| "> | | | | every Tuk Tuk driver will take you. Instead, catch a |
| If you're thinking about traveling-on-a-budget (or | | | | train to Chiang Mai in the far north or Krabi in the south. |
| backpacking) in Thailand then here's a really good | | | | Or heck, go where the Thais go for holidays too. |
| reason why you should get right off the beaten track. | | | | Another way to do it is to come to Thailand to actually |
| The experience will grow you as a person - and be | | | | learn something. No, I don't mean drink beer. I mean |
| something that you can talk about happily for hours | | | | actually go and study Thai until you can converse well. |
| when you're safely back home! (Or having a few quiet | | | | Or do a PADI scuba course until you have your license |
| drinks with the boys!) | | | | sorted. You know what I mean! By coming to learn |
| It's also good (as much as possible anyway) to go | | | | you give yourself a reason to be in Thailand. You have |
| where others don't tend to go. After all, this is the | | | | a purpose now. |
| whole purpose of traveling to a new country right? | | | | And yet another approach is to point your finger at a |
| You go for the experience, to check out the culture, | | | | location on a Thai map and just go there. It may end |
| and to see if you can do it too. But, how on earth do | | | | up being a weird trip, but it also may end up being the |
| you get off the beaten track a bit? Here's how. | | | | best thing you ever did! You won't know until you give |
| Firstly you need to get right away from the tourist | | | | it a try. This is why getting off the beaten track is a |
| hangouts. You don't need to do the island trips, | | | | good idea. Like I said, it'll grow you, so make sure you |
| Bangkok's nightlife, or Khaosan road. That's where | | | | do it. |
| every fresh faced backpacker heads and where | | | | |