Thailand is known as the “Land of the Smiles”. The friendly people and the welcoming atmosphere of the land have earned it this title.
Bangkok:
Thailand’s Capital is Bangkok. It is a modern city with a number of skyscrapers and traditional Buddhist buildings. Like most modern cities one encounters crowds, dirt and noise. This city is estimated to be 35 times all the other Thai cities in size. It is the political, commercial and industrial heart of Thailand.
The city boasts of temples, restaurants, museums, historic attractions and nightspots. It has a population of 10,000,000. The temperature is humid year round and the cool season is between November and February.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. It has a mixed population of ex-pat community and traditional Thais. The old city has a large square moat and a number of shopping complexes and over 300 Buddhist temples. The backdrop of this city is the Doi Suthep mountain which rises 1600 meters tall. It is about 430 miles from Bangkok.
Chiang Mai, popular with teachers, has a population of 157,000 people. It has a humid weather. May to October is the rainy season, while November to February is cool. March to May is the summer.
The people of this region speak a dialectical Thai and call themselves the khon meuang. This region is known as the centre of learning for the hill tribes known as Chao khao and is the hub of Northen Thailand. It has a well connected road transport system to the interiors of Thailand. It has an airport and regular flights to Bangkok and seven other cities in Thailand. It is also connected by rail.
Tourists are attracted to Wat Chedi Luang which is a bell shaped stupa. The Wat chaing Man is a building with traditional Thai architecture. Authentic hill tribe handicrafts are available in this city. There is a night bazaar and a tribal research institute with an attached museum. The Thai massage is an extremely popular haunt for visitors. The Do Suthep National Park is usually a part of the iteniary.
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok also known as "Phi-lok," is one of the smaller cities in Northern Thailand. Located on the banks of river Non it attracts a number of tourists. The town boasts of a number of floating restaurants and night markets. The speciality of this town is the Phak bung loi faa(flying morning glory wine).
The town has a population of 80,000 people and is located about 240 miles from Bangkok. The weather is like that of Chiang Mai. It is well connected by a rail and road.
The Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat houses one of the most venerated Buddha images. The Folk museum has one of the largest collections of traditional hand made farming implements. The Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park lies about 75 miles from this city. The Old Sukhothai (Thailands historical capital city) lies an hours journey from here. The Wat Si Chum is of particular interest for the 50 foot tall Buddha image. A number of bungalows built along the 120 square mile mountainous park offer accommodation to the visitors to this city.
The number of resident foreigners in this city is comparatively less.
Phuket Province
This is one of the stunningly beautiful provinces of Thailand. The geography is incredibly diverse. It lies off the West Coast in the Malay Peninsula in the Andaman Sea. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Beaches are a major attraction. Scuba diving, hiking and rural communities attract the tourist and holiday maker. The seafood would satisfy the gourmet. It is one of the most expensive localities in Thailand and the wealthiest province of the country.
The architecture of the city reflects the cultural history of the land. The admixture of Portuguese, Chinese immigrants with the native population is nowhere more evident than in this city. Thirty five percent of the population follows Islam.
The most popular festival in this city is the Vegetarian festival that takes place during the Buddhist lent in late September or early October. It has a population of 50,000 people.
The Phuket is hit by the southwest and the northeast monsoons and was subject to devastation in the recent Tsunami. Temperatures do not vary much in this place throughout the year.
Phuket is connected by road and air.
Pattaya
Pattaya is a resort town on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in Chonburi Province. It is known as the Hollywood Boulevard of Thailand. It is teeming with foreigners and naval personnel from the nearby naval base. This town has a population of 55,000 people and is known for the excellent seafood. Prostitution is rampant.
The main sport of the town is boxing and there is a beautiful beach called Jomtien Beach. Diving and snorkelling are popular water sports. Skiing, windsurfing and parsailing are other sports that are common here. It is connected by road and rail. The weather is similar to Bangkok. The town has a number of restaurants, shops, discos, brothels and cabaret. European and American style breakfasts are available here.
Ubon Ratchathani
The northeast of Thailand has a number of cities. The Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Nong Khai. Among these cities, Ubon Ratchathani is the commercial, educational, agricultural, and political center for the most eastern part of Northeast Thailand. The US made it their military base during the Vietnam War. Very few foreigners visit North east Thailand and hence the Thai culture is more predominant in these parts. The people of this region are known as the Isaan and are hard working and most friendly.
This city has a population of 90000 people. It is about 350 miles from Bangkok and is bordered by Laos on the east and Cambodia on the west. It is well connected by air, road and rail. The weather is similar to the rest of Thailand.
The National Museum and Buddhist temples are highlights of the town. This city is famous for its eateries and Thai French cuisine. The traditional Thai massage is a speciality here. |
