Kingdom of Thailand – A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

The final leg of my journey through Southeast Asia was to the Kingdom of Thailand. After a decade of political instability, it was amazing to see during my visit in the summer how far Thailand has come. Yet in light of the recent protests against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, it is hard to imagine how much the political situation changes in the span of a few months. 

Thailand is a country that has an almost paradoxical mix of cultural traditions and modern life. Bangkok especially, is a megacity where neon lights and hectic traffic live and breathe alongside age-old, sacred religious temples. Buddhism is a facet of everyday life and the King of Thailand is a highly respected figure for the Thai people. While Bangkok was a city of contrasts, the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand felt completely different. Once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is a small, tranquil city replete with Buddhist temples and shrines. Of particularly interest were the songthaew “share” taxis, making Chiang Mai one of probably few places in the world where carpooling is the main method of transportation.

Travelling from Cambodia to Thailand was like a leap between two worlds. Compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, Thailand is relatively well-developed in its public infrastructure and economy. While its neighbors fell victim to colonialism, Thailand incredibly was the only country in the region never to have been colonized by a Western power. Thailand also did not experience the same devastating effects of the Vietnam War as did Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Yet the spate of violence and political instability in recent years have hampered Thailand’s peaceful development. Here’s hoping that in the new year, the Thai people and the ruling government can resolve this crisis peacefully and in a manner that respects the rule of law.