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If there's only one thing to know about Thailand, it is that the
people here are as friendly as anywhere on earth. They are peaceful, happy,
outgoing people that are a pleasure to be with. Thailand, of course, is also
world reknowned for great food.
Photos on this page were from two trips
to Thailand. The
first time was late in 1999, and the second in November of 2001. The second
trip included a trek in northern Thailand - west of Chiang Mai,
where various villages were visited. Subsequently, a trip was made to
Phuket for a day of scuba diving in the Similan
Islands - considered by many to be some of the best diving in the world. A day
was also spent in Phang Na, a national park consisting of beautifully scenic
islands that jut dramatically out of the Andaman Sea. Here it is possible to
canoe around these interesting islands, many of which have caves that open in
the interior of the islands to intesting lagoons.
About 95% of the Thai
people are Buddhist. At age 20, all Thai Buddhist men are required to become monks
for at least six months. Many remain monks for many years. This
has a deep influence on Thai culture, helping to make this a serene society.
There are many different cultural groups within Thailand, most having
migrated into Thailand from surrounding areas such as Burma, Laos, Cambodia,
and even China. In northern Thailand, there are Lisu, Karen, Akha, Lahu, and
Hmong to name a few of the tribal groups. Each of these groups have their own
customs, religious beliefs, and language.
We hope you enjoy these photos of Thailand.