I've spent a fair bit of time in Thailand and have traveled its provinces extensively.
Currency: No need for US currency as the Thai baht rules. Before you head overseas talk to your bank about overseas ATM fees. There are ATMs everywhere especially outside 7-11 and Family Mart convenience stalls. You'll get anything between 23 - 29 baht to the $AU these days.
Elephants: Called chang in Thai. You'll find someone walking around through popular night spots with a baby elephant selling sugar cane or peanuts. It's a common occurrence in tourist spots such as Koh San Rd, between Asok and Nana, and the infamous Patpong Rd.
Probably heading up to Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai are your best bets for an elephant safari. It will probably include an elephant ride, a a few hours on a bamboo raft down a river and visiting some hill tribe people. They can be day trips or a few day adventure. I would imagine a day trip like that would be around 800 - 1500 baht depending on what's included.
Shopping: In Bangkok, MBK is a huge shopping centre. There is a Robinsons down by the river near Central Pier. Get off at the last stop on the BTS line, Saphon Taksin.
If you caught the sky train (BTS) to Nana and walked back along Sukhumvit Rd toward Siam Square you will find a tonne of modern shopping centres. Panthip Plaza is also nearby and is about 7 stories of electronics. Some things are cheap, some are on par if you are savvy in Australia.
Most provinces will have a major shopping centre. Of course there are the street stalls. Quality varies but you can get some really good value products. You can get genuine Perfumes aftershaves at great prices if you know what you want and are at the right place at the right time.
Tailors: Could write until the sun came up and still not scrape the surface. remember you get what you pay for. If someone says they will give you 2 suits, two shirts and a tie for $150au don't be suprised when it fall apart after the first wear.
Go for a measure up and choose your fabrics and style. Set the price at this time. Remember if you push the price too low, the quality will suffer. Give them a couple of days to stitch up the basics and have a first fitting and then a few days for a final fitting. Putting down a reasonable deposit at time of ordering in normal. I personally avoid buying from any shop where there is a guy of Indian decent calling me "big boss" and to "come on in"..
Socialising: If you are referring to bar girls, I can't help you there. If you want to meet locals in their envoiroment, that will be easy. Thais are very social people. Outdoor dining in night bizzarres are common all over the country. Try to learn some basic Thai phrases, always be sure to use polite particles such as "krup" at the end of the sentences for guy and "ka" for girls. If you pull out a few Thai plesantries to the locals they may very well be so excited about you trying to learn their language, they'll be a friend for life!
There is a very real social structure in Thailand. It's easy to pick after some time with the language used.
Architecture tours: Pick a Wat any Wat.. I really like the areas of Surin and Chantaburi in the south east. It's not so tourist friendly, though.
Laying on Beaches: Personal Fav was Koh Chang near Trat. I hear now the west coast is now full of 7 -11 and most of the beach bungalows. Some great waterfalls and swimming holes. There is a fishing villiage at the bottom of the island. On the east side of the island there were some bungalows and very little else. The best accomodation (in my not so humble opinion)in Thailand can't be booked in advance. It's just a local with a few bungalows on the beach / by the river / whatever and if they aren't rented at the time you get there, it's yours.
Other places are KOh Samui - I've heard has gone the way of Koh Chang. In the North of Koh Samui is a fisherman villiage named Bo Put. Along that street are a few bars and the ferry to Koh Pha Nang. There is also a little shop front called the Oasis Restaurant run by a lovely lady called May. She has some stunning bungalows in the back of the house / restaurant for a couple of hundred baht. It will be low season, so you'd probably be a walk up start.
North of Samui is Koh Pha Nang and is famous for the full moon parties. That's not for me but the island is a gem.. The west and the north has beautiful beaches and seclusion. At the very north west of the island at low tide you can walk to another small island and stay at the bungalows there. If you are lazy, just flick a fisherman a hundred baht and he'll take you there.
North of Pha Nag is Koh Tao, the northern island in the group of three in the Gulf of Thailand. Some good shipwreck for scuba in the 60 - 70 metre region. Vis is ordinary though.
Koh Samet is another option but now I hear is a millionaire's paradise.
Phuket: The good the bad and the ugly hehehe..
I like the south west end of Phuket. For me Patong (the famous beach) is just too full on with expensive restaurants and too many hawkers. Nice seafood,though. Bangla rd and all the accompanying sois are worth a look once in your life. Watch out though, one of those sois is only for lady boys... I'll let you find that one yourself.
The beaches south are Karon and Kata. There are a few other beaches on the very south of the island but I forget the names. Have stayed there though and it's not oo bad. There is A Muay Thai training camp down that way, too. The Southern beaches are quieter and much more relaxing. You can island hop to Phi Phi and then back to the mainland (Krabi) easily.
In General: Flighing is cheap if you are in a hurry to be somewhere. Try Nok Air, Air Asia and Bangkok Air for internal flight. Often there are stupidly cheap fares.
- You may get to see the waterfestival, songkran. Be prepared to get wet.
- eat from the street stalls. If locals are eating, you know it's good.
- Second class sleepers on trains are good value and reasonably comfortable. First class sleepers are usually more expensive than flying. I prefer trains as you get to see the countryside. Buses come in different classes, too even local buses.
- Canal boats in Bangkok are a great way to get around.
- The Chiang Mai Chiang Rai region is lovely and very hilly. Their food is in vast contrast to southern places like Surat Thani.
- Going to the friendship bridge into Laos is easy to do and well worth it. Head north from Udon Thani.
- Kanchanaburi is a nice spot with history and just a few hours west of Bangkok. 2000 baht for a taxi one way. 150 baht by mini bus. Along the river kwai noi you can stay in pole homes, tree houses, stone bungalows for as low as 100 baht a night.. That will be cold shower and non flush toilet, thought.Some lovely waterfalls north of there. head on to Si Sawat for some really amazing national parks.
- There is an awesome all you can eat (including seafood) place on New Petchaburi rd near the Amari hotel. Can't remember its name but if you get in a pink cab that has a "i love farang" sign on the window, they will find it for you. Awesome value for about 200 baht. You even have to catch your own live shellfish and cook it hehe.. It seats about 500 people under a bigtop.
This is a second attempt, I lost the first post and now it's late... If you want to know some specifics, pm me if you like..
cheers,