If you don’t wish to feel like a stranger in a strange, strange land, then read Robert Cooper’s and Nanthapa Cooper’s tome “Culture Shock! Thailand: A Survival Guide to Custom and Etiquette” (Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company), which will prepare you for everything from an audience with the King of Siam. This book offers tips on how to avoid making any mistakes of customs or etiquette.
The home to the earliest Bronze Age civilization Thailand is a nation with a rich and colorful history, which is revealed in “A History of Thailand,” by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit ( Cambridge University Press). The book covers the last several centuries of Thai history, including its colonial era struggles, the role it played in the Cold War and its transformation into a modern industrial nation.
What are the best times to go, where are the best sites and how can you make the trip better? Take the advice of actual travelers, which have been compiled in “Travelers’ Tales Thailand: True Stories,” by James O’Reilly (Editor/Travelers’ Tales Guides). The tales are true and should help you plan your trip!
For a humorous, yet still helpful guide to either living in or visiting Thailand, check out "Thailand confidential" by Jerry Hopkins, (Published by Periplus Editions (HK)Ltd). Jerry is an American expat journalist who had been living in Hawaii but began initially visiting Thailand in the 1980's. He says that even after living in Thailand for more than 10 years He realise that he will probably never understand a thing about the place. But, Jerry does his witty best to dismantle the sometimes unfathomable secrets behind life in the "Land of Smiles"
While some compare it to Chinese food, the dishes of Thailand can be very different, and Panurat Poladitmontr (Beautiful Cookbook). This book helps explore the range of dishes that vary from the different regions of Thailand, showcasing the Malay influence in the traditional southern dishes, and presenting northern dishes that are heavy on rice, yet generally milder with the spices. After reading this one, and offering these dishes to your friends they’ll never confuse Thai food with Chinese again!
Travel Pictorial - Country or Natural Wonder
Always browse any or all Travel Pictorial books about a country, region or a natural wonder of the world . You will find excellent photography to view at leisure. Check out any bookstore or library ( lending or reference ).
Travel Guide(s) - Country, Region or City
Always glance through any Travel Guide for the region you are planning to visit. You will always find some nuggat of useful information. The layout and content will always vary with the publisher. Every traveller should make it a priority to browse one or all of the guides listed below. It will be a great education to browse the layout and view the excellent photography. You decide which of the travel guide(s) you like the best.
- DK Eyewitness Travel Guide(s)
- Insight / Discovery Channel Travel Guide(s)
- Lonely Planet Guide(s)
- AA Explorer, AA Key or AA Spiral Guide(s)
- Note: You will find about thirteen ( 13+ ) other publishing companies travel guides in bookstores.
Travel Books - Children or Junior
Browse the children's or junior section of your local library for travel and geography guides. You will find a variety of guides to countries, regions or natural wonders of the world. The majority of these guides will be less than fifty pages in length. They will contain an excellent overview of a country etc. They are an excellent introduction to travel for a novice traveller.
Travel DVD or Video Viewing
- These are a few ideas for finding Travel DVD's in your local area.
- Local Video Rental Store
- Local Library - Travel Video or DVD
- Any large music store will have a range of travel DVD's or Video's on sale.
- Travel Video Store has an excellent internet site.
- BBC Video series website section
- Pilot Travel Guide series
- National Geographic Travel DVD or Video Series
- Escorted Tour Companies DVD or Video's e.g. Rick Steves'
- National Tourist Bureaus MAY have a introduction Video or DVD on offer or Photo Gallery on their Internet site
