Photos courtesty of Lonely
Planet
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Thailand Beaches Guides
Thailand's Islands and
Beaches: Sun, sand, molluscs and mosques
by Joe Cummings
Penguin Group, February 2000
$24.95
Thailand and beaches, the two words go hand in hand.
In fact, Lonely Planet has dedicated a whole travel guide to
that pairing, aptly titled, "Thailand's Islands & Beaches" "Sun,
sand, mollusks and mosques," is the promising cutline placed
below an enticing image of a long pier and a luxuriously exotic
beach.
This beach guide provides tourists and perpetual travelers with
just about anything a beach-lover would need to know, including
tips for disabled travelers warning them of uneven sidewalks.
Perhaps the most important and interesting section of the guide
- though unnerving - is the lengthy description of illnesses
a traveler could be exposed to on a visit to Thailand.
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Among the diseases are HIV (a major health problem in Thailand),
intestinal worms, malaria and even cholera.
There is, of course, an accompanying paragraph on hospitals
and clinics although the descriptions and locations are not
quite as detailed as the nasty side effects of the listed diseases.
Thailand's Islands & Beaches is full of useful and bizarre information
including details about tampon use and what to what to expect
from a Thai massage:
"Described by some as a 'brutally pleasant experience,' this
ancient form of healing was first documented in the west by
the French liaison to the Thai Royal Court in 1690... Thai massage
does not directly seek to relax the body through a kneading
of the body with palms and fingers. Instead a multi-pronged
approach, using hands, thumbs, fingers, elbows, forearms, knees
and feet, is applied to traditional pressure points along various
sen or meridians."
Placed strategically throughout the guide to accompany the trivia
and facts are many colour photographs of lush-looking beaches
and islands. The photos are a huge bonus and help traveler's
to visualize the types of sand, water and locals they'll encounter.
It also makes getting through bit easier the book's mind-numbing
500 -plus pages a bit easier.
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If there is one downfall about this particular guide, it's simply
that there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of information.
Just when you think they've covered every possible subject,
you'll find a new index of possible problems (with solutions
of course) that never even crossed your mind.
This book wouldn't be of much use to someone planning a quick
get-away at the last minute. There are simply too many details
and sub-sections to wrap your mind around in a short amount
of time.
Thailand's Islands & Beaches is meant for the serious adventurer
- providing everything a dedicated and diligent traveler would
need.
Buy the book! Lonely Planet:
Thailand's Islands & Beaches
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