The Journey(s) of Ian

The 'Thai Silk Road’ Preface: This blog entry is an introduction to the "Thai Silk Road". A road, which was a route across what is now the southern Thailand peninsular, approximately latitude 9-10 degrees north,  covering parts of the contemporary Thai provinces of northern Phang-nga, Ranong, and Surat Thani. The route largely follows the Takuapa ("Dark-gwar-PAR") River, which provided a convenient and easy journey across the peninsular. This Thai crossing was a small, but vital, link in the long journey of goods and people between the far west and the far east, between Rome and China, Europe and Asia. Between two and one thousand years ago, this small peninsular was filled with busy commerce, with voices and peoples from all corners of the civilised world. Each vying for profit and trade, but, I am sure, each also in some small, or larger way, aware of the magnitude of their venture. Silks from China, were carried south around Vietnam, across the South ...