10 Things You Must See In Thailand
August 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
You just can’t escape the appeals of delicious food, tropical climate, fantastic culture, and gorgeous beaches of Thailand. Certainly, Thailand is one of the most appealing countries in Southeast Asia. Surely, one of the most exotic places, Thailand is a real magnet for the globetrotters from all over the globe.
Offering a number of vacation paradises on its wonderful arenas, Thailand is one of the most coveted vacation destinations in the world. It’s a fantastic destination for beach vacations. Thailand really has numerous tourist attractions, yet here are 10 things that you must see while in Thailand.
Grand Palace – the royal palace and the official residence of the king of Thailand, located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The Grand Palace is best known for Wat Phra Kaew, the temple featuring Emerald Buddha, Mythological Giant (Yak), Kinaree – Mythological Creature, Half Bird & Half Woman, Bell Tower, and Chakri Mahaprasad Hall.
Wat Arun – the “temple of the dawn†– a surreal Buddhist temple (Wat) located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The remarkable temple, featuring the central prang – Khmer-style tower, is one of the popular tourist attractions in Thailand.
Wat Pho – the temple of the reclining Buddha – a famous Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok. It’s also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon. The temple is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. It’s one of the major tourist attractions.
Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center – an ultra modern multimedia historic and cultural education centre, located in the very heart of the old city of Chiang Mai. The center documents the history & culture of the region from the pre-Muang period (7,000-12,000 years ago) to the early river civilizations.
Chaweng Beach – the largest & the most famous of Ko Samui’s beaches. The beach is beautiful and attracts youngsters and families alike. It has many restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and fast food eateries. It’s a nice place for scuba diving, with many dive shops on the beach.
Lamai Beach – a fantastic beach located on the east coast of Ko Samui, Thailand. The beach is a nice place for swimming and other water & beach sports. It’s a wonderful place for eating, drinking, and shopping. It’s a very popular beach vacation destination.
Hin Ta & Hin Yai – the “grandfather†and “grandmother†stones that look like human genitals, located south-west of the Lamai Beach in Ko Samui. The grandfather stone looks like an erect penis, and grandmother stone looks like a vagina. It’s a popular tourist attraction.
Ban Chiang – a famous archeological site located in Nong Han district of the Udon Thani Province of Thailand. The site is famous for the attractive red painted pottery discovered in 1957. The site has been listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.
Khao Yai National Park – one of the first and the most famous national parks located in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains in Thailand. The national park covering an area of 2,168 square kilometers has been listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.
Thungyai – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries – the two famous wild life sanctuaries located in the provinces of Kanchanaburi, Tak and Uthai Thani in Thailand. The two adjoining sanctuaries have been listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.
Unique Thailand
May 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourists Attractions
Thailand has exploded onto the world tourist stage in the last 20 years and it’s easy to see why. Superb natural scenery from the mountains of the north to the beaches of the south, marvellous temples and ancient ruins, a fabulous piquant cuisine and a relaxed and friendly people make Thailand the ideal Asia destination for visitors of all ages. However, for most visitors, the most enchanting sight is that of the Thai temple.
Bangkok is home to over 400 temples from the ancient to the modern. These fantastic creations with their multilayered roofs and kaleidoscopic colours amaze and delight all visitors. Somerset Maugham said they were examples of the ‘the playful boldness of man’. One of Bangkok’s most interesting temples is Wat Po, known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
Wat Po is on most tourist itineraries owing to its massive reclining Buddha. But a wander through the rest of the temple is extremely rewarding.
Wat Po in fact served as Bangkok’s first university. In the 19th century, King Rama 3 enlarged the temple compound and added stone tablets illustrating Thai traditional medicine. He also created the hermit’s garden which is populated with statues of hermits in various contortions which are based on yoga. At the end of the temple compound are the massage pavilions which offer traditional Thai massages and also courses teaching massage.
The northern capital of Chiang Mai, though a fraction of the size of Bangkok, has almost as many temples. Most are northern style structures showing a strong Burmese influence. Stone lions stand guard at the gate and writhing nagas or celestial serpents form the balustrades to stairways.
Chiangmai’s most eminent temple is considered to be Wat Phra Singh which stands in the old walled city. A temple was first built on this site in 1345 and the original stupa or pagoda still stands.
The viharn or assembly hall houses the Phra Singh image and is notable for its mural paintings depicting traditional life in northern Thailand in the 19th century.
On the southern island of Phuket in the Andaman Sea stands the temple of Wat Chalong, a place of much history and legend. Known officially as Wat Chaitararam, the temple is located in the Chalong district in the north of Phuket.
The main pagoda at Wat Chalong contains a splinter of bone that is said to have come from the Buddha. The chedi is adorned with murals and Buddha images.
Wat Chalong played a dramatic role in the 19th century when Chinese labourers rioted over being denied opium. The abbot of the temple, Luang Poh Cham, rallied the locals to stand and fight the rioting Chinese and eventually save the day.
These are just three of the thousands of fascinating Buddhist temples that grace Thailand. A visit to any temple is not only a feast for the eyes but also the heart and soul.
Visit Thailand – The Land Of Buddha
April 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourists Attractions
Thailand is the perfect tourist destination for nature lovers, shopping lovers and for the followers of Buddhism. Thailand is all these teemed together and much more. Situated in the heart of South East Asia, Thailand has some of the best Buddhist temples, which offer peace, serenity and tranquility.
The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha
The temples and monasteries of Thailand date back to a few hundred years. The Emerald Buddha Temple is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand and requires visitors to be properly dressed before they can enter the holy place. The Jade statue of the Lord, which is elevated off the ground is a visual treat for visitiors. This temple occupies just one corner of the court of the grand Palace.
Magnificent Bangkok
You must be out of your mind, if you visit Thailand and leave without visiting Bangkok. The capital of Thailand has everything that a tourist can dream of. Shopping plazas, Temples, Museums, Hotels offering exquisite Thai food, Islands, Beaches, Tall high-rises and a sprawling nightlife, Bangkok has it all. Be it the largest building in the world to be made of Teak wood, in Vinmanmek Teak Mansion, or the 46 meter long statue of reclining Buddha in the Wat Pho temple, you will never ceased to be stunned by the beauty of Thailand.
Shopping enthusiasts can head off to Siam Square, which is one of the most popular shopper’s destinations in Thailand. Ma Boon Krong and Siam Center are two of the biggest shopping centers here. You can spend an entire day here and yet comeback unsatisfied. There are so many restaurants, theatres and shops to keep you busy. Thailand also has cheap roadside shopping opportunities for tourists who do not wish to blow away much money on shopping.
For Nature Lovers
Nature lovers can head straight to the Ko Chang national park that has many activities. Apart from the wildlife, tourists can also pursue diving, snorkeling or elephant riding over here. The place usually overflows with tourists all the time. Beach lovers can head off to Pataya, which is a pretty serene beach. It is located just 150 kms away from Bangkok.
Go discover Thailand!!
