Thai Laundromats

Usually found at residential places where there are many students or workers, Thai laundromats are usually simple, spartan setups designed to get the most returns for minimal investment. Steel bars enclose the washing machines to prevent burglars from carting them off while CCTV cameras watch over the premises to prevent thieves from getting at the coin boxes. 

Electronic Fly Swatter

When I first came to Chiangmai, I was pleasantly surprised to find that electronic fly swatters were commonly used here. Everyone knows how difficult it is to swat a small flying insect, especially mosquitoes, with your hands and this electronic swatter was a godsend (especially when you are trying to kill a mosquito in the dead of night in your bedroom). 

It is simple and fun to operate - press and hold down a button on the handle of the device and this sends an electrical current to the wire mesh at its head. Next, bat an insect with the device and it will be fried instantly (with a loud crackling sound and electrical spark!) as soon as it comes into contact with the mesh. 

I have seen these swatters being sold in the Mustapha store in Singapore but it is strange why they are not widely used there.  

Clean Drinking Water From the Tap

A minor inconvenience about living in Thailand is that tap water is not safe to drink. However, this can be easily gotten around by having an indoor water filtration system in the house. 

I have been using the Mazuma unit above for a couple of years already. It can be hung up as a standalone unit or made to fit into your existing sink. It cost more than 3000 baht for the entire set when I first bought it and you just need to replace the filter on top and the three canisters below it every year. 

The filter

The canisters of carbon, resin, and ceramic

As it was time to do the replacements, I bought the parts at HomePro yesterday and had the handyman come by to to do the job today. Total bill came to 1778 baht (parts) + 350 (labour & transport) = 2128 baht (about SGD 85). I was happy as just the transportation cost alone for a handyman in Singapore can easily be SGD 50. 

This is a small price to pay for the convenience of having clean drinking water from the tap.

Thai Solar Calendar vs Gregorian Calendar

Thailand has used the Thai Solar Calendar, also known as the Buddhist calendar, ever since it was adopted for use by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in AD 1888. It is the legal calendar in Thailand,

For other countries, the Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar or Christian calendar, is more widely used. 

Difference Between the Two Calendars – Counting Years

The Thai calendar differs from the Western calendar when counting years. Years in the Thai calendar are 543 years greater than those in the Western calendar.

So when you are converting a year from the:

• Western to Thai calendar: add 543
• Thai to Western calendar: subtract 543

For example, the Thai year 2559 is equivalent to the Western year 2016.

Why Should You Know This

This is important as Thais may use either the Thai or Western in various situations. For example, the Thai calendar is often in official documents and news reports while the Western calendar is used more in everyday situations.

However, there is no confusion over the calendars as Thais are well aware that of the use of both types. 

This knowledge is also essential to everyday encounters. For example, older Thais are more familiar with the Thai calendar and usually will refer to it when referring to dates.

Another example involves the manufacturing/expiry dates of the products that you buy. These can be indicated according to the Western or Thai calendar. So do not be startled if you see a year of expiry is in 59!

This expiry date is in the Western calendar format. 

This expiry date is in the Western calendar format. 

This expiry date is in the Thai calendar format. 

Banking is a Breeze

One of the great things about Thailand is the fact that (depending on the branch you go to) the operating hours for Thai banks are from about 9am to about 8pm, Mondays to Sundays. Many of the banks have branches in the shopping centres and this is really convenient as you can get some banking done while you do the weekend shopping.

Back in the bad old days in Singapore, it used to be that banking hours were from 9am to 3.30pm from Mondays to Fridays, and until 1pm on Saturdays. The situation has improved somewhat with banking hours being extended to 7pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays (the banks are still closed on Sundays) but is still a pain as many people knock off late from work on weekdays and the only way they can get any banking done is to spend a portion of your weekend time at the bank, not exactly fun.

Women in the Men's Room

In Thailand, it is common to encounter toilet cleaners who are female. While there are females toilet cleaners in Singapore as well, what is different in Thailand is that the cleaners here do their cleaning even when there are men around.

In Singapore, the cleaner will usually knock on the toilet door first and ask loudly if there was anyone inside. Only when the toilet was vacant would they enter and start cleaning. And even so, they would display a sign outside the toilet informing everyone that cleaning was in progress. Users who needed to go would have to find another toilet. In Thailand, the cleaner will do their cleaning – wiping the sinks, moping the floor, changing the paper towels etc even as men are walking in and out of the toilet or lining up at the urinals taking their leaks.

I remember the time when I was in the middle of a leak in a toilet in Thailand and the cleaning lady walked in with no prior warning. The other guys around me did not bat an eyelid but I was freaking out as I did not know what I should do then – should I continue or stop and finish the business in one of the stalls? As for her, she basically ignored everyone while she went about her job. She was there to do her job and after being exposed to this sort of scene everyday (I am sure there are pervs around who expose themselves intentionally as well), I suppose she had probably become desensitized to all of it as well.

But today, even after several years in Thailand, I simply cannot take a leak at a urinal when the cleaning lady is around. I can only do so in a stall. If the stalls were full, I would rather hold it in and wait or come back at a later time.

Love for King & Country

Thais have a lot of love and affection for their King and country and this can be seen in ways such as:

Standing Up at the Cinema

Before the start of every movie in Thai cinemas, a video that pays homage to the King will be shown. On seeing this, everyone will rise to their feet. While the song ‘San Sern Pra Baramee’ (which translates to ‘Bless the King’) plays, the video will show images of the King and his accomplishments over the course of his life. Everyone is to remain standing throughout the video as a mark of respect – also, avoid talking, eating, or fidgeting. Only when the video ends can everyone relax and sit down.

It is very disrespectful if you do not stand up so do not do this. If you do not stand, you run the risk of getting into trouble with the other Thais there.

Standing in Public

The Thai national anthem is played daily, at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., throughout the country via loudspeakers in public and via the television and radio as well. If you are at a public location where you can hear this, you will see everyone standing still while the anthem plays, even in a crowded place such as a shopping mall or bus/train station.

If you are not sure what to do when this happens, just take your cue from the Thais around you and follow their lead.

Showing Respect

Thais are very tolerant and forgiving towards foreigners so do not worry if you unintentionally make a blunder or cause offence. Make an effort to show respect for the local customs and cultural practices and your actions will be appreciated.

Medication & Prescription Drugs

Unlike in Singapore, where practically anything stronger than paracetemol requires a doctor’s prescription (and often with an expensive consultation as well in the process) before it can be purchased at the pharmacy, it is much easier to buy drugs and pharmaceuticals over the counter in Thailand. In Thailand, a person who is feeling unwell will usually make the pharmacy his first port of call. Only if self-medication does not work would he go to the clinic or the hospital.

(Note: in Singapore, besides their consultation fees, doctors make money from selling medicine as well as they usually stock them in their clinics. This is one of the reasons why medicine in Singapore is expensive).

Pharmacies

A pharmacy is known as ‘raan khai yaa’, which means ‘shop that sells medicine’. Except in the rural areas, you can find a pharmacy in practically every shopping mall or in the neighbourhood all over Thailand. Pharmacies in shopping malls include Boots, Watsons, and independent stores while those in the neighbourhood have a mom-and-pop setup.

Store Setup

Most pharmacies in Thailand look the same; a glass enclosed store front, glass counters in the store, and glass cabinets (or shelves) on the walls. The sign used to indicate the pharmacy is placed outside the store and is usually depicted with:

• The word for medicine written in Thai (see pic).
• A white background with a cross in another colour (e.g. red, blue, green etc).

The Pharmacist

Most, if not all, of the pharmacists in the shopping malls speak English and will be able to give you advice on the medication that you need or are looking for. Those in the neighbourhood stores typically cannot speak English. Though they may know the names of the various drugs, the differences in the way Thais and other English speakers pronounce these names often make it hard for them to understand what you are looking for. Therefore, it is often helpful to show them a picture of the drug you need on your phone.

Medications Available

The types of medicine that you can buy over the counter include:

Antibiotics

In Singapore, antibiotics have to be prescribed by the doctor and cannot be bought at a pharmacy. In Thailand, you can buy several types of antibiotics over the counter, e.g. erythromycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline etc.

Antibiotics are known as ‘yaa khaa cheua’ in Thai, meaning ‘bacteria killing medicine’. Many uninformed Thais think that antibiotics are a cure all for various ailments; for example, if you have a sore throat – take antibiotics. If you have diarrhoea – take antibiotics. This can be dangerous as such misuse can create bacterial resistance to antibiotics in our bodies.

Birth Control Pills

Again, in Singapore, birth control pills have to be prescribed by a doctor. In Thailand, you can buy various brands of birth control pills, both local international, at the pharmacy. A month’s supply will cost you roughly just a few hundred baht.

Cough & Cold Medicines

You can buy paracetemol marketed under various Thai brands (e.g. Sara, Tiffy etc) and Decolgen for colds.

Various Ointments & Creams

You can get a wide range of these, from antihistamines to steroid creams.

Brand Name Drugs vs Generics

The generics of many well-known drugs can be bought in Thailand. They are marketed under different brand names here and are usually much cheaper than the brand name drugs - due to government price controls and the fact that  many are produced locally (possible due to expired patents).

You can find out the name of these generics with a little research online. Storing a picture of it in your phone for showing it to the pharmacist will make it easier for him to find you what you are looking for.

Other Sources

If you cannot find what you want outside, you can go to the doctor at a hospital for a prescription as or try the pharmacies located there. But note that drugs prices here are usually higher as compared to outside stores and it is common for them to provide only brand name medications.

Drugs Safety and Efficacy

Generally, drugs in Thailand are genuine and will work as they should. This is true even if you had purchased them from the small neighbourhood shops.  However, complaints about fake drugs or inefficacious drugs sometimes do occur but could be partly due to improper storage of the drugs (i.e. not storing them in a cool, dry place, exposing them to heat and humidity), causing them to spoil or deteriorate.

If you are concerned about drug safety, buy only from the well-known pharmacies or those located in the shopping malls. Be sure to check the expiry date of the drugs and store the medication (especially ointments and creams) in the refrigerator if necessary.

Controlled Drugs

While you can get a wide range of drugs at the pharmacy, certain drugs that are considered dangerous, e.g. morphine, are regulated more strictly and may be more difficult to find here.

Thailand takes a hardline stance on drugs. Contrary to what many people think, you cannot buy your way out of every trouble in Thailand; not every policeman can be bought (you might even end up with a bribery charge against you in the process), or they may simply take your money and put you away anyway. Many foreigners have been put in prison for drug trafficking and even for recreational drug use. So do not abuse drugs and stay far away from people and places that you know drugs are present.

If you have a condition that requires you to take controlled medication, make sure that you have the original prescription bottle and doctor’s prescription/documentation with you when you are travelling abroad. Having these on hand will save you a lot of trouble with government officials should they find these controlled drugs on you and they start asking questions.

Car Parking in Thailand

In Thailand, especially in the cities, parking spaces can be difficult to find due to the large number of cars here, so much so that you can see indiscriminate parking practically everywhere. Because of this, many people have the impression that there are no parking regulations in Thailand. However, the fact is, there are parking regulations here, just that as they are seldom enforced, many people think they do not exist.

Parking Regulations

To know whether you can park at a certain spot, take note of the painted markings on the kerb or on the road:

• A kerb painted with red and white markings means no parking at all times (see pic).
• A kerb painted with yellow and white markings means no parking is allowed but you can stop for a while to load/unload goods or to pick up/drop off passengers.
• White rectangles painted on the road indicate designated parking spots (see pic), subject to time constraints indicated on signs nearby (note: these signs may not be in English).
• Smaller white rectangles painted on the road indicate designated parking spots for motorcycles (see pic), again, subject to time constraints indicated on the signs.

Be careful when parking outside shops and businesses as many Thais do not take kindly to non-customers parking there, even though the area outside is often common property. Be prepared to get a stink eye from the owner of the establishment if you choose to do so.

Penalties

If you park in the wrong place or exceed the time allowed, you may get fined with a parking ticket. You will need to pay the fine at the police station. Take note that the police have been known to wheel clamp illegally parked vehicles. Only when the fine is paid will the police remove the clamp.

Parking Charges

One great thing about Thailand is that many places, including shopping centres, offer free parking. Contrast this to Singapore, where roadside parking costs about SGD 1.00 (about 25 baht) per hour and a typical shopping centre may charge about SGD 1.20 (about 30 baht) per hour for daytime parking and SGD 2.14 (about 53 baht) per entry after 6pm.

Some places, such as private property spaces converted into parking areas, may charge a small fee for parking, from 10 to 20 baht or more. They are usually located near busy places such as nightspots and markets and are indicated using simple signs painted in Thai or English. The charge can be on a flat fee or time based basis. For flat fee parking, the payment will usually be collected from you when you alight from your car. For time based parking, instead of collecting payment upfront, they will give you a slip with your entry time written on it and you will have to make payment just before you leave.

Special Parking

Cars are usually ‘double parked’ (i.e. side by side) in Thailand. However, when the lots allotted for double parking are full, motorists that come after will usually parallel park in front of the double parked ones so as to maximise space. These parallel parked cars will have their gear stick in neutral so that the driver of a double parked car can then push the parallel parked ones in front of his car out of the way when he wants to exit the lot.

This system only works on flat land, not on slopes. And though it might seem rather chaotic and dangerous to some, it is actually rather efficient and works well as everyone knows what they are doing.