Thailand lays in the Southeast of Asia. Its natural geography subdivides it into four portions consisting of mountains and forests in the north, rice fields in the central plains, arid farmland in the northeast, and the tropical beaches and islands of the southern peninsula. It is divided into seventy-six provinces which are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages which are ruled by the king as Thailand is a monarchy. It is ruled by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej; who is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. He has reigned for over half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch.
There are approximately sixty-two million citizens of Thailand, with approximately seven million living in the capital city, Bangkok. The national language is Thai and often hard to understand to outsiders. English is a popular second language commercially and spoken in many shops, hotels, and restaurants with Thai/English street signs being seen nationwide. Other European languages are often spoken as well, which makes it easy to communicate with the locals. The local culture is influenced by the surrounding countries which have helped make up the traditions of Thai and provide ethnic diversity.
There are many internationally recognized placed in Thailand, such as the bridge over the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners during WWII. There is also Buddha Mountain, a cliff face inlaid with gold into a carving of Buddha, which is the largest image of Buddha in the world. The islands are the location of novels as well as filming locations for movies. There is also the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge which stretches into Laos. Thailand is surrounded by Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Well recognized but not as well known by name are the dozens of pristine beaches, islands and other sparkling, exotic locales. Phuket is said to have one of the best places to watch sunsets at Phromthep Cape and is Thailand's largest island. Pattaya is one of the most famous beach destinations in Thailand with a rich diversity and active night life. Phi Phi was the location of the movie "The Beach" and is included in a group of islands that make up the province of Krabi.
While visiting the beautiful locations in Thailand you will undoubtedly be welcomed by the people who are gracious hosts, as well as excellent dining which takes advantage of the ability to raise produce year round on much of Thailand. Fresh ingredients are always available in most areas and the local cuisine benefits from such abundance. Shopping is also wonderful in many of the cities, with a busy night life as well. As much of the country is coastline with beautiful tropical beaches there is no end of swimming, boating, snorkeling and even scuba diving that can be done to enjoy the waterscapes. Hiking, backpacking, and exploring can be done throughout the many wildlife preserves throughout the forest regions as well as around the many archeological ruins. There is no lack of things to do in Thailand as there can be with many tourist locations.
Copyright (c) 2008 Thanakit K
Alton Towers has a well deserved reputation as the premier UK theme park boasting some of the most thrilling rides in Europe. But, the adrenaline-pumping rides are merely the tip of the fun iceberg as The Alton Towers Resort offers so much more; fabulous themed hotels perfect for an overnight stay or an extended break; an aquatic wonderland known as Cariba Creek water park; large children's themed areas and Extraordinary Golf! But still, we're only scratching the surface. The entire resort is geared to delivering family fun all year round and offers enough to keep everyone happy for days if not weeks!
Staying over - fabulous themed hotels & aquatic wonderland
Although undoubtedly a smashing day out, due to the sheer number of fantastic attractions at Alton Towers it would be impossible to see it all in one day. So for those who want to sample all the smashing treats on offer at Alton Towers Resort why not stay over? There are two fabulous child-friendly themed hotels only a short walk from all the major attractions, offering top-class accommodation and ideal for anything from a short break to a fantastical family holiday.
Plus, there's the added benefit of free admission to Cariba Creek Water Park for all hotel guests. If you have any energy left from a day in the theme park a splash around in this scintillating aquatic playground is sure to exhaust what remains. It is a thrilling Caribbean themed playground with splash pools, water slides and even a dedicated soft play area for smaller, more fragile guests.
Brave the thrill rides - big kids only!
All the superlatives that could possibly be applied to the thrill rides at Alton Towers have been used; mega, superb, fantastic and all the rest the expansive English vocabulary can offer! But, quite simply the big rides are truly terrific and one of the major reasons why almost 3million people choose to visit Alton Towers Resort each year. Here are four featured rides that attract dedicated thrill-seekers, but there are more!
Air - This ride throws you through the Air as you climb and swoop. Try not to ride it immediately after lunch or you may have trouble keeping it down!
Nemesis - Dangle your feet as you shoot over the rivers of blood and rock subjecting your body to overwhelming g-forces.
Oblivion - Scaring visitors to Alton Towers Theme Park for the last 10 years this thriller stalls over a vertical drop before rapidly plunging down into the darkness.
Rita - Queen of Speed - Get in, sit tight, and hold on! Accelerating from 0 - 100 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds this ride will certainly give you a jolt and leave you shaking when you get off!
Smaller kids are not forgotten
Although you have to be at least 1.4 metres tall to ride the thrill rides there is plenty to keep our shorter guests happy. The park is split into a number of themed areas designed to appeal to the little kids such as Mutiny Bay, Cred Street, Adventure Land and Old MacDonald's farm. All themed areas contain an intoxicating mix of exciting attractions, shops and catering options suitable for tiny tots.
There's even a Peugeot 207 driving school for the over fours, designed to test juvenile motoring skills - or the lack of them! It's great fun driving round this crazy course and successful completion guarantees a brand new driving licence for the little one to take home!
Ideal for special occasions
Alton Towers goes large on special occasions; Christmas, Easter and Halloween are all celebrated in lavish style at the resort. Indeed, the spooktacular Scarefest in October is a particularly fun time to visit the park with the family. The entire park is turned into a haven for ghosts, spectres, ghouls and little trick or treaters!
But you don't have to wait for Alton Towers to lay on party - take your own! It is a fantastic alternative venue to take a bunch of friends and family for a birthday party or other special occasion; much better than a game of pass the parcel and far more exciting!
Sign up now at altontowers.com!
Every day is an adventure at Alton Towers Resort. So, if you are tempted to stay over on a family break to maximise the fun, then check availability and prices at the Alton Towers Resort official website. Hurry before you lose out!
Both Thanakit K & Imran Khan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.