Exotic Thailand
By PhotoMann
A visit to Thailand is a must for anyone who loves to experience and photograph exotic lands. Thailand is one of my favorite countries to visit. The capital city of Bangkok in addition to the tropical beaches in the south and the mountains in the north offer a wide range of destinations to meet the desires of any
tourist. In this article I will briefly introduce Bangkok and Chiang Mai. If traveling to Thailand you should also consider one if it's numerous beach resort areas.
Bangkok is where most visitors to Thailand start their visit. This bustling city can be a bit overwhelming at
first with it's gridlock traffic jams and air pollution but under the surface it's a city that has plenty to offer. There's the Grand Palace, numerous Buddhist temples, interesting side streets, the constant activity in the numerous canals and of course shopping to fill your time. There is an endless supply of
opportunities for every photographer. I will limit my comments to the must see sites.
There are about 400 temples in Bangkok. The temples not to be missed are Wat Phra Keo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) and Wat Saket (Golden Mount). Each of these temples will provide you with many photographic opportunities.
A visit to Bangkok would be incomplete without exploring some of it's numerous canals. You can hire a longtail boat for a private tour or take one of the many of the public longtail boat transports. My preference is to hire a private boat which makes it much easier to photograph than the opportunities you would have in a crowded boat which make frequent stops. The public longtail boats also have curtains to reduce splashing water which can impede your view.
I would highly recommend taking two day trips out of Bangkok to see the floating market at Damneon
Saduak and the River Kwai. The Damneon Saduak floating market is a tourist trap but it's better than the one in Bangkok and it provides excellent opportunities for photography. If you take a tour to the River Kwai you will see scenic landscapes, old railroads, beautiful river scenes and sobering World War II history.
Chiang Mai and the entire North of Thailand offer breathtaking scenery and colorful hill tribes plus lots of shopping opportunities at handicraft factories. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand but can
be considered a small town when compared to Bangkok. Chiang Mai is one of my favorite places. It has a laid back atmosphere and has much to offer. The highlights include the Old City, the hill-top temple of Doi Suthup, hill tribe villages, elephant work camps, handicraft factory tours and the night market. The old part of Chiang Mai offers centuries of history (one temple dates back to 1296). Parts of the original walls, gates and moat are still visible. The Doi Suthup temple is a must see. It's gilded pagoda and marble floors are the makings of outstanding images. The hill tribe villages and elephant work camps are tourist traps but worth the visit. Taking an elephant ride can be done at the work camp but I much prefer going to a private farm for a ride through the jungle where you and your companions have the jungle to yourself.
The handicraft factory tours have yielded many colorful images of artisans at work and many filled shopping bags to carry home like a pack mule. Last but not least is the night market which lines the streets in Chiang Mai that offers an incredible variety of goods at very reasonable prices (with good bargaining skills).
Those of you who love pristine beaches must make a side trip to Ko Samui. The pure white sand and crystal clear waters make it a beach lover's paradise. The island economy definitely is structured
toward the tourist but Ko Samui lacks the highrise hotels and bar scene that is prominent in Phuket. You won't find any buildings higher that two or three stories. Most of the accomodations are bungalo style near the beach. It's a great place to just hang out, relax and forget about the stresses in your life!
Photography Stuff:
Good quality slide and print film is readily available throughout Thailand.
The high humidity and dust should be considered when deciding what to bring.
Carry a towel to dry off equipment (or maybe the sweat from your brow) that might get wet in longtail boats.
Travel Suggestions:
A trip to Thailand can be inexpensive once you get there. In Bangkok I usually stay in the Nana Hotel which is about US$39 per night
Transportation around Bangkok is easiest by air conditioned metered taxis which are cheap. Your alternative is to play 'Lets Make a Deal' with other taxis or Tuk Tuks. Alternatively you can take the public transport boats through the many canals if you can figure out the routes.
Flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai are frequent and inexpensive. A round trip flight to Chiang Mai takes about an hour and costs US$130 round trip. In Chiang Mai you can stay in the upscale Chiang Inn which will run you less than US$50 per night for a double room. The Chiang Inn is a nice hotel which is conveniently located in the middle of the night market area. I generally stay at the Park Inn Tana which is a couple of blocks away and offers clean rooms for about US$26.
Flights from Bangkok to Ko Samui run several times daily on Bangkok Airways and will cost you about US$170 round trip. There is a large variety of accomodations available. On a recent trip we stayed at the Baan Chaweng Resort. A bungalo 50 meters from the beach was about US$30 with frigid air conditioning. Bungalos with fans are available for less.
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