AN Irish man living in Thailand has revealed some important things tourists should know before visiting – and one could get you in trouble with the police.
Travis Leon, who moved to Bangkok in 2021, also told how wearing one item of clothing can attract “opportunistic locals”.
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Travis shares content about his life in Bangkok on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram under the username @travisleon1.
His lighthearted videos and informative posts have gained him hundreds of thousands of followers.
Speaking to the Irish Sun, Travis told how he loves life in Bangkok.
Travis said before the big move, he was “miserable” working a corporate job in Dublin and was ready for a change of scenery.
He told the Irish Sun: “Initially I had my sights set on Japan but due to covid it remained closed for a long time so I decided I couldn’t wait around any longer and I figured Thailand was the next best location.
“It was actually unintentional to stay here long term but Thailand had been so welcoming and I felt a strong sense of relief and freedom being here, I fell in love with the people, the culture, nature and the food. Bangkok also just turned out to be an incredibly fun place to live”.
But for anyone looking to move to or even just visit Bangkok for a holiday, Travis had some warnings.
The 32-year-old said it’s incredibly important to manage your drinking, or you could face heat from local police.
He said: “Being drunk, loud and aggressive in public is much less socially acceptable here, the Thais will tolerate a lot because of tourism but if that line is crossed you can end up in a lot of trouble.
“The police can be very strict and come down on foreigners who misbehave, always be respectful, don’t cause trouble and be aware of the laws and norms and you will be fine”.
Similarly, drug use is “taken very seriously” there, according to Travis.
He added: “Many foreigners have landed themselves in jail simply for possession. It ain’t worth it”.
‘NOTORIOUS’ OVERCHARGING
As is the case in most tourist driven cities around the world, visitors could fall victim to scams while in Thailand.
But Travis said thankfully there’s not many in Bangkok, and the most important place to be vigilant is tourist hotspots, such as temples, and tourist drinking spots, such as Khaosan Road and Walking Street.
When it comes to transport, Travis warned Tuk Tuks are “notorious” for overcharging tourists.
He said: “Tuk Tuks, which are like little open taxis, are quite notorious for overcharging tourists and pressuring them into visiting shops they are associated with.
“Much easier to just download GRAB (taxi app) or ask taxis on the street to use the meter, if they are not willing, don’t do it. “
CLOTHING RISK
Finally, there is one clothing type, “elephant pants”‘, that Travis reckons tourists should avoid as they can attract “opportunistic locals”.
The loose fitting, printed trousers are popular among backpackers in hot destinations.
He said: “You will see these for sale everywhere here and they are known as the tourist uniform. Super light and comfy but will definitely attract more opportunistic locals, wear at your own risk”.
For more content from Travis on how to move to Thailand, follow his social media channels.
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