| Thailand is the only country in the S.E. Asian area | | | | The capital of the northern part of Thailand |
| which has never been colonised, so it lacks the | | | | is Chiang Mai, the country's second most visited |
| colonial architecture and influence of nearby | | | | city. The city has hundreds of temples, chief of |
| countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam. | | | | which is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, built on a hill |
| However, due to its location, it often acted as a | | | | overlooking the city. According to legend, the site |
| buffer between competing European powers and | | | | was chosen by a white elephant which was |
| its political and economic influence on the region | | | | carrying a holy relic placed on its back by the king. |
| remains huge. | | | | The elephant climbed the hill, trumpeted three |
| The capital, Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung | | | | times and lay down to die. This was taken as a |
| Thep (an abbreviation of the full ceremonial name | | | | sign and the temple built. |
| which is 21 words and 168 letters long) is a huge | | | | As elsewhere in Thailand there is a thriving night |
| bustling city with some of the worst traffic jams | | | | market culture, but the main attraction for visitors |
| in the world. For many people it is a city to get | | | | to Chiang Mai is not in the city itself. It is a base |
| out of as soon as possible and head for the | | | | for visiting the hill tribes of northern Thailand. |
| beaches, but Bangkok does reward those who | | | | Treks on elephants are organised by many |
| give it more time. | | | | companies in Chang Mai. A minimum of three days |
| Bangkok, as capital, is home to the revered Thai | | | | is recommended to visit the villages of the Akha, |
| royal family and many of the royal palaces are | | | | Hmong, Karen, and Lisu peoples. |
| open to the public. Wat Phra Kaew, home of the | | | | Kanchanaburi Province is a mecca for history |
| Emerald Buddha and part of the Grand Palace, the | | | | buffs. This is the location of the famous movie, |
| king's official residence is the most important | | | | Bridge over the River Kwai and guests may wish |
| temple in Thailand. Next door is Wat Pho, which | | | | to visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial established at |
| houses the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The | | | | the site of a cutting on the Death Railway where |
| reclining Buddha is 46 metres (151 ft) long and is | | | | PoWs were forced to work. |
| covered in gold leaf. A favourite way to reach the | | | | In the far south of Thailand are the hugely |
| temples is to avoid Bangkok's traffic and take | | | | popular beach and nightlife islands of Phuket and |
| one of the 'river' buses which run regularly along | | | | Ko Samui. Phuket has over a dozen beaches to |
| the Chao Phraya River. | | | | choose from and it is becoming more and more |
| A popular destination is Jim Thompson Museum | | | | difficult to find a quiet spot. The nightlife here is |
| the former home of the American who helped | | | | internationally famous. Ko Samui, with its white |
| revive the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 60s. | | | | sands and turquoise sea is no less popular. Here |
| The 'house' is actually six buildings which he bought | | | | however, there are some quieter beaches on the |
| in various parts of Thailand and had rebuilt in | | | | north side of the island. Quieter islands can be |
| Bangkok to house his collection of Asian art. | | | | found all over Thailand's long coastline. |
| Thompson disappeared in mysterious | | | | Wanna get more information about Thailand? |
| circumstances in Malaysia in 1967. | | | | |