Here is some useful information on Thailand:
Thailand,
of which the capital is
Bangkok
,has always been a free country and has never been colonised. During the
centuries this has allowed the country to maintain its integrity,
customs and culture. The language has always been Thai and has never
undergone any foreign influence, except recently, luckily for us,
English is now spoken in some parts of the country. Before purchasing a
ticket, here is some useful information about this wonderful country
also known as "the land of smiles".
You do not need a Visa if your intended stay does not exceed 30 days
but if necessary you can extend your stay up to a maximum of 10 days at
an Immigration Office for a fee of 1900 baht. The currency is the Baht,
divided into 100 satangs .The exchange rate (as of january 2008) is
approx. 1 GBP= 64,80 Baht and 1 Euro = 48.30 Baht. Remember that your
passport must have at least a 6 month validity..Here is a
link
where you will find current exchange rates |
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Tanya
with a fruit shake |
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Airport departure tax is 700 Baht for
international and 200 Baht for domestic flights ( these can change without
notice) but often the tax is already included in the cost of the airline
ticket .
Money can be changed in all the banks and exchange kiosks but remember to
check the rates first as these can vary notably from bank to bank and can
make a significant difference if you are exchanging large amounts.
There is no black market exchange in Thailand
Thailand is a shopping paradise for clothes and hand made goods. Be careful
when buying sacred images, shells or corals as it is against the law to
export some of these items. .
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Deserted
beach in Kho JUM
;-)) |
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A suggestion for your health:
Only drink bottled water and always check that the cap seal is intact..
Otherwise you can solve this problem, like I did, by only drinking BEER!!!!
the cost is only a little higher..
Never drink ICE unless you are sure that it is drinkable. The ice with a
hole through the middle is made with drinking water but sometimes bottles
and cans are put in the same cooler that the ice is kept in!! Bottles and
cans are full of dust and bacteria etc.. avoid if possible. .. The same
applies for tea or other soft drinks, ensure that these are prepared with
drinking water. If you are not careful, you could spend a lot of time on the
toilet and ruin your holiday for 3 or 4 days!!! .
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Franco and the captain
Mr. Mard ... |
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The climate. Thailand has 2 distinct
climates, tropical in most parts of the country and tropical monsonic in the
south and south east. There are 3 seasons - the Hot Season from March to May
; the Rainy Season from June to October and and the Cool Season from
November to February. Temperatures vary from 25° to 40°Celsius.
Last but not least, in Thailand, no vaccinations are obligatory but bring a
good mosquito repellent ( which you can also buy in the local shops) and
some medicine in case of stomach upset or diarrhea which are the most common
ailments. A good high protection sunscreen is a must if your skin is not
used to being exposed to the sun.. Have a good trip and see you there...
One important thing: Pease DO
NOT ask what the weather will be like in August in Krabi, Phuket or Samui..
when we are in January, not even the the greatest weatherman would be able
to predict so far ahead!!!!
Tanya e Franco
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Long Tail in a Kho JUM
bay ;-))
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