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Learn Thai Through Travel
Learn Thai Through Travel
Author: ilearnThai
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Learn Thai Through Travel is your go-to podcast for mastering Thai listening skills through immersive travel stories! ðâĻ
Whether youâre a beginner or an intermediate learner, each episode takes you on an adventure across Thailand while helping you understand Thai naturally.
Learn more: https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThai
Whether youâre a beginner or an intermediate learner, each episode takes you on an adventure across Thailand while helping you understand Thai naturally.
Learn more: https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThai
73Â Episodes
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ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â âIn the heart of the city, One Bangkok is where āļāļāļēāļāļ (à -naa-khÃģt, the future) meets the skyâthrough soaring towers, world-class art, and the vibrant pulse of āļ§āļīāļāļĩāđāļĄāļ·āļāļāļŠāļĄāļąāļĒāđāļŦāļĄāđ (wi-thà muueang sà -mĮi-mà i, modern urban life).From the creative energy of The Storeys to the massive sculptures of the Art Loop, this landmark showcases āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāļĢāļīāļ (khwaam-jà -roen, progress) at every turn. Wander through the Food Loop and watch the sunset over āļŠāļ§āļāļĨāļļāļĄāļāļīāļāļĩ (Lumphini Park) from the terraceâa view that captures a city constantly evolving.One Bangkok is a reminder that āļāļ§āļąāļāļāļĢāļĢāļĄ (nÃĄ-wÃĄt-dtà -gam, innovation) and āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļĒāļąāđāļāļĒāļ·āļ (khwaam-yà ng-yuuen, sustainability) are more than just concepts; they are the new heartbeat of the capital.
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â âOn your way to Khao Lak or the Similans, donât miss Catch and Co.âa unique āđāļāļ§āđāļĢāļđāļĄāļāļĨāļēāđāļāļĒ (Thai fish showroom) in Phang Nga. This isn't just seafood; it's a āļāļĢāļ°āļāļĩāļ (refined) journey from their own boat to your plate.Discover the art of āļāļĨāļēāļāđāļĄ (aged fish) through creative dishes like local Fish & Chips and āļāļēāļāļīāļĄāļīāļāļĨāļēāđāļāļĒ (Thai fish sashimi). Itâs a āđāļĄāđāđāļŦāļĨāļ·āļāļāļīāđāļ (zero-waste) experience that proves Thai fish can compete on a world-class level.Would you like me to create a "Must-Try Menu" list to use as a caption for your social media?
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â âDid you know Thailand once had a year with only 9 months?As we prepare for āļāļĩ 2568 (2025), we step through the "mirror of time" to explore the fascinating evolution of the Thai New Year. From the ancient āļ§āļąāļāđāļāļ·āļāļāļāđāļēāļĒ (lunar New Year) to the "peak" moment in B.E. 2483 when three months vanished from the calendar to align āļ§āļīāļāļĩāđāļāļĒ (the Thai way) with the world.Join us to uncover the āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ (history) behind our celebrations and find a better version of yourself for the year ahead.â
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â âIn Chiang Rai, āļĨāļēāļāļŠāļāļēāļĄāļāļĩāļŽāļē is the kind of place that proves āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļāļ·āļāļāđāļēāļ āđ (aa-hÄan nĘĖa bÃĒan-bÃĒan, homestyle Northern food) can be bold, deep, and unforgettable.From āđāļāļ·āđāļāđāļŠāļ·āđāļāļĢāđāļāļāđāļŦāđ (nĘĖa-sĘĖa-rÃĄawng-hÃĒi) to chewy āđāļŠāđāļŦāļĄāļđāļĒāđāļēāļ (sÃĒi-mÅu-yÃĒang) and my must-order āļāļīāđāļāļāļķāđāļāļāđāļģāļāļĢāļīāļāļāđāļē (jÃŪn-nĘĖng nÃĄm-prÃk-khà a), every dish hits with real āļĢāļŠāđāļāđāļĄāļāđāļ (rÃģt khÊm-khÃīn, intense flavor) and the warmth of local cooking.The menu is huge, the portions honest, and the vibe feels like true āļĢāđāļēāļāļāđāļēāļ āđ (rÃĄan bÃĒan-bÃĒan, neighborhood dining)âeven though the place is big and always packed with locals.If you want Chiang Rai in its most delicious form, this is where āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļāļĢāļīāļāđāļāļāļāļāļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļāļ·āļ (khwaam-jing-jai khĮawng aa-hÄan nĘĖa, the sincerity of Northern food) comes through in every bite.
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ âJust an hour from Bangkok, Ayutthaya is where āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ (bprà -wà t-dti-sà at, history) breathes slowlyâthrough ancient temples, silent stupas, and the calm rhythm of āļ§āļīāļāļĩāđāļāļĒāļāđāļē āđ (wi-thà thai chÃĄ-chÃĄ, slow Thai life).From the iconic āđāļĻāļĩāļĒāļĢāļāļĢāļ°āđāļāļĢāļēāļāđāļĄāđ (sĮan-phrÃĄ nai rÃĒak-mÃĄi) at Wat Mahathat to sunset gold over āļ§āļąāļāđāļāļĒāļ§āļąāļāļāļēāļĢāļēāļĄ (Wat Chaiwatthanaram), the city feels like a living postcard that whispers stories with every step.Cycle past wooden houses, grassy fields, and quiet ruins, tasting riverside āļāļļāđāļāđāļāļē (gÃŧng-phĮo) and rich āļāđāļ§āļĒāđāļāļĩāđāļĒāļ§āđāļĢāļ·āļ (gÅay-dtÄao-ruea) along the wayâsimple flavors with deep roots.Ayutthaya is a reminder that āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļŠāļāļ (khwaam-sà -ngÃēp, peacefulness) and āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāđāļēāđāļāđ (khwaam-gà o-gà e, old charm) arenât things you look forâthey find you, as soon as you begin to walk a little slower.
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ âHidden in Chiang Rai, āļāđāļēāļ§āļāļāļĒāļĢāđāļāļĒāļāļĩ āļŠāļđāļāļĢāļāļēāļŦāļāļĐāđ is a Northern Thai āđāļāļĄāļēāļāļēāđāļŠāļ°āļāđāļēāļ āđ (omakase-bÃĒan-bÃĒan, humble omakase) where every dish carries āđāļĢāļ·āđāļāļāļĢāļēāļ§ (rĘĖeang-raao, stories) as much as flavor.From the slow-braised āļāđāļēāļ§āļāļāļĒāļŦāļĄāļđ 100 āļāļĩ (kÃĒo-soi mÅu nÃđeng-rÃģi-bpee) to ancient recipes like āļāđāļģāđāļāļĩāđāļĒāļ§āđāļāļĩāļĒāļāļāļļāļ and āļŦāļĄāļđāļāļķāđāļāļāđāļģāļāļĢāļīāļāļāđāļē, each plate arrives with warmth, intention, and the depth of āđāļāļĢāļ·āđāļāļāđāļāļĻāđāļŦāļāļ·āļ (khrĘĖang-thÃĐt-nĘĖa, Northern spices).No walk-ins, no callsâjust a handful of seats, an intimate pace, and a chef who shares the soul of âāļāđāļēāļāđāļŦāļāļ·āļâ (bÃĒan-nĘĖa, Northern home).Itâs the kind of meal you remember not only for its āļĢāļŠāđāļāđāļĄāļāđāļ (rÃģt khÊm-khÃīn, bold flavor) but for the feeling that youâve tasted tradition itself.â
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ âPhuket is where āļāļ°āđāļĨāļŠāļ§āļĒ (thà -lay sÅay, beautiful seas), āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢāļāļĢāđāļāļĒ (aa-hÄan à -rÃēi, great food), and āļāļđāđāļāļāļāļąāļāļĒāļēāļĻāļąāļĒāļāļĩ (phÃŧu-khon à t-tha-ya-sÄi dee, kind people) meet in one place.From the pastel streets of āļ āļđāđāļāđāļāđāļāđāļē (Phuket Gà o, Old Phuket Town) to Kataâs easy surf and sunsets at āđāļŦāļĨāļĄāļāļĢāļĄāđāļāļ (LÄem Phrom Thep), the island blends color, calm, and culture.And with bold āļĢāļŠāļāļēāļāļīāđāļāļāļāđāļēāļ āđ (rÃģt-chÃĒat-bà ap-bÃĒan-bÃĒan, homestyle flavors) in every local shop, Phuket quietly becomes the place youâll want to āļāļĨāļąāļāļĄāļēāļāļĩāļāļāļĢāļąāđāļ (glà p maa ÃŽik-krÃĄng, return to again).â
ad-free version and full transcriptions, vocab list here â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâJust across the Chao Phraya River, Nonthaburi feels far from Bangkokâquiet, warm, and full of āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļĢāļĩāļĒāļāļāđāļēāļĒ (khwaam-rÃŪiap-ngÃĒai, simplicity).From āđāļāļēāļ°āđāļāļĢāđāļ (Koh Kret) with its Mon pottery and sweet āļāļāļĄāļāđāļ§āļĒ (khà -nÅm-thÃŧuay) to riverside cafÃĐs where sunsets slow time down, the city blends heritage and modern life with real āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāđāļāļāļąāļāđāļāļ (khwaam-bpen-gan-eeng, warmth).And then thereâs the foodâboat noodles, old family recipes, and āļĢāļŠāļāļēāļāļīāđāļāļāļāđāļēāļ āđ (rÃģt-chÃĒat-bà ap-bÃĒan-bÃĒan, homestyle flavor) shared by people who still greet strangers like neighbors.Nonthaburi is a reminder that sometimes āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļŠāļļāļāđāļĨāđāļ āđ (khwaam-sÃđk-lÃĐk-lÃĐk, small happiness) is waiting just one river away.â
Full translation & vocab list here â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâIn 2007, Love of Siam didnât just tell a love storyâit changed Thai cinema.A quiet film that spoke softly but hit hard, it opened a new space for stories of same-sex love with real āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļāļĢāļīāļāđāļ (khwaam-jing-jai, sincerity).It begins with āļĄāļīāļāļĢāļ āļēāļ (mÃt-dtrà -phÃĒap, friendship): Mew & Tong, childhood neighbors who grow apart after tragedyâthen meet again at Siam Square, where old feelings return and questions of āļāļąāļ§āļāļ (dtua-ton, identity) rise.Marketed as a boy-meets-girl romance, the reveal shocked audiencesâbut word of mouth praised its āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļāļĨāđāļē (khwaam-glÃĒa, bravery), warmth, and emotional depth.The soundtrackââāļāļąāļāđāļĨāļ°āļāļąāļ,â âāđāļāļĩāļĒāļāđāļāļââstitched past to present and lived on in peopleâs hearts.Thereâs no fairy-tale ending. Instead, a small wooden doll and a big āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāđāļēāđāļ (khwaam-khÃĒo-jai, understanding).More than a love story, itâs about family, loss, forgivenessâand it quietly ignited Thailandâs BL wave.â
Full translation & vocab list here â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ âWhen people think of Khao Yai, they picture mountains, mist, and pretty cafÃĐs.Look closer, and youâll find something richer: a food loverâs paradise where local Isaan heat, homespun Thai comfort, and farm-fresh goodness all share the same table.Start with legends like āđāļāđāļāļĨāļēāļ§ (Pen Lao)âsom tam pla ra, larb, and rustic soups that taste like they were ladled straight from someoneâs kitchen. Then slow down at small farm cafÃĐs, where greens are picked that morning and cold-pressed juices glow green, orange, and beet-red in the afternoon light.Craving cozy Thai? āļĒāļļāđāļāļāđāļēāļ§ āđāļāļēāđāļŦāļāđ sets a countryside moodâtomyam steam, crispy seabass with fish sauce, chili-paste fried rice. Or dress it up at Prime 19, where a big, honest steak and a good glass of wine meet cool mountain air.In Khao Yai, the secret ingredient is careâgrow it, make it, serve it with heart.You come for the views; you stay for the flavorsâĶ and you leave with full memory cards and a fuller stomach.â
Full translation & vocab list here â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ âWhen people talk about Thai cinema, most remember the big blockbusters or intense dramas.But in 2003, a small, heartwarming film quietly changed everything â Fan Chan (My Girl).It wasnât about heroes or heartbreak, but about childhood â running through dusty streets, sharing snacks, and learning what it means to grow apart.Through Jeab and Noi-Na, the story reminded Thais of a simpler time, when friendship was pure and life moved a little slower.Fan Chan didnât just break box-office records; it broke through cynicism.It proved that honesty and nostalgia could move an entire nation â no special effects needed.For many, it wasnât just a movie.It was a mirror, showing who we were â and who we still are.â
Full translation & vocab list here â â â patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â âWhen Bangkokians need a break, one name comes up every time â Khao Yai.Just a few hoursâ drive and youâre surrounded by real nature: mountains, forests, waterfalls, and cool air that feels like a reset.Thailandâs first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khao Yai is vast enough to cross into other provinces â and wild enough for elephants, gibbons, and deer to roam free.People come for winding roads, misty mornings, and cafÃĐs tucked between green hills. Some drive, some camp, some just breathe.More than a destination, Khao Yai is a âāļāļąāļāđāļâ (rest-the-heart) place â where everything slows down and peace finds you first.â
Get the English translation script and vocabulary list at â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â .âWhen people in Thailand think of other countries, Japan often comes first. From anime and sushi to technology and travel, Japan feels like a close friend in Thai daily life. âMade in Japanâ has even become a mark of quality here.At the same time, Thais notice the contrastsâJapanese punctuality and discipline compared to Thai flexibility and warmth. Some find Japanâs lifestyle too strict, but many admire it as part of its unique charm.For Thais, Japan is more than a destination. Itâs a partner, an inspiration, and a second home in many hearts.â
Get the English translation script and vocabulary list at â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â .âWhen people think about learning Thai, the first reaction is often: âItâs so hard!â Five tones, a new script, and what sounds like lightning-fast speech can feel intimidating. But hereâs the twist: look closer and Thai is simpler than you think.At its core, Thai is straight S-V-Oâno verb conjugations, no gendered nouns, no tenses to memorize. You just add easy time words like āđāļĨāđāļ§ (already), āļāļģāļĨāļąāļ (currently), or āļāļ° (will) to show when something happens. One verb works for every person: āļāļąāļāļāļīāļ / āđāļāļāļāļīāļ / āđāļāļēāļāļīāļ â all âāļāļīāļ.âTones? Theyâre logical patterns you can train by listening and repeating. And youâll recognize plenty of loanwordsâāļāļāļĄāļāļīāļ§āđāļāļāļĢāđ, āļāļīāļāđāļāļāļĢāđāđāļāđāļ, āđāļāđāļāļāļĩāđâright away. Thai isnât a brick wall; itâs a door that opens easily once you take the first step.â
Get the English translation script and vocabulary list at â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â .âWhen talking about Thai behavior, one word rises above the rest: kreng jai.Itâs not just politenessâitâs an unwritten rule that shapes how people eat, speak, and even disagree.Born from values of harmony and respect, kreng jai makes Thais hold back their wants, soften their words, or quietly refuse help they secretly need.To outsiders it may look like hesitation, but in truth itâs a cultural balanceâkeeping relationships smooth, society gentle, and conflict at bay.â
Get the English translation script and vocabulary list at â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ .âWhen people think of Thai food, the first taste that often comes to mind is spicinessâwhether from tom yum goong, green curry, or som tam. But hereâs the twist: chilies werenât always part of Thai cuisine.They arrived from South America via Portuguese and Spanish traders, blending into local dishes until they became inseparable from the Thai palate.Today, chilies donât just add heatâthey balance sweet, sour, and salty flavors, cool the body in Thailandâs humid climate, and define a cuisine now famous worldwide.â
 Join me on â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â â â â â â and learn Thai a little bit every day.âJust 30 kilometers from Bangkok, Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom is one of Thailandâs most important Buddhist landmarks. Built in 1955 to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of Buddhism, itâs home to a 15-meter walking Buddha surrounded by stone reliefs of the Buddhaâs life.Spanning over 2,500 rai, the park is both sacred and serene â a place for prayer, meditation, cycling, or simply slowing down. Visit on a Buddhist holiday, and youâll see candlelit processions that make the entire space glow with peace and devotion.âFull Worksheet: â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â
 Join me on â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â â â â â â and learn Thai a little bit every day.âIn this episode, we take a quick escape to Nakhon Pathom, just an hour from Bangkok. Our first stop is Wat Samphran, the striking pink temple wrapped by a giant green dragon. Inside, a tunnel leads up to a 360° viewpoint, while the grounds are filled with shrines and statues that make the place both peaceful and photogenic.Then we continue to Wat Huai Ta Kho, where a golden Buddha nearly 30 meters tall rises from open rice fields. The countryside setting is calm and breezy, perfect for reflection and photos. For a one-day trip, Nakhon Pathom offers a mix of culture, scenery, and unforgettable views.âFull Worksheet: â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â
 Join me on â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â â â â â â and learn Thai a little bit every day.âIn this episode, we travel to Nakhon Pathom, just an hour from Bangkok, to visit the lively market around Phra Pathom Chedi â the tallest golden stupa in Thailand. Here, the air is filled with the aromas of grilled pork, bamboo sticky rice, and traditional Thai sweets, while the chediâs golden spire rises above the bustling stalls.From famous khao lam to crispy hoi tod, juicy tod man goong, and refreshing coconut ice cream, the market is a paradise for food lovers. Add in the local smiles, colorful souvenirs, and the unforgettable sight of the chedi glowing at sunset, and youâll see why this market captures the heart of everyone who visits.âFull Worksheet: â â â â â â â https://www.patreon.com/c/ilearnThaiâ â
In this episode, youâll hear the slow version of Episode 48: āļŠāļ§āļāđāļāļāļāļāļīāļāļī â The Green Oasis in the Heart of Bangkok. This is a short excerpt designed to help you practice listening and improve your Thai comprehension.Want the full version with natural speed and extra content? Check it out on my Patreon at patreon.com/ilearnthai.Enjoy learning Thai with me, and thank you for listening!























