I just returned from 35 days in Australia, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Kenya. I thought I would pass along a few of my experiences and tips for travel in Thailand. I'll also post some suggestions for Australia and Kenya as well.

This was our first trip to Thailand. We had a wonderful time and hope to return again someday. The history, architecture, and people were so interesting and a joy to interact with.

I have to say that the culture shock arriving in Bangkok was a little overwhelming at first. Bangkok is a huge city. The traffic is unbelievably crowded. I would not recommend trying to drive here unless you are already experienced driving on the left side of the road in very chaotic traffic. Taxis are reasonably priced and make it easy to get around. And the boats on the Chao Phraya River are very convenient and fun. But Bangkok is also one of the most interesting cities we have ever visited.

Our visit became much more enjoyable once we hired a guide. Having someone with us who spoke the language and who knew the city allowed us to experience so much more of the culture than we would have been able to see on our own. I highly recommend two guides in Bangkok. Both are very knowledgable about the area and charged us a very reasonable price.

Mai -- e-mail: suaidasairat[a]yahoo.com

Mai gave us a wonderful tour of Ayutthaya and also the Grand Palace in Bangkok. She rents rooms in her home -- <a href="http://www.thailandechezmai.com" target="_blank">http://www.thailandechezmai.com</A> . I also highly recommend the Benjarong boat cruise we took from Ayutthaya to Bangkok -- <a href="http://www.thaicruises.com" target="_blank">http://www.thaicruises.com</A> . Mai speeks several languages, including French, English, and Thai. She gave us a wonderful introduction to Thai culture.


Tong -- e-mail: pornpitcha[a]yahoo.com or tourwithtong[a]yahoo.com

Tong gave us a wonderful tour of the Damnoen Floating Market and Kanchanaburi province. She is very knowledgable about the history of this area and took excellent care of us.


For a wonderful dining experience in Bangkok, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel (the tallest building in Bangkok) has an incredible international buffet dinner, located on the 89th floor of the hotel. The food is excellent and the view of Bangkok can't be beat.

The other place we visited that I can not recommend enough is the Elephant Nature Park, located near Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Visits can be booked through their web page at <a href="http://www.thaifocus.com/elephant" target="_blank">http://www.thaifocus.com/elephant</A> . If you are thinking about going on an elephant trek, please consider visiting this place. You can visit for a day, stay overnight, or volunteer to help for several days or weeks at a time. Lek is the owner of the park and she is truly an inspiration to meet. She rescues elephants and other animals who are being maltreated, or who are sick or injured in the wild, then brings them to this beautiful mountain valley to care for them. At the park, we were able to personally interact with 32 elephants, 42 dogs, 25+ cats, 7 water buffalo, and a beautiful butterfly garden. We stayed overnight and were able to feed the elephants, wash them in the river, and go for walks with them. The camp is a bit primitive, but it's because they want the animals to live as close to the wild as possible while still getting the care they need to survive. They served us excellent food during our visit. We got to know these animals in a way that we never would have experienced by going on an elephant ride or visiting a zoo. And it was done in a way which provided the animals with loving care and in a safe environment for the animals. It truly was a life changing experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves animals. I sincerely hope that I'm able to return for another visit one day soon.

In Chiang Mai, we stayed at the D2 hotel. This place was spotlessly clean, and a very comfortable hotel. It is located next door to the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai, so it is very conveniently located. The Night Bazaar was a great place to shop.

If you would like to see some photos of our trip, I've posted some on-line. You can access the photo album at:

<a href="http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2088...sc-email-AlbumInvite" target="_blank">http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures...ail-AlbumInvite</A>

I hope you enjoy. Happy non-revving.
Mark