Thailand

Antoine's view

Thailand has triggered the dreams of those who were "on the road" during the seventies, attracted and charmed by Thailand's way of life, and the peaceful days between beach and forest, on the shores of the islands surrounding legendary Phuket, Krabi or Ko Samui.

Thirty years later, Thailand has kept its attracting power, although Phuket and Pattaya have changed a lot. Yet you do not have to look very far to find small peaceful spots where one can spend weeks or months living on a budget, in a small bungalow close to the beach.

Those who seek culture, tradition, monuments, will find what they look for, from the small domestic temples that flank numerous homes to the palaces of Bangkok and Ayutaya.
Those who prefer mountains, forests, will go and meet Thailand's northern tribes; those who prefer the sea will choose the country's South... Guess which part I have preferred?
I was lucky enough to sail a junk boat through the archipelago that surrounds Phuket, and I made there some of the most pleasant stops one can dream of.