It only takes a few days in Thailand to understand why this incredible place is the number-one tourist destination in Southeast Asia. As you soak up the complex culture, sample the exquisite cuisine and explore mystic temples or unspoiled islands you cannot fail to experience a dramatic rise in your feel-good factor.
It happens to us every time. This is our seventh visit and the anticipation is as great now as it was the first time we arrived in Bangkok, the nation’s capital. On this trip we plan to explore destinations away from the normal tourist areas. And there is added excitement since we are hoping to buy a home and spend even more time here.
Our first trip six years ago was the ideal combination for first-time visitors. We spent four days in the capital and then flew south to the beaches and resorts of Phuket Island. It was this sample that gave us an enormous appetite to see and learn more.
The anticipation of any adventure can be as appealing as the adventure itself. We get tremendous enjoyment from planning and thinking about what lies ahead and fortunately our expectations of a trip to Thailand have always been exceeded by the reality.
A couple of facts before we get started: The country covers 514,000 square kilometers – about twice the size of Wyoming. The population is 62 million, compared to 500,000 people who live in the state of Wyoming. The country is 95% Buddhist, which explains why you will see so many monks in saffron-colored robes. Something you don’t see in Wyoming.
