Thailand

Only a few monarchies today have remained absolute, with all the powers vested in the reigning king or queen. The concentration of political power from one ruler has transitioned to a group of advisers or a council, and this was what happened to Thailand on December 10, 1932. People Power …

Rama IX, popularly known as King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the world’s longest-reigning monarch. His Majesty came to the throne on June 9, 1946, while still finishing his studies in Switzerland. It was there that he met his future wife, Queen Sirikit, equally the world’s longest-serving consort. As the descendant of …

Thai monarchs are revered by their people because of their great contributions to the development of the nation. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) was one of those monarchs who opened up the country to Western thought, having been tutored by a British-Indian governess named Anna Leonowens whose life was the basis …

There’s something irresistible and exotic posing next to three-feet tall baby elephants. They are cuddly, and they don’t roam our streets back home everyday, so a photo-opportunity with these cute creatures is often a must-do on a traveler’s list. But there is a dark side to this tourist trade that …

Born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara on August 12, 1932 to Thai noble families, the longest-serving consort to the world’s longest-reigning monarch – King Bhumibol Adulyadej – will turn 81 this year. Queen Sirikit, as she is now known, is considered the Mother of All Thais, so her birthday is also …

Asalha Puja, or the celebration of the First Sermon of Buddha, is one of the most important religious celebrations in Thailand, a country steeped in Theravada Buddhism. To formally start the commemoration of the teachings of Buddha, the monks and Buddhist ascetics retreat from peripatetic lifestyle in a tradition called …

Muay Thai is the combat sport originating from the muay martial arts of Thailand. It utilizes striking an opponent while in upright position, and punctuates the fighting style with various clinching maneuvers. Art of Eight Weapons Known as the “Art of Eight Weapons”, Muay Thai makes use of different combat …

The Chinese New Year is China’s most important holiday. It is also known as the Spring Festival. Traditionally, the New Year period lasts for 15 days, starting from the middle of the last month and ends sometime in the middle of the first month. The holiday not only welcomes in …

It’s hard to imagine that there are crowd-free beaches on the Andaman coast or the Gulf of Thailand when Phuket and Pattaya attract hordes of partygoers and legions of backpackers that jostle for beachfront real estate. But if you are ready to call thatched-roof bungalows home for a few days, …

Phuket conjures an image of Eden on earth. Laden with miles upon sandy miles of beaches and strewn with karst limestone formations that jut vertically out of turquoise waters, Phuket satisfies a traveler’s definition of tropical paradise: The 2000 film “The Beach” sealed the image of Phuket as an adventurer’s …

Thailand is world-renowned for its temples, beaches and fiery cuisine. The country’s beaches get special mention and often more than their fair share of media attention because they bedazzle even seasoned beach lovers who have been “to the moon and back” looking for the world’s best beaches. With coasts on …

Where do 14 million Thailand tourists go? If you were to poll them, what would they recommend? With so many choices and so little time, who would not want to experience only the best a country has to offer? Fortunately, travelers who have been to Thailand speak out, and here …