Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi has played a big role in Thai history. It was here that the man who would become King Taksin gathered and prepared his troops to retake Ayutthaya from the Burmese after they sacked the capital of Siam in 1767. The King Taksin Shrine, shaped like a house-size helmet from that era, is on the north end of town and it's where locals hold a celebration in his honor from December 28 to early January annually.

The French occupied the city from 1893 to 1905 and some architecture from that time is still evident, particularly along the river where the city was concentrated during those years. The French influence is also evident in Thailand's largest Catholic church, the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, which is across the river from the center of town and an easy stroll from Gem Street. A footbridge to the cathedral was washed away by a flood in 2002, but there's some chatter of rebuilding it. The walk to the next bridge is a bit farther now, but still an easy motorcycle-taxi ride away. First built in 1711 by Christian Vietnamese who migrated to the area, the cathedral has been rebuilt four times since, and the present building was completed in the early 1900s when the city was under French control. The best time to visit the church is during the morning market on the grounds when local foods, fruits, and desserts are sold. But it's good for peaceful solitude anytime.