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Locals coax a herd of
reindeer to come to them for an interaction like no other at Khao Kheeo Open
Safari, where animals roam free including elks, wild boars, macaques and even elephants.
Photo: Rhony Laigo
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(Note: When I was
invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT to visit their country, I
never hesitated and immediately said yes, “bypassing” even my publisher who
should know first if I can even leave my day-to-day work at the office and get
her permission. Who would say no to visiting the Kingdom of Thailand, where my
one of my favorite dishes – tom yum – originates? Needless to say, I didn’t
have to “beg,” but I pleaded, as if that meant something else.)
If there is a country
where utopia may exist, Thailand may be the place. You may smoke weed in
Amsterdam and feel high, but Thailand is where freedom to be yourself doesn’t
need any hallucinogen, including even becoming the “woman” of your dreams if
you were born a man. Say that again?
More popularly known
the world over because of its cuisine, Thailand is also the land where the east
and west didn’t just meet, they stayed there. Here is a country where cultures,
languages, religions and whatever makes a nation different is present in
Thailand. So don’t be surprised if a Thai suddenly utters a word in your native
tongue, even if you are from Russia.
For those who have
been to Bangkok, they know that the city of more than six million cars and an
infinite number of motorbikes snaking through traffic the “opposite way” –
motorists there drive on the left side of the road, just like the Brits do it
in England – is a very modern city where sarongs, architecture,
religious practices and even paying respect to others may date back earlier
than in the 1700s, when the first king, King Rama I, reined over the Kingdom of
Thailand.
While Japanese and
Koreans bow their heads to greet one another, in Thailand, it is customary for
people to clasp their hands, bow their heads and greet you in Thai as if you
are someone that they honor. They don’t do this because you’re just a visitor,
they do this to anyone, especially to people who deserve their utmost respect –
the elders, officials and especially, their bosses.
As a nation of mostly
Buddhists (95 percent practice Buddhism in Thailand, but for some reason they
don’t believe in Dalai Lama, which is explained later), Thailand is where
animals, particularly elephants, are revered, which of course the world already
knows. But what’s best in Thailand is while you can probably see an elephant
with a visit to the zoo, elephants in Thailand can be petted, rode on and
watched as they do tricks outside of a circus.
If that were not
enough, you can actually see elephants grazing through an open field without
the need for a safari suit as anyone can witness if you go to the Khao Kheeo
Open Safari, located south of Bangkok in Chonburi, where “wild” animals roam
free, including deer, macaques, wild boars, etc., some of which even let people
touch and feed them. Don’t be surprised when as you negotiate a curve you
happen to see a set of huge eyes staring at you straight in the eye by an
antelope standing by the side of the road as if they are the mountain rangers
manning the facility.
Meanwhile, if you like
to touch an elephant, a visit to Rose Garden in the Sampran Riverside is
the place to be where these behemoths mix it up and interact with people. Here
they show their powerful limbs and at the same time entertain visitors in a
performance that is also educational. Rose Garden also provides a cultural show
where the locals in a colorful theatrical show share with the audience a
glimpse of the history of Kingdom of Thailand complete with live elephants as
part of the cast, children actors and where you can become spectators to three
rounds of Muay Thai boxing in full contact...or so it seemed.
But while Thailand’s
ancient culture is preserved and is part of most, if not all, Thais’ everyday
lives, Bangkok and its famous beach fishing village, now world-renowned
sporting beach destination, Pattaya are a testament to the country’s economic
standing offering both vacationers and businessmen world-class amenities that
are very competitive in the whole of Asia. Even if 19-20 million or so annual
visitors flock to Thailand, it is not short on room accommodations and hotels
have sprouted everywhere in Thailand’s famous cities including Bangkok, Phuket,
Chang Mai, Chonburi and many others that cater to tourists. And did I say that
Bangkok is the Mecca of all shopping places, where you can “pang” (which
we Filipinos call tawad) your way to big bargains for clothes,
shoes, jewelry, arts and crafts?
Speaking of culture,
Thailand of course is a land of temples – around 33,000 Buddhist temples alone
can be found in Thailand – and is a worldwide destination for anyone looking to
pay homage to Buddha statues without trekking high up in the mountains of say,
the Himalayas.
One such temple
located in Pattaya is the Big Buddha Hill, locally known as the Wat Phra Yai
Temple, that sits on Patramnak Hill overlooking the scenic Gulf of Thailand
that offers both serenity and contentment. Here, there are statues around the
Big Buddha for any day of the week so you can offer your prayers and hopefully
be enlightened by the Buddha “on duty” or just be amazed at the beauty of each
golden statue all around you.
But while Wat Phra Yai
houses the Big Buddha, the most famous of all Thailand temples is the Wat Phra
Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, in Bangkok housed in the same
grounds where the Grand Palace stands, which is a statue that is tiny (just 26
inches tall) compared to the 426-foot tall Big Buddha, but was said to have
been carved out from one single block of jade stone. Interestingly, only the
king can touch the Emerald Buddha, who needs to change its wardrobe three times
a year to signify the three seasons.
As to the question of
Dalai Lama, who at the moment is said to be the 14th reincarnation of the
spiritual leaders in the Tibetan Buddhism, Thais don’t necessarily follow that
belief in the sense that to Thais Buddhism is focused on man and not on God, at
least that’s what our friendly and very resourceful guide Tom, whose real name
is Tavatachai Chuensawadee, told us. This is why instead of the Dalai Lama or
any other spiritual leader, you will find the photo of King Bhumibol Adulyadej,
if not Queen Sirikit’s, all over Thailand, some in towering heights as a
reminder to Thais that they have a king who is the head of state albeit just a
figurehead, but a monarch nevertheless, who deserves utmost respect from
all citizens of the Kingdom of Thailand.
As you may well know,
King Bhumibol Adulyadej is King Rama IX, a descendant of the ruling dynasty
that dates back when the country was still known as Siam until the Siamese
Constituent Assembly changed its name to Muang Thai or Thailand, which means,
“Land of the Free”, on May 11, 1949. And land of the free it is. Just ask the
so-called “ladies” at Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya, where actors are a showcase of
what you can achieve in Thailand where you can be the person you want to be:
liberated, carefree, joyful and even look amazingly and stunningly beautiful as
the case may be.
Thailand reminds me of
John Lennon’s Imagine, where the people of all races seem to live
as one, be they religious, communist, agnostics or atheists. It is a place
where everyone goes for a trouble-free vacation and where you can easily afford
to be pampered (Thai massage anyone? Or, perhaps a foot rub?) and have plenty
to spare to enjoy Thailand’s nightlife like no other.
If you want to visit Thailand anytime of the year, please visit
the Tourism Authority of Thailand-Los Angeles located at 611 North Larchmont
Boulevard, 1st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90004. Or call (323)
461 9814 and ask for Marketing Officer Paworn Chatrungnopakun,
who was responsible for arranging our wonderful stay in Thailand. You may also
drop them an email at info@tat-la.com, tatla@tat.or.th or
visit their website at www.tourismthailand.org/LA.
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