Military tourism in Thailand: Shoot guns, ride tanks, eat bugs

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:59 — Anonymous by Cole PenningtonIllicit military
experiences have long characterized the Southeast Asia travel experience.
Most expat residents and seasoned backpackers in the region know at least one
person who has destroyed a small patch of jungle with a rocket launcher or
popped off a few rounds from a government issue sub-machine gun by
"renting" these weapons from enterprising military personnel. But since
1997, the Royal Thai Army has been working with the Tourism Authority of
Thailand to develop programs that allow civilians to catch a glimpse of
military life, legally. The operation is simple -- give tourists a roughneck
experience they can't get anywhere else. Let them fire M16 assault rifles,
put them behind the controls of a tank and teach them what insects are OK to
eat when learning jungle survival techniques. Of the 300-plus armed forces
bases throughout Thailand, more than 60 run programs such as simple bike
rides or parachute jumping from a tower, from Phuket all the way up to Chiang
Mai. To locate the nearest base, give the Royal Thai Army's Tourism
Promotion Working Committee a call at +66 (0)2 297 5715-8.read more