Page 8 - The Shores of Jupiter - March '20

Page 8, The Shores
Thailand, Land Of Many Splendors

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, Referred to as the Eastern Seaboard, the
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens east coast is known for its long shoreline. On
Travel Leaders a two-hour drive south from Bangkok, one
Thailand is without a can find some of the most beautiful beaches
doubt one of the world’s most in the world. Oil, natural gas and their related
stimulating and rewarding industries are developing around a deep-
travel experiences. A proud water seaport in this area.
and ancient kingdom, it The south of Thailand is completely
is located at the heart of different from the rest of the country. It is
Southeast Asia. Thailand, thick with jungles, spectacular mountains and
or Siam as it was called numerous offshore islands. The south finds
for many centuries (and itself economically, ethnically and politically
sometimes called today), has a unique, astonishing and apart from the rest of Thailand. Its wealth
colorful culture, set apart from all other nations. comes from traditional industries such as Maya Bay
This uniqueness is greatly due to Thailand’s location, at the rubber and tin, while tourism has injected
crossroads of Asia. In former times, merchants, wayfarers and considerable money into the local coffers in
adventurers from all corners of the globe would come here in recent years.
search of their fortunes. As a result, this green and pleasant Scenically, the south region ranks as one
land came to inherit the best of untold influences and absorbed of the most spectacular in Asia. The province
them in a culture and way of life that today are distinctly and of Phang Nga, with its strange shaped
unmistakable Thai. limestone mountains jutting out of a placid
sea, is simply breathtaking. So too are the
islands, Phuket and Samui, located on either
side of the Thai peninsula.
The central plain is the heartland of the
nation – the Thai settled in this area due to the
rich fertile land located here beside the Chao
Phraya River and its tributaries. Even today,
it is known as the “rice bowl” of Asia.
Thailand’s beauty lies in its architecture, Sanphet Prasat Palace
its land and its people, and offers the traveler
a unique experience never to be forgotten. Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6,
Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel
having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas needs of the South Florida area for over a quarter of a century.
and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders, Contact him at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
his family owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol Photos by Don Kiselewski
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to
have been colonized, leading to a rich culture. There is very
little of Europe in this exotic land that acts as the backdrop
for the American musical, The King and I.
There is an overwhelming influence of Buddhism, visible
in the many thousands of ornate temples which dot the land;
in the ever-present sight of saffron clad monks leaving their
ascetic lives in the midst of a bustling 21 century; and in the
st
gentle attitude of a people who have internalized the teachings
of their religion, making Buddhism a part of daily life.
Located 9,600 miles from Palm Beach going almost
directly over the North Pole, Thailand has an area of 513,000
square miles, making it about the same size as France. It
adjoins Laos and Cambodia (formerly known as Kampuchea)
to the east, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) to the north 747-PALM
and Malaysia to the south.
The country does not have the multiplicity of languages 747-7256
found in Indonesia and the Philippines nor one as complex
an ethnic mixture as Malaysia. Thai is the first language of
at least 85 percent of Thailand’s population of 60 million
and is understood by almost everyone. Thai is one of a large
cluster of languages in all bordering countries as well as in
Southern China and Northern Vietnam. Unlike Malay, their CAMPBELL AND KARLIK, P.A.
languages are non-syllabic and tonal.
The country’s unique character can also be seen in ATTORNEYS AT LAW
the numerous festivals held throughout the year. Always
colorful and joyous affairs, Thai festivals are a celebration
of life itself. But then, the Thais are incredibly happy people
themselves; an easygoing nature and ready smiles never fail Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning • Probate
to enchant visitors. No wonder the Thai people are often said
to be the country’s greatest asset. Taxation • Real Estate • Corporations
Thailand is also blessed with many natural assets. Its long
coastline boasts some of the finest beaches and tropical isles in
Asia. The deeply forested hills to the south and north are simply
magnificent, as are the national parks scattered across the land.
The north is a mountainous area whose jungle spills over
in Laos, Myanmar and beyond into China. This part of the
country enjoys temperatures that are much cooler than the rest
of Thailand. The land and temperature mix produces apples,
strawberries and peaches as well as vegetables normally seen
in western markets. The folks from the north are renowned for
their hospitality, and have great local pride because their area
was once home to the Kingdom of Lanna. This area has many
cottage industries specializing in silverware, wood, silk and
clothing. The forests of the area are ideal for trekking, particularly
in search of the hilltop villages, and visitors enjoy rafting the
region’s many rivers. Here you will also find the camps where
the young elephants are trained to work in the jungles.
Isan, the region to the northeast, is a vast sprawling plateau Diane L. KarLiK
of some 20 million habitants, most of whom work on the land
in some way or another. The area is relatively inaccessible
from the rest of Thailand and as a result, has developed its
own culture. The people of Isan are friendly, easygoing and Tel: (561) 625-5220
always ready to party. The northeast is also rich in Khmer 3450 Northlake Boulevard Suite 210 Fax: (561) 625-5201• Mobile: (561) 797-5004
temples and ruins, evidence of the influence that Kampuchea Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403 EMail: dlkarlik@aol.com
once exerted on this area.