Lonely Planet Thailand

by Cummings, Joe; Bao, Sandra; Martin, Steve; Williams, China

• ISBN13: 9781740593564
• ISBN10: 1740593561
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Lonely Planet

Summary

- our bestselling guide updated by a specialist four-author team
- expert coverage of Thailand's fascinating culture, arts & lip-smacking cuisine
- tips on the best island retreats & national parks
- new 12-page colour section on Thailand's Highlights
- all place names transcribed into Thai script for easy navigation

Author Biography

Joe Cummings Born in the subtropical port of New Orleans, Joe began travelling in Southeast Asia shortly after finishing university. Before writing became a full-time job, he played guitar in a succession of bands, volunteered for the Peace Corps, worked as a movie extra and taught English in Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and the USA. Along the way he earned an MA degree in Thai language and art history. For Lonely Planet he has authored the Thai and Lao phrase-books as well as Bangkok, Thailand's Islands and Beaches, Laos and Myanmar, and the pictorial book Buddhist Stupas in Asia. As a freelance journalist he has published articles in dozens of periodicals, including the Ambassador, International Herald Tribune, Geographical, Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Observer, Outside, San Francisco Examiner, South China Morning Post and the Asian Wall Street Journal. Sandra Bao Born to Chinese parents and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sandra reluctantly moved to the USA when she was nine. Despite her introduction to the country being a winter in Toledo, Ohio, she became a naturalised citizen and eventually wound up with a BA in psychology from UC Santa Cruz. Sandra has travelled extensively around the world, both before and after joining up with Lonely Planet, and now despairs at having to give up a healthy vegetable garden and promising rock-climbing career for her peripatetic lifestyle. She currently lives in Oakland with her husband, fellow Lonely Planet writer Ben Greensfelder. The two hope to someday acquire a Siamese cat. Steven Martin A native of southern California, Steven Martin has been living and travelling in Southeast Asia since 1981, and has written articles about the region for the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Time. Steven has also worked on Lonely Planet's Thailand's Islands and Beaches guidebook. He is currently based in Bangkok. China Williams Thailand doesn't know it, but China Williams is a kindred citizen. She adopted the country while teaching English in Surin, the northeast's elephant capital. Only her freckles and childlike speech marked her as a foreigner. Officially, she is a full-blooded American, having grown up in South Carolina and migrated from one coast to another. She is now temporarily stationed in the vacationlands of Maine with her husband, Matt. China has contributed to Lonely Planet's Georgia and the Carolinas and New Orleans Condensed.

Table of Contents

The Authors	p. 7
This Book	p. 9
Foreword	p. 10
Introduction	p. 11
Facts about Thailand	p. 12
History	p. 12
Thailand's Highlights
Geography	p. 22
Climate	p. 23
Ecology & Environment	p. 24
Flora & Fauna	p. 26
Government & Politics	p. 29
Economy	p. 32
Population & People	p. 33
Education	p. 34
Arts	p. 35
Society & Conduct	p. 43
Religion	p. 47
Music, Theatre & Dance	p. 49
Facts for the Visitor	p. 59
Suggested ltineraries	p. 59
Planning	p. 60
Tourist Offices	p. 62
Visas & Documents	p. 62
Embassies & Consulates	p. 64
Customs	p. 65
Money	p. 66
Post & Communications	p. 69
Digital Resources	p. 73
Books	p. 73
Films	p. 76
Newspapers	p. 77
Magazines	p. 78
Radio & TV	p. 78
Photography & Video	p. 79
Time	p. 79
Electricity	p. 79
Weights & Measures	p. 79
Laundry	p. 80
Toilets	p. 80
Health	p. 80
Women Travellers	p. 89
Gay & Lesbian Travellers	p. 90
Disabled Travellers	p. 90
Senior Travellers	p. 91
Travel with Children	p. 91
Dangers & Annoyances	p. 92
Legal Matters	p. 96
Business Hours	p. 96
Public Holidays & Special Events	p. 97
Activities	p. 98
Language Courses	p. 101
Thai Studies	p. 102
Meditation Courses	p. 102
Martial Arts Courses	p. 103
Thai Massage Courses	p. 104
Cooking Courses	p. 104
Work	p. 104
Accommodation	p. 105
Food	p. 107
Drinks	p. 108
Entertainment	p. 111
Spectator Sports	p. 112
Shopping	p. 114
Getting There & Away	p. 118
Air	p. 118
Land & River	p. 123
Sea	p. 127
Getting Around	p. 128
Air	p. 128
Bus	p. 128
Train	p. 131
Car & Motorcycle	p. 134
Bicycle	p. 138
Hitching	p. 138
Boat	p. 139
Local Transport	p. 139
Organised Tours	p. 140
Bangkok	p. 141
Orientation	p. 142
Information	p. 143
Ko Ratanakosin Area	p. 152
Central Bangkok Area	p. 159
Chinatown & Phahurat	p. 163
Thanon Silom	p. 166
Siam Square & Pratunam	p. 166
Thanon Sukhumvit	p. 167
Greater Bangkok	p. 168
Other Temples	p. 168
Historic Churches	p. 169
Other Museums	p. 169
Art Galleries	p. 169
Traditional Massage	p. 170
River Trips	p. 170
Theme & Amusement Parks	p. 174
Sports Facilities	p. 174
Meditation Courses	p. 175
Other Courses	p. 175
Places to Stay	p. 175
Places to Eat	p. 192
Entertainment	p. 202
Shopping	p. 210
Getting There & Away	p. 216
Getting Around	p. 219
Thai Cuisine	p. 225
Around Bangkok	p. 230
Nakhon Pathom	p. 230
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market	p. 232
Samut Sakhon	p. 233
Samut Songkhram	p. 234
Samut Prakan	p. 235
Central Thailand	p. 238
Ayuthaya Province	p. 238
Ayuthaya	p. 238
Around Ayuthaya	p. 246
Lopburi Province	p. 247
Lopburi	p. 247
Kanchanaburi Province	p. 252
Kanchanaburi	p. 253
Around Kanchanaburi	p. 264
Kanchanaburi to Three Pagodas Pass	p. 269
Thung Yai Naresuan & Khao Laem NPs	p. 273
Southeastern Thailand	p. 274
Chonburi Province	p. 274
Si Racha	p. 274
Ko Si Chang	p. 277
Pattaya	p. 279
Rayong Province	p. 290
Rayong & Around	p. 290
Ko Samet	p. 292
Chanthaburi Province	p. 300
Chanthaburi	p. 300
Around Chanthaburi	p. 302
Trat Province	p. 302
Trat & Around	p. 303
Beaches	p. 306
Laem Ngop	p. 306
Khlong Yai	p. 306
Hat Lek to Cambodia	p. 307
Ko Chang NMP	p. 307
Prachinburi & Sa Kaew Provinces	p. 316
National Parks	p. 316
Sa Morakot & Sa Kaew	p. 317
Aranya Prathet	p. 317
Chiang Mai Province	p. 319
Chiang Mai	p. 319
Things to See	p. 330
Activities	p. 334
Courses	p. 336
Organised Tours	p. 338
Special Events	p. 338
Places to Stay	p. 338
Places to Eat	p. 346
Entertainment	p. 352
Shopping	p. 354
Getting There & Away	p. 358
Getting Around	p. 360
Around Chiang Mai	p. 362
Doi Suthep	p. 362
Bo Sang	p. 364
San Kamphaeng	p. 364
South of Chiang Mai	p. 364
Mae Sa & Samoeng	p. 365
Chom Thong & Around	p. 366
North to Tha Ton	p. 367
Mae Taeng & Chiang Dao	p. 367
Doi Ang Khang	p. 368
Fang & Tha Ton	p. 369
River Trip to Chiang Rai	p. 371
Northern Thailand	p. 373
Lamphun Province	p. 373
Lamphun	p. 373
Pasang	p. 376
Doi Khun Tan NP	p. 376
Lampang Province	p. 377
Lampang	p. 377
Around Lampang	p. 380
Phitsanulok Province	p. 383
Phitsanulok	p. 383
Phu Hin Rong Kla NP	p. 389
Phitsanulok to Lom Sak	p. 390
Sukhothai Province	p. 391
Sukhothai	p. 391
Around Sukhothai	p. 397
Kamphaeng Phet Province	p. 400
Kamphaeng Phet	p. 400
Tak Province	p. 403
Tak	p. 403
Around Tak	p. 404
Mae Sot	p. 406
Around Mae Sot	p. 411
Um Phang & Around	p. 412
Mae Sot to Mae Sariang	p. 416
Hill Tribes	p. 417
Mae Hong Son Province	p. 422
Mae Sariang & Khun Yuam	p. 422
Mae Hong Son	p. 424
Around Mae Hong Son	p. 431
Around Pai	p. 439
Chiang Rai Province	p. 439
Chiang Rai	p. 440
Mae Salong	p. 449
Ban Thoet Thai	p. 452
Mae Sai	p. 453
Around Mae Sai	p. 456
Chiang Saen	p. 458
Around Chiang Saen	p. 461
Chiang Khong	p. 463
Phrae Province	p. 466
Phrae	p. 467
Around Phrae	p. 471
Nan Province	p. 471
Nan	p. 474
Around Nan	p. 479
Northeastern Thailand	p. 482
Nakhon Ratchasima Province	p. 484
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)	p. 485
Around Nakhon Ratchasima	p. 491
Khao Yai NP	p. 495
Buriram Province	p. 497
Buriram	p. 497
Chaiyaphum Province	p. 502
Chaiyaphum	p. 503
Khon Kaen & Roi Et Provinces	p. 505
Khon Kaen	p. 505
Around Khon Kaen	p. 510
Roi Et	p. 512
Around Roi Et	p. 514
Udon Thani Province	p. 515
Udon Thani	p. 515
Around Udon Thani Province	p. 519
Nong Khai Province	p. 522
Nong Khai	p. 522
Around Nong Khai Province	p. 529
Beung Kan	p. 532
Loei Province	p. 533
Loei	p. 534
Around Loei Province	p. 536
Chiang Khan	p. 540
Nam Nao NP	p. 542
Nakhon Phanom Province	p. 543
Nakhon Phanom	p. 543
Around Nakhon Phanom	p. 546
That Phanom	p. 546
Sakon Nakhon Province	p. 548
Sakon Nakhon	p. 548
Around Sakon Nakhon	p. 550
Yasothon & Mukdahan Provinces	p. 551
Yasothon	p. 551
Mukdahan	p. 552
Savannakhet (Laos)	p. 553
Ubon Ratchathani Province	p. 554
Ubon Ratchathani	p. 554
Around Ubon Province	p. 560
Surin & Si Saket Provinces	p. 563
Surin	p. 563
Si Saket	p. 566
Upper Southern Gulf	p. 569
Phetchaburi
Province	p. 569
Phetchaburi (Phetburi)	p. 569
Kaeng Krachan NP	p. 573
Cha-am	p. 574
Around Cha-am	p. 577
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province	p. 577
Hua Hin	p. 577
Khao Sam Roi Yot NP	p. 584
Prachuap Khiri Khan	p. 585
Around Prachuap Khiri Khan	p. 588
Hat Ban Krut & Bang Saphan Yai	p. 588
Chumphon Province	p. 590
Chumphon	p. 590
Lower Southern Gulf	p. 594
Surat Thani Province	p. 594
Surat Thani	p. 594
Around Surat Thani	p. 599
Khao Sok NP	p. 601
Ko Samui	p. 603
Ko Pha-Ngan	p. 624
Ko Tao	p. 637
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province	p. 645
Nakhon Si Thammarat	p. 645
Around Nakhon Si Thammarat	p. 650
Songkhla Province	p. 651
Songkhla	p. 651
Around Songkhla	p. 656
Hat Yai	p. 657
Around Hat Yai	p. 664
Yala Province	p. 664
Yala	p. 664
Around Yala	p. 666
Pattani Province	p. 666
Pattani	p. 666
Narathiwat Province	p. 668
Narathiwat	p. 668
Around Narathiwat	p. 672
Sungai Kolok	p. 673
Andaman Coast	p. 676
Ranong Province	p. 676
Ranong	p. 676
Around Ranong	p. 681
Phang-Nga Province	p. 684
Surin Islands NMP	p. 684
Takua Pa	p. 685
Bang Niang & Hat Khao Lak	p. 686
Khao Lak/Lam Ru NP	p. 687
Similan Islands NMP	p. 688
Ao Phang-Nga & Phang-Nga	p. 689
Around Phang-Nga	p. 691
Phuket Province	p. 693
Information	p. 695
Activities	p. 695
Organised Tours	p. 697
Cooking Courses	p. 697
Phuket Town	p. 698
Around Phuket Province	p. 705
Krabi Province	p. 721
Krabi	p. 722
Around Krabi	p. 727
Ao Nang	p. 729
Hat Noppharat Thara	p. 732
Laem Phra Nang	p. 733
Than Bokkharani NP	p. 737
Khao Phanom Bencha NP	p. 738
Ko Phi-Phi	p. 738
Ko Jam (Ko Pu) & Ko Si Boya	p. 745
Ko Lanta	p. 746
Trang Province	p. 752
Trang	p. 752
Trang Beaches & Islands	p. 757
Satun Province	p. 761
Satun	p. 761
Pak Bara	p. 764
Ko Tarutao NMP	p. 765
Thaleh Ban NP	p. 768
Language	p. 770
Glossary	p. 778
Thanks	p. 782
Index	p. 791
Text	p. 791
Boxed Text	p. 807
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