A Bhuddist kingdom still flourishing under tropical skies, Thailand is unique in all of Asia. With its glittering temples, long sandy beaches, untouched islands ringed with coconut palms, extensive national parks and remote hill tribes, its holy caves, night-markets, honey-scented jasmine, and subterranean Buddhas draped in fairy lights, Thailand has little difficulty attracting visitors. Whether you seek the unbridled nightlife of Bangkok or Pattaya, the ruins of Ayutthaya, the sophisticated tourist ambiance of Phuket, the secrets of the Muslim south, or life in the northern hills where elephants still haul timber from the jungle, the Traveler's Thailand Companion will show you in up-to-the-minute detail how best to achieve your goal.