Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - March 2007

BEWARE OF SONGKRAN - World Trade Center & Bangkok Shopping areas - Cambodia's Funny Money - BEWARE of Thailand's Jewelry Scams - Getting Around Bangkok - Angkor Wat - Beware of Bangkok & Phuket THAILAND Tailors - Dr. Beat In Siem Reap, Cambodia - ATM Machines Now in Cambodia

Saturday March 31, 2007 - Update April 12, 2007 - National Radio Text Service

BEWARE OF THAILAND'S SONGKRAN HOLIDAY

One person's fun can lead to another person's pain or even death. Disrespectful behavior during Thailand's Songkran holiday is rampant. Basically it's TOURIST BEWARE.

This year Thailand celebrates its Songkran holiday April 13-15....Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season.

Many Thais and tourists celebrate by shooting you with a water gun or throwing buckets of water and powder on passersby. Often people roam the streets with bowls of water and even a garden hose is used to drench each other or a passersby. Sewer water from the canals is often used.

The canals are Bangkok's sewers. Boats use the canals adding gas and oil to the mix. Your option to avoid having your clothes ruined and being showered with filthy water is to avoid Thailand during this time or confine yourself to your hotel.

Tourists and shopping areas near canals include, Siam Square and the World Trade Center.

Health awareness regarding the dangers of being exposed to filthy water doesn't seem to be present in Thailand. If you travel on the canal boats you will often see children swimming in the canal.

This year the holiday will be celebrated two extra days. Traveling by road or train at this time is difficult and overbooked as Thais travel to their provinces to visit their families.

In recent years this celebration has gone overboard to where it is so dangerous that it can and does cause a loss of life. The excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages leads to traffic accidents.

A tourist had a dangerous experience in Phuket several years ago. While driving a rented motorbike down a steep hill around a curve buckets of water were thrown at him by a crowd of youths. He hit a water slick and skidded off the road over an embankment.

His legs and arms were skinned up and a trip to the hospital was required.

His clothes were destroyed from excessive rips and tears. Clothing worn after the injuries could not touch the abrasions in order for them to heal properly. The healing process took over a month. His holiday was ruined. He took his wounds back to his country.

When he related the story to a Thai they found the incident humorous. Go figure......

During Songkran excessive drinking takes place in celebrating the holiday that results in many drunk-driving accidents on the road.

The powder thrown combined with the water creates a chalk like film that can cause damage to your clothes. If you choose to venture out of your hotel during Songkran it is advisable not to wear any jewelry and particularly a watch. It is also wise NOT GO outside with a digital or video camera.

Many tourists enthusiastically join in on the festivities. Unless you're an adult juvenile who likes to shoot water guns and throw buckets of water at people stay away from Thailand during Songkran.

If you're holiday is booked through this period and you would like to avoid the water nuisance take a trip to the bordering countries Cambodia, Lao, Burma or Malaysia.

The Cambodian New Year is celebrated at the same time of Thailand's Songkran.

Cambodian's do not celebrate by throwing water on foreigners. It is a safer place to visit during this time.

An alternative is for a traveler that doesn't want to go through the Songkran experience is to schedule a trip to Angkor Wat. It is a one-hour flight from Bangkok.

Traveling by road is the same, very crowded and dangerous due to excessive traffic and people driving under the influence of alcohol. Train travel in Cambodia is virtually nonexistent and not recommended.

NOTE

Banks in Cambodia will be closed April 16 & 17 (Monday & Tuesday).

Dr. Beat Richner is most notably known for two things... building children's hospitals in Cambodia and playing the cello. Dr. Beat performs in Siem Reap in the auditorium of Jayvarman Hospital Saturday nights at 7:15pm.

NOTE

In our recent ratings our story on Dr. Beat Richner ranked number 3 of our NR (National Radio) All-time most read stories.

Thailand is known for its abundance of tailor shops. A tailor made suite can be a good buy. That's the good news.

The bad news is some tailor shops lure customers through their doors by advertising that they will give the tourist a package deal that includes two suits (or more), shirts and ties for $99 to $199.

When you request the promoted package you are shown old material that has been sitting on their shelves for years that the tailor can't sell. More expensive material is then pointed out to you. The price increases radically.

If you express that you have little time and are leaving the country you may be told that you can pick it up in one or two days

Give yourself enough days/time to see if the garments fit. Also give yourself enough time for the alterations to be done properly. If you leave Thailand before the clothes fit to your satisfaction, factor in how much it would cost to have the alterations completed in your country.

Many tailor shops are using brand names without authorization and are not affiliated with the brand. A full story on Thailand tailors is forthcoming.

THAILAND'S ELITE CARD

For $25,000 Thailand offers an Elite Card membership…. if you qualify. Some membership privileges include: airport transfers to your hotel, free or discounted green fees for those that play golf and the entitlement of being able to purchase 10 rai of land. Full story coming....

ATM MACHINES NOW AVAILABLE IN CAMBODIA

This past summer of 2005 ANZ Bank began business in the country. They have provided what many travelers need most…. ATM machines.

They are located in several areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at Star Mart stores. In Siem Reap there is one located on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

JEWELRY SCAM IN THAILAND

Beware of the jewelry scam hustle in Thailand. It has been going on for years. Tourists are lured by tuk tuk, taxi drivers to an office or jewelry shops and sold stones that have little or no value.

Ten years ago a tuk tuk driver in Chiang Mai took us to an office to hear about this great deal where we could make money.

The office was near the train station. Upon arrival it appeared that there was very little in the way of furnishings. The small offices contained basically a desk and chair and nothing hanging from the gray walls.

We were told that they had a customer in the US that was waiting for the package of jewelry. The sales rep said that the tax to ship the items was very expensive.

We were asked to pay a sum of money for the jewelry. Our profit was to be made when we delivered the goods to their customer.

TIP: Save your time, trouble and most of all…money.

GETTING AROUND BANGKOK

BANGKOK'S TRANSIT ANGELS BTS & MRT Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and the recently completed MRT subway train line give a traveler access to a fascinating city in a short period of time.

The two train systems connect at key areas known for dining, shopping, recreation and amusement.

BTS SKYTRAIN - ELEVATED TRAIN LINE

Operates 6am to midnight. Fares range from 10 to 40 baht.

This BTS Skytrain transit system contains two lines. They have stops that can connect you from the National Stadium, MBK and Silom Square shopping centers and the Thaksin Bridge.

Along this route you may access to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and racetrack, the Silom business district.

Below the bridge there is an Express boat stop. The boat travels a major portion of the Chayo Phrya River with numerous stops including the Grand Palace.

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