KHAO LAK, Thailand (dpa): With the sound of the jungle close by some of the world's best beaches, the coastal region of Khao Lak is quintessentially Thai - and yet hardly touched by mass tourism.
The smell of coffee fills the warm, humid tropical air. Before a cave in the rainforest, some men have heated water in a bamboo tube over an open fire and then prepared a jet-black brew. This isn't only for the tourists, but is a tradition in southern Thailand. The drink is served likewise from cups made of bamboo.
