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Places
of the Salsa Vacation
Bangkok
- Kanchanaburi
- Ayuthaya- Thailand
Beaches
Same
same, but different. It’s Thailish T-shirt philosophy that
neatly sums up Bangkok, a city combining the tastes of many places
into a unique and often spicy dish that is never, ever boring.
Such contradictions give the City of Angels its rich, multi-faceted
personality. Delve just a little deeper and you’ll find
a city of climate-controlled mega-malls and international brand
names just minutes from 200-year-old village homes; of gold-spired
Buddhist temples sharing space with neon-lit strips of sleaze;
of slow-moving rivers of cars bypassed by long-tail boats plying
the royal river; and of streets lined with food carts selling
Thai classics for next to nothing, overlooked by restaurants on
top of skyscrapers serving international cuisine
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Bangkok or Krung Thep which means
the City of Angels was constructed in 1782 or 227 years ago.
Presently, Bangkok has approximately 10 million population and
it is considered one of the biggest city in the world
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If
all this sounds dizzying, rest assured that despite its international
flavour, Bangkok remains resolutely Thai. The capital’s
cultural underpinnings are evident in virtually all facets of
everyday life, and most enjoyably through the Thai sense of sànùk,
loosely translated as ‘fun’. In Thailand anything
worth doing – even work – should have an element of
sànùk. Whether you’re ordering food, changing
money or haggling at the vast Chatuchak Market, it will usually
involve a sense of playfulness – a dash of flirtation, perhaps,
and a smile.
In fairness, there are times in Bangkok that are more fun than
others. The city’s three seasons (cool, hot and wet) are
all pretty warm, but November to February is the most enjoyable
– not that the rest of the year is impossible – and
the tropical storms of the wet season bring a dramatic relief.
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Kanchanaburi
is Thailand´s third largest of 76 provinces. It is located
130 km west of Bangkok and covers an area of 19,480 km². About
735,000 inhabitant are living in Kanchanaburi province which borders
Myanmar (Burma) at the north-west.
Kanchanaburi town has a population of 54,000 and was originally
established by King Rama I as a first line of defence against the
Burmese, who might use the old invasion route through the Three
Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Myanmar border. It is situated on the River
Kwai and the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, immortalized
in Pierre Boulle´s same named novel and David Lean's movie.
Every year in late November and early December the River Kwai Bridge
Festival is held at the bridge with a spectacular Sound & Light
Show. This event reminds to the history of the Death Railway and
the bombardments during World War II. |
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The
Province itself captivates beautiful nature and friendly people
with their native charm. Major attractions include several waterfalls,
mountains, caves (that were once inhabited by neolithic man), national
parks and last, but not least, the River Kwai. |
River Kwai Bridge |
Elephant treking |
Erawan Waterfalls |
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Phra
Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand’s
historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital
for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified
as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th
century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats
alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering
city that they had ever visited..
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in terms of sovereignty,
military might, wealth, culture, and international commerce in the
16th century when the Kingdoms territory was extended far beyond
present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya even had diplomatic
relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese,
English, Chinese and Japanese merchants.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical
site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO’s
World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991. |
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Today,
there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas
where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring
even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning
for those drawn to the relics of history.
The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient
Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped
obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something
like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas
are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who
had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted
with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was
built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai
Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.
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The beaches of Thailand are the
main reason many people come.
There is has a wide choice of beaches including picturesque white
sandy beaches washed by clear azure waters
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