SAWATDEE
“Hello” from Thailand (and Laos and Cambodia, too), the “Land of Smiles”!
What a memorable journey to this exotic land of dazzling temples, spectacular palaces, a world-famous floating market, hill tribe villages, and chili-curry flavored food fit for a king.
Dazzling sites of white stucco and glass architecture with intricate detail greet one at every turn. Solid gold and jewel-encrusted Buddhas, sitting or reclining at leisure, lord it over devout monks and worshipers lavishing their gods with incense, lotus flowers, and food.
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| 5-ton Gold Buddha |
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| Reclining Buddha |
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| Rhongkhun White Temple |
Giant bronze statues and ancient pagodas with magnificent wax carvings attest to the richness of the country’s culture and history.
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| Ayutthaya Ruins |
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| Wax figures of monks at Wat Prasingha |
Spectacular palaces, former residence of kings, command respect from those who walk on their sacred grounds.
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| Grand Palace in Bangkok |
Along the way, one gets a glimpse of the country side dotted with rice paddies; a fascinating region where monkeys rule; and famous centuries-old ruins that are a favorite haunt for tourists and school children as well.
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| Sukhothai Ruins |
As one travels to the northernmost point of Thailand, one reaches the GOLDEN TRIANGLE – the meeting point of Thailand, Burma, and Laos. A boat trip on the Mekong River brings one to the doorsteps of Laos, where one is regaled with a shot of whiskey enticingly flavored with a soaking cobra; and, of course, handicraft hawkers of all kinds.
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| Casino on the Laos side |
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| Inebriated Cobra |
In the local hill tribe villages, one is greeted by simple folk in colorful costumes engaged in routine activities and by the eeriely fascinating sight of the so-called long necked Badong women, proudly-clad in coiled brass chokers.
Colorful local and night markets are a shopping paradise for anything silk – colorful scarves, shirts, sequin-adorned blouses; anything and everything edible, including roasted insects of all kinds; succulent dragon fruit, mangosteen, mangoes, star apples, guavas, and the dreaded durian.
Elephants endearingly give a trunk-hug on cue, or create painted masterpieces on canvas that would be worth 9,000 bahts ($300).
A Kantoke dinner is a feast of local specialties and breath-taking performance of songs and dances by a local hill tribe.
Mountain-top temples are a special treat where one co-mingles with locals entreating monks to offer prayers for an auspicious year on their behalf, or with colorfully-clad children joining in the festivities.
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| Wat Doi Suthep |
Siem Reap in CAMBODIA leads one to the famous temples of ANGKOR WAT, preserved in their pristine condition; and to the upper terraces of an ancient temple for a spectacular view at sunrise and sunset.
All the forementioned sights, sounds, and smells leave the traveler in awe, but amazingly, it is the last stop at the floating village on Cambodia’s Tenle Sap Lake that really touches the heart – where barefoot and tanned children sit on the dusty road awaiting our gift of loaves of bread.
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