Travel Thailand

Offering a brief introduction to traveling in South East Asia, here are a few links to help you to begin to plan your trip. Check back for updates!

Discover  Thailand

Thailand lies in South East Asia, bordered by Laos to the North; Burma and Cambodia, to the West and East respectively; and Malaysia to the South.   Thailand is approximately three-quaters of the size of Texas. The climate is tropical: May through November is  rain season; December through March it is mild and clear;  and April is typically unbearably hot.

Ninety-eight percent of the population is Buddhist. The remainder being Muslims and Christians. Numerous Buddhist wats(temples) are seen in every city and  village throughout the country, evidencing beautiful art and craftsmenship.

Thailand is made up of four major regions: The North, which is mountainous; the Northeast( the Khorat Plateau), a low barren area bordered by the Mekong River; The Central Plain, surrounding Bangkok; and the Southern peninsula bordered by the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thaialnd.

Chiang Mai, an ancient city, is the center of the North. The hilltribes reside in the surrounding areas, offering tourists trekking opportunities. Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, is just a short trip from Chiang Mai.

The Northeast(Issan) , is the least touristed region. Sticky rice is eaten here on a daily basis. Beautiful Khmer ruins are preserved in the Khorat Plateau, from the same time period as Angor Wat in Cambodia.   The muddy Mekong River marks the border between the two countries.

Central Thailand, the most fertile region, includes Bangkok. The Chao Phraya River creates a boat highway through  the city, Asia's Venice.    Much of the country's rice is grown in this region. The ancient capital of Ayuthaya is an interesting  stop over, just north of Bangkok.

In the South, Phuket , a famous international resort island, lies in the Andaman Sea. You will find three island gems,in the Gulf of Thailand:  Koh Samui, Koh Phang Ngan, and Koh Tao. Koh Tao is the smallest with excellent diving. Koh Phang Ngan is the scene for the famous Full Moon Party. Samui is just a couple hours flight from Bangkok, so it is the most developed of the three.

Jungles and swamps are scattered through the coastal areas, with extensive stands of tropical trees, like rattan. A wide variety of tropical plants are found, including orchids, twenty types of bananas, mangos, coconuts, and many exotic fruits.   Elephants, rhinoceros, tiger, leopards, gaur, water buffalo, gibbon, and hornbills are indigineous to Thailand. Crocodiles and fifty species of snake, including several poisonous ones, are some of the more fearsome animals in Thailand today.

Follow these links for more information on Thailand.