>>1044333>Just booked a one-way ticket. I know very little about the country, though I'm familiar with that kind of sweaty tropical climate. I have about three months to kill on a shoestring budget.>What should I expect?You haven't given us anything to go on, so I'll answer the only part of the question that I can. If you do not have a visa in hand when you arrive at your departing airport, you can expect to get questions about your lack of return ticket. You could be denied boarding, as Thailand is one of many countries that officially requires proof of onward travel for entry into the country. This is enforced not by immigration authorities but by airline employees at your point of departure. In practice, I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who's been kept out because of a one-way ticket. But it is the law and is an absolute possibility.
For whatever reason, passengers with visas in their passports are not subject to the same scrutiny. So if you have a visa, disregard. In that case:
You can expect Buddhists (and also Muslims and animists and a very few Christians); some of the world's best street food (if you chose to, you could eat outdoors for not much more than $1-$2 per meal for the entirety of your visit and be very satisfied); some of the world's worst pop music (unless you dig Asian pop, in which case, God bless you; the traditional/folksy/country stuff and some of the rock is pretty good, though); possible political protests (they're in the process of drafting their 21st constitution, which could theoretically get messy); some quality beaches; a surprisingly diverse landscape and people; and a lot of sincere friendliness sometimes contaminated with avarice. It's a status and public image conscious place. It is relaxed but not as easygoing as people think it is, and MUCH less permissive. The less you look like a grubby backpacker the more people will like you. But even if they don't like you they will still smile and take your money.
