The Land Of Smiles
The mere thought of a tropical vacation in paradise brings peace, calm and relaxation to mind where you will experience warm sandy beaches, the breeze filled with the fragrance of exotic flowers, as well as pampering fit for a king. I think you should take a trip to Thailand with the whole family because of the priceless experience that would far exceed that of a more expensive Caribbean or European vacation. You will enjoy exotic food that will satisfy your taste buds. The beaches are second to none where you will experience vibrant and brilliant colors that fill the sea as well as the sky. You will be surrounded by beautiful contagious smiles that seem to adorn everyone you meet.
In my opinion, the first reason you should consider a vacation in Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles”, is for the wonderful people where you can experience a culture much different than what we are used to. The people are so friendly that you can hold an entire conversation with someone while neither of you speak each other’s language. Using gestures or impromptu sign language, like a game of charades, seems to get each other’s points across. Yet not a single spoken word is understood by the other person. You can get a sense of culture in the big cities where accommodations can be expensive, but the level of service, luxurious and gorgeous hotels are something you would never imagine in a near-third world country and worth every penny, but to really experience the culture, you will want to venture well outside the city. There are remote areas in the north where the children in a village have never laid eyes on a foreigner. They look at you like you are an alien, yet the captivating smile on their face tells you that they are not afraid of you. In fact they will flock to you like moths to a flame just to see the new visitor. The great thing about these remote areas is that you will find very nice four or five star accommodations for the same price as a one or two star accommodation in Europe.
Then once you meet the people, you can't help but want to try some of the food that fills the air from outdoor kitchens with the aroma of spicy yet tasty cuisine. You will never see so many food dishes that look so unappetizing, but to your surprise and a little courage you will discover some of the most delicious dishes you could have ever imagined. Even the street food that can be found on nearly every corner will prove to be a unique and delicious treat. The key to finding great food in a foreign land is to seek out the places where the locals eat. Look for long lines at lunch time or packed “hole-in-the-wall” establishments. It does not have to be fancy to be good. Don’t be afraid to try new dishes, if the menu does not have photographs (in small villages they won’t), sometimes you can just point to a neighboring table and make a gesture that you want to try what they are having. Whatever you get from the kitchen, in my experience, just might be your new favorite dish. Of all the adventure and experiences you can have in Thailand, the food is worth the price of the trip all by itself.
After trying the local fare, you will want to sink your toes in the powder white sand of the beaches along the southern coastline. This is the place you dream of when you think of a tropical paradise. You should not miss spending at least part of the trip here. The turquoise blue waters remind you that are still on a vacation. Now it is time to relax and allow the stress to drain from your body as you soak up the sun while sipping on a refreshing fruity beverage with a little umbrella in it. The scenic shoreline has hundreds of fossilized coral reefs of a pre-historic sea bed that tower several stories above the azure sea worn down by the elements over millions of years. You can explore hidden island caves in a small sea kayak or take a ride on a parasail to soak in the view from high above the beach. No trip to Thailand would be complete without a beach side traditional Thai massage. You will not want to miss this treat. Later you can relax in the shade where salt air will convince you to sway in the hammock for another hour (or two). Soon the day will come to an end and you can watch the sun slip beneath the waves as another wonderful day comes to an end.
As you can see, there are many interesting, exciting and amazing aspects of taking a family vacation to Thailand. It is not about just visiting the highly popular tourist attractions, but getting outside the big city where you will enjoy the local cuisine, sandy beaches, adventures of the coastline. I know your mouth is watering just thinking about spicy Thai dishes and fresh fruit that is so readily available and of course the culture of the happiest people on the planet that always have a smile on their face. You will surely leave the “Land of Smiles” with a smile of your own and memories that will last a lifetime. You should seriously consider this family trip that you will talk about for years to come. For the same price of an expensive vacation to some other destination, you can get a much more luxurious and longer vacation than anywhere else in the world.