Thailand by MasterChef Travel
Thailand is a magical and inspiring destination, ideal for travellers and food lovers alike.
There is the bustle and energy of Bangkok, exquisite temples, serene highlands and some of the world’s most idyllic beaches.
The hugely popular cuisine is notable for its lightly prepared, colourful, highly aromatic and spicy dishes for which the real complexity lies in balancing the contrasting flavours.
Uncover the floating markets
Wander the narrow wooden pathways set on stilts above the water, and buy freshly cooked seafood, hot pork noodle soup and strong iced coffee from local vendors in tiny boats.
Wander through the street markets
Stacked to the brim with tropical fruits, leafy vegetables, fresh seafood and exotic sweet treats, you’ll get up close to the vast array of exotic ingredients used in Thai food.
Get hot, sour, salty and sweet
Appreciate the four elements of Thai cuisine – hot, sour, salty and sweet. A balancing act between all four gives Thai food its distinctive flavour; Tom Yum soup is one delicious example.
Feast on exotic fruits
Taste a selection of colourful and refreshing fruits from street vendors – dragonfruit, mangosteen, lychees and mangoes are all a popular choice. Try sipping on a refreshing coconut juice to cool down.
Dine on a pile of Pad Thai noodles
This delicious national dish is often cooked with tofu, prawns and egg, then flavoured with fish sauce and palm sugar, and topped with crunchy bean sprouts, chili pepper, lime and peanuts.
Five top experiences in Bangkok
Damnoen Saduak
The mother of all floating markets, Damnoen Saduak remains an extraordinary spectacle. Watch dozens of wooden rowing boats float by, each one full to the brim with fresh fruits, vegetables or flowers, while food vendors fill their vessels with cauldrons and charcoal grills, ready to cook up a bowl of noodles or seafood skewers on request.
Temple of Dawn
The Temple of Dawn, or Wat Arun, is known locally as Wat Chaeng. It is situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river and is without doubt one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok, partly due to its riverside location, but also because of its colourfully decorated spires covered in a mosaic of Chinese porcelain fragments, which tower majestically over the water.
The Grand Palace
The spectacular Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782, it was the home of the Thai king, the royal court and the administrative seat of government for 150 years. In addition to its magnificent architecture and intricate detail, the palace complex is also home to the small but greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.
Wat Traimit, Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown was established in 1782 and is a maze of narrow alleys, madly congested roads and street markets. In among all this mayhem, Wat Traimit is also home to a 3-metre-tall solid gold Buddha. Pahurat, the area to the south-east of Chinatown, is home to Bangkok’s lively Indian community.
Wat Po
Wat Po is the temple site of a magnificent 45-metre-long reclining Buddha, close to the Grand Palace, which houses the largest collection of Buddha images in the country. It is also the birthplace of the traditional Thai massage and it remains an excellent place to experience and learn about the complex techniques.
Location: Thailand is located in the centre of the Indochina peninsula in south-east Asia. The country is bordered by Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.
Capital: Bangkok
Religion: Buddhist (95%)
Etiquette:
- Thai people will greet one another with the wai, the bowing of the head with palms together and hands raised slightly – visitors are not necessarily expect to use this gesture
- It is extremely frowned upon to touch Thai people on the head
- Always dress appropriately and remove shoes when entering temples and houses
Languages: Thai
Population: 66,721,000 (approx.)
Size: 513,115 sq km
Time zone: GMT +7
Currency: Baht (THB)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports do not require visas for travel for a visit of up to 30 days.
History: Thailand’s current Chakri dynasty began in 1782 and is now headed in a constitutional monarchy by King Rama IX, the world’s longest serving current head of state and Thailand’s longest reigning monarch, having ascended to the throne in 1946. The country went through a period of economic growth and industrialisation in the 1980s for tourism to become essential to the economy and despite being hit heavily by the tsunami in December 2004, Thailand has recovered to be one of the world’s top travel destinations.
What to read
A History of Thailand
by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit
The updated edition features recent events including the 2006 coup and the restoration of an elected government in 2008. The book also looks at Thailand’s different social movements, the dramatic changes brought about by globalisation and how the country developed from a collection of mandarin nobles to an urban society.
The Food of Thailand: A Journey for Food Lovers
The techniques, equipment and ingredients that go into making Thai food are explained in this book. The recipes featured range from snacks found in markets to fresh seafood from the coast. The colour illustrations of the dishes and the photographs shot on location in Thailand show the distinctive colours of the country and its food.
What to watch
The Beach
Adventure drama featuring Leonardo Di Caprio filmed on the Thai island of Ko Phi Phi, with some stunning scenery.