No one really understands the convoluted reasons that led to the military overthrow of the civilian government of Thailand in mid-September. But with the streets of Bangkok remaining utterly calm ever since – with tourists peacefully sightseeing and shopping, with the universally admired king of Thailand bestowing his blessings on the coup and the U.S. government issuing no demand at all that civilian rule be reinstated – there seems to be no reason not to consider a trip to that colorful and wonderfully inexpensive nation formerly known as Siam.
When I last went to Thailand several years ago, the nation’s currency, the Bhat, was selling at 25 to the dollar. It is now exchanged at a rate ranging between 39 and 42 to the dollar, and everything in Thailand is cheap: hotels, wonderfully tasty restaurant meals, silks, jewelry, artwork, clothing and shoes.
A round-trip flight to Bangkok can be had for about $800 from the U.S. West Coast, and for about $140 more from New York. Air-and-land packages to Thailand (which I’ll discuss below) reduce that air cost considerably.
You go there, among other reasons, to witness the life of a Buddhist nation practicing the gentle, tolerant Theravada tradition of the Buddha in its purest form. Seven immense Buddhist temples are found in Bangkok, among them the enormous Wat Pho, with its 50-yard-long Reclining Buddha. The presence of Buddhist priests is felt everywhere, and the country’s Buddhist tradition might explain the peaceful response to the recent coup.
Shopping for silks
Shopping – especially for magnificent silks – is the next major attraction. Tourists go to Thai boxing matches, enjoy full-body Thai massages and sometimes even engage in so-called medical tourism – low-cost operations at such famous Thai hospitals as Bangkok’s Bumrungrad – for one-tenth the price charged in Western countries.
After visiting Bangkok and the country’s second-largest city, Chiang Mai, the adventurous tourist travels onward by bus to the smaller Chiang Rai, where a dozen travel agencies will offer you the assistance of a personal guide to visit hill tribes in the mountainous “Golden Triangle” of northwest Thailand.
So popular have visits to the “hill tribes” become that one or two hill-tribe villages now can be reached by dirt roads; they also operate simple lodges that can accommodate 20 to 25 people. Therefore, they are included in commercial, escorted tours of Thailand operated by such eminent companies as Pacific Delight (pacificdelighttours.com, 800-221-7179).
Arthur Frommer, who first published “Europe on $5 a Day” in 1956, is a budget travel authority.
