Thailand Adventure Guide, Turystyka, Travel Guides
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dventure Guide
WHERE TOSTAY & EAT
FLOATING & NIGHT MARKETS
TEMPLES & FESTIVALS
ELEPHANT TREKKING
DIVING & KAYAKING
THAI MASSAGE
ENTERTAINMENT
Thailand
WHERE TO STAY & EAT
FLOATING & NIGHT MARKETS
TEMPLES & FESTIVALS
ELEPHANT TREKKING
DIVING & KAYAKING
THAI MASSAGE
ENTERTAINMENT
A
dventure Guide to
Thailand
Christopher & Lindsey Evans
HUNTER
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC,
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
732-225-1900; 800-255-0343; fax 732-417-1744
www.hunterpublishing.com
Ulysses Travel Publications
4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec
Canada H2W 2M5
514-843-9882, ext. 2232; fax 514-843-9448
Windsor Books
The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington
Oxford, OX44 9EJ England
01865-361122; fax 01865-361133
ISBN 1-58843-518-0
© 2007 Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
This and other Hunter travel guides are also available as e-books through
Amazon.com, NetLibrary.com and other digital partners. For more
information, e-mail us at comments@hunterpublishing.com.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written per-
mission of the publisher.
This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain
elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies
disclaim responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to any-
one through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made
to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and
author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, liability for any loss or damage
caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel prob-
lems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions result from negli-
gence, accident or any other cause.
Cover photo:
Hat Thram Phra Nang Beach, Krabi
,
©2006, SuperStock, Inc.
Back cover photo:
Lush gardens,
courtesy of Tohsang Khongjiam Resort
Spine:
Thailand’s endless beaches and islands
Photography courtesy of the authors
and the
Tourism Authority of Thailand
unless otherwise noted
Black-and-white line art by
Pu
Maps by Four Seasons Info Media Co., Ltd.
Index by Wolff Index
4321
About the Book
T
he tsunami that hurtled into Southeast Asia, including the south-
ern coasts of Thailand, on December 26, 2004, was the worst natu-
ral disaster the world has known. It killed hundreds of thousands and
affected the lives of millions (see
The Tsunami
, pages 1-29). We were in
Phuket when the murderous waves struck, and were among the very
fortunate who suffered no ill effects.
The exact number of deaths will never be known. In Thailand thou-
sands of tourists and Thais died. The country is also home to thou-
sands of illegal immigrants whose bodies were never claimed, and
many more who would have been sucked to a watery grave, their fami-
lies frightened to report them missing. Throughout Southeast Asia
and beyond the total loss of life was in the hundreds of thousands. We
witnessed the scenes of devastation and stood by helplessly, watching
the grieving and agony of those trying to locate lost loved ones.
Throughout it all the Thais, a remarkably friendly and resilient peo-
ple, retained an unbelievable dignity and desire to help others. They
sought no pity. Instead we saw nothing but heroic acts of kindness and
a determination to rebuild and return to a normal life.
Our work on this book was halfway complete when disaster struck.
Days earlier we had visited resorts that now no longer exist. We had
been on the Khao Lak strip and marveled at the luxury hotels that
had been created. We returned to find the area flattened. Rubble of
those fine buildings had become an early grave for hundreds. We had
stood on the beaches of Phi Phi and saw some of Mother Nature’s fin-
est scenery. Now she had smashed the area from both sides and
claimed hundreds of innocent lives.
Amazingly, just days after the disaster most of the southern Thai
resorts were operating normally. But the world did not see that.
Instead it saw the gruesome scenes of body bags and decomposed
corpses. It saw the frantic faces of relatives searching for a loved one.
Through it all the Thais involved in the tourist industry took care of
their personal problems and returned to work – if they were lucky
enough to still have a place of employment – with a determined effort
to make sure the remaining visitors enjoyed the pleasures that Thai-
land has to offer.
Understandably, the tourist numbers fell rapidly in the affected areas
as people scurried home either hurt or horrified by what had hap-
pened. We stayed to continue our work and marveled at how quickly
rubble and ruin were replaced with improved facilities. Not every area
was able to recover so quickly; it is unlikely that Khao Lak will ever be
the resort it was. But Phuket’s hard-hit areas were soon to be ready
for visitors once again.
When we began the work for this guide we had no inkling that it would
be interrupted by such a catastrophe. We still intend to follow our ini-
tial plan, which was to create a book for those who seek luxury at an
affordable price.
This book is one of an adventure series. But if you were expecting
tough treks into the unknown at bargain prices you have bought the
wrong book. While we much appreciate your purchase we suggest you
close the volume now and gift wrap it as a surprise for someone else.
To us, adventure means a gentle exploration or escapade, not a night-
mare journey into uncharted jungles.
We believe that Thailand can provide a high degree of luxury at an
affordable price. The words
mosquito net
appear now for the one and
only time. We confess that we have never spent a night in Thailand
without air conditioning, nor do we plan to do so. At home we do not
travel on buses with chickens or goats so we don’t do it when we are
away. We are slightly more adventurous when it comes to food; in
Thailand we try everything – well almost everything – once. And most
times we come back for more. We are never far away from a television
with news in the English language or a telephone that works. We
enjoy getting lost as long as we are home in time for dinner and always
sleep in something that resembles and feels like a bed.
To us luxury means lots of large, white fluffy towels in the bathroom.
It means an ample supply of sweet-smelling lotions and soaps that are
replenished daily. We relish not having not having to handle our bag-
gage once we’ve lifted it from an airport carousel. We enjoy being
whisked away in a limousine from the airport and not being kept wait-
ing on a tour bus while Mrs. Brown argues about the scratches that
have appeared on her brightly colored suitcases. Luxury to us is pick-
ing our favorite items from the menu and not having to flinch when
the bill arrives.
At most Thai hotels you are greeted with genuine smiles. The neces-
sary check-in formalities are conducted over a welcoming drink, while
your luggage seems to find its own way to the room. These niceties,
which seem to come automatically in Thailand whether you spend $50
a night or $500, are just one of the aspects that attract us, and millions
of others, back to the shores of this magical kingdom. Thailand is a
very foreign country with its own peculiar ways and culture. Respect-
ing the different customs and lifestyle will make your stay here more
enjoyable.
We hope that this book will give you ideas that will enhance your
stay in this land of silk and smiles. If in some small way we can
convert you to becoming a returning visitor then the words we
have written have not been wasted.
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