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?
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.
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