Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Features

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Cover Story : Vol.34 No.6 / 5 June 2017

Elephant is the national animal of Thailand Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. They are an important part of Thai culture and way of life. From 1855-1916, the national flag of Thailand was a white elephant on a red background and today the white elephant still displays on the Thai Naval Ensign. Nowadays elephants play an important part in Thailand tourism.

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With a long history of over 700 years, Thailand boasts a strong culture, traditions, beliefs, values and customs that are unique and extraordinary -- a harmonious mix of cultures intertwined with the quintessential Thai way of life.

 

Ten years ago if you came to Bangkok and wanted to visit a nearby floating market, the only possible suggestion was the floating market at Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi Province. Today, apart from Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which is of course the best known and most photogenic of all time, there are so many to choose from. Don't misunderstand that we've hurriedly built them recently for the sake of tourism. Actually they aren't all new but a revival of the former local markets that had died down. The one that is no less popular among tourists and sure to be very crowded is Amphawa Floating Market in Amphawa District of Samut Songkhram Province.

On the way to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi Province, many tourists would stop by at Samut Songkhram to see how the locals make the coconut sugar which is one of the famous products of the province.