Chiang
Mai Travel Guide
Chiang
Rai - A Great Retreat
Discover
the Best of Bangkok: Bangkok Sights, Lodging and Its Spicy Nightlife
Eco
Travel in Thailand
Exciting
Island Hopping in Krabi
Experience
the wild side of Phuket - Phuket Safari Tour
Five
cool and exotic tropical fruits you probably don't eat
Hua
Hin: Thailand's Beach Resort Paradise
Living
in Hua Hin, Thailand
The
tropical beaches of Phuket
Tourist
Attractions in Ko Samui
Travel
to Thailand - Thailand Cities and Attractions
FEATURED ARTICLE:
5 Reasons For Visiting Stunning Phuket, Thailand in 2021
Phuket Island offers endless stunning beaches, diving adventures, lush landscapes, national parks and the fascinating city with its shopping and dining adventures and historic sites, temples, giant Buddhas and museums to be explored... read more.
Travel
to Thailand - Thailand Cities and Attractions by Vincent Ruan
Thailand is the only country
in the S.E. Asian area which has never been colonised, so it lacks the
colonial architecture and influence of nearby countries such as Cambodia
and Vietnam. However, due to its location, it often acted as a buffer between
competing European powers and its political and economic influence on the
region remains huge.
The capital, Bangkok,
known in Thai as Krung Thep (an abbreviation of the full ceremonial name
which is 21 words and 168 letters long) is a huge bustling city with some
of the worst traffic jams in the world. For many people it is a city to
get out of as soon as possible and head for the beaches, but Bangkok does
reward those who give it more time.
Bangkok,
as capital, is home to the revered Thai royal family and many of the royal
palaces are open to the public. Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha
and part of the Grand Palace, the king's official residence is the most
important temple in Thailand. Next door is Wat Pho, which houses the Temple
of the Reclining Buddha. The reclining Buddha is 46 metres (151 ft) long
and is covered in gold leaf. A favourite way to reach the temples is to
avoid Bangkok's traffic and take one of the 'river' buses which run regularly
along the Chao Phraya River.
A popular destination is
Jim Thompson Museum the former home of the American who helped revive the
Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 60s.
The 'house' is actually
six buildings which he bought in various parts of Thailand and had rebuilt
in Bangkok to house his collection of Asian art. Thompson disappeared in
mysterious circumstances in Malaysia in 1967.
The capital of the northern
part of Thailand is Chiang Mai,
the country's second most visited city. The city has hundreds of temples,
chief of which is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, built on a hill overlooking
the city. According to legend, the site was chosen by a white elephant
which was carrying a holy relic placed on its back by the king. The elephant
climbed the hill, trumpeted three times and lay down to die. This was taken
as a sign and the temple built.
Kanchanaburi Province is
a mecca for history buffs. This is the location of the famous movie, Bridge
over the River Kwai and guests may wish to visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial
established at the site of a cutting on the Death Railway where PoWs were
forced to work.
In the far south of Thailand
are the hugely popular beach and nightlife islands of Phuket and Ko
Samui. Phuket has over a dozen
beaches to choose from and it is becoming more and more difficult to find
a quiet spot.
The nightlife here is internationally
famous. Ko Samui,
with its white sands and turquoise sea is no less popular. Here however,
there are some quieter beaches on the north side of the island. Quieter
islands can be found all over Thailand's long coastline.
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