Ten Foot Square Asia

Sports tourism is one of those new tourism and travel concepts that are really driving home visitors to other countries. It has introduced a wonderfully new and novel way of marketing countries to people from other parts of the globe. This also came about due to the change in perception of what a tour and a holiday should be. Relaxation does not necessarily mean lounging around in the pool or the beach anymore. It could also mean de-stressing by doing the sports activities one loves in a completely different setting or taking up a completely new sport in the country where one is vacationing.

Thailand, because of its great geographic location and a history of sports mindedness makes it a very ideal place to practice and promote sports tourism. The country offers a myriad of new adventures and activities for the sports minded individual. Thailand offers sports and sports related activities from the more mainstream fare to activities that are not exactly widely popular. This makes a trip to Thailand a worthy investment because of the diversity of activities that one can do.

Tourists who love the water are in for a treat because Thailand not only offers some of the best beaches in the world to play in, it also has the provisions for many water sports that are widely popular the world over. You can go snorkeling or diving and see for yourself the wonderful aquatic life that inhabits the seas of Thailand. There are also jetskiing, surfing, kiteboarding facilities that are available in practically all of the beach resorts in the country. One unique water activity that one can experience in Phuket are the yellow submarines. These are small submarines that can take visitors under the sea to watch the marine life in the area. These submarines leave from either Rassada Pier or Chalong Pier for a two hour trip underneath the sea. The submarines are quite comfortable with airconditioning and ample space.

Those who are into contact sports can also use their time to learn about and watch Muay Thai Boxing, the most popular sport in Thailand. The national sport of the country is also becoming a favored sport in the west. The great aerobic workout that can be had from training in Muay Thai has made it a preferred activity for those who want to lose weight. Of course, the mixture of grace and brutality of the sport makes it a great spectator sport. There are many stadiums where you can watch Muay Thai matches.

Golf enthusiasts should bring their golf clubs when they travel to Thailand. The country boasts of some world class golf courses that have been designed to international standards. What’s more it is not that expensive to play and use these great golf courses.

Go kart racing is also a great activity that should be experienced if you are in Pattaya. The course in the Pattaya Kart Speedway is quite challenging and will give loads of excitement and fun for drivers of all experience levels.

Countries all over Asia are known for having some of the most colorful, elaborate and fun filled festivals on earth. There are festivals that are based on religion and then there are those that commemorate an important event in the country’s history.

Thailand is quite famous for the number of festivals that are held there every year, aside from the national festivals that are celebrated all throughout the country, it also boasts of having regional festivals that are no less colorful or significant. In fact, regional festivals in Thailand are far more in number compared to the national festivals. Festivals are held in the country all year round, there is not a month in the calendar year where there are no festivals to celebrate or commemorate. This means that no matter what month you plan your trip to Thailand you will definitely find a festival that you can attend or participate in. Some of the more memorable festivals in Thailand are:

Songkran – The Thai New Year is one of the most fun filled festivals in the country. During the celebration of this festival the whole of Thailand becomes a battle zone – a field where people will try to get others wet. The origins of the festival are far more peaceful though as it was originally about sprinkling water on the hands of elders as a sign of respect. The water sprinkling has now devolved into hard core dousing as bucketfuls of water are thrown at other people. Tourists will definitely have to try this fun festival.

Loy Krathong Festival – this happens during the last night of the full moon during the month of November. People celebrate this particular festival by going to rivers and canals and floating miniature boats that are made of cork and banana leaves. These little boards, which are called kratongs, are seen as vehicles that will bring their gratitude as well as their prayers to the gods. Every single kratong contains three essential things – a flower, three incense sticks and a candle. It is breathtaking to see thousands of these kratongs slowly floating away in a river is just breath taking.

Macha Bucha – This is actually a Buddhist festival, probably one of the most important Buddhist celebration throughout the year. Macha Bucha Day, which is not entirely a festival, is held during the full moon day of the third month in the lunar calendar. During this day, worshippers would walk around the temple three times as a way of acquiring divine merits.

The Grand Sale – this is not a festival but a modern day event – and probably one of those events that have made Thailand a great tourist destination is the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale. This annual event is basically a great day for shopping as prices in practically all establishments as a way of attracting more tourists into the country. So far, this event has been delivering the goods as it has really resulted in the increase in tourist arrivals in Thailand over the last few years.

Ask any person what makes Thailand famous and it would be a safe bet to say that practically everyone will cite Thai cuisine. Thailand’s national cuisine has exploded on to the world stage and has become one of the Asian cuisines that have been able to penetrate the west successfully.

Of course, when it comes to food, nothing is better than to actually eat it in its country of origin. It does not matter if a great cook or chef prepared Thai food for you in your country, it still will not be able to beat eating authentic Thai dishes in Thailand because what you will be eating is the real genuine article. You get the freshest produce that are prepared and cooked by chefs that have generations of skill and expertise on the intrinsic methods of cooking Thai dishes behind them.

Wherever you are in Thailand there will definitely be great Thai restaurants and eateries that you should try. Be adventurous though. Do not limit your gustatory experience to the tourist traps. Try to find out the restaurants that the locals frequent because this is where the real culinary experience begins.

The Chiang Mai Floating Restaurant is not frequented by tourists but it is a big hit among the locals. The ambience is amazing as you can choose to eat around or above the lake. There are also fountains and jetties to complete the atmosphere. The Thai cuisine that is served here is absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. The Tom Yum Kung is just perfect. The shrimp dishes are also quite tasty like the deep fried shrimp and the Liang Curry Shrimp Soup. When it comes to the spicy dishes you should tell the waiter how hot you want your order to be. Don’t say anything and you will be given the traditional hotness preferred by the Thais, and it is HOT.

In Bangkok Baan Kanitha is the must go to place for authentic Thai food. Right now, there are already two branches of the restaurant in Bangkok proof of its success and acceptance from the public. Every single dish on their menu is worth trying as they are all delicious. There are some standout dishes though. One of them is a Pomelo Salad called Yam Sam O, which could be considered as one of Baan Kanitha’s signature dishes. Other dishes that are worthy of a visit or two to the restaurant are the Gai Hor Bai Toey (Chicken in Pandanus Leaf) as well as the Tod Man Kung (Deep Fried Shrimp Cakes).

If the absolute best Thai cuisine is what you want to get though then don’t forget to eat at Baan Rim Pa in Phuket. The restaurant has been described as the finest in the country, The menu at the restaurant is based on the recipes that are prepared for the Royal Family themselves. This means that the quality, preparation, and yes the cost, is a cut above the rest. It is still an affordable meal nonetheless and the experience of actually eating Royal Thai Cuisine is an opportunity that should not be missed.

Thailand has a very rich and deep history. In fact, it has played a vital role in the development of that part of Asia thousands of years ago. Fortunately, even with the passage of time many ancient landmarks and sites have been able to withstand the test of time and the people of the world are all the more richer because a very important part of the history of man is still in existence in the country, waiting for us to visit them and be steeped in a wonderful culture and a very colorful history.

There are many historical sites in Thailand that should be visited when you go to Thailand. Phanom Rung Historical Park has the distinction of being one of the most important Khmer sites in the country. The park is situated 120 kilometers from Korat City and it boasts of having the largest number of Khmer monuments in the whole country. Almost two decades were spent restoring almost all of the monuments and edifices in the park and the end result is quite impressive. Visitors will see towers, temples and Buddha images that have that distinct Khmer architectural flair. A Hindu saivite or monastery is also located in the park along with statues of Vishnu. The place is also filled with ruins that depict the images of many Hindu gods, Brahma as well as artistic images from scenes in the Ramayana.

The Chiang Saen, located in Chiang Rai, is a town that is situated near the banks of the Mekong River. The town itself is just like any other town in the rural countryside of Thailand – except for one very big distinction, the many ruins that dot the place, which point to archaeological proof that in the past Chiang Saen was a majestic ang bustling 14th century city kingdom. The town is filled to brimming with these archaeological wonders. There are at least 36 temple ruins dotting the area, as well as moats, fortresses, many images of the Buddha as well as the remains of the ancient city walls. What is most intriguing though is that there are ruins in the area that are actually older than the Chiang Saen era – which gives proof to the existence of an even older kingdom that was located there called Yonok. Most of the artifacts that have been unearthed in Chiang Saen has been relocated and are on display at the Chiang Saen National Museum.

If ancient grandeur is what you want to see though then you should visit the Royal Palace at Sukhothai. The site covers almost 160,000 square meters and has two compounds. The place is then surrounded by an impressive moat. The two compounds, Noen Phrasat and Wat Mahathat, are considered as important places in the ancient Khmer culture. The whole site gives a good representation of Khmer culture as it depicts its very distinctive architecture, artistic styles as well as many images and murals that can be seen in both the inside and outside of the structures.

For a country that has a history that dates back to thousands of years and has assimilated some of the cultural influences of its neighboring countries as well as the westerners that inhabited, Thailand is filled with many cultural distinctions and facts that make it a great topic for conversation and discussions. Below are some fun cultural facts that should initiate a great start to conversations with friends and fellow tourists when you are in Thailand.

1. The capital of modern day Thailand is Bangkok, but the ancient capital of the country is actually Ayuttaya
2. When it comes to cooking the very delicious Thai cuisine, the locals use fish sauce instead of salt
3. Wat Po is one of the most revered as well as the oldest temple in the whole of Thailand but what most people do not know is that you can also have a very relaxing traditional Thai massage at the temple at very affordable prices
4. In the coastal resort of Hua Hin, one can choose from over 40 different tailoring shops when ordering suits
5. The actual Thai name for the capital of Bangkok is Krung Thep. But it is also known as the City of Angels
6. The Thai people put great respect and reverence to the Royal Family, particularly the King of Thailand. He is so revered that a person who makes even a passing joke about the Monarch can be put to prison.
7. The Thais are averse to being touched on the head, even a child should not be touched on the head. This is because they believe that the soul resides on the head and is thus very sacred.
8. One of the rudest things that a person can do in Thailand is to point with their feet
9. Another cultural quirk and taboo in Thailand has something to do with objects, that is, it is not polite to throw an object at a person across the room. This means that you should present an object carefully to the other person (with both hands if possible), even if it means you having to walk across the room to do so.
10. The reverence of the Thais extend to all statues of the Buddha. These statues should be treated with the utmost respect. When you are approaching a statue that is situated in the open you should remove your shoes. You are also required to remove your shoes when entering any temple
11. When entering a house always remove your shoes, this becomes more important and imperative when you visit houses in the rural parts of the country because the locals there will have lesser understanding of your social faux pas if you do accidentally go inside their house with your shoes on.
12. The Hollywood movie The Beach that starred Leonardo di Caprio was actually filmed in the exotic Thai island of Phi Phi. This beautiful island was devastated by the deadly tsunami that happened last December 2004.
13. One important Thai word that a tourist should know is Mai Pet, this is what he should tell the waiter if he does not want his food to be too hot or spicy.