Siam in All Its Splendor

This is a cross-disciplinary work of humanistic aesthetics that breaks away from conventional, fly-by sightseeing guides. With “abundance” at its heart, it weaves together Thailand’s breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, inviting readers to see the country anew. Here, abundance is not only the shifting blues of the Andaman Sea and its white-sand beaches, but also the quiet Buddhist glow that has endured for a thousand years among the weathered temples of Sukhothai Historical Park. It is not only the exotic plants growing wild in tropical rainforests, but also the sweet-and-spicy bustle rising from Bangkok’s streets and lanes, and the easygoing philosophy of life found there. The author abandons the quest for the exotic, approaching Thailand with an even gaze and an immersive spirit, delving into the country’s very texture. From the dazzling worldly power of the Grand Palace to the spiritual solace of the incense-filled Erawan Shrine; from the cultured gentleness of Chiang Mai’s old city to the hidden desires and open-mindedness of Pattaya’s nightlife. The book delicately depicts the unhurried composure deep in Thai people’s bones, and the marvelous balance they have found between the divine and the everyday, tradition and modernity. This is more than a travel book: it is a feast for the senses and the soul. Open its pages and look beyond the noisy check-in spots. On this land in Thailand, so favored by time, you will discover the greatest abundance born from the collision of nature and culture, and recover a long-lost ease and inner peace.