Footprint Thailand Handbook

by Eliot, Joshua; Bickersteth, Jane; Broom, Andy; Monk, William; Rosser, Nick; Taylor, Joel; Thomson, Anna

Edition: 2nd

ISBN13: 9780844221892

ISBN10: 0844221899

Format: Paperback

Pub. Date: 1999-10-01

Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill

Other versions by this Author

List Price: ~~$19.95~~

Rent Book

Select for Price

Add to Cart

There was a problem. Please try again later.

New Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

Used Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eBook

We're Sorry
Not Available

Buy from our Marketplace starting at $3.63

Summary

Footprint's Thailand Handbook is the most informative and practical guidebook available to this fascinating, and sometimes perplexing, country where McDonald's and mobile phones sit side by side with saffron-clad monks and Brahmanic rites. Comprehensive coverage of accommodation and restaurants in Bangkok and other key destinations. Insider information on how to get off the well-mapped 'routes' to little known destinations in regions like the distinctive Northeast. Illuminating background information on Thailand's history and culture, the archaeological and artistic heritage and present-day politics and economics. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Joshua Eliot has a long-standing interest in Asia. He was born in India, brought up in Hong Kong and spent a year living in a small town in northeast Thailand in the early 1980s. Since then he has visited the country two or three times a year, partly for academic research and partly to update the new editions of this Handbook. He has written academic and children's books about the country and advised businessmen, given radio broadcasts and lectured on cruise liners. Jane Bickersteth first visited Thailand in 1980. She has since returned on numerous occasions to research and write about the country. As an artist, Jane has a particular interest in the material cultures of Thailand, and especially the Khmer art and architecture of the northeastern region.

A foot in the door	p. 7
Highlights	p. 8
Bangkok	p. 11
Buddhist Thailand	p. 14
Essentials	p. 17
Planning your trip	p. 19
Before you travel	p. 21
Getting there	p. 24
Touching down	p. 26
Where to stay	p. 34
Getting around	p. 34
Keeping in touch	p. 42
Food and drink	p. 44
Shopping	p. 50
Holidays and festivals	p. 51
Health	p. 52
Travelling with children	p. 63
Further reading	p. 65
The Internet	p. 69
Bangkok	p. 73
Background	p. 76
Sights	p. 85
Getting around	p. 85
The Old City	p. 85
The Golden Mount, Giant Swing and surrounding wats	p. 95
Chinatown and the Golden Buddha	p. 98
Wat Arun and the Khlongs	p. 100
Dusit area	p. 105
Other Sights	p. 107
Excursions	p. 111
Tours	p. 115
Essentials	p. 117
Sleeping	p. 117
Eating	p. 131
Entertainment	p. 138
Shopping	p. 142
Festivals and major events	p. 148
Transport	p. 149
Directory	p. 151
The Central Plains	p. 155
Background	p. 158
Ayutthaya	p. 160
Around Ayutthaya	p. 175
Routes north to Si Satchanalai	p. 185
Phitsanulok	p. 187
Sukhothai	p. 194
Routes north to Mae Sot	p. 214
Kamphaeng Phet	p. 214
The Northern Region	p. 231
Background	p. 234
Lampang to Chiang Mai	p. 235
Lampang	p. 235
Lamphun	p. 241
Chiang Mai	p. 244
The western loop: Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son and Pai	p. 277
Mae Hong Son	p. 280
North to Kok River	p. 293
Chiang Rai, Mekong and Golden Triangle	p. 297
Chiang Rai	p. 298
Eastern highlands of the north	p. 323
Phrae	p. 323
Nan	p. 328
Hilltribes and trekking	p. 335
The Northeastern Region	p. 351
Background	p. 354
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)	p. 357
Phimai	p. 370
The route east: Surin to Ubon	p. 374
Ubon Ratchathani	p. 383
The heartland of the Khorat Plateau	p. 395
North from Korat to Udon Thani	p. 404
Khon Kaen	p. 406
West from the northeast to Phitsanulok	p. 412
Udon Thai	p. 413
The northern Mekong River route	p. 418
Nong Khai	p. 428
The southern Mekong River route	p. 436
The Eastern Region	p. 449
Chonburi to Pattaya	p. 452
Pattaya	p. 457
Pattaya to Koh Samet	p. 470
Koh Samet	p. 472
Chantaburi	p. 478
Chantaburi to Koh Chang	p. 484
Koh Chang	p. 487
Chonburi to Pattaya	p. 452
Pattaya	p. 457
Pattaya to Koh Samet	p. 470
Koh Samet	p. 472
Chantaburi	p. 478
Chantaburi to Koh Chang	p. 484
Koh Chang	p. 487
The Western Region	p. 495
The region	p. 498
Nakhon Pathom	p. 498
Kanchanaburi	p. 501
Sangkhlaburi and Saam Ong	p. 514
Southern Thailand	p. 519
Background	p. 522
Southern Peninsula: Phetburi to Chumphon	p. 524
Phetburi	p. 524
Hua Hin	p. 531
The West Coast: Chumphon to Phuket	p. 544
Phuket Island	p. 552
North from Patong	p. 577
Phuket to Phattalung	p. 582
Koh Phi Phi	p. 597
The East Coast: Chumphon to Phattalung	p. 614
Koh Samui	p. 620
Koh Phangan	p. 642
South to Phattalung: Nakhon Si Thammarat	p. 658
The Far South	p. 670
Hat Yai	p. 670
Songkhla	p. 679
Turatao National Park and the Adang-Rawi Archipelago	p. 703
Background	p. 707
History	p. 710
Prehistory	p. 710
Mon, Srivijayan and Khmer influences	p. 710
The Tai	p. 712
Sukhothai	p. 713
Ayutthaya	p. 715
Bangkok and the Rattanakosin period	p. 719
Land and environment	p. 731
Geography	p. 731
Climate	p. 733
Flora and fauna	p. 736
National parks	p. 744
Art and architecture	p. 747
Culture	p. 760
People	p. 760
Religion	p. 769
Language and literature	p. 775
Dance, drama and music	p. 779
Textiles	p. 780
Crafts	p. 783
Modern Thailand	p. 785
Politics	p. 785
Economy	p. 800
Footnotes	p. 811
Glossary	p. 813
Food glossary	p. 818
Fares and timetables	p. 819
Shorts	p. 824
Index	p. 827
Map index	p. 832
Coloured maps	p. 841
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.