Think about it, picture the place – can you describe what you see? You could ask any number of people that question and most will simply stutter, confounded for a moment, as they try to picture some enigmatic haze of sunshine and lapping waves upon warming sand. Following on from Australia in the second of the series, we’ll be considering the sort of place Thailand truly is, brushing aside the commercial myths, and seeing what this South-Eastern paradise can offer for the modern student.

Opulent palaces protrude
Thailand is unique and utterly irreplaceable. For a country with barely more occupants than the United Kingdom, it offers a huge range of things to do and see! Where else can you step out of a first-rate hotel or resort, campsite, eco-hut, bivouac, beach-side villa or apartment to leisurely stroll up to an elephant – your steed for the day – on an arranged elephant trek with Chiang Dao Elephant Camp?

Trot around contently as you admire the tropical beaches with white sand in abundance, palms swaying against a backdrop of turquoise and not a lot else. Amidst glowing backdrops, opulent palaces protrude. The 200-year-old Grand Palace – residence of the Kings of Siam, and Wat Traimit – is a sacrosanct haven with a three meter tall Buddha statue, a glistening religious idol!

Outside of history, find yourself emerged in a pulsing party scene, and whether you choose the night sky from The Moon Bar at 61 floors up, or the vibrant strobes of Ku De Ta, the hottest club in Bangkok, you’re bound to find yourself a light to guide you here.

And if indoors can’t sate your party appetite then a single trip to Loi Krathong festival in November, with the esteemed floating lantern display, will likewise send your troubles floating towards the horizon. Shopping in Thailand is something pretty special, with the floating markets of Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak filled with indigenous delicacies, and the street stalls of Chatuchak fulfilling all your budget designer needs!

If city life begins to wear you down though, then you needn’t fear. The rural life – rife with Ancient Ruins and UNESCO national parks – will shatter the mundane daze! The Khao Sai Dao Waterfall and Phanom Rung Historical Park are without equal, and Kanchanaburi is number one on all backpackers to-do lists!

Flit between the islands
Along the coast you’ll find the Golden Triangle – a confluence of the Burma/Myanmar and the Laos, and why not flit between the islands for some scuba diving in the Koh Phan Ngan, Koh Tao and Koh Samui areas when you’re there? The Bay of Bengal is famed for a reason – it’s one of the few places you may of heard of here. But the truth is, it’s all worthy of note. So the next time someone asks you about Thailand, wouldn’t you like to be able to tell them the truth? Pay it a visit, become one of the few.