Who's been to Thailand?

[swisscom]

It's one of my destinations on my travel route. I wanna go see a fight in lumpinee (spelling) stadium. Just wanted to know if there are like regular fights weekly or whatever... or is it like most countries and have a fightcard every few months? Also how cheap is it.. I've heard it's one of the cheapest places on earth but.. rather hear it from someone here. Anyway any info is appreciated.

Woo I realize now that there are already like 5 of this exact same topic. Meh.. if you feel like posting here go ahead. I'll just go read OctaviousBP's thread.

[OctaviousBP]

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday = Radjadamnern Stadium
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday = Lumpinee

I hear the new Lumpinee will open in the fall, which is kind of neat. I'm glad I got a chance to go to the old one.

I think the main stadiums are worth going to at least once, but are EXTREMELY over priced for a farang. A great experience is catching the broadcasts at a local whiskey/beer stall and watching all the crazy gambling action that is going on. It used to be Thursday nights by my apartment...

The real experience for me was watching the fights that took place across the countryside. Fights are often held at temples and festivals in tiny villages, with locals coming from all around... especially if there's a foreigner on the card. The cost is much cheaper than Bangkok, and while the skill level is not as high, the passion and intensity sure can be.

I may post more later about other stuff in the Land of Smiles, as I've been thinking about the subject quite a bit lately... funny how Thailand can do that to you.

[swisscom]

Haha how much did you spend in all the time you were there? ballpark figure?

[OctaviousBP]

Ballpark... $5,000 I'd say...

[swisscom]

Well, I'm going to be backpacking through thailand as the thread implies. I believe I'll be down there 5-7 days. How long were you there to spend that 5 grand? A few months right?

[OctaviousBP]

I was there for 8 months.

[gregimotis]

Didn't I read on a different thread that you lived pretty well in Thailand? or was that Khun Kao... I only mean to ask if you're budget
is higher or lower than a 'backpacker' might expect.

[OctaviousBP]

"Pretty well"... I guess that is relative. You might be thinking of Damian, who is benefitting from a fairly prosperous business in Bangkok. I sure felt like I was living like a king. However, a backpacker would more than likely spend more than me in a month.

My rent for my apartment was $80 Canadian... probably cheaper now because of the baht, and my bike was also $80. (2,500baht for rent, 2,500baht for bike) I split both of these with my gf, so I ended up spending around $100 a month on housing and transportation.

Food is completely individual. I would eat garlic chicken for breakfast and a shake (usually) costing me 30 baht total. That's less than $1 now. Cashew nut chicken for lunch... maybe a sandwhich... $1. At night, soup or another curry dish... 1$. Beers, meals at a farang restaurant start to bump the cost.

The longer you are there for, the cheaper you can live.

[RayD550]

Lived in Thailand

Thailand is one of the best places to live if trying to save a buck. I lived there back in 2001-2002 just after 9/11. When I went there I took about 4000 US with me thinking I would use it up quickly. Once there I started working and learned that the US dollar goes very far. We rented 4 a bedroom house in Bkk that cost us about 35,000 bhat each at the time that was $921.00 divided by two you can't go wrong. Now could we have lived for less oh yea but we were making like 2.6 grand each a month so we did live like kings. I still have a Thai friend of mine who lives there and he lives off of 5000 US a year. The one thing I do warn you about is the baht can feel like monopoly money. What I mean is you will spend more then you want to sometimes you just forget that it is real money. You can find all kinds of places to stay from 5 star to a simple room. When you go looking try to get one that is close to the SkyTrain the time you will save in traveling around the city will be worth the little extra you will pay.

As for the fights they are all over the place, just ask someone form the hotel or climb into a Taxi at about 3:30pm and ask the taxi driver. Let him know you would like to go to a larger stadium fight if they have any that night. If they don’t one of the camps are always having a fight. Or even better contact one of the camps and get a schedule form them. The thing is this every where you go you will find Muay Thai.

[swisscom]

How about language-wise? Could someone have fun there while speaking no thai at all?

[RayD550]

Yea you don't need to speak any Thai to get around. Most of the people know enough English to get you where you need to be. Mostly broken words and you may need to speak slowly but it can work. If you learn a little Thai and try to use it you will go far. The Thai people love it when you try to speak their language. If you try they will go out of their way to help you. One thing you must remember not to show emotion if you fail to communicate if you do just laugh it off as a good time.

One time we climbed in to a taxi and in Thai asked to go to a golf driving range we ended up at a drift car racing track. It was one of the funniest moments form my time there.

Enjoy

[teamfunzen]

Muay Thai in Thailand

Thailand is a great place to travel, tourist friendly, and some of the best food in the world. The DVD "Muay Thai in Thailand" (on Amazon) gives a great overview of the country, Muay Thai Camp, and fights at Lumpini.

Have Fun!!!