Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Over the Border and Through SE Asia to Pattaya We Go!

Sunday we left Sihanoukville at 8am to start our trek to Pattaya, Thailand. We took a 4 hour bus ride through the mountains to the border of Thailand. The bus couldn't cross the border. Instead, men with carts met us, took our luggage and then walked with us through "no man's land". We had to get our Thai visas, walk across the border, and then meet a van on the other side. Then we had a 5 hour drive to Pattaya, Thailand. The first thing we found in Thailand was that unlike Cambodia, they do not take US dollars, anywhere. So there I was in a foreign country using an ATM trying to take baht out of my bank account. Fun fact: the exchange rate is 35 baht to 1 US dollar. In Cambodia the currency is riel and 1000 riel is equal to 25 cents. The second thing I learned in Thailand is that most signs are not in English and Thai, unlike in Cambodia where most things are written in English and Khmer. So ordering lunch consisted of pointing at pictures hoping for the best. The third and best thing I've learned thus far has to do with the toilets. In my bathroom is a large trash can filled with water (it's definitely not fresh water because there are floaties in it, but that's beside the point) and there's a bowl floating in the water. What is one supposed to do with this you ask? Well let me tell you. I thought maybe the Thai people were concerned for my physical health and placed it in the bathroom so that each time I showered I had to push with all my might to move the can from one side of the bathroom to the other. And although that still may be one of the reasons it's in my bathroom, it's not the only reason. The toilet well only holds water for so long, so once the toilet well loses water, it's my job to use the bowl to scoop water out of the can and into the toilet well until it's full. Yep, you heard correctly. Indoor plumbing that's only partially efficient. But really, isn't going to the bathroom so much more satisfying when you get to take part in the process? whoever came up with #it'snotworsejustdifferent clearly hasn't been to Pattaya, Thailand :)



5 comments:

  1. Uncle Tony would call that glamping. Maintain your sense of humor....the adventure begins. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well I see a toilet..at least you're not aiming for a hole in the ground down the block and across the street somewhere :)
    For sure not boring!!! XO

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Another thought (Random)......can you fill the toilet bowl with shower water....why do you have to use the water in that can??

    ReplyDelete
  5. Some truly wonderful work on behalf of the owner of this internet site , perfectly great articles . mainqiu.asia

    ReplyDelete