Eight Must-haves Before Embarking On Thailand Travel

Behind the beachside bungalows and luxury spa retreats, you'll find snapshots of Thai life with aromatic street vendors, tuk tuks, junglestrewn temples and giant Buddhas. Thailand doesn't stop at bustling Bangkok markets and a hammock on the beach. In recent years, the Thai Government has devoted substantial resources toward AIDS education and awareness.

Chiang Rai Province in the north may have an infection rate as high as 15 percent. Thai Government officials estimate that Thailand has between 200,000 and 400,000 HIV carriers. However, the AIDS epidemic has had a major impact on the Thai population.

Life expectancy has also risen - a positive reflection of Thailand's efforts at public health education. Thailand's highly successful government-sponsored family planning program has resulted in a dramatic decline in population growth from 3.1 percent in 1960 to around 1.1 percent today. However, as Thailand continues to industrialize, its urban population (18 percent of total population, principally in the Bangkok area), is growing.

The population is mostly rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas of the central, northeastern, and northern regions. Everything about the city bespeaks the exotic, especially the food, which you'll want to indulge in. Be sure not to miss the Grand Palace, the temple at Wat Po, and if you can manage it, take in an evening of dinner and Thai dancing. New buildings can be found around the corner from old Buddhist temples.

With its eight million inhabitants, Bangkok is a teeming metropolis, but it's nothing like what you'll find here in the States. Guests can enjoy the hotel's facilities including the swimming pool and jacuzzi. Nipa Resort is located in the prime area of Phuket, only a few minutes walk from the world-famous Patong Beach and 3 minutes to the Jung Ceylon.

Guests can enjoy the hotel facilities including the restaurant, bar and the outdoor pool. The Best hotel in Thailand is close to key attractions and is situated in an entertainment and shopping district close to several large shopping centres including Central World, and Siam Paragon Mall. Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel & Resort is situated in the vibrant Sukhumvit area of Bangkok.

Teachers will be on hand to guide you with step-by-step instructions to ensure you have a delicious meal to enjoy for your lunch! Each dish will be demonstrated and you will then have the opportunity to cook it yourself. Experience a local market where your guide will help you identify the various vegetables, fruits and numerous other amazing items for sale followed by a Thai Cooking Class at Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School.

Please note that internal flight times are subject to change. On arrival in Chiang Mai you will transfer to your hotel where you will have the rest of the day to settle in to your new surroundings. Say goodbye to Bangkok as you catch an internal flight to Chiang Mai.

The Bridge, together with the Death Railway, is now regarded as a significant symbol of peace. It is called the Death Railway as it involved the death of too many people during the construction period.