Southern Thailand has it all:
forests, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, caves, lakes,
and islands. The long and wide stretch of eastern
coastline gradually slopes into the shallow Gulf of
Thailand, while the more rugged terrain of the western
side drops abruptly into the deep Andaman Sea. Though
it is in a tropical zone and the weather is generally
hot, there is constant rainfall year-round due to
the 2 monsoon seasons. During May to September, the
southwest monsoon creates large waves on the Andaman
side. The northeast monsoon wrecks its havoc on the
Gulf of Thailand coastlines during the months of November
to February.
Historical records showed that the Malay Penisula
was formerly a central commerce center with many
prosperous towns. The Srivijaya Empire (7th-13th
century), based in present day Sumatra, was the
first prominent force on the Malay Penisula. After
that empire fell, independent states emerged, with
Nakhon Si Thammarat being one of the more dominant
ones. When the Ayutthaya Kingdom expanded their
coverage to the south, Nakhon Si Thammarat became
the center of governance from which to rule the
entire Malay Peninsula.
Because of its strategic location, it benefited
from trade with China, India and other foreigners
at an earlier age than the rest of the country.
Along with trade came exposure to new religion.
During the 9th-12th century, trade with Persia and
Arab nations prospered, and so did the Islamic religion.
Aside from Buddhists and Islamic people, the South
is comprised of the "chao ley" or sea
village people. These peace-loving, dark-skinned,
aquatic nomads believe in animism and follow their
unique way of life. Southerners are known for their
perseverance, wit, and strong and definitive determination.
Southern Thai food is very flavorful and can be
quite piquant. However, it is the fresh seafood
that has really made the south stand out from the
rest of the country.
