Thailand Tourism Board

Thailand Report

2007-06-01T21:50:00.000-07:00

After the 30-hour flight, I arrived in Bangkok at about 2:00 a.m. in the morning local time. I was finally able to find Thoy. Her sister had left a few hours earlier and headed back home, since it was getting so late. We went to the airport taxi service and paid a set fee for a ride out to Nakhon Pathom, a city about 30 miles west of downtown Bangkok. In hindsight, we probably could have done much better haggling outside for a freelance price. I think we paid about $35.00.

Just as a bit of background, Thoy is my first true love. I met her about eight years ago after my divorce. She was born and raised in Thailand and came to the States when she was about 27 to help take care of an American couple’s children. She went to school at night, got her associates degree and is now a dental assistant with the state dental school.

She also worked some nights at Dang’s Restaurant, where I went for the monthly rock climbing meetings. I tried desperately to get up the nerve to ask her out. When I got home from the meeting in October, I started dialing up the restaurant, but hung up before it started to ring.

In December, I got a moment to talk to her and told her the last time I was there, I had forgotten something. She looked quizzically and asked what it was. I told her I had forgotten to tell her that I would love to take her to dinner. She looked up at the ceiling, rolled her eyes to the back of her head, like it was the dumbest thing she had ever heard, looked back at me and told me she would love to. She had been waiting patiently for me to ask her out for the last two months.

By the third date, I had not even gotten a kiss. I told her that I was a bit behind schedule, that usually I got a kiss at least on the second date. She told me I could kiss her hand. I told her I wouldn’t kiss her hand, though I might bite it. I finally got a kiss that night. And the rest is history.

Back to our trip to Thailand. Thoy is notoriously bad with directions, and I was getting increasing nervous when we arrived in Nakhon Pathom and she didn’t know exactly where to guide the taxi driver at about 3:30 a.m. But she pulled through and found her sister’s house. The long driveway to the house fronted on one of the busiest streets running through Nakhon Pathom, but thankfully the house was set back quite a ways off the thoroughfare.

Thoy and I had the whole upstairs to the house, which was great, with our own bathroom. Pi Nan has a very nice house. Her husband was in the road construction business locally until he passed away. Pi Nan took over the company for a while, but she said there just wasn’t that much profit left over after certain expenses to the local officials. Later she pointed out the roads they had paved with great pride.

Back to the house. It had a fence/wall all the way around the compound with an iron gate at the front. It was a nice two-story house, with a very nice covered patio/covered driveway, where breakfast was had, and then an additional living area/house (which I never entered) on the other side of the patio. This is where one of Pi Nan’s daughters lived, together with her husband and two children.

The living quarters were on quite a large lot. The yard had a nice variety of trees and shrubs, including a jackfruit tree. Very interesting…I had never seen one before. It was kind of like bundles of fruit within fruit, the outside being about the size of a pineapple.

Next to the jackfruit tree was a cage where they had their “pet” bird. It was a black bird that looked something like a grackle, I suppose. It has an extremely distinctive, vibrant caw/screech that would start at about 4:30 in the morning. I could hear this caw occasionally throughout my visit to Thailand, but I was never able to see the actual bird. I at first found this cawing quite irritating, but Pi Nan liked it, and I actually became quite accustomed to it.

The downstairs bathroom was basically Thai style, with the basin of water and the ladle to give yourselves a bath/shower of sorts, but with a regular flush toilet. There was also a portable shower nozzle to get yourself wet. The floor of the bathroom was the drainage. There was hot water, which was installed in the not too distant past by one of the relatives that was handy. But it was not straight forward and a bit cantankerous. There was a whole series of knobs one had to adjust to get it to work. Thoy and I could never figure it out, so there were no warm showers for me there. No big deal. The upstairs bathroom was a bit more modern, with a Western-style bathtub and toilet. There was no shower spigot, however, just the tub, and no hot water. I wound up just taking cold birdbaths in the tub.

The upstairs bedroom was very spacious, with large windows and no curtains. From the smaller bedroom upstairs, one could see the largest chedi in the world a mile or so away, which we were to go visit that first day.

Next to their two living quarters was a large lot with a number of commercial vehicles parked there. This lot was rented for the storage of these vehicles and helped maintain Pi Nan’s lifestyle. A maid helped with the workload, as a lack of modern conveniences, combined with lots of dust from traffic, makes upkeep quite a project.

Just like in the northern provinces, there were large vessels of water in the backyard. I have a feeling this was done out of habit from an earlier time, since I couldn’t think of any real use these could be put to in a modern household.

The family members were quite friendly, and I was spending my first day in a foreign land. The weather was perfect and I was anxious to go visit the chedi. If you type chedi nakhon pathom you can see pictures of it on the Internet. By the large Buddha statue in the front is the main worship area. Thoy, although not overly religious, showed her devotion while there. We started by giving a donation and receiving what I believe was an unbloomed lotus flower, incense and gold leaf sheets. The flowers were put in front of one of the images, the gold leaf was applied to one of the golden Buddhas and incense was lit and offered while prayers were had.

There was an interesting array of statues and worship areas in the upper level. There was a cavelike entrance and Thoy and I decided to explore it, while Pi Nan stayed in the upper courtyard. After a few twists and turns, we ran into a small room carved out of the rock with a Buddhist priest sitting on the ground with his young assistant. The priest, in his orange robe, looked up, smiled and said in fairly fluent English: “Hello. Where you from?” It still makes me smile thinking about this, being greeted in English by a Buddhist monk in a cave in the middle of Thailand.

We wound up making another donation, putting more gold leaf on the Buddha statue. We kneeled before him, and he took what looked like a short broomstick, dipped in water, and swatted us with it on various parts of our bodies. He then tied an orange cloth bracelet around our wrists, which I assume was made from retired monk robes. Attached to the cloth was a shimmering spherical crystal. Oh, my Buddha! I just realized….I may have been married and not realized it!!

There was a whole separate complex of buildings and structures on the lower level, but Pi Nan had seen it all before, so we didn’t get to explore it. I was a bit disappointed, but I was to be all “templed out” by the end of the trip.

We then were ready for lunch, and it was trial by fire. Another first in my life: I was going to eat food prepared under a tent in a third-world country. In my mind it was do or die. Go native, or go scouting for the nearest McDonald’s in Bangkok. I forget exactly what we had, but it was quite tasty and seemed thoroughly cooked. There was a noodle-type soup and chicken. I just assumed I would get the Montezuma’s revenge that I am so familiar with from Mexico, but amazingly I never got sick on this trip, except for sinus problems. The meal was actually quite pleasant, with the restaurant being next to a small creek. I began to realize sometimes simple is better. Being a true-blooded American, I had always assumed restaurants needed walls. Not true. Sometimes simple is better.

There was a young lady who came by selling bamboo leaves woven and formed into grasshoppers for 20 baht. At first I was going to practice saying no to the sales folks, but it suddenly hit me that this was an extremely unique item. I was very impressed with the artwork and ingenuity that went into creating this bamboo creature, and it wound up being my favorite souvenir/gift of the trip.

Next Pi Nan had decided we would visit the wax museum in Nakhon Pathom. I thought this sounded quite dreary, but it was interesting seeing the various famous monks being honored in this museum. They also had a variety of characters from the 1800’s, one display showing a man pushing his son away to his new owners and a life of slavery after losing a gambling wager.

Outside was a vendor with fresh coconuts. Now I have tasted coconut milk before and I found it quite bland, but this was different. This was FRESH from the trees and well-chilled. The Thai lady was expert with her hatchet, whacking open the tops of the coconuts with exactly three strikes. (I would hate to be her husband and be caught cheating. Scary. Even Thoy’s gestures with her large cooking knives put me in fear.) The coconut juice hit the spot, extremely tasty, with the lady helping to scoop out the coconut meat for us after we finished the juice.

In true Thai fashion, we stopped again for another meal on the way back to Pi Nan’s house. I still remember this meal vividly. This restaurant was in a little, tucked-away corner near a group on nondescript stores and right next to a beautiful river. I am sorry I don’t know the name. I couldn’t find my way back there if my life depended on it. We ate out on the deck next to the river. There were so many fish in the river (not just by the restaurant) that there was a constant wake created by the fish jumping near the surface. Thoy told me there was no fishing allowed in this river. I got the impression somehow the King had decreed that this was a holy river, but Thoy says the King has better things to do than to make such decrees. Occasionally a fish would jump onto a lily pad and get stuck for a while before it could flop back in the water. The seafood was great at the restaurant, my favorite dish being the fished fried in garlic. The meat is peeled straight off the bone in mouth-watering chunks. Total perfection. It was also quite entertaining feeding the scraps to the fish swimming up next to our table.

Now, I am not going to give a blow-by-blow on every meal I had in Thailand, but after this meal, I began to see a pattern. Cheap, good food! Laid-back atmosphere! Friendly people in an exotic culture! A comfortable, yet simpler life! All of this was such a refreshing change from the mind-numbing sameness of American culture. You can travel 3,000 miles from coast to coast in the States, and you would never know you were in a different town. I was beginning to fall in love with Thailand.

And on this point, if I may comment briefly on some of the contributors’ comments as to whether they would still come to Thailand without the famous nightlife. I feel that, yes, you are not deceiving yourselves. You would return. Thailand is a beautiful, alluring country, even without Nana Plaza.

After returning to the house to rest for a bit, it was time for dinner. (I felt like a hobbit with the breakfast, middle breakfast and late breakfast.)

We returned to the area of the chedi and this large, vast area adjacent to the chedi was turned into a “flea market” of food. Vendor after vendor prepared their specialties, and I was in awe. Multiple motor scooters zipped up, got dinner for the family, and zipped off. One particular tasty dish was a vast amount of mussels prepared in a batter of fried egg and other varied ingredients. Yum!

Day one ended, and a cool breeze slowly worked its way through the open windows into the upstairs bedroom. I was glad it was December, as I don’t remember the house having air conditioning. (Thoy reminded me they had air conditioning, but we didn’t need it during the trip.) I slept like a baby my first full night in Thailand. Life was good.

We got up early the next day to drive to Pattaya. Pi Nan hired someone locally who worked for Pi Nan’s son-in-law to drive us down in her small pickup. I have no idea what she paid, but Thoy and I insisted she take 1,000 baht to help with the expenses of driving us down.

Since Pattaya is southeast of Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom is west, we drove through Bangkok on a nice freeway system that gave me my first daylight view of Bangkok. Big, impressive and a bit smoggy. As we headed east after passing through Bangkok, we watched the sun rise directly ahead of us. The sun through the smog looked like an orange stoplight suspended above the highway. It didn’t hurt the eyes as you looked at it. I have never seen a sunrise quite like it.

We stopped at a 7-11 grocery store, where they had clean restrooms. This was my first view of the squat toilets. There was a basin of water next to the toilet that you would scoop water from, pour into the toilet to flush down whatever needed flushing.

We passed Pattaya proper and kept on driving until we got to this nice seaside restaurant. I am not sure where we were. Perhaps closer to Jomtien?? There were a number of large tanks where the fresh seafood was swimming around. Talk about fresh! The restaurant was totally open-air, with a very clean appearance and a sheet-metal roof to keep off the sun, and large swaying palm trees.

We ordered a tableful of various types of seafood, including octopus, shrimp, and that delicious garlic-fried fish, rice, fruit and vegetables. I was the last one still eating before I gave up on trying to finish this feast. The bill came out to about $20. Delicious food that was amazingly cheap -- this is my idea of heaven!

Next we went to a couple of tourist attractions that I have a feeling many patrons of Pattaya don’t even know exist. The first was a park about 10 miles from Pattaya next to a smooth-faced mountain with an image of Buddha laid atop of the rock face in what looked like gold-colored rope. The image, I would guess, is about 300 feet tall. The park was very-well maintained, beautifully landscaped, much better than the local parks in my community.

Resting at one of the covered sitting areas was a Buddhist monk. Thoy engaged him in what appeared to be a pleasant conversation. He told her he thought we made a handsome couple.

We wove through the hilly/mountainous terrain until we got to what looked like a temple, but it is more so actually a museum, although there were monks at the site. This museum was recently built to house an enormous collection of Chinese Buddhist artwork, which I believe was obtained from China, thank goodness, before being destroyed by the Communist regime. In an upstairs plaza was a number of statues in different kung fu positions. Thoy poised among these chess-like warriors in her own karate chop pose for a great pic.

On the top floor of the museum were beautiful, giant murals depicting the life of Buddha. It was actually quite educational.

We then headed to Pattaya. We had no idea where to stay and kept driving around until we found a hotel that seemed appropriate. The first hotel looked quite nice but was booked up. The second hotel, the lobby was beautiful, but the rooms were a bit run-down, which was okay, but one thing Thoy doesn’t like is that “musty” smell. Even though Thoy was willing to stay there (and I was happy with the $35 price), I insisted we move on, because I know what her minimum standards are.

Everyone was getting tired, Pi Nan and the driver needed to get back to Nakhon Pathom, so we went across the street to check out the new Hard Rock Hotel. It was beautiful and pricey. The rooms were 4,000 baht a night, and Pi Nan was pleasantly impressed when I agreed to get her sister a room there.

Thoy, having becoming somewhat Americanized, was thrilled to death to escape into a little piece of Americana and luxury. We were very happy with our stay there. Thoy loved watching her CNN news and snoozing on the crisp clean sheets.

That night, we went shopping at what I think was the main mall in Pattaya. Right across from the mall was a long strip of open-air beer bars, which there must have been hundreds of them in the city. What a great setup if you are young and single. Go shopping and bring home a friendly bargirl for less than the price of a new pair of jeans. I know it’s old hat to most of these readers, but it was quite a sight for me. Thoy graciously joined me at one of the beer bars so I could take in the sights of what I had heard so much about.

We sat down and I ordered a beer and just observed the flow of traffic. There wasn’t that much seating in the little patio area between the bar and the street, so eventually a young blond Norwegian joined our table. He seemed nice enough, and soon a cute young lady was giving him her undivided attention. A saleslady came by with shirts and he bought her one of the tiniest shirts I have ever seen. She slipped it on, then slipped her other shirt off from underneath.

The nice Norwegian lad then pulled out what I guess is called an automatic switchblade, but it is the kind that the blade springs right out of the end of the knife, not opening sideways. He then took the knife, still in its sheath, and slowly ran it across the girl’s neck. She looked a bit startled, but then laughed like it was great fun. Call me old fashioned, but I thought that was a bit much for a first date.

With that, Thoy and I called it a night to an interesting day two in the LOS.

The next day, Thoy was feeling a bit under the weather, so I went out exploring the Pattaya beachfront on my own that afternoon. About 100 yards from the Hard Rock is a small go-go right on the beach. Curiosity getting the better part of me, I went in for a brief view of the beautiful young ladies within and a quick drink.

There were a number of girls doing a very simple but effective jiggle on the stage, and I spotted the sign that said Bar Fine, 500 baht. I thought to myself, Oh! I know what that means!! There was this one extremely innocent looking lass sitting with her friend at the table. Well, not exactly sitting, but they were kneeling, with their knees on the seat, leaning over, facing the mirrored wall, giving a great view of their cute little butts jiggling to the beat of the music, and seeming to be having a great time.

I went over to their table and another girl helped translate a brief exchange with the cute young lady. I asked how old she was and she said 25. She asked how old I thought she looked, and I honestly said 15. She cracked up laughing. To this day, I have no idea how old she really was. I do know that one of Thoy’s nieces looks 20 and she is in her thirties. I can see why ID checks are so important. Just out of pure sociologic curiosity I asked how much it was to “go out.” It was a 1,000 baht short time. Even though I had read a bit about the nightlife, it was still totally shocking to me that one of the cutest young ladies I had ever seen in my life was available for 1,000 baht. When they further inquired if I was interested, I explained I had a girlfriend at the hotel. One of the girls said something in Thai, and I replied that, no, I didn’t think my girlfriend would go for a threesome. She looked at me quizzically asking: Do you speak Thai? I just laughed and said, no, but I could read her mind.

They then explained there were rooms available upstairs. And it was like, oh, now that is American ingenuity and convenience. But all I could think about was sitting on a 30-hour plane ride next to an enraged Thai tiger of a girlfriend who would somehow know with her sixth sense if I had strayed. I thanked them for their company and continued on shopping. Deep sigh.

I was heading back toward the hotel and was walking again in front of the gogo bar I had visited, but on the far side of the street next to the ocean. About six of the girls were outside and all started yelling and screaming for me to come back. I was just smiling, waving, dumbly enjoying their attention, when I walked straight into a three-foot tall cement block and wound up doubled over on the top of it. They had a good laugh and I continued on my way totally embarrassed.

If you ever see this concrete barrier about 100 yards from the Hard Rock Hotel in front of a gogo club, please give a brief pause to think of the humble gringo who bumped into it!

And to this day, I admit, I still think occasionally about the cute little Thai girl jiggling her butt to the music. I wonder if she was just there visiting her aunt…

Early on day four, I was a bit touristy and tried the rock climbing wall next to the pool. They had state-of-the-art rock climbing shoes and gear. I had always wanted to do that. I failed to get to the top. They had really tough routes…honest!

Thoy and I had a nice buffet breakfast, then stopped by the local pharmacy and got ourselves some over-the-counter antibiotics. We both felt like we had sinus infections. It could have just been the pollution irritating our sinuses. I asked for Zithromax, and I think I got a generic equivalent. Neither of us got sick the rest of the trip, and I wonder if it was from the antibiotics. The price was extremely reasonable.

We decided to be adventurous and take the train back to Bangkok. It was a very long four-plus-hour trip, but very interesting. The trip started at a small, open-air train station. Various vendors pedaled up with their food offerings, but most were a bit too authentic for me. The chicken was scary looking. I got some peanuts and was very disappointed to find they were soft. Thoy explained that they were boiled. Yuck! Eventually I got hungry enough to eat them. The train arrived at the small station and we took off through the countryside. There were countless small fish ponds, coconut trees and rice patties. There was a good bit of country poverty to be seen, interspersed with beautiful temples. The poverty got much worse once we got closer to Bangkok.

It must have been late mid day, as the trained picked up a number of what appeared to be junior high students. They had gotten gifts at school that day because of the Christmas season (??) and were showing each other their presents. It was just like being in America. Then the train would stop in the middle of the country and the girls would go walking off onto muddy, unpaved roads to their homes in their nice, clean uniforms.

As we went further, we came across shantytowns built above the swamps. They had wooden walkways built across the swamps. The uptown shantytowns had swamp water below them. The ghetto part of the shantytowns were built above swamps filled with garbage.

As we got into Bangkok proper, the density of population increased dramatically. This is what I had envisioned from movies I had seen of third-world countries. Their tin-sheet walls and narrow alleyways sectioned off extensive labyrinths of living quarters. Rain was kept off by tin roofs. Rats crawled through the living areas, rooms openly visible from the train. It would have been insane to stick your hand out of the train window, as the tin shack roofs would have sliced an appendage off. The congested living conditions were that close to the tracks.

Electricity had found its way to this area. There was no shortage of television sets. I am sure there are different problems facing city poor and country poor, but the living conditions in the city appeared abysmal.

As it got dark, the train parked for a while next to this huge deserted train station/factory area. It was really creepy. Thoy thinks it might have been a switching station for the trains.

Pulling into the Bangkok train station, I was beginning to suffer a bit of culture shock.

Getting out of the train, we were enclosed in this long corridor that you had to walk down with hundreds of other passengers to reach the “outside world.” I was getting a bit claustrophobic, a combination of the closed-in area with the massive crowds swarming around. When we got to an area where there was a restroom, Thoy used the facilities while I stayed put, daring not to move an inch for fear of getting lost in this mass of humanity. It would have been a genuine crisis if we had gotten separated. When Thoy finally returned, I paid a few baht to use the facilities and then we carefully worked our way toward the exit.

In Pattaya, we had already bought tickets to transfer to another train, where there was stand-up room only - no seats available. I vetoed this idea and, heroically digging into my wallet, opted to take a taxi back to Nakhon Pathom. We made arrangements to be driven directly with the taxi driver for about $25, $30 with no meter.

It was probably a combination of rush hour traffic and Friday night traffic, but we then got tangled up in the worst traffic I have ever seen in my life. I was incredulous. It was one giant, unending downtown of four-story-tall buildings with gridlocked traffic. I felt sorry for the taxi driver, that he was losing money on us, but he seemed quite content and calm. I was thinking in no uncertain terms that I NEVER wanted to come back to Bangkok again. This was utter madness in a dark, chaotic third-world city. This was future world and the world had gone insane.

(Note: I later changed my attitude about this once we discovered the sky train!)

Let me say, in hindsight, I truly enjoyed our train ride for the adventurous aspects of it. We saw parts of the Thai countryside and culture we would not have seen otherwise. From a comfort standpoint, though, you would definitely want to take an air-con bus!!

Saturday morning, we awoke to the sounds of Pi Nan’s pet bird in nice, peaceful Nakhon Pathom. It was time to go visit stepmom in Ratcha Buri, about 30 miles south of Nakhon Pathom, not far from the Floating Market.

Pi Nan drove and I got to meet stepmom. Not much to say. I wai’d and then hung out, read books and watched really bad Thai TV while they visited. I was having flashbacks to some of the stories I was told about Thoy’s childhood, which I won’t repeat, some of which were quite harsh. But that was past history. Thoy feels she is a better person now because of the struggles she has gone through, that one needs to experience bad times to appreciate the good things in life.

Sunday morning, we were treated to an extensive Thai breakfast out on Pi Nan’s patio. Our favorite fish was served, along with pork-stuffed squid. (Pass on the latter.)

Through a series of hit-and-miss phone calls, we had arranged to meet up with an old farang school teacher friend of Thoy’s in Bangkok. “Fred” had been living in Bangkok for a number of years now and appeared to have gone native. I know Fred isn’t Stickman in disguise, as he doesn’t even have a computer, much less an Internet service! Sometimes I wonder if he even uses toilet paper anymore.

We met at another train station west of downtown Bangkok. I almost got run over once or twice crossing the street, with vehicles whipping around the curving lane in front of the station. It gave me pause. In a split second, I could have been another statistic to Bangkok traffic madness. I recommend keeping your wits about you, especially since Americans are used to cars coming from the opposite direction.

Fred and his teeruk then guided us to the Than Puying Hotel, where he and Nu were going to also stay for the duration of our visit. Like I say, I think he had gone native, had reasonably humble accommodations and never took us by their apartment. He did mention that their apartment only had Thai restroom facilities and he was used to taking Thai baths. I think he inferred their rent was about $150 a month.

Than Puying is about 20 minutes from the airport north of downtown Bangkok. Fred explained it was an out-of-the-way place that people that prized their privacy would visit. It is in the middle of nowhere near - University, right in the middle of a nice residential neighborhood, about ten stories tall. It was extremely nice, a very pleasant stay, with three nights costing us about $100. Very budget friendly! There are a number of twists and turns to get there, with narrow streets and lazy dogs blocking access at times. A choice of American or Thai breakfasts were included, available on the fourth floor restaurant. The restaurant had a great setup, very unique. Basically, the high-rise structure had a big giant hole cut out of the middle of the building, from one end to the other, so that you had a nice, shaded breezeway to enjoy a lazy, late breakfast.

The first day was to be a typical touristy showfest. I loved it! We went directly to the Grand Palace, and I am to this day still in awe of the majesty of the temple grounds. I am convinced there are more photographic opportunities in Thailand than anywhere else on Earth! And I haven’t even been to Patpong yet!!! The large guardian warrior creatures guarding the palace - nothing like that in the States! From the moment I saw the large golden chedis, I was begging Thoy to stop for photo opportunities, but it was kind of old hat for her. I also enjoyed the miniature of Angkor Wat, which had turned into a haven for the local stray cats. They were feisty. It appeared that this replica of Cambodia’s number one wat was guarded and controlled by the crankiest felines.

From the temple area of the Grand Palace, we walked to the river and hopped on a river taxi. We missed the main exits and wound up getting off in an isolated area on the far shore from the Palace. We were waiting in the dark at an isolated dock and I was thinking, I am in a third-world country and I feel perfectly safe! My culture shock was wearing off from the previous train trip. Sometimes you just get a gut feeling about things, and I felt very secure in this exotic land. Besides my feelings of being overwhelmed by the congestion during our train/taxi trip a few days before, I was having nothing but positive experiences on my trip.

When we finally got back to the right dock, we walked to the sky train to the Siam shopping district area and ate at the cook your own soup in the middle of the table setup - which is a chain of franchise restaurants in Bangkok. Sorry I forget the name of it, but it has 3 initials in the name.

From there, we were going to see an exhibition of traditional Thai dancing that just happened to be at an extremely upscale hotel. Thoy and I quickly realized we were sweaty, a bit underdressed and feeling somewhat uncomfortable when we saw that the area where the Thai dancing was going to occur had limited seating with extremely well-dressed Japanese couples ready to be entertained. Thoy and I were extremely relieved when we were told they were booked up and we could not join the festivities. What I remember and appreciate is the hostess being extremely cordial, polite, (extremely beautiful), and not being the least bit condescending about our appearance.

From here we took the sky train until it terminated to the north, then boarded a bus going a bit further north, and finally took a taxi back to the hotel. Fred told us usually he would have just taken a taxi from the end of the sky train, but he was demonstrating the various forms of transportation in the city.

Monday was shopping day. It was great, and gave me a different impression of Bangkok than I had encountered previously. Countless thousands of young Thais were crowded into the large shopping areas. It was just like being in America, except not as many fat women. I got the feeling that Thailand truly was a “developing” country.

From the Siam shopping area, we walked to and through the World Trade Center and then on toward Panthip Plaza. Thoy stopped to buy some overripe, browning bananas from a vendor, and I was a bit confused, as Thoy knew her fruit better than that. She was talking in an animated fashion to the vendor when all of a sudden the bananas disappeared from her hand! I looked to her side and there was an elephant chomping on the bananas. I never even saw it!!! Guess I was too busy checking out the other nightlife. Thoy’s animated conversation with the vendor revolved around how she was going to curse him if he didn’t take good care of his pet.

Panthip Plaza was a dream come true for a computer gamer like myself, with endless cheap pirated software. I was in hog heaven. Yes, I was morally challenged and, I must confess, weak and partook of the “other” forbidden fruit of Thailand - pirated media!! The rest of the trip, and especially going through customs, I was paranoid I was going to get busted and thrown in jail for buying a few of these games. I think Thoy got some entertainment value from this.

I only bought a few games because, unfortunately, we arrived right around closing time, so at 8:01 (or whenever closing was) there was no way in hell they would take my money. It was incredible.

For dinner, we again went to the soup bowl in the middle of the table type restaurant. At this restaurant, though, you ordered a la carte what you wanted to throw in the broth, shrimp, octopus, squid (as opposed to the all-you-can-eat type of setup we went to the day before.) Thoy ordered duck and Fred ordered the fancy fruit drinks. I knew it was about time for me to be generous to my hosts and I anxiously awaited the bill. It totaled about $12 for all four of us, and I graciously offered to pick up the tab.

Throughout the day and evening, Thoy, Nu and I were begging Fred to take us to Patpong. We ALL wanted to go see what all the fuss was about, but Fred was a real pooper, got all self-righteous and wouldn’t take us. Probably because he knew a few of his past associates would recognize him.

After we got back to the hotel, I discussed with Thoy heading to Patpong by myself, just to check it out. She wanted me to go and get it out of my system, and suggested I get Fred’s cell phone in case something strange happened. But it was already past midnight, I was a bit intimidated going out into the night solo - plus I really didn’t want to leave Thoy by herself at the hotel. So I wound up not going. Next trip, though, Patpong here I come!

Tuesday, Fred was a bit under the weather. They had already checked out of their room, and Fred had need to use the facilities on an emergent basis and headed back to our room. A bit later, he came back with the little water nozzle in his hand that was located next to the toilet and explained to the receptionist that it had broken off during use. I had no idea at the time what that funny water nozzle was for. Now I think I am beginning to figure it out. That’s why I think Fred has gone native.

Fred and Nu headed back to their apartment, and Thoy and I set out on our own. We headed toward the museum near the Grand Palace, but it was closed on that Tuesday. Not sure what the schedule is, but that was a bit disappointing. We decided we were “templed out,” and spent an enjoyable day shopping for our last full day in Bangkok.

I am totally sold with at least the “illusion” of what Thailand has to offer. I look forward to going back for an even longer vacation this coming Christmas, and I constantly fantasize about retiring there. From reading Stickman’s columns, I know fantasy and reality can be two different things, but I hope to get to know the language, the culture and the lay of the land much better in the years to come.

Thailand Ko Chang

2007-05-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

The largest island in the Ko Chang Marine Park archipelago, Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island. Best visited outside of the monsoon season -- which runs from about June to September -- the sea is warm and clear, the beaches for the most part white and sandy and the interior is filled with National Park protected forest and craggy, picturesque mountains.

Most of the beaches are on the western coast, and each has built up with a distinctive atmosphere based on shopping, activities, partying or chilling out. Accommodation offers a style to suit every type of traveller, from independent low budget backpackers to those wanting a touch of luxury. There are plenty of activities to be organised from almost anywhere on the island: snorkelling and diving trips to nearby coral reefs, jungle treks and elephant rides, not to mention various beach sports.

With it's long stretches of sandy beaches and bay, the west coast has become the focus of the development boom, and that's where most foreign travellers stay on the island. Beaches such as Haad Sai Khao (White Sands Beach), Khlong Prao and Kai Bae have developed more in the past few years than most of Thailand has in the last few decades. If you want to party, swim, dive or do practically anything else you'll find somewhere that's perfect for you. The east coast is home to major Thai villages but few beaches and so attracts far fewer foreign travellers. This side of the island is popular with Thais from cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, who might never have seen the ocean before and want to join in traditional Thai seaside life.

In its eastern location near the Cambodian border, Ko Chang was spared the horror of the 2004 Tsunami that devastated some of Thailand's west coast. Since then however, a wave of travellers, both international and domestic has washed over this beautiful spot in even more numbers than before, and its popularity will only continue to grow.

Thailand Ko Samui

2007-05-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

As far as popular islands in Thailand go, Ko Samui is surpassed only by Phuket. With an international airport, a mass of ferry connections and close to 500 hotels and guesthouses, this is not somewhere to come to glimpse a corner of the Thai kingdom untouched by tourism development.

But if you're hunting for white sand beaches, turquoise waters and all-day sun, Samui can be a fine choice and our Ko Samui travel guide should help you to find the best beach, guesthouse or hotel for your needs.

With over a million visitors a year, Ko Samui's inadequate infrastructure is at breaking point, yet development continues unabated. Huge swathes of land are cordoned off for developers to slap up massive "luxurious" residential compounds -- well away from the chaotic mess some of the beachside developments have become. Then, as Ko Samui's first million-dollar house was sold, the lure of big bucks has even more developers scrambling for a piece of the action.

As the lush inland areas are deforested and concreted, topsoil run-off blights the roads in wet-season -- even a short downpour leaves many roads awash in red water -- areas such as Bophut and Chaweng flood in an instant. At times you can really be left scratching your head wondering if anyone really cares about what a mess parts of the island have become.

Nevertheless, put the environmental degradation and unabated development aside and you'll find that Ko Samui still retains some lovely beaches -- you just need to look a little harder to find them.

Before the crowds drag themselves out of bed popular Chaweng and Lamai remain pretty, while on the north side, quieter Mae Nam has a growing reputation. Of course there are many other beaches worth investigating -- don't make the mistake of spending your entire Ko Samui sojourn on just the one stretch of sand.

Amongst all this development, there have been some stunning resorts appear on the island -- boutique spas and hidden jungle hideaways -- if budget is of no concern, then Samui has some terrific options for serious pampering -- and best of all you'll not need to leave the resort.

For backpackers and the budget traveller, Samui is not yet a lost cause. Mae Nam beach in particular has some outstanding old-style backpacker guesthouses that are excellent value. Big Buddha is also decent, though the noise from the aircraft darting in and out at the nearby airport is a distraction. For mid-range and up, Chaweng and Lamai are home to the majority of hotels, though Lamai should be considered Chaweng's ugly sister -- the beach is fine enough, but the guesthouse, hotel and restaurant selection is not nearly as good.

Thailand

2007-05-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Most travellers spend their first night in a Bangkok guesthouse in the busy budget area of Khao San Road. Situated in the heart of Bangkok on the northern edge of Rattanakosin Island, Khao San is a hub of activity, home to budget guesthouses, hostels and hotels catering to all budgets and travel agencies to accommodate any imaginable travel need.

Due to the incredible demand for rooms in this area, Khao San Road has split at the seams and guesthouses have sprung up within a radius of a kilometre. The further you move from the road the better, cheaper and quieter your guesthouse is likely to be. For those who want to be within easy walking distance of Khao San Road, west Banglamphu is your best bet, though for those who do not mind a bit of walking, the National Library area is superior in terms of tranquility and guesthouse quality.

Not long ago budget guesthouses and hostels were the only option on Khao San, but there is now a reasonable supply of mid-range "flashpacker" hotels both on Khao San Road and in the surrounding area. These hotels offer many of the creature comforts missing in the budget guesthouses at a fraction of the cost of comprable options elsewhere in town.

If you find the choice a bit intimidating, read our feature, What is a good guesthouse in Bangkok.

Thailand Facts

2007-05-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

Thailand - The Facts

Following the tsunami in December '04 the Foreign Office is constantly updating its advice to travellers to Thailand. Click here for their information.
Size: 200,000 square miles (517,997sq km)
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht
Weather: Warm and humid with temperatures as high as 40°C in March and April and 80% humidity. The monsoon season is between June and October, the coolest time is from November to February.

This is an easy country to travel in with friendly people. However it is important to be aware the monarchy is revered and treated with great respect and that religion is a very important part of Thai life. When visiting a Buddhist temple modest clothing must be worn and shoes removed. Public displays of affection, even between married couples are not considered appropriate and women must be careful not to touch or brush past monks.

Following the terrorist attacks in Bali on 12 October 2002 in which Western tourists were deliberately targeted, the Foreign Office has warned that the threat to British nationals in Thailand has increased significantly. See Further Info for Foreign Office contact details

Singapore Guide

2007-05-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Malaysia Vacation guide is your one stop source of trusted updated information to Visit Malaysia.
Thailand is an extraordinary country of contrasts and surprises with glittering temples, tropical forests, idyllic beaches, modern shopping malls and friendly hospitable people.

From the high mountains in the north, to the soft sand beaches in the south, the scenery will take your breath away. Jungle covered mountains, deep mist covered valleys, island seascapes, beaches and coral reefs, all part of Thailand’s rich tapestry. And, it’s easy to get around. Add a vibrant capital city, bustling with activity with a modern sophisticated “Skytrain” rail system and superb hotels and you have a unique holiday experience.

Nestled between Laos, Burma and Cambodia in the north, and bordering with Malaysia in the south. Major northern cities are Chiang Mai and Khon Khen. In-between the north and south is a long coastline lapped by the Andaman Sea to the west (with Phuket, Krabi Phi Phi) and the Gulf of Thailand to the east (Ko Samui, Pattaya, Ko Samet ).
Thailand Adventure Tours
Angkor Wat

Fabled. Legendary. Magical. Thailand Adventure Tours highlight a bit of each of these. From the wilds of Thailand's far north to the south's largest rain forest, there's no better sampling of eco-friendly transportation options for checking out nature's beauty.

A mix of biking, hiking, canoeing, saddling up a pachyderm, and kicking back in an ox-cart ensure there's never a dull moment. It's a feel-good experience you really can feel good about.

Thailand travel stories

2007-05-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

Travelling through Thailand is fun. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, the country is beautiful, and the climate is very nice. When we are in Thailand, we usually spend the weekends in Latkrabang. Pia's family lives there and in the weekend everybody is coming together, a pleasant affair, very relaxed.
Having a pleasant and relaxed time, sanuk and sabay, is very important in Thailand. One of the things that are sanuk and that makes you feel sabay, is eating and drinking. We will tell you about that more than once.
People in Thailand eat very often, and while eating, they are talking about what they are going to eat next. Thais often travel for hours, only to eat in a particular restaurant.

On weekdays we usually travel around, by bus, by train or with a plane. If you travel by train or bus, you can make about 50 km per hour at most. You can't make it any faster.
We have seen many places, but there are still a lot of places to see, and a lot worthwhile a new visit.
We will tell you about the places we've been, and, if we have any, we will show you some pictures. You won't find anything about Pattaya or Phuket, there are too many tourists overthere, so we don't like to go there. And we will tell you about amazing things in Thailand. And there is a lot more to come..

Thailand Travel Tales

2007-05-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

Snake Farm - Bangkok

So you want to pet a king cobra? Kiss a python? Dodge the curious head of a mangrove snake? Bangkok's snake farm offers all these forms of excitement and a bit more.

We turned up one Sunday morning for the daily half-hour show. The first snake brought out is a rather docile king cobra, which, once under the control of the snake handlers, can be touched. A second king cobra, not so docile, is then set loose on the floor. It slithers around with its hood extended, lunging every now and then at the handlers. One of the handlers, who once lost a finger to one of these snakes, demonstrates the skill involved in grabbing one of these critters.

Now under the control of the handers the snake is milked for venom and then fed. A skinless snake of unknown species is shoved down its throat, but the snake doesn't seem to mind. Fed and sent off, two Siamese cobras are brought out. Considerably smaller then the kings, this pair also spends their several minutes in the limelight dancing around with their hoods out lunging at the handlers. To finish off the cobras, a spitting cobra is let loose on the floor but fortunately doesn't spit at anyone and I expect the handlers knew this already.

All the cobras are put away and then a banded krait is shown for a few moments before being sent off. It's followed by a mangrove snake. Both the banded krait and the mangrove snake are highly venomous, however the mangrove snake is not at all aggressive (at least this one is) and it's taken around for another touching session. On several occasions the snake clearly moves within striking distance of several onlookers but does nothing more than stick its tongue out at them.

Following the display of these venomous snakes, people are invited to have a python draped over them for a photo. The handlers request a 20-baht food donation for the privilege.

The snake farm in Bangkok is not just a place to show snakes to awed tourists, but is in fact one of the premier snake anti-venom research facilities in the world. They also educate people on the true dangers of snakes and which snakes are indigenous to the area. For the record, though in Cambodia, I have personally seen a banded krait, a Siamese cobra, a green tree viper, and a python. So the snakes are indeed here.

The snake shows are at 11 a.m. seven days a week and again at 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. There is a thirty-minute slide show presentation prior to the shows (10:30 and 2:00). There's also a museum showing a number of snakes bottled up in formaldehyde as well as some snake skins unrolled to their full lengths, eggs, and full-color wall photos of the different species found in Thailand. The snakes themselves are kept in enclosures on the grounds which people can have a look at before or after the show. Dual-pricing is in force here for no apparent good reason and admission is 70 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for Thais. The snake farm is on the grounds of the Thai Red Cross at the intersection of Henri Dunant (eastern terminus of Suriwong) and Rama IV. It's a very short walk from the Sala Daeng BTS Station if you walk down Thaniya Plaza and turn right at Suriwong.

Thailand travel

2007-05-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Most of the pictures posted on this site have been made during a 10-day trip through Thailand, as part of a tour group. I actually had seen almost all of the places we visited on previous travels, but I now joined some relatives on their first travel through the country. Joining a tour group has both benefits and disadvantages, which I will later elaborate upon.

First two nights in Bangkok were spent at Radisson Hotel, which I can hardly recommend since it is located in the middle of nowhere. We visited Silom Village on the second night for the obligatory Thai dinner and dance session. I am not sure I had been there before, if so possible more than 10 years ago. The surroundings were amazing and this is were I first realized there is a whole side of Bangkok and Thailand that just caters to tourists, and hardly is ever noticed by local Thais or local foreign residents.

On our only full day of visiting Bangkok we started to visit the Royal Palace and Wat Phrakaew, which houses the Emerald Buddha, a small but venerated Buddha image. Lines of tour buses line up in the streets leading up to the palace. This really is a busy tourist attraction nowadays, and people are hurried along through the entrance gate. This is where I first noticed our Thai guide did not really know a lot about Thai history or in any case was not very communicative about it. I would notice throughout the whole trip that my long stay in Thailand had learned me a lot about the country, and that the conditions to become a tour guide must not be that stringent, whether for Thai guides or guides from the country of origin of the visitors alike. The crowd at the Royal Palace and Wat Phrakaew did not take away from the utter beauty of the place though. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to take pictures inside Wat Phrakaew. We also paid a visit to Wat Traimit with its 5,500 kg golden Buddha, but unfortunately our visit did not include Wat Pho, which should be included in any visit to Thailand.

We spent the rest of the morning visiting (unfortunately) a local vegetable and flower market, and after dinner on theChao Phraya river site, we took a boat ride on the river and went to visit Wat Arun. Wat Arun looks quite gray when seen from a distance, but on closer inspection is more colorful and interesting.

The second full day we took a bus ride to Damnoen Saduak to visit the floating market. Another interesting thing of tour buses is that they all seem to follow the same routes, and one encounters the same people from other buses on different sites and even at petrol stations etc. We took a boat ride through the klongs (waterways) around Damnoen Saduak and then visited the market, which is quite busy nowadays, mainly off the water though.

Then off to Kanchanaburi. It is a large province of Thailand with lush green environment and river sites. It definitively is a good place if you want a few days to wind down, but there are not that many cultural sites to visit. What is interesting to Westerners is a visit to the bridge over the river Kwai, made famous by the movie of the same name. Part of the bridge standing is still original (after all, it was made unusable during the Allied attack on it). One advice, to go on the bridge which a lot of people do (and I saw no warnings!), is a little bit dangerous. A few missteps and you can fall to your likely deaths off the bridge down to the river about 20 meters below. So beware, especially if it is a little bit crowded up there. Lots of restaurants along and on the river. Kanchanaburi is famous for its 'disco' boats. We visited the JEATS war museum, which is a private effort. However, the exhibit has seen better days, and a lot could be done to make it more attractive. The local war cemeteries are well maintained and I am sure still important to many relatives or countrymen of the people who died during their forced work at the bridge and Death railway track. We took a one hour train trip which was relaxing and hot at the same time. The night was spent in one of the local resorts, not exactly the best one.

On the third day, we spent a lot of time riding the bus. We visited Ayuthaya in a hurry, possibly spent about one and a half hours at the historical sites, visiting Wat Wattanaram and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. While this was supposed to be a 'classical, cultural tour', it was obvious that most of the travel companions were not at all that interested in historical sites at all. Temples and ruins looked all the same to most of them. Since I had visited Ayuthaya already a few times, I used the limited time available to hurry around the ruins, taking pictures.

After Ayuthaya, we went all the way to Phitsanulok, a city that has quite a few good hotels, and is a good base to visit the surrounding cities of Sukhothai and Sri Satchanalai.

The next day, we visited the important Chinnarat Buddha at Wat Phra Sri Ratana Mahathat. This beautiful Buddha image is generally regarded by Thais as the second most important in the land, after the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. Then we took a short ride to Sukhothai to visit the historical site. We took some more time here than at Ayuthaya and the ride in group by bicycle through the ruins was good fun. We visited Wat Mahathat, Wat Sri Sawai and Wat Sa Sri. After visiting Sukhothai we had a long ride to Chiang Rai, where we would spend two nights in a local resort. I had a nasty fall down some slippery stairs at the resort, not a good experience and I had worries about my back for a few weeks.

We spent some time the next day to visit the so called Golden triangle between Thailand, Laos and Burma. This was an infamous place for heroin traffic in the past, now mainly a tourist attraction. We had a boat ride on the Mekhong river and visited an island in the stream, where we were supposed to be in Laos, and could walk around doing some minor shopping. Children at the Golden Triangle dress up in hill tribe costumes and sing songs, for some reason in French, to ask for some money. In the Chiang Rai area we also had the obligatory visit to some hilltribe villages. It is quite obvious to the observer that some inhabitants could not care less about the visitors, thought some do a good trade in selling colorful local textiles to the tourists.

After our second night in Chiang Rai we were on the way to Chiang Mai, through ever more ricefields along the route. Before being dropped off at the hotel there, we visited the local handicraft centers, including umbrella making, lacquer and wood shops. Just a reminder, if you want to buy something, it is better to get the address(a business card) and go back on your own (send off the taxi!) later. You will get a better deal, try to bargain. Tour guides are well known to get commissions on all sales, so the shop has to charge you more for that reason. The hotel in Chiang Mai was again located outside town, making it difficult to stroll around in the evening conveniently. The first night most of us visited the local very active 'night market'.
Our first day in Chiang Mai, we had a little safari which was rather pleasant. It included an elephant ride, a ride in a buffalo carriage and a nice trip on the river.

The next day we visited the marvellous temple of Doi Suthep. It takes quite a climb up the hill, which would figure favorably in the Tour de France. In the afternoon, when we had some free time, I visited the old Haripunchai site at Lamphun, which is located just about 25 km from Chiang Mai. I took a taxi ride to go there, and this is something I can recommend, even to visitors on a budget. Having to go to bus stations etc. can make one loose a lot of time, and it is very convenient to have transportation between different sites, instead of having to walk all the way, or look for local transport.

In the late afternoon the next day, we took the night train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. While I myself can never sleep on a train or plane, it is not a bad way to make the trip between the two cities, certainly better than any long bus ride. An alternative of course would be to go by plane. Airline ticket inside the country are quite cheap in Thailand, and a one way ticket between Chiang Mai and Bangkok cost just a little more than 2000 baht.

All in all, an interesting trip, although being in a tour group has its disadvantages. I was a good experience to see again some sites I had not visited in a while, and certainly it was good to be with some family member I had not spent a lot of time with lately. You will notice the trip altogether was not that long, and personally I would recommend anyone visiting Thailand to spend close to three weeks in the country. You will be able to see more, and at a slower pace.

why visit thailand

2007-05-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

It is no accident that Thailand has become known as the Land of Smiles. Many of the guests who have used Purple Dragon for their first adventure in Thmap of thailandailand return year after year.

Why visit Thailand? Where do we begin? To startg with, Thailand is easy to get to. Bangkok is Southeast Asia's busiest transportation hub. Most visitors enjoy the year-'round tropical weather, zesty and delicious Thai food, magnificent beaches, endless adventures, world-class hotels, unbelievably low prices, mind-boggling shopping, rich culture, handsome people, and some of the world's most exciting nightlife.

The variety of things to do and see in Thailand is staggering. Whether you love all of the pleasures of big cities, or quiet quiet seclusion on a white sand beach, you will have plenty to choose from. You can learn to cook your favorite Thai dishes, learn to dive, enjoy daily spa treatments, explore sea caves in a kayak, play golf, do your Holiday shopping in July, get an inexpensive tummy tuck, dance the night away, ride an elephant, see priceless religious treasures, or just just read a book on the beach. Sorry, you can not ski in Thailand (yet).

planning your holiday
Whether you are a first-time visitor to Thailand, or planning your 20th adventure, Purple Dragon offers all-inclusive travel programs throughout Thailand and beyond that will meet your requirements perfectly. For first-time visitors, the best program includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai and at least one great seaside destination. If you have more time, we can help you explore Thailand in more depth, or introduce you to some of our other wonderful nearby destinations.

Our programs are all modular, which means they are completely flexible and designed to be used in combination. Choose one or more destinations, add any extra sightseeing you like and your trip is tailor-made to suit your own schedule, tastes and budget. Your private tour includes personal guides, so you'll never be herded around on a bus with 40 strangers. You can usually begin any day you like. Although we have already chosen the optimum number of days to visit each place you can easily extend extend your stay.

Bangkok, the Big Mango We offer a jetlag-friendly program for first-time visitors to Bangkok, a two-night quickie that includes quality time with one of our famous guides, and a Thai cooking school program. We can also help you with an incredible array of day trips.

Chiang Mai and the North Experience the "other" Thai Culture in the former Kingdom of Lana. You can shop endlessly, ride elephants, hunt for wild orchids near spectacular waterfalls, visit ethnic minority villages, or sample some of Chiang Mai's legendary nightlife. We offer three programs in Chiang Mai (including a Thai cooking school) plus Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle.

Pattaya The seaside town of Pattaya, just two hours drive south of Bangkok, is a perennial favorite for many of our guests. It offers a great combination of relaxation and nightlife as well as a fine selection of hotels and restaurants.

Spectacular Beaches Thailand is home to some of the best beaches in the world. We offer a full range of holidays in Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya and Hua Hin, including some couples-only programs. You can add open sea diving or learn-to-SCUBA to any of our beach programs.

Weather
Thailand is blessed with a year 'round tropical climate, so there really is no bad time to visit. High season for tourists is October through March, with peak season in December and January. It almost gets cool during peak season. While foreigners find it balmy, Thais bundle up in turtlenecks and down jackets. The warmest, driest months are April and May. July through September is the "green season." You can expect a refreshing half-hour downpour about every other day. Many of our guests prefer to visit this time of year because prices are lower, crowds are smaller and it does not resemble a Hollywood-style monsoon.

Passports and Visas
For citizens of most countries, either no visa is required, or visas are issued on arrival. We will give you plenty of help to prepare for your adventure in Cambodia, including detailed "Before You Go" information.

Thailand Tourism Board

2007-05-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Full Country Name: Thailand (Prathet Thai, meaning "land of the free")

Capital: Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels")

Geography:

The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.

The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.

Neighboring Countries:

1) Myanmar - west and north,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast,
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south.

Area: 513,115 sq. km.

Topography:

Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions:

The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured orchids, fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches;

The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries;

The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok;

The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and fishing.

Population:

Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 7 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok.

People:

Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.

Language:

Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.

Religion: Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)

Government:

Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. Parliament is composed of 2 houses, The House of Representatives and the Senate. Both representatives and senators are elected by the people. A prime minister elected from among the representatives leads the government. The country is divided into 76 provinces. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration comes under an elected governor. Appointed provincial governors administer the other 75 provinces (Changwat), which are divided into districts (Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon) and villages (Mu Ban).

Head of State:

H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont

Administration:

76 provinces, each subdivided into amphoe (district), tambon (sub-district) and muban (village)

National Flag:

The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively.

Time:

The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).

Climate:

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).

Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.

Electricity:

The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travellers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110-volt transformers.

Tap water:

Tap water is clean but drinking from it directly should be avoided. Bottled water is recommended

Clothing :

Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.

Weights & Measures :

The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals on vehicle speed ohmmeters, highway markers and speed limits all indicate kilometres.

Business hours :

Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week, usually from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm except on public holidays.

Postal Services :

Thailand's mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Provincial post offices are usually open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

International Roaming Mobile Phone : A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Thai and foreign customers who are travelling around for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range.

Fax and E-Mail :

All of Thailand's leading hotels offer facsimile (fax) and e-mail services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities, most often in conjunction with translation services.

Internet Services :

Thailand has been expanding its information service for residents and tourists alike through the Internet system. Services are now available at Thailand's leading hotels and at the many " Cyber-Cafes " that are cropping up in all major tourist destinations.

Telephone Services :

At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long distance calls within the country) have nine digits.

For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222.

For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. For example, area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 5324 8604; area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 7621 1036.

For mobile phones, After september 1,2006, all Thai mobile phone numbers will be extended to 10 digits. Simply add an 8 in the middle of the existing two-digit prefix, followed by the existing seven-digit number.For example, numbers starting with (66) 01 will become (66) 081 XXX XXXX
The new system has no effect on international phone calls.
The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.

When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0.
When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone number
If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone number
When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone number
Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)

Emergency Telephone Numbers
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Highway Patrol : 1193
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10