Wednesday, January 09, 2008

First Look

Thailand barely resembled what I imagined it to be! As I've been expressing time and again, ever since I've returned from there, Thailand is an amazing diversity of tradition and modernity! Our first destination was this very exotic land!

Bangkok airport, though not particularly spectacular (unlike Dubai), has its own unique identity. The airport itself offers a glimpse into the beautiful Buddhist temples and idols that Thailand is known for! The Thais love their king, and if our local guide is to be believed, unanimously so! She claimed that there may be other differences or problems between the locals, but the love for the king is a strong undercurrent that permeates their very existence! Going by the number of posters all over the country that depicted the king's picture, as also the numerous placards and the like hailing and celebrating the king, we had no reason to doubt her words! Though their king really has no power, the sway he holds over his country folk is to be seen to be believed! Truly heartwarming!

A quaint, quite unpleasant smell hovers over most places in Thailand. After a great many quizzical moments, we learnt that the smell was of fried garlic, which apparently is an important ingredient in almost all local dishes! I didn't think those tiny, white cloves could whip up such a stinky storm! It's also quite a difficult place for vegetarians to be stuck in, what with most of the food having some form of meat or the other, in them. Street food stalls serve almost everything imaginable! Some of the sea food, insects and the like made into satays may make the weak hearted turn squeamish!


Pattaya in Thailand is often considered to the 3rd sin city of the world, close behind Las Vegas and Amsterdam. One visit to Pattaya and we realized why exactly this was so! More on that later, though!

6 Comments:

Blogger Idah's Family Bluez said...

Thailand is nice, its different, but its nice in its own way, one thing for sure, are the people... they are humble and good natured, though they may lack in materialistic factor compared to Singapore or Malaysia maybe.. don you think so P?!

8:18 PM  
Blogger supernova said...

Absolutely! Thai people are among the friendliest I've ever seen! This was so evident when we walked down the street markets, et al! I'm completely in love with the place and its people! :-)

9:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was just a tourist and I love the king now!! Thailand is the most amazing place...except the garlic of course...

{a}

10:00 AM  
Blogger Brecht said...

Pataya is an eye opener P = ) Phukett too but there are places where is family friendly too. I get squirmish about the Thai's taste in satays too, my tummy churns everytime i see these poor creatures on a stick. One time during a shopping trip to Chacucahk market (think got the spelling all wrong) , i was looking at this cute squirrel, the stall owner ask me if i wanted it as a pet or on a stick as 'takeaway'.... i said neither and i told him if i did buy it, i would set it free far away from here! heheheheh cant wait for more stories.....

2:30 PM  
Blogger supernova said...

Hehe... Yeah, A, I remember how you crinkled up your nose the whole time we were there!

3:57 AM  
Blogger supernova said...

Oh, that poor squirrel! I do hope it didn't end up on a stick eventually! :-(

Yeah, Pattaya surely has no comparison, Mush... We didn't go to Phuket; hopefully, next time!

4:17 AM  

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