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• Take a day excursion from Bangkok for a train trip across the notorious River Kwai Bridge at Kanchanaburi, which was built by Allied prisoners under the direction of the Japanese during WWII (website: www.kanchanaburi-info.com).
• Admire the skills of the kite fighters. Opposing teams fly male Chula and female Pakpao kites in a surrogate battle of the sexes. Do not miss an energetic game of takraw in which a small rattan ball is passed acrobatically around by players standing in a circle and using their feet, knees, thighs, chests and shoulders to endeavour to keep the ball in the air and kick it into a suspended basket.
• Take in a muay thai (Thai kick-boxing) match; this traditional sport can be seen every day of the year at the major stadiums in both Bangkok and the provinces. Thai boxing matches are preceded by elaborate ceremonies and accompanied by lively music.
• Cast off all cares through traditional meditation. Thailand has dozens of temples and meditation centres specialising in vipassana (insight) meditation. Attend a class for just one day or a retreat lasting several weeks.
• Join the throngs heading for Surin for the annual elephant round-up in November. The title is misleading as the elephants are not actually rounded up, but there are demonstrations of training techniques and re-enactments of scenes from history.
• Get to know northern Thailand better, particularly the remote provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son by trekking, riding an elephant or rafting through this spectacular region. Check out the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet.
• Enjoy Thailand's thousands of kilometres of coastline, either above or below the water. Have a go at sea canoeing and kayaking through the spectacular limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay and explore the half-submerged caves and grottoes.
• Learn traditional massage and the healing properties of herbal medicine at ancient Wat Pho (website: www.watpho.com).
• Try Thai cooking at one of many cookery schools. Learn how to blend the many herbs and spices that provide the unique flavours of Thai food. At some schools students even go to the market to buy the provisions for the meals to be prepared.
• Take a boat trip through Bangkok's Floating Market, or along the klongs, a network of canals leading off the river, and lined with dwellings opening directly on to the water. Life has changed little for those living along the klongs.
• Dive with the sharks in the aquarium at Bangkok's Siam Ocean World (website: www.siamoceanworld.co.th), and live to tell the tale.
• Have afternoon tea at the Oriental Hotel (website: www.mandarinoriental.com) in Bangkok, one of the most famous hotels in the world. Once the haunt of the likes of Somerset Maughan and Joseph Conrad, it is now frequented by royalty and celebrities.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Admire the skills of the kite fighters. Opposing teams fly male Chula and female Pakpao kites in a surrogate battle of the sexes. Do not miss an energetic game of takraw in which a small rattan ball is passed acrobatically around by players standing in a circle and using their feet, knees, thighs, chests and shoulders to endeavour to keep the ball in the air and kick it into a suspended basket.
• Take in a muay thai (Thai kick-boxing) match; this traditional sport can be seen every day of the year at the major stadiums in both Bangkok and the provinces. Thai boxing matches are preceded by elaborate ceremonies and accompanied by lively music.
• Cast off all cares through traditional meditation. Thailand has dozens of temples and meditation centres specialising in vipassana (insight) meditation. Attend a class for just one day or a retreat lasting several weeks.
• Join the throngs heading for Surin for the annual elephant round-up in November. The title is misleading as the elephants are not actually rounded up, but there are demonstrations of training techniques and re-enactments of scenes from history.
• Get to know northern Thailand better, particularly the remote provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son by trekking, riding an elephant or rafting through this spectacular region. Check out the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet.
• Enjoy Thailand's thousands of kilometres of coastline, either above or below the water. Have a go at sea canoeing and kayaking through the spectacular limestone islands in Phang Nga Bay and explore the half-submerged caves and grottoes.
• Learn traditional massage and the healing properties of herbal medicine at ancient Wat Pho (website: www.watpho.com).
• Try Thai cooking at one of many cookery schools. Learn how to blend the many herbs and spices that provide the unique flavours of Thai food. At some schools students even go to the market to buy the provisions for the meals to be prepared.
• Take a boat trip through Bangkok's Floating Market, or along the klongs, a network of canals leading off the river, and lined with dwellings opening directly on to the water. Life has changed little for those living along the klongs.
• Dive with the sharks in the aquarium at Bangkok's Siam Ocean World (website: www.siamoceanworld.co.th), and live to tell the tale.
• Have afternoon tea at the Oriental Hotel (website: www.mandarinoriental.com) in Bangkok, one of the most famous hotels in the world. Once the haunt of the likes of Somerset Maughan and Joseph Conrad, it is now frequented by royalty and celebrities.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
