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Travel And Enjoy The Cuisine In Asia (Thailand)
By Orson Johnson

Thai food has become the world’s most popular cuisines. It is highly regarded as culinary forms throughout the world. Influenced by Indian and Chinese cookery skills, Thai cuisine has combined those arts and created the uniqueness of its own. Like all local and national foods, the Thai cuisine exposes a great deal about the country.

Thai cuisine is known for its spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter flavors. Thai food is popular in many Western countries especially in Australia, New Zealand, some European countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Each Thai restaurant has its own specialties.

Some of the most-preferred dishes of Thailand are Kai Ho Bai Toei, Thotman Plakrai or Thotman Kung, Fish or shrimp fritters; Yam or Thai salad, Tomyam (hot and sour soup); curry and namprik with fish vegetables the sweets famous in Thailand are salim, thapthim krop, lotchunng, khanom chan, coconut-cream gelatine, thong yot, foi thong etc.

Thai Curry – There are four main curries in Thai cuisine including green, red, yellow and massaman. The curry pastes made from herbs and spices are the heart of all Thai curries. Its main ingredients are chili, garlic, shallot, galangal, coriander root and krachai.
Titbits – These can be appetizers, accompaniments, side dishes or snacks. They comprise satay, spring rolls, puffed rice cakes with herbed topping.
Thai Noodles – Thailand is also famous for its fragrant stir-fried noodle dishes. Most Thai noodle recipes call for rice noodles rather than those made with wheat or egg, although these can also be found in Thai cooking. Some of the popular Thai noodle dishes are Pad See-U, Land-Da Noodle, Pad Thai, Pad Woon Sen, and Pad Kee-Mow.

Salads – Thai salads are an important part of Thailand’s foods. Thai salads are sour, sweet and salty. It is prepared from fish sauce, lime juice and a dash of sugar. Fresh herbs like marsh mint, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and cilantro are used for garnishing. Enjoy different salads varieties in Thailand including Som tam, Larb, Namtok, Yam, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad, Rose Petal Salad, Tossed Green Salad with Cashews, Pineapple Salad with Cucumber, Peanuts, & Fresh Herbs and much more.

Thai Meat Dishes – Thai cuisine is incomplete without having Thai meat dishes. Some of the popular meat dishes are Chicken Curry, Gaeng Gari Gai, Green Bean Curry, Masaman Curry with Beef, Pineapple Prawn Curry, Ginger Chicken, Laab Gai, Spicy Chicken with Thai Basil etc.

Thai Soups – These are really tangy. Some of the best varieties of Thai soups are Tom Yum Gung, Tom Kha Gai, Authentic Thai Coconut Soup, Cindy’s Thai Hot and Sour Soup, Duck Legs in Green Curry, Spicy Chicken Thai Noodle Soup and Hot-and-Sour Prawn Soup with Lemon Grass.

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for apartments, bed and breakfasts, Bangkok vacation apartments hotels and Bangkok holiday accommodation

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Thailand is abundant with festivals and quite honestly there is no time of year when you cannot find a festival to enjoy, however here are some of the more popular festivals around Thailand throughout the year.

Beginning the year, the month of January offers the Chiang Mai Winter Fair in Chiang Mai and the River of Kings Festival in Bangkok. The Chiang Mai winter fair offers booths, music, competitions, and even beauty pageants, while the River of Kings festival is a bit more formal with a theatrical production describing the history of Thailand.

February continues the year by offering the Chiang Mai Flower Festival complete with flower covered parade floats and the Bangkok China Town Festival which celebrates the Chinese New Year.

As the peak season begins to wind down, March brings about the Asean Barred Ground Dove Festival where dove owners from around the country gather in Khwan Muang Park, in Yala Province to display their doves and compete for prizes.

April celebrates the Thai New year with the Pattaya Festival, followed by the Songkran Festival which also takes place nationwide but is particularly colorful in Khao San Road, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai.

May is a particularly celebratory month with the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok which celebrates the beginning of the rice planning season and the Visakha Bucha, a religious celebration of Buddha celebrated nationwide and the Yasothon Rocket Festival which awards the most explosive rockets. It’s an eye and ear opening festival sure to please both young and old alike.

July brings about the well known Candle Festival in Tung Sri Muang, Muang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. Visitors will find tall, beautiful, candles displayed and presented to local temples.

August celebrates the nationwide Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

September is the world famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival (famous for the gory displays of people impaled by a variety of objects and not for the faint of heart) and the significantly less gory Phichit Boat Races along the Nan River.

October celebrates the Wax Castle Festival celebrated nationwide but is particularly spectacular in Sakon Nakhon, the Chon Buri Buffalo Races, and the Illuminated Boat Procession Festival along the Mekong River.

November begins the peak travel season by being another celebratory month with the Loy Krathong celebrated Nationwide, the Surin Elephant Roundup, the River Kwai bridge week in Kanchanaburi, and the Phimai Festival.

December ends the year with a nationwide celebration of the King’s birthday and the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

Festivals in Thailand are planned on the lunar calendar. Check for the exact dates of each festival before you make your hotel reservations and travel plans.

The author is an Asia based frequent traveler and runs a number of travel and Thailand related websites including Thailand Hotel Reservations, and Cheap Flights to Thailand.

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How would it feel if you are allowed to see and touch a full grown tiger which is out of its cage? I am sure it would be an exciting experience. If you really want to experience this then all you have to do is plan a trip to Thailand.

The Theravada Buddhist temple is located Saiyok of Thailand and is a unique temple where one will find a numerous wild animals and among them is the majestic tiger. The temple is also known as Tiger Temple because of its tigers.

The Tiger Temple is located near the most famous tourist spot the - Bridge Over the River Kwai. The temple is formally known as Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno in Thai language. From 1999 the monks are engaged in taming tigers and all this started when an abandoned tiger cub was found in the nearby forests by villagers who gave the cub to the monks to take care of it. As the news spread, many people started bringing orphaned cubs to the temple. Most cubs had lost their mother to poachers and were too young to fend for themselves. Presently there 18 cubs in the temple.

Every evening the tigers are let out of their cages and taken to a quarry where there is a natural pool in which the tigers have their bath and play. The tigers are fed dry cat food and boiled chicken. The monks take utmost care to ensure that the tigers do not taste blood through any food. As the tigers are pretty tamed, visitors visiting them temple can see them from a close distance. At times, they are also allowed to pet and touch the tigers. The visitors leave donations and this is what the monks use to feed the tigers.

In the Tiger Temple, one can see that even tigers have learned to follow the Buddhist way of life.

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In light of its spectacular Andaman waters with their clear water and coral reefs, rich animal and plant life, top-notch resorts and intense party scene, Samui has set itself apart as one of Thailand’s most popular resort destinations. There’s plenty to do in the towns as well as out and about on the water, underwater and in the forest. The monthly Full Moon parties that take place on a neighbouring island are an absolute requirement for all full-throttle partiers. All of this together makes for a first-class holiday in one of Thailand’s most coveted locations.

Temple of the Big Buddha
Wat Phra Yai is Samui’s Temple of the Big Buddha, with its signature 12 metre tall Buddha statue. Built in 1972, this iconic temple sits on a little island that is connected to the main island by a bridge. The temple grounds also house a centre for meditation, another draw for inspired visitors. When visiting any temple in Thailand, it’s important to follow the standard rules of dress and etiquette which includes wearing long pants, sleeves and removing your shoes before entering the actual temple.

Beaches
The beaches of Samui are its greatest attraction, and each one is known for its own specific qualities. Ao Tong Takian is also called Silver Beach due to the glimmer of its sand and shimmering water; Lamai Beach is a popular family destination in light of the abundant water sports and activities; Choeng Mon offers higher-class accommodation in a remote setting and Chaweng Beach rallies as the most popular among tourists, with its peripheral of exciting activities like Muay Thai boxing and bungee jumping.

Eating out
Nothing beats an evening at a beachside restaurant where you can enjoy a laid-back dinner right at the water’s edge. Samui’s fresh seafood makes way for all kinds of top-notch cuisine—be it gourmet Thai food or international fare. More authentic and highly affordable Thai food can be hunted out on the streets from local vendors, and in the opinion of the locals, the spicier the better.

Partying and nightlife
The tourism industry has paved the way for a varied nightlife that spans all the major developed districts. Clubs can be found at Lamai Beach, with tourist-grabbing exhibitions and shows to hold your interest. This is also the seedier side of the island with its fair share of go-go bars and the periphery of business that comes along with it. Live bands and slightly more upscale bars and clubs can be found at Chaweng Beach. A more laidback scene is on Big Buddha Beach with western-style ambiance and expatriate-owned establishments.

Full Moon parties
Even if they haven’t attended one, almost every visitor to Samui will hear about the notorious Full Moon parties held once a month on neighbouring Pha Ngan Island. Locals taxi boatloads of partygoers out to this island in preparation for the heart-pounding party that rage all night in honour of the full moon. There’s a variety of music playing, and peddlers take advantage of their corner on the market by selling all sorts of souvenirs, food and other ingestibles at exorbitant prices. The popularity of this monthly party has led to the addition of further weekend parties to mark less memorable phases of the lunar cycle.

Waterfalls
There are several waterfalls on Samui that many tourists choose to visit. Na Muang Fall 1 flows over a very tall cliff and spills into a rocky pool; while it isn’t great for swimming, it makes for wonderful scenery. Its counter, Na Muang Fall 2, is located nearby and is easily accessed by groups of elephant riders and trekkers. Another option is to head to Hin Lat Fall, which is a great place to enjoy a cool, freshwater plunge for a change of pace from swimming in the ocean.

Diving
Koh Samui is a world-class diving destination and the fabulous offshore coral reefs pose a great opportunity for all skill levels. Beginners can enrol in accredited training courses at many dive shops in Bo Phut, Chaweng and Lamai. More skilled divers prefer diving at Sail Rock or Ang Thong National Marine Park, an impressive 40-island archipelago that boasts a pristine natural environment. The ultimate diving destination in Thailand, Koh Tao isn’t too far away either.

Daytrip south
If you’re looking for an escape from the hectic tourism scene, head to the south side of Samui where groves of coconut trees and quiet Muslim fishing towns have staved off the development that has come upon the rest of the island. It’s possible to find a secluded beach to while away some hours, and there are also some unique temples and chedis to investigate.

Adventure sports
Adventure sports are an everyday pastime on Samui. The whole family will appreciate elephant rides in a jungle setting, and multiple agencies can arrange tours. Closer to town, kids will enjoy spending some time at the go-kart track. Samui Shooting Range is located in Chawang, as is the bungee jumping pavilion. The latter sits off the beach road near the Reggae Bar.

Viewing wildlife
The display of wildlife at Samui ranges from insects and butterflies at the Butterfly Farm to the raging buffalo fights scheduled at local stadiums. There is a snake farm, crocodile farm and an aquarium all on the main island. The nearby Ang Thong National Marine Park has wild gibbons living in lush, jungle surroundings amid quiet lagoons and limestone cliffs.

Web travel writer Andy Burrows knows Samui inside out and suggest the following web resources for a thorough virtual tour; http://www.1stopsamui.com/ and http://www.1stopsamui.com/what_to_see/beaches/

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Thailand has always possessed a strong sense of mysticism and natural healing through the variety of available yoga and meditation options. This becomes apparent through the many spas and resorts that can be located throughout the country. Below you will find an array of worthy health spa and vacation resorts, which accommodate a wide range of budgets.

1) The Oriental, Bangkok

The Oriental is considered one of the most beautiful spas in the world from the suites all the way down to the standard room. The spa marks a breakthrough in Asia, which is considered one of the first of its kind. Popular options include the Oriental Massage, as well as the Jet Lag Recovery Treatment. The spa also features a Revitalizing Seaweed Treatment, Essential Oil Massage, Oriental Mud Wrap and the Oriental Herbal Wrap. Average Price: $330-$2200

2) Natural Wing Health Spa

Located a couple minutes from the Bang Por Beach, visitors will find themselves situated about a tropical oasis, surrounded by white sands and lovely views. If you are interested in staying at this location, you will find a satisfying selection of deluxe Thai villas. The resort offers access to a refreshing swimming pool, as well as a top-notch health spa with authentic Thai massage. Additional services offered include yoga, meditation, colonic cleansing, as well as acupuncture. Average Price: $40-90 per day

3) St. Carlos Medical Spa

For those who wish to experience the uplifting properties of traditional Thai medicine, this is the place to seek out. The spa treatment and other therapies have earned a reputation for providing a small slice of heaven to visitors. Once you check into deluxe accommodations, you may explore the open terrace, evening cruise, or delicious international cuisine. One of the most popular packages at this location includes the Honeymoon Package, offering five treatments per day (three primary and two mini options). Average Price: $100-$1500

4) Evason Hua Hin Resort & Six Senses Spa

There are close to 150 luxury, lodging options featured at this resort and spa, which places you in the midst of a breathtaking tropical garden. The private pool villas here provide great views of the Gulf of Siam. Many tourists boast of the superb level of service and amenities offered at this resort, from the lotus pool to the romantic balconies. A popular package option to be on the lookout for is called the Exotic Flower Bath, which includes two hours of a full body, face and scalp massage. Average Price: $125-$425

5) Patong Villa Hote

The Chaidee Spa at this hotel offers traditional Thai surroundings, as well as a satisfying location to let all worries float away. Situated on the tropical destination of Phuket, accommodations are located rather close to the beach. At the onsite beauty salon, you may enjoy facial and foot massages, as well as traditional Thai and Swedish massage. Average Price: $27-$40

6)Pimalai Resort & Spa

There are close to 1000 meters of sand-filled beach land to experience when staying at this resort and spa. Placing tourists in the southern part of Thailand, within the province of Kabi, you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking coastline. Available spa selections include the Pimalai Pampering Package (flower bath and massage); Ultimate Detox Package (flower bath, body wrap, massage); “Koo Rak” Package (body scrub and massage); and Royal “Koo Rak” Package (herbal steam, flower bath, body scrub and massage). Average Price: $250-$2000.

As you can tell, in recent years Thailand has emerged as a spa destination with some of the world’s best spas in idyllic locations at affordable prices.

You can learn more about Thailand Health Spas at Rex’s handmade handbag site, Siam Sensibilities. He sells handbags and accessories made from Thailand’s indigenous materials–silk, hyacinth, leather or hemp–at budget friendly prices.

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The world often sees the women of Thailand very differently than they actually are. Much of Hollywood would love society to think of Thai women as these sexual beings that do nothing but submit to prostitution and other sexual acts regularly. The truth is however, that Thai women are quite conservative. In fact, their purity is something that is not only expected, but also required.

One thing that makes the women of Thailand so unique is the fact that they do take their purity seriously. When they go on dates, there is very little physical contact at all. Holding hands is something that is seen as being intimate. They do not have pre-marital sex and are honored to be pure when they marry. This fact makes them quite appealing on many levels. They are not the dirty prostitutes the world thinks they are. They are pure and spiritual.

In addition, the women of Thailand are very domesticated. They aren’t well educated in most cases, however they do know how to keep a clean house. They are great at entertaining and cooking and will be sure their mate is completely happy. They see marriage as a way to stay out of the world of prostitution that draws so many Thai women in.

They are morally strong, which makes them incredibly attractive to many people. They stand by what they feel, even if it means they must be poor or do without certain things. In fact, many women will live in poverty to keep their morals in tact, instead of lowering themselves to prostitution.

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Thailand was my first tourist destination outside Europe and North America. Based on the sage advice of my Thailand-experienced friends, I was sure that this paradise vacation would be carried out on ridiculous costs. However, back home, I have found out too late, that during my little Thailand adventure I have spent almost the same amount of money as one of my regular surges to Europe. If only I knew that carefully planning your trip to Thailand can manifest itself in huge savings. The following list includes some solid advice that can help those novice Thailand visitors to save significant amounts of cash and still enjoy their vacation:

1. Season choice. Traveling in Thailand Islands during the low season can save you up to 25% of the accommodation costs (up to 25$ per bungalow per night if you choose high standard – not luxury - accommodation). Similar to many other world locations that are based operate seasonally; there is a significant price fluctuation across seasons. Not less important is that fact that the weather in Thailand is quite pleasant even during the low season. The temperatures’ difference between the “hot season” and the “peak season” is miniscule, and during the “wet season” one can experience only a mild occasional rain. Therefore, in Thailand one can lower accommodation costs by avoiding the peak season without paying the price of suffering from unbearable cold or coping with endless monsoon.

2. Transportation. Getting from Bangkok to your final destination in one of the Southern Islands by train or bus instead of by plane can save you up to 80$ each way. You can save a bundle if you arrive to Bangkok International Airport in the evening. In this case you save, besides the gap between relatively expensive airfare and train or bus ticket, the first night’s accommodation cost as well (40$ - 100$ per bungalow per night in high standard – not luxury - accommodation).

3. Food. In Western style countries, the more you pay for your dinner the better it is, so everyone can make a personal decision about getting an appropriate cost – benefit balance. In Thailand, and especially in the Southern Islands it is much simpler: in most cases, the cheaper the better. Expensive restaurants in Thailand Islands usually specialize on Western food that is neither authentic nor of superior taste; a standard dinner will cost you 10$ - 30$ in a restaurant of this kind. Alternatively, the dinner in a cheap restaurant with plastic chairs will cost you 3$ - 8$ and it is usually both tasty and authentic. My most disappointing Thai dinner was served in a fancy restaurant in Bangkok and had cost 120$ for a couple, whereas my best dinner was served in a cheap family restaurant in Koh Phangan. The owner - young mom named Mam – prepared the meal for us exactly as we wished it would be and charged us with measly 5-6$ per person.

4. Air Conditioning. The presence of air conditioning in your room can make a huge difference in accommodation rates. For example, the same room rates in the same resort can vary from 15$-30$ for a bungalow with a fan to 40$ - 100$ for an air-conditioned bungalow. Although choosing an air-conditioned room during the hot season (such as March – April) is crucial, if you visit Southern Thailand during the rainy season – a bungalow with a fan can both satisfy your needs and cut your expenses in more than a half.

5. Location choice. Similar to the principle held in most places in the world, the accommodation rates in Thailand Islands depend on your location choice. The bungalow in the central beach, close to the airport or seaport full of thriving nightlife will probably be twice as expensive as the same bungalow in a remote quiet beach. However, accessibility is an issue in the Thailand Islands, and the taxi fares and taxi boat fares operate under the same principal as the accommodation rates. So there is a rule you may adopt: if you are looking for social activities and busy nightlife– stay close to the airport or seaport; otherwise make a little effort and move after your arrival to a remote beach. You will save up to 60% on the accommodation rates this way.

6. Communication. It will probably not come as a complete shock, but the use of cellular phone from outside of Thailand could be extremely expensive. To save on communication costs you can either buy a local cellular phone with prepaid SIM card or use the Telephone & Internet centers services. Mind you that the cost of these services may vary. As usual, if you’re calling overseas from your resort’s office – it will be more expensive than using a call center in the town. The cheapest solution is probably giving your phone number to your friends or relatives overseas since every call center has a phone number that can be used for calling back.

7. Price negotiation. In tourist locations in Thailand negotiation is a necessity or a way of life. Likewise, in the less touristy islands and areas price bargaining is accepted as well. Just try it – in Thailand price negotiation isn’t considered an embarrassing behavior, so you have nothing to lose.

8. Psychology. Although, in Thailand everything is perceived to be cheaper than in your home country, don’t be fooled by the seemingly low prices and control your expenses. Buying an enormous amount of inexpensive things can really add up to a surprisingly large sum of money.

During my last visit to Thailand, I followed these guidelines with persistence and I was happy to disclose, that budget travel in Thailand can be more than just an economical issue, it can also be enjoyable. Interestingly enough, in Thailand, the less you spend – the closer you get to the local authentic experience.

Independent researcher, MA in anthropology, and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website: a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phangan, Thailand, which includes information articles, tips, advice and a message board. To visit Koh Phangan Experience Guide, click here: http://www.kohphangan.eternaltravel.net/

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Like other Southeast Asian countries, food stalls are everywhere in the streets, markets and festivals of Thailand, providing an endless smorgasbord of aromas, color, sounds and flavors - food in Thailand is a feast for all of the senses.

Picture a barbecue hotdog stand outside a North American sports stadium. Now, instead of hotdogs and buns sizzling on a grill, the food cart is laden with fresh bananas, which are slathered in batter and deep-fried to golden in a giant wok, then scooped into a paper bag like a super-size order of extra thick homecut french fries. That was my first breakfast in Thailand while I watched hundreds of beautifully costumed elephants play soccer and tug-of-war in an annual Elephant Round-up in Surin, in the far northeast of the country!

The next ‘hotdog stand’ does have a grill, placed over a large bin of charcoal, with flattened chicken quarters sizzling on sticks that you eat like a popsicle; next door to that is yet another steel cart heaped with fresh, ripe pineapple, mango and papaya, and sporting a huge mortar and pestle for transforming the greener papayas into a crunchy, sweet-sour-spicy salad with morsels of shrimp or squid, chiles, garlic and sugar.

What makes Thai food so delicious and distinctive among other Southeast Asian food is this unique blending of fresh herbs, spices and other ingredients that combine for a perfect balance of sweet, sour, salt and heat that leaves your mouth feeling clean and your tastebuds popping in the afterglow.

Fresh fruit, salads and even soups and noodles are ladled into plastic bags with a skewer, fork, spoon or straw for eating on the go or perched on a folding chair at a nearby metal card table in the market.

Thai buses and trains become moving picnic grounds, with everyone chatting, eating and sharing the fare hawked through the vehicles’ windows at roadside stops and terminals: Gai Yang, the flattened barbecue chicken on a stick, skewered meat and fish balls and sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves.

Carnivals and markets feature huge woks at knee-height, bubbling with deep-fried critters of all sorts, many unidentifiable. Are they grasshoppers? crickets? spiders? baby birds? small frogs? — my mouth and eyes were constantly wide open in wonder and amazement!

I spent an inordinate amount of time in the fresh produce and night food markets — exuberantly fascinated and often visibly discombobulated, to the great amusement of the vendors and shoppers.

After traveling every aisle of food carts and woks on my mission to find the freshest, most interesting and tasty-looking dishes, I was often met with earnestly shaking heads or “No, you don’t want that - that’s Thai food!” by English speaking cooks or bystanders when I pointed and gestured and tried to ask for a meal I knew I truly wanted. On my first such adventure, I did not know that the custom was for the cook to show the ladle with the amount of the garlic and chili for you to indicate how much you wanted: thinking she was simply asking if I wanted those Thai ingredients, I nodded vigorously at the heaped display, and in it all went! Yes, it was Thai food, and I enjoyed every sizzling touch to my lips under the watchful, laughing eyes of the vendors and bystanders who had gathered.

I spent as much time learning about, admiring and experiencing the food as I did with major tourist attractions, often spending hours strolling through streets and markets taking in the sights and smells and sounds: quiet clucking rising up from a heap of vibrantly coloured roosters or chickens tied together at the feet - a Thai rooster’s plumage is extraordinarily beautiful; plastic tubs and buckets just full enough of murky grey water to keep the fish, frogs or turtles alive until a sale was clinched; mounds and mounds of green and red, and purple and orange; the pleasant stench of durian and jackfruit - pleasant because I was just so thrilled and in awe of it all!

I tried deep-fried grasshoppers at a carnival in Kanchanaburi during a sound and light show of “The Bridge On The River Kwai” that ended with a fabulous fireworks display recreating the Allied bombing campaign that destroyed the bridges of the Death Railway in 1945. I tried a few tiny roasted wood worms offered by a very thin host in a northern hill-tribe village near the Myanmar border, and feared that I was eating his family out of house and home. I discovered countless traditional dishes I had never tasted and savoured authentic versions of some I had had in Toronto’s newly arrived Thai restaurants. As often as I could, I watched their creation so that I could try to replicate them when I got home and got a kitchen again.

Many people are alarmed at how daring I was with my stomach. During two years of round-the-world travel, including six months in Southeast Asia, I only had one tiny bout of queasiness over a couple of days on Sumatra in Indonesia. In fact, I had never eaten so well or felt so healthy in my life. I must have found the perfect balance of common sense and adventure, or, some might argue, I was just lucky.

I don’t recommend trying everything, and I do recommend a few common sense tips for sampling the full range of the food on offer throughout your travels:

• at street and market stalls, do watch the cooking for awhile to ensure that the ingredients are fresh and the food is being cooked thoroughly; if you have any doubts, move on to the next vendor
• choose vendors that have a good steady flow of customers - not only is the food probably very good, but the turnover means fresher food
• ask your guesthouse host and any other residents you meet for their favourite places to eat, and for recommendations on dishes to order
• follow the other safe eating tips you find in travel guides, like recommendations about water, ice cubes, and peeling fruit and vegetables

Of course, you will find an endless selection of sit-down restaurants where you can savour some of the more familiar Thai dishes now found in restaurants around the world: green curry with chicken, red curry with beef, pad Thai and other noodle dishes, and wonderfully aromatic sweet basil dishes.

Whether you plan to sample the fabulous foods from the street vendors and markets or stick to what you know, learn a few tips on deciphering a menu or asking for a type of dish with a few Thai Food Terms.

Many supermarkets are now carrying a range of prepared sauces, curries and other Asian products, but if you enjoy adventure and creativity in your own kitchen, many Thai recipes are fairly easy to create once you’ve mastered a few essentials. Gai Yang, after all, is really just barbequed chicken with a Thai twist! A good food reference guide or cookbook with a glossary of Asian ingredients will help you gain that perfect balance of sour, sweet, salt and heat that is unique to Thai cuisine.

© 2005 recipe-for-travel.com

Carolyn Nantais is a freelance writer, website copywriter, world traveler and culinary xenophile who indulges in temporary retirement from time to time to travel and eat around the world. Her new website, The Recipe for Travel, is a food companion for travel lovers and travel companion for food lovers, with stories, recipes and practical travel planning tips gathered through adventures in round-the-world travel and food.

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<p>Probably the most common question any foreigner living in Thailand will hear from people planning to visit the Kingdom is “<em>When is the best time to come to Thailand</em>”…not an easy question to answer without knowing “why” a person wants to come to Thailand.</p>

<p>There are basically three seasons in Thailand (though of late the cold season seems to have gone missing), the seasons are, The Hot, The Wet and The Cold. Cold being a rather subjective description though, the shots of emergency blankets being handed out in the northern provinces when it drops to a chilly 10 degrees…that’s 10 degrees Celsius. So what does each season offer.</p>

<p><strong>The Hot</strong><br>
March to June : The hottest month is April when even the geckos stay inside and most expats look outside at lunch time and decide to not eat rather than melt on the walk to a food stall. The Hot season is beach season, if that’s your thing then this is the time to come to Thailand, guaranteed sun sun sun all day long day after day. For Trekkers you might find this to be a tad hot to go trudging up hills unless mounted on an elephant, sun stroke and dehydration are high up on the list of things to beware of. Bangkok turns into a molten vat of pollution as the winds die and the smog just hangs around choking up the oxygen. Hotels are at their most expensive during the hot season and weekends will see many of the mid range ones fully booked.</p>

<p><strong>The Wet</strong><br>
July to November : The change over from hot to wet is the worst time to be in Thailand regardless of what you’re into. It’s Hot, it’s wet and the humidity is ruthless. You’ll be desperate to take three showers a day at a minimum…living in a shower for a month might not be a bad plan. If you can imagine living in a sauna for a month then you get the right picture of Thailand at the start of the wet season…unless you’re in Bangkok, then get in a sauna and pipe your car exhaust into the sauna to get the right idea…hmmm yummy. Then thankfully the skies really open up, the wind blows and things freshen up . Rain is pretty much a guaranteed feature on a daily basis and usually kicks off in the afternoon, sometimes lasting all night, Floods are common along with power cuts. So why come to Thailand now…the cost…. hotels are empty, tourists are away, it’s a great time to see Thailand with fewer tourists than usual and get the best prices as even the Thai people stay home at the weekends.</p>

<p><strong>The Cold</strong><br>
December to February : Thailand freezes over, snow falls from the sky and ice-skating is the nations most popular sport…well if you watched the TV or the Thai people running around dressed in winter jackets, boots, gloves and scarves you may start to think it’s true.. in Bangkok it can drop to a bone chilling 15 degrees Celsius at night, and up north it has on occasions dropped down to 2 degrees, the south gets off much lighter and you can escape with a body warmer and a bobble hat. Thailand again is swarming with tourists who have come to take advantage of the cool weather to do see Thailand without burning up. This is the best time of the year to actually “see” Thailand, you’ll enjoy seeing the sights and touring the cities and trekking will be at its best. Again prices will be up and hotels fairly full.</p>

<p>So in a nutshell the best time to come to Thailand is the time that suits what you want to do, Trekkers and Tanners will have different needs, those looking for bargains will have different needs. Just add that there are occasional down pours even in the hottest parts of the year and even the wet season can be dry for a week or more…..but leave your skis at home…there will be no snow…..guaranteed.</p>

<p>Article can be used with permission of Chris Sanderson as long as the signature and in place links are left unchanged. Chris Sanderson is an <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.amwso.com”>Affiliate Marketing Manager</a> based in Bangkok Thailand with <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.amwso.com”>AMWSO.com</a> and the owner of <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.xaap.com”>Xaap.com</a>.</p>

<p>Article Source: <a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Sanderson” target=”_new”>http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Sanderson</a><br><a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Best-Time-to-Travel-to-Thailand&id=42096″ target=”_new”>http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Best-Time-to-Travel-to-Thailand&id=42096</a></p>

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