Check out our new Thailand Video!

Check out our new video on UltimateThailandExplorers.com

http://ultimatethailandexplorers.com/no_cache/destinations/chiang-mai/applicants-profile/?user=AubParkThailand

Let us know what you think. Here is our explanation about why we should be the Chiang Mai representatives (also on the website):

About Aubrey & Parker

Aubrey and Parker are both seasoned world travelers! We are both from Detroit, Michigan USA yet we did not meet until we both separately moved to Bangkok, Thailand! Aubrey was already living here for 2 months when mutual friends put Parker in touch with her before moving to Thailand. After a month of exploring the city, we found that we were the perfect travel companions and we started dating! We have lived here now for over 15 months together and we have hosted over 20 guests from the States! Both our families and friends have ventured out to Thailand and we have been their tour guides; according to them it is unanimous that we are the best tour guides in the city! Aubrey has studied photography and art in Rome, Italy where she lived for four months during University on a study-abroad program, which sparked her interest to live abroad. Parker backpacked around Europe for two months and became enamored with the adventurous lifestyle of traveling. We are the type of couple who aren't afraid to try new things. We would appeal to all viewers because we do things in all different price ranges. We love street food as much as we love trying different gourmet restaurants! Our youthful energy and knowledge of Thai culture makes us the perfect team to guide you through beautiful Chiang Mai.

Thais and Respect

One of the first things you notice upon entering Thailand is that everyone is smiling at you. The country is not called "The Land of Smiles" for nothing and Thais will do everything they can to communicate with you even if you don't know any Thai. I am working (slowly) on mine and know very basic phrases and I can get around pretty easily. For the most part, Thais are for the most part extremely generous and respectful people. As a sign of respect, Thais will often wai to you (bringing two hands up to around their chin as a sign of respect) and you should acknowledge and return the wei if possible. This is always interesting when you are trying to carry groceries and they fall out when you try to wai back.
Some of the other signs of respect are not as immediately evident. I take a motorbike taxi everyday to school and I heard that if you are late on the bill, you can hand the bill and cash to a motorbike taxi and they will take it to the office, which is miles outside of the congested city. I scoffed at the idea, thinking that there was no way I would trust a stranger with my cash. One day soon after we moved to Bangkok, Aubrey and I discovered we were very late on our electric bill and we had no idea where the payment office was. We decided to go for the motorcycle taxi courier option and handed some random Thai taxidriver close to the equivalent of $100 in Thai baht and expected to never see the man again. Much to our surprise, the taxi driver returned with the payment receipt and he charged us a mere 100 baht (about $3). Amazing...
Also, young people show a lot more respect here than in the States. Elders are always treated with respect, no matter what. When the Birmingham Uptown Theater was built not long ago, it was amazing and state of the art. About a year later, there was graffiti all over the bathrooms and the seats in the movie theater had been slashed and broken. The theaters here are unreal; they are 100% nicer than any I have seen in the U.S. and kept spotlessly clean. I have never seen any vandalism and the tickets are about $3 for a new film and $1 each for popcorn and drinks. Also, everyone stands before the movie when a short tribute film to the King of Thailand is shown, no matter what their political belief. Bangkok is a pretty amazing dichotomy of old and young, rich and poor, tradition and technology. Respect is the constant throughout.