Without a doubt, It is easy to understand why they call “Thailand, the Land of Smiles.” One cannot become an expert on anything in just one visit. Yet, our visit to Thailand began to open up to us the brand-new world of the Far East! This is indeed a gorgeous, tropical country, and its people are extremely friendly. Without a doubt, Thailand is a “Land of Smiles.” Thailand is a Southeast Asian kingdom that has survived for generations. The lush jungle atmosphere, however, provides a Thailand visitor with beautiful vistas beyond explanation. Beware, though, the humidity is staggering! Staggering!!
Thailand: A Land of Buddha
In Thailand we visited several Buddhist monasteries and we chatted with several monks. To our surprise, however, the most memorable of the Buddhists shines for us was the Brahman Shrine near Hat Yai. Beyond the weather and Thailand’s lush tropical environment, the first thing that is noticeable is the omni-present Buddha. Buddha is everywhere in the form of statues, icons, and monasteries.
A huge statue of a Three-headed Elephant dominates this Brahman Shrine. The entire time of our visit, firecrackers were fired; apparently, they are fired all day long, even though the sound is deafening. Buddhists believe that the noise keeps evil spirits away. Not only were people shooting firecrackers, but they were purchasing dozens of marigold garlands to wrap around the neck of the shrine’s many elephants. (If you want to visit, there is a cable car to the shrine, or you can drive up the mountain and park; the cost is around 200 Baht, or about $6.00.
Pataya & the Gulf of Thailand
After a week in the south near Hat Yai with its abundance of rubber trees and villages, we flew north to Bangkok and then took public transportation to the City of Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand. The beaches were beautiful to see, but we didn’t find them particularly clean. The humidity was even more intense here, but instead of the rural setting, we found ourselves in a major city by the sea. We found our way around well on the local “taxi cabs”–converted pickup trucks. Even though we enjoyed the change to the urban setting with its modern malls and busy streets, we really enjoyed the Sanctuary of Truth.
The “Sanctuary of Truth” in Thailand, the Land of Smiles
The “Sanctuary of Truth” is situated on the Gulf of Thailand in the city of Pattaya. It is completely constructed of wood and all hand carved. The different sides represent both Buddhism and Hinduism from several different Southeast Asian countries. The site offers several tourist options that ultimately fill an entire day. Touring the sanctuary itself is most educational and really a must. In addition, the Sanctuary grounds offers cultural dances (included in the video clip above), elephant rides, tours of the Sanctuary craftsmen, and boat rides on the Gulf of Thailand. Please ignore the heat and take in this most unusual site!
A Day Trip into History
Early one morning in Pattaya, we boarded a small van and began one of the most interesting days of our Thai journey. Despite the fact that everything we did in Thailand was interesting and different, this particular day was a highlight. This day trip took us north to the historic World War II site of the building of the Bridge over the River Kwai.
On our way to the site of the bridge we had another “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity when we visited a real Thai floating market. That, too, was amazing. When you visit Thailand, please do your best to visit and experience one of these traditional and fully functioning floating markets.
What a solemn adventure to actually visit the site where so many Allied prisoners of war gave their lives to “help” the Japanese build a bridge from Burma to the sea. Perhaps the most solemn part of the day was a visit to the cemetery of the Allied troops who perished here. Significantly, years ago, America repatriated its service personnel who perished there. But, we walked among hundreds of British and Australian tombstones. 90% of them were under twenty-one years of age!
A Brief Tour of Bangkok
After a week in the south followed by a week in Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand, we took public transportation into Bangkok. Our time there was limited, but it was certainly worth it. After a “taxi” ride around the city of Bangkok (nothing more than a bicycle with a passenger seat behind), we toured the Royal Palace Grounds. The solid gold towers overwhelmed us.
Obviously, a two week visit to any country is merely a cursory introduction, but our two weeks in this beautiful land was enchanting. The people, the lush countryside, the food, and the hospitality blend to make Thailand, the Land of Smales captivating.
Other posts from Kathy Slamp
If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy Cruising the Yangtze River by Kathy Slamp. I am an experienced Alaska naturalist, and there are SIX Alaska blogs on this site. They are all in the menu on the home page.
