On the number of visits we've had to Thailand, we have found the Thais to be lovely, gentle, friendly people.  With the exception of the extreme south of the country, where there is a Muslim influence,  religion here is Buddhism. There are dozens of beautifully ornate temples everywhere, along with a vast array of Buddha statues.  Our first journey being in 1997 on New Years Day when we had driven our car 'Herbie' with his newly installed 1600 engine all the way from K.L. across the border and up to Trang.  There we left him with various belongings packed inside the boot and went across to one of the beautiful islands on a long tail boat - we stayed not on the now famous Koh Phi Phi, but on a small and relatively uninhabited Koh Hai.  There were only two places to stay - one extremely basic with bamboo huts and one more upmarket wooden chalets on stilts with a fan and own bathroom.  The first was  a one night experience, the second was sheer luxury in comparison.  The price then with breakfast was about 200 Baht a night!

Since then we have, having acquired two jobs,  flown to Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.  Our days of roughing it have come to an end - unless desperation sets in!

Phuket is a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches and of course you can take a trip to 'James Bond Island' - one of the many rugged limestone islands on the east of Phuket.  We have stayed at the Bangtao Bay Resort, which is quite small and basic, but a nice atmosphere.  We've also been to the Kata Thani Resort in the far south which is huge, with all resort facilities, but not really much character.

Avoid Patong Beach - unless you like seedy bars teeming with transvestites.  Though we're told the Cabaret by the transvestites is quite a show!  Another town with much the same reputation is Pattya - on the coast, south of Bangkok. 

We found Bangkok, for all its history, temples and palaces, extremely disappointing - you love it or hate it!  The traffic jams are a nightmare and the whole city is very polluted - the quickest way to get around is by river taxi.

Chiang Mai, up in the north is completely different, it's cooler, calmer and much more relaxing.  We visited some great places including a paper umbrella factory, a weavers and also an elephant sanctuary.  We had an elephant ride - not for the faint hearted or anyone suffering from vertigo - elephants are very tall!!  The markets are excellent, with some real bargains, especially for clothes and jewellery.  We will probably go back here again one day.