10 days in Thailand, A Comparison

After spending the last ten days in Thailand I have been constantly comparing it to India. I know it is not the best way to travel with an open mind. But hey I have only been to one other Asian country and as all of you know when something is similar to another experience you have had then you automatically try to gain a understanding through reference points in your brain. In my brain they just happen all to be tied to India. So to sort through all the jumbled compare and contrast points in my head I decided to write it all down and see where I end up after the last sentence.

My India vs. Thailand list is quite lengthy but I don't want you to think that I prefer one country over the other. As of right now I can not make that judgment call. Spending a year and three months in India gave me so many positive experiences and just a few negative ones. However, the ten days in Thailand can not in any way match the depth and variety of experiences that were had in India. So after my time in Thailand maybe I can make that judgment call but as of today here are the thoughts and observations running through my mind.

India: Extremely hot and muggy
Thailand: mildly humid
- When I stepped off the plane in India I remember my breath being suppressed, it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. The humidity in India was palpable, heavy, and overbearing at times. Thailand so far is nothing more than a summer day at the beach. Limited amounts of sweat, if any, dipping down my back. My hair isn't matted to my head and neck when I wake. A nice relief.

India: pure vegetarian food options
Thailand: vegetarian = pescetarian
- While in India I practiced being a vegetarian and realized my body really enjoys that lifestyle. So once I came back to the US for the summer I tried to continue on that path...low and behold my mind was set on eating BBQ before I left. Right now I can not call myself a vegetarian but I do prefer eating as one. Thailand's, or more specifically Bangkok's, Koh Lanta's, and Chiang Mai's version of vegetarian, includes shrimp, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and as far as I can tell all seafood. So needless to say I have tried and disliked the taste or texture of a lot of Thai food. I miss my Indian curries, breads, and breakfasts!

India: tuk-tuks are the most common form of transportation
Thailand: cars, trucks, buses
- I don't know why but I was surprised to see full sized vehicles in Thailand. There are not many tuk-tuks. Instead there are flatbed trucks that have a cap on them with seating in the back. Some of them do routes like buses, others just are group taxis. It is a very unique concept and Tanner and I were debating today if they came about as a city necessity or they were there before buses and the like, making future modes of transportation unnecessary? Either way, today I took one and I do not mind it but I much prefer tuk-tuks.

India: Everyone knew some English
Thailand: Everyone knows Thai and how to smile
- One of the major benefits about traveling to India is everyone speaks some English. India's independence from England only happened in 1947, so English is still widely used and understood by locals and tourists. In Thailand everyone speaks Thai. They are kind enough to smile and nod but the do not really understand English or the request that is being asked. So a smile is nice and sometimes better than a grumpy, cheating, old Indian man who speaks English. But being able to read all the road signs and understand the people while traveling may trump smiles.

India: Women are second class citizens
Thailand: Women are equal
- I know those are very large opinions on my behalf but from what I have observed it is true. In India not only were women confined to the home, but out and about men wouldn't listen to them or their opinions. By the end of Tanner's and my trip in India he just stopped introducing me to Indian men he met because they were offended at his acknowledgment of me. However, in Thailand everyone seems to be equal or at least respected. Men listen to me and I can speak with them. I do not have to dim my personality or hide behind a man. Here I am heard, respected, and thought of to have value...it feels nice.

India: Staring is status quo
Thailand: Smiling is status quo
- I know that I am tall, broad, and blonde. I know that Tanner is taller, broader, and blonder. However, never in my life did I expect a country or region that has access to news, television, and international media in general to stare so much. India was a hard pill to swallow in that fact. Being noticed is one thing, but constantly being stared at, followed, and even touched is just not appropriate or welcomed in my mind. It took a long time to get used to and even then I found myself appalled. That maybe to harsh of a word, but at the least very emotional when Indians would not accept that people that looked different from them existed. I know that Indian culture is very tied to the color and tone of one's skin but just because I am white and have blonde hair does not make me a different person than you. Blood runs through my veins, protons, neutrons, and electrons make up my body, and I need air, food, and water to live just like any other human being. It was rough to say the least and I tried to take it as an opportunity to teach them about me and my culture. A person is just a person in Thailand. Yes, Thai's see two very tall people walking together they look, but the smile instead of leer. The nod with acknowledgment and say hello, they do not gawk with their mouths open. Thai's smiles, whether genuine or not, are so much more comforting.

India: no road rules
Thailand: some road rules
- India is a free for all when it comes to driving on the road. Well actually when it comes to driving anywhere that can be driven upon, road or no road and Indian driver will find a way to get you there fast and directly. It is a bit frightening but highly enjoyable. Here in Thailand there are fast driver and slow drivers, but so far everyone follows some kind of road law and horns are not blaring at every turn or intersection.

India: hagglers everywhere
Thailand: hagglers some places
-In India haggling was a way of life. If a shopkeeper quoted you a price you automatically said less than that eventually finding a middle ground or one of you would walk away. Here in Thailand the prices seem to be marked and fixed. The one thing that both countries share is the varying prices of transportation. Sometimes they use the meter and other times they just quote you a price and you take it or leave it. Traveling in a country that is not your own expect to be ripped off a little. It is how those people support themselves and their families. I have now turned all haggling into a game to see who can win!

India: whitening products everywhere
Thailand: whitening products everywhere
- In my experience with both Indian and Thai people the lighter your skin color the better. All the products we have in the US are sold here with "whitening" power! Basically bleach, SPF, or some other compound that keeps the skin light or lightens it.

India: pollution and liter everywhere
Thailand: some pollution and very little litter
- Thailand is clean, smells nice, and there is rarely litter. I have yet to see a Thai person throw trash onto the ground. They seem to really respect their land and country's cleanliness. India on the other hand is really dirty. People litter out the bus, put trash outside their house, and pee right on the street. So needless to say Thailand is vastly different than India in this regard.

India: feeling of safety was not high
Thailand: feeling of safety is high
-I arrived in India right after the highly publicized rapes and that along with terror stories from people around me who were worried made me on edge when I arrived in India. I personally never had any safety issues, once I was followed home by a man on a motorbike but as soon as I acknowledged and scolded him he left. I think that because everyone (news, individuals, and Indian Aunties) told me to be careful and not go out at night, I was a little more scared and apprehensive about where I went, what I did, and what I wore in India. However, in Thailand I have an overwhelming sense of safety. It may be a false sense of security but it feels safe here. India ended up being safe. However, I am still debating if I feel safe here because I learned the proper behavior in India and now just apply it to my life here without a second thought or if it really is more safe. Needless to say, in both cases I think women should feel safe traveling to both India and Thailand - just be smart. Wear culturally appropriate clothing (covering shoulders, knees, and cleavage), do not go out at night a drink heavily and not be aware of your surroundings, and lastly act like a responsible human being and most likely nothing bad will happen.

My compare and contrast list is now complete after these initial days and I am loving every minute of being in Thailand. I do miss India greatly and hope to go back in April for the girls' surf camp, but until then I will keep exploring Thailand looking for my next great adventure!

Love,
Molly