A: In Southeast Asia there is no winter or summer, only a wet or dry season. The wet season is associated with the monsoons. Travellers are often warned to avoid travelling during the monsoons. Here's the rub. Thailand has two monsoons, the Northeast and the Southwest, and when the winds are blowing on one coast and the weather may be foul, the other coast is certain to have clear skies and be sunny. That's when you choose either Phuket on the west coast or Koh Samui on the east coast. So when is the best time to travel in Thailand? The answer: any time.

Also, for a moment, let's consider these monsoons. Monsoons are actually winds, and these winds are what bring the rains. But they are not like the rains we find in Europe and America. When it rains in Southeast Asia, it is generally for short periods of time, an hour or two; nor does it rain everyday. There is, actually, an advantage to travelling during the monsoons. The weather is cooler, and when it isn't raining you can be certain the sun will be out and the air will be crisp and clean. This is also a good time to travel for there are fewer travellers, towns and resorts are less crowded, and for certain, prices will be lower.

Aside from the monsoon season, when's the best time to visit a country? Obviously, it's during a festival, and in Thailand that means just about any time. Thailand is, in fact, a land of festivals. There's certain to be one or two festivals of some sort every month, all year long. Some, naturally, are more interesting than others.

An interesting feature about festivals in Thailand is that they are more than just special events; they are an essential part of social life that is performed by Thais for Thais. Foreign visitors are always invited.

Festivals have many inspirations and follow diverse forms. Some of the most important ones revolve around the main religions of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, while others mark the changing cycle of rural planting and harvest. There are festivals for eating, for traditional sports such as longboat racing, for flowers and fruits, arts and crafts, while others celebrate the hot season, rainy season, or no season at all.

Thais are a fun-loving people and although some of their festivals are serious and solemn, most involve colourful displays of dancing and music, processions and shows, where everyone, locals as well as visitors, can have a good time.