THAILAND'S TREASURES

Thailand’s the hub of youth travel in Southeast Asia. It is ideally placed geographically for people exploring the region and is well served by major airlines. But the kingdom would not have achieved its status as one of the world’s premier travel destinations without its fabulous wealth of natural, historical and cultural treasures. For more than 20 years Thailand has been drawing young travelers from all over the world. Here they delight in the country’s physical beauty and its ancient heritage, feast on a cuisine that is one of the best anywhere, and enjoy the fabled warmth and friendliness of its people. The country has responded to this attention enthusiastically, opening itself further by developing a sophisticated tourism industry. Travel in the kingdom is easy, safe and cheap, and Thailand boasts a vast range of accommodation to meet the demands of young international tourists. Attractive, well-priced and convenient, this makes a visit to the kingdom even more relaxing and rewarding. Thailand’s traveler-friendly sentiment is even more prevalent today. Tourism, particularly youth tourism, is on the increase, and Thailand is positively encouraging it in the 21st century, hoping to welcome more young visitors than ever before.

DO I NEED TO SPEAK THAI IN THAILAND?

Do I Need to Speak Thai in Thailand? By: lar

Speaking Thai will get you lots of smiles and better deals while on your holiday in the Land of Smiles. But, you can get by knowing just a few words. The traditional greeting in Thailand is Sawasdee (pronounced Sa-wat-dee) and a polite article is added to the end. For women, ka is added. For men, kharp is added. This is not required but is used 99% of the time. So the typical greeting would be Sawasdee khrap (or ka) to say Hello. This is usually accompanied by the other traditional Thai greeting – the wai. This is done with palms together, fingers pointing upward. There are different levels of wai from lower class to higher, from worker to boss, from average person to royalty. There are also times when someone wai's to you and you are not required to return the wai. For example, if a small child wai's you, you are not required to return it – just acknowledge it with a smile. Typically after saying hello, or sawasdee, you will be asked one of two things. Sabai dee mai, or geen kow mai. It is normal to be asked if you are fine or if you have eaten. You may also be asked where you have been or where you are going – bpai nai mah or bpai nai. The Thai language is not that difficult to learn and there are many resources online. There are also paid programs like Pimseleur or Berlitz. Many sites also have downloadable mini-dictionaries in English, Thai and phonetics. This way you can try to speak the word or phrase and as a last resort, just point. You can also download files so that you can hear how words are pronounced. I have had both bad and good experiences speaking Thai. Some people like the fact that I can speak enough to get by and can understand more. Some tell me that "I know too much" and I take this as a compliment since that means that they can’t rip me off. Knowing the language isn’t essential but sure helps when giving a taxi directions, ordering a meal, or asking where the bathroom is. My problem is that I lose a lot of the language skills between vacations. Not being able to speak the language at home causes me to lose a lot of my vocabulary. I try to keep current online chatting with people from Thailand, but chatting using phonetics is not the same as actually speaking Thai. The best thing to do is try to pick up a few words with some of the free sites online. Print out a dictionary or phrase book and bring it with you. Try and speak and ask for help. Everyone will help if they see you are willing to learn. Give it a try – speak some Thai and have some fun with it. If you make a mistake, learn from it. You will find that you make a lot more friends speaking the local language. Chok Dee Khrap (Good luck)

Larry Westfall gets to Thailand whenever he can and is the author of Pattaya Crazy Newbie"s Guide to Pattaya

STROLLING INTO HISTORY

One of the best ways to appreciate the grandeur and significance of Thailand’s history is to absorb the atmosphere of the ruins and monuments of past Thai civilizations. After an active programmed among the natural beauty of Thailand, you might be ready for a change of mood and a scene. Nothing could be more satisfying than a stroll in one of the natural beauty of Thailand, you might be ready for a change of mood and a change of scene. Nothing could be more satisfying than a stroll in one of the country’s magnificent historical parks of Sukhothai, Lop Buri, Sri Satchanalai and Ayutthaya. Many historical sites including the Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok, are illuminated at night, and some have light and sound presentations. The effect is pure magic. Out of the historical parks, Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom is an awe-inspiring sight: The tallest Buddhist monument in the world, and also where Buddhism was first taught in this Buddhist country. An evening stroll in the grounds of the chedi and the nearby Sanam Chand Palace is pleasantly soothing after a busy day, and later you can find a host of inviting food stalls in the grounds of the chedi and the nearby Sanam Chand Palace is pleasantly soothing after a busy day, and later you can find a host of inviting food stalls in the colourful night market around the chedi’s compound.

CENTRAL THAILAND’S WEALTH

Thailand is a perfect place you’re interested in agricultural study. Food is never far from the Thai mind, because its mean much more than just holding body and soul together. If you visit the Thai Rice Farmers Museum at Suphan Buri you will see not only the implements involved, but the many rites surrounding it and the role of the King in rice farming through history. Each province in the central region has its own distinctive agricultural hallmark, bold enough to identify its people by. Working west to east across the top of the Gulf of Thailand, here are some of this region’s amazing riches. Samut Songkhram’s fertile soil produces the country’s most mouth watering fruit, succulent lynches and bittersweet pomelos inparticular. Coconut groves along the coast produce not only the oily nuts themselves, but warm brown palm sugar as well. If you visit in the morning, you can see it being made. Samut Sakhon is best known for its fresh fish markets and rasping sea-salt, but Nakhon Chaisri inland is synonymous with the juiciest, sweetest, freshest oranges in the land. If you then go east to Ongkarak district of Nakhon Nayok, you will find yourself in the midst of masses of ornamental flowers. Some of these commercial gardens, who supply Bangkok, welcome visitors. Rayong is known countrywide as home to the spiny, green football-sized fruit adored by many and abhorred (because of its astonishing aroma!) by a few-the durain. But don’t forget to visit Sopha Botanical Garden’s gorgeous flowering trees nearby Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park also abounds with many colourful plants. At the end of the trail, Prachin Buri, even richer and wetter than Samut SongKhram, grows juicy citrus, durian, longan, pomelo and gorgeous soft mangosteen. Pick these up at the local market for much less than Bangkok prices.

WRITTEN IN THE STARS

If you go to any colourful Thai market and even to some placid Buddhist temples, you will find in some quiet corner an astrologer waiting for custom. He will ask the date and time of your birth. With that scant information and his zodiacal charts, he’ll tell your fortune. It has been that way for thousands of years. But then about 150 years ago, a new form of knowledge of the stars, western astronomy, came to Thailand. It was brought here by one of this country’s greatest kings, Rama IV or King Mongkut. The king was so enthused with this new knowledge that he ordered an observatory built at his hilltop palace in Phetchaburi province. He quickly became adept and predicted a total eclipse of the sun near Prachuab Khiri Khan on August 18, 1868. Almost everyone was skeptical, including the court astrologers who believed such an event was impossible. So a great expedition was organized to what is now Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park to which many foreign scientists were invited. There, the king’s prediction was dramatically confirmed-a six-minute total solar eclipse that had the court astrologers calling out in awe. Today, star-gazing is practiced by anyone with binoculars or their own telescope. You can even join the Thai Astronomical Society on one of their regular trips. Generally, these go off to a remote location such as a hilltop in a national park or an island in the gulf where the night sky is clear. You can either share their big telescope or use your own equipment. Or of course you can follow in King Mongkut’s steps. His Phetchaburi observatory is still there and so is Phra Chomklao Science Museum at Wah Kor.

UNSEEN THAILAND : WATERFALL IN TRANG

Take a Break: Unseen Thailand Waterfall in Trang

MANGROVE FOREST

Time was when every tidal mud flat in the Gulf of Thailand was covered by mangrove forest-all 744 square kilometers of it. Now, much of this vegetation that thrives in salt and brackish water and fosters some of the most productive environments on Earth. But enough remains-and more is being regenerated-for you to see what it is. As a first impression, it’s spooky. A good place to start is Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Prachuab Khiri Khan where the mangroves are extensive and well-developed enough to generate some atmosphere. You’ll find yourself navigating an eerily quiet, enclosed world, moving from one twisted exposed root to the next. The canopy is barely above your head and lateral vision and orientation is similarly limited by the roots around you. But this protected world is an ideal habitat for a wide variety of land and water life. As all this goes about its business-the small creatures finding shelter, the larger ones food-the mangroves feed off their own fallen and decomposed leaves and constantly colonies new territory. They thus protect the coastline from storms and help to build up new land. Their timber was greatly prized for firewood and charcoal as were the barks of some species for dye. Mangroves were particularly valuable when the central Thai lifestyle was water-based. Most easily accessible by small boat, they were a kind of larder. Today, much of the cultural ambience of mangroves has been lost as food comes more easily from the local store and cooking fuel out of a gas canister. But search out your own small patch somewhere along the coast and spend some time in it. This was an important part of what it was to be a coast-living Thai.

ESCAPE FROM THE CONCRETE JUNGLE

ESCAPE FROM THE CONCRETE JUNGLE

The West’s concrete jungle now threatens the world, but if you want to see the real thing, genuine primary forest that has never been disturbed except by you, it is only two to three hours drive from Bangkok. Go west to Kaeng Krachan National Park, the country’s largest pristine forest that offers superb walking trails to study nature. Be prepared from some truly awe inspiring trees, 70 metres tall and more. Where the forest is open, it is like being inside a cathedral. Most of the trails cluster around the single 36-kilometre road inside the park, but serious jungle treks of up to two weeks through rugged terrain can also be organized. Perhaps the best trip is to the 18-tier Tho Thip Waterfall, a full day’s outing with about three hours walking each way.

If that sound a bit too serious, drive north instead to Khao Yai National Park, the country’s oldest and third largest. It takes about the same time to reach and has at least 13 trails of varying levels of difficulty. Although these are more popular than those at Kaeng Krachan, you will still be in or near real jungle, so take a guide and keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife. Other excellent walking trails can be found at Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park, an easy drive from Rayong on Eastern Seaboard, at Chalerm Rattanakosin National Park in Kanchanaburi and, closet of all to Bangkok, at Nakhon Nayok about an hour’s drive north of city. Almost all parks have at least some accommodation and food. Park staff at the headquarters will be able to advise you on the best walks. You will see spectacular caves, fantastic waterfalls, dramatic vistas of forest as you wind up hill and down dale and follow the banks of crystal streams. The trails were often originally made by elephant. Concrete? Give me a break!

LIFE IN THE WILD

In the past, abundant wildlife could be found as close to Bangkok. A local writer once noted that “five to six hundred species of plants are know to grow wild in Bangkok” Although this magnificent cornucopia of plants, herbs and animals is less evident now than then, it still exists. Some of the best places to study it are the central region’s wildlife sanctuaries, research and breeding stations, open zoos and national parks. Huai Kha Khaeng and Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuaries in Uthai Thani and Kanchanaburi provinces respectively are the best places to start. These contain such superb creatures as guar, the massive yet shy forest ox, and banteng, the wild red cattle. They also contain well over 40 other mammal species including bears, leopards, tigers, elephant, tapir, deer, gibbons, monkeys and macaque as well as a wide range of vegetation types.

Khao Yai National Park is another excellent nature study site as many wildfire research projects on such creatures as gibbons, tigers and hornbills are being conducted here.

Khao Khieo Wildfire Sanctuary in Chon Buri province has an open zoo which makes its wildlife particularly accessible. Species include gaur, dusky langur, barking deer and brow-antlered deer. In one of the largest aviaries in the world, it also has the Sarus Crane and black necked Stork which may one day be re-introduced to the wild. Its breeding station supports and studies many other species. It also has the only elephant twins born in captivity. Three types of crocodile are being bred and studied at the nearby Crocodile Farm while over in Kanchanaburi’s Sadong Research Station, banteng, sambar and serow, a kind of goat-antelope are being studied and bred. Not only is Thailand’s amazing wildlife as prolific as ever, but through activities such as these it is also more accessible than ever before. And it will remain safe into the future.