Travel Destinations: Thailand

The air in Bangkok, Thailand's capital is polluted for sure, but nevertheless the city will dazzle you with its glittering temples, magnificent palaces, fiesta-like markets and a kaleidoscope of tastes. To avoid the traffic and congestion, the best way to navigate Bangkok is to ride the public ferries or water taxis everywhere, to the hotels, temples, food markets and shops.

The city's most famous landmark is the Grand Palace. It is a stunning complex of buildings, which includes Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the royal residences and government offices. You will be awed by the beautiful architecture and intricate details of these buildings.

After a day of sightseeing in Bangkok, melt away your fatigue and rejuvenate with a traditional Thai massage. Most hotels provide this service, but you can get a much better price elsewhere. The impressive Wat Pho Temple is a good start. The largest and oldest of the temples in Bangkok, it is renowned for the enormous reclining Buddha, and for its Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School. Be forewarned that there will be a lot of yanking, pulling, and kneading, but you will feel so good afterwards that you'll want to come back for more. At 400 Thai Baht (US$12) for a 1 hour full body massage, you'll definitely want to come back for another session.

No trip to Bangkok is complete without a trip to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. The array of goods offered at this enormous bazaar is pretty amazing, with all kinds of clothing from T-shirts to silk textiles, jewelry, crafts, tools, antiques, food, and even pets! Be prepared to bargain. It doesn't matter if you don't speak each other's language. The universal language is math, and calculators can do all the talking.

To get a glimpse of life in a Thai village, join a tour to visit the Damnoen Saduak floating market. As your long-tail boat plies the khlongs or canals, you will pass by traditional homes, farms and locals going about their lives. At the market, things get a litte frenzied with other long-tail boats stopping, shopping and bargaining. Be adventurous and savor some of the exotic fruits like mangosteens, rambutans, longans or lychees. They are all delightful as are the Thai mangoes. Fried bananas and fried sweet potatoes are yummy too. Do not leave Thailand without sampling the ubiquitous rice noodle dish Pad Thai. You can get it at a food court, a street vendor or a restaurant.

After the frenetic pace in Bangkok, head down south to Phuket Island for some much needed R&R. It is a very popular vacation destination for both locals and tourists. The main drag around Patong Beach is the most crowded and vibrant, with plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The night life can be pretty wild, as anything goes in this funky beach town. If you prefer quieter beaches away from the crowds, Karon Beach to the south, or Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches to the north are good choices.

To get away from it all, go sea kayaking in breathtaking Phang Nga Bay. The bay is punctuated by towering limestone cliffs, creating a picturesque backdrop against the emerald green water. The tour picks you up at your hotel and transfer you to a boat, which stops at several islands. One exhilarating stop is to explore the sea caves. Here, a guide takes you on an inflatable 3-person kayak, and enters a series of sea caves, some whose entrances are so tiny you have to lie flat in the kayak to get through them. With the help of a flashlight, you will glide through the pitch-black caves and occasionally catch a glimpse of the resident bats. Just when you thought you were lost, the cave opens up to a lagoon, and you find yourself in bright daylight surrounded by the tall limestone formations. It is truly a magical experience.

Another highly recommended excursion is a boat trip to idyllic Phi-Phi Island. The tour stops at several islands, one of which is Tapu or James Bond Island, where "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed, giving you plenty of opportunity to snorkel in the clear emerald waters. If you so choose, you can arrange to spend the night on the beach of this remote island. What a great way to wind down before heading back home!