Anyone who is planning a trip should take a hard look at Thailand.

One of the great things about Thailand is that there is always something to see or do. A great way to start the vacation is by touring some of the local temples. Most people who live in Thailand are Buddhist. This is a peaceful religion that deals with helping a person be their own best self through spirituality. The only thing more beautiful than the religion are the temples where they gather.

For some reason, people seldom think about swimming and Thailand at the same time. This is too bad. The country has lots of truly beautiful beaches that are perfect for either sunbathing or swimming. If splashing in the surf is a little too tame for you, there are several spots that are ideal for diving.

The residents of Thailand love festivals. Not only are the festivals a fun way for the county to celebrate their heritage, they are also a great way to entertain tourist. One of the most amazing festivals is annual Elephant Round up in Surin. The round up is held during the third week of November and was first started in 1960.

The purpose of the Elephant Round Up is to remember the time when skilled warriors crossed over the Thailand/ Cambodia border to capture elephants which were trained to work. Today, the event is not so much about rounding up elephants, but rather honoring both them and the trainers who handle them every day. Most years more than 300 elephants are involved. Festival events include a breakfast, games like football and tug of war, and reenactments of old battles.

Another festival that is fun to attend is the Rocket Festival which is always held at the beginning of the rainy season. Historians believe that this celebration was originated as a type of celebration of the coming rains, that the Lao people originated. Today the festival is more a celebration of life and joy. The events of the Rocket festival include dancing, music, and launching of several homemade rockets.

When you are in Thailand you are going to be very impressed with the shopping. Open markets provide plenty of shopping choices and you can usually find everything from cheap knock off jewelry to some really high quality items. One of the best markets to attend also just happens to be the biggest. The market is the Chatuchak Market and it is found in Bangkok. The Prime Minister of Thailand established the market sometime between 1938 and 1957. His hope was that it would turn into something that would resemble a flea market. The market has more than 5,000 stalls and spreads across an amazing 35 acres. The best time to visit the market is on the weekends.

There is absolutely no point in visiting Thailand if you are not going to try out the local cuisine. While the food served in Oriental restaurants all over the world is good, it does not compare to authentic Thai dishes. The chefs take great pride in the fact that they prepare their dishes with fresh herbs and spices.