Beaches in Thailand

The advertising slogan for many years for Thailand was ‘Amazing Thailand’. I always found this very apt: Thailand is an amazing country. It is also known as the ‘Land of Smiles’ because of the heartfelt warmth you often feel when interacting with the local people. It is also known as ‘The Land of the Free’ because the Thais are rightfully proud of the fact that they were never colonized.

Thailand is a country rich in history and culture. Thailand has the longest serving monarch. Thailand has an amazing cuisine that has found favor around the world (Thai food restaurants are now as common as Japanese restaurants). In the north of the country there are extensive forests where Hill Tribes live. Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city with many cultural treasures such as Wat Pho. Places such as Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And in the South of Thailand there are more paradise beaches than you can shake a stick at.

It is possible to spend 6 months in Thailand just visiting beautiful beaches and you would not see them all. I have been visiting Thailand for over 10 years and there are still so many beaches I still want to visit. I never tire of being on a beach in Thailand. Below I will list some of the reasons for my obsession with beaches in Thailand.

Firstly, beaches in Thailand are places where the splendor of nature is overwhelming. White sand, turquoise waters, butterflies playing in the surf, eagles circling overhead, huge granite formations and towering palm trees make a postcard scene. I’m not too keen on the rush to put luxury hotels and swimming pools on these beautiful spots but sadly traveling is now part of the consumer mainstream. It seems inevitable.

Secondly, there is a rich abundance of marine life to see either snorkeling or scuba diving in Thailand. On the Andaman coast there are the famous Similan Islands and in the Gulf of Thailand there is Koh Tao where you can take PADI courses for very reasonable rates.

Thirdly, there is a sense of well being that being on a beach generates. Just waking up and strolling down to the beach for a quick dip in the warm water is an experience that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day. I just love the island life mentality that refuses to get stressed by little set-backs. If the power goes, so what? If the boat is late leaving the dock, so what? All I need on the beach is a pair of shorts and some pocket money. It is a palpable relief not to be burdened down with ‘stuff’.

Finally, the Thais love a drink. Although a Buddhist culture they are not beating themselves up to escape the wheel of existence. In the evening on the beach it is the perfect way to round off a perfect day spent doing nothing ‘productive’ by having a few Thai whiskey and cokes with the locals and join in the well mannered fun of those who seem closer to nature and the fundamentals of life than me. I always feel like a prisoner on day release. The time always passes to quickly and before I know it I’m waking up to an alarm clock and watching TV instead of taking a morning dip.