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Travel to Thailand
Author: Robin Darch
Traveling around the world is
still only a dream to many, but
for those that have done it, their lives have been enriched by
the experience. Different cultures, languages, and locations to
us to appreciate the world in a new way. The world seems smaller
once you travel around and the diversity of cultures makes you
appreciate people in a new way.
If you haven't already done a lot of traveling, I suggest you
save the money until you can. Life is way too short not to take
the time to travel the world and appreciate its beauty. Meeting
people from different countries gives you a whole new outlook on
life and a new understanding about people in general.
In this article, I will tell you a few things about a wonderful
place to visit . . . Thailand.
They call Thailand "The Land of
Smiles." The people there are great, always having a smile for
everyone. They don't lose their temper or express bad behavior
in public, because to do so causes "Loss of Face."
As I said before, one of the greatest things about traveling the
world is meeting people with different cultures, different
beliefs, and different attitudes towards life. In Thailand, the
people do not believe in rudeness and brash behavior. They
believe this is an embarrassment and it is not tolerated. Being
from the US, I find that refreshing. Maybe we can learn from
them.
Another great thing about traveling the world is the shopping.
You will find shopping in different countries a great pleasure
because you will find products that are not produced anywhere
else. Each country has it's own unique products to offer you and
in many countries the prices for these items is very low.
Thailand is no different in this regard. The shops in Bangkok
will keep you busy for days, so go prepared to shop.
There are a lot of alleys in Bangkok filled with shops, small
cafes, and great Thai restaurants. They have a wholesale garment
district called Wu Fen Pu, with more than a thousand clothing
stores and shops that sell accessories, such as shoes, belts,
purses, bags, and much more. Many of the items are hand made or
locally produced and you won't believe how low the cost is for
these items.
Another market to visit while you travel in Bangkok is
Chatuchak. It's huge! You'll think you're in the Disneyland of
shopping centers. It will take you a couple of days to browse
all the shops at Chatuchak, but well worth it for all the
bargains and unique products you will find there.
Another location for some great night shopping in Bangkok is the
Shilin Night Market. They have a food section and another for
shopping. There are more than one thousand stalls here and some
of the best bargains you will find in Thailand.
You may not be allowed to shop on Fridays. That is when buyers
from other stores go there to stock up on items for resale and
business is focused on them. Just like here, if you plan to buy
summer clothing, go in the fall and vice versa. Most shops in
Bangkok are open to 11pm, so shopping in the late afternoon or
evening is much better.
One of the most exciting parts of world travel is exploring and
taking in the sights that are unique to each country. As you
travel the world, the photographs you take at memorable sights
will help you relive the memory of the great times you had in
each country over and over again, so take plenty of film and
your camera wherever you go.
Now let's talk about some of the sights you will want to see
while traveling in Thailand. Ever see the movie, "Bridge Over
The River Kwai, starring William Holden and Alec Guinness? I'm
probably revealing my age by being familiar with this movie, but
it was based on a true story and the actual bridge does exist.
A few hours by shuttle from Bangkok takes you to Kanchanaburi.
That is where the actual Bridge over the river Kwai is located.
Whether you have seen the movie or not, the sight of this bridge
is impressive. It is one of the "must see" sights during your
visit to Thailand. The river is beautiful and the fact that the
bridge was built by prisoners of war makes the trip to the
bridge worthwhile. The prisoners who built the bridge delayed
it's construction long enough to save many lives. I suggest you
watch the movie before your trip to Thailand, so you can fully
appreciate the sight of the Bridge Over The River Kwai.
There are many "Wats" in Thailand. A wat is a Cambodian, Lao or
Thai Hindu or Buddhist temple. They are considered a source for
Buddhist spiritualism. Most of them are very beautiful and
amazing feats of architecture built by hand out of love for
Buddha. The architecture is even more amzing when you consider
some of them were built many years ago by people who had very
little to work with.
One such Wat is located in Ayutthaya City, the capital of
Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350.
The city was destroyed by Burmese troops in 1767 and the area
where it was originally located is now called Ayutthaya
Historical Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. The city
itself was rebuilt a few kilometers away.
Another is located in Sukhothai Historical Park. According to
Wikipedia.com,
this park covers the ruins of Sukhothai, a 14th
century kingdom. This historical sight should be part of any
itinerary for traveling in Thailand. The area has walls all the
way around it and has gates on each side. The remains of the
royal palace and 26 temples are inside these walls. The largest
temple is called Wat Mahathat. Thousands visit the area every
year to see the ruins of this once great city.
Many areas mentioned in this article can be easily toured by
bicycle, an often overlooked form of transportation when
traveling the world. Whenever you travel to another country,
sitting in a car going from sight to sight sometimes cheats you
out of truly appreciating the beauty of the country you are
traveling in. Check out the country and the sights by bicycle
where possible and I guarantee you won't regret it.
There are many other Wats to visit in Thailand. I suggest you
choose as many as your stay will allow. If you visit some of
them in the evening, you can even experience the chanting of the
Buddhist Monks. A couple of other Wats of interest are Wat Chedi
Luang, in Chiang Mai City, which was once the home of the
emerald Buddha and Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Wat Phra Kaew is now called the The Temple of the Emerald
Buddha. Legends hold that the statue originated in India, but it
first surfaced in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1434.
One thing you have to remember if you plan to visit the Wats in
Thailand is that you must wear long pants. Shorts or dresses are
not permitted while entering these temples.
If you like beaches, then you must visit Phuket, 70 minutes
flying time from Bangkok. The waters of the Andaman Sea are
green and beautiful and the beaches are very clean. It is
Thailand's most popular beach and resort destination. They have
popular resort hotels, Thai and seafood restaurants, water
sports, Wats, forests, coral reefs, and mountains. The tropical
setting makes for a great part of any visit to Thailand.
Speaking of mountains, a visit to Mae Hong Son Mountain Wat is a
special cite you may want to add to your itinerary. Mae Hong Son
is located on the summit of a mountain. You can walk or take a
tuktuk (like a rickshaw) up to the Wat, itself. There is also an
observatory that overlooks all of Mae Hong Son and the mountains
of Myanmar behind it.
We hope we have added some useful information and ideas for your
trip to Thailand.
About the author:
Robin Darch, has a website, Worldwide Travel to
help you find all the information you need about world travel
related topics such as choosing a good travel agency, how to get
good rates on airline travel, cruise line deals.
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