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North Thailand
Bangkok
Thailand's capital buzzes with excitement. True, its reputation
for being one of the most polluted cities in Southeast Asia
is well-deserved, and a taxi drive is recommend over a tuk-tuk
drive (rickshaw) any day to escape both the smog and the inflated
tourist prices. However, the city merits exploration for its
cultural experiences, architectural marvels, superb cuisine,
countless shopping bargains and little pockets of quiet beauty
such as Lumphini Park. From notorious Pat Pong
- the two "red light district" streets of Bangkok
- to the majesty of the Grand Palace complex, or the
bustle of one of the famous floating river markets, Bangkok
shows its visitors scenes from all walks of Thai life. See
what you can find!
Kanchanaburi
West of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi's rural setting provides a
welcome respite from the frenetic capital for a few days.
Situated on the banks of the Khwae Tai River, or River
Kwai, as it is more famously known, the main reason for
visiting this place is to see the infamous "Bridge over
the River Kwai", built by the Allied POWs and Asian labourers
under inhumane conditions during the Japanese occupation of
Thailand in World War II. The peaceful setting and relaxed
atmosphere belies the horrors of the history of this place,
which are recorded in a local museum called the JEATH museum.
Lopburi
Half way between Bangkok and Chiang Mai to the north, the
town of Lopburi is full of traditional Thai performances,
Buddhist culture, and……. monkeys. These animals
crowd the streets and every November there is a festival held
in their honour. If you're a monkey lover you'll find some
excellent photo opportunites come your way in this town, but
hold tight to your belongings!
Chiang Mai
Known as Thailand's northern capital, Chiang Mai appears
to many tourists to have the perfect balance between Western
comforts and Thai culture. There is plenty to keep you occupied
here: taking part in a trek, elephant riding, temple visiting,
or attending courses in cookery, meditation, Thai language,
massage, Muay Thai boxing and so on. Try your bargaining
skills at the night market, which can be a bit of a
tourist trap these days, but nonetheless yields some amazing
bargains for souvenir-hungry Westerners. Alternatively, walking
or cycling around town is a rewarding experience in itself,
taking in the beauty of the central moat, traditional teak
buildings and ancient temples, and relaxing in one of the
many restaurants or bars for lunch.
Laos
Luang Prabang
It is rare to find a whole town protected as a UNESCO World
Heritage site, but Luang Prabang's stunning temples and rustic
streets merit preservation. The nearby Pak Ou caves,
overflowing with Buddha images, are well worth a visit, and
the Kuang Si falls are the perfect spot to cool down
and relax amongst the greenery for a few hours.
Phonsavan
If you're interested in the tragedy of America's secret bombing
of Laos during the Indochina war, this is the place to come.
No buildings survived the extensive bombing in this area,
and many of the new ones sport the latest architectural design
element of bomb pieces in their structure. Some pieces are
still live. UXO Lao, the national programme to clear
bombs and educate the public on safety issues, is working
hard in this area, but there is still a long way to go.
Vientiane
The country's largest and most important city still retains
a village feel. Cows casually lord it over the rest of the
traffic, market stall traders relax and chat in the shade
alongside the dusty streets, and tourist shops are still so
rarely frequented that any purchase you make in one of them
is greeted with beams of delight and profuse thanks - a far
cry from the professional hustlers of Bangkok. Long may it
last!
Lao Pako
One of the first eco-tourism developments in Laos, this resort
is situated about 40 miles from the capital and provides Western
holiday activities such as badminton, volleyball, boating
and swimming, in a laid-back Laotian atmosphere. Proceeds
from the resort support local schools and the conservation
area protects 40 hectares of forest. |
