Take A Virtual Trip to Thailand: cook Thai cuisine & watch Thai-inspired films

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand, which offers all sorts of excitement for adventurous visitors. Gorgeous tropical scenery, rich Buddhist culture and unique folk customs make this city irresistibly attractive for countless tourists. Coupled with a perfect blend of Eastern and Western cultures, Bangkok merges the ancient and modern, the city offers an exquisite experience of authentic Thai living. This is a land of long-lasting cultural structures, traditional waterside markets, a paradise for shoppers and nature enthusiasts alike. Come take a stroll through the enticing streets and see why so many countless others have fallen in love with this city.

The Thai language is spoken by approximately 50 million people worldwide. It is spoken by 85% of the population in Thailand and there are four dialects within the country. It is spoken in other parts of the world as well including the United States, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. It is a tonal language consisting of 5 tones with quite simple grammar with the meaning mainly derived from the way the words are said.

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Thai food is extremely popular around the world, particularly in Australia with countless Thai restaurants around the country. It was during the tourism boom to Thailand in the 1980’s that Thai cuisine was established as one of the world’s leading culinary arts and it is now one of the five most popular food types around the world, joining the likes of Indian, Chinese, French, and Italian. Thai cuisine is characterised by a unique blend of 5 flavours: sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and salty.

At home and nothing to watch? Settle in with some popcorn and imagine you're in Thailand! The 1997 blockbuster Bonds film Tomorrow Never Dies was filmed in Bangkok and Kong Ping Kan. Kong Ping Kan consists of two islands on the west coast of Thailand in Phang Nga Bay. Now known as James Bond Island it brings a flock of tourists to the area every year. Starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tilda Swinton, The Beach was filmed in Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi in the Krabi province.

Located in the heart of Bangkok, the Grand Palace is a symbol of the Bangkok dynasty. It is the royal palace of the first to eighth Thai emperors of the Bangkok dynasty and still used for ceremonies such as coronation and celebration. The Grand Palace comprises of 22 buildings in total. The main building has 4 distinctive palaces and the Jade Buddha Temple. Buildings are in Siamese style and bring together the best of Thai paintings, sculpture and decorative art.

Click here for a virtual tour of the Grand Palace, Bangkok