| Traveling around the world is still only a dream to | | | | over the river Kwai is located. Whether you have |
| many, but for those that have done it, their lives | | | | seen the movie or not, the sight of this bridge is |
| have been enriched by the experience. Different | | | | impressive. It is one of the "must see" sights |
| cultures, languages, and locations to us to | | | | during your visit to Thailand. The river is beautiful |
| appreciate the world in a new way. The world | | | | and the fact that the bridge was built by prisoners |
| seems smaller once you travel around and the | | | | of war makes the trip to the bridge worthwhile. |
| diversity of cultures makes you appreciate people | | | | The prisoners who built the bridge delayed it's |
| in a new way. | | | | construction long enough to save many lives. I |
| If you haven't already done a lot of traveling, I | | | | suggest you watch the movie before your trip to |
| suggest you save the money until you can. Life is | | | | Thailand, so you can fully appreciate the sight of |
| way too short not to take the time to travel the | | | | the Bridge Over The River Kwai. |
| world and appreciate its beauty. Meeting people | | | | There are many "Wats" in Thailand. A wat is a |
| from different countries gives you a whole new | | | | Cambodian, Lao or Thai Hindu or Buddhist temple. |
| outlook on life and a new understanding about | | | | They are considered a source for Buddhist |
| people in general. | | | | spiritualism. Most of them are very beautiful and |
| In this article, I will tell you a few things about a | | | | amazing feats of architecture built by hand out of |
| wonderful place to visit . . . Thailand. They call | | | | love for Buddha. The architecture is even more |
| Thailand "The Land of Smiles." The people there | | | | amzing when you consider some of them were |
| are great, always having a smile for everyone. | | | | built many years ago by people who had very |
| They don't lose their temper or express bad | | | | little to work with. |
| behavior in public, because to do so causes "Loss | | | | One such Wat is located in Ayutthaya City, the |
| of Face." | | | | capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city |
| As I said before, one of the greatest things about | | | | was founded in 1350. The city was destroyed by |
| traveling the world is meeting people with | | | | Burmese troops in 1767 and the area where it |
| different cultures, different beliefs, and different | | | | was originally located is now called Ayutthaya |
| attitudes towards life. In Thailand, the people do | | | | Historical Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage |
| not believe in rudeness and brash behavior. They | | | | Sight. The city itself was rebuilt a few kilometers |
| believe this is an embarrassment and it is not | | | | away. |
| tolerated. Being from the US, I find that | | | | Another is located in Sukhothai Historical Park. |
| refreshing. Maybe we can learn from them. | | | | According to Wikipedia.com, this park covers the |
| Another great thing about traveling the world is | | | | ruins of Sukhothai, a 14th century kingdom. This |
| the shopping. You will find shopping in different | | | | historical sight should be part of any itinerary for |
| countries a great pleasure because you will find | | | | traveling in Thailand. The area has walls all the |
| products that are not produced anywhere else. | | | | way around it and has gates on each side. The |
| Each country has it's own unique products to | | | | remains of the royal palace and 26 temples are |
| offer you and in many countries the prices for | | | | inside these walls. The largest temple is called Wat |
| these items is very low. Thailand is no different in | | | | Mahathat. Thousands visit the area every year to |
| this regard. The shops in Bangkok will keep you | | | | see the ruins of this once great city. |
| busy for days, so go prepared to shop. | | | | Many areas mentioned in this article can be easily |
| There are a lot of alleys in Bangkok filled with | | | | toured by bicycle, an often overlooked form of |
| shops, small cafes, and great Thai restaurants. | | | | transportation when traveling the world. |
| They have a wholesale garment district called Wu | | | | Whenever you travel to another country, sitting in |
| Fen Pu, with more than a thousand clothing stores | | | | a car going from sight to sight sometimes cheats |
| and shops that sell accessories, such as shoes, | | | | you out of truly appreciating the beauty of the |
| belts, purses, bags, and much more. Many of the | | | | country you are traveling in. Check out the |
| items are hand made or locally produced and you | | | | country and the sights by bicycle where possible |
| won't believe how low the cost is for these items. | | | | and I guarantee you won't regret it. |
| Another market to visit while you travel in | | | | There are many other Wats to visit in Thailand. I |
| Bangkok is Chatuchak. It's huge! You'll think you're | | | | suggest you choose as many as your stay will |
| in the Disneyland of shopping centers. It will take | | | | allow. If you visit some of them in the evening, |
| you a couple of days to browse all the shops at | | | | you can even experience the chanting of the |
| Chatuchak, but well worth it for all the bargains | | | | Buddhist Monks. A couple of other Wats of |
| and unique products you will find there. | | | | interest are Wat Chedi Luang, in Chiang Mai City, |
| Another location for some great night shopping in | | | | which was once the home of the emerald Buddha |
| Bangkok is the Shilin Night Market. They have a | | | | and Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace in |
| food section and another for shopping. There are | | | | Bangkok. Wat Phra Kaew is now called the The |
| more than one thousand stalls here and some of | | | | Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Legends hold that |
| the best bargains you will find in Thailand. | | | | the statue originated in India, but it first surfaced |
| You may not be allowed to shop on Fridays. That | | | | in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1434. |
| is when buyers from other stores go there to | | | | One thing you have to remember if you plan to |
| stock up on items for resale and business is | | | | visit the Wats in Thailand is that you must wear |
| focused on them. Just like here, if you plan to buy | | | | long pants. Shorts or dresses are not permitted |
| summer clothing, go in the fall and vice versa. | | | | while entering these temples. |
| Most shops in Bangkok are open to 11pm, so | | | | If you like beaches, then you must visit Phuket, |
| shopping in the late afternoon or evening is much | | | | 70 minutes flying time from Bangkok. The waters |
| better. | | | | of the Andaman Sea are green and beautiful and |
| One of the most exciting parts of world travel is | | | | the beaches are very clean. It is Thailand's most |
| exploring and taking in the sights that are unique | | | | popular beach and resort destination. They have |
| to each country. As you travel the world, the | | | | popular resort hotels, Thai and seafood |
| photographs you take at memorable sights will | | | | restaurants, water sports, Wats, forests, coral |
| help you relive the memory of the great times | | | | reefs, and mountains. The tropical setting makes |
| you had in each country over and over again, so | | | | for a great part of any visit to Thailand. |
| take plenty of film and your camera wherever | | | | Speaking of mountains, a visit to Mae Hong Son |
| you go. | | | | Mountain Wat is a special cite you may want to |
| Now let's talk about some of the sights you will | | | | add to your itinerary. Mae Hong Son is located on |
| want to see while traveling in Thailand. Ever see | | | | the summit of a mountain. You can walk or take |
| the movie, "Bridge Over The River Kwai, starring | | | | a tuktuk (like a rickshaw) up to the Wat, itself. |
| William Holden and Alec Guinness? I'm probably | | | | There is also an observatory that overlooks all of |
| revealing my age by being familiar with this | | | | Mae Hong Son and the mountains of Myanmar |
| movie, but it was based on a true story and the | | | | behind it. |
| actual bridge does exist. | | | | We hope we have added some useful information |
| A few hours by shuttle from Bangkok takes you | | | | and ideas for your trip to Thailand. |
| to Kanchanaburi. That is where the actual Bridge | | | | |