Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [627]
Baby formula and nappies (diapers) are available at minimarkets and 7-Elevens in the larger towns and cities, but the sizes are usually small, smaller and smallish. If your kid wears size 3 or larger, head to Tesco Lotus, Big C or Tops Market stores. Nappy rash cream is sold at the pharmacies.
Hauling around little ones can be a challenge. Thailand’s footpaths are oftentimes too crowded to push a pram, especially today’s full-sized SUV versions. Instead opt for a compact umbrella stroller that can squeeze past the fire hydrant and the mango cart and that can be folded up and thrown in a túk-túk. A baby pack is also useful but make sure that the child’s head doesn’t sit higher than yours: there are lots of hanging obstacles poised at forehead level.
Although you might be in food heaven, kids can be a little resistant to culinary adventures. In general Thai children don’t start to eat spicy food until elementary school, before then they seemingly survive on kôw nĕe·o and jelly snacks. Other kid-friendly meals include chicken in all of its non-spicy permutations – gài yâhng (grilled chicken), gài tôrt (fried chicken) and gài pàt mét má·môo·ang (chicken stir-fried with cashew nuts) – as well as kôw pàt (fried rice), kài jee·o (Thai-style omelette) and gŏo·ay ĕe·o (noodle soups). See also Click here.
Sights & Activities
Of the many destinations in Thailand, children will especially enjoy the beaches, as most are in gentle bays good for beginner swimmers. Animal amusements abound in Thailand, but animal conditions and treatment are often below par compared with standards in the West. Elephant rides, bamboo rafting and other outdoor activities around Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi are more animal- and kid-friendly. Older children might enjoy the northeastern town of Khon Kaen ( Click here), which is decorated with dinosaur statues and boasts a nearby national park and museum with dinosaur bones in situ. Bangkok is great fun for those in awe of construction sites: the city is filled with cranes, jackhammers and concrete-pouring trucks. Kids on a train kick might like an overnight journey. On the train they can walk around and they’re assigned the lower sleeping berths with views of the stations. For other itinerary ideas, Click here.
CLIMATE CHARTS
Click here for further information on choosing the best time of year for your visit to Thailand.
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COURSES
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Cooking
Cooking courses pop up wherever there are tourists willing to dice some shallots. Bangkok’s courses ( Click here) tend to be more formal, with dedicated kitchen facilities and individual work stations; but Chiang Mai is the undisputed cooking-course capital ( Click here). Elsewhere, a resourceful entrepreneur might hang a sign on the front door and students join the rhythm of a typical Thai kitchen. See the individual destination chapters for recommended schools.
Language
Formal, university-affiliated language programs are available in Bangkok ( Click here) and Chiang Mai ( Click here). Both cities also offer an array of short-term coursework tailored to suit different communication needs from business Thai to reading and writing.
Moo•ay Tai (Thai Boxing)
One of the fastest growing sectors of Thailand’s educational tourism, moo·ay tai (Thai boxing; also spelt muay thai) training takes place at dozens of camps around the country. Traditional moo·ay tai camps, especially in the rural areas, are in the business of training winning fighters, who elevate the prestige and earnings of the teacher and the school. The training sessions are gruelling, the diet is rudimentary and the facilities are little more than a dusty ring for sparring and a few shared cabins. Some foreign fighters with the potential for competitive success have trained in these schools but they did so through personal introductions and a dedication to the sport.
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