EXCITING
thailand
a visual journey
Welcome to Thailand,
Land of Grace and Beauty
EXCITING
thailand
a visual journey
fEW COUNTRIES PROVIDE a warmer or more entrancing welcome than Thailand. It’s a kingdom that has just about everything. The pristine beaches of Phuket, Ko Samui and the south are legendary, as is the mouth-watering cuisine. The far north of the country is home to a dozen different colourful hill tribes and is an ideal setting for trekking, elephant-riding and white water rafting. The little-known east of the country boasts a string of jewel-like Khmer temples. Then there’s Bangkok, the nation’s capital, known to the Thais as the “City of Angels”—one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world, packed with cultural treasures, fine hotels, great restaurants and a nightlife that is unsurpassed.
| Page | Contents |
| 4 | sawasdee |
| 8 | Thai Buddhism |
| 10 | Bangkok |
| 26 | The Floating Market |
| 20 | Sukhothai |
| 24 | Pattaya & Hua Hin |
| 26 | Phuket & Phang-nga Bay |
| 30 | Krabi |
| 32 | Ko Phi Phi |
| 34 | Ko Samui |
| 36 | Chiang Mai |
| 42 | Lampang |
| 46 | Hill Tribes of the Golden Triangl |
| 50 | Mae Hong Son |
| 52 | The Great Northeast |
| 56 | Thai Food |
| 60 | Thai Crafts |
| 62 | Visiting Thailand |
sawasdee!
Thais are famous for their friendliness and sense of fun. Sawasdee means hello in Thai and sanuk —another essential word—means fun or enjoyment!
tHAILAND means “Land of the Free”—and with reason, for despite withstanding various invasions from neighbouring Myanmar and, most recently, Japan, the country has never been colonised. The first independent Thai kingdom was founded in the mid-12th century by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great at Sukhothai in the north-central plains. By the 17th century the Thai capital had moved south, to Ayutthaya, and Thailand was established as an important maritime trading power.
Wat Phra Keo, at the centre of the Royal Palace complex on Rattanakosin Island in downtown Bangkok, lies at the heart of the ruling Chakri Dynasty and of the Thai kingdom itself.
Thai dancers, wearing lep yao or “long fingernails”, display the smiles for which the kingdom is famous.
Traditional stilt house above the waters of the Chao Phraya River.
Harvesting rice on the broad plateau of northeast Thailand.
Planting rice in the rich central plains.
Floating houses on the river at Uthai Thani.
A display of baskets for sale at a local market.
Mahouts riding elephants near Mae Hong Song in northern Thailand.
In 1767 Ayutthaya was sacked by invading Burmese armies in a major military setback for Thai land. Yet this was a mixed blessing, for within 20 years the resilient Thais had re-established themselves under the powerful Chakri Dynasty, and had begun the building of a new capital at Bangkok, the “Olive Tree Village”, later renamed Krung thep, or “City of Angels”. Alone of the countries in South -east Asia, Thailand retained independence through -out the colonial period and emerged relatively unscathed from World War II. Under the be nign rule of King Bhumibol