Anne Lammers - Version 2

Paradise on earth

Welcome to the world of buddhism, monks and rice for breakfast. Welcome in Bangkok, the city of cheap clothes, live bands and buckets.  Come in to the country with more than thousand temples. Welcome to one of the most famous places for backpackers. Swim in clear blue seas, and lay on the white sand beaches.  Welcome. Welcome to paradise on earth. 

Buddhism everywhere

More than 90 procent of the people in Thailand are buddhist. Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and achieving a deep insight in life. The tradition teaches that all life is connected to eachother so compassion to every living creature is needed. Buddhists believe that nothing in life is fixed or permanent and change is and should always be possible. This belief has numerous colourful festivals throughout the year which are very interesting and fun to visit. Literally everywhere you walk, wherever you are in Thailand, you will see a monk. Recognizable as they are, they always wear a orange robe. No matter what.

                                                               A young monk  with the traditional orange robe. Source: trekearth.com

Bangkok is for everyone

We all know Bangkok, the capital of the beautiful country of Thailand. Bangkok is a metropolis, you can compare it to New York or London. When you don't feel comfortable in crowded places, you should never visit this city! Walking down the streets in Bangkok you see a lot of different foodstalls, which is very normal in Thailand. Bangkok counts a lot of taxis, it is impossible to go to Bangkok and never travel by taxi. The costs are very low, approximately 5 pounds an hour. Bangkok also had a lot of big shoppingmalls, and with big I mean REALLY big. You can shop for a while on the first floor, and later watch a movie on the sixt floor. Everything is possible. There's also the famous Kho San Road, the backpackersstreet of Bangkok. There you can party all night long, shop untill midnight, drink your bucket filled with vodka and orange juice for only 2 pounds or just walk around and see crazy backpackers having the time of their lives. Bangkok is for everyone. If your having dinner at a fancy club, or you're eating rice for one pound, you can visit Bangkok just the way you want to. Just the way you like it.

Bangkok sightseeing. Source::orangesmile.com

Chill-out travvelers'mecca Pai

My favourite place in Thailand is definitely Pai, which is a travellers' mecca in the north of Thailand. The place is all about hippies, Bob Marley, music and relaxing. Pai attracts backpackers the most, probably because foods, drinks, clothes and everything else is very cheap there. The town has got a live music scene you won't find anywhere else in Thailand. Pai is in the middle of a beautiful green valley with hot springs, extensive rice fields and a lovely river. My favourite memory in Pai was discovering Pai on a motorbike, that was a great experience for me. Pai is just great! You will definitely leave the place with a smile on your face.

Word bank

Bustle  
Streven

Shrines         
Heiligdommen

Glitzy  
Blitse

Development  
Ontwikkeling

Attainment  
Bereik

Compassion  
Mededogen

Currently  
Momenteel

Census         
Volkstelling

Arose  
Ontstaan

Enlightenment  
Voorlichting

Worship        
 Aanbidden

Throughout  
Rondom

Unrestrained  
Onbeperkt

Insatiable  
Onlesbaar

Exhaust         
Uitgeput raken

Epiphany  
Driekoningen

Superficial  
Oppervlakkig

Lubrication  
Smering

Forcefully  
Gedwongen

Pronounced  
Uitgesproken

Emanating  
Afkomstig(uit)

Affordable  
Betaalbaar

Range  
Bereik

Surpass        
Overtreffen

Remain        
Blijven

Sources:

BBC. (2009). Buddhism at a glance. Geraadpleegd op :15 december 2011 van: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ataglance/glance.shtml

Lonely Planet. (2011). Introducing Bangkok. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok

Lonely Planet. (2011). Pai. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/mae-hong-son-province/pai