Thailand: a country of a thousand and one tastes, colors and aromas

Thailand is a nation in the Far East with a population of around 60 million. It has never been colonized by any Western power throughout its long history. Thailand's history, which stretches thousands of years into the past, the traces left of this history, as well as the thousand and one flowers, trees and plants that decorate the landscape here work quickly to entrance and captivate anyone who happens to visit. The air here is clean and feels wonderful to the lungs, while the natural and historical beauty calls out to visitors, as do the panoply of tastes and smells. There are seemingly a thousand and one different types of vegetables, tropical fruits, unique desserts and spices to taste here. Your taste buds alone will feel as though they have embarked on a memorable journey when you taste Thai cuisine, which is made from a blend of some of the strongest spices and sour, even tangy, flavors. You will definitely leave the ordinary and bland behind here.

I really don't know if there are any cuisines in the world that resemble Thai cuisine, which proffers such sweetness, such bitterness, such sourness as you have never tasted before, all in one meal. Coconut, mango, mangosteen, rambutan, dragon fruit, tamarind, water chestnut, garlic, onion, shrimp, mussels, lobster, fish, meat, all combined with every spice you can imagine -- and even some you can't -- and then of course there are the delicious sides of rice that accompany every meal. With its sweet and salty dimensions, Thai cuisine is literally a celebration of flavors.

Smiling Thailand

Even though getting to know Thailand by way of its food it not a bad idea, it's not the only way to introduce yourself to this unique and unforgettable culture. During our eight-day tour of the country, by invitation of the Thailand Tourism Ministry and under the guidance of the Kraichok Arunpairojkul, first secretary of the Thai Embassy in Ankara, we immediately become aware of the fact that the promotional slogan for Thailand put forward by the Tourism Ministry here -- "Amazing Thailand" -- in fact does not do this nation justice. Of course, this country has countless elements to keep visitors in a constant state of surprise and amazement, but if you asked me what an even better slogan for Thailand is, I would say without even a moment's thought, "Smiling Thailand." Without a trace of insincerity or falseness, I believe hospitality in its purest form can be found only in Thailand these days. The trait some call "Thainess" is a kind of hospitality, sincerity and a culture of generosity made out of respect that is unfortunately disappearing from the face of the earth. While here though, you deeply understand just how important it is. And it is precisely the human beauty of "Thainess" that is the crowning glory of the already amazing historical and natural beauty of Thailand.

If you can pull yourself away from the delicious temptations of Thai cuisine long enough to look around, one of your first stops really must be the Vimanmek Mansion, where the Thai royal family once lived. This building is the world's largest structure made from the wood of the golden teak tree, and it serves as a museum, displaying not only the living quarters of the Thai royalty such as they were, but also many gifts that were given to the family from around the world. Definitely make time for the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, a mansion which is notable for an architectural style harking back to the Italian Renaissance and its neo-classical lines. The outer walls of the mansion are Italian in style, with marble imported from Carrara used to decorate the interior. This mansion was once used as a meeting place for parliamentary members, and it is still used for state business.

Buddha statues: a legacy left by Alexander the Great

Wat Pho is the birth place of Thai massage, an art whose image has been sullied some since it is often synonymous with prostitution. Still, I can't recommend enough that you visit Wat Pho, the Phra Chetuphon Temple and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha if you go to Thailand. Wat Pho is the largest temple in a nation and possesses more than 30,000 shrines. Around Wat Pho there are 99 small and large “stupas” (mounds or monuments honoring Buddha). The statue of the Reclining Buddha depicts the Buddha just before he reaches Nirvana. It is an enormous statue, at 43 meters in length and 15 meters in height it is the largest statue of Buddha in Thailand and is an important stop for any tourist. According to historians, the first Buddha statue was built by a Greek sculptor during Alexander the Great's expedition to India. Today, the number of Buddha statutes has reached the hundreds of thousands. Interestingly, you can also find eight statues of Marco Polo here, despite the fact the famous voyager never stopped off in Thailand during his journeys.

Another stop you must not neglect during your time in Thailand is a visit to the Thai Traditional Medicines Museum, where you can buy some completely natural herbal soaps, scents, perfumes and medicines at its small shop. Also, make sure you head to the Or Tor Kor open-air market, where you can find every sort of tropical fruit or vegetable imaginable, as well as lots of traditional Thai food. Head over to Chinatown, the Jatujak weekend open-air market, Pak Khlong Talat, the Wat Sai floating market and the Silom Surawong open-air night market to buy gifts for your loved ones back home; you'll see interesting things and take care of your errands at the same time.

I suppose one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make during a trip to Thailand would be to miss Ayutthaya, which lies 76 kilometers north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya was the capital of the country for 417 years when the area was under the rule of the Siamese Kingdom. Ayutthaya is one of the nation's most important tourist centers. It served as the capital city throughout the rule of 33 royal families, but was finally destroyed in 1767 by the Burmese. Ayutthaya contains many historical ruins, and of course, thousands of tourists visit its Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya historical park annually, a park which has been included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List since 1991. You need to make sure you see the Great Palace, the Chantharakesem Palace and the Wang Lang Palace, as well as the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace built by the legendary King Rama IV and subsequently lived in by the royal family for years.

If you spend just a bit more time and a bit more money during your trip to Thailand you can also see the pure, natural beauty of Sukhothai. You can take a flight to this historical city on Bangkok Airways; in fact, the moment you step off the plane, you will find yourself encountering what must be the world's sweetest airport. The airport is built from wood and has exotic architecture that is sure to entrance you. You will feel as though you've simply entered a different world.

A different way to describe happiness, peace and serenity: Sukhothai

This beautiful city was the center of the Sukhothai Kingdom, which is remembered for its security and serenity. The region around it, including the area of Si Satchanalai, is full of unparalleled traces of history that are captivating.

If you arrange for your visit here to coincide with the full moon during the months of October or November, you will have the chance to witness sunset at Pra Thep in Sukhothai's Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, followed by the Loi Krathong festival (a festival of light and candles) held on a small island on the lake here. This festival features classical Thai dances and music, so if you are here at the right time, you definitely would not want to miss it. You can even sit and watch the festivities from the banks of the lake while sitting on some of the pillows placed on the freshly cut grass precisely for this purpose. The fact that the total bed capacity of all the hotels in this immediate area combined is only around 300 or so is a clear indicator that tourism has not made deep inroads here yet. So head to Sukhothai before world tourism has a chance to sully these pure waters! While in Sukhothai, take the time to see the remains of King Ramkhamhaeng's royal palace, as well as the Buddhist temples contained within the palace's historical walls, temples such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Sawai, Wat Traphang Ngoen, Wat Chana Songkhram, San Ta Pha Daeng and Wat Mai, which is made from volcanic rock. You might also take a look at the memorial to King Ramkhamhaeng as well as the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.

I'm sure you'll also be interested in the remains of many ancient earthen ovens and implements you will see scattered throughout this region .

Another historical park that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Si Satchanalai Historical Park. This park boasts pagodas, stupas and temples such as Wat Chang Lom, Wat Chedi Chet Thaew and Wat Nang Phaya. There are so many historical sites to visit in Thailand; you won't know where to start. Don't forget to pick up one of the traditional Thai hand weavings sold at small ateliers here; they are pieces of high quality workmanship and are the perfect memento for later.

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