Thailand, in Southeast Asia, is dominated by the Chao Phraya River basin, which contains Bangkok—the capital and largest city, with some 6.6 million people.

Thailand Trip

Feb 2007

Bangkok is the capital with approx. 10,000,000 people; its country population is 63,000,000; 89% Thai and 95% Buddhist. Thai people are a combination of Chinese, Malay, Khmer, Burmese and Indian. They have a constitutional monarchy with king as chief of state; prime minister, head of gov't. Per capita income is under $3000 pr yr. Bangkok's skyline is dominated by thrusting highrise blocks, constant heat and humidity; air pollution and traffic create daily chaos. City edges are slums, dotted with tin roofed shacks along the river. Bangkok is a thriving modern day city. A most unique restaurant "Cabbages and Condoms" has attracted international attention due to the AIDS crisis in Thailand. It was created to promote understanding and acceptance of family planning, safe sex, and to generate income to support activities for community development. Condoms are freely distributed, and clothing and furniture are adorned with condoms and on display at the restaurant.

Buddhism is the national religion. Thai people have an inner peace; they have low blood pressure and fewer heart problems. They are a deeply spiritual people who believe in karma and reincarnation. By performing good deeds, one earns rebirth at a higher level of enlightenment. They donate money to temple, feed monks, release caged birds and animals to attain this freedom. Young Thai men amass merit for family by becoming novice monks (some for short periods, some for life).

Explore the busy floating markets where the vendors (many are women) paddle about and barter in sampans filled with various produce and crafts. Walk thru the local markets… buy the mangosteen fruit indigenous only to Southeast Asia. So many things to see …. temples, temples and more temples (adorned with Chinese porcelain) …the Grand Palace….a complex of shrines and ceremonial halls…..the Emerald Buddha…the Reclining Buddha….the Golden Buddha (5.5 tons of gold) ….the Royal Barge Museum (a huge water garage housing the royal family's procession boats)…the stitle farms, the Jim Thomson House (American who became involved in silk business), the Temple of Dawn, Chinatown in February during New Year celebration.

At Kanchanaburi Province, the infamous River Kwai Railway was constructed in 1942 under Japanese rule for an overland supply route to Burma. This rail route thru unforgiving Thai jungle took the lives of almost 100,000 civilians and POWs who died of disease, starvation and working conditions…..some Americans included. Visit Hell Fire Pass, the most challenging part of this project where many men died. And finally, the museum and the cemetery.

Going North from Bangkok, stop at Sukothai, former capital of Thailand with many ancient ruins. Either walk or take a tram around these medieval ruins.

Explore the busy cosmopolitan south to the Northern hill tribes in the Chiang Rai area (still maintain old mores and dress….quite unusual head pieces). There are more than 20 distinct hill tribes in the mountain villages….worlds apart from Thai culture. Many handicrafts are available at very reasonable rates. They are made by the women in these tribes. In one area the women wear rings around their entire neck from an early age; they never remove them. The northernmost part of Thailand is known as The Golden Triangle (Burma/Laos/Thailand) … a former opium selling trade area until the gov't stepped in, offering incentives to grow titleernative crops so the people would have some means of support, rather than opium.

Crossing the border to Myanmar (former Burma) is an experience. It's only recent that foreign visitors have been allowed. …with a visa. Visit more temples and also take a rickshaw into the local villages where children are selling home-made articles, and begging you to buy.

It was in Chiang Mai that we mounted an elephant for an unforgettable jungle ride with a scary moment when the mahout (elephant master) jumped off our elephant to snap a photo. The elephant took off without him, splashing into and across the water while we (alone on the elephant) wondered about our fate. In less than ten minutes, the mahout hopped another elephant, catching up to ours and jumping on. After the trek, we watched with amazement while the elephants painted pictures of flowers. They have been trained to paint and to play ball since they no longer haul timber in the jungle due to maintenance of their ecosystem. Now they earn their keep by being a tourist attraction. The pictures they paint are for sale.

Chiang Mai is considered the spiritual center of Thailand. We participated in an early morning Buddhist monk ceremony by giving alms (food for the day) to the monks. ...quite a ritual. We each stood across from a monk (women are not allowed to touch the monk), and carefully dished out the rice, etc. into the monk's bowl. The monks return to the monastery with daily food, not only for themselves but also their elders.

If you can, visit a local school. You will find school children dressed in white blouses and shirts with navy pants or skirts. Most don't wear shoes because their families cannot afford them, but the children do look clean and nicely dressed. They will welcome you, and in some cases, will perform music for you.

We traveled on so many different modes of transportation: train, bus, van, sky train, tram, tuk-tuk, bamboo raft, pick-up-truck, rice barge, long-tail boat, cable car, horse and carriage, river barge cruise, and, of course, an elephant. Notice those water buffalo working hard in the rice paddies, moving whatever needed, etc. and the tapioca fields, sugar cane, coconuts, fish paste, shrimp paste.

Thailand is unforgettable; you may want to return!

Thailand Photo Gallery

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