Joanna James
Thailand as a tourist destination has become more popular than ever, understandably so with its amazing cultural heritage, fantastic beaches, wild-life, and mouth-watering cuisine, there is something for everyone to explore in this unique and colourful county.
Thailand boasts some of the best beaches in the world and a favoured destination amongst beach enthusiasts around the world. With over 1500 miles of coastline, Thailand has some of the most secluded and beautiful shorelines in the world. If the touristic meccas such as Bang Saen and Jomtien are not your style, travel to Phuket or Koh Samui to experience tranquil beach heaven.
Thailand is a Theravada Buddhist country and a spiritual hub for many travellers. The majority of its culture is centred on its Buddhist heritage. Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is a centre for many denominations of the religion; here you can experience the life of a Thai Buddhist, with early morning road-side alms and chanting. Almost all young men are ordained as priests and you can witness such ceremonies regularly. Thailand has over 40,000 temples all across the country and all will be a witness to its unique architectural styles and elegant statues.
The food scene in Thailand is vibrant and unique that it varies according to the region; from elegant dining to street food the food culture is incredible. Staples in Thai cooking include spicy coconut milk curries and the liberal use of condiments and spices such as galangal, kefir lime leaves, lemongrass, and tamarind resulting in explosions of flavour. Affordable and delicious, their food alone is a good enough reason to visit Thailand. P.S. don't forget to try the Iconic Pad Thai and Tom Young Goong.
Festivals are frequent happenings in Thailand, one of the most important being Loy Krathong, a nation-wide festival held in November on the night of the full moon. Baskets shaped into lotus flowers are decorated with candles and flowers and released into the rivers. During Songkran in April, the Thai New Year a nationwide water fight takes place and the revelry lasts for three days.
Luxury accommodation in Thailand would still cost a fraction of what would be anywhere else in the world and Thailand has some of the best resorts and hotels in the world.
Thailand has a diverse wildlife population and is home to 10% of the world's animal population. There are over 285 mammalian species such as tigers, elephants, leopards, gibbons, bears, and deer and all of these can be witnessed in the 147 national parks scattered across the country.
The bustling and thriving capital city is an experience on its own. Bangkok can be explored in many ways; some key attractions to consider are the Grand Palace via the Sky Train and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Hua Hin is a couple of hours away from Bangkok and less traffic congestion makes it an ideal location to set camp and explore the capital. Furthermore, there are plenty of things to do in Hua Hin as well; furthermore, this area has excellent accommodation options such as Anantara Hua Hin Resort.
Thai markets are a special and unique experience. The floating markets are perhaps the most famous and a great way to immerse in local tradition and culture. The night markets are an equally exciting and splendid way to get an authentic feel of the lifestyle of Thai people.
You can easily escape from the beach culture to a rural farming village, a hill-side tribe, caves, mountains; forests yet easily find star class accommodation almost anywhere in the country.
Thai people are extremely friendly, generous and sincere. You will encounter the famous Thai smile and wave almost everywhere; it is an intrinsic part of their being. If you befriend a Thai you have probably made a friend for life.
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A travel writer who has a pas...
