Trends - Excite Yourself with a myriad of Thai trends
JUST PAUSE AND ENJOY A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THAILAND
Thailand encourages you to enter into a different world of fantasy. Not only will your senses be dazzled with amazing attractions scattered throughout the country, you will also be fascinated by a myriad of Thai trends that have made and are making this nation the unmatched jewel of Southeast Asia.
Travelers may seek more vibrancy...more excitement that extra something just a little out of the ordinary. Thailand offers you that special atmospheres, special places, special services for guests who demand something special and something different. Wherever you choose to stay or to enjoy yourself, a world of fantasy can be there at your doorstep. Come and allow yourself to be transported to a dreamland for just a moment, just a day, just a few days! The experience will excite you instantly, and the memories will remain with you for the rest of your life.
LIVE IN STYLE
Boutique hotels are emerging as a new trend in Thai tourism. Also known as 'designer hotels' or 'lifestyle hotels,' these intimate and often luxurious alternatives differ from chain or branded versions, offering personalized accommodation, services and facilities. In Thailand, they vary from place to place, but you can choose from cottages built in harmony with cascading water courses, bungalows in secluded areas with golden beach frontages against scenic mountain backdrops, clay houses in mountainous terrains and seas of mist, and restored stately teak houses in lush greenery. All are easily accessible and reasonably priced.
You can opt to dine in chic and top-notch restaurants, some based within hotels, others located on their own premises. Many of these can be found in Bangkok and other major tourist cities, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui, and Hat Yai. The cuisine ranges from Asian, barbecue, Cajun, Chinese, fondue, Mediterranean, seafood, and Swiss to vegetarian and, of course, Thai. You can sip drinks of your choice while enjoying stunning views of the surroundings, and dance to live music in stylish and upbeat clubs convenient to your accommodation.
SHOPPERS' PARADISE
Thailand is one of south-east Asia's leading exotic shopping destinations. It boasts hundreds of modern, state-of-the-art shopping malls, plazas, and exclusive outlets, as well as markets that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The serious shopper can expect to find not only examples of Thailand's well-known handicrafts but also an extensive choice of genuine luxury purchases.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is known to visitors and Bangkok residents alike as the place where anything can be found. The market covers an area of 35 acres and contains more than 15,000 shops and stalls, with more than 200,000 visitors each day. The market comes alive each Friday afternoon with an extensive range of products on sale, including household items, accessories, handicrafts, religious artifacts, art objects, antiques, live animals, books, music, clothes, food, plants, and flowers.
Within the inner city or the Rattanakosin Isle, places to shop include Khao San Road, one of the world's most vibrant streets. It is just one kilometer in length and is lined with pubs and bars, shops, and stalls selling crafts, paintings, clothes, food, and books. It's a backpackers' paradise! Chinatown, a major trading center even before Bangkok became a royal capital, covers a large area on Yaowarat and Charoen Krung or New Road, and is crammed with shops and stalls in side streets and alleys. Phahurat, the Indian market nearby, is a traditional textile and garment center. The entire area is also famous for its food and at night turns into a delightful place to eat. Serious shoppers head for Bo Be, the wholesale garment market close to Hua Lamphong Railway Station, or to Pratunam, the huge clothing market at the intersection of Ratchaprasong and Phetchaburi Roads.
A newly opened business and retail area covers Pathumwan, Ratchaprasong, and Sukhumvit, containing MBK Center, Siam Square, and Siam Discovery, within the campus of Chulalongkorn University. This forms a vibrant complex catering for students and young people extending to Siam Paragon, an up-scale shopping mall with a wide range of stores and restaurants as well as top entertainment areas, theatres, and an aquarium. Proceeding further along Pathumwan Road, you come to Central World, one of the latest additions to Bangkok's attractions, an expansive 800,000 square meter shopping experience. Gaysorn, Sogo, and Emporium on Sukhumvit Road are all delightful lifestyle shopping areas catering for the delight of tourists and residents alike.
Areas outside of the capital have not neglected the serious shopper either. Shopping complexes have been developed in all major tourist cities, including such establishments as Central Festival Pattaya, Hua Hin Night Market, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Hat Yai Plaza Shopping Center, and Ban Thawai Antiques and Wood Carving Village in Chiang Mai. Jungceylon Phuket, an up-scale lifestyle shopping complex, has recently opened in Patong. This site combines a modern trade concept with the ambience and history of Phuket under its ancient name of Jungceylon.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
For a glimpse into old Siam, visit Joe Louis Puppet Theater near the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. On offer is a revived traditional art known as Hun Lakhon Lek in which elaborate puppets and their handlers dance in synchronized movements and communicate with the audience in a playful manner. For an authentic Khon or mask dance, come to Chalermkrung Royal Theater where performances are staged regularly during winter months. Other plays of the performing arts can be seen throughout the year, all accompanied by modern lighting and sound techniques.
Siam Niramit Theater offers a world class spectacular show consisting of an 80 minute journey through the country's history, customs and cultural treasures. The show is lavish with ornately designed sets and costumes, featuring a live elephant, magical illusions, aerial performances, and pyrotechnics, making it a state-of-the-art production.
When in Pattaya, don't miss the cabaret shows at Alcazar and Tiffany's. Both of these involve elaborate performances by beautiful transvestites. Alcazar is known throughout the world and is comparable to the Lido and Moulin Rouge of Paris. The performers combine the arts of acting and singing with spectacular light and sound technology, magnificent costumes, and fantastic sceneries. Tiffany's, another legend of Pattaya cabaret, is the palace of decadence, spectacular elegance, and enjoyment featuring over 100 professional performers in dazzling costumes in the first true transvestite cabaret show in Southeast Asia.
Down in Phuket, you can visit Phuket Fantasea, a stunning 140 acre theme complex packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment. These include a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts, and shopping, a theme restaurant offering a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisines that can accommodate 4,000 patrons, and a breathtaking Las Vegas-style theatrical show, where state-of-the-art technology and special effects enhance the grace and beauty of Thailand's myths, mysteries, and magic in a wondrous extravaganza.
