Exploring a Country in Asia not called Korea.

On Christmas evening I, along with two other good friends, left Korea and headed south. Our destination: a tropical paradise also known as Thailand. Excitement had reached its apex when we boarded the plane. It was after all the first time I would leave Korea in over nine months. Further, the cold weather we were leaving behind would not be missed.

Wanna know one of the greatest things you can do? Board a plane in a country that is freezing then exit that same plane in a country that is hot. It’s as if you have been morphed back into summer. Anyone who has had the good fortune to experience this knows exactly what I mean.

In total we spent nine days in Thailand. Three nights in Bangkok, one night in Surat-Thani, and five nights on the marvellous island of Ko-Samui.

It was my second time visiting a Less Developed Country, the first being the Dominican Republic. There is an ere of irony in visiting these places. While the largest percentage of the country’s inhabitants have very little in regards to money, those visiting, affluent Westerners mostly, spend recklessly as we meddle their land and soak up its delights. One quickly realizes how these countries have been transformed to cater to its visitors. From the motels, shops and restaurants, everything is designed to make life away from home feel more like home.

Thailand offers its visitors an array of different things to do. The beaches are what I enjoyed the most. Perfect white sand that never gets too hot to walk across as well as the bluest of waters is what became the norm while on vacation. As I have mentioned before, an entire day spent on the beach is in many ways a blessing and in no way a waste.

Other activities that became part of the Thailand experience include: renting a Jeep and nearly dying on several different occasions, hiking through the jungle to find an elusive waterfall, riding jet skis, making irrational purchases on items that we have no need for, seeing ‘interesting’ stage performances, going to one of the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties, getting swindled by a tuk tuk driver, spending too much money (typical pleasure seeking Westerners), and oh yeah, over indulging in both food and drink.

Wanna know one of the, for lack of better words, shittiest things you can do? Board a plane in a hot country and exit that same plane in a freezing cold country! With that said however, I was happy after nine days to get back to the cozy confines of my new homeland. While Thailand was an exceptional experience, due to its economic despair, people are seemingly out to get as much money from you as possible.

From the moment you exit Bangkok’s airport until you go back through those doors to fly home, you’re continuously pleaded with to buy something or pay for a particular service. On the flip side of that, once in Korea, we boarded a bus then had to rely on a taxi to get us the rest of the way home. The fare came to 2,900 won (roughly $2.50). I handed the cabbie 3,000 won and without thinking he handed me back my change, roughly 10 cents. Moral of the story, Koreans will rarely try to swindle you.

But alas the weather has been missed since my return on January 3rd. In a sick twist of fate there was a major blizzard the next day. However, I really shouldn’t complain because next month I will be off to another hot destination, the Philippines. How will it measure up to Thailand? I’ll let ya know.

Until next time.