A TRIP ROUTE
IT IS WORTH KNOWING
While in Thailand, I often saw men who looked, were dressed and acted like women. This is called third sex or kathoey, also called lady boy in English. Kathoeys are women trapped in a man's body. Such people undergo hormonal treatments, and some of them decide to undergo a surgical sex reassignment. In Thai society, there is full acceptance for kathoeys, the number of which is estimated at 300,000. They mostly work in tourism, show business and industry. Few get very rich by winning beauty contests or appearing in commercials.NTERESTING FACTS
The metal bridge at Kanchanaburi is a later structure that replaced the original wooden bridge. It was erected by the Allied prisoners of war during World War II, but unfortunately, only wooden pillars have survived to this day. The bridge was one of the most famous sections of the so-called "The Railroad of Death", which was to be a supply line for Japanese troops stationed in Burma. These events are told by the famous war drama from 1957 directed by David Lean, entitled "Bridge on the River Kwai". The film, which received as many as seven awards, was very popular in Poland during the People's Republic of Poland.IT IS WORTH SEEING
On the set of the cult action movie The "man with the golden gun" appears on Ko Tapu Island. The film is a continuation of the adventures of the famous 007 agent James Bond, played by Roger Moore. A nail-like rock formation cuts into Kho Phing Kan Island, situated in the picturesque bay of the Andaman Sea. Inside it, in caves carved by water, Bond's opponent, the villain Scaramang, had his hiding place. Since then, the island has acquired its second name - James Bond Islands.February 2014
Thailand is another Asian country that I have visited on my own. When I found an offer to fly directly from W arsaw to Bangkok on the Internet, I bought the tickets without hesitating. Thanks to this, I avoided troublesome transfers and often hours of waiting for the next flight at one of the airports in Qatar, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia.
When planning the sightseeing route, I had a big dilemma. Thailand is a huge country with lots of interesting places to visit. Two weeks is not too long to see it all, the more so because I wanted to visit Cambodia to visit the famous temples in the Angkor complex. So I decided to set up a base in Bangkok to see the city and the surrounding area and make several-day trips by plane to Siem Reap in Cambodia and the islands of the Andaman Sea. This choice turned out to be very accurate, because after the hardships of sightseeing, I was able to regenerate my strength by resting and relaxing by the sea.THAILAND
Bangkok - the city
I like big cities, but I have to admit that in over 10 million Bangkok I felt lost. Moving in this juggernaut is a real nightmare. Fortunately, I lived on the famous Khao San Road, close to the most important tourist attractions of old Bangkok. With the advent of the night, Khao San Road turns into a lively, bustling and noisy entertainment center, and numerous cafes, bars and music clubs, massage parlors, street stalls with food, souvenirs and clothes will keep enthusiastic tourists from around the world entertained.
Bangkok - Chinatown
The Chinese Quarter in Bangkok is a veritable maze of streets crammed between the thoroughfares of Yaowarat and Charoen Krung, with lots of shops and stalls where you can buy literally everything. This place is full of colors, smells, sounds and crazy hectic life is best explored on foot. One of the attractions of the district are Chinese temples where I could observe religious practices combining elements of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and animism. However, the greatest fun was the opportunity to eat an original dish with the locals at a bar just off a busy street.
Bangkok - Wat Phra Keo
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo were built in the 18th century to celebrate the founding of the country's new capital. In fact, this most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand overshadows everything else with its size and richness. This is where the Emerald Buddha statue and the magnificent Ramakien Gallery are located. When I entered the watu courtyard, I felt like in a fairy tale. Fabulously colored bot and wihans grew around me, richly carved, slender prangs, mondop and gilded cedi shot high up high, and huge figures of mythical yaksha guards stood near them.
Bangkok - other temples
Bangkok's other temples are no less attractive than Wat Phra Keo. In bustling Wat Pho, I was delighted with the huge 46-meter-long statue of the Reclining Buddha, made of gilded plaster and bricks. From the top of the terrace of the highest prang of Wat Arun temple in Thon Buri district, I admired the breathtaking panorama of Bangkok. And in the temple complex of Wat Benchamabophit, known as the Marble Temple, I had the opportunity to observe the daily life of monks in the residential part of sanghawat open to visitors.
Floating Market
The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi Province has fully retained its natural character. The main clongs, connected by smaller branches, form a veritable labyrinth of narrow channels. The most attractive part was visiting the market aboard a small wooden boat. Similar boats with tourists were passing in all directions, skillfully maneuvering and literally avoiding a collision at the last moment. After these emotions, you could buy fresh fruit, vegetables and spices, eat a tasty meal straight from the boat and buy original souvenirs.
Bridge on the River Kwai
Despite the fact that the only attraction of the city of Khanchanaburi is the iron bridge over the River Kwai, it is visited by crowds of tourists every day. Many of them are relatives of the Allied POWs who built the famous Burmese-Thai railway line during World War II. Apart from the fact that the bridge carries a huge emotional load, it looks completely ordinary. Complementing the visit was a visit to the Kanczanaburi War Cemetery where almost 7,000 were buried. prisoners of war mainly British and Australians.
Ayutthaya
Visiting the provincial town of Ayutthaya, it is hard to believe that it was once a bustling capital of a great power. The ruins of temples and palaces that remained after the Burmese invasion in the 17th century, even today, impress with their size. I was impressed by the huge statue of the reclining Buddha in the ruins of Wat Lokaya Sutharam, of which only the foundations remained. Its opposite is the small stone head of the Buddha at Wat Phra Mahathat, picturesquely entwined with tree branches, just like in Angkor temples.
Phuket
In the city of Phuket on the island of Phuket was my base for exploring the area around Phang Nga Bay. The city itself does not have many attractions apart from the old Chinese mansions from the period of prosperity from the beginning of the 19th century. Patong Beach, which is popular among tourists, also did not impress me. Although wide and sandy, crowded and full of sellers who intrusively offer their goods and services. A culinary fair in the Chinese Quarter was a pleasant surprise, which I came across by accident during an evening walk around the city.
Paradise islands
During my stay in Phuket, I visited the islands of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Khao Phing Kan, located in the Phang Nga Bay, which is a national park. The islands, built of limestone, rise from the water level like towers, taking on fantastic shapes. Inside many of the 40 mogotes, or karst inselbergs, there are limestone tunnels and caverns. It is an amazing experience to travel this route by boat. Ko Tapu, the James Bond Island, is particularly spectacular , as it sticks into Khao Phing Kan like a nail.
CAMBODIA
Angkor Wat
I've always wanted to see the famous Angkor Wat temple located in Siem Reap province in Cambodia. The opportunity came during a trip to Thailand. I have to admit that this largest religious building in the world, entered on the Unesco List, did not make such an impression on me as I expected. But this is often the case with ideas confronted with reality. Nevertheless, the entire temple complex of Angkor Wat is impressive with its enormity, and when viewed at sunrise, when there is silence around it and there are no crowds of tourists yet, it can amaze you.
Bayoan
Angkor Thom, or the Khmer City of Big City, is another important monument in the Angkor complex. Founded in the 12th century, it was then the largest city of the Khmer Empire, protected by 12 km long walls and surrounded by a wide moat. The city has five gates, each crowned with four huge faces. The faces of Angkor Thom are ubiquitous and culminate on an unprecedented scale at the Bayoan Temple. It rises on three levels, and its towers show over 200 huge, mysterious faces that even today make an electrifying impression.
Ta Prohm
The most mysterious sacred building in Angkor is the former Ta Prohm Buddhist monastery. Unlike most of the complex's buildings, Ta Prohm is in a condition similar to the one in which it was found. As a result, the temple buildings are covered with the roots of giant kapok and banana trees. Walking through dark, damp galleries and squeezing my way through narrow internal passages, I felt like on the set of an adventure film. The ruins of the Ta Prohm temple complex served as the backdrop for Lara Croft's adventures in the Tomb Raider movie.
Angkor temples
During a three-day stay in Siem Reap, I visited many palaces and temples of Angkor. These are real gems lost in a tropical jungle. When traveling by bike, I stopped in interesting places to look at the details and take photos. From the top of Phnom Bakheng I admired Angkor Wat hidden among lush greenery, in Angkor Thom I visited Baphuon with an impressive view from the upper terrace. My attention was drawn to the Terrace of the Leper King, covered with elaborate carvings, and picturesquely located at North Baray, the Buddhist temple of Preah Neak Pean.