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| The
largest southern province, Surat Thani is steeped in history
as part of the Srivijaya empire with ancient Chaiya a
key city. A must-visit spot is Phra Boromthat Chaiya,
with its authentic Srivijaya architecture. Its beautiful
1,200-year-old chedi contains relics of the Buddha, while
the nearby national museum contains statues and artifacts
discovered in Chaiya. |
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| Surat
Thani is famous for coconuts, mainly picked by pig-tailed
monkeys which are trained in special schools around the
province. The schools also put on entertaining shows for
visitors. |
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| Although
the town is a major road and rail hub, it is more famous
as the gateway to Samui islands the province's top tourist
destination. Thailand's third largest island, Samui is
fabled for its long, clean beaches (most especially Chaweng)
lined with high quality resorts, numerous restaurants
and entertainment spots. The island's interior is mountainous
and forested, giving rise to growing numbers of treks
and eco-tours. |
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| Divers
head to the quieter Phangan and Tao islands, whose superb
coral reefs and underwater scenery are great attractions.
Further west, the Ang Thong National Park comprises 40
islands with beautiful beaches, clear waters, and stunning
rock formations. Many tour companies arrange sea canoe
explorations of the islands. |
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