Fascinating things we learned about Thailand

1. ‘Grab’ is the equivalent of our Uber. Grab taxis are over 2/3rd cheaper than other local taxis.

2. A scooter is about 10th of the cost of a car. Not many people wear crash helmets, but they do wear a face mask!

3. Tesco has shops in Thailand - they are branded as ‘Lotus’. Boots are there too.

4. The temperature in Thailand is either hot, hotter or hottest; rain-wise, it’s either dry, wet or wetter.

5. It’s cheap to eat out on the streets; 50p for a coke, £1.50 for a beer, £3 for a main course.

6. People don’t routinely shake hands; the equivalent is a short bow with palms pressed together like praying. Historically this was to indicate you had no weapons.

7. Wine is expensive (average £15-20 for a bottle). Spirits are cheaper at about

£3-4 for a small bottle of local rum, for example.

8. A whole-body 1hr Thai massage is generally around £6-10 near beach resorts. In posh hotels, it can be ten times this cost.

9. The majority of Thai people are Buddhist. Did you know that Buddha is believed to be unisex?

10. Trains stop for cars in Bangkok, making them slow but cheap - a ninety-minute journey can cost less than 50p. The design of the original Bangkok station is based on one in Frankfurt.

11. Men (age 20 and over) can be a monk for anything from 5 days to life. Women can be nuns for a short time or life.

12. Men or women can marry before becoming a monk or nun, but have to leave their wives/husbands during that time. However, they can return to them afterwards! Monks and nuns worship together but live in separate areas.

13. At 8 am and 6 pm every day, it is a tradition across Thailand for loudspeakers to play the national anthem in public transport areas, schools, government buildings etc. everyone stops what they are doing, stands, and listens to the end.

14. Thailand has a ‘year of’ similar to the Chinese. For example, 1969 is the year of the chicken and 1967 is the goat

15. The King can have multiple wives and consorts, fathering many children with them all. There has to be a male heir and if they do not have a son the title moves to their brother or nephew. Our guide made reference to the film 'King and I' .

M&J July 22