Thailand Favorite Tips by SLLiew Top 5 Page for this destination

Fond memories of 13th Asian Games

Favorite thing: The main venues of the 13th Asian Games 1998 was at the Rangsit Sports Complex at Thamnaset University at Pathumthani, just outside Bangkok.

It was a daily commute by train from Hualumpong Main train station in Bangkok and then shuttle bus to the Sports Complex.

The Games was well organized.

Western Influence

Favorite thing: Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was not colonized by a Western power.

Malaysia, Singapore, Brune and Myanmar by the English. Philippines by the Spanish and then the Americans. Indonesia by Dutch. East Timor by Portuguese. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by the French.

As popularized by the movie the "King and I", the modern forward thinking King Mongkut invited western diplomats to his court and maintained a balance of neutrality and independence. Royal princes and scholars were sent to Europe and America for schools.

Boromabiman Building is built by King Rama VI - one of the royal buildings constructed under Western influence in the royal grounds. By keeping her doors open to the West, Thailand has kept her independence path in modern history while all her neighbors felled into Western rule.

The old airport - Don Muang

Favorite thing: Due to years of delay of the new airport, the old airport Don Muang has been operation for decades and with a Thai style building inside the transit area was an icon for travelling flying in and out of Bangkok.

Until the downtown to airport highway was completed, it used to be a guesswork on how much time to give to get to the airport on time due to traffic jam - 2, 3 or 4 hours.

Now the new airport is operation as it opened September, 2006. Hello to the new airport - Suvarnabhumi but we will never forget Don Muang.

First flight to Thailand

Favorite thing: There is nothing like the excitement of the first trip to a new country.

Seating next to the window seat away from the wings, give a perfect vantage view.

Here is a picture of the first land of Thailand after crossing the Gulf of Thailand.

Immediately crossing the coast, rice fields appear everywhere. It was the flat delta of the Menam Chao Phraya that ensures that Thailand is one of the major producer of rice in Asia.

So fly to arrive during the day and choose a window seat away from the wings when you fly to your next new country.

No visa?

Favorite thing: No visa required for Malaysian visiting Thailand up to maximum 90 days.

For more information for other nationals, check website:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php