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Capital: Bangkok
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Thailand is one of my favourite destinations, it has an interesting and colourful ancient culture, the people are friendly, it is safe for travellers, the food is excellent and costs are low. The ancestors of the Thai people came from the Jiangxi river region in central China. They migrated south under the pressure of Chinese expansion and occupied many river valleys of South-east Asia. They gave rise to the Shan culture in Myanmar, the Thai in Thailand, the Lao in Laos and the Dai in the Chinese province of Yunnan whose languages all belong to the Tai linguistic family. In Thailand, the Thai settled in the fertile Chao Praya river basin in the 13th and 14th centuries where they established the Chiang Mai kingdom in the north, the Sukhothai kingdom in the centre and the Ayutthaya kingdom in the south (near Bangkok). Bangkok became the capital in the late 18th century and the name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand in 1939. The Japanese occupied Thailand during W.W.II. The country is a constitutional monarchy with the military occasionally seizing power. |
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Hundreds of cheap inns and restaurants make Khao San Road the backpacker's haven of Bangkok. It also has a high concentration of competing travel agencies that make Bangkok one of the best places in the world to buy airline tickets.
These three wheeled vehicles, called Tuk Tuks are the best way of getting around the numerous sights of the city but one has to negotiate the fare before getting on to avoid surprises...
The National Museum is a must to get an overview of Thailand's history and culture.
The Chao Praya river flowing through Bangkok is as busy as a ten lane freeway. Here are some "long tailed" river taxis near Wat Arun.
The Chao Praya Express provides the equivalent of a fast bus service.
Bangkok has hundreds of temples called "Wats". This is Wat Arun on the west bank (the city centre is on the east bank).
The Royal Palace, a short distance south of Khow San Road on the east bank is definitely worth a visit.
Here is the main building of Royal Palace.
Below on the left, another view of Royal Palace and on right, Wat Phra Kaew on the palace grounds.
Wat Pho with its huge reclining Buddha is just south of the Royal Palace.
Here is the big Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho.
Below left, Wat Traimit near the Hualamphong train station and right, the gold Buddha inside Wat Traimit
Further below, two views of Wat Tophit.
Wat Ratohanadda.
Below left, inside Wat Ratohanadda and right, me with monk in Wat Ratohanadda.
The marble Wat Benchamabophit north of the Khow San Road area.
Below left, another view of Wat Benchamabophit and right, inside Wat Benchamabophit.
