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The 5 Best Full Moon Parties Around The World

Johnny — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:55:16 +0000

There’s something about a full moon in the sky that makes us backpackers go a little bit mental, and I’m all for it. Thailand is the poster child for these all night get togethers but there are more unknow party spots dotted around the globe waiting for you to discover them. So lets embrace it and have a look at five funky full moon parties around the world:

1) Koh Phangan, Thailand:

Hat Rin beach on Koh Phangan is synonymous with full moon parties the world over. Over 10,000 backpackers congregate here to get loose drinking buckets and covering themselves with neon paint. If you take your partying serious you’ll be here. My word of advice? Don’t scrimp on your accommodation when you’re here, you’re gonna feel the worst you’ve ever felt the next day so you’ll be wanting plenty of air con and swimming pools to help you recover, believe me!

2) Zanzibar, Tanzania:

Wanna piss off your kids in 20 years by saying you partied somewhere before it got ruined by excess tourism? This is one of our few remaining chances! It kicks off in Kendwa, in the North West of the island, a taxi-ride from Stone Town. The parties are held on the Saturday just before or after the full-moon, these are full on beach affairs. I was lucky enough to check this out a year or so ago although to be honest the last thing I remember was downing some rum with some Kenyan Masai tribesman, expect something similar. NOTE: you have to pay to enter, around $10.

Me with my new found Masai friends in Zanzibar

3) Goa, India:

Perhaps the original full moon party scene where our parents were more worried about tie-dyed t-shirts than mortgages. The hippy scene was loving Goa as far back as the 1960s and nowadays theres a full on backpacking scene each full moon here. More of a traveler vibe than Thailand’s full moon, which can be full of drunk one-week holiday makers now. So whether you’re a down and dirty budget backpacker or found holidays to Goa with holidayhypermarket, Goa’s Anjuna Beach is waiting with open arms (and plenty of booze)

4) Magnetic Island, Australia:

In the North East of Australia young Aussies who were brought up with Bali and Thailand a short flight away have done their damndest to recreate the vibe for one evening (and morning!) a month, and they’ve succeeded. On Magnetic island, a 20-minute ferry ride located just off the tip of Townsville, Queensland, the full moon attracts more than 2000 revellers, just don’t expect any sleep until dawn!

5) Montañita, Ecuador:

On the coast of the Pacific Ocean Ecuador has spawned an unlikely full moon party vibe. Posters of Bob Marley, Jon Lennon and Che Guevare are rife and people smoke the local herb freely. Cheap booze and good surf attract people all year long too but it’s on full moon when things get extra crazy! It has a young vibe so get be prepared to get crazy!

If you’re a hardcore party goer then whack these on your to-do list, you won’t be sorry. Happy travels!

The 5 Best Full Moon Parties Around The World is a post from: onestep4ward.com

How to extend your Thai visa in Bangkok

Johnny — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:22:11 +0000

I’m flying to Korea on Christmas day for 3 weeks in South Korea, one week in North Korea and then a trip to North Eastern China for the ice festival in Haerbin. I’m currently in Bangkok and my visa expired yesterday, but I don’t fly from Bangkok until next week so I needed to extend my visa. For anyone else who needs to extend their Thai visa in Bangkok, or needs to check into immigration every 90 days – this is where you need to do it:

Print this out or save it on your smart phone for the taxi driver

Thai Immigration Phone: (+66) 0-2141-9889

Google map HERE

NOTE: The old immigration office is Soi Suan Phlu, Sathorn Tai Road, Bangrak, Bangkok. DO NOT GO HERE!! This is now effectively closed.

How to get to Thai immigration:

The easiest way is to take the Bangkok Sky Train to Mo Chit station ($1-$2), and from there use the address above to give to a taxi driver to take you to immigration (about 100 baht taxi fare, $3-$4).

Can I extend my Thai visa?

Probably, yes. If you have a standard 14 day or 30 day visa (one you got on arrival by land or air into Thailand), then you can extend your visa for a maximum of 7 days only. It costs 1900 baht ($60).

If you have a 60 day visa that you got from an embassy or consulate in your home country, or another country, you can extend your visa for another 30 days. Again , this costs 1900 baht ($60)

If you need a longer extension, you’re gonna need to do a visa-run to a nearby country. More info here

What do you need to extend your visa?

1900 baht (atms at immigration)

Passport

Copy of Passport, Departure Card, and Entry Stamp (can get this in the huge building at immigration for 3 cents per page!)

1 Passport-sized photo (can get this at immigration too)

Application Form (provided at immigration)

Your address and phone number

How long does it take to extend your visa?

It takes around 60 minutes to get there, 60 minutes form-filling, queuing, waiting and another 60 minutes to get back to your hotel/hostel etc, so give yourself the morning to sort it out.

The procedure for extending your visa:

1) Queue outside the immigration office within the huge building (pic above)

2) When you get in, go to the counter and tell them why you’re there – they’ll give you the appropriate form

3) Fill in the form (both sides), attach your passport photo to the form and hand it back to the ladies who gave it to you

4) Go through to the next room, queue up for a ticket number

5) The ticket number will tell you which counter to sit beside, go there and wait for your number to be called

6) Go to the counter, have a quick chat, go back and sit down outside the counter again and wait to be recalled

7) Collect your passport, with the overpriced extension and be on your merry way

Immigration opens at 8.30am, so try to be there around 8.15am. It also closes between 12.00-1.00 so bear that in mind too. Good luck!!

How to extend your Thai visa in Bangkok is a post from: onestep4ward.com

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Top 5 Best Places to See A Show in the World

Johnny — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:26:48 +0000

When movies, bars and restaurants become a little too familiar to fill your evenings with, it’s time to branch out and experience something new. I was in this situation in Bangkok myself recently, so I googled what to do in the evenings – I ended up taking my girlfriend to one of the most awesome shows I’ve ever been to. This sparked my interest and I promised to endeavor to see some more around the world, check out my top 5 places to see a show around the world:

1) Broadway, New York, US:

Probably the most famous destination to see a show anywhere in the world, with more than 40 professionals theatres featuring venues with 500 seats or over. You can grab yourself a cheap ticket on the afternoon of the show by turning up to the huge white and read TKTS booth at the end of Time Square (47^th street) where tickets run at 25%-50% discount, yes please! I was lucky enough to see the Lion King here a couple of years ago.

2) London’s West End, UK:

No trip to London is complete without checking out a show in the west end. With around 15 million people attending shows each year, this place is hiving every day of the week. The West End is the most expensive place in the world to rent office space to tickets don’t come cheap, consider arranging one of your theatre breaks before you come to save some cash. I saw the Wizard of Oz here a few years ago, magical.

3) Sydney Opera House, Australia:

The only UNESCO World Heritage Site to make it onto the list, the iconic opera house is a great place to watch any show. Located in Sydney harbor, the site alone is worth a visit but you haven’t really been to Sydney until you’ve sat in the Opera House and watched something. I saw a ballet show here in 2009, very cultured indeed (read: I had no idea what was going on). This is one of the landmark buildings across the globe, yet you can pick up tickets for as little as $15 depending on the event.

4) Siam Niramit, Bangkok, Thailand:

Not anywhere near as famous as it’s 4 contemporaries but as a Bangkok resident, and with it being the inspiration for this article, I thought it deserved a place. Located in the centre of Bangkok, Siam Niramit is a state-of-the-art 2000-seat theatre, open every day, presenting one of the world’s largest stage productions. It comes complete with waterfalls and rives on stage, truly breathtaking and it runs every day. Tickets run around $30. You can purchase them online.

5) La Scala de Milán, Italy:

Built on the former site of settlement of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala is the most famous opera house in the world, an unmissable landmark in the visit to Milan.  It has represented many of the most famous operas of all time. Each year, the seasons start on December 7^th, try to book tickets in advance, La Scala is predictably popular.

I’m no theatre expert, far from it, but if you’re in the area of any of these five places – try to check them out. They’re part and parcel of a trip to any of the cities, and they’ll be a memory you’ll always cherish. Happy travels!

Top 5 Best Places to See A Show in the World is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Getting A Chinese Visa in Bangkok

Johnny — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:43:45 +0000

With my Tibet to Ireland by land trip just around the corner, I had to apply for my Chinese visa while I was in Bangkok, and to be honest it was surprisingly easy! Read up on how to do it, where the Chinese embassy in Bangkok is and how much a Chinese visa costs:

What you need for your Chinese visa:

Passport (with 6 months minimum before it expires)
Passport application form (you get this when you walk in)
Supplementary application form because you’re not from Thailand (you get this when you walk in)
1 or 2 Passport photos depending on nationality (you can get them done on the same street as the embassy, $4 for 6)
The money for your visa, payable only in Thai baht

Where is the Chinese embassy in Bangkok:

It is 5 minutes walk from the Phra Ram 9 MRT stop (the subway in Bangkok).
From the station, take Exit 1
Up the escalator and when you leave the station outside, take a u-turn
Walk for 400m or so, past Tesco Lotus
At Soi 3 (there’s a sign), you’re there! It’s on your left

*If you’re staying on Khao San Road, get a taxi/tuk-tuk/motorbike (about $3) to Siam BTS station, from there you can connect to Phra Ram BTS easily.

Check out the google map to help you out…

View The Embassy Of The People’s Republic Of China in a larger map

How do I apply for my Chinese Visa in Bangkok?

Get to the embassy between 9 – 11.30am, any later and you’ll be refused.
Go to the second floor, as you walk in, tell the guy behind the desk you want to apply for a tourist visa, he gives you two forms, fill them in and press the button on the machine for a number.
Wait for your number, hand over your forms, passport and passport photo – tell them do you want to wait 3 days, 2 days or next day for your visa. The faster it is the more expensive it will be (see below)

*This should only take 10 minutes or so total.

The embassy from outside, as you approach Soi 3

Collecting your Chinese Visa in Bangkok

Again arrive between 9 -11.30am on the correct day on your receipt.
Queue up on the far side, pay your bill.
Requeue again and collect your visa.
Check out your brand new shiny Chinese visa.

*This takes less than 10 minutes total

How much does a Chinese Visa in Bangkok cost?

It ranges between $40 to $140 depending on how fast you want it, how many entries you want and what nationality you are – check out the pic taken in the embassy to find out how much you’ll have to shell out:

Chinese Visa fees in Bangkok Thailand (Nov 2011)

NOTE: If you want a multi-entry 6 month or one year visa (like I wanted) you can only get it if you have a previous Chinese tourist visa of any kind in your passport OR you have a work permit to live in Thailand. If you don’t have that, the maximum you can get is the double entry.

Enjoy China, I certainly will! Happy travels!

Getting A Chinese Visa in Bangkok is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Backpacking in Kanchanaburi

Johnny — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:12:19 +0000

So I finally made it to Kanchanaburi, and what a place it is. It’s about 2 hours from Bangkok and has become quite a traveler hangout. Laid back atmosphere, plenty of stuff to see and do, dirt cheap accommodation and a chilled but fun nightlife. It’s so accessible too, there’s no excuse not to whack it on your Thailand itinerary. It’s a similar atmosphere to Pai and Chiang Mai but with less people, all in all one of my favourite spots in the whole of Thailand.

Things to see in Kanchanaburi:

Bridge over the River Kwai: Made famous from the movie with the same title, this is the main draw for visitors to Kanchanaburi. It’s found at the end of the town, so hop on your rented scooter and spend 2 minutes burning down the mainstreet to get it to and you’re all set.

You can walk across the bridge or you can actually take the train from Nam Tok to the River Kwai station (2 hours) where you actually cross the bridge by train, to be honest it’s a bit of a waste of time though.

Also, Hellfire pass is worth a mention if morbid tourism is your thing :S The Australian government funded a great museum and cleared the jungle back so you can see the tunnels the POW worked on for 18+ hours a day, months on end. Grim.

Erawan Falls: Maybe not Thailand’s tallest waterfall but arguably it’s best, 7 tiers of ridiculously gorgeous waterfalls, with bright turquoise waters all of which you can swim in. The falls are about 70km from Kanchanaburi, I drove my scooter there and it took about an hour, cool drive too. You can take a bus from Kanchanaburi bus station, every hour for about $2,takes 90 mins.

Also, tour companies run day trips here from Bangkok, it’s certainly possible but it would be a bloody long day, better to make your way to Kanchanaburi, spend a day or two there and venture to the falls from there. I wouldn’t recommend squeezing it all into a day trip.

Sai Yok Falls are worth a trip too, much closer than Erawan and still pretty awesome (complete with hot springs)

Tiger Temple: This is always a bit of an ethical choice, personally I didn’t go but it’s very popular so I thought I should include it. Basically, 30 mins outside the town you can go to Wat Pa Luang Ta Bua, pay exorbitant fees ($20+ to $200!) for various types of photos with strangely subdued tigers (read: drugged up). You may want an awesome new facebook profile pic, but ask yourself is it really worth it at the expense of the tiger’s freedom and health. Also, there have been attacks on people when the tigers get antagonised, which is pretty predictable considering the life they life, some worldwide travel insurance might be a good idea. That, or avoiding the place altogether. End of rant.

I've chosen this boring photo, because the tiger photos are so cute, they'd make u wanna go :S

How to get to Kanchanburi: From Bangkok, it’s pretty easy.

BUS: From BKK’s southern bus terminal, leaving every 30 mins or so. $4 and 2 hours.

Also, from Khao San Road you can get mini-vans for around $5, easy and convenient.

TRAIN: From Thonburi Train Station, a train leave BKK at 7.45am and arrives around 10am. This is my preferred choice, comfortale and awesome views. Costs around $3.

There are so many guesthouse to stay at, with rooms starting at $4 you won’t struggle to find cheap places. Food is great too, and street food starts at $1. Kanchanaburi is the sort of place you could find yourself staying for a week or two, it’s that nice! Happy travels!

Backpacking in Kanchanaburi is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Backpacking in Pai, Northern Thailand’s travelers retreat

Johnny — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:46:03 +0000

I’ve just spent the last few days in Pai, Northern Thailand. A place I’ve never been to before despite living 100km away in Chiang Mai for over a year, criminal I know. Anyway, I had clearly been missing out – this place should be right near the top of the list for places people need to visit in Thailand, it’s really that good.

How to get to Pai:

Pai is 3 hours from Chiang Mai, so the best way is to take a mini-van from Chiang Mai’s arcade bus station ($5). You can take the local bus if you’re feel like slumming it too (5 hours+, $3) OR better yet, you can rent a bike in Chiang Mai and drive – it’s an awesome sweeping, windy road for the whole 130km. Beautiful. Also, with so many guesthouse (over 350!) you can find some awesome last minute deals, so you don’t have to break the bank either.

3 hours, $5 from Chiang Mai to Pai

Things to see and do in Pai:

Pai is a great place to lie in a hammock and chill, enjoy the cooler mountain temperatures, go for a dip in a pool somewhere. It’s really cheap too, around half the price of Bangkok. All that being said, there are still a few cool things to fill 2 or 3 days here so have a look at the following:

The Memorial Bridge: Not quite as impressive as Kancanaburi’s River Kwai Bridge but worth a look none-the-less. Built by the Japanese during WWII, it offers some great photo ops and the river it crosses is gorgeous.

Tha Pai Hot Springs: My personal favourite. The hot springs can be quite tricky to find, so listen up and how to get to the Pai hot springs. Take a motorbike or bicycle and drive 8km south east out of Pai, towards the sunset-view restaurant. Cross the bridge when you leave the town, and keep going straight straight straight until you see the signs, 7km away. Then basque in the roasting hot water (40 degrees Celsius+) with the pools at the top reaching 80 degrees!! Hot enough to boil an egg, needless to say, you’re not allowed in those ones!

80 degree hot spring (celsius!)

Pai Canyon: AWESOME place for sunset. It’s not quite the Grand Canyon but it’s beautiful all the same, Thai health in safety is in full force here too, I’ve there is none so be careful of the 50m drops on each side of the narrow path around :S

Chinese Village: Feature heavily in guidebooks etc but not all that interesting, a fake chinese settlement built where Chinese (Yunnanese) settled here a 100 years ago or so. If you want kitsch chines epics but figure China is too far to venture to, here’s your place

Waterfalls: Thailand is jam packed full of the things, so if you haven’t od’ed on watefalls already, check out the two best in the area – Pam Bok waterfall and Mae Ya waterfall.

Pam Bok Waterfall pai

Mae Ya Waterfall

How to get around Pai:

There are 3 options really, rent a bicycle ($3 per day), rent a scooter (starting at a ridiculously cheap $3 per day) or go on a tour to see everything (day tours start around $15-$20). Personally, I jump on a scooter all the time, everywhere I go. In fact it’s normally the first thing I do after getting off the bus or train, straight to a scooter rental place. It saves you a fortune, it’s fun, you’re free and you can see everything at your own pace.

I’m delighted to have finally made it to Pai, years of avoiding it because I had heard of it being full of wannabe hippies turned out to be wasted, better late than never though. Get your asses there asap. Happy travels!

Backpacking in Pai, Northern Thailand’s travelers retreat is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Island Day Trip From Bangkok: Koh Lan (Laan)

Johnny — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:14:01 +0000

Bangkok is the biggest city in South East Asia and it has a lot to offer any backpacker, but sometimes you just need to escape the madness of the ‘Kok! Not so many travelers know this but you can be on an awesome Thai island within a couple of hours of Bangkok, spend the day soaking up the rays and be home in time to club it up or sink some buckets on Khao San road.

I headed over to Koh Lan last week (just for research purposes of course) so let me give you the low down:

How Do I Get to Koh Lan from Bangkok: By bus is the easiest way. You can take a bus from Ekkamai bus station (there’s a stop on the Bangkok BTS subway system so it couldn’t be easier).

Buses run every 30 minutes or so. You need to get a bus to Pattaya and from there you take a ferry to the island.

The bus from BKK to Pattaya costs about $4 and takes less than 2 hours.

The boat costs around $3 and takes around 20-40 mins depending on the waves.

What is there to do on Koh Lan: Koh Lan is not the place for full moon parties and all night raves, save that for Koh Phang an. But if you want to chill, drive a scooter through the mountains, visit beaches that aren’t packed with traveler then this place could rock your world. It’s much more popular with Thais than foreigners but if you go midweek it promises to be pretty empty.

In terms of stuff to do, there’s always jet skis, parasailing and other ubiquitous beach stuff to do but the order of the day is certainly to kick back on a sun lounger and drink cocktails.

The view point from the mountain on Koh Lan

Where to sleep in Koh Lan: To be quite honest, Koh Lan is used more as a day trip destination from Pattaya or Bangkok. There are a couple of resorts but rooms start at $35+ so they’re out of reach for a backpacker I assure you! Best advice? Day trip it and head back to BKK, last but from Pattaya is 11pm.

Whats the best beach on Koh Lan? There are 3 main beaches, here they are…

Tawaen beach: The main beach, the busiest and the biggest. Loads of restaurants, activities and therefore loads of people.

Samae beach: My favourite, quieter but still everything you’d want. The beach is probably more beautiful and has a nicer vibe.

Nual beach: Never been but rumours are you’ll spot the odd nudist here (bonus).

Samea Beach

Ok guys, that’s the low down. An awesome island that you can day trip to from Bangkok, pretty cool. Beautiful, convenient and cheap – if this isn’t enough to make you want to find cheap holidays abroad, I don’t know what is :S Happy travels!

Island Day Trip From Bangkok: Koh Lan (Laan) is a post from: onestep4ward.com

The Best Pizza in Bangkok

Johnny — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:17:08 +0000

Being semi-based in Bangkok and partying far too much has led to an absolute gem of a find in BKK. I wanna share this beautiful thing with you… I’ve searched long and hard, ordered too many disgusting, disappointing pizzas from every company I could and all they did was exacerbate my hangover. Finally I stumbled across literally the best pizza in Bangkok, and my Thai experience is all the better for it…

Step forward Pizza Mania, you are a God send

These guys have made my Saturdays and Sundays a much less painful experience. They import all their Italian meats and cheeses (if you’ve ever lived in Asia you’ll understand the cravings for quality cheese!) and fresh bake every pizza for us. A quick phone call and you’ll have it at your apartment in 30 mins or so.

My housemate actually introduced me to these guys, and I have literally not even bothered to order pizza from any other place in Bangkok. I think I should also add a note NOT to order from Pizza Company. These guys are the biggest operators in Thailand and they are awful. Any naysayers out there, feel free to give them a a bash but you’ll be disappointed I promise! Stay cleer peeps.

Ok, this is getting me hungry, pizza time I think! My recommendations are the Salame e Salsiccia and the Salame Picante, should cost around $9, free delivery and 8 slices of Italian heaven. It’s so good that I should party tonight so I can be hungover tomorrow and order it! Best pizza in Bangkok, hands down, just felt compelled to share it with you guys, Happy travels!

The Best Pizza in Bangkok is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Loy Krathong Festival – Thailand

Johnny — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 08:12:51 +0000

Another Awesome Thai Festival:

I’ve waxed lyrical about the Thai festival ‘Song Kran’ on my site countless times before, but Loi Krathing is another festival that should demand your attendance too. Less chaotic and fast paced than Song Kran, Loi Krathong is a more spiritual calmer, more serene event.

Loi Krathong is a nationwide Thai festival celebrated in the evening of the full moon in the 12^th month according to Thai Lunar calendar (November 10th for 2011, November 28th for 2012). The meaning of the word ‘Loi’ is to float and ‘Krathong’ is an item made out of a section of the trunk of banana tree. The banana leaves are folded and decorated with candles, flowers and incense sticks and a coin of low value is offered to the river spirits, ‘Mae Nam’ – the float is then sent down a river, off into the distance amongst the thousands of other Krathongs.

2 Krathongs

This festival is big news in Thailand and there’s a real buzz around the cities during the time. Corporations and government offices participate in this festival, there are huge firework competitions, and annual beauty contests (‘Nopphamat Queen Contests’) offer a great view!

Planning to be a part of this festival this year? Learn something more about this awesome Thai festival.

Loy Krathong the celebration of love

According to the legend it is believed that the consort of ‘King Ramkhamhaeng’ named Nang Nopamas was the first to make an offering of Krathong in the name of ‘Mae Nam’. She had floated the offering in a canal so that it would float past the King whom she loved. Even today it is believed that a love affair would last for a life time if one offers Krathong to the water God.

Loy Krathong in Bangkok

Although this day is not an official holiday, it is the most romantic and spritual festival in Thailand and is celebrated all over the country. In Bangkok the festival is celebrated on the banks of ‘Chao Phraya River’. It is also celebrated in large restaurants with indoor pools but you’ll need to book these restaurants in advance to enjoy a sure-fire romantic winner with your new beau here. Never miss the Loy Krathong celebration in Bangkok with lots of celebration, love, cruises and dinners.

Loy Krathong in Bangkok

Celebration at Sukhothai: You can also visit Sukhothai which is the birthplace of this grand festival. ‘Phao Thian Len Fi’ in Sukhothai is all decked up in grand fashion. Here you can also enjoy betel-nut floating called ‘Phanom Mak’ and floral offering named ‘Phanom Dok Mai’ The people over there enjoy a light and sound show every year, free entry and it’s a sight to behold.

Loy Krathong in Sukhothai

Celebration at Chiang Mai: Loy Krathong continues for nearly a week in Chiang Mai and it’s my favourite place to celebrate Loi Krathong. The roads virtually close dow, with stage shows taking over all over town. There are beauty contents where the contestants along with their krathong has a chance of winning the coveted ‘Miss Nopamas’ title. There is a huge procession that starts at Tapae Gate and it ends at the river bank. Chiang Mai is hugely popular for Loi Krathong so if you want to join the party try to book your accommodation in advance, this place fills up fast!

Loy Krathong on Chiang Mai's Ping River

*A top tip for Loi Krathong in Chaing Mai: Check out Mae Jo university outside the city for the most amazing communual release of candle lanterns into the night sky – one of the most beautiful things I have ever, ever seen.

Loy Krathong at Mae Jo Univeristy, Chiang Mai

Celebration at Ayutthaya and Tak: Loy Krathong is also celebrated grandly in Ayutthaya the former captial, where you can enjoy a boat race and in ‘Tak’ along the ‘Ping River’. As the night falls, the party starts and the whisky can start flowing quite quickly. The tourists and local citizens float their own decorated krathong and enjoy the grand celebration together.

Loy Krathong in Ayuttahaya

Mark it in your calenders guys – this festival could prove to be a highlight of your whole trip, if you’re in the area around the time of Loi Krathong, do your best to make it to one of these hotspots for a magical experience. Happy Travels!

* If you’re looking for luxury accommodation, Home Rentals is a good way to go.

Loy Krathong Festival – Thailand is a post from: onestep4ward.com

Tuesday’s Travel Rant: Tuk Tuk Drivers

Johnny — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:25:40 +0000

Getting from A to B shouldn’t be so difficult, nor should it cost double the real fare. Furthermore, if I want a tuk-tuk (which is unlikely), I’ll search for one. There are few things more infuriating in the world than getting harassed by drivers as you walk around, and there is nowhere worse for this than the Land of Smiles, Thailand.

No thanks, no really i don't need a tuk tuk. Honestly I'm fine. No thank you. I SAID NO, P*SS OFF!

Ok so listen up Mr Tuk-tuk Driver:

1) If I need transport, you’ll see me asking for it. Don’t come near me on the off chance I might require your services. If I need you, I’ll ask you.

2) Just because of my white skin, please don’t feel the need to apply a ‘tourist tax’ onto every fare. I’d like to pay the going rate please (oh and printing out a piece of paper from a computer with ‘set fares’ doesn’t mean that they are set! It means you know how to operate Microsoft word – well done, but it doesn’t mean you can rip me off)

3) If I’m on your vehicle, I would like to reach my destination quickly, of course I would HOWEVER I’d prefer to arrive safely. I’d choose to arrive in 10 minutes and in one piece, than in 5 minutes as a broken man. It’s not a race, really.

4) If you see me crossing the road, don’t stop in front of me. I don’t want a tuk-tuk, I want to cross the f*cking road and you’re now in my way

5) Believe it or not I don’t want to stop at your brother’s suit shop, or your uncle’s gem store – it’s quite alright thanks, I just want to go to my destination.

Thanks for listening – adhere to this and you’ll make my ,(and every other traveler in Thailand) ,life a lot less hassle. Peace.

Tuesday’s Travel Rant: Tuk Tuk Drivers is a post from: onestep4ward.com