©
Parshina Marina
Thailand Travel Guide
©
Parshina Marina
Over the last few years, Thailand has become a fashionable tourist destination for dream vacations, but there is more to it than just beach paradises.
The Beach
This film, which was made in the 2000, was directed by Danny Boyle, who went on to direct Slumdog Millionaire. It is based on the book of the same name by Alex Garland, published in 1996. Leonardo Di Caprio plays a young American tourist on a voyage of discovery, seeking a change of scene when he arrives in Bangkok, meeting people who will change his life. After making friends with a French couple, he heads off on a journey in search of a beach, their "paradise." At least, that's what they believe until events force them to reassess their new life.
The sublime landscapes shown in the movie are real Thai beaches located near Koh Phi Phi.
The Impossible
A Spanish drama from 2012, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona ("The Orphanage.") The movie features a couple (played by Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts) and their three children, who arrive at Kho Lak in Thailand two days before the devastating tsunami of December 26th, 2004. The film tells the story of the catastrophe, the separation of their family and their struggle among the debris, as well as the story lost and traumatized people, who ultimately find themselves. It's worth noting that the end credits tell the story of a family who lived through the events for real.
Rattawut Lapcharoensap is an author who was born in Chicago, but who was raised in Bangkok.
Sightseeing is his first book, a collection of endearing short stories that take place in Thailand. It perfectly captures Thai society and the way that society interacts with tourists. It's a good book to read to gain familiarity with Thai culture before your journey to Thailand.
John Burdett is a British novelist who lived and worked in Hong Kong for 12 years. He currently divides his time between France and Bangkok. The protagonist of many of his novels is the Buddhist detective, Sonchai Jitpleecheep, who investigates murders in Bangkok's darkest neighborhoods. His most famous novels are Bangkok 8, Bangkok Psycho and The Godfather of Kathmandu. They reflect life on the streets of Bangkok, with its sex trade and drug smuggling, each of which is quite widespread in Thailand.
Of course, these novels are only works of fictions and should not prevent you from coming to discover Thailand.
