Leaving for Bangkok 2/20/01-sounds like shorts are in order, but will be visiting many religious sites, will they be appropriate. Also, just came back from getting hepatitis shots and was told not to eat from foodstands, but all travel books say they are safe. Who's right?

You won't be able to go into any of the temples in shorts. So, in spite of the warm weather, on "temple days" you'll need pants (or a very long (down to the ankle) skirt. We met a woman who was wearing pants that were at mid-calf level and she wasn't permitted in. She went to a street vendor and bought a wrap skirt to gain admission. Don't know about the street food. It all looked great but given our very tight travel itinerary, we steered clear just to be on the safe side.

Thai women do NOT wear shorts except at the beach. Men only wear them inside their home. Only unkowning tourists wear shorts. In Thailand shorts are for the beach. Be sure you tetanus shots are up to date. <BR>If you can't peal it,if it isn't cooked, or commerically packaged - FORGET IT! No salads! Only water, soft drinks, beer, or milk in a bottle or can to drink and then only if you open the container or personally see it opened in your presence. Ice is OK - it is bagged commerical ice. Eating on the street is USUALLY OK, but just as you'd do at home - be careful. How did they wash the dishes and flat wear??????????

Eating from street vendors always poses an increased risk compared to a restaurant, even here in the US, for several reasons: <BR> <BR>1) they seldom have running water (meaning they can't wash their hands or dished as well as they should) <BR>2) refrigeration is less reliable <BR>3) inspection/licensing is non-existent or difficult to enforce. <BR> <BR>That having been said, the street food in Thailand is especially delicious-appearing and smelling--hard to resist. And most people who try it won't get sick, and most of those who do will get something uncomfortable but temporary and not life-threatening. A few will be genuinely miserable (been there, done that). And very few will get a life-threatening problem like severe hepatitis A, amebic liver abscess, typhoid, etc. <BR> <BR>My own call on that issue is that for me, the street food and the authentic experience of eating on the street is not great enough to make me want to take the small chance of getting sick. When I was a flar-broke student traveller with lots of time and no money, I made a different choice, and got away with it MOST of the time.........

The shorts-in-Asia topic has been addressed a couple of times in this forum - you can do a search and find the debate strings. I wore a just-below-the-knee skirt and never had any problems. I also saw lots of people in the khaki trousers with a zipper above the knee that allows the wearer to turn them into shorts at will. <BR> <BR>In terms of street food, the bottom line is, it MIGHT be safe, and it might not. <BR> <BR>We have eaten at foodstands in lots of Asian coutries. I have never been sick (knock on wood), but my dh has gotten mild food poisoning at least 4 times, and my mom has had one of those horrible worms (she got it in Africa, though). And of course, it can be worse. So just weigh your desire to try a certain food with your comfort level with the risk . . . roadside stalls have the highest risk, then roadside open air cafes, then local restaurants, with little to no risk in major tourist class hotels.