Mini Siam, Pattaya

Around the world in 80 days? Make it two hours! See all the world's wonders as well as Thailand's popular attractions at Mini Siam, where nearly a hundred replicas of famous sites worldwide - from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to the Statue of Liberty - are displayed at a scale of 1 to 25. For serious adventurers, this miniature world may offer nothing close to the real thing; but for entertainment value, Mini Siam is the perfect place to try and play Gulliver’s Travel. Founded in 1985 as part of a research project, Mini Siam’s 46,400-sqm area is divided into two distinct zones, namely Mini Siam and Mini Europe (which is actually the rest of the world), separated by a small serpentine ‘river’ that you can just step across. The vast manicured grounds, peppered with water features and man-made sculptures modeled after the world’s iconic landmarks, feel like a true global village.

Stepping through the entrance, you will get a bird’s eye view of the world’s Eastern and Western hemispheres. The Eiffel Tower’s industrial spire and L’arc de Triomphe’s carved ‘monolith’ stand in contrast with the round blue tiles of Beijing’s Altar of Heaven (Tian Tan) and candy-coloured domes of St. Petersburg’s Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Equally as diverse, the ‘waterfront’ spans the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, from the Sydney Opera House and Singapore’s Merlion to London’s Tower Bridge and the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Cross the narrow stream dividing the two zones, and you enter Thailand. Journey from the pre-civilisation to the Kingdoms of Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya to Rattanakosin (Bangkok). Highlights include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Anantasamakhom Throne Hall, the Bridge over the River Kwae, Sukhothai’s Wat Mahathat to modern infrastructures, such as the Rama IX cable-suspended bridge and Hualamphong Train Station.