09/06/2016
Destination of the week- Thailand
Here are a few interesting facts about one of my favourite countries!
On average, a take out meal will cost you $1.96, a domestic beer $1.89 and one night hotel $53.45.
Thailand is the worlds 20th most populous country with 67 million people. 95% of which are Buddhist.
Thailand has 1,430 islands, among the most famous of which is Koh Phi Phi Lee – it featured in Danny Boyle’s film The Beach.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and most Thais adore their king and queen. Many families display the king's face in their homes, and it’s pretty much illegal to speak ill of him. The Thai royal families have been so revered that, in the past, no one was allowed to even touch them; in fact, in the 1800s, a queen drowned when her boat capsized and no onlookers came her to rescue due to this strict rule.
Bangkok is the most visited city in the world, welcoming 16 million international visitors a year. It's also one of the hottest cities in the world, often above 40C.
One of the country’s most unusual festivals is the annual Monkey Buffet, held in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province. More than 600 monkeys are invited to feast on over two tonnes of grilled sausage, fresh fruit, ice cream and other treats. The locals see it as a thank you to the monkeys which inhabit the village and bring thousands of tourists there each year.
The town of Kanchanburi is home to the famous “Bridge Over the River Kwai”, part of the Burma-Siam railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people died in the course of the project.
Flights to Thailand average about $1000 from Ottawa, flights go either via Europe or Asia.
Have you been to Thailand? What are some travel tips to share?
