SOUTHEAST ASIA GUIDE — THAILAND

Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll

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THAILAND

Major airline:

Thai Airways

Capital:

Bangkok.

Language:

Thai is the national language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Currency:

The baht

The Grand Palace. Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Eating Out:

Thai cuisine is a combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Try phat tai (thin rice noodles, fried with tofu, vegetables, egg and peanuts), tom yam (prawn soup, seasoned with chilies, lemongrass and lime leaves), po pia (spring rolls stuffed with minced pork, crab and cooked beansprouts), kaeng masaman (Muslim-style sweet beef curry), khao na phet (rice, topped with slices of roast duck, ginger and wild cabbage), khao rat na nua (rice, topped with slices of beef, vegetables fried in oyster sauce, and beef gravy), khai yat sai (omelette stuffed with peas, onions and minced pork), kai yang (Thai-style, barbecued chicken), salim (tapioca in a sweet broth), khanom (coconut and egg dessert).

Shopping Specialties:

Thai silks, custom-made suits and dresses, oil and water color paintings, sapphire stones and jewelry, bronzeware, laquerware, knock-off designer clothing, watches and accessories, "reproduction" antiques, hand-painted paper umbrellas, hilltribe handicrafts (notably, silver and embroidery), celadon pottery, pewterware, and mother-of-pearl inlay.

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TRAVEL INFORMATION

Tourism Authority of Thailand: www.tourismthailand.org