Thailand Weekly Vol. 45
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Happy Sunday Thailand Weekly readers! I must say, itās a bit of a spicy edition this week, but heyā¦ thatās what weāre all about here. A weekly recap of what went down in the Kingdom. As per usual, hope you all have a great week ahead and are in the midst of an awesome trip over here OR are counting down the days to your flight over š¹š
Vaping In Thailandā¦
With fiery debate happening this past week as far as e-cigarettes and their legality here in Thailand goes, TAT has just reminded tourists that the Kingdom has banned the use of vapes, shishas, and electronic shishas since 2014 for public health reasons and to deter youth smoking. This all comes on the heels of a police officer in Chon Buri incorrectly fining 60,000 Baht (USD $1800) one tourist for having an e-cigarette device, as well as Taiwanese actress Charlene An's police extortion case raising concerns over the legality of e-cigs and how people can still access them despite a ban.
Hereās a basic summary of what officials had to sayā¦
Visitors are advised not to bring these devices, and itās on travel agencies to inform clients of the ban
Although e-smoking items are widely available, tourists should be aware of the ban's enforcement and prohibited outdoor smoking areas, including public parks and beaches
Tourists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Thailand's smoking restrictions for a smoke-free and healthy environment
Our Take
This is a strange one because just about all tourists (that use e-cigarettes that is) are so used to these products being 100% legal in their home country. I could totally see how there would be confusion and frustration for those that arrive in Thailand and want to puff away under the impression that itās totally cool to do so here. To muddy the waters even further, you have vendors at street corners all over the country selling devices, juice pods, etc. In my eyes, Thailand should probably just legalize and tax this form of nicotine consumption because at the end of the day, itās everywhere, seems to go largely unpunished, and is already legal in most other countries around the world. Either that, or actually clamp down and ban them properly in the same way that they used to treat cannabis. No point of living in this weird middle zone where thereās all sorts of confusion and an open door for bad actors to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.
Locals Surprised As āKaeng Somā Rated World's 12th Worst Dish
Thai locals were left in disbelief when āKaeng Somā, a beloved Thai dish, was ranked 12th in the "Worst 100 Rated Dishes" list by TasteAtlas. The dish, best described as a sour Thai curry typically made with fish or shrimp, received a score of 2.3 out of 5. Thais took issue with the ranking, calling it an insult and saying Kaeng Som was a staple dish in their homes and tasted much better than Tom Yum Gung or Pad Thai.
TasteAtlas had previously sparked controversy when they ranked the US ahead of Thailand in their "Best Cuisines in the World" list. This latest ranking was met with both skepticism and criticism, with many saying the list was nonsense and that food should not be judged by appearance. One local even went as far to say that the ranking must have been AI-generated.
Our Take
I gotta be honest on this one, Iāve ever actually tried Kaeng Som beforeā¦ Call me foolish, but I didnāt even know what it was prior to this story making the rounds. I did ask some Thai friends about the dish and all of them had the same reaction as everyone online hadā¦ āWhat?! They think itās bad?! Theyāre wrongā¦ that dish is delicious!ā haha. Ultimately, the main reason I wanted to include this story is because it reminded me of my time in the North when I went to order āLarbā (assuming it would be made the way itās done in Bangkok with tasty minced pork), but instead got minced cow stomach and cow intestines. That was one rare instance where I was NOT impressed with Thai food!
Thailand Travel Tip - So You Wanna Get Around Bangkok?
On the heels of last weekās BTS and MRT breakdown here in the āThailand Travel Tipsā section, I had a few readers reach out and ask for some additional transportation options. So, here are a few outlets available to you the next time you find yourself in the Big Mango:
Motorbike Taxis: Motorbike taxis are a common mode of transportation in Bangkok and are often MUCH faster than cars. They are usually more affordable than other transportation options as well, but riders need to be prepared for a more adrenaline-fueled experience. This DEFINITELY isnāt the safest way to get around, so Iād seriously advise limiting your use of them to just side streets and/or short distances.
Grab: Grab is a popular ride-hailing app that operates kind of like the Uber of Southeast Asia (including Bangkok) offering both car and motorbike rides. It's convenient and affordable, with the option to pay via the app or cash. Just make sure to order your car a good 10 to 15 minutes before you need to leave as these days, it takes a lot longer to get paired with a driver.
River Taxis: River taxis are a great way to avoid traffic congestion, and offer scenic views of the city along the way. Theyāre also extremely cheap. The main river taxi route runs from Wat Yannawa to Nonthaburi, with many stops along the way. This is a great way to get into some hidden neighbourhoods if youāre a more ambitious traveler.
Public Transportation: As mentioned last week, Bangkok has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses, skytrains (BTS), and underground trains (MRT). These options are affordable, but can be extremely crowded during rush hour. The skytrains and underground trains are often the quickest way to get across the city, while buses can be a good option for reaching destinations not covered by the other modes of transportation.
Police āShake Downsā & How To Handle Them
With tourism now back in full swing, there seems to be a lot more police checkpoints than I remember, meaning that itās entirely possible youāll pass through one of them and go through what I call a āstandard shake downā.
Hereās some tips if you find yourself in one of these situations while walking, biking, driving, etcā¦
Remain calm. If you genuinely havenāt done anything wrong, thereās nothing to worry about. Most Thai police officers are good people there to do their job and enforce the law. Yes, thereās some bad actors looking to take advantage of the situation (just like anywhere), but no need to panic or stress right off the bat
In most cases, Thai police officers are not proficient in English or other foreign languages, so it's best to keep it simple and only speak when they ask you questions. Answer them clearly, concisely, and calmly
If they ask to see your passport and ID, provide them without hesitation, but politely ask for their return.
Don't admit to anything. If possible, donāt agree to having your photo taken
If needed, you have the right to ask for their ID as well, and they should have a name badge displaying their name
Allow any bags or your pockets to be searched. You can record this process as long as it doesn't interfere with the search. You can also ask for someone to act as an independent witness
Avoid signing any documents, especially if they are in Thai language and you donāt know what youāre signing
Don't agree to leave the immediate area you are in
If required, politely ask for the Tourist Police or for a Thai friend to act as an intermediary and interpreter. The Tourist Police can be reached anywhere in the country at 1155
If the situation is serious, such as an accident or drug possession, you have the right to call for a consular or embassy representative from your country
Remain polite and don't cause a scene (by getting angry, yelling, swearing, etc.), as this will not end well. Avoid any sort of righteousness at all costs.
If youāve actually done something wrong thatās relatively minor in the grand scheme of things (speeding, possession of an e-cigarette, etc.), you may have to pay on-the-spot fine. Whatever the police want as a fine will be a lot less than the trouble youāll have to go through if you choose to refuse their on-the-spot resolution
Hereās an awesome additional article on this topic if youāre interested in reading further.
Our Take
Thereās a lot of people that moan and groan about the police here, but in all honesty, Iāve probably been stopped 8-10 times over the past two years and have never had a proper negative experience. Is it enjoyable? No. Do I have fun in these moments? No. Have I had to pay 500 or 1000 Baht on the spot before? Yes. At the end of the day though, Iām a big believer in the 12-things I mentioned above and feel strongly that in 99% of cases, having a basic understanding that youāre not in your home country and putting aside any sort of a righteous attitude/behaviour will go a LONG way in dealing with cops over here.
Only In Thailand š¹š
This weekās āOnly In Thailandā section isnāt necessarily a funny/wild story, but IS indeed unique to Thailand. What you may ask? The heat. Itās about to get hoooooooot over here. This past week, the Thai Meteorological Department announced that they expect temperatures to be as high as 40-43Ā°C from mid-March to mid-April. With the average daily temperature being 35.5Ā°C. Point is, if you have a trip booked at some point over the next couple of months, make sure to wear lots of sunscreen and pay regular visits to 7/11 for water. Youāre gonna need it. That Thai heat is coming back baby. Get ready š„.