In my next rip to Thailand, I will carry my own food-Helen Paul
Read her
interview below..
When did you
visit Thailand and why were you in the country?
I visited
Thailand last year and I was in the country for a private event that I had been
invited to, so I won’t really be able to disclose the details. Nonetheless, I
had fun during my trip.
How long did
you stay there?
I was there
for three days and I made the most of my brief stay, even though I was
basically preoccupied with work.
What were
some of the things that struck you on arrival in Thailand?
One of the
things that I found very fascinating was the airport; it’s very big and clean
compared to what you would see in other places. The fact that Thais were also
speaking their native language, which is also known as Thai was quite
commendable too and it drove home the point that they are very in tune with
their culture.
Since you
couldn’t speak their language, how were you able to effectively communicate
with the locals?
The good
thing was that I had two attendants who served as translators for me during my
stay. They could speak English fluently, so I was able to overcome the
challenge language would have posed. I
also observed that although most Thais could speak English, they speak more of
their native language.
In terms of
food, what were some of the dishes that you tasted during your visit; did you
find any Nigerian cuisine on the menu?
For the most
part, I had to make do with Thai food during my stay-they had rice but it
wasn’t anything compared to what we have back home in Nigeria. Similarly, their
spaghetti was also slightly different from ours. I also ate a bit of chips and
fish and drank tea too but sadly, there was no regular beverage and I really
missed that.
When you
introduced yourself as a Nigerian, what was the reaction of the people, did
they take a second glance at you?
Not at all;
from my own perspective, they saw me as friendly and quite playful because I
went there to represent the country so I had to put my best foot forward at all
times. They liked me anyway and that was really heart-warming.
In terms of
comparison, how would you compare Thailand to Nigeria?
The fact
that they appreciated their culture more clearly stood out for me. In Nigeria
for instance, we are very welcoming as a people and sometimes, we want to speak
like visitors almost immediately they come in contact with us in a bid to make
them feel at home in our country. On the contrary, the people in Thailand are
not like that; they are so in sync with their language and they kept more to
themselves from my observations while Nigerians are more welcoming and
receptive.
Do you
recall how you spent your typical day, did you find time to visit some tourist
locations?
I didn’t have time to do that because I went
there strictly for work-related purposes so I couldn’t really unwind much but I
would like to visit the country again at some point and this time around, I
would definitely go there with my own food, if they will allow it at the
airport.
What kind of
tips can you offer travellers from your own experience?
When you are
visiting a country, you must realise that their food may not augur well with
your taste buds so be prepared to taste something different from what you are
used to in your home country. Then, you must make sure that you travel with
your first aid box intact with drugs including pain killers and drugs to fight
constipation because if they don’t speak your language, they might not be able
to understand what you want for your body should you fall ill. You must also
travel with your Bible or Koran as the case may be. More importantly, always
Google to find locations and sites on the Internet to make your trip
hitch-free. These are just a few things that will help any traveller.
Which other
travel destinations would you love to visit?
I like Ghana
and I always love to go there. I am always scared of going to Europe because of
the way people talk about it. I cannot speak ‘big English’ so I’d rather avoid
the place and go to Ghana which is in Africa.
In terms of
infrastructure, road networks and transportation in Thailand, what were your
observations?
I wouldn’t
really be able to say much in that regard because on arrival, someone came to
pick me from the airport and took me straight to my hotel. However, I would say
that the routes which I passed were quite neat and nice. In terms of the
customer service in the hotel, I think I prefer our own hotels because the
people there can speak my language. Language barrier sometimes poses a problem,
particularly when you come in contact with some people who cannot speak English
on a trip. However, Thailand is a beautiful place to visit.
Did you buy
any keepsake during your trip?
No, I
didn’t. Perhaps next time when I visit, I’ll keep that in mind and pick up
something.
How would
you rate the entertainment industry in Thailand?
I noticed
that the Nigerians over there were really welcoming and they were happy to see
me because they don’t get to see much of our entertainers. Thankfully, with the
advent of social media, they are able to keep abreast and sort of have a good
leverage to know what is happening back home on the entertainment scene. I
wasn’t really keen on looking into the Thais’ form of entertainment though but
from their newspapers, I still saw more of their culture which is what makes
Nigerians different-we know about our culture and also seek to discover other
cultures as well.
… and the
fashion scene?
The people I
interacted with were very fashionable but you just can’t compare the Nigerian
fashion scene with what is obtainable in other places. With all sense of pride,
apart from the US, you would always think of Nigeria and the fashion content
available in Africa. We are highly rated on the continent, if not number one,
as far as fashion is concerned.
You
mentioned earlier that when next you visit Thailand, you would go there with
your own food…
Yes, I’d
like to go there on my next visit with my own food because I missed my garri
and amala during my last trip. I spent
only three days so there was really no time to explore that much in the food
department.
Punch
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