Thailand - The Land Of Smiles

Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in South-East Asia and has been for decades. This is because the climate varies throughout the year from hot to cool and even cold, if you want to look for it; Thai food is world-famous; the assortment of wildlife is broad as is the flora; the diving is fantastic and the people are friendly and welcoming. Thailand is not known as the Land of Smiles for no reason.

There are also a great deal of festivals, some of which are religious, which equals Buddhist, and others are not. Thailand has been Buddhist ever since the country came into being in the Thirteen Century, but the people were Buddhist long before that. Or at least the majority of them were. There were also throw-backs to older religions just as in the West.

In the West Christmas and Easter were moved to conceal pagan festivals, but in Thailand they simply have the old festivals as well. One of the biggest festivals is Loy Krathong in November (the first full moon in the twelfth lunar month). Loy Krathong is a delightful festival to placate the goddess or water, Ganga, for using and abusing (polluting) her.

Nowadays, people still remember the old significance of Loy Krathong ('Floating Boats'), but it has been taken over by lovers too. People float symbolic boats out onto the water and ask the goddess to forgive them and to grant a wish. Lovers send their boats out together and numerous people believe that if the boats, krathong, float out side-by-side then they will have a strife-free year together.

Many women don traditional Thai costumes for the evening, especially if they are going out for a meal or to a party. Some men do too, but not so many.

Also in November is the world-famed Elephant roundup in Surin. The elephant roundup is also well-liked with foreigners and Thais alike. The city of Surin is full on this weekend so if you want to go it is worth booking your hotel with your travel ticket otherwise you may be stranded. Not that it is cold or likely to rain.

Bridge Over the River Kwae week is in November. The bridge is a poignant reminder of the horror that prisoners of war from all around the world experienced at the hands of the Japanese overlords at the time. More Thais died than foreigners although Thailand was thought of as 'friendly' by the occupying Japanese.

In December it is the King's birthday and Fathers' Day on the 5th. The king is very extremely well thought of in Thailand and many people will light candles in their garden on the roadside to the king in the early evening. This is a very pretty sight, especially in the villages where street lighting is usually minimal. Constitution Day is on the 10th and is a bank holiday, which normally means a celebration.

Christmas is celebrated in the cities by tourists, ex-pats and young Thais although it has no real religious implication outside the Christian churches in the larger cities.

New Year's Day is massive. There are parties that will last all night, dancing, feasting and fireworks.

Thailand is a wonderful place to come to in November and December and although it is considered high season, I am certain that you will find it cheaper to come on holiday to Thailand - The Land of Smiles - than it is to stay at home in the cold.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with Loy Krathong. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Package Holidays to Thailand.