Far Eastern Magic: the Best of Bangkok by Mark Eveleigh
Featured Hotel in Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental
See all hotels in Bangkok >
A popular Thai refrain has it that ‘he who sees Bangkok will always return to the City of Angels.’ This tenet could just as easily apply to the country as a whole. Thailand has long held an enviable place as one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations, and it is testament to the exoticism, fascination and pure Asian charm, that the majority of visitors who come to the ‘land of smiles’ are lured back time and again.
Depth of Devotion
If proof were ever needed of the depth of devotion and affection that Thailand inspires in her visitors, it was reconfirmed in the wake of the tragic 2004 tsunami. Almost immediately, thousands of tourists and travellers were planning return visits to devastated areas like Phuket and Ko Phi Phi, motivated primarily by a wish to inject much-needed revenue into a crushed economy.
With a zeal that was not seen elsewhere in the world, people rushed back, en-masse, to rebuild island paradises out of hellish disaster areas. Hundreds who would normally have spent their holidays stretched out on the golden sands instead made the pilgrimage to ransacked towns to lend a hand with the physical rebuilding. Years later Thailand has, at least externally, fully recovered and continues to attract tourists in larger numbers than ever.
Authentically Thai
Thailand has remained one of the most stable and peaceful countries in Southeast Asia and is unique in the region as the only country that has never been occupied by a European colonial power. As a result, its wealth of history has remained ‘authentically Thai’, and there is a traditional culture that is hard to match.
The infrastructure and public transport system is well-developed and lends itself well to package tourism, and independent travel, to all corners of the country. Travelling overland around Thailand can be time-consuming but, with Thai’s as travelling companions and an ever-changing kaleidoscope of landscapes to travel through, it is never boring. It is no coincidence that the first stock phrase that travellers pick up in Thailand is mai mee pun hah – no problem!
Exciting City
Bangkok continues to live up to its reputation as one of the most exciting cities in the world but it also makes the perfect launching pad for those in search of the spirit of the Far East. Thailand’s rural north-eastern region sees less tourism than other parts of the country and, for many, remains the most ‘authentically Thai’. Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle area offer enough adventure for even the most demanding explorer.
With 1,700 miles of coastline on two separate oceans (the South China Sea and Indian Ocean) Thailand offers a tropical paradise to suit every taste and budget. Even as the tourist cast-net spreads farther there remain scores of uninhabited jungle islands, deserted beaches and pristine reefs in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
Whether you are looking for action and adventure, a chic desert island escape or pure Far Eastern magic, the ‘land of smiles’ has it all in sufficient abundance, to keep you coming back for more.
Inspired? Check out Travel Intelligence's listings for luxury hotels in Bangkok