Gap Year in Thailand: yindiit`nrab!

Thailand has it all, from tropical beaches to amazing mountains, fantastic rural landscapes to. Whatever takes your fancy; you can be sure to find it here.

A few boats in Koh Phi Phi

Adventure Travel:

Adventure traveling in Thailand will see you practice Muay Thai, scuba dive and snorkel the turquoise waters, trek across mountains, swing in the trees in zip line parks, stay and experience life of Thailand's local tribes and many more. If you hate being tied to one place and have a big heart, then adventure traveling in Thailand is perfect for you.

You can do it all on your own or chose one of the many adventure programs that take you across South East Asia, giving you a glimpse of the entire region. Do your research and choose what suits you best to make sure you have the time of your life.

Internships:

Thailand's diverse availability of internships makes it hard to choose just one. From medical work to becoming a trained scuba diver, Thailand offers many exciting opportunities. The advantage of taking a gap year is that you can take advantage of many internships. Internships are variable; some do not pay, some will cost you, and others will pay decently.

Planning Your Gap Year in Thailand

Cost of Living in Thailand:

Thailand is the most visited country in South East Asia. Aside from its beautiful beaches and fascinating culture, travelers enjoy how inexpensive it is. For example, you can have a wild night in Bangkok for less than the cost of a decent meal in London!

The unit of currency in Thailand is Thai Baht (THB). 1 baht is divided into 100 satang. Banknotes are in denominations of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist of: 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht.

On average, 1-bedroom apartments in the cities only cost around $385 per month. Apartments outside of the cities can be as cheap as $220 per month.

As far as food is concerned, most visitors can afford to eat out as often as they want to. The average meal at a restaurant costs as little as $2.50-5. And if you brave the street food, a lovely Pad Thai will cost you no more than $1.50.

Explore Thailand on a scooter!

Getting to and from a Thai restaurant is also relatively cheap, just make sure your taxi driver puts on the meter.

Drinks, as long as you go for local options will be equally inexpensive with a beer costing you around $1.5-2.30.

You can easily find guest house accommodation for anything between $13-20 per night and if you're after a luxury treat in Bangkok you can stay in the amazing Lebua at State Tower for around $150.

Tourist attractions such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok ($13) are a bit more expensive but still relatively cheap comparing to any European or American destinations. Snorkeling trip with lunch, water and fruit platters included will vary from $15-50 depending on location and boat type (trips booked from luxury resorts will automatically be much more expensive). More "westernised" and commercial destinations such as Phuket or Koh Phi Phi or Koh Samui will almost always be significantly more expensive than places like Koh Tao and Koh Chang Arhipelago.

Culture and Etiquette in Thailand:

Around 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school. Accordingly, individuals are taught to think for themselves and take full responsibility for their actions. The essence of this culture has two principal themes: one must understand the difference between reality and self-delusion, and one must understand the nature of cause and effect.

Thai culture suggests that people do not mix self-delusion in their thoughts and conversation. Self-delusion leads only to foolishness. Some examples of self-delusion include arrogance, beliefs of superiority, social status, etc. Buddhists practice detachment in order to self-distinguish their emotional desires while retaining a cautious respect for reality. In Thailand shouting is considered rude, because one should not talk at some one, but talk to them. One should avoid convoluted talk, as it is viewed as wasting their time.

Experience the beautiful sunsets in Thailand

The Thai language follows suit with this philosophy. In English there might only be one word for something, but Thai often has a wide array of words, each of varying politeness. This diversity allows for the speaker to display complete emotional honesty in a conversation. The use of "white lies", or being polite to avoid the truth, is considered rude. Travelers must understand that in Buddhist culture, avoiding telling you the truth is considered a form of lying.

As in any other predominantly Buddhist country pointing the soles of your feet and touching someone's head are considered inappropriate.

Remove your shoes before entering temples and other people's houses.

Toilet roll as in most SE Asian countries goes in the bin next to it, not in the toilet itself.

Health and Safety in Thailand:

Thailand, a tropical country, is prone to tropical diseases. Malaria, and Dengue fever (a mosquito-born disease common in southeast Asia) can be encountered nationwide. Bigger cities are usually safe but take extra precautions when venturing into the more remote and rural areas. Carrying a good insect repellent along with wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk can greatly decrease chances of getting bitten. Before traveling to Thailand, many doctors will recommend receiving immunizations for Hepatitis A and typhoid fever. The level of HIV in Thailand is well above average. The adult infection rate is about 1 in 66.

Water quality varies from place to place, but is generally poor. Use common sense when eating from food carts and drink lots of bottled water. Most restaurants and hotels will use filtered water to make ice. Bottled water is widely available.

Medical facilities in the Thai cities and major tourist areas are of a high standard. Hospitals and clinics are readily available, but more remote areas offer limited access and facilities. Applying for all cover medical insurance is highly advisable. You should always carry details of your medical insurance with you.

The sad truth is that Thailand is known for many forms of tourist scams. There are organized groups of people involved in those and it is sometimes hard to know the fake from the genuine offers. Be wary of taxi and tuk tuk (more on these below) drivers trying to persuade you that your destination attraction is closed and offering to take you elsewhere. Insist on being taken to where you want to go and if in a taxi make sure the meter is on.

The general rule is that if a stranger or a driver approaches you with a deal which appears too good to be true... it probably is. If there's one consistency of travel, it's that randomness will always ensue, so above all, show the utmost respect and have a sense of humor.

Visit one of the many temples in Thailand

If you find yourself at the back of a tuk tuk (a cross between a rickshaw and a motorcycle), prepare yourself for a rollercoaster like ride! Tuk tuk drivers seem fearless as they swarm around cities (especially Bangkok). You have to give it a go, but be careful, especially if you're not a big fan of theme park rides.

Haggling in an essential part of Thai culture and you are expected to negotiate when purchasing goods, especially at local markets. Put a smile on your face and throw yourself into it. There really is no other way about it.

Although traveling through Thailand is relatively safe, travelers should always pay attention to the security of their possessions and travel documents, and of course, their personal safety. Always use a padlock on the zips of your backpack or luggage and try to keep your bags with you at all times.

Why Take a Gap Year in Thailand?

Because there's no other land like "The Land Of Smiles"! The Jewel of Far East with The City Of Angels will welcome you with its organized chaos that you just can't help but fall in love with. For anything from beautiful tropical beaches down south, rain forests and mountains up north, the cosmopolitan buzz of Bangkok and the food to die for! You'll have it all in Thailand. Just GO!