition is interfered with by governments, the distribution of wealth becomes skewed and the wealth tends to stay in the hands of the few with power. We have all heard of countries where the upper class grows unusually large and the middle class grows small and the lower class becomes huge.

Political Unrest in Thailand

Ex-PM Taskin used his political power and turned it into wealth for him and his friends. His political power came from his campaign promises to the people outside of Bangkok which led to his election. So, while he was PM he had to make it seem that the people living in these areas benefited. But did they benefit? Well, yes and no. Yes, they benefited directly by decreased taxes or a new blanket or other some such item. However, the amount of wealth distributed to the people was very small compared the amount of ENORMOUS wealth which went to his friends and family instead of making its way by unimpeded economic forces.

Thai Food

Now, a little over a year later after the coup, there is still political unrest in Thailand. The new democratically elected Prime Minister has invited the Ex-PM back to the country. There are many questions arising about the ability of the current Prime Ministers ability to govern, such as:

1. There is a question concerning the validity of the elections that put the current PM into office;
2. There is a question concerning his ability to remember past important events; and
3. There is a question concerning his ability to deal with Thailand's neighboring countries and their human rights abuses.

Now, the old PM has returned to Thailand and pleaded not guilty to the charges of abuse of power. I can almost feel the Thai people taking a big breadth, waiting to see what happens. I originally came to Thailand because it feels like a safe place to live and the people are polite and friendly. I can only hope it can stay that way.

Political Unrest in Thailand

Copyright 2008 Asia Products LLC.

Christopher Snyder is the owner of Asia Products LLC and currently is living in Bangkok, Thailand managing an e-commerce store buying products to sell on http://www.asiaproductsllc.com He is documenting some of his more interesting travels in his Asia Travel Ideas website: http://www.apllc-connect.com

You can email him by clicking:
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Thailand Travel - 10 Interesting Facts About Thailand

It's certainly the mesmeric land of Thais that attracts more visitants than any other country in the Southeast Asia. Thailand is the country known for beguiling scenic beauty, stunning beaches, impressing culture, commendable hospitality, fantastic temples, ruins & souvenirs of fabulous ancient kingdoms, gastronomic riches, and lovely, smiling, and welcoming people.

Thailand certainly the destination that appeals you, bewitches you, captivates you, enthralls you....! It's the place that makes you visit it again and again. It's the vacation destination that you dream of. Surely, you can find oodles of interesting things in Thailand, but here are the 10 most interesting facts about Thailand.

Thai Food

It is often nicknamed as the "Land Of Smiles," because of the perceived gentleness of its people. The country is really populated by smiling, inviting, and receiving people. Thais are really gentle, polite, soft spoken, friendly, and hospitable human beings.

Thailand Travel - 10 Interesting Facts About Thailand

Siam was the old name of Thailand. It was the official name of the country until 1949, when it was changed to Thailand by official proclamation. 'Thai' in the Thai language means 'freedom'. So, Thailand means "land of freedom" or "land of the free".

Thai Food

The Mon ruled over what is now known as Thailand. The area was also held by Khmer. The Mon Empire was a great Buddhist empire, and the empire had trading relations with Indians for centuries.

Thailand retains much of its original culture, because it is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized. Thai culture is kin to the Cambodian culture & religion, which was adopted by Thais in the 13th century, after the fall of the Khmer Kingdom.

King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, established Bangkok as the capital in 1782. Bhumibol Adulyadej, the current King of Thailand, is also a Chakri Dynasty ruler. He is also known as Rama IX. He is the longest serving monarch in the Thai history.

95% of the Thai people are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. 4.6% of the people are Muslims. Malays are mainly concentrated on the southern tip of Thailand. 0.75% of the people are Christians, mainly Catholics. Sikhs & Hindus are tiny, but influential. The nation also has a small Jewish community.

Thailand is also known as the "Land of white Elephant." White elephants were highly esteemed and valued by the Thai Rulers. Elephants are still highly revered in Thailand. They are considered as the symbol of peace and prosperity.

Thais do not like someone touching them on head. They believe that soul, which is considered extremely sacred, resides in head. So, don't ever touch a Thai on the head, not even a Thai child.

Thailand is the 49th country area wise, with its total land area of 514,000 km² (198,000 sq mi). It is comparable to the size of France, and it is somewhat larger than the California State of the United States.

Thailand has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include Ban Chiang Archaeological Site near Udon Thani, Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex, Historic City of Ayutthaya & Associated Historic Towns, Historic Town of Sukhothai & Associated Historic Towns - including Kampang Phet and Si Satchanalai, and Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Thailand Travel - 10 Interesting Facts About Thailand

Author writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Holiday villas in Thailand, and Holiday villas worldwide.

A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Thailand food
It is beyond any doubt that food is a part of any gathering, thus, becoming the part of social occasions or itself the reason to celebrate. Normally, as per the western culture, a normal meal in any restaurant consists of starter, main course and then dessert. But in Thailand, the custom is a bit different with regard to Thailand food, as there is no single dish for a single person. As a general, all present in a gathering share the same dish together. So, it's better to have many guests together around the table than to enjoy with one or two as eating alone is considered a bad luck in the country.

One of the good things about Thai food is that they never dispose away the leftover food, as they consider it inauspicious and an enraging act to a female deity, 'God of rice'. Generally there are four seasonings in Thailand food- sweet, sour, salty and spicy. The food is satisfied only if it contains all the four tastes. Thai dinner mostly include meat, fish, noodles, vegetables and soup followed by desserts including fresh fruits and colorful rice cakes. Besides meals, there are snackers consisting of chicken or beef satay, spring rolls, salads, raw vegetable with spicy dips and sweets.

Thai Food

Thailand culture
Thailand culture is highly influenced by Buddhism in addition to some influence of Hinduism and other Southeast Asian neighbor. Thai art is the main item included in Thai Culture. Buddha image is the main constituent in different period having distinctive styles. At present, there is a fusion of traditional art with modern techniques. India has also laid much influence on Thailand literature. It includes the most notable work, Ramakien, the version of Indian epic, Ramayana. The poetry of Sunthorn Phu is also quite famous in Thailand.

A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Spoken drama is not given any importance in Thailand, but instead there is Thai dance, divided into three categories- Lakhon, Likay and Khon. A form of shadow pay, Nang Drama, is popular among southern Thailand. Folk music and classical music both are have their significance in addition to pop music.

Thai Food

Apart from it, one of the common customs included in Thailand is Wai, a common gesture that is similar to Indian Namaste. The hospitable and generous people of Thailand pay a lot of respect and homage to their elders, as it is the core of their faith and spiritual belief. Seeking blessings from the elders is considered important mark of respect.

A Brief Description of Thailand Food and Thailand Culture

Nancy Eben

Thailand Food

Thailand Hotels

Food in Thailand

Thailand is a country that is best being explored with all your senses - specially your tastebuds though! Because Thai people love their food. And if you have an adventurous tongue, then you'll appreciate the diversity that Thai food has to offer too.

The most popular Thai dishes
Some of the most favourite dishes among foreign visitors to Thailand are Pad Thai (fried noodles), Tom Yam Kung (a sour-spicy shrimp soup), Tom Ka Gai (a chicken curry with coconut milk) and the Massaman Curry (a speciality from southern Thailand).

Thai Food

Ingredients of Thai Cuisine
The probably most noticable ingredient of Thai cooking is: chili. Even though it's not an original Thai ingredient - it has just been introduced to Thailand a couple of hundred years ago by Portugese traders who brought it from South America - it's hard to imagine Thai cooking without chillis nowadays.

Food in Thailand

Fortunately for you, most Thai people nowadays know that Westerners prefer a milder taste and often have a hard time dealing with original Thai spiciness and will prepare dishes "mai ped" (not spicy) if cooking for European or American visitors.

Thai Food

Coconut milk is another popular ingredient. It's being made by pressing with flesh of coconuts with water, and gives a meal a nice, mild, soft, round note that counterbalances the spiciness.

Lemongrass is also a commonly used ingredient because it makes a dish taste pleasantly fresh. Different sorts of herbs like Thai basilicum, ginger, galangal, tumeric and cilantro are also commonly used. Note that in Thai cuisine, herbs are almost always used fresh, not dried. This is partly because fresh herbs tend to cool the body down in comparison to dried herbs, which often have "heating properties".

Eating in Thailand: A Shared Experience
There is a distinct difference between the eating habits of Thai people and people from European or American descent. Western people tend to order separate dishes, even when eating together. Thai people on the other hand order several dishes which will then be positioned in the middle of the table. Everybody gets his own plate of rice, and then everybody eats from these foodladen plates. It is not common to load your own food on your own table. Instead, you always take another spoonful from the shared plate, mix it with some rice, and eat it, and take another spoonful from the shared plates. Loading up food on your on plate is considered impolite for Thai people.

Vegetarian Food in Thailand?
Many people are under the impression that Thailand is a country where there are lots of vegetarians. However, this is not the case. Even most vegetarian dishes (like fried mixed vegetables) are prepared with either fish sauce or oyster sauce (both of which are made from either fermented fish or oyster essence). If you communicate that you are vegetarian however, they will prepare vegetarian food for you, but you should then learn to communicate that in Thai before arriving in Thailand.

Beancurd is most often also just another condiment in a dish, and seldom the main ingredient. Even though it is commonly used in Thailand, it most often is just added to a dish that contains meat for bigger variety.

Food in Thailand

Ramin Assemi loves Thai food and Thai culture - if you plan to visit Thailand, be free to contact him for travel advice. He's always glad to share his experiences with other visitors to the land of smiles.