Thailand - Must See
Bangkok has hit its stride as a true world capital, with a new infrastructure to show off the matchless range of Buddhist temples, the Grand Palace and Chao Phraya River.
Wat Phra Kaew temple and the Grand Palace show off Thai culture at its proudest and most spectacular. Bangkok is also home to the National Museum, with regal Thai artefacts such as ceremonial chariots, and National Gallery, tracing Thai art back 400 years. See hill-tribe art, weaving and handicrafts throughout the Golden Triangle, which is also the location of the high-tech Opium Museum, charting ancient trade routes and exploring taboos.
Close to Bangkok, the Bridge on the River Kwai is a moving experience. A bike-friendly UNESCO site lies at the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok. It's the gateway to the largely undiscovered Isan region, off the beaten track but where many of the oldest temples are. Chiang Mai is also temple-rich, and the oldest wat (temple) there dates back to 1296. In the south, fishing villages lie around every cove, dwarfed by the enormous limestone cliffs of the Andaman.
Thailand is a very safe and friendly destination. Most of the country's calm, shallow bays are ideal for lazy family days on the sands, going snorkelling or kayaking. Have a day of escapism at Phuket FantaSea – Asia's best-known theme park – complete with the Palace of the Elephants (though you can ride real ones in most places). Make a splash at Pattaya Water Park at the top of Jomtien Beach.
A day exploring the Grand Palace can be exhausting. Revive yourself with a wonderful, and cheap, Thai massage at the training school of Wat Pho.
The song One Night in Bangkok makes the tough guys crumble, says its singer Murray Head. The capital moves to a more contemporary beat now – try breakthrough Thai bands such as Modern Dog. Outside the metropolis, traditional music such as Pleng luk thung should be suitably evocative.
