Have you ever been to Thailand? If you have, you might already be able to guess the five reasons why I love Thailand and think everyone should visit. I lived in Bangkok, Thailand for five years, so Thailand is like a second home to me. I just want to tell you how much I love this country filled with smiles and happiness by sharing my personal experiences.
- The Food
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Who doesn’t like delicious cuisine? Thai food is loved by many people around the world. We can find good Thai restaurants in Tokyo, but the real thing is definitely different and special. In Thai cooking, there are five basic flavors; sweet, sour, salty, savory, and spicy (sometimes bitterness is added to them as the sixth flavor). The balance of these tastes is what makes Thai food flavorful. My all the time favorite Thai food is Pad Thai, called a stir-fried rice noodle in English. It is basically made with rice noodles, some vegetables, scrambled eggs, shrimp, and peanuts. Pad Thai is one of the most famous street foods in Thailand, so I recommend you to enjoy it at a food stall, while watching the colorful taxies pass by. The experience makes it much better than eating at a restaurant inside a building!
- The Weather
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As many of you may know, Thailand has a tropical climate throughout the year. The average temperature is around 30°C, so Thai people typically wear light and breezy clothes. I’m not sure if the warm weather is what gives Thai people their pleasant and peaceful personalities, but Thailand is widely known as the “Land of Smiles.” When I was living there, I had always been impressed by how warm-hearted the people were. Anyways, personally speaking, the best month to visit Thailand is April. It’s because you can enjoy the hottest month in Thailand and the Songkran festival, which is the celebration of the New Year. “Songkran” literally means transformation or change in Sanskrit. In addition to visiting temples with all your family members, the most important event during the Songkran holiday is “bathing the Buddha images.” To start the New Year on the right note, people splash water each other on the streets. This is the reason why the Songkran festival is also known as a water festival.
- The Historic Temples
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The official religion in Thailand is Buddhism, and more than 90% of the population are Buddhists. Therefore, visiting temples is an essential component of Thai culture. Every temple has remarkable features that make them unique, and is open for all visitors of different religions. There are around 40,000 temples in Thailand, so you can definitely find your favorite one. Among the countless beautiful temples, I especially like Wat Arun, which is on the west bank of Chao Phraya River. I used to visit there to see the sunset from the other side of the river. It is an awesome feeling to eat local Thai food, soaking in the sunlight. The reflection of the temple on the surface of the water is nothing but beautiful. Make sure to follow etiquette rules and behave properly when visiting temples
- The Beaches
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Thailand is often said to have some of the best beaches in the world, thanks to the tropical islands in the south of the country. Beaches are surely the best places to have a chill day during your trip, laying down on white sand and listening to the waves. Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is probably the most famous beach for tourists. So those of you might feel overwhelmed by large crowds could get tired easily. I think the Phi Phi Islands are the perfect destination for you! The group of six islands is big enough that you don’t need to worry about overcrowding. Snorkeling definitely should be the top choice of activity if you want to explore below the sea surface.
- The People
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With the motto “Mai pen rai,” the majority of Thai people are friendly and always wear gentle smiles. “Mai pen rai” means “it’s okay” or “you’re welcome”, and is commonly spoken in a warm way. It reminds me of a famous Spanish phrase, “que sera sera.” Since the tourism industry is a significant part of Thailand’s economy, it has become natural for Thai people to help tourists. Even though many of the locals do not speak English, they try to communicate with foreign people using the limited vocabulary they have and gestures. In addition to their wonderful hospitality, “wai”, the traditional greeting, is another vital component of Thai culture. With the palms pressed together in a prayer-like gesture and the head slightly bowed, “wai” is not only a greeting but also a show of respect, gratitude, and apology. It seems to be a nonverbal behavior, but meaningful in so many different ways.
Even if we are all stuck at home because of everything going on in the world, we can spend our time planning future trips! I hope this article will help you pick your next travel destination.