Travel is Education
Seeking Open-mindedness

Between 2000 and 2008 we made four trips to Thailand. In addition to being a terrific location for numerous reasons that I'll elaborate upon shortly, it's also a convenient destination considering that we make regular, annual visits to Taiwan to see my wife's family.

Getting There

Thailand is easily reached via many airlines. Our decision to fly a particular carrier is not based any any sort of allegiance, but rather economics. After all, we are cost conscious retirees on a fixed budget. The airlines that offer the lowest fares from the U.S. to Thailand with an option to stop-over in Taipei at little or no extra charge are guaranteed to win our business. Sometimes the Thai government subsidizes one or more of the airlines in order to promote tourism and when this happens great deals can be had. In general, the airlines we utilize are China Airlines, EVA, Malaysia Airlines, JAL, Korean Air & Northwest Airlines, in that order of preference.

Thailand is a place of incredible scenery and beautiful people. Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality, leading to the country's reputation as the "Land of Smiles."

Geography

It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma. There are four distinct geographic regions to the country. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon at 2,565 meters above sea level (8,415 ft). The northeast, Isan, consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river. The center of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.

Food

Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal.