First Shocking Days in Thailand (What No One Tells You)

From Culture Shock to Cultural Immersion: A Freelancer’s Honest Tale of Arriving in Thailand

It wasn’t easy deciding to write this blog post. After all, who doesn’t want to appear as a dazzling hero in others’ eyes? But let’s keep it real.

Our first impression of the Kingdom of Thailand was a genuine shock, even though I’d thoroughly studied almost every blog and forum mentioning Thailand before our trip.

There’s a common misconception that Thailand is a third-world country. Even now, friends who haven’t been to Thailand jokingly ask us about “the natives” when they learn we’ve been living here for months.

In reality, Thailand is a modern, civilized country. Surprisingly, ordinary Thais consider Russia a third-world country! Since we now have Thai friends and have been living for months in a typical Thai village without tourists, I’ll share more about their standard of living later. I’m sure many things will pleasantly surprise you.

For now, let me share our initial impressions of Thailand:

Our first shock was Bangkok’s international airport. Its size and service level are simply astounding.

We arrived via Moscow and Novosibirsk, dressed for the Siberian cold. In Bangkok, we changed into light clothes and discarded our winter gear. We always do this – anything material that weighs us down, we discard. Life becomes lighter and genuinely happier with this approach.

The airport was cool and cozy with powerful air conditioning. Outside, it felt like an oven to us.

As independent travelers, we decided to head straight to Pattaya, where we had a pre-booked hotel room. Instead of using the official taxi service, my husband decided to save money with a private driver. This turned out to be a grave mistake.

We ended up in a scary situation with some unsavory characters outside the city. It was terrifying, but thanks to my husband’s composure, we managed to get out with only losing a bit of extra money.

The ride to Pattaya was tense and silent, but by evening, the whole ordeal seemed almost comical. Still, it was a valuable lesson.

Ladies, I’d advise not traveling alone in Asia. Go with friends or, even better, with Russian men – Thai bandits aren’t scary for them. Russia is a tough country that breeds tough guys!

As my husband said, in such situations, it’s crucial to assess the situation correctly, act accordingly, and try to speak to such people as equals. Any psychological imbalance, either showing off or appearing weak, can end badly.

Despite this experience, we’re grateful for it. It removed our rose-colored glasses and allowed us to see Asia with clear eyes from day one.

Thailand is full of wonderful, smiling, kind people… very kind! But as everywhere, there are some not-so-kind ones too. Still, the good ones far outnumber the others.

Foreigners in Thailand are genuinely valued and respected. So, travel the Kingdom of Thailand with joy and pleasure.

In the next story, you’ll learn about our first impressions of Pattaya.

I’d love to hear in the comments if you’ve been to Thailand and what first impressed you.

Remember, fellow digital nomads, every experience, good or bad, shapes our journey and makes us wiser travelers. Stay safe, stay curious, and keep exploring!