Bangkok
Land of Smiles
Before 1939, this country where both rice and tolerance are cultivated with the same ardour was called Siam. But as it had never been colonized, it preferred the name Thailand, signifying "Land of Free Men". They number 60 million, 90 per cent of whom are Buddhists, a fact that permeates all facets of national life. Even in sophisticated Bangkok, women turn out in front of their houses soon after dawn to offer rice to saffron-robed monks.
Thais are very proud of their past and their royalty. The constitutional monarchy plays a lively role in uniting the country and keeping democracy on the rails. Bhumibol (Rama IX) has reigned since 1946, skilfully presiding over the rapid transformation of his kingdom into one of Asia's "Tiger" economies, while endeavouring to retain its traditional values.
Thailand never fails to delight every taste-aesthetic, eccentric, or exotic. There's so much to see and do, you may barely find time for a swim. The balmy beaches of Pattaya and Hua Hin, fringed with palm trees, are only the beginning of the story. In the tumultuous capital Bangkok, catch your breath in the peaceful atmosphere of a temple. Then experience the passage of time as you glide along the Chao Phraya River in a boat, observing the life of the canals, the colonial quarter with the legendary Oriental Hotel, and the futuristic skyscrapers. Take time to wander in Chinatown, where the odours of the opium dens and brothels still linger. But times have changed: children whose parents rode water buffaloes out in the rice fields now programme computers and run production lines in Bangkok. In turn, city-dwellers need to journey 100 km to find an authentic floating market.
