It’s time to say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in the New Year. All year long, we’ve been sharing vocabulary lists, grammar tips, cultural insights, and travel stories from Thailand. Let’s take a look back at some of the best posts from 2016:
Language
Going to the Beach
Hit the beach!
Many people come to Thailand specifically for the country’s beautiful beaches. Get ready for some sun and sand by learning some beach vocabulary in Thai.
Days of the Week and Months
Learn the days of the week and months in Thai as well as where the names come from. You’ll also find out what colors represent the days of the week in Thai culture.
Drinks
Mmmm…. fresh smoothie!
Don’t go thirsty – learn 20 Thai words for drinks in this post. Also, learn some extra words so you can specify whether you want a large or a small, a hot or a cold, a bottle or a can, etc.
Introduce Yourself in Thai
It’s easy to make friends in Thailand, as the people are very kind and welcoming. They’ll be even nicer if you can introduce yourself in Thai, which is exactly what you’ll learn to do in this post.
Thai New Year
A Songkran parade on Ko Pha-Ngan.
Known as Songkran, Thai New Year is a 3-day festival that culminates in a massive water fight. Get ready for this traditional holiday by learning some Thai vocabulary about the New Year.
Culture
Remembering King Bhumibol
Image by SeaDave from flickr.com.
It was a sad year for Thailand, as the beloved King Bhumibol passed away at the age of 88. Learn about his life and his time on the throne as the longest serving head of state in the world.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Get the scoop on another important Thai holiday in this post about the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. See if you can pronounce the Thai name, which is ridiculously long:
Around 95% of the people in Thailand are Buddhist, meaning Buddhism is a central aspect of Thai culture. The country celebrates many traditional Buddhist holidays, including Asahna Bucha Day.
Loi Krathong and Yi Peng
In case you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of holidays in Thailand! Get the scoop on the country’s “Floating Basket” and “Floating Lantern” festivals in this post about Loi Krathong and Yi Peng.
20 Common Thai Dishes
Explore the cuisine of Thailand!
Do you love Thai food? The cuisine of Thailand is world famous, and for good reason. Learn 20 common Thai dishes in this mouth-watering post. You can also join us on a “Culinary Tour of Thailand” in this short video:
Travel
Ko Tao
More than just diving on Koh Tao.
The island of Ko Tao is one of the best places in the world to get certified as a scuba diver. It’s also a great place to let loose and party, with a wild pub crawl multiple nights every week.
Partying on Ko Pha-Ngan
Speaking of partying, one of the best places to do just that is Ko Pha-Ngan. From the infamous Full Moon Party, to the jungle experience, to the Thai New Year and its huge water fight, good times are abundant on this island. Check it out in this episode of “Streets, Beats & Eats:”
There’s much more to Thailand than sitting on the beach. Get out in nature by visiting some of the country’s amazing national parks. Mix up the island hopping by checking out Khao Sok or Ko Tarutao – you won’t be disappointed!
Jungle Trekking in Chiang Mai
Welcome to the jungle!
Up in the northern part of the country, many adventures await you. Get outside of the city in Chiang Mai and embark on a 3-day jungle trek. Sleep in villages, go cliff jumping, and get up close with elephants.
We’ll be right back to work in 2017 bringing you more posts about all things Thailand. Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know if there’s anything in particular you’d like to read about – this blog is for you after all! To all our readers out there, I’d like to say…
Sasha is an English teacher, writer, photographer, and videographer from the great state of Michigan. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to China and spent 5+ years living, working, studying, and traveling there. He also studied Indonesian Language & Culture in Bali for a year. He and his wife run the travel blog Grateful Gypsies, and they're currently trying the digital nomad lifestyle across Latin America.
