Carry On Camping Thailand

We really are on the final countdown now! With just two weeks to go it's not going to be a gentle exit from Thailand. Instead, the intensity of the Thai experience is increasing, with everyone I know very keen for me to leave Thailand with extra special memories.

The experience this weekend was camping in Khao Yai National Park with a motley crew of Thai friends from work. Camping is not something I would normally choose to do, even though as a child I was in the Scouts and went camping all the time in some pretty grim conditions! I am just drawn towards a nice hotel nowadays. But as it's very unlikely that I will get the opportunity to go camping in Thailand again, it seemed acceptable to do it for one night!

But even my previous camping experience could not really prepare me for camping 'Thai style'. Here are a few things I learned over the weekend.

1. Plans are guidelines and need not be followed.


This actually comes as no surprise, especially as the plan was a little bit ambitious! The idea was to set off early to avoid the holiday traffic but apparently traffic is preferable to getting up early or missing breakfast or lunch. Everyone was pretty much 6 hours late.

2. The purpose of a trek in the forest is to take selfies.

Again, not that much of a surprise, and given the heat and the fact I was wearing a fleece to protect my arms, I was secretly quite happy that this activity didn't get dragged out to the extent of actually doing some exercise. And we took some nice selfies!

Nature selfie


3. Nobody else will be concerned about bug spray or sun cream.

And even though I applied both liberally, I was bitten by a giant ant within minutes of arriving.

4. There will be a colossal amount of food.

And you will prepare, cook and eat continuously, regardless of time or hunger. And everything will be delicious!

All pitching in to make a lot of delicious food!

5. Wear clothes for outdoor swimming.

Don't even consider parading around in a bikini or you will look ridiculous. It makes me question why in the Western world we put ourselves through the awkwardness of wearing skimpy swimming garments when we'd all be much more comfortable in shorts and t-shirt.

Another selfie

Not a bikini in sight

6. Change into pyjamas as soon as night falls.

I actually often think people in Thailand look like they're wearing their pyjamas in 7eleven, probably because they are! I'm a big fan of putting my pyjamas on but tend to wear some intermediary comfy clothes if I'm still cooking or going outside. Clearly not a thing here.

7. Camping is a fair weather activity.

Pop up tents of questionable water tightness, that weren't even pegged down were never going to survive even a light drizzle. But it's OK, in the event of inclement weather we would all just move to the nearby building and huddle together.

Pop up campsite

8. It's OK to be scared of big lizards...

Even though when you tell everyone what you saw they will publicly and cruelly mock you as a 'wet behind the ears' Farang, they will all freak out when they see it!

A curious friend..

9. A frog is only frog if you can eat it.

I pointed at what, in my mind, was definitely a frog only to be told that is wasn't because you couldn't eat it. I did try explaining that we don't actually eat frogs in the UK but nobody seemed to grasp this.

Not a frog

10. Thai people can drink and sing without interruption for hours.

We were staying in the grounds of what I believe was a base of the Forestry Service for the park. Essentially, there are 'rangers' who live there and patrol the park, mostly trying to deter poachers who are targeting certain types of tree. When they weren't out patrolling, the main activity appeared to be drinking and singing to a guitar for hours and hours on end. Seemed like a pretty carefree existence!

Time to patrol!
I'll just follow the guy with the gun

11. Don't forget to pray to the Spirits before you leave.

The flimsy tent was never going to offer much protection so we can only thank the local spirit for keeping us safe and ensuring we had an enjoyable stay in Khao Yai. We lit our incense sticks, said our prayers in front of the spirit house prior to our departure.


 And finally, even though I might have a limited understanding of a great proportion of the Thai conversation, I never felt like I didn't belong. 

 Ah Thailand, you are not making leaving easy!

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