After having explored Vietnam last year, I will now go back in time, to the days when prints were the only option to store my favourite memorable-images. The country next in the ReachingDelphi coffee trail blog is Thailand.
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| Sun Set in Krabi |
I first
travelled here when it was known as Siam.
Virtually, that is. I was introduced to two of the many great Kings of
Siam at that time and, to what is known today as Thailand, through a black and
white classic –
The King and I. Does
that movie sound vaguely familiar? No, then how about its remake -
Anna and The King? Still no?
Do not despair. You can catch up with these on
internet television network.
Fast
forward a couple of years. It was in the late 90’s when I touched Thailand’s
soil for the first time. The place,
Chiang Mai. The warm-hearted
welcome shown by the people of Chiang Mai and the majestic working elephants
there got me hooked on to Thailand. I felt the presence of the great Siam in
modern Thailand. Over the years, I continued my travels up north on short
visits whenever possible and, each time to explore a different place in this
country.
Thailand
has a vibrant history and culture. Both are preserved and guarded well today.
Luckily for us,
information on these are
available readily on the internet, at no cost.
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| Doi_Suthep, Chiang Mai |
There is
plenty to see and experience in Thailand. And so Sawadika it will be for the next few weeks as I take you on a
journey to a couple of the enchanting places. With so many exciting options
here and, with every tourist-location in Thailand being steadfast in its
tagline – Amazing Thailand - I must agree that it is not going to be easy to
pick that ideal destination. We are lucky though that some of these places,
just like a 3-in-one coffee mix, have multiple points of interests. There is a
little something for everyone in your travel group.
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| And Sawadika back to you |
To help you
decide, here are a just a few of the many, many highlights by category as an
appetiser.
• Ancient wonders and civilisations
Just like some of the other countries in this
region, Thailand’s early influence is from the culture and religions of India.
Below are two of the few sites in Thailand designated as UNESCO World Heritage
Historical Parks. Here you can see the wonders of the old world.
o The
ancient city of Ayutthaya
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| Let it go .... |
o The
ancient city of Sukhothai.
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| Hidden tranquility |
• Temples
According to Office of National Buddhism in Thailand, there are over 40,000
Buddhist temples in the country today. Interestingly
these temples are categorised by classes – royal, first, second and third. Buddhism travelled into Thailand from India
during the Ashoka of the Maurya Empire,
around 250 BCE. Today, 94% of the population follow Buddhism. Below are a few well-known temples.
o Wat
Arun (Temple of Dawn), Bangkok
o
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok
o
Wat_Phra_That_Doi_Suthep, Chiang Mai
o Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
o Wat
Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya.
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| Ratchaburi |
Though it is not mandatory, many Thai men do
voluntary monkhood (to learn the way of the Darma) for a short period, at least
once in their lifetime. Sometimes, you can see volunteer monks on duty at the temples.
• Palaces
A visit to Thailand is not complete without
seeing at least one of the many royal residences of the Chakri Dynasty. Here
are a few to choose from :
o The
Grand Palace, Bangkok
o
Dusit Palace, Bangkok
o Bang
Pa-In Royal Palace, Ayutthaya.
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| The Grand Palace |
• Museums
Want to learn more about the Thai history, why
not visit a museum? If my counting skill is correct, there are approximately over 120
different museums for you to select from.
Two of theses are:
o
Ancient Museum, Bangkok
o
Chiang Mai National Museum, Chiang Mai.
• Culinary Adventure and Explore Some Coffee
Remember to leave your diet plans at home. The
combination of the many balancing ingredients (such as ginger, lemon grass,
lemon leaves, nuts, coconut, chilli, etc.) with vegetable or meat/seafood is
exotically delicious. Seafood is a
popular choice but, there are plenty of options for those allergic to shellfish
and nuts or prefer going vegetarian. Most restaurants do serve a great
vegetarian version of the traditional (non-vegetarian) dishes, so remember to
request for this. Thai cuisine also
offers a variety of mouth-watering desserts that one cannot refuse.
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| Local food at its best |
Want to explore more? How about going
on a culinary journey tour or
enrolling in cooking classes? Or, you
could do what I do - order something different each time from the menu or, try
a local buffet at a restaurant/hotel.
Coffee – Thailand is ranked third in
highest coffee producing country in Asia. Most of Thailand’s coffee is crop is
Robusta, grown in southern provinces of Thailand. Arabica coffee is grown in
the highlands of the north. Doi Tung and Doi Chang are two of the more popular
Thai brands produced. Coffee production is a relatively young industry and
provides employment opportunities for those living in the mountainous regions.
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| Coffee in Hua Hin. |
• Hill Tribes and Villages
It is possible for tourists to visit hill
villages and hill-tribes in the mountainous regions. Baan Tong Luang Eco-agricultural Village is one of them. This village
is a government-sponsored hill tribe cultural preservation centre that houses
around several different hill tribes.
If you wish to stay longer to enjoy the
mountain air and to experience the hill-tribes live-style, you could opt for a home-stay tour with a host
family at these villages. Book your home-stay tour with an approved tour agent before arriving at the village.
• Carving
Fruit and vegetable carving is notably popular
in Thailand. The Thai’s have mastered this traditional skill. There are annual
fruit and vegetable competitions where skilled craftsmen/women compete for the
best-carved fruit/vegetable awards. So, do keep an eye out for these
beautifully crafted edibles. Fascinated, why not enrol in a fruit carving
school?
Another perfected skill is the teak wood
carving. Visitors will get a chance to
see exquisite teak carvings at wood-carving factories by the highly specialised
workers. Some of the favourite sculptures include furniture and
handicrafts. The finished products,
depending on the quality, are available
at art galleries, furniture outlets, markets, bazaars and small retail outlets.
Now, how many Thai elephants do I have?
Countless.
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| Some of them - mixed clan - Thai and Indian. |
• Wildlife
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| These are real! |
Elephant camps – Elephants! You would realise by
now; this is one of my favourite animals. Most elephant camps are in the
northern region. These elephants were previously known as working elephants and
worked at the logging sites. The Thai government banned logging in 1989. The ban left these elephants and their
mahouts unemployed. The Thai government stepped in and encouraged ways to
incorporate elephants into the growing tourism industry. As a result of this
initiative, elephant camps had been set up. Today, there are over 70 elephant
camps in Thailand. Many of these camps are open for visitors.
The Gibbon
Rehabilitation Centre (Project) is in Phuket. The centre is a great place to learn about and get close
to the playful gibbons. Here, one will also learn the importance of this
conservation centre to the eco-system. Sadly, gibbons today are illegally
captured and used as working pets. The centre helps us understand the
importance of gibbons to the eco-system.
• Sports and Adventure
If you prefer to do something adventurous, you
will not be left downhearted. Thailand has plenty to offer.
One of these adventurous trips for me was to be a 007 agent for a day, as I cruised along the water-ways Bond took in "The Man with the Golden Gun" in Phang-Nga.
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| A 007-Adventure Tour |
There are more of course, I have listed three below. I have yet to
try these myself; perhaps we can do this together one of these days.
Scuba-Diving and Free
Diving
The rich Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand
provide endless diving options. All you
need is to be ready. Perhaps while there, you will get a chance to be up-close
and personal with the whale shark. I hear that they are friendly
seasonal-visitors to these seas. The
desire to see a whale shark here in person was the very reason I ‘attempted’ to
get my diving license many years ago, and I am still attempting this.
Rock climbing
This is mostly in Central Thailand - Railey and Tonsai in Krabi are two of the
most well-known rock climbing sites. Rock climbing using climbing gears such as
ropes and harness is the version that I know well. Those who wish for some
adrenaline rush can opt for deep-water soloing. This version is a free form of
rock climbing without the use of any climbing gear. Climbers climb up and then
to get down – they leap down! Into the water! Send me a picture or video of
yourself up there just before you take that leap. I’ll cheer you on from where
ever I am. 😊
Trekking
There are many treks and trails in mountainous
regions. I would recommend you do this with a guide. Here are a few 'more
known' routes.
o from
Chiang Mai to Mae Hong So/Chiang Rai
o In
Khao Pom, Koh Samui
o In
Kanchanaburi.
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| Birds-eye view of the Island |
• Beaches and sun, sun
Thailand has over 3000KM of coastline. The
Andaman Sea is to the west, and The Gulf of Thailand is to the east of the
country. There are lots of water
activities beach lovers can do like island-hopping, snorkelling, diving,
sailing, surfing and yachting. Non water activities include counting stars and drinking coffee (or any drink) while reading a novel.
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| Karon Beach, Phuket |
•
Shopping
Visitors would be spoilt for shopping choices
in Thailand.
Street Markets – these are carnival-like markets
that usually operate in the evenings until late at night. Some of the popular ones are
Bangkok(Chatuchak, Rot Fai), Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Night Bazaar). Don’t forget
to use your negotiating skills to get the best deals for t-shirts, souvenirs
and local snacks.
Floating markets - I travelled for 2 hours from
Bangkok city Centre for this unique experience. What I saw the day I visited
wasn’t exactly like in the postcards of the floating markets, but you get a
general idea on what it must have once been. Danone, Saduak and Amphawa are the
popular ones near Bangkok. If you have better luck with the pictures, please
share them with me.
City malls – These are the places to pick up
trendy wears and goods. There are plenty of malls in every town, so pick any,
if you wish to get something here.
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| Shopping? A yacht? Did you have Delphi on mind then? |
• SPAs and Wellness Packages
One of the things I look forward to in Thailand
is the SPAs. There are many types of
SPAs. Generally, SPAs offer a range of wellness programs including massages and
scrubs. There are different packages, quality and services to suit any budget
range.
What I have tried and will recommend to you are
the Thai and foot massages. I laughed a lot the first time I had a full body
Thai Massage in Chiang Mai. Was it
Hilarious? No, no, it’s very much like Yoga stretching without you having to
move your body. It was excellent. Try it and let me know your experience.
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| Getting prepared for a relaxing Foot Reflexology |
I mentioned there are different prices/services
to suit your budget - Once I got a
ladyboy as my masseur. She had more massage-strength than what I could
handle. Ironically, she was distraught with me when I kept wincing in pain.
Hint, you get what you pay for.
As I
mentioned at the beginning, Thailand offers something for everyone. For those
who wish to see culture and heritage at its height, this country is not shy to
display the existence of these. Just like the
Yan and Yin in the colourful and seasonal Thai curries, you will find a similar a mix of thrill,
anxiety, soul, fun and peace – all in one package-deal almost anywhere in
Thailand. Do share your experiences in Thailand the comments, I’d love to hear
about them.
See you in
another exciting place in Thailand next week. Stay tuned. Enjoy your coffee, or
shall I say drink in this case. 💗💙💚💛💜💗
Blogposts on Thailand from the Coffee Archives:
