- THIS IS THAILAND
- BANGKOK
- KHAO YAI
- KO CHANG ISLAND
- FOOD IS A HEAD FOR ALL
- Pattaya
- A PLACE WHERE YOU BECOME HAPPY
Travels are different: pre-planned to the smallest detail and emerging suddenly, like a gift from above. It's hard to say which is better. In my case, the trip to Thailand was completely spontaneous. Packing hastily a suitcase, I knew that a lot of impressions and new friends awaited me, but Thailand itself turned out to be much more interesting than I expected.
THIS IS THAILAND
You should not waste time on well-known things, but when talking about this country, one cannot ignore the really interesting facts. Special attention should be paid to the king. But first, a few words about the current situation in the country. In May this year, a military coup took place in Thailand, which the king recognized and approved General Prayut Chan-Och as head of government. Prayut Chan-Ocha declared that the military government would rule on behalf of the king and act according to the law. Today in Thailand, any rallies and strikes are prohibited, because the political situation does not pose any threat to those who want to visit the country.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX is an amazing person, about whom you can write a whole book. Thais honor their king, equating him with Buddha. His portrait hangs in all institutions. The king is also depicted on banknotes, so the money should never be torn or thrown, it is passed from hand to hand. The king is considered the father of the nation, the keeper of tradition and the patron of democracy, he is the longest reigning head of state and all monarchs in the history of Thailand - he has ruled the country since 1946. During this time, he did a lot, for example, he personally developed projects for bridges and dams. The king plays the saxophone professionally, enjoys photography and painting, and also designed his own sailing ship. He is the only one of all the heads of state and monarchs in the world who is eligible for US citizenship by birth. The day the king was born, December 5, is celebrated as a national holiday with processions, concerts and other events taking place in the streets. Now the king is 86 years old, but in the photographs he is presented only at a young age.
And here are some interesting facts to know before going to Thailand:
- The chronology of Thais has been going on since the birth of the Buddha, so in Thailand it is now 2557.
- In the Guinness Book of Records, Thailand boasts the following achievements: the largest golden Buddha statue, the largest crocodile farm, the largest restaurant and the tallest hotel.
- For Thais, the head is the most important part of the body and should not be touched. In addition, the Thai people always try to keep their head below the head of a person who is older or higher in status, thus expressing respect for him.
- Thailand is a very musical country. Music is an integral part of Thai life. Thais have a special reverence for the national anthem. Having heard the hymn, they give up their affairs and stand listening to it to the end. Often, the anthem is played in cinemas before screenings, before concerts and other events. By the way, the music of the Thai anthem was written by the Russian composer Pyotr Shchurovsky.
- All year round in Thailand it gets dark at 6 pm and dawn at 6 am. If you are tired of the age-old sleep deprivation of the big city, Thailand is the perfect place to restore your biological clock. Go to bed early, and in the morning run to meet the dawn.
- Religion: 95% of Thais are Buddhists. The remaining five percent is accounted for by Islam and Orthodoxy. Buddhist monks are especially revered in the country.
- Thais believe and worship spirits - this is correctly called animism. Belief in spirits is deeply rooted in the consciousness and culture of the Thai people, its manifestation can be found everywhere: special houses are built for spirits, in which food, drinks, flowers and incense are left.
- Thais are very positive people, it is not for nothing that Thailand is called "the country of a thousand smiles." You cannot quarrel with the locals, otherwise they will withdraw into themselves and will not be able to answer your question or request.
- It is prohibited by law to take out of the country a statuette of Buddha more than 15 cm high. More precisely, it is possible to take it out, but for ritual purposes and with a special certificate. This is connected with the following story: once an American tourist, having bought a statue of Buddha in Thailand, used it as a hanger, while the image of the deity itself is sacred for the Thais, and it cannot be desecrated in this way.
- In Thai, there are no punctuation marks, verb tenses, cases, declensions and gender, plurals, articles, particles and conjunctions. An important meaningful role is played by the length and brevity of vowel sounds.
BANGKOK
In Bangkok, it all started at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which translates as "golden land". Here we were greeted by friendly Thai beauties, putting on each hand Phuang Malay bracelets made of fresh flowers of orchids and jasmine. Such jewelry retains its appearance and amazing smell for about three days.
Bangkok has the longest city name in the world, which translated into Russian means: “City of angels, great city of immortals, majestic city of nine precious stones, happy city, full of abundance, grandiose Royal Palace, reminiscent of a divine abode, where the reincarnated god erected by Vishwakarman reigns. by the will of Indra."
For tourists, Bangkok is a city of palaces and temples. Of course, there are
hundreds of Buddhist shrines, the main of which - the Temple of the Emerald Buddha - is recommended to visit in the first place. But if you dig deeper, you can see the true city, where skyscrapers, shopping malls and luxury coexist with poverty, shacks, floating markets and obscene smells. At the same time, Bangkok is home to the world's largest Chinatown district, as well as the Indian Quarter and many wonderful parks. This city is worth paying special attention to and spending a few days here. To feel the flavor and breath of Bangkok, try street food, take a ride on the subway and along the river channel, and to compare local traffic with Moscow, catch a tuk-tuk rickshaw.
KHAO YAI
The northeastern region of Thailand is somewhat underestimated by tourists, and yet there is a national park - "Khao Yai": wonderful nature, waterfalls, mountain ranges and fast rivers. We were waiting for rafting. Dividing into teams, we competed in speed, sweeping
along the noisy river and observing the beauty of the local landscapes. Such moments are remembered for a long time, and such a "team building" works wonders. The people I knew for only a couple of days at the moment became a real close-knit team.
There are more than 20 waterfalls in Khao Yai Park. They are not the largest, but surrounded by jungle and therefore very picturesque. We visited Namtok Than Thip waterfall. Swimming in its cool waters caused a lot of joy for the whole group - as they say, we all come from childhood. Desperate daredevils risked sliding down the river, trusting in fate. It is not recommended to repeat this experiment.
The park is home to numerous species of animals, and therefore another popular tourist program is the safari, including the night one. Of course, we cannot guarantee what exactly you will see during the safari, but if you are lucky, you will even meet wild elephants and observe them in their natural environment.
KO CHANG ISLAND
Koh Chang Island is chosen not so much by outdoor enthusiasts as by those who miss the warm sun and sandy beaches. The beaches of the island are different: in one place they are sandy, in another - rocky. The name of the island literally means "elephant". Elephants are considered a symbol of the country and sacred animals, especially the white elephant. Animals work 5 hours a day. Their professions are different - from cleaners to artists, and after 60 years they receive a pension and medical care. But elephants not only help a person in hard work, but also entertain guests with walks in the jungle. Of course, you cannot visit Thailand and not ride an elephant. Another popular attraction among tourists is swimming with an elephant in the river. After communicating with the animals, you will be offered to feed them with fruit, as well as to purchase a souvenir photo in a frame made from an ecologically pure product - elephant dung. Do not be alarmed, in fact it does not look scary at all.
FOOD IS A HEAD FOR ALL
One of the greatest joys of a Thailand vacation can be the variety of local cuisine. Along with the legendary spicy food in Thailand, you can find many popular international dishes. But not trying the local dishes means losing a lot, and learning how to cook them yourself is priceless. We visited the culinary school of the Koh Chang island, where in just a couple of hours we were taught how to cook the main national dishes: tomyam soup, which is considered a cure for all diseases and is particularly spicy, pad thai rice noodles fried in a wok with shrimps and vegetables and simple spring rolls …
They say that often the most delicious and real Thai food can be tasted at the most seemingly unprepossessing and questionable eateries. After conducting a small survey among friends and acquaintances who prefer Thailand as a permanent place of rest, I heard statements of this kind: "During my three vacations in Thailand, I have never been poisoned while dining in such establishments." Listen to your intuition and do not forget that God protects those who are careful.
Pattaya
Pattaya Resort was created by the Americans. Today it is a bustling, crowded tourist center with bars, discos, shows, massage parlors and numerous markets. This is the cheapest option for a trip to Thailand, but one of the advantages of this place is that you can go on a large number of different excursions from here.
It is a well-known fact that you cannot swim in Pattaya, the water is not clean. But you can take a boat that will take you to the island, as if from an advertising postcard.
Or you can go sea fishing. For those who prefer the second option, I recommend taking pills for seasickness in advance and sticking a plaster for motion sickness.
I would like to devote a special place in the article to such a phenomenon as transvestites. Despite the fact that Thailand is a country of strict moral principles and deep traditions, the number of "ladyboys" here is off the charts. Having visited one of the shows in Pattaya - "Tiffany Show", I realized that if I have any emotions for people who have changed their gender, then it is probably sympathy. Familiar Thais did not share my feelings. Transvestite here is not just a monetary, but also a prestigious profession. What then? Having retired, these people can get a regular job: in a shop, cafe and even an office. Whether because of the peculiarities of religion, or because of the general goodwill of the Thais, no one condemns men who decide to become women, people are rather indifferent, do not focus on this. You can tell a man from a woman
by voice, size of palms and feet and the presence of an Adam's apple. For cultural leisure, you should go to the Langkarn Theater. Everything here is decorated in the national style, and before the show, guests are invited to a traditional dinner. The costume show is based on the ancient Thai epic and tells about the main events of the history of the kingdom. Colorful dances, drums, Muay Thai elements and spectacular elephant numbers await you.
A PLACE WHERE YOU BECOME HAPPY
And finally, one cannot but say the main thing. It is natural for a person to seek what he
lacks. And what is missing for us - "residents of gray everyday life"? Sun, juicy smells and tastes, exotic and new emotions. All this you will certainly find here - in Thailand.
When leaving the country, do not forget to go to the market on the last evening and buy a basket of fruits. With such luggage, they are allowed on board the plane, and relatives will be delighted with a delicious overseas presentation.
