Freebie for Russians in Thailand: they eat at the wake, live in monasteries

The flagship of domestic air transportation from October 30 intends to resume daily direct flights from Moscow to Phuket, and the Thai side does not rule out a “symmetrical” response – to raise its own aircraft to this route. If everything goes according to plan, then by the winter, according to estimates of domestic tour operators, more than 250 thousand of our tourists may be in Thailand. Let’s hope that direct flights will reduce the cost of Thai voyages for us, but for now, the Russians there are forced to spin in order to survive, as best they can.

Most of the compatriots who left for Tai, despite the lack of affordable logistics, are not rich people and have already overspent by paying for the flight “on the bed” (prices really bite – from 140 thousand rubles per person one way).

– Yes, without money, but in the warmth, under the feet of the ocean, fruits overhead! – Russian long-steers do not lose optimism.

Resilient fellow citizens are actively exchanging survival life hacks in thematic chats. Some adapted to hearty and free meals at local commemorations, chasing strangers from whom it is not customary for Thais, others found “free” housing – in Buddhist monasteries.

Know-how on the topic of Thai survival from fellow citizens starts from the very beginning – on the way to Thailand. The cheapest way, according to our people in Tai, is to get through Central Asia – Tashkent, Alma-Ata, but even better through the Kazakh Nursultan (former Astana). From Moscow to Nursultan, with diligent monitoring of the price drop on tickets, you can fly for an amount of 6717 rubles (the upper limit is 12 thousand), and from ex-Astana to Bangkok – at a price of 20 thousand rubles one way.

– If you want to save money, looking for tickets is not entertainment, but work, – the winterer from Izhevsk, who has been with his family on the Thai Phangan, sternly warns future colleagues. – And those who think that this is a pleasant part of the vacation, even from Astana to Bangkok can fly for 300 thousand, the price range is very large. But we flew 20 thousand rubles per person.

Russians with experience of wintering in Goa note that everything is more expensive in Thailand – housing, food, entertainment, so you have to dodge.

“We are now on the island of Koh Phangan, riding a scooter and constantly looking for something to eat here,” says a Russian blogger traveling around Thailand with his girlfriend. – We are looking for something to buy in order to save money, because after India, all food and fruits in Thailand are significantly more expensive. But street food is quite cheap – 120-150 rubles per serving. It’s even cheaper than buying groceries in the store and cooking on your own.”

But recently, a Russian couple was lucky: passing by a Buddhist temple, the guys noticed a large number of parked scooters and cars and the clinking of cutlery “like in a school cafeteria” .. We decided to look – and there was a whole feast: tables, chairs, a lot of people.

“We were immediately called to the distribution of food. I didn’t have time to consider the situation, but I already had a huge tray of food in my hands, which was difficult even to bring to the table. There are napkins and clean plates with spoons on the tables. Rice in a special silver vase, and a lot of different food prepared for it (this is two types of pork, in broth with peanuts, and fried with onions (for an amateur); this is beef in coconut liquid, fish with pineapple pieces in tomato sauce.

In a separate cup adjika, green beans, raw chestnuts and some kind of vegetable that looks like a green tomato. The real top thing is meat in heavy coconut cream and fish with pineapple in tomato sauce.

We ate enough food for tomorrow. They couldn’t even eat half of the food. In parting, the women from this feast gladly packed food for us to take with them, and not our leftovers from plates, but from the vats from which the dishes are laid out. We took only rice, coconut stew with meat, fish with pineapple in tomato, and they also put fried fish for us – carp in batter. And only then did knowledgeable people tell the Russian couple that it was … a commemoration!

– At the Thai commemoration they always treat like this, – says a Thai bartender from the island of Koh Phangan. – It pleases the soul of the deceased.

– And if foreigners constantly go to different wakes, they will not be expelled?

– Of course not. If you are not too lazy, let them go, at the wake we always have delicious and kind.

The Russian couple also came to the same conclusion: “Walk is often held here, every day. You can go here daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And most importantly, you will not find such dishes even in a restaurant. It’s pure Thai food.” Young people have already notified all compatriots on the island about the “funeral all-inclusive”, and they now eat at the commemoration, so the souls of the Thai dead will not get enough for a long time. And even more resourceful compatriots find not only a free table, but also shelter – in Thai monasteries.

– It frightens only out of ignorance, – a guest of a Thai monastery from near Bryansk shares his experience. – This is in Orthodox churches, if you come to live, you have to work all day, and in Thai you only need to withdraw into yourself and meditate. To do this, provide a separate room with all amenities, so as not to be distracted. And they are fed three times a day.

Thai monasteries are usually located in very picturesque places, so a hotel is much better. By the way, they have no sins in our understanding. There are actions that improve karma. The rest are just actions. So no one will forbid you to drink, smoke and have novels here.

– Some of the Russians live with us all year round, – they confirm in a secluded monastery on Koh Phangan. – Of course, everything is free.