Sawa Dhikap - Amazing Thailand

Sawa ..Dhikap...I have been in Thailand late last year, and I also come over annually when time permit.I love the people, the culture and the food and now I'm beginning to see and understand a little more about this magnificent country.

Thailand is  stress free place, especially the countryside and the beautiful beaches.Even the capital is fun with its heat, exotic sights and sounds, and good-matured touts and street stalls.

The first experience is varied, but if tourist numbers are anything to go by then it will be Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket.Phuket lives up to its nickname - "Pearl of the Andaman."

Like a pearl it is highly polished, very expensive and has throngs of admirers bidding its value up. It also increases in price every year. Tsunami is long forgotten now.

There are some nice beaches, but if you want an over-developed island there are plenty of other options. Pattaya is a lot less expensive but no less developed. Sin city on the beach is a magnet for men seeking instant relationships, cheap beer and daily, if not hourly thrills. For me the visit here is not for that sincerely, the nature and the cool breeze from the Andaman Sea.

Great if you want to make love, not war but hardly an insight into Amazing Thailand. Bangkok I would not argue with.This mega-metropolis has wormed its way into my heart and remains my favorite capital.The sights, sounds, tastes and buzz make it an exciting and pulse-quickening place to visit, and the value is undeniable.

Rows of halal restaurant in Midst of Chiang Mai City

Galore of choice in Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

Chiang Mai City Scape from my hotel room.

My most favorite place, I would suggest after heading to the capital for a week, to make your way North to the hills and cultural center of the country. Here you will really the essence of Thailand naturally. Chiang Mai is the main center of the North and is a little more laid back than the capital.Industries and crafts include silk, lacquer and hill tribe products as well as Kings Project items which are quite exceptional.Many years ago the hill-people grew opium, and Thailand's revered King took an interest in their welfare and became patron of a project to teach these subjects how to grow sustainable crops for the benefit of the community.

This took off and now Chiang Mai has a plethora of agricultural products that grace the world's finest menus.Because I am pretty much "Joe Street", I tend to focus on the immediate benefits to me. Coffee! and halal Tom Yam. You may go to the bazaar area in midst of Chiang Mai,there you will find Thai muslim food, even Pakistani or Arabian gourmet.

All over Thailand there are small street stands offering "Doi Chang" and "Doi tung" coffee which is an exceptional tasting bean made into a big cup of iced coffee for around 25 baht ($1)

Chiang Mai is the gateway to the North, and the people are gracefully Thai.Unlike Phuket, there is a distinct lack of Tuk Tuk mafias, jet-ski scams, irritating and persistent Nepali tailor touts and in-your-face sex shows.This city is your first major glimpse of real Thailand and is situated amongst rolling hills and majestic mountains.

Further North (actually VERY North at the top of the country) is Chiang Rai, a very Thai town situated in the Golden Triangle - a tri border city sitting on the junction of Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.

Kok Krung Krap...that's Thailand.

Chiang Mai - Travel to the Cultural City of Thailand

The Cultural City of Thailand

The ‘culture capital’ of Thailand is a charming and laidback 700-year-old town famous for sightseeing, trekking, soft adventure, shopping, spas and mountain resorts. It’s no wonder Chiang Mai was runner-up favourite city in the 2010 Travel + Leisure readers’ poll.
The people of Northern Thailand pride themselves on their warm hospitality and unique culture. When you travel to Chiang Mai expect to see hotel staff wearing traditional costume, and stay in rooms decorated in classic Lanna styles from centuries ago. Even the humble backpacker guesthouses are a particularly social experience, not to mention great value. Then there’s the casual atmosphere of the city bars and some of the best value dining in Thailand. Even Chiang Mai’s numerous spas have become famous!
The ancient city of Chiang Mai is a travel guide favourite, mainly because it oozes culture and history with its pretty moat, crumbling bastions and ruined pagodas at every turn. Staying among the old town lanes offers an authentic taste of provincial Thailand, with centuries-old temples, bustling street markets and cosy guesthouses and coffee shops on every corner. Then there’s soft adventure trips to mountain national parks and waterfalls nearby, trekking, elephant riding, family attractions and more. Shopping is another notable advantage in Chiang Mai, along with very affordable hotels and restaurants.

The mouthwatering authentic Thai dishes.

Metro Chiang Mai

Although traditionally a quiet town of northern Thailand in a valley ringed by mountains, Chiang Mai has become a cosmopolitan hangout boasting quality restaurants plus many hip bars, hotels  and clubs. While not on the scale of Bangkok in this regard, it has the benefit of being much more subdued and laidback.
The best thing is that Chiang Mai is only a few kilometres across and so most of it can be done on foot. The other major plus is that everything here is so much cheaper than in Bangkok, as well as the beach resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui.
There are loads of options for drinking out and anyone who says Chiang Mai is staid either hasn’t given the place a chance or doesn’t really know what they’re talking about. There are oodles of relaxed hangouts and restaurant-bars, along with a couple of noted go-go strips, tucked away karaoke lounges and pumping discos.

The area around Thapae Gate – the cultural heart of Chiang Mai – has the lion’s share of bars. Namely, up and down Moon Muang Road, farther east around Nawarat Bridge, and along the girlie bar road of Loi Kroh, which connects the moat with the popular tourist hangout of the Night Bazaar. More on the Night Bazaar.

The Night Bazaar doubles as a shopping and entertainment area. It runs nightly and is stuffed to the gussets with street vendors and lively bars and restaurants. Perennial favourites include the revamped Galare Centre, for food and complimentary shows; the cluster of restaurants, bars, coffee houses and fast food joints around McDonalds, farther south; and the burgeoning Anusarn Market area, farther south again. The latter is known for its seafood restaurants and expat bars.

 

At one of the beautiful resort cum spa in Chang Mai.

Those looking purely for girlie-bar action should head for Loi Kroh Road. Although there are only a few traditional go-go bars along here, there are plenty of places to hangout and enjoy conversation with the girls. One of the hippest in the area is the Number 1 Bar, which is just off a side street of Loi Kroh.

The fascinating traditional dance from  Cheng Mai Cultural dance troupe.