Travelers Digest 2003 Review of Thailand, Southeast Asia

My name is Mike Smith. I am the touring editor and am fortunate to have the privilege of traveling around our beautiful world. I would have to say that Thailand is one of my favorite places on this planet and anyone that hasn't been there is missing paradise.

We flew in after completing our tour of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flight was only a couple of hours and this gave me some time to ponder my expectations of Thailand. Believe me, there is not enough time in this life to fully appreciate much less develop any preconceived concepts of this magical land. We had chosen the southern island of Phuket for our initial visit and after only a day, I knew it was a wise choice.

The Phuket airport is in the northern part of the island and the city we were to tour was in the southern. We were due to arrive at a villa in the hills between Phuket Town and the airport. Two hours in a taxi, on what should of been a twenty minute drive, in which the driver had no clue as to where we wanted to go, we arrived. The delay could not compromise the grandeur of these hillside villas. Even though we totally enjoyed our stay, after two days we were anxious to explore. We reluctantly departed.

We did spend some time in nearby Phuket Town, but as this was a larger city many of the national traditions of the land were too well hidden in the struggle of everyday life. Too many shops, too many people and especially, too many cars and motorbikes. Local people recommended that we go to a smaller beach town just thirty kilometers across the island. We did and was amazed at the difference in culture, lifestyle and varied entertainment offered by this small town of Patong.

Thailand is a woman's shopping frenzy and being a single man, I can honestly say it is a mans paradise. There were beautiful women everywhere. In the streets, in the bars, in the shops and constantly in my mind. What amazed me the most was just how open and friendly they were. Not pretentious or vain in the least. As for the shopping, each shop offered the widest selection and best available products for the money anywhere in the world. Obviously the women were not only my main interests. I bought more clothes and souvenirs than I could carry in my baggage. The prices were amazing. For example, a shirt that I would normally pay $40.00 US dollars, almost anywhere else in the world, would only cost me 300 Baht. Each US dollars is worth about $42.00 Thai Baht. So the shirt would only cost me $7.14 US. Whatever your passion or heart may desire..it was for sale in Thailand. The smaller shops would even bargain down to less that half of their asking price. From imitation Levi's to expensive perfume that are, of course, copies, are laid out in every available inch of space packed along the streets and busy alleyways.

As for entertainment. It too was everywhere. Bars by the hundreds. Every type, from English Pubs to wild discos. Loud music blared from each establishment, bar, shop and restaurant. Some of the music was Thai, but most were top hits from the Western world. Each bar had working girls that would sit and sweet talk tourists into joining them for a drink. They were paid a small salary to solicit. They were most gorgeous and totally available for whatever you had in mind. If you saw one in particular that you liked you would simply make a deal with her, pay the small bar fee, usually 200 baht, roughly five US dollars, and then head off for a night of fun. If you only wanted some quaint company or someone to show off to your friends... no problem. If you wanted more, also no problem! Their fee would vary depending on how much money they thought you'd pay, but just like the shops, they would bargain. Their fee was usually around one thousand baht, twenty five dollars. Later in the night their fee would drop to about half. Whatever your desire for fun or adventure, Thailand has it covered. This country offers much more than a good time, twenty fours a day, it also has stunning natural beauty and is a land of hundreds of exotic islands. Each offering its own unique beauty.

Tropical paradise awaits at every turn. Golden, deserted beaches, thick flora, vibrant jungles, elephants, monkeys, beautiful people and inexpensive adventure is but a small example of what Thailand will give you. We toured for months filming each and every detail. The multiple boat

tours, ferries and motorcycle trips around each of the islands were enough in itself to give you a lifetime of memories, but Thailand is more... much more.