A visit to the legendary Golden Triangle

Colourful hill tribes, winding, mountainous roads through jungles and valleys, this is the point where Thailand meets Burma and Laos and forms the legendary “Golden Triangle”. Located 9 km to the north of Chiang Saen and 129 miles from Chiang Mai, the sight is stunning to behold. What’s more, you can even stand at the very point where the Rauk River from Burma flows into the Mekong.

The most beautiful and amazing view of the Golden Triangle can be seen from a small hill where visitors can go up to that point by car. Park the car and simply get enchanted by the sheer beauty of the place. The area is full of beautiful natural scenery and ancient temples, so it isn’t like it’s not worth a visit. In fact it’s quite liked by visitors who do not want to hit the beaches and malls.

The typical sights on a Golden Triangle tour are the town of Mai Sai where you can even cross into Burma for some shopping, the ancient city of Chiang Saen and finally the small village of Sop Ruak. Accommodations are available for tourists who want to stay over night and boats can also be rented for trips along the Khong River.

Thailand - What they love and what they dont

Before hitting an unknown country like Thailand, it would be wise to know what the routine practice of that place is and what you should not do to avoid getting into trouble. Here we give you the dos and donts that will make your journey smooth and trouble-free. Thought the list is endless, these tips will be a lot of help especially to the first timers.

DOS:

* Firstly do learn a few Thai words to greet the locals. They consider it polite and it will also help you communicate well. Words like “Swadee Khrap” [hello] are always a delight to hear!
* Wear yellow T-Shirt on Monday and Friday. Thai people have great love for the king and the royal family. Thai people pay tribute to his majesty by wearing yellow T-Shirt on Monday and Friday. Make sure you wear one.
*  In the theatre, the audience will stand up to show respect to the king, so do stand up and shower that respect.
* Do pay tips to waiters. It’s a custom here more than a passing gesture!
* Always be cautious. There are notorious people round eager to cheat the tourists of their money!

DONTS

* Don’t litter the streets. It’s illegal and punishable under the law. You may end up paying 2000 Bahts!
* Similarly even smoking in public areas is considered an offense. Look out for smoking zones to do that.
* Don’t wear objectionable clothes like bikini tops, short skirts or hot pants in sacred areas like the Temples or religious shrines. You may be outrightly denied entry for being barely clad.
* Criticism of the king and royal family is not just frowned upon in Thailand; it is against the law – a punishable offence that is taken very seriously.
* Do not engage in purchase of wild animals whether protected or not. Aside from the moral issues, punishments are very harsh.
* Thais do not shake hands; they ‘wai’ – a gesture made by placing your hands together in front of your face a bowing a little. Generally, you should not wai to a child and a younger person should wai an older person first.
* Public Display Affection are frowned upon. It is rude to make out in public. So be careful before showering your love to your beloved on the streets of Thailand.

Vimanmek Mansion - a one of its kind museum

Even if museums are not exactly on top of your must visit list in Thailand, here is one museum-like building which calls for a visit. It is the Vimanmek mansion, the world’s largest teakwood building situated in Bangkok.

Built in the 20th century, this magnificent L-shaped structure was revamped by Her Majesty the Queen and converted into a museum which reflected the rich Thai cultural heritage. From ancient artifacts of Thailand’s pre-history to contemporary photographs donated by His Majesty the King, the Vimanmek is now on many main tourist trails.

Even with limited access, the full grandeur of the structure is apparent with its maze of corridors, spiral and grand staircases and numerous inter-connecting chambers.

If your time is limited, and yet you want to see this storehouse of ancient Thai culture, then planning a half day tour will also be a good idea. Getting to the place is easy. You can either hire a taxi or even get on to the Skytrain. The Phayathai is the stop from where you will have to walk to get to the museum. If you do take the river route, there are usually a lot of tuk-tuks available for hire too.

Remember that this “national attraction” remains open for visitors from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, while the ticket counter closes by 3:30 pm. The admission will cost you approximately USD 3 [100 Bahts] per person.

Dress decently and always keep your tickets handy. They will be checked at the entrance of every building of the Vimanmek. No cameras are allowed as indoor photography is strictly prohibited and shoes will also have to be open outside the entrance. Just a few cautions and you will get to see all of Thailand under one single roof!