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Thailand Uniqueness

Secret Buddha Garden The "Magic Garden" or "Secret Buddha Garden" is located in the hills of Samui. A Samuian fruit farmer, Nim Thongsuk, started to build the garden in 1976 when he was 77 years old. more...

Kunaram Temple - Mummified Monk. The body of Samui's most famous mummified monk, Loung Pordaeng, is on display here in a specially constructed building. When he died more than 20 years ago, he was sitting in a meditation position. He is still in that same position and his body shows few signs of any major decay. Wat Khunaram is on the 4169 ring-road between the Na Muang waterfalls and Hua Thanon. more...

Long-Necked Paduang (or Padong) Tribes. The Paduang are a sub-group of the Shan, who aren't entirely considered minorities as they have always occupied the areas of Northwest Thailand and the Shan states of Myanmar. The Shan speak a dialect similar to Thai and are even known as Thai Yai, having been assimilated into Thai culture. There are pockets of Paduang around Mae Hong Son. The Paduang attract many curious visitors on account of their long-necked women. A tradition of beautifying women by adding brass rings to their necks has been preserved largely for generating tourism. Although the neck appears cruelly elongated, it is the collarbone which has been displaced rather than the stretching and weakening of the neck. more...

The Thai Elephant --Symbol of Nation. Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. Famous as the strongest beasts of burden, in Thailand they were important in battle, with kings mounted on Elephants fighting the Burmese to defend Thailand on many occasions. They have also been noted for their intelligence, memory and pleasant nature. A Thai legend has it that a marriage is like an elephant-- the husband is the front legs, that choose the direction, the wife the back legs, providing the power ! more...

Thai Traditional Massage is a combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, energy work and stretching, a form of passive yoga. Massage is a way of treating sickness. It started from body twisting and self massage when tired and weak

Robot Building, Bangkok
The Bank of Asia is a very famous building in Bangkok. It was made way back in 1985, and it's robotic appearance is just a symbol of the modernization of banking. It also has the ability to transform into a mega-robot. So, if Godzilla ever decided to show his green face in the land of Bangkok, they would have to fight!

Thai Fruit. One of the most refreshing snacks in Thailand is fruit, and you'll find it offered everywhere - neatly sliced in glass boxes on hawker carts, blended into delicious shakes at r market stalls and served as dessert in restaurants. The fruits described below can be found in all parts of Thailand, though some are seasonal. (Fruit List)

To avoid stomach trouble, peel all fruit before eating it, and use common sense when buying it pre-peeled on the street, avoiding anything that looks fly-blown or seems to have been sitting the sun for hours.

The Wai. From the moment you step out of customs at the airport, you will be faced with the Thai wai ( a palm together greeting, similar to the Indian namas kar). Better get used to it. Your taxi driver, the hotel receptionist, and just about everyone with manners in Thailand will wai you. As tempting as it is to wai back, trying o be as friendly as possible, there are several points to be considered:

• adult dont wai to children. This is a faux pas of nuclear proportions. Neither is it necessary to wai to social inferior such as shopkeeper, cleaning personel, or waiter. This sound harsh but it's the Thai way of life.
• you should wai to elders, monk, policemen and higher-ranking officials. Obviously they dont expect foreigner to understand the ins and out of thei social etiquette and a handshake will often suffice, but a well-timed wai will often delight your host. Place hands together just abouve your solar plexus and smile. The higher you placed your hands are, the greater the sign of respect.

Spirit House. Although the vast majority of Thais are Buddhist, nearly everyone believes that the physical world is inhabited by spirits. These spirits can cause trouble if not given enough care and attention, and are apt to wreak particular havoc when made homeless. Therefore, whenever a new building is constructed in Thailand – be it a traditional village house or a multi-storey office block – the owners will also construct a home for spirit who previously occupied the land. Crucially these spirit houses must be given the best spot on the site – which in Bangkok often means the roof – and must also reflect the status of the building in question, so their architecture can range from the simplest wooden structure to an elaborate scale model of a particularly ornate temple. Daily offerings of flowers, incense and candles are set inside the spirit house, and sometimes morsels of foods are added as well.