Thailand Weekly Vol. 54
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Happy Songkran everyone! Well to be fair, festivities officially wrapped up yesterday but man, was it ever a cool few days to be here in Bangkok. As mentioned last week, I had never experienced a proper Songkran before, so to partake in the water fights, the parties, and the events was epic. Back to reality starting tomorrow morning though… vacation is over and with that said, Volume 54 coming in fast!
Songkran Festivities Kept In Check At Khaosan
This past week, Khaosan Road was a marquee location as far as Songkran celebrations went. With the entire area blocked off to allow for water fights and fun, over 500 police officers on top of hundreds of other of security personel were deployed to keep things in check and ensure a safe environment for everyone. Capacity on Khaosan proper was capped at 15,000 people with authorities having established blocks on both ends to close things off when needed. On the heels of the Itaewon stampede tragedy that unfolded last year, Thai police brass were fully aware of the risks at play and executed their crowd management strategy accordingly.
Our Take
I gotta say, I was one of the of thousands of people over in Khaosan on Thursday (the 13th) and was BEYOND impressed with the way that the police handled everything. They did an awesome job in managing crowds while also ensuring that everyone was free to roam, participate in the water fights, party, and have an amazing time as a whole. There was one moment where we tried to enter Khaosan Rd. proper, but had to wait for 20 minutes for enough people to exit, which we were more than happy to do to make sure things didn’t get out of hand on that wild street. Hats off to all of those cops that kept things under control. Your efforts were much appreciated!
Bangkok Named 3rd Best City For Backpackers
Bangkok was just ranked as the third-best destination for backpackers in 2023. The report was based on factors such as average costs, crime rates, mobile internet speeds, couch surf hosts, hostels, and free attractions available.
Below are some quick stats to help you get a better idea of the city and it’s offerings if you happen to be a traveller on a budget:
Number Of Hostels - 992
Average Nightly Hostel Cost - USD $17
Average Public Transport Cost - USD $0.82/trip
Number Of Free Tourist Attractions - 463
Average Daily Cost Of Food - USD $16.54
Average Internet Speed - 56.9 MBS
Our Take
This article is timely because I actually just had dinner with some friends that are backpacking through Southeast Asia and are currently on a stop over here in Thailand. They’re commentary on the city (as first-timers) is exactly what the article above highlights… the fact that there are so many cool free and/or cheap things to do. Every single one of them mentioned that as far as cities go, Bangkok has been their favourite place compared to other spots they’ve visited such as Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Hanoi.
Thailand Travel Tip - What’s The Best Time To Come To Thailand?
I get a lot of emails every week from those of you wondering what the best time of the year to visit Thailand is, so I decided to do a little breakdown of the different seasons and some of the pros and cons of each. Hopefully it’ll help you decide when to visit next!
High Season: This season runs from November to February and is the most popular time for tourists to visit Thailand. During this time, the weather is cool and dry, making it perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing. However, it's important to note that this is also the busiest time for tourism, so prices for accommodation, flights, and attractions can be MUCH higher.
Shoulder Season: The two shoulder seasons fall on March and April and then September and October. It’s a transitional period between the high and low seasons where the weather starts to get extremely hot (in March and April) or extremely rainy (in September and October). During this time, there are fewer tourists, which means lower prices and less crowds.
Low season: The low season runs from June to September (with a slight uptick in July) and is characterized by heavy rain and high humidity due to the regional monsoons. While this may not be the best time for outdoor activities, it's a great time to experience Thailand without the crowds and also save lots of money on accommodation and flights.
Overall, the best time to visit Thailand depends on your preferences and what you want to do. My favourite time of the year here is November, because you start to get the cooler weather that’s always such a treat while also avoiding massive crowds and crazy traffic. Prices on hotels are also nowhere near peak levels yet.
Apple In Negotiations To Manufacture MacBooks In Thailand
Apple's plans to move its supply chain away from China are reportedly continuing as the company is now in talks with Thai suppliers about manufacturing MacBooks in the Kingdom. The suppliers involved in the discussions already have manufacturing complexes in Thailand for other clients and are now discussing possible assembly and production of components and modules for MacBooks. At least 18 suppliers, including Compal Electronics, Sony Group, and Western Digital, already have operations in Thailand, according to Apple's latest supplier list. The company has been shifting its production away from China due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Our Take
To be totally honest, I don’t have much of an opinion on this from a ‘Thailand angle’ other than the fact that I just found the original article an interesting read. I’d imagine it would be a MASSIVE deal for the Thai suppliers they’re in chats with and am curious if the government will step in and provide any sort of incentives to lure the tech giant further. Let’s see how this all tracks along…
Only In Thailand 🇹ðŸ‡
This past weekend, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made a splashy appearance at the festivities on Khao San Road. With his orange and yellow water gun, he was an easy target for festival-goers who were ready to cool off from the hot weather. Prayut admitted at a press conference later that he was doused with a lot of chilly water and his back was still cold from the water sprayed on him. The only thing this has me thinking is ‘man… this would never happen back home in Canada 😂’. Only in Thailand baby!