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Teach in Japan
an e-book by Jo Ebisujima

David's Siam page

This page includes a variety of links and some basic information about various aspects of life in Thailand. Use the menu below to navigate to the various sections or simply scroll down the page. Also have a look at my blog about all things Siamese, David in Siam.

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davidreid's photos tagged with thailand More of davidreid's photos tagged with thailand

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Thai Buddhism

Many people are interested in studying Buddhism in Thailand and there are many opportunities to do so. Some monasteries hold regular meditation retreats for foreigners, while some others welcome foreigners to stay. It is helpful if you can speak some Thai, but those monasteries that welcome foreigners will usually have someone there who can speak English. If you stay in a monastery or temple you need to respect a few basic rules. These may include not eating after midday, not to consume any intoxicants (alcohol or drugs) and segregation of men and women. You should also make a donation to cover the costs of your stay.

Wat Rong Khun - Chiang Rai Province
Wat Rong Khun - the visionary work of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat
The three resolutions of Ajarn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
  1. That all people strive to realise the heart of their own religions.
  2. That all people make mutual good understanding of essential principles among the religions.
  3. That all people liberate themselves from the power of materialism.

Cycling in Thailand

If you are into mountain biking or bicycle touring then Thailand offers plenty of great riding. Thailand has good roads and once you get off the major highways there is usually little traffic. For those who want to venture off-road there are plenty of trails that you can explore.

For touring cyclists the north of Thailand should be the destination of choice. The Chiang Mai - Pai - Mae Hong Son - Mae Sariang loop, while hilly, offers plenty of great scenery and interesting places to visit along the way. It is best to cycle in the cooler months from November to February.

If you prefer motorbikes then have a look at these pages about motorcycle touring in Thailand.

landscape near Pai
fields in the mountains near Pai

Learning the Thai language

Thai is certainly not the easiest language in the world to learn. However, any efforts you make to learn Thai will reward you and make your life in Thailand much easier. It is important to know that Thai is a tonal language and also that it is difficult to romanise. When you speak Thai follow your ears and try to imitate what Thai people are saying rather than trying to read the phonetics in a phrase book. Don't let anybody tell you that learning Thai is impossible. 50 million Thai people are proof that it isn't!!!

If you are serious about learning Thai then I recommend the book Thai for Beginners by Benjawan Poomsan Becker. Also by the same author is the Thai-English English-Thai Dictionary. This bilingual dictionary is designed specifically for foreigners learning Thai and has three sections: English-Phonetic-Thai; Phonetic-Thai-English; and Thai-Phonetic-English.

Teaching English in Thailand

Teaching English is a popular choice of job for foreigners living in Thailand. If you are a native English speaker with suitable qualifications (usually a degree and/or TEFL certificate) and experience jobs are easy to find. Thailand is also a popular place to do a TEFL course. There are many organisations offering these courses. Do some research and take the time to find the course that best suits your needs.

Teach in Japan
an e-book by Joe Ebisujima

Newspapers and magazines

Thailand has two daily English language newspapers, The Nation and the Bangkok Post.

NGOs in Thailand

Khao San Road - crazy farang land in Bangkok
the crazy world of Khao San Road

Travel in Thailand links

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Scuba diving in Thailand

There is plenty of great scuba diving in Thailand. Both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea have plenty of great dive sites as well as many dive shops and dive schools to take you there. In the Gulf of Thailand Koh Tao is the main centre for diving. It has many good dive spots within a short distance off the island and many dive schools meaning dive boats go out frequently and the costs are relatively low. In the Andaman Sea famous dive spots such as the Similan and Surin Islands are further offshore so it is best to visit them on a liveaboard trip.

Other useful links

songthaew - a common form of transport in many areas of Thailand
songthaew on the road from Mae Sariang to Mae Sot

If you would like to suggest a link please e-mail me. Your feedback and comments about this web page are always welcome.

last updated 29 March 2007
© David Reid 2005-2007
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