Thailand

PATTAYA

PATTAYA is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok. The main sweep of the bay area is divided into two principal beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to city centre, and runs from Pattaya Nuea south to Walking Street. Along Beach Road are restaurants, shopping areas, and night attractions. Jomtien Beach in the southern part of the bay area is divided from Pattaya beach by the promontory of Pratumnak Hill. It consists of high-rise condominiums, beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, shops, bars, and restaurants. On weekends, it becomes increasingly crowded, with many Thai visitors coming from Bangkok. It offers of watersport activities such as jet skis, parasailing and small sail boat hire.

Bangkok

Bangkok manages to preserve its cultural heritage even as it grows rapidly as a modern commercial center. The metropolitan part of the city covers 612 sq miles of southern Thailand. It is also located in the center of the most fertile rice-producing delta in the world. A network of natural and artificial canals can be seen all over the city. Bangkok is divided into two by the main north-south train line. Old Bangkok, with its large number of temples and palaces, lies between the river and the railway. On the eastern side of the railway line is `new' Bangkok, comprising of the main business, tourist and sprawling residential districts. Outside the city center are new high-rise neighborhoods where most of the city's inhabitants reside. Bangkok is the region's most exotic and, at the same time, most chaotic capital city. Boats of all sizes and shapes cruise on the Chao Phraya River day and night. Among them, the strangest, most frequently seen boat on the river is the hang yao, or long-tailed water taxi, a long, thin, graceful vessel. These water taxis carry passengers. Shopping is a popular activity in Bangkok. The best known market is the one held on Saturdays and Sundays at Chatuchak from 7 in the morning to 5 or 6 in the afternoon. Bangkok is well-known for Southeast Asian handicrafts, antiques, silk, and jewels. It also provides a vibrant, exciting nightlife with Thai classical dance, jazz, discos, cabarets, pubs, and dinner cruises. The city has one of the greatest concentrations of luxury hotels of any city in the world. As the capital of Thai cuisine, it offers some of the best dining options. Visitors find that in the midst of the masses of people, cars, and constant activity, there is a tradition of a gracious welcoming. There is special kindness and friendliness to children. Population: 7.6 million Area: 1569 sq km (612 sq mi) Country: Thailand Time: GMT/UTC+7 Telephone area code: 02

Events:

With so many cultures and beliefs colliding in Bangkok, it's rare to be in town and not run into a festival of some description. This is especially true in the cooler months from November to February, but religious and cultural events occur year-round.

When to go:

There is no no bad time to visit Bangkok. But rain and extreme heat are less frequent between November and February. April is hit while October brings the heaviest rains.

Beaten Track:

Ayuthaya The former Thai capital is located around 86 km north of Bangkok. It attracts people interested in ruins and museums, and is definitely worth a visit if you are a history freak. Along with its two impressive museums - Chao Sam Phraya National Museum and Chan Kasem Palace - the city's large collection of temples and ruins have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO. Ko Kret At Bangkok's northern edge is Ko Kret, one of Thailand's oldest Mon settlements. From the 6th to the 10th centuries, the Mon people dominated Thai history and culture, and their ancient crafts still draw visitors from around the world. Pottery is the main claim to fame of the Mon and visitors to the island can visit the Ancient Mon Pottery Center, which displays a wide variety of local earthenware. The capital city offers a wide variety of sporting and fitness options including golf, swimming, squash, bowling, gyms and even polo. You can learn or experience traditional Thai massage or sign up for courses in Thai cooking or Thai martial arts.

History:

Bangkok became Thailand's capital in 1782. Prior to that it was an outlying district of Thonburi, a town founded as a trading post in the mid-16th century. In the 18th century, a fortress was built on the banks of the Chao Phraya and a great iron chain hung across the river to block unwelcome arrivals. The Chakri Dynasty was founded in the late 18th century. Shortly after, in 1782, King Rama I moved the capital to Bangkok on the other side of the river. Using thousands of Khmer prisoners of war, city walls were built, the canal system was expanded, and new temples were erected by artisans from Ayuthaya. The construction of the new capital was finished in 1785. The first half of the 19th century in Bangkok saw a frenzy of temple building under the rule of Rama III. He also oversaw the construction of the city's first road in 1861. More roads were soon added and well before the turn of the century, horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws had replaced watercraft as the favored mode of urban travel. In 1932 Thailand established a constitutional government and Bangkok became the hub of a vast and still expanding public service. In WW II the Japanese briefly occupied parts of the city and following the war Bangkok quickened its pace towards modernization. From the mid-1960s the city became a favorite 'rest and recreation' spot for foreign troops involved in the Vietnam conflict and the sex trade continues to this day in the form of various nightclubs and massage parlors. After riding a double-digit economic boom through the 1980s, Bangkok was hit hard by the economic crisis that swept Asia in 1997.

Getting There:

Bangkok is one of the cheapest places to fly out of. If you find a cheap deal flying into Bangkok, snap it up because you'll always be able to locate a return ticket that's just as cheap or cheaper. For national travel, several domestic airlines operate within the country. The government bus company (Baw Khaw Saw) and a number of private bus companies have services to neighboring countries. Although the private buses are more expensive, in reality they are no more comfortable or faster than the government buses. But both bus companies lose out to the State Railway of Thailand, which is both efficient and inexpensive.

Getting Around:

Bangkok international airport, is 25 km north of the city. The domestic airport is only a short walk south of the international terminals. Buses run at regular intervals from Bangkok international to three major drop-off points in the city. The easiest and most novel way of getting around within the city is via the river or canals (khlongs), although many of the waterways have been replaced with roads. The cheapest form of public transport is the bus system and it's probably worth the extra couple of baht for vehicles of the air-con variety, but you should be wary of being 'razored' (ie having your bag quietly slashed, and wallet removed, by dexterous thieves). The light rail system alleviates Bangkok's nightmarish traffic problem: the city is famous for its motorized jams and sheer volume of traffic. If the congestion doesn't faze you, you can hire cars and motorbikes, but you'd probably be better off hiring a taxi or tuk-tuk.