TRAVEL
lunar calendar, but one aspect remains constant: they are incredibly interesting to experience. Many travelers go as far as to plan entire holidays around these festivals in order to attend and see what all of the fuss is about. A great example of this would be Songkran, a festival in which a nationwide water fight takes place. THE RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE Though many cities in Thailand continue to be modernized with things like urban decor, everywhere visitors look will have bits and pieces of Thailand’s interesting and ancient culture somehow intertwined. Cities like Sukhothai hold their ground in terms of modernization, as they are still home to many ancient ruins dating back to the Siamese Kingdom in 1238. Its history is also found in Thailand’s many art forms, like traditional Thai dancing or Thai puppetry performances.
those looking for something a bit more adventurous may instead opt for a day on one of the country’s many rivers and go white water rafting. There are also trails to be trekked, waves to be surfed, jungles to be ziplined through, and more in Thailand. The markets in Thailand are like no others in the world. Each one has its own distinct character, from the crowds they attract to the items which are for sale. Some markets are dedicated to street eats while others are chock full of antiques and secondhand items. Visitors never know what they are going to find at these unique attractions. THE FESTIVALS It seems as though Thais cannot go too long before having to escape from their 9-5 job in order to celebrate one festival or another. Many of these festivals are derived from things like religion or the
best places to dive in Thailand include Koh Tao, the Surin Islands, Koh Chang and Chumphon. THE TEMPLES With over 40,000 Buddhist temples found across the Land of Smiles, visitors are bound to find at least one that catches their eye. These structures date back to all of the different dynasties, each one reflecting that era’s architectural and construction style. Each province is bound to have at least one of these majestic wonders, though the most unique and abundant are found in the capital. THE ADVENTURE ASPECT Because the country’s terrain is so unique, visitors to the Kingdom are able to go on a number of different adventurous excursions during their stay. Elephant sanctuaries are great for tourists who are animal lovers, while
THIS PAGE Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok. OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP An Asian food vendor at a wet market; The famed Nay Lek Uan street food stall in Bangkok’s Chinatown selling rolled noodle soup with crispy pork; Tuktuk at the Grand Palace.
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EC Magazines | Summer Edition 2022
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