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The true magic you'll find when you travel to
Thailand is its alluring authenticity. Thailand is
the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been
colonized by European powers; consequently, the
still-standing and functioning monuments of the
past attract visitors who admire thousands of
years of history integrated into present day
society. Even more appealing, Thailand offers the
diversity of a society running in parallel:
booming city life and leisurely beach escapes,
thickly canopied jungles and white sand islands,
indulgent cuisine, clubs and cocktails and the
sanctuary of Buddhist lifestyle. Thailand has come
of age as a traveler's dream destination, an
affordable gateway to paradise with all the modern
conveniences at your fingertips.
What's In a Name? The Kingdom of Thailand was
known as Siam until 1939, when a bloodless
revolution instated a constitutional monarchy and
the name was changed to literally mean "free"
land. The original kingdom was founded in 1238,
but largely influenced throughout history by China
and India. Geographically, Thailand is surrounded
by countries whose turbulent 20th century
histories have defaulted tourism into its exotic
but more accessible borders. For this reason,
Thailand is also a wonderful home base from which
to explore Cambodia and Laos to the east, Myanmar
(Burma) to the west, and Malaysia to the south.
Wat You Waiting For? Thailand is littered with
just as many exciting cities as beautiful beaches.
Where you might notice the imbalance is in the
inconceivable number of temples, or wat. As the
main center of the very north, Chiang Mai is a
large, beautiful and historic city. A visit to the
famous Night Bazaar or the nearby Wiang Kum Kam
archeological ruins is certainly not enough to
distract even the most oblivious from the more
than 300 Buddhist temples that sprinkle the
skyline with shiny gold, red and green hues. Make
sure to visit Wat Chiang Mun, the city's (and
possibly Thailand's) oldest temple, located within
the old city walls and dating back to 1296.
Heading south, do not miss Ayutthaya and Sukhothai,
Thailand's two former capitals (the latter being
the founding city) classified as World Heritage
Sites filled with hundreds of beautifully
maintained temples, statues and bustling human
activity, all embedded within the lush green
environs.
Bangkok is perched on the Gulf of Thailand, but
this humming, vibrant and congested 24-hour
capital city is a far cry from the resort cities
and towns found east and south along Thailand's
sub-tropical coastline. Thailand extends south
into the Kra Isthmus, providing for extensive
coastline and some of the most filmed beaches in
the world. Phuket is the most famous resort
island, but more rewarding is a trip to one of the
smaller and less commercialized areas. Ko Tao is
of particular interest for scuba divers, while Ko
Pha Ngan has become famous among younger travelers
for its regular full moon festivals held all night
on the sparkling shores. Ko Phi Phi is far more
breathtaking in person than even the camera angles
of the film "The Beach" could do it justice.
Some rudimentary social customs aside, Thailand
is an extremely easy going and welcoming travel
experience. Everything from simple to luxurious is
at your disposal, and all with a very fair price
tag, not to mention an unbeatable combination of
picturesque beaches, rainforested mountains, and
an intense metropolitan culture. So really, what
are you waiting for? Start planning to travel to
Thailand today.
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