Approximately an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai, the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre provides treatments for sick and maimed elephants. Under the Royal Patronage, the 500-hectare sanctuary is the only elephant hospital in the world. Captured wild and discarded out-of-work domesticated elephants are looked after here.

The center, whose main objective is to conserve Thai elephants, works on a variety of academic and veterinary projects such as Biogas Producing System from Elephant Dung, an Education Center for Veterinary Students, Elephant Sperm Bank Project, Elephant adoption, Elephant Nursery Center and Elephant Mobile Clinic.

Visitors can watch elephant shows, have a ride on elephant’s back, join an elephant trek or even live and learn about elephants. The latter is a program called the “mahout training program”. This 10-day homestay program offers elephant lovers to experience the life of a mahout and his elephant. Participants will stay at the same house as the mahout and join in various communal activities from bathing an elephant to learning how to instruct the elephant to haul logs. The program also includes cooking and dining in northern Khan Tok style.

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Phuket FantaSea is arguably the biggest entertainment complex in Phuket. Aimed to highlight Thailand’s history and culture, it conjures up spectacular shows that reflect many aspects of both modern and ancient Thailand.

Phuket FantaSea offers nighttime entertainment on the tropical resort island of Phuket. Built at the cost of over 3,500 million baht (approx 78 million USD), it adds a new dimension to a theme park entertainment in Thailand, presenting the charms of the kingdom and its exotic culture and traditions, legends and myths with the magic of cutting-edge technology and special effects. It consists of the magnificent Palace of the Elephants, a state-of-the-art theatre constructed in the Sukhothai architectural style.

Its “Fantasy of a Kingdom” Culture-illusion Show consists of 9 themed shows, which are Thai culture, magical illusions, 4-dimensional effects, aerial performance, acrobatics, indoor pyrotechnics, special effects, elephant circus and stunts. Many of the technologies used in the shows are obtained from hotels and casinos in Las Vegas which are known for their excellent and innovative shows. The Thai creators however were able to use these technologies and expertise and mixed this with their Thai sense of showmanship. Other attractions include games, plays and exciting surprises for kids as well as traditional carnivals and live music, handicraft demonstrations, and cultural parades and street shows.

Phuket FantaSea is located at Kamala Beach, about 9 km from Patong Beach. This carnival village offers carnivals, games and handicrafts shops. The shows start at 9 pm and lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Ayuthaya province, north of Bangkok, the Bangsai Arts & Crafts Training Centre has more than 800 students from impoverished families, teaching traditional skills in arts and crafts in 30 schools. Patronized by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Centre’s main objectives are to encourage farmers to preserve Thai crafts and acquire artistic skills to earn extra income.

The training school starts after the harvest season when the farmers have more free time. Students are given instruction and lodging free of charge and some pocket money for personal expenses during their training. Their training course will be held everyday except on Mondays. Visitors to the school can watch students in their training to make Thai handicraft products in exquisite craftsmanship. These products are later distributed to various branches of Chitrlada shops throughout the country, including the Elephant Pavilion shop located in the Centre.

Besides the training school, the Centre has a freshwater fish aquarium that is home to numerous species of local fish in the country. There is the royal lodge; a group of an elevated stilt house built in conventional style found in Thailand’s central region. Its simple structure reflects the beauty of traditional Thai dwellings. The house is a place where the King and the Queen and other members of the Royal Family stay during their visits to the Centre. Furthermore, a collection of traditional houses from four regions in Thailand is a new addition to the Centre. Called the “The Arts and Crafts Village“, it serves as a place to demonstrate Thailand in various aspects such as architecture, culture, traditional performances, folk arts and crafts. The area features 21 teak red-roofed houses. Furnished with items used in typical Thai families, each house possesses unique architectural and geographical characteristics that reflect different cultures and way of life of people in each region. Demonstrations of handicrafts making and cooking are shown on the ground of the houses.
Another interesting attraction is a large seated statue of Budhisattva, a reincarnated of Buddha. Carved out of a 2000-year-old Indian yellow sandalwood by Chinese artists, the statue weighs about 5 tons and 6 meter high. The shiny statue, whose name is ‘A Thousand Hands and Eyes Avalokitesvara’, sits on a lotus base with a big piece of round wood, carved in a shape of thousands of hands, at the back. It is now enshrined in a red roof pavilion in the Centre compound.

Visiting the Bangsai Arts and Crafts Training Centre is located in the former capital of Ayuthaya province and 1 hour drive north of Bangkok or 30 minutes from the outskirt of Bangkok. This is a good chance to see the creative work of Thai artists in one place.

If you love ancient ruins and old Buddhist temples, you would love Ayutthaya. The city was built on an island surrounded by four rivers. Ancient ruins can be seen scattering all over the place, especially on the western half of the island. Indeed, there are hundreds of aged-old temples dotting in villages and communities throughout the city.

Historically, the kingdom of Ayutthaya dominated Thailand’s central plain region for about 400 years. It was officially founded in 1350 BC by King Ramathibodi I. For centuries, Ayutthaya was a powerful kingdom which traded extensively with the Chinese, the Dutch and the French. Its rulers built a magnificent city, filled with monasteries, canals and monuments.

However, Ayutthaya also had its rival in the nearby kingdom of Burma. Wars between the two kingdoms happened frequently. The Thai city was first seized by King Bayinnaung of Burma in 1569, but regained its independence about a decade later. Prince Naresuan, who led the battle for independence, became one of Thailand’s greatest heroes when he defeated the Crown Prince of Burma in elephant-back combat. The city was unfortunately toppled again in the 18th century after a series of conflicts between its neighboring states such as Burma and Vietnam. Altogether, thirty three monarchs of different dynasties had ruled the kingdom, producing architectural marvels for the next Thai generations. Nowadays, most of culture and traditions formed during its time are still practiced in Thailand.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is accredited as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The site comprises numerous ruins of temples, religious shrines, pavilions and palaces spreading inside the park. It is located about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok. It can be accessed by boat, car and train. Every year in December, festivities are organized in the former site of the capital to celebrate the glory of its past. The event includes displays of traditional culture and lifestyles, various entertainments and a memorable light and sound show with the backdrop of Ayutthaya’s ancient ruins and temples.