First Christmas in Thailand

[Irish1972]

This will be my first Christmas in Thailand and I was wondering what to expect. Busy not busy, heaven forbid a shortage of boys?? Do Thai people do the whole Christmas day thing IE decorations dinner and so on?

I understand it is a Buddhist Country but was just wondering

Thanks

[bao-bao]

My experience there is that even though western holidays aren't celebrated as they are in the west (and thank Christ for small favors!) you do see smatterings of them here and there. For example, in November 2003 I bought Christmas decorations for my US home in a shopping area then called the World Trade Center (now known as the less "9/11" Central World Plaza), but nothing like you'd see in downtown San Francisco. I wouldn't expect garland and lights everywhere is what I mean. A couple of weeks ago I saw Christmas mugs, towels and things at Chatuchak market, but only in a very few stalls, and most likely because the items were manufactured in Thailand and had been - ahem - diverted from their original destination.

Christmas is an important (albeit non-religious) holiday for my family and friends here that I'd never want to miss so I've never been there at Christmas time myself - but my friends tell me that in most any area where you'll find a westerner (and let's face it, that certainly includes Silom and the clubs there) you'll find holiday decorations and locals making an attempt to share in the fun.

I was at "No Body" massage in Bangkok last week and they were decorated for Halloween, but the three guys I talked to there about it really didn't understand much about the holiday. Frankly, as "ghost"-sensitive as many Thai I've met seem to be I was a little surprised they could have much fun with the idea of it - HA!

BUT, to answer your initial question: I'm sure things will be "business as usual". The Ex-pats on the forum will certainly have more definite ideas than I do, but it brought back fond memories so I thought I'd answer.

I hope you have a wonderful trip! Be safe.

[jinks]

Christmas..... Boyz Town... complete with Santa and Snow !

Oh yes... Madame Jim too...

http://upload4.postimage.org/1547608/xmascard2.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1547608/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload4.postimage.org/1547628/Santa_Jim_Deer_Nadeer24_12_05.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1547628/photo_hosting.html)

I would say it will be very busy- most hotels i enquired with are full already.

[Irish1972]

my favourite appartment so have no worries on that front!

Really looking forward to it, was there in September for 2 weeks but it was way too short!!

Just be prepared for 3 times the number of tourists you see any other time of year. Sometimes this can make it difficult to find an open table at the Telephone or Balcony, or an empty cubicle at Babylon LOL. But the weather is great!

Just be prepared for 3 times the number of tourists you see any other time of year. Sometimes this can make it difficult to find an open table at the Telephone or Balcony, or an empty cubicle at Babylon

The idea here is to share the cubicle.... :compress:

Its all in the spirit of giving... :cheese:

[Michael]

This will be my first Christmas in Thailand and I was wondering what to expect....

One of my main reasons for traveling to LOS at this time of year is to escape the commercial monstrosity that Christmas in England has become.
If you plan carefully and travel away from the areas that try to replicate the tourist Christmas tat, you can easily escape Christmas entirely!

http://www.jinks.clara.net/forum/humbug.gif

I remember attending a little mince pie and coffee morning in a lovely appartment in Pattaya some years ago.
When I was leaving I commented to the host on how lovely the Christmas tree was (I had never seen one so heavily ornamented outside of Harrods window before)
"oh That's not a Christmas tree" said the host "that's Pearl"

Guffaw guffaw! Heeeeeeee ha! I am in the mood for father Christmas already, mine is always an African affair, sans the Nordic tree and turkey, perhaps Pearl can come on safari, brighten up proceedings, but I doubt the poor thing can stomach Xmas pud in a tin, or the ham in aspic anymore.