Just Back From ...

Thailand

By Pina Carbone

Going to Thailand for the first time, I had certain expectations based on what I had been told from previous travellers to Thailand.

Krabi was our first destination which, in my opinion, is an ideal getaway destination full of natural attractions including white sandy beaches, fascinating coral reefs, numerous large and small islands and verdant forests with caves and waterfalls. Krabi's scenery is mostly mountains and highlands separated by plains in some parts. From Krabi you can do a boat trip to the surrounding islands where you can go snorkelling, which is amazing. The water is crystal clear and the bright colours of the fish will just blow you away!

In addition, Krabi is the location of two world class beaches; Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants, shops etc. Additional attractions in the province are stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations, which make it a heaven for rock climbers, and a National Park located approximately 40 kilometres outside of town with lakes, caves and spectacular natural scenery.

Our next stop was Phuket - Thailand's largest island, which is often referred to as the 'Pearl of the Andaman', or the 'Pearl of the South'. Its natural resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South's wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.

Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage, sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture and warm Thai hospitality make this a great destination. There is a huge range of accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from world-class resorts to tropical-style bungalows. For seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just Phuket's famous lobster. After exploring the Islands of Phuket, it was time to head up north and experience the merging of the past into the present in Chiang Mai where locals are proud of the city's rich 700-year history and unique culture.

Chiang Mai borders Myanmar to the north, Lamphun and Tak Provinces to the south, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun Provinces to the east and Mae Hong Son Province to the west. The terrain is mainly jungles and mountains, home to the hill tribes.

Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to find centuries-old chedis and temples in the heart of the city next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. The original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with remains of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town. This combination of historic city with the proximity of the fascinating culture of the hilltribes make Chiang Mai a great destination.

Our last stop before heading home was Bangkok, where the major tourist attractions include glittering Buddhist temples, palaces, timeless Venice of the East canal and river scenes, classical dance extravaganzas, and numerous shopping centres.

After all the sightseeing we had done I was ready to do what most girls do best and that was SHOPPING! We spent a whole day at the MBK shopping centre and just went crazy with all the shops we had to chose from. Clothes, souvenirs, jewellery, shoes- anything you name, they had it. Everything seemed so CHEAP it was so hard to resist buying $6 shoes and $5 tops!

I highly recommend Thailand to all types of travellers! It has something to offer for everyone. The Thai people there are amazing - the smiles and the greetings you get just walking through is wonderful, you can’t help but feel welcome!