The Capital of the Land of Smiles(b)|曼谷：微笑国度里的欢乐天堂

For many people, one of the best parts of traveling is enjoying a new cuisine. Thailand definitely has a reputation for having delicious and interesting dishes. Thai food is typically spicy, featuring flavorful Thai sauces and served with rice on the side. Exciting hot spices are not the only attraction, though. In fact, Thai cuisine often tries to balance the five main tastes together picy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Like the capital city of Bangkok, Thai food really brings opposites together.

Thai food is now enjoyed in many parts of the world, and so is Thai massage. It's a style of massage that involves very deep stretching. When people receive a Thai massage, they put on comfortable clothes and lie down on a mat. Then the masseuse gets to work, putting pressure on the body and moving it into yoga-like positions. The session can last two hours or more, but massages in Thailand are very cheap compared to other parts of the world.

Another interesting thing in Thai culture is that the difference between men and women isn't always crystal clear. Thailand has a very large number of ladyboys, who are boys or men that decide to live their lives as women. They may or may not have had surgery to fully change themselves into females, but they all dress like women and pride themselves on looking beautiful. Ladyboys are sometimes known as the third sex and have made visitors from other countries respect people with sexual differences.

1.  According to Day 1, what is true about Bangkok?

(A) It combines rich and poor as well as old and new.

(B) It is the same no matter where you look.

(C) It is mainly poor with a few rich areas.

(D) It is beautiful but dangerous.

2.  Why is Bangkok called the Big Mango?

(A) Because it is shaped like a mango.

(B) It was designed just like New York City.

(C) Because it's the name used in the famous play, The Big Apple.

(D) It's a play on the nickname of a famous city on the opposite side of the world.

3.  Which of the following statements is true about Thailand?

(A) Thai cuisine only focuses on spicy flavors.

(B) People can buy pets at the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

(C) Visitors are allowed to cut branches off the tree that Buddha sat under.

(D) People have to stretch their arms and legs before getting a Thai massage.

4.  What is a ladyboy?

(A) A homosexual man.

(B) Someone that has three sexual organs.

(C) A man that dresses up or acts like women.

(D) A man that undergoes an operation to become a woman.

对于许多人来说，旅行最美好的一部分就是享受异地的美食。而泰国以它美味有趣的美食而闻名。泰国 的口味一般都是辣的，特色是充满泰国风味的可口酱汁以及旁边随餐附上的白饭。不过，刺激味蕾的呛辣食物不是唯一的卖点。事实上，泰国菜经常都是设法在 5 种主要味道──辣、酸、甜、咸、苦──之间取得平衡。就像首都曼谷一样，泰国菜确实将相反的东西结合在一起。

　　泰国菜现在在世界上许多地方都品尝得到，泰式按摩也是如此。泰式按摩是包含非常深层伸展的一种按摩方式。人们接受泰式按摩的时候，要先穿上舒适的衣物并躺在垫子上。接着女按摩师就上工了，在身体上施加压力，并将身体摆出像是瑜珈的姿势。一次按摩要花上 2 小时或是更久，但比起其他国家，在泰国按摩算是相当便宜。

　　泰国文化另外一个有趣的地方是，男女之间的区别并不是那么清楚分明。泰国有为数可观的人妖，他们虽然是男儿身，但选择以女性的身分过日子。他们不一定动过手术使自己完全成为女性，但他们全都打扮得像女性一样，并以自身的美貌自豪。人妖有时候也称为第三性，他们让来自其他国家的旅客懂得尊重有性别差异的人士。

答案：1. (A)2. (D)3. (B)4. (C)

泰国的木偶剧以生动有趣的木偶作为演员，由 3 名演出人操纵。演出中与戏偶同样占有重要地位的演出人，穿着剪裁合身的黑色制服，上面镶着金色扣子，腰间缠绕着红色布腰带。男性演出人留着短发，女性则包着发髻。演出时身手利落严谨，当他们随着剧情和木偶同步演出时，魅力过人，有时更会应台下观众的要求配合演出。（数据源：U Travel）