Thailand

Amazing Thailand... perhaps the most clichéd of all backpacker destinations, but unlike so many talked-about tourist places the reasons for the hype are obvious here. The landscape, people and buildings are all beautiful, the culture fascinating, and just about everybody I encountered was wonderfully friendly. I spent 10 days here in December 2002, and didn't even have time to head to the highlands, but I was lucky enough to meet some interesting people and get a bit closer to locals than I expected with such a short time.