Phufak Park in Naaku Sub-districts of Kalasin province is a scene of rolling hills. Its teng-rung forest is dominated by trees of varying species including ma khaa mong, Siamese Sal, ingyin and Burmese ebony. Where mammals are concerned, squirrels, Indochinese ground squirrels, palm civets and hare are the animals most common in its wild.

The local people used to socialize and relax there. About 12-years ago its appeal swelled with an increasing number of tourists when two girls accompanied by their parents had a picnic in the forest on a public holiday.

Saffron-robed monks on their early morning alms round are enduring figures in the Thai landscape, both urban and rural. The monkhood is central to Buddhism, and monks are central to the practice of the faith in Thailand. In addition to religious rites and ceremonies, many aspects of Thai life involve the presence of monks, none more important nor so visible as giving alms.

Every day between 5:30 and 7am, monks parade with their alms bowls, walking singly or in a file, to receive offerings of food from the lay public.

Typically a devotee approaches a monk, who removes the lid of his alms bowl into which the devotee places a serving of cooked rice or other food and then makes obeisance by bowing and raising the hands together in a wai.

Wat Pho, or Wat Phra Chetupon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn as it official is called, is a 200-year-old royal monastery in Bangkok, just south of the Grand Palace that attracts visitors for various reasons: the temple is famous for its huge gold Reclining Buddha and its 20 acres of beautiful grounds containing over 1,000 more Buddha images.

Wat Pho is also renowned as the center for traditional Thai medicinal massage, but a recent accolade relating to both Wat Pho's cultural and medical significance is about to make Wat Pho, and Thai massage, even more famous internationally.

Inscriptions on marble around the walls of Wat Pho's ceremonial hall and nearby pavilions are all that was known about Thai massage dating from the reign of King Rama III. This art treasure has fascinated visitors who flock to the attraction both to see Wat Pho's historic beauty, and also to indulge in a superb Thai massage.

Mae Hond Son, the land of the buatong field, is know as the “city of three mists” as it is located right in the valley surrounded by rolling hills that lie in parallel to the Thanon Thongchai and Khao Dan Lao mountain ranges. It is therefore covered with the mists all year round.

Many tour companies have introduced tours to the area, with packages that take tourists down the Pai River, which runs across a distance of 180 kilometers, and is the largest and longest river of Mae Hong Son, flowing from the south through Muang district of Mae Hong Son to converge with Salawin River in Myanmar.

With river tours like this tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy the dazzling view of mountain ranges and the unadulterated nature along the riverbank, and a visit to the village of the “Padong” or “long-necked Karen” tribe.

The mention of “Ratchaburi” to tourists brings to mind the famous floating market that symbolizes the livelihood of the people – and Ratchaburi.

An ancient city, Ratchaburi connects to other provinces via the Damnoen Saduak Canal, more famously known as the Floating Market. The canal connects with the Tha Cheen River at Baan Paew, in Samut Sakhon and Mae Klong River at Bang Kondhi in Samut Songkhram.

The 32-kilometer Damnoen Saduak Canal covers some 200 sub-canals, but the heart of the Floating Market is around Klong Bodhi Huk, Klong Khun Pitak and Klong Ton Kem floating markets. However, Klong Bodhi Huk is the busiest with boat vendors selling their wares – even on Buddhist days – starting as early as 5 in the morning. If you come 6 hours later the place is deserted.

Chian Mak is a container to accommodate a small betel nut casket, tobacco slab casket, lime pot and betel leaf case. Thai men and women in former times had a habit of chewing Mak, betel nut and leaves smeared with lime. They chewed Mak like chewing gum. It was a social value at that time when a pretty woman was required to chew Mak which blackened her teeth and reddened her lips.

Chian Mak was therefore a necessity in almost all households as family members chewed Mak in their free time. It was also used as an item to welcome visitors who were offered Mak for consumption. Chian Mak could be made of wood, brass, silver or nielloware. It is circular or hexagonal in shape and intricate designs are sometimes added to beautify the Chian Mak.

Every one here speaks of Dinosaurs. For millions of years, the peaceful earth of Sahatsakhan district of Kalasin province has been the final resting place for the large dinosaurs that used to roam in this area. In 1995, fossilized dinosaurs of the Sauropod species (plant-eating dinosaurs) were uncovered at Phu Kum Khao in Sahatsakhan district.

An investigation shows that the fossils found in this area are of the same species as Phuwianggosaurus Sirindhornae, discovered in Phu Wiang district of Khon Kaen province. The name was bestowed in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Fossilized dinosaur skeletons here are considered the most complete ones ever to have been unearthed in Asia. From this discovery, a dinosaur museum, the largest in Thailand, was established in Kalasin.

Toys are excellent learning tools to help develop children intellectually and physically. Modern technology has brought about new, high-tech toys that are factory made and readily available on store shelves. Children no longer need to wait for parents, or grandparents, to find some free time to fashion homemade toys for them. Regrettable, traditional, handmade toys created from local knowledge and experience, are slowly fading away.

In an attempt to conserve indigenous art in northern Thailand by utilizing the valuable knowledge and experience of elders in local communities, Mr. Wirapong Kangwannawakul, set up 10 years ago the Khon Thao Khon Kae Group of toy makers at Baan Pa Daet village, Tambon Pa Daet, Mae Suai District in Chaing Rai Province.. The main objective was to foster closer relationships between family members of different generations through toy making; a simple vocation stemming from knowledge and experience passed down from generation to generation.

The saying that Phetchaburi is a “living Ayutthaya” is not considered an exaggeration. Both provinces share many similarities, whether in terms of historical sites, old temples or artistic forms. In both cases, craftsmanship has passed from generation to generation. Though the glory of Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient capital, ended over 200 years ago, Phetchaburi still remains its originate state as an old city.

Phetchaburi is the birthplace of unique and magnificent art and crafts such as stucco decorative art, paintings and woodcarvings. Crafts in this province are distinctive and cannot be found elsewhere.

Numerous temples in Phetchaburi serve as centers of learning for craftsmen and it is a tradition in this province for young men, after their monkhood, to contribute to the temple. Apart from textbooks and artistic creations found in various historical sites, stucco decorative art must be noted as an exceptional craft of Phetchaburi.

Chanthaburi Province's famous reed mats, known locally as “Suea Chanthaboon”, are known for their uniqueness in durability, fine craftsmanship and decorative appearance.

The reed used to weave the mats is called “kok” reed, which grows in brackish water, making soft yet more durable than reeds grown in other environments. Jute, instead of plastic, is used as a main fiber, further increasing its durability. These unique attributes have made Chanthaburi's reed mats long famous, with customer demand outstripping production.

The legend of Chanthaburi's reed mats began when Vietnamese folk at a Catholic church noticed reeds growing in abundance in Ban Samet Ngam and Bang Sa Kao communities in tambon Nong Bua in Chanthaburi Province. They bought the reed from local villagers to weave mats and, later more and more people in the area took up the craft. Today, it is a supplementary occupation bringing in considerable income to local folk.