Thailand has more or less the same size of France (it is 1500 kilometres long, and 800 kilometres large) and spreads out in the south-east of the Asian continent. It has a population of 60 millions inhabitants that speak Thai, a language similar to Chinese that determines the meanings according to the intonation of the voice. The history of this country is at least uncertain until the XIII century. It seems that thai people comes from ancient populations from the south-east of China and, nevertheless, recent archeological discoveries are an irrefutable witness of their past millenary. After the XIII century followed different kings, with the capital first in Sukhotai and then, for more than four centuries, in the fabulous city of Ayuthaya.
The modern and contemporary history of Thailand is distinguished by the presence of some enlighted sovereigns, devoted to art, poetry and culture, that worked to modernize the country and remove ancient forms of slavery. Even the present sovereign, the king Bhumipol Adulyadej that ascended the throne in 1950, is very beloved by thai people and distinguished himself thanks to different interventions on the social rights programme, of environment conservation, and of the touristic development of the country.
The religion of thai people is Buddhism Theravada, practised by most of the people with great spiritual intensity. A vocation that can be caught in the different artistic expressions. Both in the architectures of the houses and temples, where the water is always present as essential element of planning, or in the others fields of art - painting, sculpture, theatre and dance - on the background we always find, directly or indirectly, the religion as poetic inspiration.
Among the most appreciated in the world, the thai cuisine prepares really superb dishes skilfully decorated.

Bangkok

With a population of six millions inhabitants, Bangkok is characterized by a burstling vitality, with a face of modern metropole, economically projected towards the future, and at the same time with its precious features of town of the past, repository of many treasures and of an ancient way of living. Here the business' managers live together with the stalls' dealers and with the monks that go around begging the food for the day with the bowl. Bangkok at the beginning was a small fishing village dedicated to the river trade until 1872, but then it started a quick transformation when the thai king Rama I decided, for defense problems against the mongolian troops of Kublai Khan, to make it capital city instead of Ayuthaya. From then the town did not give up growing. Nowadays, Bangkok is divided into two specific towns delimited by the Chao Phraya river, the kings' river that crosses it: on the west we find the quiet Thonburi, and on the east the proper town of Bangkok. Undoubtly the great thai capital, called also "the Angels' town" by its inhabitants, can offer to those who visit it an uncommon appeal, made up of strong contrasts and of a unique atmosphere. It is possible to discover all this in its historical suburbs, in particular the Royal Palace and the different temples, or even the river town with its variegated markets. A visit in the town starts from the symbol of the "Angels' town": the Royal Palace, inside which we find also the Temple of Emerald Buddha. The Royal Palace was built in four years, starting from 1782. It appears like a huge monumental complex, surrounded by a white wall. The style is not the same, as during the years it was subject to various integrations. The Royal Palace is still used nowadays by the Royal Family to welcome authorities from all over the world, and as seat of representation for cerimonies. Among the most visited and beloved buildings of the Royal Palace there is Wat Phra Kaeo, more known as Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Here can be found the most beautiful image of Buddha in all the country. The temple is a structure composed by various chapels, courts and colonnades, decorated with splendid golden stuccoes and fascinating multicoloured glasses. It shelters paintings along the walls, many statues and rich inlays in wood and mother-of-pearl. The other famous temples of the town are: Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, that can be reached by ferry: it is 79 metres high and it's charming to wacht it with the sunset light; Wat Po, called also the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, famous as it shelters a 46-metre long and 15-metre high statue; Wat Benjamabophit, the Marble Temple built at the beginning of the century with Carrara marble, where it is possible to meet the buddhist monks with their vivid tunics. On the south side of Chinatown there is Wat Trimitr, the Temple of the Golden Buddha. 40 years ago, this buddha covered with stucco was found near the port of Bangkok, but while it was transported to Wat Trimitr, it was made fall by accident, the stucco broke down and revealed a solid gold buddha, 3 metres high that weighted five tonnes! Probably the buddha had been covered by stucco in order to hide it, when the Burmen invaded Ayuthaya in the XVIII century. During the cooler hours of the day it is also worth to climb the Golden Mountain, the artificial hill that is found in the compound of Wat Saket, from where the view of Bangkok can be admired. In order to understand the mood and the habits of the "Angels' town", an excursion along its thick net of canals undoubtly represents a privileged point of view: it will be possible to plunge in the classic atmosphere of the river life, animated by commercial exchanges and typical landscapes. Of great interest the itinerary that takes to the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, surely the most colourful market of all Thailand. It is always very crowded, and particularly early in the morning, it is possible to watch the animated exchange of wares and of different products by the inhabitants of the villages in this area. Finally, 60 kilometres from Bangkok is situated the town of Ayuthaya, which was the capital city of Thailand for 417 years. It is a town that houses palaces and temples of extraordinary beauty, on which soar more than 2000 golden spires that still nowadays leave an unforgettable memory in the mind of those that visit it.

Surrounded by the Andaman Sea and several islands, Phuket is the biggest island of Thailand: it is 48 kilometres long and 21 kilometres large. It is located in the southmost point of Thailand and can be reached with direct flight from many towns in the world, or in a hour from Bangkok, whose distance is about 900 kilometres. Thanks to Sarasin bridge that connects it with the dry land, it can be reached also by car, by bus and by train. The island has several beaches dotted with stacks and protected by coral reef, but its hilly countryside, rich of rubber and coconut plantations, with the prolific tin mines and the collection of pearl oysters, have allowed to the inhabitants of the island to enjoy a certain welfare and to become the second province in Thailand for economic wealth. Nowadays its new economic wealth is represented by the tourism, that starting from the 70ies has started to spread in a constant and general way. The most famous beaches are Patong, very lively and animated, the beach of the amusement and of the night life in Phuket. For a relaxing stay it is possible to choose more secluded beaches as Karon or Kata. The beach has unfortunately lost during these last years its charm, and the water its transparency. Even here, like on the famous beaches in Italy, rows of beach umbrellas and many tourists from all over the world. Everything has become business and the sense of exoticism that could be felt until fifteen years ago, nowadays has left the place to new hotels, shops, agencies, restaurants and night clubs. The suggestion is to change destination, always remaining in Thailand, and visit Krabi and Koh Lanta.

In the south-western coast of Thailand, in front of Phuket archipelago, from which it is separated by 130 kilometres of sea spreaded of small and incontaminated islands, there is Krabi, a locality that thanks to its magic beaches and the extraordinary environment that surrounds it is meeting a growing touristic success. Only recently discovered, Krabi has reached in a short time an important position in the hit-parade of the touristic liking, thanks to the beatiful sea, to its incontaminated beaches and overall to a coast characterized with rock formations with unusual and strange forms, that give it an aspect with particular charm. Some of the beaches are very rocky, especially when the shore remains uncovered due to the strong low tide that can reach three metres.
Krabi is 200 kilometres far away from Phuket, around three hours by car. The Andaman Resort is located in a very tranquil place, confortable to make excursions to the islands in front, like Koh Hong. Outside the hotel there are excellent small restaurants that offer tasty thai plates, an excellent service to a very low price. 12 kilometres far away there is Ao Nang, the touristic zone of Krabi, with wonderful beaches that, differently from Phuket, are totally without beach umbrellas. It is possible to move around renting a motor bike that can be rent for 200/300 baht a day just outside the hotel.

To reach Koh Lanta from Krabi it takes almost three hours by car, and it is necessary to take the ferry twice. Beaches are very long and not busy at all, some of them are absolutely with no tourists, therefore we can say that this island is still a paradise far from the mass tourism. Even here it is possible to visit the all island by motorbike in a day. The situation of the roads is not one of the best: some parts of them are not asphalted and on the contrary when a car passes along, clouds of red dust whip up from the soil. The petrol stations are still made up of bins operated by krank gear.
The beach with most of the hotels is Klong Dao Beach. More tranquil are Klong Khong Beach and Klong Nin Beach.
Ban Saladan, a very small town, is the commercial centre of the island. It consists of around 50 shops, travel agents, dive shops, supermarkets, the chemist and the bank. There are a few nice restaurants overlooking the water, some coffee shops offer the great coffee and bakery, the plenty of souvenir shops offer the cheap products from all over Thailand. Lanta Old Town, the pictoresque old capital town is definetely worth visiting for a glimpse into the island's past. The Chinese-style timber shophouses date back 60, 100 years when it became the commercial centre for the island's fishermen and farmers. The town remains the centre of the fishing community and a large proportion of the muslim population.