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Expat Encyclopedia Aloy: A Thai word for delicious. Actually should be aRoy, but Thais usually don't say their R's. AIDs: Thailand has a problem with AIDS just as most countries do. It has made great progress in this area, better than some western countries. Being careful is recommended. Being paranoid or spreading rumors is discouraged. Baht: Thai currency. At present the rate is approximately 30 baht to the dollar, but things check. Check the Bangkok Post for up to date exchange rates. Bangkok: Loved by most, hated by some. A huge city filled with variety and culture. Also crammed with people and pollution. Known a Krung Thep to Thais. See an article on Bangkok here. Beer: There are many kinds of imported beer from Guiness to Miller. Thai beer, which is mostly lager, isn't too bad. either. Watch out for Singha, which is potent and gives some people a hangover. There are also numerous brew pubs in Bangkok. Prices are slightly less than you would find in the USA. Buddhiam: Approximately 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theraveda School. You will see signs of Buddhism everywhere you go. Buddha images should be respected and should monks. If you plan to stay long in Thailand, it would be helpful to know something Buddhism. Car Rental: Rental cars are widely available in Thailand and are reasonably priced by most standards. (See driving) Chiang Mai: Nice city in the North of Thailand. Condoms: Widely available and strongly recommended if you don't know your sex partner very well. Cigarettes: The anti-smoking campaign is slowly catching on in Thailand but cigarettes are available nearly everywhere. Thai brands are a little over a dollar a pack with imported brands being more expensive. Credit Cards: All major credit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist destination. Click here for more information. Driving: Driving in Thailand is vastly different than most people are used to and should be undertaken with care. For starters, Thais drive of the left side of the road (UK style). Speeds of other vehicles vary widely -- from pushcarts, bicycles and tractors, to speeding trucks. Expat: Short for expatriot - someone who lives in a country other than their own. Hotels: Found in most towns of any size, hotels very widely in terms of amenities and cleanliness. For the most part, a $5 hotel is basic at best. For $100 you can get something extremely nice. $20 will do it for most folks. Internet: Internet connections, including braodband, are widely available throught Thailand. This even includes small towns. Internet is not available in small villages, however. Service runs about $30 a month. Isaan: Northeast Thailand. Other spellings include, Isan Isarn, Esan. Khrung Thep: See Bangkok. Kwit Teow: Thai noodle soup ususally with pork or chicken.
Liquor: The most common kind of hard liquor is lao kao - rice whiskey. It is the drink of choice among regular Thai guys. Mekong Whiskey is passable for some. For those who want to drink something better, Johnny Walker is widely available. Vodka, gin, tiquella and such are found only in larger towns. At Thai establishments, you buy a bottle of liquor, mixers and ice. (Also see beer.) Mai Pen Rai: Nevermind, you're welcome, don't worry about it. As with most R's, the rai is usually pronounced as a L. Medical Care: Essentially, health care in large cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai is world class. In smaller town, it is a bit outdated and suitable only for basic care. For a more comprehensive view of medical care in Thailand, click here. Mor Hum: Thai Denim clothing. The traditional Thai farmers' shirt is the best known. Motorcycle Rental: Motorcycles can be rented at a reasonable price in most tourist destinations (but are difficult to find in Bangkok). (See driving) Phuket: Resort island in Southern Thailand. Police: For the most part, Thai police are friendly and helpful. Most don't speak good English. The key when dealing with any authorities in Thailand is to be polite and patient. Smile and don't get angry. Property: Foreigners are not allowed to own property in Thailand. That means the dirt. You can own the house a piece of property stans on, but not the ground. Radio: Major cities have English language radio stations. Rural Thailand does not. Silk: Thai silk is among the finest and most beautiful in the world. To be sure you are getting the real thing, shop at government stores, reputable businesses like Jim Thompson or Siamese Style, or directly from the weavers themselves. Telephones: Landlines and cell phone are available throughout Thailand. Service in rural villages can be spotty. Dropped calls and the inability to reach someone can be annoying. Some big businesses and government agencies don't bother to answer the phone at all. Terrorism: Until the New Year's bombings in Bangkok, terrorism was pretty much restricted to Southern Thailand. In general, Thailand is safe. A thought of thought should be given to the idea of living in Sourther Thailand, however. TV: Cable television, complete with CNN, BBC, ESPN, movie channels, Discovery and other western programs is available in populations centers and tourist destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya. Vegetarian Food: While available, veggie food is not as easy to find as you might think. There is meat in almost everything and eating veggie fried rice all the time gets a big boring. Large cities have vegetarian restaurants.
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