Thailand

My husband and I had an amazing trip in June 2003 to Thailand which is known as the land of smiles, magic and mystery and where the weather is as warm as the people with a combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of fabulous ancient Kingdoms. We flew into Bangkok and stayed in a nice 3 star hotel called the Amari Atrium which was centrally located near Bangkok's main commercial and shopping district of Sukhumvit Road. The Transfer from Bangkok airport took about 30 minutes. Bustling Bangkok is one of Asia's most intoxicating capitals, full of street bustle and wonderful food, with its mix of ancient and modern, plus great shopping and sightseeing. We took a boat trip through the Floating Market, picture-perfect temples and great shopping, including the Night Bazaar. Bangkok is also home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

We then travelled up to the north of Thailand to Chaing Mai's old city second only to Bangkok in size but the vibe in Chaing Mai couldn't be more different it is a lot more laid back and more relaxed. We went trekking in the hills with the hill tribes and we took an elephant ride into a nearby forest to glimpse the lifestyle of remote hill-tribes and we could cool off in the spray of beautiful cascading waterfalls .We also visited the Night market there - it's one of the best in the country!

We also visited Phuket which is Thailand largest Island and sits in the deep blue waters of Anadaman Sea. Phuket has some of the best diving in the world in the crystal clear waters and unspoilt beaches and also has vibrant nightlife. Phuket provides a great base for exploring the underwater world and we also visited Krabi which is a little island very close to Phuket and both Islands offer convenient access to many idyllic islands scattered between the two.

During our stay in Thailand we also visited Koh Samui one of Thailands leading island destinations. Koh Samui has Fabulous white sandy beaches, and offers a more relaxed holiday. Chaweng is the main centre offering shops, bars, nightlife and lots of lovely restaurants. We went diving and snorkelling which was one of the most amazing experiences of underwater world ever to us.

Thailand has gorgeous, white sandy beaches; Buddhist temples; and a friendly national character that added to our memorable experiences.

Thai food is internationally renowned for being spicy and pungent. Some of the most popular dishes which we tasted and loved are Phat Thai (Thai fried noodles) Tom Yam Kung (spicy shrimp soup) and curries. We also found that Thailand is a shopper's paradise, offering a diverse range of products such as jewellery; antiques, to tailored suits and designer clothing and of course silk. Traditional handicrafts and tribal artefacts that we purchased were posted home as this worked out cheaper and safer.

I now have first hand information on some of the hotels. I feel really confident talking about Thailand now and would love to share the excitement of this wonderful land of smiles with my clients.

All in all we found Thailand one of the most memorable and cultural experiences ever.