Gerry Kerkhof

Pattaya was a simple fishing village overlooking the Gulf of Thailand until it was discovered by some American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Word soon spread amongst servicemen that it was a great place to spend their R&R (rest and recuperation) time which led to the establishment of the first go-go bars along Walking Street. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the resort achieved international acclaim centred largely on its nightlife which made it one of the world’s best-known destinations for sex tourism. More recently the tourism authorities have made a concerted effort to rid Pattaya of its seedy reputation as they try to promote the resort to a much wider audience.

The Chao Phraya River flows through Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand which begins just 30km south of the Thai capital. Heading along the coast to the east leads to the world-famous holiday resort of Pattaya which is notorious for its nightlife. Continuing south-east leads to the popular island getaway of Ko Samet and further still to the Mu Ko Chang National Park which is an archipelago of more than 50 islands off the coast of Trat near the Cambodian border.

The historic town of Hua Hin is the capital of the Hua Hin District which overlooks the Gulf of Thailand on the north-east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The town first appeared on the tourist map in the 1920s when members of the Thai Royal Family arrived here by train from Bangkok to spend their summers at the Klai Kang Won and Maruekhathaiyawan Royal Palaces. The town soon become a popular resort for wealthy Europeans living in South-East Asia.

Thailand alone has a population of almost 70 million. It has a dynamic economy which is a member of the 650 million strong ASEAN trading block which offers many exciting business opportunities in the region. Whilst the country is known as the ‘land of smiles’ visiting executives shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security when hoping to close deals in this part of the world. Thai business people are experienced and astute operators who will take their time in building relationships with foreigners before deciding whether to sign on the dotted line. In order to maximise their chances of success, Western business people visiting Bangkok should do a little research into the city and how business is conducted in Thailand.

Deciding where to stay on a first time visit to Bangkok can be somewhat overwhelming. It’s a vast city of almost 10 million people occupying almost 1,600 square kilometers. Its neighbourhoods are spread far an wide although an excellent public transport network ensures that visitors can easily get around. Accommodation ranges from 5-star luxury hotels overlooking the Chao Phraya River to basic backpacker hostels along the Khao San Road. With so many places to choose from it’s fair to say that there is something to suit every pocket in Bangkok, it’s just a question of researching the city’s main neighbourhoods and deciding which is most appropriate for you.

Having only heard glowing references to Thai food I found myself underwhelmed after my first few days in Bangkok many years ago. What nobody had told me was that you aren’t supposed to eat the lemongrass! Once I’d corrected this ‘schoolboy error’ I came to love the food of Thailand which is often best enjoyed from street vendors who operate from food stalls on the pavement with a few tables alongside. Vegetarian. chicken, pork and shrimp dishes are the most commonly prepared with a combination of aromatic ingredients such as garlic, shallots, coriander, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and palm sugar. Thai people enjoy spicy food so you’ll often find a small bowl of spicy fish sauce (Prik Nam Pla) on the table. Made from lime juice, fish sauce and fresh chillies this innocuous looking accompaniment should be treated with respect!

My main memory of visiting Bangkok for the first time more than 20 years ago is one of seemingly endless taxi rides. We arrived at the old Don Mueang Airport after an eventful flight from Kathmandu. The main in-flight entertainment was watching a group of Nepalese men consume copious amounts of red wine and brandy during the flight. As we approached Bangkok the poor cabin crew had quite a job of seating these jolly passengers whose white suits were now covered in red wine stains and were incapable of finding their seats. Certain

Bangkok is packed with markets which play a central role in community life and act as popular tourist attractions for visitors to the city. The long-established street markets sell just about anything you can imagine ranging from locally-grown tropical fruits to gold jewellery and fake Levis. As well as bargain-hunting and enjoying the atmosphere of these traditional markets visitors can also splash out at any number of enormous, air-conditioned shopping malls which are up there with some of the most luxurious retail outlets on the planet.

Whether you book a private tour with a guide or decide to go it alone you simply must visit the city’s most famous landmarks. Ideally you should start at the Grand Palace at opening time (8.30am) so as to avoid the worst of the crowds. Within its grounds you will visit the sacred Wat Phra Kaew which is home to the Emerald Buddha. Next you can walk to the neighbouring Wat Pho which is the city’s oldest temple and home to an enormous reclining Buddha which is one of Bangkok’s most Instagrammed sights.

With more than 20 million visitors per year, Bangkok is one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations. Its Buddhist temples and beautiful palaces are the city’s main cultural attractions whilst its colourful markets and lively nightlife add to its appeal. Bangkok is a hub for travellers visiting countries throughout South-East Asia as well as serving as an important global business centre. This diverse visitor profile is reflected in the accommodation on offer which ranges from some magnificent 5-star hotels overlooking the Chao Phraya River to the plethora of budget hostels along Khao San Road.