Thailand first-time traveller guide

Pad Thai: Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind, peanuts, egg, shrimp or chicken. ¥40–80 baht ($1.15–2.30) from street stalls, ¥150+ baht ($4.30+) at tourist restaurants. Look for stalls with a black pan over charcoal.

Tom Yum: Spicy and sour soup with shrimp and mushrooms. ¥80–150 baht ($2.30–4.30). Two versions: nam khon (creamy, with coconut milk, more popular with tourists) and nam sai (clear, authentic, hotter).

Green Curry: Coconut milk-based curry with chicken, bamboo shoots, Thai basil. ¥100–180 baht ($2.90–5.20). Best served with Thai-style "jasmine rice" and a fried egg.

Som Tum (Papaya Salad): Shredded green papaya with chili, lime, fish sauce, peanuts. ¥30–60 baht ($0.86–1.70). Spicy! It's ordered by "level of heat" — start with "pet no" (no chili) if you're sensitive.

Mango Sticky Rice: Ripe mango on sweet sticky rice with coconut cream. ¥60–120 baht ($1.70–3.50). Only really good from March to June (mango season); out of season, mangoes are sour.

Street Skewers (Moo Ping): Grilled pork on sticks, basted with soy sauce. ¥10 baht ($0.29) per stick. Cooked at a charcoal grill on the side of the road.

Coconut Ice Cream: Served in a young coconut shell with toasted peanuts and corn. ¥40–60 baht ($1.15–1.70). The best are street carts near Chatuchak.

Boat Noodles (Kuay Teow Ruea): Originally from floating markets, now served at street stalls. Tiny bowls of noodles for ¥30–40 baht ($0.86–1.15) each — locals eat 5-6 for a meal.

Temple dress code: No shorts, no sleeveless shirts, no tight clothing. Knees and shoulders must be covered. Most temples rent clothes (¥20–50 baht) if you arrive under-dressed.

Jet ski scams: Some operators will claim you're responsible for pre-existing damage to the jet ski. Take photos of every scratch before accepting. Stick to operators at major beaches like Patong, not the tiny ones in remote coves.

Tuk-tuk/taxi scams: "Free government tour" drivers will take you to gem shops or tailor shops where they earn commission. Just say "no thank you" and walk away.

Meter refusal: Bangkok taxis should always use the meter. If a driver says "no meter, fixed price" — get out and use Grab.

Sunburn: Thailand is very hot and humid. Apply SPF 30+ every 2 hours. Waterproof sunscreen is essential on islands.

Drink boiled or bottled water — tap water is not safe to drink. Ice in restaurants is generally fine, but avoid ice from street vendors.

Lese majeste (royal defamation) laws are strict — never say anything negative about the royal family, even in private conversations.