Thailand | Bangkok | Kho Phi Phi
Sandwiched between Laos and Cambodia to the East and Myanmar (Burma) to the West, Thailand is located in the centre of Southeast Asia, and truly at the heart of the region.
Located just 15 degrees north of the equator, Thailand has a tropical climate and temperatures typically range from 19 to 38 degrees C (66-100 F); monsoon rains fall predominately from May to July with cooler, drier weather occurring around November and December.
Thailand has distinct geographies, from the white sand beaches which line the islands which dot the both East and West coastline of the ‘tail’ or ‘trunk’ (if you think Thailand looks like an Elephants head) of Thailand, to the mountainous border with Myanmar (Burma) in the North West.
It is not just the beautiful landscapes which make Thailand an extremely popular destination... it’s also the rich culture both present and past.
Thailand has become known as the ‘Golden Land’ or ‘Land of the Smiles’ perhaps because of its lustre, enchantment and the warm hospitality of the Thai people.
Golden roofs of wats point skywards around, what seems like, every corner, and the saffron robed monks wondering around every city and town, are immediately synonymous with Thailand. All of this amounts to a seemingly very relaxed and tranquil nation, full of warm hospitality, respect and friendly faces.
Buddhism is of course a major part of daily life and the rich history of Thailand, with 94.6% of the population being Buddhist. Belief and respect for the King is also a major part of daily life, with photos adorning walls of houses and restaurants across the country. The King (Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX) was handed the crown in 1946, making him the current longest reigning monarch in the world.
Our Plans in Thailand
Still on our bikes, we crossed over the Mekong River to enter Thailand from Laos. We then spent a couple of weeks winding our way down to the big city of Bangkok.
When we reached Bangkok we had made over 10,000 miles from London across Europe and Asia, due to our winding (mostly overland) route.
From Bangkok we headed to the coast at Chumpon, and got the boat across to Koh Tao, where we had a relax on the beach for ten magical sun filled days.
Thailand Blog Post
I had already fallen in love with the Thai culture, food, people and places, but cycling through the country added a whole new dynamic to the trip.
To find out how we got on pedalling across Thailand throughout May 2012 visit our blog post Cycling in Thailand.
Resources
Useful Thai site with lots of info and a travel planner tool: www.tourismthailand.org/about-thailand/
Thailand
Useful cycle route notes and description from Chiang Mai to Bangkok from Mr Pumpy:
www.mrpumpy.net/BSA-0Thai-3.html
Backpacker type info on SE Asia and forum here:
www.travelfish.org/country/thailand
Thailand Cycling | Nong Khai - Bangkok by bicycle...
Written by Hattie Parke
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