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'The beach was live and reverberating with the clamour of boisterous tourists engaged in watersports. You get water jets, parachutes, bikes etc. for rent 'We reached the hotel where our stay was arranged. We could see the Pattong beach through the large glass windows of our rooms at the 9th floor. It was the most famous beach of Thailand. A little rest and then we set out. On one side of the street that led to the beach were the famed massage centres. On the beach there was a board indicating ways to escape tsunamis. Around 3950 people had lost their lives on this beach itself in the 2004 catastrophe. The death toll in Thailand was 8457 with an additional number of 4499 missing. But there are only boards now to remind you of the tragedy. Moreover, Thailand is all geared up to see to it that another tsunami will not take the life of even one person.

The beach was live and reverberating with the clamour of boisterous tourists engaged in watersports. You get water jets, parachutes, bikes etc. for rent. And there are people to give massage to those who recline on the easy-chairs laid on the beach. It got dark and we chose to roam along the streets. Restaurants, pubs, bars were all crowded with people with a good number of beauties among them. We could see those damsels dancing in the nightclubs from the street itself. And there were eunuchs everywhere. As a matter of fact, Thailand wears a sexy tone after the fall of dusk.

The next morning we went to the Chalong Bay which was 30kms away from Pattong. We were on our way to those wonderful islands. The white sands and the blue sea set marvelous pictures for us to see on the way. There were about hundred boats in the bay. As soon as we got in the boat, we rushed to the front thinking that there we will get a better view. The boat started cruising swaying with the waves. When some of us stood up the guide warned that it was dangerous to do so. Soon, there came an announcement with the effect that those who are pregnant and who have back-ache are forbidden to sit in the front. We understood that there was something wrong with our choice of seating. Within a few minutes we came to realize what was wrong. It was the front seaters who were to bear the brunt of the shock of the waves. The back-seaters laughed at us.

In a Fantasy World with King Kong

After one and a half hours we could see rocks here and there. With plants growing over them, those dark lumps of granite appeared as if they were floating in the sea. Before long, we arrived at Maya bay, that very beach we have been acquainted through the many Hollywood and Bollywood films. It was truly a world of fantasy with its lovely, picture perfect bay and caves with gypsum formations all over them. After spending one hour there we hit the sea for the next island. We sailed along the sides of large boulders which too had images formed by gypsum.

When the boat reached an area called Losama Bay the guide handed out masks and other accessories needed for scuba diving. The sea was so clear that one could see the sea-bed. Wearing the masks and other things, we, along with a number of our co-travelers, jumped into the sea. There were coral reefs, plants, and a variety of fishes close to us. We swam and swam like mermaids having a wonderful time in that wonderful world of theirs where there are no worries! I had to drag myself out to the surface to get on with our cruise. We landed at a small island known as Monkey Island where monkeys mingle freely with their human counterparts and don’t mind having a meal with them.

We set out from there in the direction of the Fifi Island where we were supposed to have our lunch. The boulders along the way had big caves and among them we saw the Wiking Cave – the hiding place of our dear King Kong of that unforgettable movie. A thrill passed through me.

Again, the Chill of Tsunami

It was noon and when we reached Fifi, the largest island of Thailand. In fact there were two islands connected by a reef. The island was closed for about one year after the 18mts high tsunami waves swept the island in 2004. The place was crowded with tourists. After the lunch we chose to take a stroll to the other side of the beach. Leaving behind small beautiful shops, we walked along a narrow path. There was a resort on the way and suddenly the buildings caught our attention – they looked familiar. Before we asked anything, the guide volunteered: “You must have seen this resort in the visuals of tsunami. Those shots taken by an Australian were shown all over world.” A chill passed through us. We observed that resort and its swimming pool in close quarters. The feeling that swept us was not quite pleasant.

We had to visit one more island, a small one named Khaynok. It was a sandbank of pure white sand with huge rocks to one side. We could see coral reefs and fish through the clear sea water. In the middle of the island, there were trees providing their precious shade. And there were shacks and restaurants along the shore. Two hours and it was time to get back. It was quite difficult to bid farewell to those exquisite beaches and waters where beauty, cleanliness, and orderliness all combined to give a treat to the visitors.

The Chao Phraya and the Canals

Back in Bangkok we planned for another exciting day. We caught hold of brochures giving details of conducted tours. We opted for the Rice Barge tour. The tour was through the Chao Phraya river in a barge and through a number of canals in canoes. The charge was 600 bath per head. Kudos! Off we went.

The boat embarked on its journey. The great city of Bangkok revealed itself over both sides of the river. 7 Star hotels like Holiday Inn, Mandarin Court and Hyath, Buddhist temples and bridges sped past our eyes. There were several boats moving swiftly about in the river. We got a little surprised at the fact that a considerable number of the Thai population still makes use of the water transport through the canals and rivers for their daily needs. The road blocks in the cities may be a reason.

The boat entered the canals. The trip through these narrow canals gave us an authentic picture of Thai life. The houses that were over the sides of the canals too were very interesting. They were houses built of wood over wooden pillars that stood entrenched in the river. Their front doors opened towards the river and people were seen sipping beer and catching fish sitting on the steps that touched the waters. The houses stood connected by small wooden bridges and their rears were linked up with the roads.

The guide in the boat gave descriptions of everything on the way and she distributed breadcrumbs among the travelers when we reached a place near a Buddhist temple. Hundreds of fish had gathered around the boat and the breadcrumbs were meant to feed them. The fishes soared above the water and gulped their due. Further ahead, it was the hawkers who surrounded us in their small canoes, trying to sell their goodies to the tourists.

After two hours our boat touched a dock and we moved to a barge. There were cushioned seats and a table displaying all sorts of fruits with some rare ones found only in Thailand among them. There was also a bar counter in a corner. Fruits and drinks are free for those who opt for the barge tour. The barge got us back to the city. That tour through the canals which were like the arteries of Thailand was an unforgettable one.

The Emerald Buddha

' The green jade image of the Buddha (carved from a large piece of green jasper) in golden attires is in a seated position of deep meditation 'The next morning, Vijo, a friend born and brought up in Thailand, took us to his home and his mother treated us with Indian tea and savories. Vijo took charge of the responsibility of seeing us through that day. He fixed the Grand Palace, the seat of the Thai kings, as our first destination. The palace was in the city, on the bank of the river. Built in 1782, it was opened to the public after the present incumbent moved his residence from there. Rising high with its dome and sloping roofs with sharp ends that go upwards, the palace symbolizes the Thai architectural tradition. In its grandeur and beauty the palace excels any other one in its genre.

From the palace complex we moved on to see the Temple of Emerald Buddha in the next compound. Here, the architectural traditions of Combodia, China, Vietnam and Thailand combine to give a special effect. The temple was full of pictures that depicted each and every phase of the life of the Buddha. And then we saw the renowned Emerald Buddha, the deity of the temple. The green jade image of the Buddha (carved from a large piece of green jasper) in golden attires is in a seated position of deep meditation, a position which is quite rare in Thailand. The sight was marvelous. There was also a stone model of the famous Angkor Vat temple of Cambodia inside the temple of Emerald Buddha. The visit was a fitting finale to our sojourn in Thailand.

There was much more to see. More visits were inevitable to this land which takes every calamity in its stride and move forward with renewed energy. The smiling faces of the Thai people represent the vigour of a culture that confront any situation with a kind of hope. Cheers for a country which beckons travelers all over the world with its beaches of white sand, tropical forests, and the very modern city of joy that is Bangkok.

© travelbird