Even in the winter, temperatures in Bangkok reach into the low 90s. The river express boats in Bangkok cost between six and 10 baht, depending on the distance traveled. One of the country's great pleasures is the Thai massage, and licensed massage parlors can be found just about everywhere. These are therapeutic, not erotic, massages where trained Thai women who speak little English use their hands, feet, legs and forearms and all their weight as they pull and knead muscles strained by an invigorating day of sightseeing. The toilet is nothing more than porcelain slab with two raised footpads on either side of a hole in the ground.
Users flush it by scooping water from an adjoining trough.
Take toilet paper from your hotel when you go out for the day. Rice, noodle and curry dishes abound, and most restaurants have menus in English. It is unlikely travelers will find these items on many restaurant menus. Hiring private guides is inexpensive and allows visitors to get the most out of their time in the country.