Geography
Situated in Southeast Asia, Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist kingdom almost equidistant from India and China. Known by outsiders as Siam for centuries, Thailand (the land of smiles), has been something of a Southeast Asian migratory, cultural, and religious crossroads.Approximately the size of France, Thailand covers and area of 510,000 sq. km and has a population of 60 million growing at a rate of 1.5% each year. Thailand shares its border with Myanmar in the west and north, Laos in the northeast, Cambodia in the east and Malaysia in the south. Administratively, the country is divided into 7 regions: The North, Northeast, Central Plains, East, West, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Each of which has its own distinctive geographical character.The central region, encompassing the Bangkok metropolitan region and the central plains, is affectionately known as "Thailand's Rice Bowl". One of the world's most fertile rice and fruit growing areas, this is the economic and cultural heartland of the Thai nation.The mountainous north is Thailand's largest region. Here, elephants work the forest and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches.The second largest and poorest region is the sprawling northeast. Better known as "Isan" or the "Khorat Plateau", it is largely bordered by the Mekong River, where the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization flourished some 5,000 years ago.Just south of the northeast lies the eastern region. Sandwiched between the sea and the Damrek range, this is where pristine beaches support the growth of summer resorts such as Pattaya.Despite recent development efforts undertaken by the government in the west, its beautiful mountains, which rise up towards the Burmese border and its lush valleys remain relatively unspoiled. The towns here have a frontier atmosphere.Last but not least, the peninsular south. Here, arresting scenic beauty complements the economically vital activities of tin mining, rubber cultivation, and fishing.
Entertainment
Besides Siamese cats and a go-go bars, Thailand is also famous for its Muay Thai. This art of boxing, which is an on going self defense art form, was an element made compulsory for military training by King Naresuan, one of Thailand's greatest monarchs. These days it is a popular sport and is one of the few ways that a poor country boy can turn his rags into riches.
The fights are commonly fierce and furious though the best boxers display remarkable skills, as well as great fitness and a good contest is decided by application of technique rather than brute force.Often as entertaining as the action in the ring is, the reaction of the spectators who yell and shout encouragement to the boxers is greater as the excitement mounts.There are two boxing stadiums in Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumphini Stadium. Between them, they offer professional bouts virtually eve No other city in Asia rivals Bangkok for a thrilling nightlife. Evening entertainment is also both plentiful and inexpensive. Most famous are the neon-lit bar districts (Bangkok's Pat Pong - the Suranwongse Road and Silom Road area - is the obvious haven for those seeking a good time), which are both more fun and much safer than their counterparts in other cities around the world. In fact, a visit to Pat Pong has become just another stop on the tourist circuit with some local firms offering all-inclusive night tours to the area, which has massage parlors, go-go bars and erotic shows all thrown in. If it is action you are looking for, Bangkok and others like Pattaya abound with discos. Some are small and intimate while others enormous and crowded, but all spin the latest dance music using the most modern sound systems, laser lights, videos, and all other hi-tech equipment that makes today's disco less of a place and more of an experience.For either pre-evening aperitifs or late evening drinks, Bangkok boasts of many sophisticated bars and cocktail lounges, some of the best being located in the top hotels. Here, one can relax in pleasant surroundings and enjoy live musical entertainment by the best local and regional entertainers.There is much more to Bangkok by night than just the glitter of pubs and bars. Exceptionally more popular among tourists are the cultural shows staged by various Thai restaurants. This would be the perfect introduction to Thailand's highly-styled classical dance, accompanied by music played on traditional instruments. Dressed in gorgeous costumes, dancers perform the slow graceful movements that make up the intricate language of classical Thai dance drama. Visually stunning, these shows are a must If you are looking for something a little more highbrow, you will not be disappointed. Although Bangkok does not have regular offerings of plays, operas or concerts, performances are nonetheless frequently staged by both local and international artists. The Thailand Cultural Centre and Thailand's National Theatre are the main venues, though leading hotels quite often host visiting artists and smaller theater groups. Theatrical events in Bangkok include Thai dance and puppet performances, English and Thai language dramas, concerts by visiting international artists, musical performance and infrequently imported mimes and plays. Visitors are advised to consult the English language newspapers, particularly the weekly or daily calendar of events, to confirm the times and dates of current performances. In the north, the KAD Performing Arts Centre in Chiang Mai includes the lavishly equipped KAD Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,550 and the KAD Playhouse with a seating capacity of 500. The KAD Performing Arts Centre is geared towards staging imported full scale theatrical and musical productions from abroad, performed in the original language, and original Thai dramatic and musical productions.To most visitors, Thailand is best known for its ancient temples and beautiful scenery, but there are those who might want to balance their Thai experience with entertainment of a more novel, innovative kind. For those fun seekers, a growing number of world class theme parks offer all kinds of excitement for the whole family.Many of Thailand's larger and more sophisticated parks are within easy reach of Bangkok, while others are located in popular tourist spots like Pattaya and Chiang Mai. The bigger parks, like their counterparts in the West are entire cities by themselves, combining world class water parks, amusement parks, and cultural attractions on sprawling premises of several hundred thousand square meters.Magic land at Lat Phrao, just northeast of Bangkok's Central Plaza Hotel, is the capital's major amusement park. The complex offers a wide range of exciting rides and other amusements including haunted houses and side shows.Similar facilities are found in the eastern suburb of Minburi at the Siam Water Park. This water theme park features an artificial sea replete with authentic waves, waterfalls, water slides, whirlpools, and other numerous water related activities.The adjacent Safari World features a collection of African and Asian mammals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and bears, who live in natural surroundings. The sprawling complex also contains Asia's largest aviary with over 4,000 birds.
The fights are commonly fierce and furious though the best boxers display remarkable skills, as well as great fitness and a good contest is decided by application of technique rather than brute force.Often as entertaining as the action in the ring is, the reaction of the spectators who yell and shout encouragement to the boxers is greater as the excitement mounts.There are two boxing stadiums in Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumphini Stadium. Between them, they offer professional bouts virtually eve No other city in Asia rivals Bangkok for a thrilling nightlife. Evening entertainment is also both plentiful and inexpensive. Most famous are the neon-lit bar districts (Bangkok's Pat Pong - the Suranwongse Road and Silom Road area - is the obvious haven for those seeking a good time), which are both more fun and much safer than their counterparts in other cities around the world. In fact, a visit to Pat Pong has become just another stop on the tourist circuit with some local firms offering all-inclusive night tours to the area, which has massage parlors, go-go bars and erotic shows all thrown in. If it is action you are looking for, Bangkok and others like Pattaya abound with discos. Some are small and intimate while others enormous and crowded, but all spin the latest dance music using the most modern sound systems, laser lights, videos, and all other hi-tech equipment that makes today's disco less of a place and more of an experience.For either pre-evening aperitifs or late evening drinks, Bangkok boasts of many sophisticated bars and cocktail lounges, some of the best being located in the top hotels. Here, one can relax in pleasant surroundings and enjoy live musical entertainment by the best local and regional entertainers.There is much more to Bangkok by night than just the glitter of pubs and bars. Exceptionally more popular among tourists are the cultural shows staged by various Thai restaurants. This would be the perfect introduction to Thailand's highly-styled classical dance, accompanied by music played on traditional instruments. Dressed in gorgeous costumes, dancers perform the slow graceful movements that make up the intricate language of classical Thai dance drama. Visually stunning, these shows are a must If you are looking for something a little more highbrow, you will not be disappointed. Although Bangkok does not have regular offerings of plays, operas or concerts, performances are nonetheless frequently staged by both local and international artists. The Thailand Cultural Centre and Thailand's National Theatre are the main venues, though leading hotels quite often host visiting artists and smaller theater groups. Theatrical events in Bangkok include Thai dance and puppet performances, English and Thai language dramas, concerts by visiting international artists, musical performance and infrequently imported mimes and plays. Visitors are advised to consult the English language newspapers, particularly the weekly or daily calendar of events, to confirm the times and dates of current performances. In the north, the KAD Performing Arts Centre in Chiang Mai includes the lavishly equipped KAD Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,550 and the KAD Playhouse with a seating capacity of 500. The KAD Performing Arts Centre is geared towards staging imported full scale theatrical and musical productions from abroad, performed in the original language, and original Thai dramatic and musical productions.To most visitors, Thailand is best known for its ancient temples and beautiful scenery, but there are those who might want to balance their Thai experience with entertainment of a more novel, innovative kind. For those fun seekers, a growing number of world class theme parks offer all kinds of excitement for the whole family.Many of Thailand's larger and more sophisticated parks are within easy reach of Bangkok, while others are located in popular tourist spots like Pattaya and Chiang Mai. The bigger parks, like their counterparts in the West are entire cities by themselves, combining world class water parks, amusement parks, and cultural attractions on sprawling premises of several hundred thousand square meters.Magic land at Lat Phrao, just northeast of Bangkok's Central Plaza Hotel, is the capital's major amusement park. The complex offers a wide range of exciting rides and other amusements including haunted houses and side shows.Similar facilities are found in the eastern suburb of Minburi at the Siam Water Park. This water theme park features an artificial sea replete with authentic waves, waterfalls, water slides, whirlpools, and other numerous water related activities.The adjacent Safari World features a collection of African and Asian mammals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and bears, who live in natural surroundings. The sprawling complex also contains Asia's largest aviary with over 4,000 birds.
Food in Thailand
Thai cuisine is distinctive thanks to liberal use of spices subtly combined with herbs and market-fresh ingredients. Moreover, Thai cuisine also combines the best of Chinese and Indian culinary traditions while retaining its own special character.Chinese food in Thailand, which is normally quite bland, is second to none. Major European, Levantine, Asian, and Oriental cuisine are represented in gourmet restaurants. American and English breakfasts are served in most hotels whilst numerous ubiquitous coffee-shops specialize in European dishes. Western fast food chains, snack bars, and ice-cream parlors have gained increasing popularity with the Thais.
Much of what we now know as Thai cuisine evolved from the central region. Rice, fish, and vegetables, flavored with garlic, black pepper, and fish sauce, along with an abundance of fresh fruits, comprises the basic diet of Sukhothai. With the rise of Ayutthaya, other elements were added to the increasingly complex Thai blend. The fiery hot chili pepper, an essential ingredient now, was introduced at this time, along with the equally popular coriander, lime, and tomato. These may have been brought in from South America by the Portuguese, who opened relations with Ayutthaya in 1511 and also left a lasting imprint in the form of popular Thai sweets based on egg yolks and sugar. Other ingredients came from India, Japan, Persia, and most important of all, China, though in almost every case their contributions were subtly altered and transformed to suit the Thai taste. Unlike the north and northeast, where glutinous rice is popular, Central Thais like the fragrant plain variety. This is usually steamed but sometimes fried or boiled. In addition to freshwater fish, there is seafood from the nearby gulf, as well as a wide range of fresh vegetables and fruits such as the like of mangoes, durians, custard apples, and guavas. Sino-Thai food is popular in places like Bangkok, particularly in the form of numerous noodle dishes. The food of the north is as distinctive as its culture. Instead of the soft rice in the central region, a steamed glutinous variety is preferred. This is traditionally kneaded into small balls with the fingers and used to soak up more liquid dishes. Northern curries are generally milder than those of the central and northeastern Thailand. The influence of neighboring Myanmar is evident in such popular dishes as "Gaeng Han Lay", a pork curry that relies on ginger, tamarind, and turmeric for its flavor, and "Khao Soi", a curry broth with egg noodles and meat, topped with spring onions, pickled onions, and slices of lime. A favorite regional specialty is a spicy pork sausage called "Naem". Eaten in a variety of ways, this is probably the one delicacy northerners miss the most when they move to another part of the country. The traditional form of meal in the north, especially when guests are being entertained, is called a "khantoke" dinner - 'khan' (bowl) and 'toke' (a low round table). Diners sit on the floor around the table and help themselves to assorted dishes, which, besides glutinous rice, may include one or two local curries, a spicy minced meat dish, a salad, fried pork rind, and various sauces and condiments. Northeastern food reflects the influence of neighboring Laos in a number of dishes. As in Laos and the north, glutinous rice is the staple. It is eaten both as a base for other dishes and as a sweet when steamed in bamboo with coconut milk and black beans. Northeasterners like their food highly seasoned. Many connoisseurs of Thai cooking particularly esteem regional specialties like "Laab", "Som Tam" (green papaya salad), and "Gai Yang" (BBQ chicken).Meat is often scarce in villages. Freshwater fish and shrimp are therefore the principal source of protein, sometimes cooked with herbs and spices and sometimes fermented.Southern food is as distinctive as its scenery. Not surprisingly, the coconut, which grows widely throughout the region, plays a prominent role in many southern dishes for its milk tempers the heat of chili, its oil used for frying, and its grated meat serves as a condiment. Also only expected is the abundance of fresh seafood from the surrounding waters. Cashew nuts from local plantations are eaten as appetizers or stir-fried with chicken and dried chilies, while a pungent flat bean (Sataw) adds an exotic, somewhat bitter flavor much admired by southern diners. Regional fruits include finger-sized bananas, mangosteens, durian, and small sweet pineapples.
Much of what we now know as Thai cuisine evolved from the central region. Rice, fish, and vegetables, flavored with garlic, black pepper, and fish sauce, along with an abundance of fresh fruits, comprises the basic diet of Sukhothai. With the rise of Ayutthaya, other elements were added to the increasingly complex Thai blend. The fiery hot chili pepper, an essential ingredient now, was introduced at this time, along with the equally popular coriander, lime, and tomato. These may have been brought in from South America by the Portuguese, who opened relations with Ayutthaya in 1511 and also left a lasting imprint in the form of popular Thai sweets based on egg yolks and sugar. Other ingredients came from India, Japan, Persia, and most important of all, China, though in almost every case their contributions were subtly altered and transformed to suit the Thai taste. Unlike the north and northeast, where glutinous rice is popular, Central Thais like the fragrant plain variety. This is usually steamed but sometimes fried or boiled. In addition to freshwater fish, there is seafood from the nearby gulf, as well as a wide range of fresh vegetables and fruits such as the like of mangoes, durians, custard apples, and guavas. Sino-Thai food is popular in places like Bangkok, particularly in the form of numerous noodle dishes. The food of the north is as distinctive as its culture. Instead of the soft rice in the central region, a steamed glutinous variety is preferred. This is traditionally kneaded into small balls with the fingers and used to soak up more liquid dishes. Northern curries are generally milder than those of the central and northeastern Thailand. The influence of neighboring Myanmar is evident in such popular dishes as "Gaeng Han Lay", a pork curry that relies on ginger, tamarind, and turmeric for its flavor, and "Khao Soi", a curry broth with egg noodles and meat, topped with spring onions, pickled onions, and slices of lime. A favorite regional specialty is a spicy pork sausage called "Naem". Eaten in a variety of ways, this is probably the one delicacy northerners miss the most when they move to another part of the country. The traditional form of meal in the north, especially when guests are being entertained, is called a "khantoke" dinner - 'khan' (bowl) and 'toke' (a low round table). Diners sit on the floor around the table and help themselves to assorted dishes, which, besides glutinous rice, may include one or two local curries, a spicy minced meat dish, a salad, fried pork rind, and various sauces and condiments. Northeastern food reflects the influence of neighboring Laos in a number of dishes. As in Laos and the north, glutinous rice is the staple. It is eaten both as a base for other dishes and as a sweet when steamed in bamboo with coconut milk and black beans. Northeasterners like their food highly seasoned. Many connoisseurs of Thai cooking particularly esteem regional specialties like "Laab", "Som Tam" (green papaya salad), and "Gai Yang" (BBQ chicken).Meat is often scarce in villages. Freshwater fish and shrimp are therefore the principal source of protein, sometimes cooked with herbs and spices and sometimes fermented.Southern food is as distinctive as its scenery. Not surprisingly, the coconut, which grows widely throughout the region, plays a prominent role in many southern dishes for its milk tempers the heat of chili, its oil used for frying, and its grated meat serves as a condiment. Also only expected is the abundance of fresh seafood from the surrounding waters. Cashew nuts from local plantations are eaten as appetizers or stir-fried with chicken and dried chilies, while a pungent flat bean (Sataw) adds an exotic, somewhat bitter flavor much admired by southern diners. Regional fruits include finger-sized bananas, mangosteens, durian, and small sweet pineapples.
Restaurants & Foodshops
Food centers are usually found in large shopping malls and hotels and are unusual Thai ventures. Numerous restaurants offer every imaginable type of Asian cuisine and huge color pictures of dishes assist diners in their choices. Open-air garden restaurants and riverine restaurants are more peaceful and are favored in the evenings by most people from Bangkok. Menus are extensive, service prompt, and prices reasonable. Special dinners can be enjoyed on boats cruising the Chao Phraya River. This way, soft breezes, candlelight dining, and distant music create romantic atmospheres. Seafood restaurants are also popular. They offer a wide choice of fresh ingredients, charcoal grilled or broiled to individual requests. This is usually accompanied by a fine selection of local and imported wine. Some tourist oriented restaurants present selected Thai classical and folk dances while guests sit around low tables, often in traditional surroundings with teak paneling and precious porcelain. A combination of Thai cuisine, music, silk, orchids, and graceful dances create memorable evenings for the visitors.
Travel Tips;Tourist Information Services
Tourist information is available at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) head office in Bangkok, local offices in 22 major cities and at TAT information counters at other local airports. TAT provides maps, brochures and other information on tours, shopping, dining and accommodation. All TAT information centers operate seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tourist Police
The Thai Tourist Police was set up in 1982 to coordinate with TAT in providing safety for tourist. At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Pat Pong and Lumphini Park. In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Centre at Unicohouse Building, Soi Lang Suan, Phloen Chit Rd, Bangkok. Tel: 6521721-6.
Medical Services
All tourism destination and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well trained doctors and nurses. In case of emergencies, ambulances can be summoned from any private hospital.
Tipping
It is not necessary to tip cinema ushers. However, it is customary to tip porters and hotel personnel who have given good personal service. A 10 - 15% tip is appreciated in restaurants, particularly where service charge is waived.
Business Hours
Commercial offices: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 - 5 p.m. (Monday - Friday).
Government offices: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 - 4:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday).
Banks: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday).
Shops: mostly 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. (seven days a week).
Departmental stores: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Government offices: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 - 4:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday).
Banks: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday).
Shops: mostly 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. (seven days a week).
Departmental stores: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Clothing
Light and loose attire are the best. Nylon should be avoided and sweaters needed during the cool season. Jackets and ties are required at certain restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment establishments.
Electricity
The electric current is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110 Volt transformers.
Telephone
IDD dialing code: 66.Area codes: Bangkok - 2; Chiang Mai - 53; Hua Hin - 32; Pattaya - 38; Phuket - 76.
Health Regulations
No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from the following countries:- Angola, Barkina Faso, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Gambia, Ghana, New Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan and Zaire. Cholera, typhoid and malaria precautions are advised.
Exchange Control
• Foreign tourist may freely bring in foreign bank notes or other types of foreign exchange.
• Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which he brought in with him, with the exception that foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum equivalent of US$ 10,000 or the amount declared in writing to Customs upon arrival. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and / or prosecution.
• For travelers leaving Thailand, the maximum amount permitted to take out without prior authorization is 50,000 Baht per person.
• Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by current custom regulation. Other personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.
• Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a special gesture to non residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance and withdrawal from the account, as long as the funds originate from abroad. For additional information concerning foreign exchange regulations, please contact any authorized banks.
• Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which he brought in with him, with the exception that foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum equivalent of US$ 10,000 or the amount declared in writing to Customs upon arrival. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and / or prosecution.
• For travelers leaving Thailand, the maximum amount permitted to take out without prior authorization is 50,000 Baht per person.
• Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by current custom regulation. Other personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.
• Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a special gesture to non residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance and withdrawal from the account, as long as the funds originate from abroad. For additional information concerning foreign exchange regulations, please contact any authorized banks.
Social Norm
• Thais do not normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead they press their palms together in a prayer-like gesture (wai).
• Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at an object.
• Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at an object.
Popular Places;Bangkok
Bangkok is Thailand's capital in every sense. It is where the Royal Family resides, it is the seat of government and administration, and it is the focal point for virtually all major industrial, commercial and financial activity. It is the country's main port and home to one tenth of the Kingdom's population. Bangkok is also the country's principal gateway and prime tourist attraction.
Playing such an important role, Bangkok bears the full brunt of Thailand's present rapid economic growth. As such it can appear a chaotic and confusing city. The skyline is dominated by high-rise offices, buildings, condominiums, luxury hotels, departmental stores and shopping malls, while the streets bustle with activity.
Yet, here too, are exotic temples and other wondrous monuments, and the true character of what s a legendary Orient city is manifest in the capital's proper name - "Krung Thep". This translates as 'City of Angels' and is the first in a whole string of illustrious titles that properly define the place. To the Thais Bangkok is always Krung Thep, the spiritual and symbolic, as well as physical heart of the nation.
Divided by the Chao Phraya, the River of Kings, Bangkok spreads across a flat alluvial plain. Originally a small riverine trading post, it was founded as the capital in 1782 by King Rama I. Over the next two centuries, it developed in such a way as to reflect both ancient glories and modern dynamism. Successfully blending old and new, it is an expression of the Thais' enduring respect for tradition and their exuberant involvement with progress.
In the midst of dynamic modern growth, Bangkok miraculously manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a marked degree. The soaring roofs and gleaming spires of the Grand Palace and the city's many historic temples present the visitor with a picture of medieval oriental wonder, the very stuff of Eastern fairytales. Further, contained within Bangkok's monument and sights are treasures of the nation's artistic and cultural endeavor that typify the land and the people.
The influence of the past and the enduring threads of the social fabric are not limited to the static. They continue to pervade daily life. Files of saffron-robed monks making their early morning alms round, for example, present an image unaltered in essentials by the passing of time. Today's backdrop of high-rise building serve only to emphasize the exotic and timeless scene, while the city draws definition from it.
Playing such an important role, Bangkok bears the full brunt of Thailand's present rapid economic growth. As such it can appear a chaotic and confusing city. The skyline is dominated by high-rise offices, buildings, condominiums, luxury hotels, departmental stores and shopping malls, while the streets bustle with activity.
Yet, here too, are exotic temples and other wondrous monuments, and the true character of what s a legendary Orient city is manifest in the capital's proper name - "Krung Thep". This translates as 'City of Angels' and is the first in a whole string of illustrious titles that properly define the place. To the Thais Bangkok is always Krung Thep, the spiritual and symbolic, as well as physical heart of the nation.
Divided by the Chao Phraya, the River of Kings, Bangkok spreads across a flat alluvial plain. Originally a small riverine trading post, it was founded as the capital in 1782 by King Rama I. Over the next two centuries, it developed in such a way as to reflect both ancient glories and modern dynamism. Successfully blending old and new, it is an expression of the Thais' enduring respect for tradition and their exuberant involvement with progress.
In the midst of dynamic modern growth, Bangkok miraculously manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a marked degree. The soaring roofs and gleaming spires of the Grand Palace and the city's many historic temples present the visitor with a picture of medieval oriental wonder, the very stuff of Eastern fairytales. Further, contained within Bangkok's monument and sights are treasures of the nation's artistic and cultural endeavor that typify the land and the people.
The influence of the past and the enduring threads of the social fabric are not limited to the static. They continue to pervade daily life. Files of saffron-robed monks making their early morning alms round, for example, present an image unaltered in essentials by the passing of time. Today's backdrop of high-rise building serve only to emphasize the exotic and timeless scene, while the city draws definition from it.
Eating in Bangkok
As much as the Thais respect the past, they are also fun loving people who enjoy life's pleasures to the full. And most important in the pursuit of "sanuk" - having a good time - is good food.
Thai cuisine, rich and spicy, is a true gourmet's delight affording a huge variety of dishes to discover and relish. Seafood is also a national specialty and fish, crab, lobsters, shrimps and more are to be enjoyed in either spicy Thai style or in Continental recipes. Alternatively, exclusive roses and crystal dining can be enjoyed at restaurants specializing in European fare served in classic settings. Whatever the preference, Bangkok spoils the palate with a choice of just about every national cuisine worthy of the name.
Matching the variety of menus is the choice of dining venues. From simple but good curbside food stalls and right up through the whole dining gamut to elegant, expensive restaurants and dinner cruises on the river, there is something to suit all tastes.
Thai cuisine, rich and spicy, is a true gourmet's delight affording a huge variety of dishes to discover and relish. Seafood is also a national specialty and fish, crab, lobsters, shrimps and more are to be enjoyed in either spicy Thai style or in Continental recipes. Alternatively, exclusive roses and crystal dining can be enjoyed at restaurants specializing in European fare served in classic settings. Whatever the preference, Bangkok spoils the palate with a choice of just about every national cuisine worthy of the name.
Matching the variety of menus is the choice of dining venues. From simple but good curbside food stalls and right up through the whole dining gamut to elegant, expensive restaurants and dinner cruises on the river, there is something to suit all tastes.
Eastern;Chanthaburi
The area between Chanthaburi and the Cambodian border is where you will find the best durians in the kingdom as well as luscious rambutan crop, thanks to the different climate pattern that receives the southwest monsoon. Gems, delicious fruits, handicrafts, beaches, an air of antiquity, and relics of the past make the Chanthaburi province a prime spot.
Chanthaburi, or the 'City of the Moon', is located beside the winding Chanthaburi River amidst rolling hills with a "melting-pot" community of Thai, Burmese, Chinese and Vietnamese. The town center presents a French-built lake, which is a favorite meeting and exercise place. The streets are filled with motorcycles while shops along the river and elsewhere sport an open facade, many revealing rows of grinding stone upon which artisans patiently cut facets on precious stones that are mined nearby.
Across the river, you'll find the largest Catholic church in Thailand. The French-style Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1880 and has a congregation that is made up of mainly Vietnamese who migrated to Thailand over the last two centuries. They engage in a number of businesses, such as the weaving of reed mats, handbags and purses in attractive shapes and designs. Many of these items are home-made and can be ordered from the nuns of the church. Laem Sing, the site of a Thai confrontation with European powers, is located nearby. Evidence of past territorial dispute is seen in the Tuk Daeng (Red Building), Customs House, and Kook Khi Kai (Chicken Dung Prison). The area's prime activity has been mining for sapphires and other precious stones, especially rubies. This has been going on since the 15th Century. The nearest gem-mining area is at Khao Ploi Waen (Hill of the Sapphire Ring). To reach it, travel to Khai Nern Wong, the old fort ruins, where a junction will lead to where the gemstones are traded and purchased.
An extra kilometer or so will lead to Khao Ploi Waen whose open pits in the hillside are up to 10 meters deep. If you have some extra time on your hands, take a peek at the refugee camps, which is an eye-opening experience. Khao Ploi Waen is located 200 km (125 miles) to the north of Chanthaburi from Sa Kaeo. The refugee camps are situated 60 km (40 miles) further up east on Route 33.
Fruit lovers will enjoy the orchard, which is filled with rambutan, durian, oranges and lychees. It is located along a small road at the 324-km marker of Route 3, directly opposite the Chanthaburi exit. The road leads inland for about 20 kilometers (13 miles), eventually leading to the Nam Tok Krating (Bull Waterfall), a cascade of small falls tumbling 400 meters (1,300 ft) across a granite face. Farther down Route 3 is the location of another popular waterfall, the Nam Tok Praew. Here, you will find makeshift stalls with women selling sticky rice and durian jam. Beyond that is the pyramidal chedi overlooking the falls. The chedi was built in memory of a consort of King Chulalongkorn who drowned while being rowed up the Chao Phraya River. A tragic death indeed.
Chanthaburi, or the 'City of the Moon', is located beside the winding Chanthaburi River amidst rolling hills with a "melting-pot" community of Thai, Burmese, Chinese and Vietnamese. The town center presents a French-built lake, which is a favorite meeting and exercise place. The streets are filled with motorcycles while shops along the river and elsewhere sport an open facade, many revealing rows of grinding stone upon which artisans patiently cut facets on precious stones that are mined nearby.
Across the river, you'll find the largest Catholic church in Thailand. The French-style Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1880 and has a congregation that is made up of mainly Vietnamese who migrated to Thailand over the last two centuries. They engage in a number of businesses, such as the weaving of reed mats, handbags and purses in attractive shapes and designs. Many of these items are home-made and can be ordered from the nuns of the church. Laem Sing, the site of a Thai confrontation with European powers, is located nearby. Evidence of past territorial dispute is seen in the Tuk Daeng (Red Building), Customs House, and Kook Khi Kai (Chicken Dung Prison). The area's prime activity has been mining for sapphires and other precious stones, especially rubies. This has been going on since the 15th Century. The nearest gem-mining area is at Khao Ploi Waen (Hill of the Sapphire Ring). To reach it, travel to Khai Nern Wong, the old fort ruins, where a junction will lead to where the gemstones are traded and purchased.
An extra kilometer or so will lead to Khao Ploi Waen whose open pits in the hillside are up to 10 meters deep. If you have some extra time on your hands, take a peek at the refugee camps, which is an eye-opening experience. Khao Ploi Waen is located 200 km (125 miles) to the north of Chanthaburi from Sa Kaeo. The refugee camps are situated 60 km (40 miles) further up east on Route 33.
Fruit lovers will enjoy the orchard, which is filled with rambutan, durian, oranges and lychees. It is located along a small road at the 324-km marker of Route 3, directly opposite the Chanthaburi exit. The road leads inland for about 20 kilometers (13 miles), eventually leading to the Nam Tok Krating (Bull Waterfall), a cascade of small falls tumbling 400 meters (1,300 ft) across a granite face. Farther down Route 3 is the location of another popular waterfall, the Nam Tok Praew. Here, you will find makeshift stalls with women selling sticky rice and durian jam. Beyond that is the pyramidal chedi overlooking the falls. The chedi was built in memory of a consort of King Chulalongkorn who drowned while being rowed up the Chao Phraya River. A tragic death indeed.
Pattaya
Pattaya is a phenomenon. Once a tiny fishing village, it has developed into an international playground of such renown as to be justly dubbed the "Jewel of the East Coast".
Located just 145 km southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya can be visited on a day trip from the capital, although most visitors are so enchanted by the variety of things to do and see that even a week's stay doesn't seem long enough.
Colorful and alive with activity, Pattaya is unrivaled as a beach resort. It is in a class of its own, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia. Day and night, it presents an ever changing kaleidoscope of fun and thrills.
Facing a wide bay and a long majestic sweep of beach, Pattaya has been groomed over more than three decades for the international visitor, and today, it boasts the unique distinction of a beach resort with city status. Where most other resorts rely simply on their natural surroundings, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything in an exhaustive mix of facilities.
Indeed, Pattaya can be whatever you want it to be. Such is its variety that it is ideal for all kinds of visitors. While there is plenty to keep the children happily occupied, there is also everything for the sports enthusiast, for couples of all ages seeking rest and relaxation, and for those who are simply looking for good times in the sun.
Located just 145 km southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya can be visited on a day trip from the capital, although most visitors are so enchanted by the variety of things to do and see that even a week's stay doesn't seem long enough.
Colorful and alive with activity, Pattaya is unrivaled as a beach resort. It is in a class of its own, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia. Day and night, it presents an ever changing kaleidoscope of fun and thrills.
Facing a wide bay and a long majestic sweep of beach, Pattaya has been groomed over more than three decades for the international visitor, and today, it boasts the unique distinction of a beach resort with city status. Where most other resorts rely simply on their natural surroundings, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything in an exhaustive mix of facilities.
Indeed, Pattaya can be whatever you want it to be. Such is its variety that it is ideal for all kinds of visitors. While there is plenty to keep the children happily occupied, there is also everything for the sports enthusiast, for couples of all ages seeking rest and relaxation, and for those who are simply looking for good times in the sun.
Rayong
The Eastern Gulf of Thailand is rich in both gems and island beaches. To know more, make use of the attractive local tourism office in the busy market town of Rayong, located 220 km (140 miles) from Bangkok. It is well stocked with information on the East Coast as well as distant towns as far as the Cambodian borders.
While visiting Rayong, kill two birds with one stone. Utilize the tourism office and visit the old (but industrious) fishing village that occupies the land between the beach and the estuary. Rayong is famed for its nam plaa, or fish sauce, which is the source of salt in Thai diets and the sine qua non of Thai condiments. Nam plaa is made from a small silver fish that fills the Gulf. It is decomposed for about seven months to produce a ruddy liquid, which is filtered and bottled on the spot.
Twenty kilometers (15 miles) past Rayong is a turn-off to Ban Phe on the coast. This busy fishing port is sheltered on the west by a rocky outcrop and by the 6-kilometer-long island of Ko Samet to the south. Ban Phe introduces women dressed in their weathered black shirts, straw hats and sarongs drying shrimp in the sun.
Ko Samet, on the other hand, is an island that is reputed to be a real beauty with the finest sands in Thailand. The island has gained popularity as a superb resort for its pristine waters and cozy coves. However, development in recent times has slightly marred the beauty of the place.
A popular picnic spot with Thai tourists and locals would be the Ban Phe Phrae National Park, a refreshing change in scenery from the scrubland preceding it. While the 10 km (6 miles) stretch between Wang Kaew to the peninsula of Laern Mae Phim offers attractive resorts. Suan Wang Kaew is a landscaped garden on a hill stretching into the sea and a favorite Thai picnic spot as well. It has bungalows and rooms for rent on the west side. There are also a few good restaurants jutting out to the sea that provide views of the long stretch of sand in front. This stretch of coast deserves special mention as it remains almost untouched by the development that seems to engulf most Thai resorts these days. There are no vendors offering cheap goods and no traditional massages. But visitors would have the whole beach to themselves when weekend vacationers from Bangkok depart. It would have been perfect if the beach had been a little cleaner.
For a scrumptious time, try the excellent seafood Thailand has to offer. Just further up from Laern Mae Phim is the popular Thai resort where superb seafood restaurants line the top end of the beach. Go a little further and enjoy the charming, non-touristy fishing village of Ao Khai - a calm and restful place to watch the loading and unloading of all sorts of fish from old, gaily colored wooden fishing boats. Just offshore are a number of islands where you can spend the day. There is also one specially reserved for turtles.
The journey on to Chanthaburi introduces the village of Ban Krum, which presents a small park dedicated to the poet Sunthorn Phu. It is filled with statues of the poet and some of his most famous works.
There is also a quiet yet busy town called Klaeng, its streets lined with many attractive old-style Thai wooden houses. The majestic Wat Saranat Thammaran is located at the market. The new double-lane highway will lead to Chonburi and Bangkok while the Khao Charnao National Park is located approximately 12 km (8 miles) to the north of Klaeng off Route 3. A long waterfall with eight levels(!) will steal your breath away at this National Park. Special bridges and walkways make the ascent easier while Soro brook carp cluster in the pools by the hundreds to further embellish the park.
The Khao Wong caves are located nearby. There is a total of 60 caves in which most are occupied by Buddhist monks. One of the caves has been turned into a shrine with a replica of Buddha's footprints.
Further down the coast is the Wat Khao Sukim, a large meditation temple high up in the mountains where one can savor the stunning views and enjoy tranquil shady spots. There are also lifelike wax figures of Buddhist monks as well as displays of fine jade, furniture and antiques. The energetic folks may try walking up the hundreds of steps on stairways lined with two colorfully decorated stone-and-ceramic serpents. Alternatively, there is always the funicular!
The journey from Wat Khao Sukim to Chanthaburi offers nothing of much interest except for an understated, official looking sign that states "Paradise", which is an invitation that may be hard to pass up. "Paradise" is actually a Catholic religious retreat, with a church and small bungalows clustered around a small lake and waterfall.
While visiting Rayong, kill two birds with one stone. Utilize the tourism office and visit the old (but industrious) fishing village that occupies the land between the beach and the estuary. Rayong is famed for its nam plaa, or fish sauce, which is the source of salt in Thai diets and the sine qua non of Thai condiments. Nam plaa is made from a small silver fish that fills the Gulf. It is decomposed for about seven months to produce a ruddy liquid, which is filtered and bottled on the spot.
Twenty kilometers (15 miles) past Rayong is a turn-off to Ban Phe on the coast. This busy fishing port is sheltered on the west by a rocky outcrop and by the 6-kilometer-long island of Ko Samet to the south. Ban Phe introduces women dressed in their weathered black shirts, straw hats and sarongs drying shrimp in the sun.
Ko Samet, on the other hand, is an island that is reputed to be a real beauty with the finest sands in Thailand. The island has gained popularity as a superb resort for its pristine waters and cozy coves. However, development in recent times has slightly marred the beauty of the place.
A popular picnic spot with Thai tourists and locals would be the Ban Phe Phrae National Park, a refreshing change in scenery from the scrubland preceding it. While the 10 km (6 miles) stretch between Wang Kaew to the peninsula of Laern Mae Phim offers attractive resorts. Suan Wang Kaew is a landscaped garden on a hill stretching into the sea and a favorite Thai picnic spot as well. It has bungalows and rooms for rent on the west side. There are also a few good restaurants jutting out to the sea that provide views of the long stretch of sand in front. This stretch of coast deserves special mention as it remains almost untouched by the development that seems to engulf most Thai resorts these days. There are no vendors offering cheap goods and no traditional massages. But visitors would have the whole beach to themselves when weekend vacationers from Bangkok depart. It would have been perfect if the beach had been a little cleaner.
For a scrumptious time, try the excellent seafood Thailand has to offer. Just further up from Laern Mae Phim is the popular Thai resort where superb seafood restaurants line the top end of the beach. Go a little further and enjoy the charming, non-touristy fishing village of Ao Khai - a calm and restful place to watch the loading and unloading of all sorts of fish from old, gaily colored wooden fishing boats. Just offshore are a number of islands where you can spend the day. There is also one specially reserved for turtles.
The journey on to Chanthaburi introduces the village of Ban Krum, which presents a small park dedicated to the poet Sunthorn Phu. It is filled with statues of the poet and some of his most famous works.
There is also a quiet yet busy town called Klaeng, its streets lined with many attractive old-style Thai wooden houses. The majestic Wat Saranat Thammaran is located at the market. The new double-lane highway will lead to Chonburi and Bangkok while the Khao Charnao National Park is located approximately 12 km (8 miles) to the north of Klaeng off Route 3. A long waterfall with eight levels(!) will steal your breath away at this National Park. Special bridges and walkways make the ascent easier while Soro brook carp cluster in the pools by the hundreds to further embellish the park.
The Khao Wong caves are located nearby. There is a total of 60 caves in which most are occupied by Buddhist monks. One of the caves has been turned into a shrine with a replica of Buddha's footprints.
Further down the coast is the Wat Khao Sukim, a large meditation temple high up in the mountains where one can savor the stunning views and enjoy tranquil shady spots. There are also lifelike wax figures of Buddhist monks as well as displays of fine jade, furniture and antiques. The energetic folks may try walking up the hundreds of steps on stairways lined with two colorfully decorated stone-and-ceramic serpents. Alternatively, there is always the funicular!
The journey from Wat Khao Sukim to Chanthaburi offers nothing of much interest except for an understated, official looking sign that states "Paradise", which is an invitation that may be hard to pass up. "Paradise" is actually a Catholic religious retreat, with a church and small bungalows clustered around a small lake and waterfall.
Trat
Trat is one of the last major towns before crossing the Cambodian border. Located 400 km (250 miles) from Bangkok, the road leading to Trat passes through rubber plantations, paddies, and marshlands.
Visitors to Trat will be able to see an attractive Chinese temple called the Wat Bang Korn and the Oasis Sea World, which is a breeding and conservation station for dolphins. Try not to miss the daily aquatic performances by the humpbacked and Irrawaddy dolphins.
A gem-trading center, Trat is also the embarkation point for trips to offshore islands. There are boats leaving in the mornings for Ko Chang from the Port of Laem Ngop, about 20 km (15 miles) southwest of the town's clock tower. Ko Chang is Thailand's third-largest island, famed for wild boars and the Mai Yom Falls. Size-wise, it is about 8 km (5 miles) wide and 30 km (20 miles) long. And do be careful, for off the northern tip of Ko Chang near a rocky outcrop are some of the largest sharks in the gulf. However, the Ko Mak and Ko Kut are excellent places for diving with clear lagoons. You may find accommodations in the form of simple bungalows and new resorts.
From Trat, drop by Khlong Yai, a town built over the water. Rows of houses run into the sea from the main street, thus making the town rather unique. "Parked" between these rows of houses are fishing trawlers, acting like cars parked on a side street. The road, with beautiful sea views, continues on to Hat Yak, a fishing (and smuggling) village on the Cambodian border. This is a good place to while away some time.
Visitors to Trat will be able to see an attractive Chinese temple called the Wat Bang Korn and the Oasis Sea World, which is a breeding and conservation station for dolphins. Try not to miss the daily aquatic performances by the humpbacked and Irrawaddy dolphins.
A gem-trading center, Trat is also the embarkation point for trips to offshore islands. There are boats leaving in the mornings for Ko Chang from the Port of Laem Ngop, about 20 km (15 miles) southwest of the town's clock tower. Ko Chang is Thailand's third-largest island, famed for wild boars and the Mai Yom Falls. Size-wise, it is about 8 km (5 miles) wide and 30 km (20 miles) long. And do be careful, for off the northern tip of Ko Chang near a rocky outcrop are some of the largest sharks in the gulf. However, the Ko Mak and Ko Kut are excellent places for diving with clear lagoons. You may find accommodations in the form of simple bungalows and new resorts.
From Trat, drop by Khlong Yai, a town built over the water. Rows of houses run into the sea from the main street, thus making the town rather unique. "Parked" between these rows of houses are fishing trawlers, acting like cars parked on a side street. The road, with beautiful sea views, continues on to Hat Yak, a fishing (and smuggling) village on the Cambodian border. This is a good place to while away some time.
Isan
The least changed part of Thailand, the northeast manages to preserve its rural customs to a marked degree, and offers a fascinating taste of traditional rural life that is today fast vanishing.
Known in Thai as I-San (pronounced "Ee-Saan"), the Northeast comprises 19 provinces and is distinct in landscape, history and folk culture. Adding vibrant life to the entire area are a people who speak their own melodious dialect, have their own delicious highly spiced cuisine, and possess a truly hospitable and fun loving nature.
Bordered to the north and east by the Mekong River and Laos, and the south by Cambodia, I-san is the largest of the country's five major topographical regions, and is largely a semi-arid plateau with forested mountains in the northwest. Amid the latter are some lovely national parks. The plateau supports rice cultivation. Although the region contains 4 of Thailand's most populous cities - Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) and Udon Thani - it covers about one third of the country's land mass, and thus appears sparsely populated and intensely rural.
The economy of the Northeast is based almost entirely on agriculture. Consequently, the people agrarian lifestyles, mostly unchanged by the passage of time and dictated by the annual cycle of the farming seasons. Because of this, cultural traditions - in music, folk dances, festivals, legends and local dialects - are better preserved here than anywhere else in Thailand.
Fascinating not only for its rural traditions, I-San is also a region of great historical interest. As seen today in the prehistoric site of Ban Chiang and in several finely preserved ancient Khmer temple, northeastern Thailand boast a rich past unparalleled elsewhere in the country.
Known in Thai as I-San (pronounced "Ee-Saan"), the Northeast comprises 19 provinces and is distinct in landscape, history and folk culture. Adding vibrant life to the entire area are a people who speak their own melodious dialect, have their own delicious highly spiced cuisine, and possess a truly hospitable and fun loving nature.
Bordered to the north and east by the Mekong River and Laos, and the south by Cambodia, I-san is the largest of the country's five major topographical regions, and is largely a semi-arid plateau with forested mountains in the northwest. Amid the latter are some lovely national parks. The plateau supports rice cultivation. Although the region contains 4 of Thailand's most populous cities - Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) and Udon Thani - it covers about one third of the country's land mass, and thus appears sparsely populated and intensely rural.
The economy of the Northeast is based almost entirely on agriculture. Consequently, the people agrarian lifestyles, mostly unchanged by the passage of time and dictated by the annual cycle of the farming seasons. Because of this, cultural traditions - in music, folk dances, festivals, legends and local dialects - are better preserved here than anywhere else in Thailand.
Fascinating not only for its rural traditions, I-San is also a region of great historical interest. As seen today in the prehistoric site of Ban Chiang and in several finely preserved ancient Khmer temple, northeastern Thailand boast a rich past unparalleled elsewhere in the country.
Islands;Ko Samui
Virtually unknown until a decade ago, Samui Island (in Thai, "Ko" = island) rivals Phuket as Thailand's most popular beach resort. At the same time, this idyllic island remains quite distinct from its sister resort, preserving the natural simplicity of a tropical hideaway. In other words, Ko Samui epitomizes the timeless attraction of sunny palm-fringed tropical beaches.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, on the opposite side of the southern peninsula from Phuket, Ko Samui is part of a true island world, being the largest in a group of more than 80 tropical isles, only four of which are inhabited. Samui ranks as Thailand's third largest island covering an area of 247 sq. km and measuring 21km wide and 25km in length. A mountain ridge runs east to west and most of the hinterland comprises forested hills. The rich hues of wild vegetation are dappled throughout with the contrasting greens of coconut palms and emerald paddies.
Besides fishing, the cultivation of coconuts is the traditional and principal source of livelihood for the islanders, and Ko Samui ships some 2 million nuts a month to Bangkok - they are reputedly the best in the country!
Complementing the sights and the unspoiled natural beauty of the landscape are vignettes of traditional culture. Mostly fisherman and coconut farmers, the islanders pursue lifestyles very largely unchanged, and possess the self sufficiency and easy going ways of a true tropical island paradise.
In spite of easy access, with several flights from Bangkok and Phuket and ferry services from Surat Thani, Samui remains very much away from it all, complete into itself as it has been for centuries. Hence, here is the place to get away from it all and relax in the sun without a care in the world.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, on the opposite side of the southern peninsula from Phuket, Ko Samui is part of a true island world, being the largest in a group of more than 80 tropical isles, only four of which are inhabited. Samui ranks as Thailand's third largest island covering an area of 247 sq. km and measuring 21km wide and 25km in length. A mountain ridge runs east to west and most of the hinterland comprises forested hills. The rich hues of wild vegetation are dappled throughout with the contrasting greens of coconut palms and emerald paddies.
Besides fishing, the cultivation of coconuts is the traditional and principal source of livelihood for the islanders, and Ko Samui ships some 2 million nuts a month to Bangkok - they are reputedly the best in the country!
Complementing the sights and the unspoiled natural beauty of the landscape are vignettes of traditional culture. Mostly fisherman and coconut farmers, the islanders pursue lifestyles very largely unchanged, and possess the self sufficiency and easy going ways of a true tropical island paradise.
In spite of easy access, with several flights from Bangkok and Phuket and ferry services from Surat Thani, Samui remains very much away from it all, complete into itself as it has been for centuries. Hence, here is the place to get away from it all and relax in the sun without a care in the world.
Phuket
Gem of the Andaman Coast, and Thailand's top beach resort is Phuket Island. Shaped like an irregular pearl and measuring approximately 21km wide by 48km long, Phuket is Thailand's largest island and a province in its own right. Sparsely populated outside Phuket town, the landscape is one of lush green hills, coconut groves, rubber plantations and a coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches. Set against a backdrop of palms and casuarinas, each idyllic stretch of sand has a character and charm of its own.
Accommodation can be found in abundance and the facilities are as comprehensive as the range of accommodation. Restaurants are excellent, both in their setting and in their menus, featuring a selection of culinary delights from fresh seafood or spicy Thai dishes to other Asian cuisine and Continental specialties. Cocktail lounges, discos and nightclubs give ample choice for after dinner entertainment.
The island's size and its wealth of beaches offer plenty of different focal points, each with its own identity. Patong Beach, for example, is the most developed area and suits those who like a kaleidoscopic variety of attractions with ready access to all parts of the island.
Tempting though it is simply to laze on the beach and soak up a tropical suntan, Phuket offers many sporting options for visitors seeking action with a taste of adventure. Scuba diving is perhaps the island's most popular and best developed sport. However for those who prefer to keep their heads above water, yachting and deep-sea fishing are two marvelous sporting alternatives.
On land, sporting attractions vary from daredevil bungee-jumping to the very different challenges of golf on any one of several superb 18-hole courses. Horse riding and go-kart racing are further choices.
More than just a place of sun, sea and sand, Phuket affords ample scope for sightseeing. Molded by various influences over the centuries and made rich through tin mining, Phuket has evolved into a distinctive culture, giving rise to a number of sights and events unique to the island. Early prosperity is witnessed in several well-preserved mansions of considerable architectural interest, while a further reminder of past influences survives in the annual Vegetarian Festival held in October.
Accommodation can be found in abundance and the facilities are as comprehensive as the range of accommodation. Restaurants are excellent, both in their setting and in their menus, featuring a selection of culinary delights from fresh seafood or spicy Thai dishes to other Asian cuisine and Continental specialties. Cocktail lounges, discos and nightclubs give ample choice for after dinner entertainment.
The island's size and its wealth of beaches offer plenty of different focal points, each with its own identity. Patong Beach, for example, is the most developed area and suits those who like a kaleidoscopic variety of attractions with ready access to all parts of the island.
Tempting though it is simply to laze on the beach and soak up a tropical suntan, Phuket offers many sporting options for visitors seeking action with a taste of adventure. Scuba diving is perhaps the island's most popular and best developed sport. However for those who prefer to keep their heads above water, yachting and deep-sea fishing are two marvelous sporting alternatives.
On land, sporting attractions vary from daredevil bungee-jumping to the very different challenges of golf on any one of several superb 18-hole courses. Horse riding and go-kart racing are further choices.
More than just a place of sun, sea and sand, Phuket affords ample scope for sightseeing. Molded by various influences over the centuries and made rich through tin mining, Phuket has evolved into a distinctive culture, giving rise to a number of sights and events unique to the island. Early prosperity is witnessed in several well-preserved mansions of considerable architectural interest, while a further reminder of past influences survives in the annual Vegetarian Festival held in October.
Northern
Thailand's second largest city is Chiang Mai. It is located some 700 kilometers (438 miles) north of Bangkok. Many claimed that Chiang Mai is by far more pleasant than Bangkok, with all the advantages of a city lifestyle without needing to sacrifice on other disadvantageous aspects related to city living. Here are some of the attractions found in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai Zoo
Visitors will find the Chiang Mai Zoo on Huay Keaw Road, about 5 kilometers from Chiang Mai City center. The zoo had been around for the past 21 years and currently occupies a land area of about 200 acres. This zoo located at the foothills of Doi Sutep is the largest zoo in Thailand. You'll find a huge variety of animals. There are about 6,819 animal living in the forested and green grounds. The wonderful nature that surrounds it includes two waterfalls, two lakes, various camping sites for the night zoo and some awesome view of the city. To enter the zoo, an entry fee of between 20 and 40 bath is charged. Additional charges for a tuktuk (Chiang Mai's version of a taxi) is recommended, as it is almost impossible to explore the entire zoo by foot. This is a nice and pleasant way to spend the day.
Chiang Mai National Museum
For those of you who are keen on northern Thai arts and archaeological findings, then head on down to the Chiang Mai National Museum. It is located on the Superhighway road about five kilometers from the city center. The Chiang Mai National Museum can vie for a spot with the rest of the world for its modest collection of arts and information. Here, you'll find interesting artifacts and pieces from the past such as The Buddha's footprint and a large Buddha head that once belonged to a complete statue. There are even artifacts dating all the way back to the fourteenth to fifteenth century, such as the Kalong, Sankampaeng, Haripunchai and other northern ceramics. On the grounds of the museum, you'll get to see two 500-year old kilns. Those kilns had been transported from these ancient sites.
Huay Keaw Waterfall
The Huay Keaw Waterfall is a romantic spot and is a frequent haunt for families, young lovers and students studying for their exams. It is a quiet spot with a legend that seemed to contradict it. Legend told of the story of Wang Bua Ban, a lady who was spurned by her lover and thus committed suicide at these falls. Despite that, this is a pleasant spot to go to. It is located near the zoo, on the foothills of Doi Sutep. It is a mere 6 kilometers from town. It is a relatively small waterfall that flows steadily during the rainy season but tend to trickle down to a small stream in summer. A good picnic spot!
Montatarn Waterfall
Another popular waterfall is the Montatarn Waterfall. Just 15 kilometers out of Chiang Mai, the Montatarn Waterfall is on the road up to Doi Sutep. It is quite hard to access this place during the wet season as there are about 3 kilometers of dirt road to navigate before you can arrive at the waterfall. However, the rainy season is also the best time to be at this falls as the water then is more powerful, cascading down from the mountain into a small pool that is wonderfully clean and simply refreshing to swim in. For a more rewarding time, take a brief and steep climb up the side of the falls. It will lead you to a very private area whereby you can slide down the shoot into the pond. It is also a good place to admire the city below.
Chiang Mai University
What does 15,000 students and 10,000 staff make up to? The answer: One Chiang Mai University. Located 5 kilometers out of town on the Huay Keaw road, the university occupies a vast space of land on the foothills of Doi Sutep. It is a pretty place with its own lake, waterfall and lots of good facilities that makes up a good university. Facilities include a sports stadium, food centers, a late night market and an arts center. Other lesser-known activities are like performances, concerts, and the likes.
Doi Sutep
The Doi Sutep Mountain is probably the first feature any first-time visitor to Chiang Mai would notice. It is part of the ring of mountains that surround Chiang Mai City. Doi Sutep is 3,051 feet high and standing proud at the peak of the mountain is the guardian temple of the city, the Wat Prathat Doi Sutep (holy temple of Doi Sutep). This gleaming pagoda could be seen from virtually any point in Chiang Mai City. This pagoda is the holiest of all Chiang Mai's temples. To reach it, you would have to drive through 17 kilometers of the beautiful mountainous national park. It is, without a doubt, the most visited temple and tourist spot in the north.
Upon arrival at the temple, visitors will get to see many street vendors trading their ware from sweet corn to Buddha replicas. Two awesome Naga (serpents) fiercely guards the temple's entrance. To reach it, you would have to walk up the 300 steps. It is a rather tough climb for the elderly, but rest assured that your patience and effort will be well rewarded when you reached the temple. Built in the 16th century, not much of the temple's original architecture remains today. However, the view you get from the temple is spectacular. And the view of the gleaming pagoda in its entire glorious splendor is even more awesome up close.
Upon arrival at the temple, visitors will get to see many street vendors trading their ware from sweet corn to Buddha replicas. Two awesome Naga (serpents) fiercely guards the temple's entrance. To reach it, you would have to walk up the 300 steps. It is a rather tough climb for the elderly, but rest assured that your patience and effort will be well rewarded when you reached the temple. Built in the 16th century, not much of the temple's original architecture remains today. However, the view you get from the temple is spectacular. And the view of the gleaming pagoda in its entire glorious splendor is even more awesome up close.
Phuping Palace
Phuping Palace, the winter home to the revered monarchy is located further up the mountain from Doi Sutep. You may view the palace during weekends and public holidays as long as the Royal Family is not in residence. The Royal Palace was completed in the year 1962 and the palace grounds are gorgeously beautiful during the winter months (December - January) for the well planned garden is in full bloom.
Chiang Rai
The capital city of Chiang Rai Province is Chiang Rai City. With an estimated population of 37,600, Chiang Rai is famous for its tasty lychees. It is also well known as "the gateway" to the Golden Triangle located in Chiang Saen district. This is where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge.
Chiang Rai is Thailand's most northern province. The city is located about 785 kilometers (491 miles) from Bangkok with an average elevation of 580 meters (1900 feet) above sea level. It is mostly mountainous with an area of 11,678 sq. kilometers (4508 sq. miles). The province is divided into 12 districts and 1 sub-district. The most important element in Chiang Rai is the Mae Kok River. The river is about 130 kilometers (81 miles) long and flows through Chiang Rai city.
King Mengrai was the founder of Chiang Rai in the year of 1262. History recorded that this city was the capital city of the Lannatai Kingdom towards the end of the 13th century. It was so for about 30 years. Later, Burma conquered it (now Myanmar). It remained under the Burmese rule for several hundred years. Chiang Rai became the territory of Thailand in the year 1786 and was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.
Chiang Rai is Thailand's most northern province. The city is located about 785 kilometers (491 miles) from Bangkok with an average elevation of 580 meters (1900 feet) above sea level. It is mostly mountainous with an area of 11,678 sq. kilometers (4508 sq. miles). The province is divided into 12 districts and 1 sub-district. The most important element in Chiang Rai is the Mae Kok River. The river is about 130 kilometers (81 miles) long and flows through Chiang Rai city.
King Mengrai was the founder of Chiang Rai in the year of 1262. History recorded that this city was the capital city of the Lannatai Kingdom towards the end of the 13th century. It was so for about 30 years. Later, Burma conquered it (now Myanmar). It remained under the Burmese rule for several hundred years. Chiang Rai became the territory of Thailand in the year 1786 and was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.
Southern;Hat Yai
Whether coming from Malaysia or continuing your travels in that direction, Hat Yai is an ideal stopover. Hat Yai, is in effect the south's major city, its commercial, shopping and entertainment center. Located in Songkhla province, 947km from Bangkok and about 50km north of the Malaysian border, Hat Yai is also the region's communication hub and is well served by road, rail and air access.
Best known as a fun city, it has ample opportunities for sporting activities and entertainment abound. Children will enjoy the Bhasawang Big Splash, a 15m slide in the middle of a lagoon-like swimming pool, while a different type of recreation is to be enjoyed at the city's two shooting ranges. For a spectator sport, there is bull fighting, a traditional southern entertainment in which two beast lock horn in a trial of strength.
Shopping is another big attraction and Hat Yai offers many good buys in Thai handicrafts - especially local cotton products and cut-out leather shadow puppets - leisure and sportswear, and a large variety of preserved Thai fruits, dried seafood and other culinary delicacies. Such is the fun of shopping among both Thai and foreign visitors that browsing and people-watching can be as much fun as bargain hunting.Being somewhat of a cultural crossroads, Hat Yai affords ample opportunity for dining on a variety of cuisine. In additions to spicy Thai cooking and seafood for which the South is famed, Chinese and Muslim specialties are to be enjoyed at a number of excellent restaurants. To further enhance your trip here, Hat Yai has an excellent nightlife in the form of its numerous nightclubs
Best known as a fun city, it has ample opportunities for sporting activities and entertainment abound. Children will enjoy the Bhasawang Big Splash, a 15m slide in the middle of a lagoon-like swimming pool, while a different type of recreation is to be enjoyed at the city's two shooting ranges. For a spectator sport, there is bull fighting, a traditional southern entertainment in which two beast lock horn in a trial of strength.
Shopping is another big attraction and Hat Yai offers many good buys in Thai handicrafts - especially local cotton products and cut-out leather shadow puppets - leisure and sportswear, and a large variety of preserved Thai fruits, dried seafood and other culinary delicacies. Such is the fun of shopping among both Thai and foreign visitors that browsing and people-watching can be as much fun as bargain hunting.Being somewhat of a cultural crossroads, Hat Yai affords ample opportunity for dining on a variety of cuisine. In additions to spicy Thai cooking and seafood for which the South is famed, Chinese and Muslim specialties are to be enjoyed at a number of excellent restaurants. To further enhance your trip here, Hat Yai has an excellent nightlife in the form of its numerous nightclubs
Wat Hat Yai Nai (Reclining Buddha Image)
The third largest reclining Buddha image of the world reposes at Wat Hat Yai Nai on Phetkhasem Road near Ou-Tapao Bridge. The statue, named Phra Buddha hatmongkhol, is 35 meters long, 15 meters high and 10 meters wide. This is considered one of the most revered statues in the region
Tone Nga Chang Waterfalls (Elephant Tusk Falls)
Located 24km west of the city, this picturesque falls cascades spectacularly over seven tiers and splits into two streams, resembling elephant tusks, thus its given name. Best seen after the rainy season from October through December when the water is most abundant, this is a particularly scenic spot, ideal for picnics.
Hua Hin
When mentioning Hua Hin, one pictures long, sandy beaches, unspoiled and uncluttered. Hua Hin can be further distinguished as Thailand's oldest beach resort. What was once a sleepy little fishing port received royal distinction in the 1920s, when King Rama VII chose the site for a summer palace, which he named 'Klai Kangwon', meaning "Far From Worries" - an indication of Hua Hin's restful atmosphere.
A vogue was thus created and Hua Hin became the resort for the elite of Bangkok's society, a status enhanced by the completion of an 18-hole golf course. Today, the present Royal Family continues to spend part of the year at Hua Hin, while the resort has also gained wide popularity with overseas visitors.
In spite of moving with the times to offer all modern amenities, Hua Hin has retained its own enduring Thai identity. the main attraction of this resort is a peaceful time lazing on the beach soaking up the tropical sunshine, complemented by the fun of a variety of water-sports and delight in relishing some excellent seafood.
What makes Hua Hin stand out amongst Thailand's many resorts is the fact that unlike the younger resorts, such as Pattaya, Thailand's oldest seaside holiday town has never sought an international image. It remains content in itself and a stroll down by the little fishing port gives a refreshing insight into the traditional life of a Thai coastal settlement, perhaps a trifle more prosperous than most, but unpretentious nonetheless.
In addition to the attraction of sun, sea and sand, Hua Hin provides options for leisurely times away from the beach. Of particular note is the busy night market. This is not something created just for the visitor, rather it is a traditional place and occasion for shopping and pursuing that most delightful of Thai past times, 'pai teeo' - leisurely wandering about to see and be seen. Best buys for the dedicated shopper are the locally produced high quality silk and cotton, as well as the region's famous dried seafood and various kinds of 'kanom' - Thai sweets.
Although the keynote of a stay at Hua Hin is relaxation, the coastline in this region is well worth exploring. South from Hua Hin, through Pran Buri and down to Prachuap Khiri Khan, there are numerous quiet coves and tiny fishing villages, ideal destinations for day excursions. Hence, Hua Hin offers the visitors what they expect and more!
A vogue was thus created and Hua Hin became the resort for the elite of Bangkok's society, a status enhanced by the completion of an 18-hole golf course. Today, the present Royal Family continues to spend part of the year at Hua Hin, while the resort has also gained wide popularity with overseas visitors.
In spite of moving with the times to offer all modern amenities, Hua Hin has retained its own enduring Thai identity. the main attraction of this resort is a peaceful time lazing on the beach soaking up the tropical sunshine, complemented by the fun of a variety of water-sports and delight in relishing some excellent seafood.
What makes Hua Hin stand out amongst Thailand's many resorts is the fact that unlike the younger resorts, such as Pattaya, Thailand's oldest seaside holiday town has never sought an international image. It remains content in itself and a stroll down by the little fishing port gives a refreshing insight into the traditional life of a Thai coastal settlement, perhaps a trifle more prosperous than most, but unpretentious nonetheless.
In addition to the attraction of sun, sea and sand, Hua Hin provides options for leisurely times away from the beach. Of particular note is the busy night market. This is not something created just for the visitor, rather it is a traditional place and occasion for shopping and pursuing that most delightful of Thai past times, 'pai teeo' - leisurely wandering about to see and be seen. Best buys for the dedicated shopper are the locally produced high quality silk and cotton, as well as the region's famous dried seafood and various kinds of 'kanom' - Thai sweets.
Although the keynote of a stay at Hua Hin is relaxation, the coastline in this region is well worth exploring. South from Hua Hin, through Pran Buri and down to Prachuap Khiri Khan, there are numerous quiet coves and tiny fishing villages, ideal destinations for day excursions. Hence, Hua Hin offers the visitors what they expect and more!
Getting There
By Air : Thai Airways International operates daily from Bangkok. There are also direct air links with Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Europe.
By Road : The island is linked to the mainland by the 700m long Sarasin Causeway therefore, access is easy. There are many overnight bus services from Bangkok.
By Rail : The island can also be reached partly by train and partly by bus.
By Sea : There are many ferry services to the island and Phuket remains a favorite stop for cruises.
By Road : The island is linked to the mainland by the 700m long Sarasin Causeway therefore, access is easy. There are many overnight bus services from Bangkok.
By Rail : The island can also be reached partly by train and partly by bus.
By Sea : There are many ferry services to the island and Phuket remains a favorite stop for cruises.
Here are some fun facts about Thailand to celebrate this launch
The full given name of Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, is "Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit". The city's full name is listed as the world's longest place name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Thai greeting is known as the "wai", which involves bringing the palms together and raising them to a level between the chest and forehead. The higher the hands are held, the more respect is being shown by the greeter.
The island of Ko Samui is known for producing the most types of coconut palm in the world. In addition, it was mentioned in the 2000 comedy Meet the Parents.
The Thai greeting is known as the "wai", which involves bringing the palms together and raising them to a level between the chest and forehead. The higher the hands are held, the more respect is being shown by the greeter.
The island of Ko Samui is known for producing the most types of coconut palm in the world. In addition, it was mentioned in the 2000 comedy Meet the Parents.
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