Thailand tourism and travel guide
Overview
The Kingdom of Thailand or Siam has Burma and Laos on the north, Laos, and Cambodia to the east, the Andaman Sea on the west and the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south. Tourism is one of the leading sectors of Thailand with the country being classified as a newly industrialized economy.
+moreMost of the natives of Siam came down from Southwestern China ages ago. It is believed that the region came to be known as Siam due to Portuguese. The area was ruled by the Mon dynasty, Khmer Empire, and kings from the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. The native Thai states were also established alongside but they were strife with internal wars and battles. Due to King Chulalongkorn from the House of Chakri, Siam was never under any European colonial rule through the 19th and the 20th century so much so that the region was declared as neutral territory by the British. Monarchy ended in Siam in 1932 but it was followed by a military rule that existed for 60 years. It was only in the 1990s that the people of the country were able to elect their representatives to the democratic government. In recent years, there was another coup by the Royal Thai Army in 2014 and today it is being ruled by a military dictatorship.
Geography: The landscape of Thailand is marked by high mountain ranges in the north and two plateaus – one in the upland and in the centre. The Chao Phraya River is its main river that drains along with its tributaries into the Bay of Bangkok. The Khorat Plateau and the Mun River are in the northeastern part of Thailand where the river drains into the Mekong River. The famous Rice Bowl of Asia is the province of central Thailand. Southern Thailand is famous for tourist spots, rubber and palm oil plantations.
Thailand is full of interesting places to visit and few are must-visit and as listed below
Bangkok – the capital city of Thailand and the largest city in the country is famous for its cheap shopping markets. The city has some amazing places to eat along with happening nightclubs. The city is a modern abode with plenty of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, busy streets and markets lined with hawkers selling souvenirs and street food. The Grand Palace is a famous sightseeing spot here.
Chiang Mai – the city has a number of Buddhist Temples and is one of the historic cities in the country.
Krabi – houses some fabulous beaches and Railay is the most popular of them all. White sand beaches, crystal clear water, towering limestone cliffs offer respite to tourists. White water rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing and a walk through the famous Diamond Cave are some of the activities to indulge in here. The place is also popular for its massage joints.
Phi Phi Island: in Krabi is another tourist hub. The Monkey Beach and the Long Beach are some of the most visited beaches here.
Pai in Northern Thailand: is a mountainous region with greenery and jungles. A picturesque place, it is marked by waterfalls, temples, street market, the Pai Canyon and is a hotspot for hippies and backpackers.
The Khao Yai: National Park is the perfect place for watching and participating in elephant bathing, and feeding them. It is also a popular trekking place.
Pattaya – is a trendy resort city in the country. Located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, this fishing town of Thailand is a destination that offers tourist opportunities to glimpse the aquatic life from close quarters.
Phuket: located on the southern province of Thailand is famous for the Phuket Aquarium, old Phuket Town, the Kamala Beach, Hat Karon, and the Two Heroines Monument.
Floating Markets: is a unique experience for tourists. These markets are found near Bangkok, Amphawa and others.
Ayutthaya – this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an ancient city that bears ruins of the former Siamese capital. Located close to Bangkok it is a convenient place for a day trip.
Thailand has a lot of activities to offer and few are must-do while you are there in Thailand
Flight of the Gibbon is a zip line experience worth all the time and money. It is a thrilling outdoor trip giving you the required adrenalin rush and also the opportunity to sight the mysterious Gibbon.
Skydiving – can be done almost everywhere in Thailand – you simply need to get yourself a licensed jumpmaster.
The Sathorn Unique Tower Climb – gift yourself a birds eye’s view of Thailand and also prove your mettle as a fitness freak by climbing to the top of this Tower.
Trekking through the jungle in North Thailand – since the North of the country is earmarked with mountains and jungles this is the perfect place for a trek through the dense vegetation on hilly terrain.
Flyboarding – an exciting adventure activity one can indulge in this activity at Kon Samui.
Bamboo Rafting - this is another once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ride down the river on a bamboo raft; float down at leisure and manoeurve through the River rapids.
Cuisine: Thai cuisine is world-famous. It is marked by five basic tastes – salty, sweet, spicy, bitter and sour. Garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, and galangal are commonly used ingredients in Thai dishes. The staple food of the people here is rice. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines house about 5000 rice varieties from the country.
Siamese Culture and Religion: The Thai culture and traditions have been influenced to a great extent by Indian, Chinese, Burmese, Laos and Cambodian cultures. Thai people greet using the traditional Wai way where both the hands are pressed together with fingers pointed upwards and the head bowed down to make the face touch the fingertips. Youngsters are meant to greet first. It is similar to Namaste that is practiced by Indians. Thai children are taught to respect their elders and ancestors. Siamese people are highly hospitable and generous. Key decisions in the family are always taken by the elders.
Theravada Buddhism is the main religion of the people here. Almost about 93-94% of the people are following Buddhism and about 4% of the people follow Islam.
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