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The Kingdom of Thailand lies in Southeast Asia, with Laos and Cambodia to its east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to its south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to its west. The country's official name was Siam It is a stunning holiday destination that caters to all needs. Whether it is, beaches, national parks, shopping, culture Thailand has it all. High season in Thailand is December, January and February when the weather conditions are perfect. I have visited Thailand in both High season (January and February) and low season (June and July) and believe that both times have their pros and cons. High season, you can easily have a month long holiday with out a bad day, however you are paying for the privilege. Hotels are more expensive, and shops are less willing to negotiate. Do not shy way from visiting in Low season, the weather is still great, although you may get a few rainy days. These are not serious if you can afford to stay in luxury hotels that offer major discounts for this time of the year. The first time I visited Thailand, I had pre booked all of my accommodation, this was much easier and made the holiday a lot more enjoyable. The second time I booked through the TAT offices in Thailand, these are recommended by other sources, however I was extremely dissatisfied. You pay in advance – and there are no refunds, regardless of the fact that you often do not get what you paid. I paid for a sleeper carriage on the train, and was given a seat. Thailand is ideal for weddings and honeymoons as well as luxury breaks.

THAI SHOPPING Thailand is the place to buy souvenirs at fantastic bargain prices. Mass production on most items has made it possible to bring down prices on items that make it almost impossible to buy. Hand woven cloth is not mass produced, in fact quite the opposite. It is painstakingly produced by ordinary villagers like a picture back in time. Over the generations the skill has been passed down to the next generation of children. Forgot your swimwear, no problem, the selection of costumes (bathers) is second to none. Featuring specialist brand names from some of Australia's best design houses to budget outlets giving great value for money. Tailored suits has become a trademark of a visit to Thailand. Allow a few days for a fitting and any alterations that may be necessary is usually the best option, but a first class suit can be produced custom made is a day if necessry. Fashion wear is widely available throughout Thailand with imports from Hong Kong, Japan and Bali supplementing an already large choice of the latest fashions. A word of caution for the antique shopper. In an enviroment where replication is rife I would be a bit wary not being the best authority on the subject. But on the otherhand if the goods are sold at replica prices they offer a good buy in their own right. Jewelry is often cheaper in Thailand than most other places in the world but again a word of caution. It pays to deal with the main established shops to avoid the unscrupulous dealers. An interesting fact is that a large proportion of the world's gemstones are sent to Thailand for cutting and setting, hence the low prices. THAI COOKING Thailand is famous for it's cooking. Tourists of all ages take the opportunuity to take a Thai Cooking Course whilst on holiday. Get a hands on practical experience learning the ingredients and cooking techniques. Courses can vary in duration from a few hours up to the whole week.

THAI BOXING A very entertaining evening is to watch the Thai Boxing matches. The event usually last up to three hours with the pre match traditional music and rituals a major part of the evenings entertainment. This is usually followed by about 10 fights. Thai Boxing is generally considered one of the most dangerous martial arts displaying skill, speed, and disipline.

DRIVING IN THAILAND Driving in Thailand is the most dangerous activity you are likely to engage in while visiting Thailand. Drive on the left side of the road in Thailand. Most of the vehicles are motorcycles and three wheeled modified motorbikes called samlors. Samlors are mostly used by vendors and tend to drive very slowly and often with entire families precariously perched on them. As a general rule, larger vehicles have right of way. This means that if a larger truck pulls into your lane travelling straight at you because he wants to pass, you should pull to the left to let him.The left-hand side lane is normally but experience will prove otherwise. We hired two motorbikes and the four of us drove all around Chiang Mai with no instances. In fact it was fun, and a great way to visit the Zoo, Royal Palace or Wats up the mountains.