Thailand
The jewel of the Southeast Asian travel circuit, Thailand offers astonishing diversity
and a truly fascinating and accessible culture that, along with the revered Thai
hospitality, makes it an incredibly popular destination.
With an enticing mixture of established destinations such as Phuket and Hua Hin,
and out-of-the-way palm-fringed islands, Thailand has a very exotic appeal. It caters
for grungy backpacking types wanting to party into the wee hours through to those
who prefer white tablecloth dining and clinking wine glasses. From staying on a
converted rice barge, clambering into a jungle tree house or bedding down in a hill
tribe village, the country offers a wealth of choice for all tastes and budgets.
For divers, snorkelers, and those who just like swanning around on white-powder
sand there are postcard-perfect beaches, and the extraordinary metropolis of Bangkok
in the south, while the north offers the sublime delights of culture-packed Chiang
Mai with its temple-studded old town, and cooling forests and mountain retreats.
One of the best ways to access Thai culture is through a 'Monk chat' session in
a local wat (temple) in Chiang Mai, where you get the opportunity to quiz the dignified
saffron-robed monks about anything you like. And in the early morning, all over
the country, the monks leave the sanctuary of their wats to receive alms from the
people, be it in a dusty village or on crowded city streets. Buddhism is a way of
life here and the Thais are also strong supporters of their monarchy.
And don't forget the food! A culinary adventure awaits with tempting morsels on
virtually every street corner, from traditional Royal-project run restaurants to
delicious piping hot street food. Eating is as much a part of the culture here as
anything else and definitely the key to local hearts. If you're lucky enough to
catch a local festival, it will probably be dominated by food.
The most welcoming of countries, despite being inundated with tourists and expats,
it's the gentle hospitality of local people that is the strongest memory of Thailand
for many visitors. And what a wonderful memory it makes.