Thai Cool "Thailand Land of Smile"

Thailand Gateway to Indochina

2008-01-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

Southeast Asia's Last Tourism Frontier A remarkable diversity of sights and scenes, historical, cultural and scenic, are to be found in the Mekong basin. Remarkbly the region remains little explored, affording the opportunity for a travel experience that crosses the frontiers of tourism.

The Mekong, the world's 10th largest and 12th longest river at 4,200 km, is the last tourism frontier in peninsula Southeast Asia, Along the passage of this mighty waterway have arisen civilizations that have shaped the region,while today peoples of distinet cultures and tradition preserves a remarkable diversity of sights and scenes. And yet the Mekong lands remain largely unexplored.

From its headwaters high in the Tibetan plateau, the river flows south through China's Yunnan province and passes Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before entering southern Vietnam where it forms a classic delta as it finally joins the South China Sea. Until recently, all of these Mekong lands, with the exception of Thailand, have been mostly inaccessible to the ordinary traveller. Now the region is opening up, bringing fresh opportunities for a whole new programme of exciting and varied tour options.

Each of the six Mekong countries has its own unique attractions. Ancient monuments and old royal capitals bear witness to an illustrious past, while lifestyles present fascinating and contrasting images. Natural sights also abound, from the mountain gorges of northwest, from wooded valleys to vast flood plains. And because the Mekong has been little explored or exploited, all remains as pristine as you will find anywhere in the world today.

Different though each of the Mekong countries are, the sub - region as a whole now offers a synergy for the promotion of travel and tourism within its outer borders. A wealth of destinations are here presented within easy access of each other.

Located in the heart of the sub-region, Thailand serves as the ideal base for exploring the Mekong basin. With direct air links to all parts of the world, it provides a convenient gateway for both regional and longhaul travellers, while flights from Bangkok afford ready access to all the capitals and major cities of the other five Mekong countries. At the same time, road and river communications are rapidly expanded to provide a choice of land transport that greatly enhances touring possibilities.

Although tourism infrastructure is most highly developed in Thailand, facilities throughout the sub-region are rapidly improving, hotels, restaurants and other services and amenities are sufficient to ensure comfort, if not always luxury, while your clients will enjoy a sense of adventure and discovery. Indeed, the relaxation offered by Thailand's deluxe tropical resorts and the thrill of exploring fresh sights and scenes of the Mekong lands is a winning combination. And the choice of options is simply amazing-six countries and myriad wonders.

Planning A Trip To Thailand?

2008-01-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

If you want an exotic trip, why not choose Thailand? Though it might be costlier than heading to southern California or Miami, you’ll have memories (and photographs!) that will wow your friends and family for years to come.

As you plan your priceless journey, just remember to keep a few factors in mind:

Thailand Visit Tip #1: Learn about Thai food

When you get to Thailand, you’ll no doubt be trying a great deal of Asian cuisine. Thus, it would behoove you to try some of the more common Thai dishes before you set off on your journey. If you live near a large city, you no doubt have access to any number of Thai restaurants. When you go, ask the servers or proprietor(s) about authentic Thai fare. That way, you’ll be able to prepare your palate for your visit.

If you’re not able to make it to a Thai eatery, you can always check out a book on Thai cooking from the local library (or purchase one in your Barnes and Noble or Borders bookseller.) This way, you can try your hand at creating some of the culinary delights you’ll be feasting on during your time in Thailand.

Thailand Visit Tip #2: Dress for the temperature and weather conditions

Because the Internet affords you the opportunity to find out about weather anywhere in the world, make sure you jump online during the days before you leave for your visit to Thailand. That way, you’ll know exactly what to pack (and what not to wear). Nothing is worse than being in a country where you don’t know the language and are feeling physically uncomfortable because you’re dressed inappropriately.

Thailand Visit Tip #3: Go to your doctor

Before traveling overseas, it’s best for you to get a full physical at your doctor. Why? First of all, you really should have an annual appointment, anyway. But secondly, you don’t want to have a health emergency when you’re overseas.

Your physician may also prescribe a variety of shots or suggestions for healthy eating regimens while you’re in Thailand. Make sure you bring a notepad and jot down all his or her comments.

Thailand Visit Tip #4: Get your passport in advance

Many people traveling to countries such as Thailand forget to order their passports until too late. In all the excitement, this important “to do” is entirely forgotten.

Rather than waiting until the last minute, make sure that you get your passport immediately, because it can take some time to receive in the mail. In fact, you might even want to get your passport before you book your flights to and from Thailand, just to be on the safe side. (And your passport will last many years, so even if you have to put off your Thailand trip for a year or two, your passport will still be good.)

By taking a few precautions, you can ensure that your time in Thailand will be well-spent and will result in a meaningful vacation that you’ll recall with fondness for the rest of your life.

About The Author

Robert Michael is a writer for MT Thailand which is an excellent place to find thailand links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.mtthailand.com

Traveling in fast forward – Bangkok, Thailand in 24 hours

2008-01-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

After arriving in Bangkok at around 3am, I found that my room was unavailable due to it being flooded, not the best way to start my 24 hour adventure but not enough to slow me down. After a power cut and a couple of hours waiting I finally got my room, I didn’t really have enough time to sleep much after the delay, so I had to settle for just a couple of hours.

I got up at 8.30am and felt surprisingly refreshed, it’s not often you have to survive on only 2 hours sleep but at the same time it’s not often you get the opportunity to explore an environment and culture that’s completely new to you. I took a look out the window and just gazed at the concrete jungle that is Bangkok.

For the troubles of the night before, the hotel graciously gave me a free breakfast and a few other nice treats. I enjoyed a few fruits that I’d never had before; I’m quite the food lover so even simple things like that were interesting to me. It’s amazingly humid and very hot, 30 degrees at just 9am in the morning. Luckily for me and the other Hotel guests having breakfast, there are half a dozen huge fans cooling the area.

After finishing up my breakfast I head out into the unknown. I have no idea where I’m going or what I want to do which is part of the fun, it’s sometimes nice to have no plans or schedule, just the freedom to do whatever crosses your path.

It doesn’t take much time for me to meet some of the locals, there are street vendors everywhere and they can be very persistent, with an emphasis on very. It’s a little intimidating at first but after a good 5 hours of shopping I was a pro.

The Pantip Plaza was the first real building I stumbled into, it was full of cheap gadgets and huge amounts of DVD’s (all no doubt perfectly legal). I moved onto Siam Square next and watched a game of street football which was cool. The temperature was edging 35 degrees at this stage and this seemed even more surprising when I looked up and spotted a huge dark cloud forming right above me.

It didn’t take long for the rain to come and what a display it was. I’ve never encountered such a massive display of thunder and lightening in my life. Everyone scurried through the shop awnings and backstreets to take cover, it was impressive watching the speed at which the street vendors set up protection from the rain, this was obviously something they had learned to put up with. It felt like I was wading through millions of people as I made my way back to the hotel, it was cramped before the rain arrived but now it was just crazy.

After a nice dinner, I did some more looking around. I found some cool t-shirts and plenty of great presents for when I eventually got back home to New Zealand. While haggling over prices was new definitely new to me, I ended up enjoying it. It’s not something I could really be bothered with all the time but for that one day it was really fun.

My 24 hours in Bangkok was nearly over. I had to get some sleep before my early flight to London, especially after missing out the night before. It was a shame I had to leave so soon but I’m looking forward to coming back another time and exploring more of Bangkok, especially their many beautiful temples and other tourist attractions. 24 hours certainly wasn’t long but it was enough to give me a taste for Thailand and all the fun and excitement it offers.

About The Author

Rene Smith is a travel guru who lives and works in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Visit http://www.christchurchholidays.co.nz for more articles, reviews and all the information you'll ever need to know on Christchurch, New Zealand.

A Family Vacation Getaway In One Of The Best Luxury Hotels In Krabi Thailand

2008-01-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

So far as luxury hotels go anywhere in the Far East, the Rayavadee in Krabi Thailand is as good if not better than most other luxury hotels.

It is a great beach vacation hotel, with 77 rooms, perfect for a family vacation getaway, and equally fantastic for a honeymoon vacation special deal.

The Rayavadee has to be seen to be believed and everything from the staff to the accommodation, to the grounds, the beaches, and the food are close to being perfect. Krabi is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth so it is just the perfect position for the Rayavadee.

You have to get to Rayavadee by boat, and the first thing that will strike you is the boat. White leather upholstery and the crew all in matching sailors uniforms. Initial impressions are lasting ones, and this certainly makes you feel you are going to a luxury resort. Moving from the speedboat to reception, the impression continues with details all being taken whilst sitting down with hot towels and drinks, which beats standing around a crowded reception area any time.

The accommodation is top class, and if you are on a family vacation getaway there is the family villa with two bedrooms, one on the ground floor, the extra bedroom being the only difference from the De Luxe Pavilion

A two storey villa, and it is so well equipped with all mod cons. It is the small touches like the bathroom own brand products, the bottles of water everywhere, tea, coffee, and biscuits replaced every day. More food and drinks in a huge sideboard, and chocolates left every night by the bed.

A huge bath which holds two, is a feature of the bathroom, and a huge bed are all part of the ambiance.

A great luxury resort has great food, and on a family vacation getaway with hungry kids to feed, this is a very important consideration. If the reader is considering the Rayavadee for a Beach honeymoon vacation special then food is probably high on your agenda.

You will find the restaurants at the Rayavadee are all of the very best, with impeccable service in each of the four different restaurants. It is fair to say that food is not cheap but the views are just out of this world, and you may find it sensible to go down the beach and eat instead, where you will pay perhaps $15 instead of $100, and get genuine Thai food. It’s perfectly safe and worth the effort.

If you want to be active, then there is lots to do from kayaking through the sea caves hiking, swimming, snorkelling, tennis.

The service from the staff could not be more helpful, you will be treated like royalty.in every way. The only downside is the service by the pool which seems to be on the slow side of slow, but always extremely polite.

They are exceptional apart from that small point in every way, and are a big part of the success of the Rayavedee.

Words cannot do justice to the incredibly beautiful beaches, especially the Phranang and Railey beaches which have powder white sand and views of islands in the distance with little caves to explore. Beware however of the monkeys, who although friendly are everywhere!!

All in all there is no doubt that the Rayavadee in Krabi is one of the best luxury hotels in the Far East. It is an ideal spot place for a family vacation getaway on some of the best beaches anywhere. It would also be a good choice for a honeymoon vacation special, so look out for some great honeymoon vacation deals.

For more informaton on Far East Hotels go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Far-East-Hotels/

About The Author

Peter Stewart writes exclusively for http://www.in-kenyasafari.com as well as http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com and has visited personally many of the places he reports on, and has done extensive research on the others

Buying Property In Thailand

2007-10-28T23:01:00.001-07:00

When thinking of overseas property for investment purposes the British have invariably and predominantly looked to Spain and France in the past. More recently Bulgaria,The Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Croatia and with their accession into the EU on the first of January 2007 Romania now seems a viable option and alternative. For some of the more pioneering Americans Eastern Europe is also a favourable choice for affordable real estate, offering a low cost and comfortable standard of living. Furthermore the majority of the emerging economies within the Eastern bloc and real estate markets are pro active and working hard to attract foreign investment.

A growing number of US citizens are choosing to move north to Canada where real estate can be cheaper,taxation can be lower, healthcare is far cheaper and the standard of living as high as in America. Countries such as Mexico, Panama and Belize are well known as lower cost locations for US citizens seeking an affordable overseas location. Living costs, real estate and taxation are all low. However the main consideration is the affordability and accessibility of healthcare and of necessary treatment and care, each of the three countries mentioned fails in one way or another. Furthermore, younger Americans may struggle to find decent employment or education for their children in Mexico, Panama or Belize.

The British have always been obsessed with property and the expression 'an Englishman's home is his castle' has never rung more true. With the cost of housing within the UK out of the reach of most first time buyers and those first time buyers continually vying for property with buy to let investors more of the early twenties are putting down roots in more affordable countries. As always though anyone considering these locations are advised to act sooner rather than later.

The Sofia Echo in early January reported that developers have worked on entire apartment and villa complexes in smaller and less popular regions with significant funds allocated to such projects. Investors, it seems, showed more interest in getting a new apartment close to a major city, rather than an old house to refurbish. as a result of continual development the price of property in such regions remained almost unchanged throughout 2006. In some regions, the price of property even went down. Varna region registered a 15 per cent price decrease. The average price per square metre in the region dropping from 600 to 510 euro. Supply also brought down the prices of property in the Bourgas region.

With the advent of cheap air flights this has further enhanced the idea of a dream home in the sun. However can accessibility be correlated directly to sustainable investment potential. Thailand is approximately 10000 miles from the US and approximately 6000 miles from the UK, With flying times of approximately 21 hours and 11 hours respectively. Perhaps not suitable to the masses and ensuring a restricted and select ex-pat presence.

Thailand has three main seasons per year. Northern climatic conditions are preferred by Thais countrywide as the coolest and most comfortable. Generally northern temperatures are between 3-5 degrees lower than the rest of the country, Chiang Mai city is a favoured location and the climate is perfect for visitors. Cool mountain air and bright sunny days ensure that this Shangri-la setting will remain a favourite for many years to come. The North also differs during the rainy season and continuous rainfall is quite rare. It will usually rain heavily for a period between 30 minutes to one hour, once or twice a day and soon dries up after the sun appears. The area is then left feeling fresh and cool. The average temperature throughout the year being approximately 26 degrees.

Chiang Mai has a significant expat community and some figures put the number of "farangs", or westerners at 5,000. Chiang Mai is much of what Bangkok is not. Instead of the flatness of the Maenam Valley one is treated to ranges of forested mountains that sweep northward to Burma. Hill tribes in colorful costumes are common sights hawking their handicrafts around the night market. As Bangkok has no definite city centre, Chiang Mai's is clearly defined by a moat.

Chiang Mai is certainly easier to negotiate than Bangkok. Walking, bicycling and motorcycling are realistic alternatives to driving. Or if you prefer, tuk-tuks are prolific. A relatively well organized system of songtaews (pickup trucks with benches and canopies) run a sort of shared service around greater Chiang Mai. Some can be hired much as a taxi service. Chiang Mai stands on the banks of the Maenam Ping (river) and quite a number of good restaurants are perched along the banks.

There is also a strong emphasis on healthcare and Chiang Mai has several quality hospitals including Chiang Mai Ram,Chiang Mai University and the McCormack Hospital. Along with the presence of US and UK consulates. ATMs are everywhere and currency exchanges are commonplace. Interest earned on fixed deposit accounts is taxable at 15% and collected by the banks.

By: Martyn Witt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mortgage-Loan-UK is a premier resource for personal finance information along with an extensive collection of mortgage related calculators. For more information on luxury Thailand property and especially chiang Mai property offering resort style living visit us now.

Water Sports Holidays In Thailand

2007-10-28T23:00:00.001-07:00

You get treasures of ethnic, scenic, gastronomic, and oceanic pleasures in Siam. Thailand certainly is the fascinating and exotic land of lovely people known for their fantastic culture, cuisine, and overall lifestyle. The land, of course, is well known for its beautiful beaches and pelagic pleasures. It is a wonderful destination for water sports in Southeast Asia.

Thailand definitely is the best pick, if you are looking to have fun & adventure packed water sports holidays. You can really have great holiday, beaching, playing beach volleyball & other beach sports, and enjoying numerous water sports activities, such as swimming, rafting, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, and scuba diving in Thailand. Some famous destinations for water sports destinations in Thailand are – Mae Hong Son, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chumpon, Ko Chang, and Koh Tao.

Mae Hong Son, located near the border of Myanmar along the banks of the river Pai, is a wonderful town in the North West Thailand. The town offers you a nice opportunity to enjoy rafting the Pai River. You can join one of the rafting expeditions that are commonly organized in the heart of Mae Hong Son. Mae Hong Son can be accessed by car or bus from Chiang Mai via the Mae Hong Son loop. The town is also served by the Mae Hong Son Airport.

Hua Hin, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok, is a celebrated beach resort town in Thailand. It is best known for kitesurfing. You can hire your kitesurfing equipment, have kitesurfing instructions from experts, and enjoy kitesurfing. You can also joint kitesurfing lessons & courses for beginners. You can also enjoy numerous other beach and water sport on the beach resort, with an area around 86.36 km². You can also enjoy swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, and rowing.

Phuket, the largest island and the southern province of Thailand, is best known for its beaches. It is popular destinations for beach & water sports. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, kitesurfing, yachting, windsurfing, wave surfing, rowing, snorkeling, diving, scuba diving, etc. in Phuket. Famous Phuket beaches include Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, and Rawai Beach.

Chumphon or Chumpon, the capital of the Chumphon Province at the shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is a fantastic town in southern Thailand. Located about 463 kilometers away from Bangkok, Chumpon is famous for kitesurfing or kiteboarding, and other water sports activities. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and rowing. The town can be accessed by bus or by ferries.

Ko Chang, located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, is the second largest island of Thailand. It is famous for sailing and scuba diving. However, you can also enjoy several other beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, and rowing in Ko Chang. The island can be accessed by ferries operating from Laem Ngop.

Ko Tao, an island located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is widely famous for scuba diving. Diving in Ko Tao is easy and full of fun. Often, you have encounters with turtles, stingrays, barracudas, lots of small fish, and reef sharks. The island is a great place for divers. It is a great place to learn diving, as there are hardly any currents. You can also enjoy several other water related activities, such as wake boarding, water skiing, sumo tube, wind surfing, and sailing. Ko Tao can be accessed catching ferries from Surat Thani, or Ko Samui, or Ko Pha Ngan.

By: james@holiday-velvet.com

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Author writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Holiday apartments in Phuket, and Thailand holiday villas.

Top 5 Cities To See During A Holiday In Thailand

2007-09-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, one of my jobs is to ensure every client has the best tour possible, so here are my top 5 suggestions for cities to visit in Thailand during your holiday.

1.Bangkok is a fascinating city which has managed to keep it’s ancient eastern traditions whilst embracing the modern progression of the western world. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and offers a host of experiences which include floating markets, modern bars, top of the range shopping, gastronomical delights and ancient temples steeped in the city’s history.

The Chao Phraya River separates the city and has a series of canals. The new ‘Sky train’ railway is something which should be experienced whilst in the city should you fancy avoiding the bustling traffic.

One of the largest floating markets is on the outskirts of Bangkok and you’ll greeted by the aromatic smells and the age old tradition of the locals and their way of making a living along the busy canals.

There is an array of beautiful and ancient buildings not to be missed whilst in Thailand. Although I did not personally experience all of the nightlife, it was made obvious to me that all of my entertainment needs would be taken care of by all well informed taxi drivers wishing to proudly show off their culture.

2. Phuket is the biggest island attraction that Thailand has to offer. It is the perfect place to retreat to and enjoy a tropical paradise. Although the west coast of the island was almost destroyed by the tsunami of 2004, there is very little evidence remaining to show that it occurred.

Not to be missed are:

Old Phuket Town. Chinese immigrants from the 19th century, who were lured in the past by the tin mines, left behind them a host of amazing Sino-Portuguese mansions along Dibu and Thalang roads.

Thai Boxing. A personal favourite of mine, this national sport is violent and very fast paced. For regular matches the Saphan Him Stadium in Phuket City is the place to be.

3.Krabi. Krabi Province is in the middle southern part of Thailand. It is situated in the aquamarine water of the Andaman Sea. It is one of the most stunning places in all of Thailand.

Krabi Town is situated near the mouth of the Krabi River. The Mangrove forest is something to experience and is a must for avid bird watchers. Krabi Resort is set among a curtain of palm trees on the Ao-PhraNang beach. This is a delightful place to be if you are looking to soak up the natural beauty that surrounds you.

4. Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a city full of traditional heritage that shares its secrets with all who wish to discover them. It is a city with stunning natural beauty. It is amazing to see plants that we have to protect from the frost, growing in their scores, naturally along the roadside.

The people of Chiang Mai are a wonder in themselves with exceptional handicraft skills producing magical souvenirs for the endless throng of visitors. Chiang Mai houses the Inthanon Mountain, standing 8,448 feet above sea level making it the highest mountain Thailand.

5.Sukhothai. When visiting Sukhothai the main attractions for the area are Phra Mae Ya Shirne which is located in the Muang District. You will see a long haired figure made of stone that resembles an ancient queen. There is also a museum and National park as well as monuments of great interest inside the city walls.

By: Stuart Cheese

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Custom Made Clothing In Thailand- Is It A Good Deal???

2007-09-25T20:19:00.002-07:00

You are on vacation and you wander by a clothing shop and someone sitting out front says to you. "Good Evening sir, you want a nice suit?".

This happens often here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year and are drawn by the culture, prices, delicious food and shopping bargains.

There are hundreds of custom clothing shops in this city. They look alike with a person of Indian descent sitting out front trying to entice visitors into the shop. Inside the shop are rolls of fabric from which to select material for dresses, shirts, overcoats, suits, slacks, and pants.

Would you know if the prices and quality are a deal?

I wouldn't have know until I did some research and actually visited a number of these clothing shops. What I discovered is the following:

The clothes are extremely well made and can even be ordered over the internet and delivered anywhere in the world at a savings over the price in the home country.

The suits that I saw which had been completed and ready to be picked up or sent abroad were similar to what I would have seen in Canada. The differences that I noticed are that you can have the suit made exactly the way you want, and to fit you perfectly.

If you are short you may want longer pants so you appear taller. If you are overweight you may want the suit longer and larger than normal.

For the ladies the same applies. The clothing can be made to bring out your best physical characteristics and hide the qualities you do not like in your physical makeup.

That is one of the main features of buying custom made clothing.

The other is price. Here in Chiang Mai you can buy a tuxedo for less than the rental price back home. Should you need to dress up for a fancy restaurant or theatre or opera the tuxedo is there waiting for you. When you go to a restaurant dressed in a tux you will be given the best table.

I noticed shirts that were custom made and I really liked them. The lapels were rounded in one shirt and stiff and I loved the material. I also noticed that they can embroider your initials on the lapel or on the sleeve and that is a nice touch which shows people that you are wearing a premium custom made garment.

For ladies, men and children clothes are custom made and everyone in the family can look their best at a price that is lower or much lower than back home.

Why buy off the rack a suit that does not fit perfectly. Even a suit off the rack that is altered will not look as good as a custom made suit.

So if you are even visiting Thailand, and Chiang Mai visit the clothing shops. Free transportation if you buy something and they all speak English.

Go back home with extra clothing in your luggage and you will probably not even pay any sales taxes or duty on the articles you purchased.

We recommend FASHION KING Custom Tailors in Chiang Mai after visiting 6 different clothing shops.

You will be treated like royalty when you enter the shop and look like a prince or princess when you put on the clothing you ordered.

A great vacation and part or most of it paid for by the savings in custom made clothing.

Often customers are so pleased with the clothing they re-order by phone or over the internet.

By: retirementgeorge

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Getting A Hair Transplant In Thailand: The Good And The Bad

2007-09-25T20:19:00.001-07:00

It is commonly knowledge that many people travel to Thailand to been seen for plastic surgery and for hair transplant procedures. They are known for providing the very best in medical care so they are leading the industry in these areas. However, there are some good and bad issues to be aware of before you head off to Thailand.

Since Thailand offers such amazing health care services, they offer surgeons who have trained in Europe or North America. They are certified in specialty areas including hair transplants. Many of them belong to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. They offer the same types of hair transplant procedures as the United States. You can choose from FUE, micro or mini transplants, FUT, or a combination to get the best results. Thailand surgeons do take on other procedures that many United States surgeons don’t including beard transplants and body hair construction.

The process of scheduling a hair transplant in Thailand is very simple. You can fill out the paperwork and then soon be scheduled for the surgery. You won’t have to wait for weeks or months as you do in North America. Probably the most common reason individuals choose to have their hair transplant done in Thailand is the difference in the cost. Almost all insurance companies refuse to cover such procedures so the individual has to pay it on their own.

The cost in the United States ranges from $2,500 up to $10,000 depending on the procedure and the number of grafts to complete. If you chose to do it in Thailand, you can cover the surgery, your travel including hotel and still be saving a considerable amount of money. Many people choose to schedule a vacation in Thailand prior to the hair transplant as an added bonus.

The largest drawback to getting a hair transplant in Thailand is the distance you are from the surgeon should you experience any complications. It will be hard to schedule another trip so soon to see them if you need to. Most people are willing to take that chance though because hair transplants and cosmetic surgeries are safe, easy, and cost less than in the United States. If you decide to do this, make sure you take the time to do a reference check on the surgeon, get any questions you have answered before you schedule the procedure, and talk to others who have used that same surgeon. Try to schedule some vacation time in Thailand as well!

By: Judy Wellsworth

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Buying Property In Thailand

2007-09-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

10 Reasons To Visit Thailand

2007-09-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

You can travel to Thailand, if you want to experience lovely smiles and gentleness of Thai people and scenic & cultural treasures of Thai land. Thailand certainly is the “land of smiles,” which can make you smile, too. It’s really is enamoring and exotic country, known for its inviting people, culture, scenery, cuisine, and overall lifestyle.

Thailand, also known as Siam, is a jewel of South East Asia. Surely, it is your destination for great food, tropical climate, captivating culture, temples, and great beaches. Thailand apparently gives you numerous reasons to travel & explore it, but your top 10 reasons to visit Thailand are here!

Famous for beautiful temples and shopping malls, Bangkok is one of the major draws of Thailand. The Thai capital & primate city, on the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand, is the world's most popular tourist destinations. Its Old City on Rattanakosin Island has most of the tourist sights. Bangkok’s top attractions include Wat Arun (The Dawn temple), The Grand Palace, featuring Wat Phra Kaew (the Emerald Buddha temple), and Wat Pho, famous for the world's largest reclining Buddha and a massage school.

Some 85 km to the north of Bangkok stands Ayutthaya, a historical city and the old capital city of Thailand, which certainly gives lots of reasons to visit Thailand. The city is world heritage site known for a number of historic, beautiful Buddha temples, museums, and parks. Some attractions are Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopitah, Ancient Palace, Chao Sam Phraya Museum, Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre, Phra Ram Park, and Khun Phaen Residence.

Some 150 km south-east of Bangkok is Pattaya, a popular resort on the North Gulf Coast of Eastern Thailand. Pattaya is very famous for its entertainment points, shopping centers, go-go & beer bars and nightlife, and sports & beach activities, such as golfing, horse riding, bungee jumping, karting, shooting, scuba diving, jet-skiing, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Some tourist attractions are Underwater World Pattaya, Institute of Marine Science Aquarium & Museum, Oasis Seaworld, Elephant Village, Bottle Art Museum, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and Gems Gallery.

Chiang Mai, the gateway to Northern Thailand, is often dubbed as the “Rose of the North”. Surrounded by mountains and lush green countryside, Chiang Mai is known for museums, temples, and two Elephant sanctuaries. Some attractions of Chiang Mai are Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center, Hilltribe Research Institute Museum, Chiang Mai Numismatic Museum, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (magnificent temple), Wat Phra Singh (Chiang Mai's best-known temple), Elephant Nature Park, and Maesa Elephant Camp.

About 820km north of Bangkok, Chiang Rai is another popular destination in Northern Thailand. The town serves gateway to the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Major attractions of Chiang Rai include Gate of Siam, Wat Santhaat, Wat Phra Kaeo (beautiful Buddhist temple), Wat Thoeng Sao Hin, Princess Mother Hall and Doi Mae Salong, Doi Tung Royal Villa, Mae Fah Luang Garden, Wat Doi Tung, Doi Tung Zoo, and Phucheefah – a place for great sunset view.

Phuket, the paradise island in Southern Thailand, is a popular beach vacation destination. It is famous for its bars and beaches including Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, Rawai Beach. Patong Beach is known for its vibrant nightlife. Wat Chalong is a beautiful Buddhist temple located on the southern end of the island. Phuket is also known for its Vegetarian Festival.

Some 700km south of Bangkok, Ko Samui is a popular destination for beaches, water sports, adventure activities, shopping, and fine food. Some of the Island’s notable beaches are Nathon, Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Ruk, Choeng Mon, but Chaweng and Lamai are the most popular beaches. Other attractions include Wat Phra Yai, Ancient House, Hin Lat Waterfalls, Snake Farm, Aquarium & Tiger Zoo, Two Crocodile Farms, Tamarind Spa, and Naga Pearl Farm.

Ko Tao, a beautiful island in South in the Gulf of Thailand, is a heaven for scuba divers. Scuba diving certainly is the major attraction on Ko Tao. You can enjoy watching turtles, stingrays, barracudas, lots of small fish, and reef sharks at Ko Tao. The island is popular destination for water sports, beach activities, and island cruises. Shark Bay is a good place for snorkeling.

Off the eastern Gulf coast of Thailand, halfway between the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao is the island of Ko Pha Ngan – the land of coconut trees, known for the world famous full moon parties. Haad Rin is site of the famous Full Moon Parties. Thong Nai Pan is a scenic home to the beach resorts of Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai and Ao Thong Nai Pan Noi. Herbal sauna at Wat Pho is also a great tourist attraction.

About 330 kilometers from Bangkok floats the island of Ko Chang, which has grown dramatically popular over the last few years. The island is known for its scenic beauty and nice waterfalls. Some of the tourist attractions of Ko Chang are The Mu Ko Chang National Park, War memorial monument, Klong Plu, Klong Nonsi, Klong Nueng, Khiri Petch, Kongoi (wonderful waterfalls), and The Thanmayom.

By: james@holiday-velvet.com

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

All That Jazz In Thailand

2007-07-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

ALL THAT JAZZ IN THAILAND.I am a jazz musicion and have been living In Thailand for the last seven years five of which were spent in Phuket.The last three years in Phitsanulok.

One would think as the current King of Thailand is a competent jazz musician,composer and arranger that there would be a strong jazz following .This is not the case however.Jazz played by Thai musicians is not easy to find.Not that the Thai,s are not competent ,they are but they seem to have chosen the rock and pop route of western music.

Bangkok the capital of Thailand has a few jazz club but the bands are in the main made up of Philipino musicians with the odd Thai.In the tourist areas like Pataya ,Phuket and Changmai there are bands that play in the better hotels and again they are mainly philipino withe the odd Thai and and western musician .The clients of these hotels being mainly tourist.The quality of the music is good and well presented.

Outside of these areas it is very difficult to find any jazz at all even in the other cities. There seems to be a growing interest in the music but I think that it is going to be some time before jazz is accepted by the people.In Thailand things change very slowly.

Nick Paul

By: Nick Paul

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

If you would like to learn more about all that jazz and hear and download free samples then visit allthatjazzsite.com/all20jazz/Welcome

Travel & Enjoy The Cuisine In Asia (thailand)

2007-07-21T05:22:00.001-07:00

Thai food has become the world’s most popular cuisines. It is highly regarded as culinary forms throughout the world. Influenced by Indian and Chinese cookery skills, Thai cuisine has combined those arts and created the uniqueness of its own. Like all local and national foods, the Thai cuisine exposes a great deal about the country.

Thai cuisine is known for its spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter flavors. Thai food is popular in many Western countries especially in Australia, New Zealand, some European countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Each Thai restaurant has its own specialties.

Some of the most-preferred dishes of Thailand are Kai Ho Bai Toei, Thotman Plakrai or Thotman Kung, Fish or shrimp fritters; Yam or Thai salad, Tomyam (hot and sour soup); curry and namprik with fish vegetables the sweets famous in Thailand are salim, thapthim krop, lotchunng, khanom chan, coconut-cream gelatine, thong yot, foi thong etc.

Thai Curry – There are four main curries in Thai cuisine including green, red, yellow and massaman. The curry pastes made from herbs and spices are the heart of all Thai curries. Its main ingredients are chili, garlic, shallot, galangal, coriander root and krachai.
Titbits – These can be appetizers, accompaniments, side dishes or snacks. They comprise satay, spring rolls, puffed rice cakes with herbed topping.
Thai Noodles – Thailand is also famous for its fragrant stir-fried noodle dishes. Most Thai noodle recipes call for rice noodles rather than those made with wheat or egg, although these can also be found in Thai cooking. Some of the popular Thai noodle dishes are Pad See-U, Land-Da Noodle, Pad Thai, Pad Woon Sen, and Pad Kee-Mow.

Salads – Thai salads are an important part of Thailand’s foods. Thai salads are sour, sweet and salty. It is prepared from fish sauce, lime juice and a dash of sugar. Fresh herbs like marsh mint, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and cilantro are used for garnishing. Enjoy different salads varieties in Thailand including Som tam, Larb, Namtok, Yam, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad, Rose Petal Salad, Tossed Green Salad with Cashews, Pineapple Salad with Cucumber, Peanuts, & Fresh Herbs and much more.

Thai Meat Dishes – Thai cuisine is incomplete without having Thai meat dishes. Some of the popular meat dishes are Chicken Curry, Gaeng Gari Gai, Green Bean Curry, Masaman Curry with Beef, Pineapple Prawn Curry, Ginger Chicken, Laab Gai, Spicy Chicken with Thai Basil etc.

Thai Soups – These are really tangy. Some of the best varieties of Thai soups are Tom Yum Gung, Tom Kha Gai, Authentic Thai Coconut Soup, Cindy's Thai Hot and Sour Soup, Duck Legs in Green Curry, Spicy Chicken Thai Noodle Soup and Hot-and-Sour Prawn Soup with Lemon Grass.

By: james@holiday-velvet.com

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for apartments, bed and breakfasts, Bangkok vacation apartments, hotels and Bangkok holiday accommodation.

Traveling In Fast Forward – Bangkok, Thailand In 24 Hours

2007-07-21T05:21:00.000-07:00

After arriving in Bangkok at around 3am, I found that my room was unavailable due to it being flooded, not the best way to start my 24 hour adventure but not enough to slow me down. After a power cut and a couple of hours waiting I finally got my room, I didn’t really have enough time to sleep much after the delay, so I had to settle for just a couple of hours.

I got up at 8.30am and felt surprisingly refreshed, it’s not often you have to survive on only 2 hours sleep but at the same time it’s not often you get the opportunity to explore an environment and culture that’s completely new to you. I took a look out the window and just gazed at the concrete jungle that is Bangkok.

For the troubles of the night before, the hotel graciously gave me a free breakfast and a few other nice treats. I enjoyed a few fruits that I’d never had before; I’m quite the food lover so even simple things like that were interesting to me. It’s amazingly humid and very hot, 30 degrees at just 9am in the morning. Luckily for me and the other Hotel guests having breakfast, there are half a dozen huge fans cooling the area.

After finishing up my breakfast I head out into the unknown. I have no idea where I’m going or what I want to do which is part of the fun, it’s sometimes nice to have no plans or schedule, just the freedom to do whatever crosses your path.

It doesn’t take much time for me to meet some of the locals, there are street vendors everywhere and they can be very persistent, with an emphasis on very. It’s a little intimidating at first but after a good 5 hours of shopping I was a pro.

The Pantip Plaza was the first real building I stumbled into, it was full of cheap gadgets and huge amounts of DVD’s (all no doubt perfectly legal). I moved onto Siam Square next and watched a game of street football which was cool. The temperature was edging 35 degrees at this stage and this seemed even more surprising when I looked up and spotted a huge dark cloud forming right above me.

It didn’t take long for the rain to come and what a display it was. I’ve never encountered such a massive display of thunder and lightening in my life. Everyone scurried through the shop awnings and backstreets to take cover, it was impressive watching the speed at which the street vendors set up protection from the rain, this was obviously something they had learned to put up with. It felt like I was wading through millions of people as I made my way back to the hotel, it was cramped before the rain arrived but now it was just crazy.

After a nice dinner, I did some more looking around. I found some cool t-shirts and plenty of great presents for when I eventually got back home to New Zealand. While haggling over prices was new definitely new to me, I ended up enjoying it. It’s not something I could really be bothered with all the time but for that one day it was really fun.

My 24 hours in Bangkok was nearly over. I had to get some sleep before my early flight to London, especially after missing out the night before. It was a shame I had to leave so soon but I’m looking forward to coming back another time and exploring more of Bangkok, especially their many beautiful temples and other tourist attractions. 24 hours certainly wasn’t long but it was enough to give me a taste for Thailand and all the fun and excitement it offers.

By: Rene Smith

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Rene Smith is a travel guru who lives and works in Christchurch, New Zealand. Visit his Christchurch travel guide for more articles, reviews and all the information you'll ever need to know on Christchurch, New Zealand.

BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2007

2007-07-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

Festival venues: Central World, SF World Cinema and Siam Paragon Hall

The Bangkok International Film Festival, now in its fifth year, has been held annually by the Tourism Authority of Thailand since 2003 and is one of the key highlights on Thailand’s annual festivals and event calendar.

Each year, the festival showcases more than a hundred feature and short films, representing some of the best and the brightest in the current international cinema through its various programme sections. The festival focuses on the works by emerging filmmakers throughout Asia, and in particular those of the Southeast Asian region.

The Golden Kinnaree Awards are judged in the three competition categories by a panel of international jury. Running concurrently with the festival are also a number of sidebar events such as panel discussions, workshops, master classes, exhibitions as well as the Bangkok Film Market.

The 2007 event will be the first ever organized by a core of Thai organizers, which include the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Central World, SF Cinema, and the Association of Thai Film Federations.

Official Venues for the Bangkok International Film Festival 2007
At SF World Cinema, 7th floor Central World Shopping Center on July 19-29, 2007

Central World
The new downtown shopping and lifestyle complex of Central World has been designated the official host venue for the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival. The largest lifestyle-shopping complex in Southeast Asia, the complex also comprises a 550-room, 5-star hotel, and two office buildings. The range of offerings encompasses more than 500 stores, 50 restaurants, 21 cinemas, a bowling hall, 2 department stores: Zen and Isetan, and much more.

Situated right in the heart of one of Bangkok’s prime locations, Central World is on the city’s “shopping street”, Ratchadamri Road, and surrounded by several five-star hotels and office buildings within walking distance.

SF World Cinema
The theatres are situated on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors of the Central World. With an area of 13,500 sq.m, the theatres comprise 15 screens with over 4,000 seats, including a megascreen with 800 seats, first-class theatres with lounges and additional special theatres.

Bangkok Film Market
Royal Paragon Hall on July 23-25, 2007
The Bangkok Film Market, which is trade show for film buyers and sellers, will be held at nearby Siam Paragon Hall during July 23-25.

The 2007 version of the festival, held for the fifth consecutive year, will feature approximately 100 films from around the globe. There will be an increase in emphasis on Asian films to respond to their popularity both in Thailand and abroad. Asian movies regularly screen in theaters in major cities and they have generated large followings in certain genres like horror and romantic comedy. Some have even been made into major Hollywood productions.

The Bangkok Film Market held during the festival is expected to do brisk business in the acquisition of Asian films for theatrical release overseas, with many projects planning to recoup their investment with screening and DVD sales outside their original base. Negotiations are commencing for a number of celebrities and industry individuals to attend the festival.

The Bangkok International Film Festival will also feature several seminars and workshops aimed at educating the public and introducing new developments in movie making, as well as some retrospect on important pioneers and periods of local cinema.

The highlight of the glamour part of the festival is the Kinnaree Award presented to the best film in the festival as selected by a respected panel of international jurors. Two other awards will be the New Voices Award honoring first-time directors and the ASEAN Films Award given to the best film from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

For the latest updates, visit the Bangkok International Film Festival web site: www.bangkokfilm.org

Objectives: To select and promote world-class films from over the world for featuring in Thailand
To position Thailand in the forefront of the international film industry
To enhance Thailand’s positive image as a safe tourist destination with a variety of attractions
Promote Thailand as the preferred film location for major productions

Festival Venue:
Cinema
SF World Cinema and Central World Shopping Center on July 19-29, 2007

Bangkok Film Market
Royal Paragon Hall on July 23-25, 2007

Festival Partners: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
The Federation of National Film Association of Thailand
Central World Shopping Center
SF World Cinema
Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World

Official Hotels:
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok
The Dusit Thani, Bangkok
The Sukhothai
Lebua

Events:
Grand Opening Night for Bangkok International Film Festival with an opening movie on Wednesday 19 July 2007 at SF World Cinema, Central World Shopping Center
Gala Dinner and Golden Kinnaree Award Ceremony
Golden Kinnaree Award which is a highlight of Bangkok International Film Festival will be on July 28, 2007. For 2007, there are three sections of competitions: International Features, ASEAN Features, and Best Short Film. Additionally, the festival also bestows the honorary award – the Lifetime Achievement Award to Ray Harryhausen

Closing night for Bangkok International Film Festival with a closing movie on Sunday 29 July 2007 at SF World Cinema, Central World Shopping Center
Closing movie: ‘Muay Thai Chaiya’

Films to be screened
This year’s festival has more than 100 feature and short films from over 30 countries, ranging from prolific filmmaking countries to emerging industries from countries such as France, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Poland, Peru, Canada, Greece, etc.

Movies in the festival:
ASIAN CINEMA
1. amour LEGENDE – Taiwan
2. Basement, The – China
3. Case, The – China
4. Colour Blossoms- Hong Kong
5. Dasepo Naughty Girls – Korea
6. Diary – Hong Kong
7. Dream- Iraq
8. Exiled – Hong Kong
9. Forest Of Death – Hong Kong
10. Getting Home – China
11. Go Master, The – Japan
12. Highway Star – Korea
13. Look of Love – China
14. Lost In Beijing – China
15. Luxury Car – China
16. No Mercy for the Rude – Korea
17. Omkara – India
18. Other Half, The – China
19. Park, The – China
20. Postmodern Life of My Aunt, The – Hong Kong
21. Raised From Dust – China
22. Rang De Basanti – India
23. Sankara - Sri Lanka
24. Spider Lilies – Taiwan
25. Time – Korea
26. Vanaja – India
27. Hwang jin yi-Korea

DOCUMENTARY & SHORT
1. Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story – USA
2. Beyond the Call – USA
3. Black Gold-UK
4. Competition, The – USA
5. Cats of Mirikitani, The- USA
6. Children of Glory – Hungary
7. Festival-UK
8. Havana: The New Art of Making Ruins
9. Mourning Rock – Greece
10. Mystic Ball – Canada
11. Our Daily Bread – Austria
12. Out of Bound – France
13. Sleep Walking Through the Mekong- USA
14. This Film Is Not Yet Rated – USA
15. Traveling With Yoshitoma Nara – Japan
16. Who Killed The Electric Car? – USA

WINDOWS OF THE WORLD
1. A few days in September- France
2. A wandering Bride-Argentina
3. Angel – France
4. Beaufort – Israel
5. Belle Toujours – Portugal
6. Bled Number One – France
7. Broken English – USA
8. Cashback-UK
9. Cry in Silence – France
10. Edge of Heaven, The- Turkey
11. Fraulein – Switzerland
12. Freezone – Israel
13. Goodbye Bafana – France
14. Grazing – Italy
15. Home Song Stories – Australia
16. Hunt Angles- Australia
17. Hunting and Gathering- France
18. Inside Paris – France
19. Mark of Cain-UK
20. More than Anything in the World – Mexico
21. Ping Pong – Germany
22. Red Road – UK
23. Renaissance - UK (Animation)
24. Shortbus – USA
25. Suely In the Sky – Brazil
26. Take this waltz – France
27. This is England-UK
28. Uranya – Greece
29. White Palms – Hungary
30. Witnesses, The – France
31. XXY – Argentina

THAI PANORAMA
1. 13 beloved
2. Mid Road Gang
3. Final Score
4. Loveaholic
5. Me Myself
6. King Naresuan Part I
7. King Naresuan Part II
8. Noodle Boxer
9. Seasons Change
10. Sperm, The

RETROSPECTIVE: LUIS BUNUEL
1. An Andalusian Dog (Short 16 min)
2. Belle de Jour
3. Diary of A Chambermaid, The
4. Milky Way, The
5. Phantom of Liberty, The
6. That Obscure Object of Desire
7. Tristana

Bangkok Film Market
This important business forum for film buyers and sellers, as well as for animation, post-production and film location offices, is held between July 23-25, 2007 at Royal Paragon Hall III and Meeting Room 1-3, 5th floor Siam Paragon. The market is divided into 5 zones: International Village
Location World and Location Shooting
Animation/Digital
Equipment
Thai Film

Seminars and Workshops
Seminars and workshops on film-related themes in the festival welcome all type of film-lovers to experience filmmaking techniques through invited experts. All seminars and workshops are free of charge. Theses events, on July 20-28, 2007, consist of seven topics:
Cinematography and Lighting Design Workshop
An offshoot of the popular Cinematographer’s Day in the past three years, this workshop during 20-22 July will be a set in a studio with full equipment for 35 mm film. Participants of the workshop will receive hands-on experience in lighting, designing and cinematography. Conducted by Mr. Somchai Leenanurak at Advertising and Animation Network’s studio Rama 9 Rd. Soi 17, and supported by Kodak (Thailand) and Oriental Post. Mr. Somchai’s Thai films are such classics as Namphu and Withi Khon Kla. The workshop will be at Advertising Animation Network, Rama 9 Road Soi 17

Producer Master Class
The class, runs between July 21-22, 2007, is about training how to become a film director and producer. Professionals will give the erudition to audiences. Focusing on co-producing film by New Film Society and Teefah, run by Mr. Pantam Tongsung, film director and producer, with special guest from France, Taiwan, and Thailand such as Jira Malikul and Apichartpong Werasetakul.

Clay Animation Workshop
A workshop on making animation by using clay figures scheduled for between July 23-24, 2007, with cooperation by Okinawa Digital Motion, Co., Ltd. People in the workshop can learn to make clay animation by digital camera. The professional from the University of Arts in Okinawa is a narrator and consulter in the making process.

Panel Discussion on Okinawa Films
The discussion, on July 25, 2007 at Central World, on The Uniqueness of Okinawa Films aims to show the roles of society, arts, and culture in Okinawa, that are quite different from other parts of Japan and which have influenced the distinctive film business of the prefecture. Stop Motion technique is the renowned foundation of animation from Okinawa.

Panel Discussion on Copyright Issues
On July 27, 2007, Central World, Topics Horror Show: “How Piracy Kills the Film Industry”. The program is run by Mr. Tienchai Pinvises of Motion Picture Association along with copyright legal experts like Baker & McKenzie and Mr. Surasak Sunpitaksaree from The Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, who will have a live demonstration of how films are being illegally downloaded online.

Panel Discussion on Co-Production and Copyright
This is a lively discussion on film co-productions between countries by invited special guests such as Peter Chan, Andrew Lao and Alan Mak. Hosted by Thai celebrity Saranyu Wongkrachang.

Panel Discussion on Rating and Censorship and Thai Society
“To Rate or Not to Rate: Censorship and Thai Society” is the main topic to discuss on this stage, on July 28, 2007. A very hot topic in the today’s entertainment industry, the discussion includes showing censored scenes from movies. This is sure to be a stimulating and thought-provoking show. Hosted by Thai celebrity Saranyu Wongkrachang.
COMPETITIONS
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION
1. Ploy (Thailand)
2. Beaufort (Israel)
3. Spider Lilies (Taiwan)
4. Getting Home (China)
5. Lost in Beijing (China)
6. Sankara (Sri Lanka)
7. Edge of Heaven (Turkey)
8. XXY (Argentina)
9. Angel (France)

ASEAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
1. Alone (Thailand)
2. Bangkok Time (Thailand)
3. Before We Fall in Love Again (Malaysia)
4. Bet Collector, The (Philippines)
5. Dancing Bell (Malaysia)
6. Love For Share (Indonesia)
7. Lost Briefcase (Indonesia)
8. Manoro (Philippines)
9. Pao’s Story (Vietnam)
10. Unseeable, The (Thailand)

BEST SHORT FILM COMPETITION
1. Tabriz: Image from the Forgotten World (Iran)
2. Paper & Sand (Australia)
3. Last Chip,The (Australia, HK, Vietnam)
4. Londres-London (Singapore)
5. My Beautiful Rambutan Tree in Tanjung Rambutan (Malaysia)
6. July Boys (India)
7. Grandma (Iran)
8. Grey Sky (Thailand)
9. Little Brother (Singapore)
10. Miracle (Israel)
11. J, A Photographer in a Strange Village (Korea)
12. Mirage (Taiwan)
13. A Silent Monsoon (Nepal, USA)
14. Gift (Korea)
15. Eternally Yours (Japan)
16. In The Shadow (Greece)
17. Matchmaker (Indonesia)

Bangkok International Film Festival 2007 located at SF World Cinema,
7th floor Central World Shopping Center on July 19-29, 2007

Central World
Central World is the largest lifestyle-shopping complex in Southeast Asia.The complex also comprises a 550-room, 5-star hotel, and two office buildings. The range of offerings encompasses more than 500 stores, 50 restaurants, 21 cinemas, a bowling hall, 2 department stores: Zen and Isetan, and much more.

Central World is located on the primest of Bangkok’s prime locations. On the city’s “shopping street”, Ratchadamri Road, and surrounded by several 5-star hotels and office buildings within walking distance.

SF World Cinema
The theatres are situated on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors of the Central World. With an area of 13,500 sq.m, the theatres comprise 15 screens with over 4,000 seats, including a megascreen with 800 seats, first-class theatres with lounges and additional special theatres.

For details and updates: www.bangkokfilm.org

For more PR information, please contact
Piyanart: mobile 083-292-2288
E-mail: piyanart@bangkokfilm.org
Alisa: mobile 089-823-5343
E -mail: alisa@bangkokfilm.org

IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
Contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Email: info@tat.or.th
Website: www.tat.or.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines)

FOR EVENT INFORMATION,
please call 1672.

Address:
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand

By http://www.tourismthailand.org

Trisara Phuket Thailand

2007-07-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

The Trisara Resort in Phuket is extraordinary in many ways, from the fact that it is such a short drive from the airport, and yet so quiet, peaceful, private, and beautiful.

The ocean view villa we stayed in was exceptionally spacious and private with incredible uninterrupted views over the ocean. It’s the kind of place that makes you dream that this is your own private villa.

The actual accommodation has so many nice touches it would be impossible to include them all, sufficient to say, that everything you would expect from a five star deluxe resort is there in abundance, and much more besides. We could start with the indoor and outdoor showers, the furnishings are a beautiful blend of colours, with lots of dark wood. The bed was large, and very comfortable, with such fantastic fluffy pillows. I always think pillows are the real measure of the quality. It is the little touches like fresh flowers everywhere, even in the bathroom. The built in window seats and couches, the cleverly hidden large plasma TV, all part of the top quality workmanship that has gone into the construction and maintenance.

Outside the villa, it is completely private, with a gate at the entrance, and a large teak sundeck with table and chairs for eating, and four padded teak sunbeds. The infinity pool, is larger than your normal plunge pool, and totally private because of the greenery.

The food quite superb, both Thai and Western style. We were on a breakfast included package, and it was a terrific meal in itself, having got used to buffet breakfasts being the norm, it was a pleasant surprise to have it served up fresh from the kitchen. Be warned however that if you decide to take your included breakfast in your suite, then you would be charged at full rate, which seems a little mean.

At lunch and dinner, you can choose either the Thai or Western option, although it would be fair to say the Thai food was spicy hot and very authentic, not milder for those of us from the West. I personally like that.

You can get most of the food available with room service but it is more expensive, and wine as expected is expensive, because they kind of have a captive audience as there are no nearby restaurants

The overall service, and once again attention to detail are fantastic.

Small final thoughts are, you will never forget the sunset from the pool villa, and the beach is delightfully private with no hawkers, and very comfortable loungers, and naturally the high level of service continues there.

There is not a whole lot to do here except to relax, and unwind, so if that is your thing, there is nowhere better to be.

By: Peter R Stewart -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Peter R. Stewart writes occasionally for for www.worldwidevacationspots.com and also finds the other articles on vacation destinations worth reading

Thailand Is Their Land

2007-07-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

The true magic you'll find when you travel to Thailand is its alluring authenticity. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers; consequently, the still-standing and functioning monuments of the past attract visitors who admire thousands of years of history integrated into present day society. Even more appealing, Thailand offers the diversity of a society running in parallel: booming city life and leisurely beach escapes, thickly canopied jungles and white sand islands, indulgent cuisine, clubs and cocktails and the sanctuary of Buddhist lifestyle. Thailand has come of age as a traveler's dream destination, an affordable gateway to paradise with all the modern conveniences at your fingertips.

What's In a Name?
The Kingdom of Thailand was known as Siam until 1939, when a bloodless revolution instated a constitutional monarchy and the name was changed to literally mean “free” land. The original kingdom was founded in 1238, but largely influenced throughout history by China and India. Geographically, Thailand is surrounded by countries whose turbulent 20th century histories have defaulted tourism into its exotic but more accessible borders. For this reason, Thailand is also a wonderful home base from which to explore Cambodia and Laos to the east, Myanmar (Burma) to the west, and Malaysia to the south.
Wat You Waiting For?

Thailand is littered with just as many exciting cities as beautiful beaches. Where you might notice the imbalance is in the inconceivable number of temples, or wat. As the main center of the very north, Chiang Mai is a large, beautiful and historic city. A visit to the famous Night Bazaar or the nearby Wiang Kum Kam archeological ruins is certainly not enough to distract even the most oblivious from the more than 300 Buddhist temples that sprinkle the skyline with shiny gold, red and green hues. Make sure to visit Wat Chiang Mun, the city's (and possibly Thailand's) oldest temple, located within the old city walls and dating back to 1296. Heading south, do not miss Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Thailand's two former capitals (the latter being the founding city) classified as World Heritage Sites filled with hundreds of beautifully maintained temples, statues and bustling human activity, all embedded within the lush green environs.

Bangkok is perched on the Gulf of Thailand, but this humming, vibrant and congested 24-hour capital city is a far cry from the resort cities and towns found east and south along Thailand's sub-tropical coastline. Thailand extends south into the Kra Isthmus, providing for extensive coastline and some of the most filmed beaches in the world. Phuket is the most famous resort island, but more rewarding is a trip to one of the smaller and less commercialized areas. Ko Tao is of particular interest for scuba divers, while Ko Pha Ngan has become famous among younger travelers for its regular full moon festivals held all night on the sparkling shores. Ko Phi Phi is far more breathtaking in person than even the camera angles of the film "The Beach" could do it justice.

Some rudimentary social customs aside, Thailand is an extremely easy going and welcoming travel experience. Everything from simple to luxurious is at your disposal, and all with a very fair price tag, not to mention an unbeatable combination of picturesque beaches, rainforested mountains, and an intense metropolitan culture. So really, what are you waiting for? Start planning to travel to Thailand today.

By: Frank Johnson

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Dining In Chiang Mai, Thailand Vs. North America

2007-07-13T19:39:00.002-07:00

Foreigners love their hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks and Thai’s just have to have rice with every meal. But which would I prefer after living most of my life in Canada and now having retired to Chiang Mai, Thailand?

As with any large city there are an abundance of fine restaurants catering to different tastes and budgets. Chiang Mai is no different. Thai people love to eat. Restaurants are full of Thai’s and foreigners enjoying all types of cuisine. Rather than deal with fine restaurants which we all dine at but not every day this article deals with the day to day dining of the Thai people here in Chiang Mai.

Popular restaurants in North America are Harvey’s, McDonalds, and Burger King. Here we have the street vendors. The end result is a quickly prepared affordable meal.

The street vendors may sell fresh fruits such as pineapple, mango, watermelon, strawberries (locally grown), and more. Each fruit is cut up into small pieces and placed in a plastic bag and you are provided a long wooden stick with which to eat it. Cost is normally 10 baht which comes to about 25 cents U.S. and the fruits are kept cool and are delicious. Also vendors here sell fast foods and snacks. Get a meal of cooked rice, meat and veggies again placed in a plastic bag but this time wrapped tightly by an elastic band for about 20 baht or 50 cents U.S. Take your pick of a rice dish, or a noodle dish or a soup. Tasty and normally already prepared and wrapped and still warm or if you want to wait one minute they will take it out of the pot and put it into the bag while you wait. So a cooked meal and a tasty snack for a total of about 75 cents U.S. For many Thai’s in Chiang Mai this is there most common meal. They then proceed to drive home, unwrap the elastic, put some rice in a bowl, place several cups of the table with a bottle of water and that is one of their meals.

We all love fast foods and we all want it to be affordable. That we have in common. What you will find different between here and there is the price, quality and service.

Price. The price of meals whether it be at restaurants, or street vendors is cheap compared to what we are used to. A filling meal can be had for less than a 1US dollar for a meal I described above which includes a bowl of rice, cooked meal from street vendor and fruit from street vendor. For only $2.50 U.S. you can dine out at an all you can eat full course buffet, desserts, coffee, tip and taxes included as well as a tip for the parking lot attendant The prices are low because the ingredients are locally grown and because the labor cost is inexpensive.
Quality. The quality of the food is much healthier here than back home. Back home KFC, McDonalds, and Harvey’s are popular lunch and dinner restaurants. If you think you are thinking healthy foods there think again. Here you do not have the greasy French fries, Hamburgers stuffed full of ketchup, mustard, onions, mayo and more to hide the taste of the meat you are eating. Here you eat rice, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, drink water with the meals as opposed to a bucket sized plastic container packed full of ice and watered down sugar flavored soft drink.
Service. A teenager earning a few extra bucks in a fast food restaurant or an adult making a living out of working full time in a restaurant here. Which one would you expect to provide the best service? Nothing more needs to be said.

If you come to Chiang Mai do not go searching for restaurants that have what you normally eat. You may as well stay home and buy a video about Thailand, or watch a TV program about Thailand.

The foods here are tasty, healthy, and inexpensive.

The basic ingredient in all the meals is rice. Yes rice for breakfast too. I have never been one for rice. Potatoes was my staple. But here potatoes are pricey and although I admit to buying them and making potato soup and french fries it is the exception and not the rule.

As I have said before, the Thai’s are known for making anything taste good.

So take fresh ingredients combine that with rice and special sauces which are the key to the taste and there you have it - Healthy, Tasty, and Inexpensive meals.

Top if off with locally grown fresh pineapple, watermelon, mango, strawberries or a dozen or more fruits and you have a meal you will enjoy and which is good for you.

The funny thing about foods is that whatever you really like is NO GOOD for you. What are your favorites? Cake, pies, French fries, hamburgers, ice-cream. Well they are not that good for you in terms of eating them regularly. What do you hate to eat? Broccoli, asparagus, spinach, brown rice, boiled chicken. Well these are good for you.

So if you come here to Thailand. do try several different types of Thai foods. You may find a soup that you just cannot get enough of, or a Thai dessert that you have no idea what it was and which you absolutely enjoyed, or fresh fish which is abundant here. Prawns, sea bass and more cooked up on a large plate will leave you wanting more.

I have eaten meals, snacks and fruits sold by small roadside food vendors and never experienced any problems. The ingredients are fresh, kept on ice if required and cooking areas cleaned regularly. So I see this as a safe, inexpensive way to buy snacks and meals. I would recommend that you carry a bottle of water which can be purchased at 7-11 for only 13 cents as you may get a bit dehydrated especially if you are doing a lot of walking and this if anything may be the cause of a quick jaunt to the rest room.

Are there things that I do not eat that Thai’s eat? Yes there is a fruit called Durian, the Thai’s just love it but it has such a foul odor that when I gave it a try I had to breathe through my mouth. Apart from the odor it has the texture of a pudding and is rich in flavor. What I did not have the courage to try and which I expect would be healthy to eat was the fried insects. I suppose that it is just a matter of getting used to the sight of them. Perhaps I could dine on both the fruit and insects regularly if I kept breathing through my nose and kept my eyes shut while I ate.

But you should try what we call Suki. It is a soup that you cook on your table in a pot with hot coals underneath. You decide on the ingredients such as chicken, beef, liver, fish and add them and take them out when they are cooked. Normally the meats go in first as they take longer to cook and then the vegetables. In about 5 minutes you have your soup. Two small bowls will accompany the meal. They are both made of hot peppers. One has the appearance of a green paste and the other a red paste. You can either dip your meat or fish into the paste or put a teaspoonful into your soup. The green paste is spicy, makes me perspire a bit and gives me a longing for a cold glass of water during I eat my soup. The red paste I do not touch and would not recommend you try it unless you are accustomed to eating it or you are Mexican. My girlfriend eats her Suki with the green paste and admits to making trips to the washroom during the middle of the night and not to brush here teeth. A filling meal for 4 people for about $3 U.S. and that includes taxes, tip, and bottled water with a bucket of ice.

Remember how earlier on I said that the Thai’s have a reputation for making any food taste delicious. That is true. The KEY is the sauce. I do not know what ingredients go into the sauces but I do know that I was not a rice eater and now with I will be scraping the bottom of each bowl of food that is served to me. Normal white rice cooked in a rice cooker combined with fried vegetables and meat with the special sauce is simply delicious.

And if you want to know where I would eat given the choice now, a fast food restaurant there or a street vendor here? My reply would be a street vendor here. After the meal here I am filled up, the food is delicious, the fruits are fantastic and prices are so low and I feel fitter.

Want to learn more about Thai foods. Check out our Thai foods and recipes on our website: http.//www.retire-on-550-month.com and they are on the Living in Chiang Mai page.
End

By: retirementgeorge

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George Dowhan retired to Chiang Mai, Thailand from Canada. Since then he has created a website to help others do the same. First of all to come to Chiang Mai on vacation and then later to retire.

Thailand Beaches: Which Beaches Are Beautiful In Thailand?

2007-07-13T19:39:00.001-07:00

Thailand has one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. For those that have traveled there they know that the beauty of this untouched place makes for some of the best vacations in the world. This is coupled with the vast amount of historical culture that abounds the countryside and there is never a shortage of things to do in this country. Because much of this land is untouched by development you will find that relaxation and peaceful living is more than possible. The reaches of the mighty have not gotten this far and that means that you will get the very best in the vacation arena, especially when it comes to the Thailand beach areas.

Khao Lak is a wonderful Thailand beach. Just a short drive from the airport, this paradise offers a remote vacation area like no other. Thanks to the area being largely uninhabited, there is lush rain forest nearby along with a whole host of wildlife to be viewed. The water remains warm in the November through December months and the fishing and scuba diving is out of this world.

Phuket Thailand Beach is another great spot. Enjoy this resort November through March. There is more than enough to do. It is a bit more crowded than other beaches as this area thrives on the tourism dollars that it brings in. The scuba diving is top notch in this area and you will also find some of the warmest most clear water in the world. There are several nearby attractions to keep one busy for quite a few days.

Phi Phi Don Thailand beach is quite the turn around. Once a remote and nearly unknown place, this Thailand beach came to life when Hollywood came in and filmed a movie here. It is now considered to be one of the most popular beaches in the entire country and is frequented by many big names. This is a site that you will not want to miss, as the views are breathtaking and the water warm and inviting.

West Raily Thailand beach is one of the undiscovered diamonds in the rough. There is very little that is expensive here and one can stay at the “resort” for over a week and barely tap the budget. The sands are milky white and the water clear. Scuba diving is very popular here as well as the fishing. This location is only accessible by long tail boat so plan for a bit of a long ride.

By: monice

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About the author: Click here for info about travel guide, online travel guide and free travel guide.

How To Planning Wedding Honeymoon - Thailand

2007-07-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

When most people think of , what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to than just the basics.

Inspiring temples from ancient kingdoms, tiny tranquil villages along the Mekong river and impossibly green limestone islands nestled along the Andaman Sea, makes this a vast cultural kaleidoscope.

It’s hardly surprising that Thailand, meaning ‘land of the free’, has long been a honeymoon paradise, allowing sweethearts to cast off the shackles of everyday life and immerse themselves deep into its liberating and relaxed way of life. There is an abundant choice of exotic activities on offer. Whether you want to languish on a glittering beach or ride a wild animal on an exotic elephant safari – peace and adventure go hand in hand here. Remote spas and hideaways dotted around the verdant island will seduce you with their tranquil intimacy, while the vibrant streets of Bangkok beckon you to experience a whole new world at your feet.

And if the idea of unspoilt beaches and fresh tropical cocktails at sunset still doesn’t sway your man, casually mention that Leo Bay was where James Bond’s The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed. No doubt he can live out his 007 fantasies on Khao Phing Kan, the same sandy stretch that saw Roger Moore and Christopher Lee battle it out! Get in the sea and do your best Ursula Andress while he’s at it.

Blessed with a balmy climate that settles for 35 degrees centigrade at its hottest, it is widely recommended that if your wedding is in April or October, to postpone it by a few weeks – since these are the two worst months to visit, particularly the capital. April is the peak of a roasting summer, while October brings miserable floods – making the south a more pleasing option.

Thailand’s beautiful bounty is vast enough to combine a beach and city holiday, so even if you do fly into Bangkok, you can just as easily travel down to the South to soak in the sun.

BANGKOK
Bangkok, or City of Angels differs from its American counterpart in that while the latter boasts guns, sex and plastic surgery, the former is still steeped in rich Thai cultural charm, offering delectable food, breath-taking temples and shopping heaven. Resisting the usual coldness that most cities possess, it is a far cry from the advanced urban development of neighbouring countries like Singapore, with Bangkok natives exuding friendliness. A city of contrasts, Bangkok breathes mystery on the east side of the Chao Phraya River, with polished temple spires nestling against glittering glass and steel buildings rising up from the seething mass. Delicate wreaths of jasmine flowers the buses and taxis. Orange-robed monks potter along the street beneath a giant Sony screen blasting western pop videos. Home to the most stunning temples in the world, it is worth visiting a few to get away from the disquiet of Bangkok’s streets for a moment of quiet reflection.

Khao San Rd in Banglamphu is the traditional haven for the budget traveller, but the Sukhumvit Rd area has a better selection of mid-range hotels. Banglamphu and neighbouring Thewet are the best spots for budget eating, and if you want to go for a city stroll and experience day-to-day Bangkok, head for Chinatown and Pahurat, the busy Chinese and Indian market districts.

Chinatown
A Chinese-Thai residential area since 1782, it’s hard to believe that this district used to house 245 opium dens and a huge number of pawn shops, gambling houses and brothels. Today Chinatown is one of the most charismatic districts in Bangkok, with intricate alleyways, bright markets and mouth-watering food stalls.

Pahurat
A bargain shopper’s paradise lined with a stunning array of Indian silks and Thai shoulder bags. Head down little alleys and you'll find a thriving culture that might ordinarily pass you by.

THINGS TO DO:
Grand Palace: A testament to architectural wizardry, housing the famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Go early in the morning to avoid the major crowds and do not wear sandals or skirts.

Snake Farm
Even if snakes make you queasy, this is definitely worth a visit – the sheer volume of information is astounding. Officially called the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, the snake farm is one of the largest producers of anti-venom serum in Asia.

Crocodile Farm
Whatever you’ve seen in Lake Placid or Crocodile Dundee is child’s play compared to this enormous place with over 60,000 fresh and seawater crocodiles to see. For extra garnish you can buy chicken to throw to the crocs, and they also have a show every hour, in which an insane guy puts his head inside the croc’s mouth.

Floating Market:
80 km from Bangkok, this market is famous for selling fresh produce and fine trinkets. You will also be able to travel around in a boat and have a taster of Thai village life.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole story from informed sources.

Temple of Dawn:
Situated on the other side of the Chao Phraya river, the sight of the 79-metre-high porcelain encrusted pagoda sparkling in the sun is truly something to behold.

Wat Trai Mit:
Built in the Sukhothai period, this temple houses an awe-inspiring solid gold Buddha which weighs five and a half tonnes and is three metres in height.

BEACHES
Crystal clear waves lapping the shores of white beaches are standard wherever you look in Thailand. Phuket, called the Pearl of the Ocean, is particularly unmissable. If you want to do more than just sunbathe, pay a visit to Ko Phi Phi, the stunning island where Leonardo Di Caprio’s The Beach was filmed. Pattaya is a gorgeous beach resort tucked away on the south-east coast of Thailand, a stone’s throw away from Bangkok, while Koh Pha-Ngan is famous for revellers throwing their arms in the air in the throes of its legendary full moon parties.

Phuket
For a beach hotspot, Phuket is 70 per cent mountainous, yet this precious jewel is Thailand’s largest island in the Andaman Sea, boasting a rich and wealthy history. Although the warm and humid island is Thailand’s main tourist attraction, it has the luxury of harbouring secluded and unspoilt beaches for those wanting a romantic getaway. Pamper yourself with fresh lobster everyday, be massaged to sleep in any of Phuket’s legendary spas and take a midnight swim by moonlight in its indigo pools, with the assurance that you’re going to love every minute of it. If you’re lucky enough, you may even get to take part in the celebration of Loi Krathong, a 700 year old festival to honour the water gods. Doorways and gates of temples and houses are decorated with banana trees, palms, and lit lanterns, while locals dress up in traditional Thai sarongs and tunics. There are more tourists in Phuket than on any other island, which hikes up the prices slightly, but by British standards is still cheap.

Koh Samui
Palm-fringed beaches punctuated by bursts of coconut plantations make Koh Samui overflow with charm and, while on its way to becoming too touristy, it still retains its old untouched-paradise charm. Tiny thatched bungalows pepper most of the beaches, but make sure you book in advance as accommodation is hard to secure in the high seasons between December and February, and from July to August. There are flights from Bangkok to the island's Don Sak Airport. Several ferry and jetboat companies operate from Surat Thani: express boats take two and a half hours and jet boats take one and a half hours.

TRAVEL
Island-hopping isn’t just a past-time of hippies and backpackers, nor does it mean you have to endure horrible conditions simply because you choose to explore Thailand outside your hotel door. One of the perfect ways to bond with each other in the first weeks of marriage is to experience new things together and create a rich tapestry of memories. Be adventurous – just because you’ve booked a flight to Phuket doesn’t mean you can’t jet to Bangkok for a few days. Travelling within Thailand isn’t half as daunting as you may think. http://www.phuket-cannacia.com

By: wirat

Thailand: Favorite Asia Travel Destination

2007-07-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

No wonder people love to travel to Thailand these days. It's hot. It's fun. And it's cheap. Everything here is cheap -- hotels, food, shopping -- you name it. A coconut costs 20 baht (that's around 50 cents -US). A bowl of noodle costs from 30 to 70 baht (depending on how nice the restaurant is).

Hotels in Thailand are cheap. They have hotels to suit any budget you have. If you're a backpacker and want to stay in Bangkok, Kaosan road is your ideal destination. It's dirt cheap. If you have deeper pocket, you can stay in a small hotel for $40. But if you have $100 or $200, go for a nicer hotel. It's all worth it. You can be sure that the service is second to none. When you leave Bangkok for the beach, you have the choice of cheap bungalows or prettier resorts. You can book a room in advance or you can just walk in. Feel free to a look around and pick the resort you like once you get there.

You'll have a great time in Thailand. Bangkok is the capital. And you shouldn't miss it for the world. Dress politely and take a taxi to the Grand Palace, Wat Pra Kaew ("Wat" means temple in Thai) and Wat Po. If your hotel is by the Chao Phraya river (the main river in Bangkok), book the hotel's cruise for dinner. Also, remember to spend a weekend in Bangkok. Put on your summer outfit and take a taxi to Jatujak weekend market (open on Saturdays and Sundays). They have everything here. And when I say everything, I mean it -- from clothing, accessories, Thai handicrafts, to furniture. The place is huge. Be there around 11, have lunch there, and enjoy your shopping till late afternoon. Make sure you have a lot of cash with you -- you'll love to buy everything you see. Here you have to bargain, and they only take cash. Your travel to Bangkok can't be complete without going to Jatujak.

I often feel sorry for tourists who travel to Thailand with a tour group. They don't get to see much. Getting around Bangkok is especially easy. In fact, you don't need to take a tour. You can get around the city by skytrain, taxi or tuktuk. And if you want to get a little sun-tanned, just fly to the south -- to Phuket island, Samui island, Phi Phi island, or Similan island. You don't even need a tour guide once you are at the beach!

Thai people are incredibly friendly and helpful. All you have to do is ask. Just ask for help, and they'll help you as much as they can. They can speak a little English. You'll have no problem. If you approach someone who can't speak English, you'll still have no problem. Use your common sense. Use your hands. Speak in chunks, not sentences. Say the name of the place you want to go. If they walk away, that doesn't mean they don't want to help you. It simply means they can't speak English at all. And they're too embarrassed about that. So, don't take it personally. Don't give up. Ask the next person you see. They'll help you out -- I bet you a Pad Thai on that!

When you travel in Thailand, you should have no problem if you just learn to ask for help. You see, most tourists rely on maps (which are pretty useless when you're in Thailand). They just stand there clueless with their maps while Thai people walk past by (wondering deep down if they can help you out...You see, most Thais are shy. They won't walk up to you asking if you need help. You need to initiate the conversation.)

By: manju

Quick Guide To Thailand

2007-07-13T19:34:00.002-07:00

Thailand is possibly the most-visited country in south-east Asia. The irresistible combination of fine beaches, ancient monuments and civilisations and renowned cuisine makes a holiday here an absolute must.

Where is it?

Thailand is in south-east Asia, bordering Malaysia to the south, Myanmar (Burma) to the north, and Cambodia and Laos to the east. It benefits from coastal stretches both in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand.

Where can I stay?

Thailand is a popular country to visit – Bangkok is a 24-hour city with hotels to match whilst smaller cities and coastal resorts have also made the most of the constant tourist trade. Travellers are becoming more sophisticated, however, which has resulted in a number of boutique hotels opening to cater for the discerning guest. For those who love the beach, try the luxury of Aleenta; a small, private beach hotel which houses just 17 suites and 2 private villas. With unspoilt beach on your doorstep, an infinity pool and romantic breakfast and dinner settings, beach-life rarely gets better. Alternatively, go for the lights and sounds of Bangkok, where you could stay at the Ibrik City; a very chic hotel right in the middle of the business district and next to the famous “Blue Elephant” cooking school. With just three rooms, this is a modern yet homely hotel and great transport connections mean that this boutique hotel is the ideal base for days and nights in Bangkok.

What can I see?

Thailand is renowned for its ancient monuments, stupas and temples. From the sheer architectural delight of the Phimai Temple, a Hindu/Buddhist temple, to the ancient stupas in the Sukothai Historical Park, there’s much to learn about civilisations hundreds and thousands of years old and the way they affect the people of Thailand today. Don’t miss the busy and colourful markets either, and make sure that you spend time sampling the fabulous food for which Thailand is so well known. Venture away from the beaches to the rivers and mountains of Thailand’s interior to sample a simpler way of life, or take in the energy of Bangkok with a city visit.

How do I get around?

You can hire a car to get around Thailand, but it may be easier to take the train. Bangkok city is serviced by a Sky train and boat service, so there’s no need for any other transport to get you around. Outside Bangkok and closer to the coast, use the buses and trains to get about. The trains may be slower than you’re used to, but they’re comfortable. On the other hand, the buses are fast and furious, but they are cheap and air-conditioned.

By: Chic Retreats -

Facts About Thailand For Those Who Dream Of Going There

2007-07-13T19:34:00.001-07:00

Thailand is one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse areas in Southeast Asia. Because it was never colonized, it retains much of its original culture.

The people of Thailand are very friendly and hospitable. There is no language barrier because the staff speaks English and other European languages in most of the hotels, restaurants and tourist places. There are many different modes of transportation in Thailand. Tourists can hire a taxi, take a bus, ride on a train, rent a car or motorcycle or hike on foot through the beautiful countryside. The most interesting ride is the Tuk-Tuk, a three wheel bike, which provides a fantastic open air ride around any city.

Thailand means “the land of the free”, and is blessed with three seasons. Summers runs from February to May. The rainy season extends from June to October. The cold season lasts from November to January. Many people vacation in Thailand during December and January to get away from the cold in their countries over Christmas and New Year’s. Thailand has vacationers from all over the world.

Thailand has a very diverse geography. Tropical islands are found in the southern peninsula. There are many beautiful beaches surrounded by clear, blue waters on one side and tropical jungle on the other. The people here are involved in rubber cultivation, tin mining, and fishing. In the central part of Thailand are paddy fields, farms and many varieties of edible fruits. Here, too, are the ancient ruins of Ayuthaya, the royal capital of the kingdom of Siam, and Sukhothai. The mountains and forests of Thailand are in the north. Many different tribes are located in the mountains. Tourists can visit them from boats or by crossing the rail road lines over the famous river Kwai. They can also see unusual native handicrafts and multicolored orchids. The northeast plateau is famous for its rich archaeological and anthropological findings.

Thailand is the perfect vacation spot for those seeking a romantic getaway or who want to shop. Gourmets will love the many varieties of sea food. Many travelers also come here for an adventurous vacation. Thailand offers aquatic sports for all ages, including scuba diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing and water-skiing. Afterwards, tourists can relax on the beautiful beaches, sipping their favorite cool drink in good company.

Thailand offers something to every traveler:

Phuket is known for its exotic islands and beautiful beaches. Tourists can sunbathe on the beach, relax around a hotel pool or go on a number of popular excursions. Phuket’s nightlife is very lively. The multi-cuisine restaurants and bars are always filled with tourists.

Chiang Mai is a combination of modern city life and old village charm. Tourists can visit a working elephant camp, the Mae Sa Waterfall and an Orchid Farm. There are temples which are close to 700 years old. The Doi Suthep monastery sits on the top of a mountain 3500 feet above sea level, overlooking the fertile valley embracing Chiang Mai. The monastery is famous for its many holy relics of the Lord Buddha. Chiang Mai’s night bazaar is a favorite shopping place of tourists. Almost anything can be bought there at bargain prices.

In Chiang Rai, tourists can see the local hill tribe villages of the Akha and Yao. They can also see the ruins of Chiang Saen, Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle. The triangle is where the borders of Burma, Thailand and Laos meet. Together with Chiang Mai, the city sits in one of the artistic and religious centers in Thailand.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. The name means “city of angels.” Bangkok is a centre of commercial, industrial and cultural activities. The Grand Palace; Wat Phra Keo, which houses the Emerald Buddha; and Dusit Maha Prasat Hall are three of Bangkok’s largest attractions. Here tourists can see large, gleaming golden spires, soaring roofs, intricate paintings and ornate statues.

By: Joe Goertz -

Discover Thailand’s Priceless Beauty

2007-07-13T19:32:00.002-07:00

The Benjarong is Thailand’s priceless contribution to Asian pottery. Once the prized possession of royal palaces and upper-class Thais, it is today, the pride and perfection of ancient Thai craftsmanship.

But what exactly is the Benjarong and why does it possess such magical qualities with sheer beauty and serenity? Read on to unravel the history and making of this ancient masterpiece.

History of the Benjarong

During the early Ayutthaya period (1350 – 1767), Thai craftsmen made a somewhat crude multi-colored earthenware known today as the Benjarong – a term based on the Sanskrit words panch, meaning five, and rang, meaning colors, thus literally referring to the ‘five-colored.’ The style of painting multi-colored enamels on a white porcelain base was influenced by the Chinese Ming dynasty, and by the 17th century, the Benjarong became an exclusive household possession of rulers and high nobility – marking a period where high quality Benjarongs with unique Thai designs were produced. Colored enamels added over the glaze were fused to the surface in a descending scale of temperatures. The Benjarongs were also decorated with swirling flame-like motifs and Thai-style thepanoms, or celestial beings. These were made exclusively for the royal household as utilitarian items, such as rice bowls, stem plates and covered water jars. Shortly after, artisans applied 12 or 18 carat gold onto Benjarongs to enhance their appearance.

The Making of a Benjarong

The making of the Benjarong is a long and arduous process requiring great patience and complete dedication. A prolonged heat treatment is required after the object is made, and once again after the hand painting is done. The drying process of the hand painting cannot be accelerated by using a fan or blower, as this prevents the colors from fusing into the ceramics.

The process:

1.The ceramic ware is hand made into the specific size and shape desired.
2.The ceramic ware is heated at over 500 degrees for over 6-7 hours.
3.A few hours is spent on polishing the baked ceramic ware to smoothen the surface.
4.A thin layer of glaze is applied onto the smoothened ceramic ware.
5.The ceramic ware is heated once again to give it a glazed and polished surface.
6.A craftsman then hand paints some designs onto the polished ceramic ware.
7.Every color needs to be completely dried in order to apply a new color, taking from hours to days to complete.
8.The finished hand painting on the ceramic ware is left to dry for another 6 hours.
9.The painted ceramic ware is heated once again at over 500 degrees for 5-6 hours, as this ensures that the colors are fused into the Benjarong.

The Benjarong today is one of the most popular types of ceramics in Thailand. Known to be the most exquisite for its hand painted designs, it is of little wonder that these masterpieces are exclusively produced by only the most talented and highly skilled of Thai artisans.

By: Yanapat Jaenjira

Visiting Krabi Thailand – Top 10 Attractions

2007-07-13T19:32:00.001-07:00

In the far south of Thailand, Krabi is the poster child for Thailand's natural coastal beauty. It’s also near Phuket. The scenery is overflowing with remarkable outcroppings of limestone that produce framing cliffs and peculiar formations. In the resort area, the pace is much slower than in other Thai hotspots, with a market that caters more for relaxed travellers and families who would prefer to stay away from the party scene of some of Thailand’s beaches.

Daytrip to Wat Tham Seua
If the heat and humidity aren't too overwhelming, a trip to Wat Tham Seua, or Tiger Cave Temple, is a must. In fact, in spite of the heat, you may want to venture out to see this site in order to explore the cool maze of caves in which Buddhist monks live and worship. A climb up this Ao Luk Thanu limestone mountain to the summit affords a look at the pagoda, 'Buddha's footprint' and spectacular vistas of the countryside.

Rock climbing
The rock climbing scene at Krabi is fit for all skill levels, with something for everyone. Climbers come from all over the world for the unique karst structures and limestone cliffs, many of which are well marked and bolted for climbers. One of the most popular sites is at Ton Sai Beach, but it’s possible to go climbing at any number of places around Krabi, especially when collaborating with a local rock climbing company. If you're not sure of your abilities, don’t be too shy to enrol in one of the instructional classes offered.

Koh Lanta Marine National Park
Pristine rainforests and more lovely Krabi beach options can be found on the island of Koh Lanta, which is also a marine national park. The most striking aspect of this island is that it's home to the nomadic tribe of Chae Leh, also called sea gypsies, who have practiced their own distinct religion and spoken their unique language for centuries. There are plenty of relaxed bungalow settings for those who want to stay a while. Visitors from as far away as Phuket come to visit.

Than Bok Khoranie National Park
Taking a day to check out Than Bok Khorani National Park is a worthwhile endeavour, especially if you're interested in the diversity of plant life here, from small gardenias to towering trees. The highlight of the park is the green-hued pond that is the namesake for the park. Beyond the pond is the area's standard fare of limestone formations, caves and mangrove trees. While the park does not offer accommodation, camping is permitted if you bring your own equipment. It’s also an easy drive to and from Phuket.

Shell Fossil Cemetery
A few miles out of Krabi Town, you'll find the archaeological site known as the Shell Fossil Cemetery. This marvel has been under construction for the past 35 million years and has grown into a huge slab of fossilised snail remains more than 15 inches thick. The site of this former swamp can be found at Ban Laem Pho Cape, which is located about 10 miles from Krabi Town.

Exploring the archipelago
An organised tour of the archipelago is a wonderful way to spend a day, and with your itinerary in the hands of a local tour guide, you can be sure to find wonderful scenery and some great secluded Krabi beach choices. Another way to explore the islands close to Ao Nang Beach is to hire a sea kayak and paddle out to them yourself. This is a good way to get away from the crowds in the resort area and catch some peace along with spectacular scenery.

Scuba diving
If you're a certified diver, you'll probably want to jump right in as soon as you arrive in Krabi. The reputation of the nearby Andaman Islands and the wealth of coral reefs fuel much enthusiasm in this area, and there's no shortage of diving companies to take divers on day and longer trips. Snorkelling is also worthwhile, and those wishing to pick up a diving certificate can enrol in a four-day course. Many of the Phuket dive trips end up here.

Railay Beach
Longtail boats can be hired to take passengers out to Railay Beach, which is barred from the mainland by massive cliffs that make it only accessible by sea. There are a few resorts set up along these beautiful beaches, and Phra Nang, a sacred cave, is one of the area's principle attractions.

Biking
Cycling is a wonderful way to open up the inland countryside, and a 15 or 20 mile loop out of Ao Nang will take you into coconut groves, past quiet villages and in and around the karst outcroppings of rock before bringing you back to the resort. Bicycles can be rented for the whole day at Ao Nang beach in Krabi.

Krabi nightlife
Visitors don't generally come to Krabi for the nightlife; instead they're either here for the stunning geological landscape or the chance to relax in a quieter environment that is more conducive to families. Krabi Town itself has very few tourist establishments, with most of the action confined to a mile-long stretch of beach at the Ao Nang resort area. While there aren't any discos or wild parties, there are plenty of nice restaurants with good seafood and a relaxed atmosphere. The bars in the busiest sector of this beach stay open past midnight.

By: Andy Burrows

Night In Saturn - Adventures In Southern Thailand

2007-07-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

My Mercedes is waiting. The sun beams diffusely down through the moisture laden air causing beads of sweat to drip continuously on my already drenched t-shirt. I am going to Satun and the Mercedes is a classic well kept 1962 model. In fact there is a whole fleet of Mercedes waiting to take tourist to Satun from Hai Jai in Southern Thailand. They are all black with an exaggerated curved body indicative of automobiles of the late 50’s. And believe it or not, they still retain the comfort that Mercedes is famous for.

The year is 1998 and I am going to the Andaman Sea in the Straits of Malacca. There I will plant myself for two weeks on one of the many somewhat deserted islands that dot this reclusive part of the world. A world inhabited by pirates and honeymooners in the Koh Tarutao National Park system in the very south of Southern Thailand.

Which island I am going to, I don’t know, but I am not the only one. Sharing my taxi ride is a young couple in love from Germany and a family from Thailand, husband and wife with their 5 year old son.

It takes about twenty minutes for the taxi driver to stuff everyone’s belongings into the trunk. I have made substantial purchases of deliciously fresh dried fruits and filled my water container with pomegranate juice from one of the ‘made for tourist’ vendors surrounding the taxi. We squeeze into tightly together; the family and myself in the rear of the taxi and the couple from Germany in the front and prepare for a long and fascinating journey.

“Are you comfortable” the driver asks in broken English.
I answer like an excited kid, “Let’s get this rocket rolling.”
My feelings were of excitement and anticipation and I don’t know why I said such a strange thing. No one else said anything and I felt as if my words were still echoing in the silence minutes later. But no matter, here I am in the middle of the world, on an adventure that relatively few have gone before.

The journey takes 3 hours of driving through exotic and undeveloped country side; incidentally through a warm and friendly Islamic side of Thailand. At one point we passed two foreigners on bicycles pedaling in racing uniforms. Later they caught up to us in some remote village on the way as we were stopping for refreshment. They came up next to our taxi and said with a heavy European accent “hello?” I answered, “Wow! I can’t believe this! What are you doing way out here in the middle of nowhere on bicycles?”

The young man in his twenties answered, “We are traveling around the world. We are on our way to Indonesia.” The other couple traveling in the taxi with me immediately took notice and a very long and interesting conversation ensues between all of us.

It turns out that the bicyclists are a married couple and the last county they pedaled through was Myanmar. After Indonesia, they planned to cycle the islands of Hawaii and then to Mainland USA.

To this day I still have dreams of that encounter and the miraculous and dangerous journey they were taking. I have never heard of them since and have no idea what became of them.

Before we know it, the taxi driver is honking his horn for us to return and we are saying our goodbyes to this marvelous couple. We pile into the taxi for the last leg of our journey. Looking out the window we pass fields of coconut palms, women balancing wood or foods in baskets on their heads wearing colorful loose clothing down to their feet. The homes we pass by are often made of palm frawns or a patchwork of wood and debris. And in the fields are men and women, young and old with their ox and children tilling vegetables in the same way at their ancestors have done for thousands of years.

Finally we reach Satun. I don’t know what to expect. The town is about two blocks long; a fishing village whose main street leads right to the ocean. There fishing boats made of old rotting lumber wait to take us to one of the many islands we will now select in the many makeshift tourist offices that line the street.

Each old rickety tourist office has pictures of the islands they offer and provide for a fee, the means to get their. And if you are uninformed, you will pay in advance for you accommodations. Something better to do when you arrive on the island. Occasionally an owner of one of these offices tries to get us inside by enticing us with words like ‘beautiful, exotic, cheap…’ We all walk down the main avenue looking and asking questions until each of us select our travel destination destiny.

I study all the pictures from all the offices of all the islands carefully and I choose Langkawi only 5 kilometers away from the southern tip of Tarutao Island. I pay the equivalent of approximately $7 for a round trip boat ticket and I am then led to one of the boats. The boat can fit about 4 people and sits low to the water. There is single engine propeller that is barely hangs attached to the rear of the craft. I wait about 15 minutes before we begin our three hour journey through rough and dangerous seas to the somewhat deserted and exotic island of Langkawi...

My days on the island with boa constrictors, pirates, a lost tribe of Islamic fishermen, my isolated beach cottage right on my own private beach, the couple isolated on the other side of the island studying esoteric Buddhism, the small exotic café serving daily fresh fish from the sea, the many tourist from Europe that came and went, lightening in the sky on a clear day and the marvelous skin diving in clear deep tropical sears are topics I will discuss in my next article. Stay turned.

By: Bryan Richards

Look Inside To Discover Pattaya Thailand

2007-07-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Our 26m boat is Pattaya's largest and most popular, with fresh hot meals, soft drinks, hotel pickup, showers, sun deck and more! At the Baiyoke Pattaya Hotel you are centrally convenient to the beach, to the largest shopping area and to the resorts exciting nightlife arena. Our hotel has all facilities that guarantee a quality accommodation while in Pattaya. Our hotel is a new quality 62 room budget Pattaya's hotel with tropical garden and swimming pool. We seldom ate in the hotel, preferring to dine at small resturants around the resort and in the center of Pattaya.

About 240 meters hight that you can see Pattaya view, hotel and bungalow accommodation are also available. Select a Pattaya hotel below to find usefull hotel information, check hotel rates and room availability. Travel Library always lists the real direct contact details for every Pattaya hotel including email, web site address, telephone and location address. This hotel has the best and most convenient location of all the luxury resorts in Pattaya. Book your Pattaya hotel stay safely, securely and without worries. Book your hotel in Pattaya before you leave home and save money! That Pattaya is not your average package destination was illustrated when I checked into the hotel.

The bar is located on Pattaya Beach Rd so it's the ideal location to call in for afternoon drink or to spend your evening. But whatever the seedy side of Pattaya's nightlife is like, the city is still one of Thailand's more popular beach resort communities. With such beginnings, its hardly surprising that Pattaya quickly gained an image as one of Thailand's seedier beach resorts. Today Pattaya is Thailand's premier beach resort and attracts annually more than a million tourists from all over the world. Even in the very heart of Pattaya you will be able to find long stretches of clean and sandy beach. Today, Pattaya is Thailand's premier beach resort and annually attracts hundreds of thousands of pleasure-seeking tourists from all over the world. The resort has its own private beach, the only one in Pattaya, where one can explore the Island situated around the resort. It is located at the heart of Pattaya near the beach and next to best shopping boutiques and restaurant. The over-abundance of jet-skis and speedboats has contributed towards the pollution of the water along Pattaya Beach. There's no doubt Pattaya Beach is a fun destination, but one that needs some consideration before a visit. We are situated within easy walking distance from the beach / seaes and the bustling shopping and nightlife in downtown Pattaya. For instance, as a beach wear some Russian women love those large adorned scarfs, sold all around Pattaya. People say that Pattaya Beach Road has a street life like no where else in the world, and it does.

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This is a personal site providing nightlife reviews and a snapshot of articles that illustrate life in Pattaya. More infornation about the nightlife in Pattaya, the best places to enjoy a party... Conveniently sited close to a great number of Pattaya shopping centers and tremendous nightlife entertainment complex. Nightlife Pattaya beer bars along the waterfront Pattaya is renowned for its nightlife, much of which revolves around its massive sex oriented industry. Although this is the part of Pattaya that has most accommodation available, the nature of the nightlife can put families off. Especially, Pattaya nightlife entertainment is the most favorite attraction one should not miss. When it comes to nightlife in Pattaya, the go-go bars and beer gardens dominate. Probably more has been written about Pattaya's nightlife than any other place on the planet. Night life and entertainment Pattaya is famous for its nightlife and the bay is lined with lanes full of fun bars and friendly people.

Non-stop excitement in the sun, shopping, entertainment, sports and excellent night life, Pattaya is a true world class destination. For shopping, fashionable boutiques and ready-made garments are flocked in the main street of central and South Pattaya. Les grands magasins et autres bazars de Central Pattaya offrent une autre vision du shopping. Shopping Pattaya has some surprisingly fashionable boutiques and shops selling clothes, silk, coral and shells, paintings, handicrafts, gemstones, jewellry and souvenirs.

Thus you have your car hire in Pattaya for sure and you avoid troubles on arrival by not finding the hire car that suits your needs. Don´t wait for the final call to book your car hire in Pattaya! car hire country guide Thailand lloguer de cotxes pattaya, autonoleggio pattaya, autoverhuur pattaya Beneluxcar wants your Pattaya car hire experience to be as enjoyable as possible. For cheap car hire Pattaya, find and compare prices from leading car hire companies. Find lowest car rental rates and best discount deals for car rental Pattaya. Just ninety minutes by car from Bangkok, Pattaya allows you to shed your suit or the city stress and let your hair down.

In Pattayaland you will find every service imaginable starting from the traditional karaoke bars to the impressive dance clubs and strip clubs. These are just some of the hundreds of so called beer bars that litter the streets of downtown Pattaya. Many ex-pats own bars in Pattaya, where the prostitutes work (you have to pay the bar a fee to take the girls home). Some end up staying in Pattaya for years and becoming mamasans, or recruiters for the bars.

The whole reason I went with them was because I thought that it would be exciting to get sex for free in Pattaya. Gerd Cornelius and his porn ring harem were arrested for producing live internet sex shows in Pattaya. However, Pattaya is still home to many international resorts and is crowded primarily with sex tourists. But even for those who have no interest in hired sex, Pattaya is still a fascinating place. There is no shame in Pattaya, sex is not a vice here, it's as normal as eating or sleeping. By night, Pattaya isn't short of entertainment and is well known for its sex scene.

Watersports, off-beat museums, wildlife and amusement parks and extensive sports facilities, including 10 superb golf courses, have added to Pattaya's fun and sun. There are several highly recommended golf courses to choose from in the Pattaya area. Then, indulge in breathtaking adventures on the water, below the waves, on the golf course, or among the exciting sites of Pattaya. Justly famous for its night-time party zone, Pattaya's also has first class golf courses and surprisingly, lots of family attractions. (coming) Golf around Pattaya is pretty close to golfers heaven for high and low handicappers alike. Twenty or more international standard golf courses are within an hours drive of Pattaya. http://www.rabbitresort.com

By: wirat

Phuket City Hotels On The Phuket Hotel Discount In Thailand

2007-07-08T19:46:00.002-07:00

Do you feel that you will learn enough from this article to help you out with the subject matter at hand?

Phuket City Hotels, pearl of the Andaman Sea, captures the imagination of visitors from all over the world for its natural

The world-famous option island, with its unmixed blue waters and gold-sand beaches has long been required as a lull from the jostle and activity of city life. Phuket City hotels are a present hotel with breath-taking views.

Phuket City hotels are situated in the delightful wealth of the sunny island of Phuket. We know a lot about phuket city hotels in Thailand. Phuket city hotels is one of our big interests, and we know that the sites.

Phuket City Hotels, a present Phuket City Hotels on the pleasing island of Phuket, where nothing has been spared to cause you the finest in accommodation, facilities, dining and relaxation.

Going through the final part of this article, we will see just how important the subject can be to many people.

Phuket City Hotels offers guests a great experience and great leisure opportunities which combines the feature of international values with leniency and cozy hospitality from Phuket City Hotels.

This is complemented by the beauty of the natural surroundings and the charming air of done ease and relaxation. It's not surprising that many of Phuket City Hotels guests are recur visitors. This is not just any destination but a destination for a very exclusive holiday.

Hotel awaits you with cozy wanted and of course we will make you feel the exclusive of Phuket City Hotels. entertain contagious us and prefer your beloved Phuket City Hotels extent for your lovely holidays at here.

Having this information handy will help you a great deal the next time you find yourself in need of it.

By: Suwat Muenpan

What Makes Thailand The Most Visited Tourist Destination Of Southeast Asia?

2007-07-08T19:46:00.001-07:00

Apart from its overwhelming attractions in the form of breathtaking beauty of the nature, awe-inspiring stupas and temples, generous hospitality and ancient kingdoms, there is one more thing that makes Thailand the most visited tourist destinations of Southeast Asia.

Well, Thai Massage is one special attraction for the tourists. Having a Thai massage is a total invigorating experience that has indeed record boosted the medical tourism in the country. So you can say this for sure that the rise in the medical tourism to Thailand is mainly due to its scenic beauty and extraordinary ancient medical systems available to rejuvenate your skin and body.

In this system of massage, structural pressure, motion or vibration and tension are applied either manually or with mechanical aids. The soft tissues of the body, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints and lymphatic vessels get the beneficial response.

If you believe that stress is one of the reasons for acne, here you are promised immediate stress relief after going through the elaborate process of this massage. The massage is good to heal injury, relieves psychological as well as physiological stress, body pain and improves blood circulation. This is also known as therapeutic massage thus.

This is also a very soothing way to treat acne. Outer expression of the inner impurities is believed to be the main cause of acne. Treating acne with superficial external medications, may suppress acne. It can not help to remove it from the roots. Thailand offers one of the best acne treatments. Their flagship acne product is the ' body massage! The principal involved is simple. Can any disease thrive on a strong and healthy body?

So, the therapeutic healing by massage is almost a guarantee in Thailand, and your best chance to get rid of the acne problem once for all.

This system, though vastly prevalent in Thailand, now, its origin is credited to Jhibala Kumarabhacca, a man of Indian origin who was a doctor friend and contemporary of Lord Buddha.

The fundamental of Thai massage is that there exist some 72000 energy lines running through the body. When all of them are collectively treated, you become a rejuvenated man. Thus, your medical tour to Thailand to cure acne is a success. Your body equipment is completely recharged now.

By: Javier Fuller

Thai Travel

What To See And Do In Phuket, Thailand – Top 10

2007-07-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

Phuket's natural beauty, thriving international community and pristine beaches set it apart fro Thailand’s other resorts. Even after the tsunami of 2004, the communities consolidated efforts have succeeded in holding on to almost all of the former clout as a tourist hub. The tourist industry here is second to none, and visitors are always well catered for, no matter their preferences or background.

Adventure sports
Adventure sports are top-notch in Phuket, and due to the island's status as one of Asia's top tourist destinations, the offerings and equipment are first rate as well. The adrenaline sports of Phuket are all about getting a new perspective on things. Nothing affords this better than perching on the back of an elephant and traipsing through the jungle or taking a plunge under the care of Thailand's only licensed bungee jump operator. There's also a shooting range on the island and it's possible to join guided ATV tours headed to remote beaches and into the hills on the island's interior. Less jostling go-kart rides can be taken in most of the major towns.

Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre
The Gibbon Fund is found on the Royal Reserve on the same land as the Bang Pae Waterfall. This project takes domesticated gibbons and makes every effort to reintroduce them into the wild. To date, three families have been successfully grafted back into their natural environment, and lucky visitors can catch sight of these primates among the trees.

Water sports
The beaches at Phuket are world-renown for their clear and calm Andaman waters. Visitors arriving on the island have the opportunity to enjoy water-related sports and activity which are central to a stay in Phuket. Diving and snorkelling present a wonderful vantage point on the underwater environment. To take in the vistas directly above sea level, there are mooring areas all over the island with the possibilities of sailing lessons, dinner cruises, fishing expeditions and kayaking. Those who wish to raise themselves high above the water can gain a new perspective on the island while parasailing.

Island hopping
The Thai islands of the Andaman Sea are known around the world for their beauty and glamour. A couple of them have been featured in James Bond films, with another having appeared in the Hollywood film, The Beach. Boats can be chartered to every one of the islands in the archipelago, and some of them offer modern amenities and accommodation, while others remain remote and relatively untouched. Some of the most staggering views can be found around these more primitive islands and can be comfortably enjoyed from the boat, some of which are sleeper-equipped. Islands like Phi Phi have plenty of accommodation to offer guests.

Waterfalls
The three major waterfalls of Phuket are all worthy of their own daytrip. Ton Sai is a picturesque waterfall surrounded by palm trees. Kathu Waterfall is located farther inland and many visitors choose to stop here and enjoy a picnic or a swim in its cool pools. Bang Pae Waterfall sits on the land of the Gibbon Fund and visitors to this stretch of land can enjoy the scenic waterfall along with the added possibility of catching sight of a gibbon in its natural surroundings.

Eating out
What better reason to travel to Thailand than to enjoy the endless supply of Thai food? The abundance of fresh seafood only enhances this draw in Phuket, where the tourist scene rolls out a full menu of possibilities ranging from Thai favourites to international specialties. Quality dishes can be found at the food stalls and small restaurants as well as at the resorts and five-star hotels. The most authentic food is found away from the beaches.

Shopping
While Phuket's shopping scene is as exhaustive as the markets in Bangkok, there are still plenty of opportunities for bargain shoppers, antique hunters and more mainstream shoppers seeking souvenirs. Leather goods, ceramics, jewellery and clothing are in steady supply. It's even possible to get fitted by a tailor and have some clothes custom-made during your stay.

Thai kick boxing
Muay Thai is Thailand's contribution to the martial arts scene. This form of kick boxing has been developed and honed in Thailand for centuries, recognised today for its highly effective moves. Exhibitions take place in Phuket Town every Friday night. Meanwhile, those who wish to study Muay Thai will find training gyms located in Phuket as well as at Rawai and Chalong.

Temples
There are a few Buddhist temples, or wats, on the island. Most of them are easily accessed from the main roads, and local taxi drivers will readily know them all. Shoes should be removed and shoulders and knees covered before entering a Thai temple. Some of the well-reputed temples include Pra Nahng Sahng, Pra Tong, Put Jaw, Jui Tui and Sanjao Sam San. Wat Chalong is probably the most popular with tourists, with its many murals, unusual design and modern pagodas.

Promthep Cape
Promthep Cape has been widely photographed over the years, mostly for its spectacular scenery and beautiful sunsets. It's also worth a visit to take a look at the peculiar shrine which locals adorn with miniature elephants as a means of making merit. There's also a statue that was built in honour of the Thai prince who modernised the country's navigational methods and founded a maritime school in the 19th century.

By: Andrew Bond

Thailand Rock Climbing

2007-07-08T19:43:00.002-07:00

Mention Thailand and images of beaches, elephants and Bangkok come to mind. Less known is the fact Thailand rock climbing is some of the best in the world.

Thailand Rock Climbing

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia, Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is somewhat similar to Italy, and you’ll find similar differences between northern and southern Thailand that you do in Italy. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the south of Thailand is where the action is.

The rock formations in Thailand are almost universally limestone. The level of climbing can be as simple as bouldering or as challenging as tackling over vertical cliffs. This makes Thailand a popular rock climbing destination since it has a little something for everyone.

Krabi

Located on the southern section of the “tail” of Thailand, Krabi has a wide variety of rock climbing challenges. Most of the climbs in this area are of the pre-bolted sport route variety. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of climbs with difficulty levels from beginner to multi-pitch knuckle crushers.

The beauty of climbing in Krabi is…well, the beauty. While you might have visions of jungles and mosquitoes when thinking of Thailand, Krabi is an area of a different sort. Most of the climbs have been set up on cliff faces on the beach. Being natural capitalists, the Thai’s have built hotels, bars and so on at these locations. As a result, you can literally climb a multi-pitch route for five hours, cool off with a swim and then have a beer. If there is such a thing as a rock climbing heaven, many feel Krabi is it.

Before you cash in your savings, keep in mind that Thailand is a seasonal vacation spot. If you go during the wet season, there is a good chance you’ll just end up sitting around drinking beer. While that isn’t too bad, you’ll go crazy looking at the climbs that are so close, but oh so far away.

Generally, you want to head to Thailand from late November through maybe April. The summer months tend to be both incredibly hot and wet. Make sure you pull up forecasts for the area before booking a trip.

Flying to Thailand is inexpensive, but flights are incredibly long with stopovers. Still, it is all worth it once you experience Thailand rock climbing.

By: Nomad Rick

Discover The Hidden Thailand

2007-07-08T19:43:00.001-07:00

Thailand is more than Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai. In fact, there are a great many fascinating out-of-the-way places that regular visitors know and love, which you might like to consider adding to your itinerary when you’re planning your next trip to Thailand.

About 260 km outside Bangkok, the ancient city of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known by its historical name of Khorat, is famous for its several heritage sites that reveal the roots of traditional Thai culture. Once the gateway to the country’s northeast, the city was a major centre of the vast and influential Khmer kingdom, which stretched across much of Southeast Asia, between the 9th and 15th centuries. Life moves at a relaxed pace here, compared to the main tourist centres. Just south of Nakhon Ratchasima, in a lush river valley, is the delightful market village of Dan Kwain, well known for the fine quality of its ceramics and distinguished by the individuality of its products.

Near Nakhon Ratchasima, there are dense forests, mountains, and rivers with spectacular waterfalls. Khao Yai National Park, listed as a World Heritage site in 2005, undulates over magnificent mountain ranges blanketed by thick forests, and plunges down deep valleys with wild river courses. Wildlife is abundant and accessible and you can see elephants, tigers, monkeys, black bears, deer, butterflies, insects, and birds. This is an ideal place to spot a Hornbill, which is common in the park from August to September. You can even join tiger-spotting trips accompanied by park rangers.

The quiet riverside town of Kanchanaburi, about 130 km west of Bangkok, is another place where you can explore more of Thailand’s natural and historic treasures. Kanchanaburi lies next to the Kwai River, where the famous World War II bridge still stands (the subject of an Oscar-winning movie, The Bridge Over the River Kwai). It’s a poignant reminder of the hardship endured by those who were forced to work on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. Natural attractions here include numerous lovely waterfalls and caves. The trek through the steamy undergrowth, to the stunning seven-tiered Erewan Waterfalls, is well worth the effort. Your reward is a plunge into the cool, clear water beneath the falls, where curious fish nibble at your toes.

North of Chiang Mai, in the jungle wilderness, is Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. The national park, also of that name, presents some of the regions most exciting trekking opportunities. Best accessed by motorbike, due to the rough and narrow roads, Doi Inthanon is a mountainous expanse with deep valleys that contain a rich diversity of distinctive flora and fauna. Be warned that temperatures on the mountain top can drop to –8 C and the peak is often swathed in mist. Here you’ll find the prized red and white varieties of rhododendron, as well as more than 350 bird species, more than in any other location in Thailand.

Sukhothai, Thailand’s first administrative and cultural capital, established in 1257, is today a group of well-preserved ruins. During its 120-year golden period, the old city was known for its stunning temples, statues and gardens, and is now a significant historical focal point. The site is well worth the short drive out of the current city of Sukhothai, about 400 km north of Bangkok.

By: R. Ritchie

Erawan Museum

2007-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever caught the eyes? When headed to Samut Prakarn on Sukhumwit Road. What is the most noticeable landmark in that area? Yes! THE THREE-HEADED ELEPHANT. The size and the structure attract tons of people to worship it. In fact, it is a museum.

Inside the huge three-headed elephant and its round base is a museum, Erawan Museum. The three storeys inside the elephant contain antiquities and priceless collection of ancient religious objects of Kun Lek Viriyapant who is the museum owner. He is also the owner of the Ancient City and The Sanctuary of truth. It started from his friend’s idea of apple-shaped construction, symbol of western religion, inspired him to build this building in the form of Erawan elephant, symbol of eastern religion.

Its body made from bronze with pink pedestal rounded base decorated with millions of little tiles. The body is about 29 meters height. The whole height is about 44 meters. The design of all three floors represents three worlds. The lower floor is the underwater world. The upper floor is the earth, Kao Prasumain. The top is the second heaven.

Each floor illustrates different kind of objects as follow:
- Lower one demonstrates various antiques and exhibits the aim of the construction and Kun Lek and Kun Pakpein Viriyapant’s biography.
- Upper floor illustrates many elaborate antique arts and objects. This floor’s design was mixed divisibly between western and eastern art’s style. The ceiling was decorated by stained glass by German artist.

- The top one is the body of elephant placed the Buddha’s relics and Buddha images. The wall was ornamented with the exquisite painting of cosmos.

Kun Lek Viriyapant wishes this museum which keeps various priceless ancient objects became worth cultural heritage and it seems that his wish is coming true. Now many people, both Thais and foreigners, are astonished with his idea and attempt. We can say that his last masterpiece isn’t less superior than his Ancient City and Sanctuary of truth.

Erawan museum is open everyday from 9.00 till 18.00. Admission fee is 150 baht for adults and 50 baht for children.

By www.at-bangkok.com

The world's Largest Crocodile Farm

2007-07-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and zoo... The world's Largest Crocodile Farm

Located 10 km from Bangkok is the World's Largest Crocodile Farm founded in 1950 by the famous Crocodile King, Mr. Utai Youngprapakorn. Mr. Utai has been the pioneer not only to preserve the endangered species form extinction, but also to provide a continuing flow of crocodile skins and related products to the world market. Here at Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and zoo, they are dedicated to the education, preservation, research and the conservation of wildlife, while reminding all--extinction lasts forever.

* Experience their thrilling world famous "Crocodile Wrestling" and "Acrobatic Elephant" Stage Shows, where the audience is invited to participate.

* Discover a photographer's paradise along the zoo's shady walkways while coming face-to-face with their exotic animals.

* Relive the past at their newest attraction--The Dinosaur Museum... where the past comes to life.

* Ride an elephant or a camel; relax on their lake on a pedal boat; monkey around on their playground; test your skills at their shooting range or come aboard their zoo's mini-train for a sighting seeing trip you'll never forget!

* Join them on weekends for their Sunday Concerts.

* Savor a taste of Thailand at any of their many dining arcades.

* Picture yourself with a crocodile, an elephant or a tiger and wear home the photo on a t-shirt as your souvenir.

* Shop for memories. Or even for crocodile leather or fish skin handbags, belts, shoes, and more... (cites certificates available with purchase). The Croc shop means you can take it with you.

* So come visit. Satisfy your curiosity. Explore. Where else can you be entertained by so many animals? It can only happen at the Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo. A definite "must" when visiting Thailand.

Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo

Samutprakan crocodile farm and zoo is the biggest farm in the world. There are over 60,000 crocodiles. Samutprakan crocodiles farm and zoo is the most famous and interesting place of Thailand.

Conservation and Development

Action for crocodilian conservation and development are:

* Conservation of Crocodylus siamersis, Crocodylus porosus and Tomistoma schlegelii.

* Economic utilization of the captive breeding of hybrid crocodile between the Crocodylus porosus and Crocodylus siamensis.

* Research of artificial insemination in crocodile.

Reproduction

Crocodile breeding season is during January to May. Male courtship behavior are slap the water by jaws, produce suitable vibrations using the muscles of the trunk and lift the snout and vocalization. Female lays eggs after mating 40-50 days. She carries the hatchling to the water and guard them against predators.

Embryo

Female lays 20-40 eggs a clutch, once a year. The incubation temperature of crocodile egg is 28-32 Celsius, relative humidity is 95-100 percent, incubation period is 70-80 days.

The opaque spot usually develops on the upper surface of fertilized egg within 24 hours. The enlargement of the opaque spot depends on the age of the embryo.

THE BIGGEST CROCODILE IN THE WORLD.

" Yai "

guarantee by

" Guinnees Book of Record "

" Yai " is Hybrid Crocodile

.Body's lenght 6 metres Weight 1114.27 kilos.

Birth date is June,10 1972. Age 26 years old.

By Paknam.com

Sun, Sea, Sand, Jomtien Beach – Thailand

2007-07-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

For the ultimate beach vacation there is no better location than that of “Jomtien Beach” in Thailand. Which is just a two hours ride in a taxi from Bangkok Airport.The Jomtien Beach is located about two kilometers from its busy counterpart resort of South Pattaya.

Jomtien Beach and the area along its beach road have now become more and more popular for swimming, water sports and activities because it has a long straight coastline and they’re being less boats anchored in its waters. There are very many good quality hotels, bungalows and guesthouses. A wide range of small and large condominiums is also available for short or long term rental and many good restaurants serving a wide variety of fresh seafood with a full range of Thai cuisine and International dishes.

Many tourists come to this area to just enjoy the scenery and the beach. Chairs are available to sit with a table to have food and drink served directly to you as you soak up the sun or simply lay back and listen to the waters lapping on the sand. Go swimming or enjoy water sports such as wind surfing, ride a water scooter, parasail or take a speed boat ride, even water skiing is possible.

The Jomtien Beach has good quality white sand and a very long coastline to enjoy. The beach is much more peaceful here than its counterpart of Pattaya further up the coast. The beaches are always kept in a pristine condition by the many vendors who are there to look after all your needs.

Along the early part of the straight beach road you will find many souvenir shops, international restaurants, food stalls. But at the far end of the beach road there are very good seafood restaurants and it is where you can find yourself at times the only person soaking up the sun.

You can also swim late into the night along a large part of the beach as the sands are floodlit which makes for a very safe environment to swim after the sun has gone down. May be you only want to simply find a quiet bar for any drink of your choosing. Many are available and the prices have to be seen to be believed.

Jomtien beach simply has it all without having to travel long distances. But if you fancy a more adventurous evening and want to enjoy a full range of nightlife activities Pattaya is just a few minutes down the coast. Transportation around the Pattaya and Jomtien area is simple. The open pick up cars (Baht buses as they are locally called) are running all the time. Just hail one down and climb aboard.

Jomtien is one place in the world where a good quality beach vacation is simplicity itself.
How do I know these things – I live there.

Author – Barry Hooper – can be contacted at – basthehoop@hotmail.co

By: Barry Hooper

Guide to Bangkok Nightlife

2007-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

First time in Bangkok? Fret not. Here's a guide on how to spend the most of your night in this glittering city. Nightlife in Bangkok is so electrifying you will want to come back again for more.

Finding a trendy place to dine and wine in style is a great way to start your evening. Bangkok is home to a couple of rooftop venues where you can enjoy sweeping views of the city and the exquisite Chao Phraya River. The most famous, open-air spots include the Sky Bar (Sirocco) on Silom road (tel: +66 2 624 9999) on the 64th floor of State Tower and Moon Bar (Vertigo) (tel: +66 2 679 1200) on the 61st floor of Banyan Tree Hotel, on Sathorn road.

But if it starts pouring down, stay safe and dry at Three Sixty at Millennium Hilton Hotel (tel: +66 2 442 2000), the newest rooftop venue in Bangkok offering breathtaking 360° views. Three Sixty is roofed so you don't need good weather to have a good time.

Get yourself a map of Bangkok before planning the rest of your evening. Famous among party-goers of all ages and tastes, Sukhumvit is the longest and perhaps the hippest road in Bangkok, boasting a variety of nightlife venues. It is on this happening road where you can find Nana Plaza on Sukhumvit soi 4 and soi Cowboy, off Sukhumvit soi 23, the notorious zones of dodgy go-go bars.

Hanky-panky business aside, Sukhumvit is also home to many hip clubs, pubs and bars including the white and stylish Bed Supperclub on Sukhumvit soi 11 (tel: +66 2 651 3557) and Q Bar (+66 2 252-3274), also on the same soi, well-known among tourists, expats and locals, offering a full range of Cuba cigars.

While most of you might only want to mingle with the same crowds you have back home, but some want to try something different. Visiting local venues is an eye-opening experience. You can see for yourself what locals do when they go out. Try Escudo on Sukhumvit soi 55 (tel: +66 2 381 0866) and Escobar on Sukhumvit s63 (tel: +66 2 711 6565) and observe the world of Ferrari boys and daddy's little girls flashing platinum cards.

At the centre of any Bangkok map, and another area worth exploring is the heart of Bangkok, home to two popular areas, Siam and Silom. Check out CM2 (tel: +66 2 209 8888) at Novotel Siam Square where live band plays on the main area and hip-hop tunes buzz out from the Boom Room. This place is usually secretly swarmed by 'business' girls and their customers. If you don't plan to have anything to do with them, it's still fun to watch them working their magic.

More discreet is Silom soi 2 (Patpong) where various go-go bars dot the area. Watch out for the guys who usually shove a menu of shows at you in an aggressive manner.

Located in the old town, Khao San road always makes it to the top of the list of tourist-friendly favourites, and it's the centre of the Bangkok map for all backpackers. This area is packed with a dizzying array of clubs, pubs and bars. Grab a can of Singha beer and watch the world you are familiar with go by at one of many bars including Buddy Beer (tel: +66 2 629 4477) equipped with pool tables, Brick Bar (tel: +66 2 629 4477), or Silk Bar (tel: +66 2 281 9981).

If you aren't exactly into crazy clubbing and drinking until dawn, try Bangkok's many cultural treats that take place in the evening. Siam Niramit is unarguably the most famous among tourists, featuring a refined 80-miniute show about Thailand (or Siam). The awesome performance combines fascinating stories of Siam in the past, Thai spiritual beliefs and some practical Buddhist lessons with splendid visual and sound effects as well as spectacular costumes. The show is on everyday at 20:00 at the Ratchadda Grand Theatre (tel: +66 2 649 9222).

No matter what you are looking for to have a good time in Bangkok when the sun goes down, you will find it. If one night in Bangkok doesn't make the world your oyster, nothing else probably would. Remember, you can easily get lost and Bangkok is a big place so study your map carefully before an evening out.

by Andy Burrows
www.articledashboard.com

Early Retirement In Thailand

2007-07-05T00:52:00.000-07:00

Early Retirement In Thailand - Brilliant Move Or A Blunder?

Well aged 54 and separated from my wife and seeing my friends gain weight and have health problems made me think. I was gaining weight also, I was not happy with the direction my life was headed, so what can I do? I starting thinking of the alternatives.

Retirement? No one wants to talk about it or even think about. Perhaps it makes us feel older if we do that. So years go by and things do not change. We do the same things, eat the same foods until the doctor tells us to make some changes, and we carry on like we will live forever. Unfortunately we won’t live forever and we should be thinking of retirement before we kick the bucket. After all what did you work all those years for anyways?

Well to cut to the chase I was thinking of going to the Dominican Republic to live. But after going there twice I found that the power was unreliable, there were safety concerns, doctors and dentists were not easily accessible and it was pricey.

With time on my hands I sat in front of my computer and did some research. and discovered that Thailand was a popular retirement destination. In fact I read that Chiang Mai was the most popular retirement destination in all of South East Asia.

Hundreds of hours of research later by methodical, planner George and he has come up with the best retirement country and also the best retirement city in all of South East Asia and perhaps the world. Chiang Mai, a city of several hundred thousand inhabitants. Located about 420 miles north of Bangkok and less polluted, less expensive, and with less traffic than Bangkok and also cooler than Bangkok. Chiang Mai, unknown to most of North Americans yet visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists yearly, and home to thousands of foreigners who have visited there, found it to their liking and decided to make this their new home.

I arrived in Bangkok on Nov. 23, 2004 and that is where we will start our real life experiences, adventures and misadventures.

After the tiring trip I decided to stay over a few nights in Bangkok. Then well rested I was ready to continue onwards to Chiang Mai.

A quick one hour plane flight or a relaxing 13 hours train ride which one was it to be? With the extra luggage I was bringing including computer and golf clubs I decided on the train. The bumpy ride in a very comfortable reclining seat (2nd class A/C) set me back all of $15 dollar U.S. and this included two meals, a refreshment and a pastry. It was a bumpy ride with little to see but the forest. But I had all my luggage aboard, no extra charge, and the bumpy ride was just what my legs needed for their circulation.

My research enabled me to be well prepared for my journey and I am not one to leave things to chance. Things went as planned and I arrived at Chiang Mai train station and had reserved a room for 21 days at the Bossotel Inn which was directly across the road from the train station.

Like a normal tourist eh? Yes, I am Canadian how did you know?

I think in total I spent something in the neighborhood of 600 hours of research on the internet and I learned what I could but there was more, much more to learn.

I lived like a tourist at first living in a hotel, eating my meals there. I played pool before breakfast at a snooker establishment behind the hotel. After breakfast TV was the norm and then later in the day I would walk to the Night Bazaar shopping and tourist district about 30 minutes away. The walk there was good exercise, it gave me a chance to see the people and businesses along the way and get familiar with the city. Walk, look around, pop into O’Malley’s pub for a cool drink and to meet Scot, a fellow Canadian, and the owner.

The hotel rate was $16U.S. a night with taxes and breakfast included. I wanted to stay in a serviced apartment later but did not want to book it until I had seen it first. I was favorably impressed when I visited the apartment and proceeded to book it. So three weeks at the hotel and then on to the serviced apartment which would run about $250 a month with utilities and water included, and breakfast extra. The apartment had internet available in the rooms at an extra fee, or internet on site, massage spa on site, rooftop pool, motorcycle rental, beauty salon and restaurant which had entertainment in the evenings. The TV has a large selection of channels by way of satellite, there was free parking on site, and a great location near the Central Mall. So it had it all

Other retirees recommend staying in a condo or serviced apartment for 6 months or more to get familiar with the city before proceeding with any sort of long term rental arrangements.

I met a lovely lady name Nichaya. She was a hairdresser during the day and my tour guide, companion, means of transportation during the evenings. Although I weigh more than twice her weight we rode around town on her motorbike. Her driving the motorbike and me on back. This may seem odd but it is not uncommon. Unless you know the city and really know how to drive a motorcycle you shouldn’t. These motorcycles are 100 and 110 cc engines which means they are not powerful but they are very economical in terms of fuel. We could drive around all week all over town for only $2 U.S. in diesel fuel.

To learn more about living in Chiang Mai one has to live with the people. Find out what they eat, where they shop, what they do daily.

By this time Nichaya or Wan her nickname which everyone has here and I were becoming very close and fond of each other. I invited here to Patong a beach resort for a weeks holiday. She refused but each day I would ask again. Finally she relented and agreed. Have any of you heard of the December, 2004 tsuanmi? Well guess where I was at the time? Right. Right there.

The tsunami hit a few days before we were scheduled to return to Chiang Mai. We lost a camera, some clothing, some pictures but found each other. She handled the situation calmly and we were unharmed. In case you are interested this is what happened.

Tremor about 3 a.m. Woke me up and I wondered whether it was an earthquake. Around 4:30 a.m. another tremor. Awakened me again. At around 7 a.m. a large boom sounded like a shotgun blast and then a minute later another such loud boom.

I thought it may be terrorists out by the pool area and I recommended staying in the room. Nichaya told me to get out of the room. We grabbed a few valuables, passport and ran out of the hotel. Our hotel room was on the lower level facing the pool area which is about 6 feet lower than the lobby area of the hotel. We ran by the pool, up the stairs to the lobby and out the front entrance. Just as we crossed the road water gushed out from the hotel and on to the street. So the water level needed to be at least 6 feet high just to reach the lobby area. Motorcycles, vehicles were being carried down the streets in all directions by the sudden gush of water. We were on higher ground across the street and took off our shoes and I rolled up my pants.

After an hour or so the water level began to recede. It was about this time when a motorcycle policeman drove by and alerted everyone that there would be another wave coming shortly. He was right. Another similar wave went through the lobby and on to the streets again. Now the water level was back to where it was before and we could do nothing but wait.

The day before the tsunami hit we were on a boat cruise to Phi Phi Islands. Two days before the tsunami hit we rented motor boats at the beach. If this had happened a day earlier or at a different time then you would not be reading this article.

When the water level receded and it deemed safe we re-entered our hotel lobby to find a young boy who was in the pool when the tsunami hit lying of the floor with someone trying to resuscitate him. Unfortunately the boy did not make it. The hotel staff were totally unprepared. Nice people as they are they did not have a clue what to do. Guests were yelling out, Call a Doctor, Have you called a Doctor? The hotel staff smiled politely but either did not understand or were unable to reach anyone.

When we approached our room we found it was devastated. The outside window smashed by the water, the door broken, mattress and furniture upside down and the room inaccessible.

Hotel guests were taken to higher ground by buses and trucks. We sat by the roadside on higher ground waiting. The hotels found alternate accommodations in nearby Phuket which was about one half drive away from Patong. We left the others who sat by the roadside and went to some hillside shacks where Wan was able to greet the people, speak their language and explain the situation. They offered us refreshments and a place to lay down and wait.

Only when we reached the airport a day later did we realize the true extent of the devastation. There were tourists at the airport with cuts, bandages, broken bones but worse yet there were many people unaccounted for.

Wan and I were unhurt but learned something about each other through the experience. We showed how we react in emergencies and also we learned something about hotels and Thai people. After writing to hotel management at the Patong Merlin hotel on at least 6 occasions to that location and to their sister Phuket hotel which was undamaged by the tsunami we received one reply after 5 weeks. They did not try to clean any of the clothes left behind, did not try to return any of the contents, did not even try to contact us with a letter or e-mail saying sorry about this experience. We stayed there for a week at $100 U.S. a night and will never stay in a Merlin hotel again.

Would it have been handled differently or better in North America?

Well a one hour flight back to Bangkok for some shopping and then the short one hour flight back to Chiang Mai, my new home.

Now life is different. Wan and I live in her townhouse with her daughter and mother. Her husband passed away and she has been the one they rely on. Wan has a beauty salon downstairs in her townhouse.

What is different now?

Well I have learned how to live here on less. There are accommodations to be had here from $80 a MONTH and excellent accommodations can be had for $200 U.S. a month. By excellent I mean similar to a hotel room, TV with cable or satellite, pool, restaurant on site and in a good location with twice weekly or weekly cleaning.

I eat Thai food now with chicken wings, French fries, and some homemade potato soap several times a week. I read that Thai’s can make anything taste delicious. That is TRUE.

They use fresh ingredients in their cooking. There are many farms nearby and the produce from fruits, to vegetables is abundant year around and very cheap. There is also a fantastic selection of seafood’s to pick from. You can buy the seafood from the market or from a large grocery store where the selection is varied and fresh. If you want you can pick out a live fish, continue with your shopping and when you are checking out pick up your cooked fish to take home for dinner or lunch.

I recently bought pineapples at the large grocery store. Large, fresh, mouth watering pineapples. Ten baht each or .25 cents U.S. each. They will cut if for you and put it on styrofoam with cellophane wrapping for free.

Back to the cooking. The reason Thai food is so delicious is partly the freshness of the ingredients but mainly the sauces. Simple cooked rice with fried vegetables becomes a delicious meal with the right sauce added. Something to watch out for if you do visit here. Two small bowls are presented with many of the meals. One has a green paste/sauce and the other a red colored paste/sauce. These are added to fish or meat by way of dipping or by placing a small amount on a tablespoon from the bowl and then on to your food. WATCH OUT!!!! The red is spicy hot and should be added in measured quantities. The green should not be added at all unless you are Thai or Mexican in my opinion. The green one is the hottest of the two and can make you perspire, reach quickly for a glass of water and visit the washroom in the middle of the night and not to brush your teeth.

Fantastic food and bargain prices.

Great accommodations and bargain prices.

Friendly people who go out of their way to make you feel at home.

So many things to do that I can not even list them all.

Cable TV with 54 channels for $8.25 U.S. a month. Installation cost of cable was around $7 U.S. and $2.50 extra for the second TV. Internet and telephone for about $20 U.S. a month total .

People work hard. Many have their own businesses and work 16 hour days 7 days a week.
The business may consist of setting up a table and a few chairs and selling noodles, cooked meat, fruits or a small convenience store with home cooked foods on the side.

I see the parents take their children to school which is expensive here. About 80,000 baht or $2,000 U.S. per year for schooling, clothing and textbooks for a 7 year old. They teach the children English even at this age. The parents have to work damm hard to pay for the schooling but they are doing this in hopes of their children obtaining good jobs and having a better life with more to look forward to.

Cats and dogs here are numerous. Just about everyone in our neighborhood has either a cat or dog or both. Our neighbor has 6 cats plus 2 kittens and he does not have a fulltime job. It is difficult for him but I know he loves the cats. He has offered to give us a few but we do not have the space.

So to sum things up. It isn’t perfect here. You can find something to complain about if you look hard enough but for me it is as close to perfection as I will find.

I can tell you about one or two things that I do not like and I could tell you about the hundred things I like. I am a picky person so if I like it here and have very little or nothing to complain about then I am sure others will love it here also.

If you want you can retire here on less than that, but to live a comfortable life here that is all that it takes.

Visit our website for Thai foods and recipes, to learn more about living here, and to see pictures of Chiang Mai.

So from a healthier, happier George who is living here on less and enjoying it
Khop Khun Khrap or thank you in Thai for reading the article. If you come here on vacation or to stay long term give me a call and we can go to a buffet and watch them make sushi, where you can select the ingredients of a soup they call Suki, where you can eat an unlimited amount of fresh salad with a choice of dressings and shredded chicken on the side, pick from an assortment of cooked meats, noodles, or fish, and then top it off with a variety of desserts and the best cup of coffee I have had in years for $2.50 U.S. after taxes and tip. The best selection of freshly prepared food and lowest priced all you can eat buffet restaurant in Chiang Mai in my opinion.

By: retirementgeorge

ENTER THE REALM OF THE DRAGON

2007-07-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

China Town has always been synonymous with commerce. At almost any hour, someone is selling something somewhere in China Town. Even before the first Bangkok department stores opened on Yawarat in the 1930s, the China Town markets sold goods found nowhere else in the city. The locals believe that they owe this good fortune, wealth and prosperity to the mythical Golden Dragon, the guardian spirit that has watched over the community for centuries.

However, to experience China Town in all its bustling commercial glory, the Chinese New Year from February 1, 2003, is perhaps not the best time for this as it is the sole annual holiday celebrated by Bangkok's huge--and industrious--Thai-Chinese population.

The Chinese have been part of Thai history since the 18th century. Invited by King Taksin to augment the local Siamese workforce, they arrived from southern China and settled opposite the then capital at Thonburi. In 1782 when Rama I, first king of the new Chakri dynasty, moved the capital to Bangkok and began building the Grand Palace, the traders were relocated to a small alley called Sampeng Lane, the nexus of today's China Town. (Today, the narrow pedestrian lane teems with wholesale stores selling paper, fabric and unclassifiable bric-a-brac, as well as haphazardly roving snack merchants and careering motorbikes overloaded with wide bolts of fabric.)

To first-time visitors, China Town can seem like a daunting maze of traffic- and -people-choked lanes and alleys. Yet to fully appreciate the panoply of sights, sounds and smells that give China Town its unique character, it's essential to wander off the beaten track where such hidden delights as 100 year-old shrines, tiny neighbourhoods and countless other treasures await. (A major thoroughfare is rarely more than a block away so getting lost isn't really a problem.)

It's easy to spend an entire morning--or afternoon--to visiting temples (Buddhist, Taoist, Chinese, Sikh and Chinese shrines). Others might choose to focus on China Town's many markets (food, clothing, electrical goods, hardware, audio) or wander along streets devoted to a single product. The area teems with restaurants (from fancy indoor eateries to open-air stalls) and unusual juxtapositions: a modern fast-food restaurant next to a vendor roasting chestnuts in a streetside wok; Chinese herbs adjacent to Buddhist temple supplies.

This ad-hoc method of seeing the sights isn't nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Almost every square block of China Town boasts temples shrines, markets, restaurants, and unusual juxtapositions. Thoroughly covering one area can be as much fun as rushing here and there to take in the "important" sights. Oh, and don't forget to look up. With so much attention-grabbing activity at street level, visitors can easily overlook the ornate neo-colonial columns, delicately carved shutters and second-floor balconies (often half-hidden behind electrical transformers, and telephone cables.)

Any list of quintessential China Town sights will include a visit to a gold shop on Yawarat. With their deco-style arches and rolled steel ornamentation, these red and gold palaces resemble old-fashioned cinemas. (Though cinemas don't hire armed guards to protect the merchandise!) The most opulent shops display their wares in massive curving counters overhung with awnings decorated with dragons.

Among the must-see temples on most tourist itineraries is Wat Traimit (near Odeon Circle and Hualamphong train station) which houses the world's biggest solid-gold Buddha statue. Another favorite with locals as well as foreigners is Wat Leng Noi Yee, China Town's biggest temple, which lies behind a grandiose entranceway on Charoen Krung.

Two unusual religious edifices in the area are Wat Chakrawat, a peaceful temple whose two ponds are home to several large and languid crocodiles and the European-style Wat Kalawar (Holy Rosary Church). Built in 1787, the church is located near the southern end of China Town, on riverside land given to the Portuguese by King Rama I.

China segues into India at Sri Gurunsingh Sabha Sikh temple, a spacious four-storey structure near Pahurat market. The nearby environs feel more Mumbai than Bangkok, especially on ATM alley (named after an adjacent department store). This funky pedestrian passageway is crowded with rows of open-air shops selling incense, Indian CDs and DVDs, Ganesh statues, saris, bangles and authentic chai tea.

ATM alley leads to the mazy Pahurat cloth market, an indoor version of Sampeng. Once across Pahurat road, you're back in Thailand at the multi-block Old Siam shopping mall, which offers many China Town items in comfortable, airconditioned surroundings. On the ground floor, women in traditional garb practice the rapidly disappearing art of Thai snack preparation, recreating popular standards like 'khanom krob' (coconut milk batter poured into tiny cast iron molds and steamed).

Other clearly delimited China Town markets include the network of streets around Nakhon Kasem (still called Thieves Market even though stolen goods are no longer on offer); Khlong Ong Ang market (for second-hand stereos, cameras and other audio items); and Talat Fai Chai--the so-called Flashlight Market--which runs 24-hours from Saturday afternoon until Sunday in the area around Worachak. (Its name derives from the nighttime buyers who bring torches to separate junk from treasures.)

Until western food emporia opened elsewhere in Bangkok, China Town's food markets supplied Bangkok with delicacies found nowhere else. Back then Soi Issaranhuphap was once the place for imported fruit. Famous China Town wet markets (so-called because the concrete floors are constantly washed down) include Talat Kao (a 200+-year "old" food market) and Talat Mai, (a "new" market which is only around 100 years old)

Whichever aspects of China Town you decide to explore, the most important accoutrements are light clothing, comfortable shoes, plenty of fluids, and above all, a spirit of adventure. A good map is also helpful (Nancy Chandler's Map of Bangkok highlights scores of sightseeing and shopping tips in an easy-to-read graphical format). Don't forget, however, that China Town's vibrancy is an essentially intangible quality that transcends the confines of cartography.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JENNIFER GAMPELL
Bangkok-based freelance writer Jennifer Gampell began a literary career in Thailand in 1993 after failing abysmally at selling Balinese jewellery in Paris and teaching English to recalcitrant Japanese schoolchildren in Bangkok. Why Thailand? That's where she crashed a motorcycle and spent an epiphanous month in the orthopaedic ward of a small Chiang Rai hospital in early 1991. The enthusiastic response to her travel diaries about this and other wacky adventures catalysed her creative energies. After honing her new-found literary skills on local Thai publications, Jennifer started writing internationally. Her quirky features, profiles, snippets and first-person expositions cover a broad range of cultural and social topics. They’ve appeared in international publications such as the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Asian Wall Street Journal, TIME (Asia), Marie Claire, Globe & Mail, U.S. News & World Report, Far Eastern Economic Review and International Herald Tribune. She also writes for in-flight magazines (Scanorama and Sawasdee) and highlights new trends in Thailand and the region for Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.

By tatnews.org

GRAND CANDLE FESTIVAL

2007-07-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

The International Wax Sculpture on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Ubon Ratchathani July 1 - 30, 2007

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following activities will be held during the month-long festival from 1-30 July. Ubon Ratchathani Art and Culture Festival
Visits to the candle-crafting communities of Ubon Ratchathani
An exhibition of wax sculptures by nine international artists representing Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, the Ukraine, and Thailand
Light-and-Sound presentation
Traditional I-San style palaeng set dinner
Beauty contest
A grand procession of 80 Lenten candles
Presentations of I-San folk culture by 80 traditional Northeastern folk dance troupes

Weekly activities
July 1-8
Ubon Art and Culture Festival

July 9 – 22
Forging International Relations
A Celebration of Thai-Japanese Culture
Thai-Chinese Cultural Showcase and Cultural Exchange
International Wax Sculpture Exhibition
At the plaza in front of the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum

July 23 – 30
Keeping Buddhist Traditions and Buddhist Art Alive
At Thung Si Muang field

As the seasonal monsoon rains descend over the kingdom, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist "rain retreat" and the Buddhist Lent, or "Phansa", during which all Buddhist monks retreat to the temples. This is also an auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations as it marks a period of spiritual renewal.

Known as "Khao Phansa", the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out for a period of three months starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month (in July) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October).

As Ubon Ratchathani province prepares for the Buddhist Lent, men folk, ordained as well as laymen, with artistic skills set about the task of moulding and sculpting Lenten candles. As these works of art are to be presented as Buddhist merit-making offerings, the artisans pour their heart and soul into their craft. Many of these are fine examples of Buddhist art and sculpture. The candle festival is unique to Ubon Ratchathani province and the customs and traditions related to this Buddhist festival have been diligently preserved by local communities.

Making Merit
Thai Buddhists engage in merit-making as an expression of respect and gratitude by making offerings to Lord Buddha, venerable monks, past and present kings, and to parents, grandparents and their ancestors.

Making merit relates strongly to the concept of rebirth. The accumulation of merit, or bun, is believed to exert a powerful influence on one's future life and, indeed, rebirths.

According to Buddhist teachings, all actions performed in our daily lives affect our field of merit, but none more so than the support of Buddhism itself. When one offers material support to a Buddhist monk — be it alms in the form of food or donations, or voluntary work — one is helping to assure that Buddhist teachings live on. This accumulates merit not only for the giver by helping sustain Buddhism. It also provides the opportunity for future generations to make and accumulate merit. In addition to the monk's morning alms round, the presentation of the Lenten candles is also a merit-making act.

Visits to Candle-Crafting Communities of Ubon Ratchathani
July 1 – 28, 2007
Visit the following candle-crafting communities and watch artisans at work making ornately sculpted Lenten candles. Wat Thung Sri Muang community
Wat Bupharam community
Wat Sri Pra Ku community
Wat Phra That Nong Bua community
Wat Nong Pla Paak community
Prathum Vittayakarn School (Nong Katok)
Baan Kum Pun Weaving Village

Ubon Ratchathani Art and Culture Festival
July 1 – 31, 2007
Monday-Thursday: 10.00 – 19.00
Friday, weekends and public holidays: 10.00 – 22.00
This colourful showcase highlights various fascinating aspects of traditional and contemporary Isan art and culture. This includes exhibitions covering a range of themes and topics such as the lotus - for which the city of 'Ubon' (which means lotus in Thai) was named, Isan style ceremonial flags called tungs, an exhibition of Lenten Candles, floral craft made from banana leaves, traditional and ethnic textiles, pottery and earthenware products native to Ubon Ratchathani province, souvenirs and memorabilia moulded from candle wax.
Each of the sub-districts or tambon of Ubon Ratchathani province are famous for locally grown or hand-crafted products considered to be unique to the area. These are brought together at the fair, offering a convenient opportunity for one-stop shopping for a vast range of souvenirs and local products. As in other regions of the kingdom, food is an integral part of the local fabric of life and a vital element of every Isan celebration. Enjoy live demonstrations of local cuisine and savour the full range of delicious Isan delicacies.

CANDLE EXHIBITION
An exhibition of Lenten Candles at Thung Sri Muang Park featuring crafted candles, moulded candles and ancient candles.

Mandapa-shaped Candles (Mondop)
A mondop or mandapa is a structural form with a square base and a spired or pyramidal roof. Mondop candles are used as a receptacle to hold sacred offerings which are brought to temples during the ‘kathin’ season when monk robes are presented as offerings. Mandapa-shaped candles are used only for worship; they are not lit.

Beeswax Candle Castle (Prasat Pueng)
The beeswax candle castle is one of the elements of Buddhist merit-making rituals. These are also used in ancestor worship rituals to dedicate merit to ancestors. The beeswax ‘castle’ is also sometimes featured in propitiation rituals. However the use of the trunk of a banana tree, parts of which are folded into triangular-shapes, is preferred. Taro, turnip or sweet potato are sometimes carved into the floral shapes and dipped into heated beeswax, left to dry and used to decorate the banana tree.

Cone-Shaped (Poom)
Smaller candles are bonded together to form a cone-shaped structure. They serve a decorative purpose and are used to adorn the main candle. These are then presented as merit-making offerings.

Candles that are tied together (Mat Ruam)
Smaller candles are simply tied together into a bunch before they are presented as merit-making offerings. The cone-shaped poom and mat ruam candles are similar. Both reflect the ingenuity of villagers in creating a variety of ways to adorn their candle offerings.

International Wax Sculpture Exhibition on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary
July 14 – 31, 2007
10.00 – 22.00 at the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum
In recent years, the growing popularity of the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival has attracted international interest and international participation in the Ubon Ratchathani wax sculpture contest. This year, nine international artists, representing Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, the Ukraine, and Thailand, will dedicate their sculpted masterpieces as a tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary on 5 December 2007.

Light-and-Sound Presentation
July 24, 27, 29, 30
At the Kanchanapisek Cultural Centre Auditorium, Rajabhat College, Ubon Ratchathani

The Grand Candle Procession
July 30
The magnificent Grand Candle Procession will comprise various candle processions, led by the Procession of the Royal Candle. A processions of 80 Lenten candles follow. In addition to the crafted or moulded candles and ancient candles crafted by the various communities of Ubon Ratchathani province, nine will be masterpieces created by candle artisans for the 2007 International Wax Sculpture Exhibition to mark the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary. Presentations of I-San folk culture by some 80 dance troupes will add a colourful aspect to the festival.

PROGRAMME

24 – 30 JULY 09.00 – 19.00 The performance of Buddhist ceremonies
At Sala Chaturamuk Pavilion, Thung Si Muang field
10.00 – 19.00 Exhibition in Honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary on 5 December 2007
At Sala Chaturamuk Pavilion, Thung Si Muang field
10.00 – 22.00 Sales of local products from the various communities of Ubon Ratchathani province in front of the Ubon Ratchathani provincial centre pavilion
15.00 – 17.00 Dhamma practice
At Sala Chaturamuk Pavilion, Thung Si Muang field
16.30 – 17.30 Royal Candle invocation ritual and procession
The procession of the Royal Candle departs from the Ubon Ratchathani provincial centre pavilion to the Chalermphrakiat Candle Plaza, Thung Si Muang field
18.30 – 20.00 A grand traditional Thai musical ensemble with an orchestra of 200 musicians
At the Royal Candle Plaza, Thung Si Muang field

26 JULY
A Brahmin merit-making ritual is performed to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary
At the Chalermphrakiat Candle Plaza, Thung Si Muang field

28 JULY 09.00 – 16.00 Buddhist Chanting Competition
At Sala Chaturamuk Pavilion, Thung Si Muang field
17.30 – 23.00 Traditional I-San style Palaeng set dinner and Candle Festival Beauty Contest
At Praipayom Hall, Rajabhat College, Ubon Ratchathani

29 JULY/ 18.00 – 24.00 hrs
Grand Sculpted Wax Candle Exhibition
At Thung Si Muang field

Evening
Asalaha Bucha Buddhist rituals
At temples in the Ubon Ratchathani provincial centre

Asalaha Bucha Day marks the anniversary of the day Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares more than 2500 years ago. It also marks the coming into existence of the Triple Gems, namely Lord Buddha, His Teachings, and His Disciples, and is therefore considered to be a sacred day in Buddhism. Asalaha Bucha Day falls on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month (July), and precedes the Buddhist Lent, which starts on the first day of the waning moon. To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists perform merit-making tasks such as visiting temples to make offerings to the monks and to listen to sermons to purify their minds. The Buddhist precepts, or sila, are observed.

30 July 2, 2007 08.30 Opening ceremony
The 2007 International Wax Sculpture on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary
At Wat Si Ubon Rattannaram temple
09.30 – 12.00 Grand Candle Procession
The procession departs from Ubon Ratchathani National Museum and proceeds along Uparaj Road to the intersection where Suriyart Road intersects with the Esso petrol station
11.00 – 12.00 Buddhist rituals are performed as the Royal Candle is presented as a Buddhist merit-making offering.
At Wat Si Ubon Rattannaram temple
12.00 – 22.00 Candle Exhibition
Wax sculptures by winners and runners-up are placed on display at Thung Si Muang field.
19.00 – 21.00 Award presentation ceremony
At the Kanchanapisek Cultural Centre Auditorium, Rajabhat College, Ubon Ratchathani

By : Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room
Contact information:
www.tatnews.org

Making And Flying Kites

2007-07-02T04:17:00.000-07:00

Kites are devices that are meant to be flown in the air at the end of a string. Making kites and flying kites is an enjoyable and relaxing activity, as well as a competitive game in several parts of the globe. In fact, nearly all kite flying festivals all across Asia have "kite fights," which is a venerated and ancient custom where participants try to down their opponents' kites by cutting their lines. This is accomplished by using small, highly maneuverable "fighter kites" that are connected to glass-coated "cutting lines." These specialty "cutting lines" are used to cut off the lines of contending kites.

In Korea, men, women and children fly kites all throughout the opening days of the New Year. Kite flying is also something to look forward to, and an important component of the boys’ festival, which is held each May in Japan, and in China, one day each year is commemorated as Kites’ Day. On those days, thousands of kites fashioned like fish, butterflies and dragons take to the air and soar over the cities and towns. Thailand also sponsors an International Kite Festival in which all kites fall into one of two classes: chula (male) or pakpao (female) kites. The kites are immense and require several people to fly them. There are also kite-flying competitions held yearly in the United States and Canada.

Types of Kites

There are many different types of kites. The simplest kind of kites is the two-stick solitary plane bow kite. It can be purchased ready-made or it can be put together from do-it-yourself kits or made exclusively by hand. When creating plain kites, the sticks that are utilized can be of any sturdy, light wood with a straight grain. The covering material can be ordinary brown wrapping paper, or a wispy, light cloth, such as silk or nylon. Plastic sheets of different kinds are also used. In addition, cloth is used for the tail and a string for the flight line. There are more advanced types of kites that can be made.

The box kite consists basically of two rectangular boxes, open on two parallel sides each and connected by a common framework. Lawrence Hargrave conceived of the original design in the 1890’s. Box kites are more difficult to build than stick kites, but they are excellent flyers and will maintain their position for long periods. Box kites also adjust well to variations in the breeze, and they do not require a tail.

How to Fly Kites

Kites take to the air, like airplanes, on the aerodynamic theory of wind pressure against a heavier-than-air item. The motor and propeller of the airplane create a wind pressure as they move the plane through the air. When the pressure is strong enough to conquer gravity, the plane is pressed up and permitted to stay in the air. The same effect of wind pressure is produced by the kite flyer as he sprints across an open field. As the kite moves in opposition to the wind, the string tips the face of the kite onward. The wind shoves up on this tipped face and raises the kite, just as a wedge pressed beneath an object lifts it up.

By: Azlan

Honeymoon Thailand

2007-06-30T18:30:00.001-07:00

The best course of action to take sometimes isn't clear until you've listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

Bangkok, the city of angles or 'Krungthep',was established in 1782 by King Rama I. The very charm of the city, indeed the whole country, is its antiquity combined with rapid modernisation. Amidst sealed skyscrapers nestle the old pagodas of the many 'wats' or temples. Roadside Buddhas ,exist and profilerate, ensuring handy outless for joss-sticks and flower offerings, food and shawls. The more the offerings, the more fervent the prayer of the devotee...

Roadside stalls and shops jostle for space with these Buddhas along with food vendors-on pushcarts, on little stools, on stands, in baskets carried on a pole across the shoulders. Fruit and flower sellers stand at every corner.

Aromatic cooked rice in leaf or plastic packets are sold even in mini supermarkets, with the smell an intergral part of the atmosphere of Thailand. Seafood predominates-with a rich chilli flavour. Indians and vegetarians need not fear for there are plenty of Indian hotels in the city. In fact an Indian would instantly feel at home, wandering around the crowded city-the people are friendly and one even finds roadside cobblers here, unlike the posh Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. And best of all Indians are glorified as tourists here for they do a lot of shopping and the Thai economy practically rests on tourism.

A honeymoon couple would be advised to go on a pre-booked package with a reputed hotel. Bel Aire Princes is a fabulous hotel, expensive and luxurious. It also serves small variety of Indian food in the evenings. The Indra Regent area has many Indian enteries too. The package ensures a visit to the Wat Arun, the Golden Buddha temple, the Reclining Buddha, the Emerald Buddha and the City Palace. Most of these sights will be familiar to the Indian movie goer, for Bangkok has become a popular movie location.

City tours include a visit to the rose garden, the gem cutting centre and a silk factory.

Thailand is famous for its gemstones and silver jewellery, both certain to bring stars to a bride's eyes. Chinatown is a lovely area to walk through, filled with flowers and produce. Food is a delight here.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Honeymoon experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Honeymoon.

Clothes are cheap as labour costs are low. Thai'mumdee' silk or tye and dyed silk is a specially, a must-buy for most women. As for readymades, Prathunam Market is a near paradise, a whole busy enclave on Ratchprarop Road. Here are located fashion houses like Armani and Versace. But never mind them, right below their regal noses one can purchase fine imitations, complete with logo, in the open sir stall of Prathunam. The garments are churned out in the closed markets behind with sewing machines busy round the clock. 'How many do you want?' asks the friendly shopkeeper when I ask the price of a Boss Shirt. he laughs when I ask for just two, more used to Indians buying in bulk.

A walk along Soi 3,4 and 5 leads to Akbar, and Indian restaurant, serving good Mughlai food. Along the Sois are open air stalls selling handicrafts, clothes, cloisonne, wood masks, blue pottery, the unique metal turquoise painted Thai musician fingurines, watches-all fake, toys,VCDs. All remain open till 11p.m.

Patpong and silom-these are the famous night bazaars of Bangkok, where life begins only after 10p.m. Food-one can eat a variety of Thai food on the pavements or go into the Western food joints, pubs and bars here. Massage parlours have women standing outside, enticing unwary tourists. Heading out of the city is an option to go to Pattaya, a 2hour trip to a beach town. Pattaya is a strange place with a sightly seedy promenade where Indians are not advised to venture after dark. The cabaret show and a trip to Coral Island so it is only worth it if you are into snorkeling and water scooters. Perhaps a place best avoided by the romantic couple. For those with a sun and water fixation, islands like Krabi, Kochi Samui, Phuket, etc. are geared to be ideal resorts. Rafting and canoeing, other than just sunbathing, are sufficient thrills here-with the knowledge that Leonardo di Caprio sunbathed here as an added attraction!

A trip to Kanchanaburi, about 128 kms away, is good for nature lovers and would ensure a less crowded and more romantic scenario. The Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Kwai are, of course, not to be missed here. But the best part of a visit to Thailand is a trip to the Floating Market-about 2 hours away in Ratchaburi. Tours start early in the morning, in order to reach there well before the boats come out. One is put in the water in a long launch for a leisurely ride in the canals for about 1 1/2 hours. Old homes jut above the banks, with daily chores and baths conducted in the streams.

And then suddenly, at a turning, one sees scores of long open boats coming at you, each with one person at the helm, mostly women. And the boats are piled high with produce-hot food, fresh vegetables, etc. Breakfast is served like never before! The boat comes along and jars alongside, the old women boats sturdy enough to ram into each other. business is conducted over the water, and selling and buying has never been so charming. After the ride, the banks lined with handicraft shops entice one to buy cheap blue pottery, pewter and clothes. Romantic keepsakes will not make a deephole in the pocket here.

If going about the city on one's own-the MRT or the lovely little tuktuk (autolike vehicle) driven merrily with scant regard for rules are safe methods of transport and cheap. In the throng of Bangkok's traffic which turns to five packed lanes on an expressway, the tuktuk is sure to make rapid headway. And for that shopping stroll, the only way to cross the road is to do as the Thais do- hold up you hand to stop the flow and sash across.

With so many spots so soaked in romance,Bangkok is a great honeymoon destination-with a little extra honey making further lovely spots within one's reach. Best to avoid the place in April though, when the heat touches a sizzling 42, fizzling out romance!

By: wirat

Top 5 Cities Thailand

2007-06-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

Thai Cool : Top 5 Cities To See During A Holiday In Thailand

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, one of my jobs is to ensure every client has the best tour possible, so here are my top 5 suggestions for cities to visit in Thailand during your holiday.

1.Bangkok is a fascinating city which has managed to keep it’s ancient eastern traditions whilst embracing the modern progression of the western world. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and offers a host of experiences which include floating markets, modern bars, top of the range shopping, gastronomical delights and ancient temples steeped in the city’s history.

The Chao Phraya River separates the city and has a series of canals. The new ‘Sky train’ railway is something which should be experienced whilst in the city should you fancy avoiding the bustling traffic.

One of the largest floating markets is on the outskirts of Bangkok and you’ll greeted by the aromatic smells and the age old tradition of the locals and their way of making a living along the busy canals.

There is an array of beautiful and ancient buildings not to be missed whilst in Thailand. Although I did not personally experience all of the nightlife, it was made obvious to me that all of my entertainment needs would be taken care of by all well informed taxi drivers wishing to proudly show off their culture.

2. Phuket is the biggest island attraction that Thailand has to offer. It is the perfect place to retreat to and enjoy a tropical paradise. Although the west coast of the island was almost destroyed by the tsunami of 2004, there is very little evidence remaining to show that it occurred.

Not to be missed are:

Old Phuket Town. Chinese immigrants from the 19th century, who were lured in the past by the tin mines, left behind them a host of amazing Sino-Portuguese mansions along Dibu and Thalang roads.

Thai Boxing. A personal favourite of mine, this national sport is violent and very fast paced. For regular matches the Saphan Him Stadium in Phuket City is the place to be.

3.Krabi. Krabi Province is in the middle southern part of Thailand. It is situated in the aquamarine water of the Andaman Sea. It is one of the most stunning places in all of Thailand.

Krabi Town is situated near the mouth of the Krabi River.

The Mangrove forest is something to experience and is a must for avid bird watchers. Krabi Resort is set among a curtain of palm trees on the Ao-PhraNang beach. This is a delightful place to be if you are looking to soak up the natural beauty that surrounds you.

4. Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a city full of traditional heritage that shares its secrets with all who wish to discover them. It is a city with stunning natural beauty. It is amazing to see plants that we have to protect from the frost, growing in their scores, naturally along the roadside.

The people of Chiang Mai are a wonder in themselves with exceptional handicraft skills producing magical souvenirs for the endless throng of visitors. Chiang Mai houses the Inthanon Mountain, standing 8,448 feet above sea level making it the highest mountain Thailand.

5.Sukhothai. When visiting Sukhothai the main attractions for the area are Phra Mae Ya Shirne which is located in the Muang District. You will see a long haired figure made of stone that resembles an ancient queen. There is also a museum and National park as well as monuments of great interest inside the city walls.

By: Stuart Cheese
www.articledashboard.com

Homestays vs. Hotels

2007-06-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Homestays and Villas vs. Hotels

More and more people today seek fulfilling holidays at cheaper rates. The days of booking holidays at a local travel agent and disappearing on a package tour are dwindling, as vacationers turn to the internet to seek alternatives.

Renting a private house is becoming more and more common as visitors seek authenticity, privacy, independence, and originality whilst on holiday. And if such a stay also offers the possibility of direct interaction with the locals and costs less than a hotel stay, the attractions are manifold.

In Thailand,more and more properties are now available for direct rent from their owners on a daily or weekly basis. Thailand’s real estate boom has helped develop the number of villas and holiday homes available. It is in general a pity that these properties still tend to be huddled together in the mass tourism markets of Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui, which somewhat defeats the original attractions of an independent holiday home.

However, looking more closely, it is not difficult to narrow down one’s search and to locate private properties for rent at highly attractive rates in original destinations. And in accordance with the Thais’ legendary hospitality, these villas are even occasionally rented out more as if friends – rather than paying guests - were being accommodated: meals are cooked for you, transport arranged, and invitations made to local ceremonies or festivals. In short, the Thais have realized that, whilst some guests may prefer privacy, others seek a genuine interaction at the local level with the country’s inhabitants, as they seek a memorable local experience instead of a manufactured stay.

Our exploration of Thailand’s holiday home rentals led us to several very different properties, and clearly, whilst the supply is not huge, the attractions of these homes, the hospitality of the Thais, the zing of the delicious food and the promise of sun all make these properties a marvelous holiday alternative.

We particularly enjoyed our stay at “Gecko Villa”. From the outset, their comprehensive website (http://www.geckovilla.com) gave full details of the property, with numerous photographs and an online availability checker. Our email reservation was responded to rapidly, and helpful suggestions made about getting to the destination.

Upon arrival we were met at the airport by the smiling owners and driven to the large house that was set in the middle of emerald rice paddies, sugar cane plantations and woodlands. The property was set on extensive grounds guaranteeing privacy by our own pool, and the bedrooms and facilities all lived up to or surpassed what we had seen described on the internet. The kitchen showed up our own kitchen at home, and the shower garden in the master bedroom was a delightful touch.

When we said we loved Thai food, we were delighted to be taken off around the grounds to pick our own herbs and spices – including strange plants that we had never considered using in the pot – before being shown how to make genuine Thai and Northeaster dishes. The owners seemed genuinely pleased to be able to impart their knowledge and love of food – and we were equally happy to have this cooking lesson provided at no cost!

The property was fully serviced and the rate we paid covered all our meals and even generous quantities of cool beer and fresh fruit juices. And as we were there in the mango season, we were encouraged to simply help ourselves to the fresh fruit straight from the trees…

It was rare to find a house deep in the Thai countryside, and truly off the beaten tourist track, that offered every comfort for a relaxing stay in the real Thailand. The Visitors’ Book was full of glowing comments and the many repeat guests bore testimony to the visitors’ enjoyment of their stays, not only because of the property itself but because of the genuine welcome they received.

Tips on booking holiday homes:

• Try to book directly with the property site. Searches tend to list global villa rental sites that generally take a commission on your stay, making it more expensive, and in some cases try to prevent you from contacting the owners directly.

• Look for an individual property rather than a house in a villa development. The latter are often managed by hotel groups and simply glorified hotel rooms – at hotel rates!

• Travel in the off season, but book early. Better rates can generally be found for travel out of the tourist seasons, but do make sure you book ahead, as when a standalone villa is booked, it is booked!

• Make sure the property you choose has a telephone and address listed.

• Travel somewhere new! Much of the fun of your own holiday house is the way it can take you out of the tourist centres to enjoy a more authentic holiday.

by: Simon Hantly

Rivers Of Thailand

2007-06-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

The major river of Thailand is the Chao Phraya. It has low alluvial soil which marks the plains of Thailand. Chao Phraya originates from the meeting point of two other rivers Ping and Nan. The main tributary to Nan River is the Yom River.

Wang River is another river which flows in northern Thailand and this is 335 miles long. It originates from Ping River.

The longest river in Thailand is the Chi River which is 765 km but the water flow is very low. It runs through the Yasothon province of Thailand.

Chao Phraya runs for 372 km from Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand. It bifurcates into two in a place called Chainat. The main portion of the river, known as the Chin River, flows parallel to Chao Phraya and ends in the Gulf. It is called by many names. In Chainat, it is called Makhamthao river and when it passes through Suphanburi, it is called Suphan. It becomes Nakhon Chaisi river when it enters Nakhon Pathon and after that it is known as Tha Chin river when it reaches the mouth of Samut Sakhon. Many canals are diverted from Chin River and the water from the canals is used for irrigation.

Nonthaburi Uthai Thani, , Singburi, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and Chainat Pathum Thani are the cities along the flowing river. Nakhon Sawan is the city where the two major rivers Nan and Ping meet. Ang Thong is an agricultural land and Chao Phraya and Noi River meet in this city.

By Pauline Go

Thailand's Cuisine

2007-06-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

Thailand’s cuisine is a tourist’s delight. The place has an unbelievable blend of mouth-watering cuisines. Whether you want spicy chicken curry, sweet green curry with chicken or beef, or roast duck curry or mild chicken curry, you name it and you have it all on your platter. Thai cuisine is blend of the four regions of Thailand. The regions are Northern, Northeastern, Central, and Southern.

Some of the well known ingredients that are commonly used in Thai food are lemon grass and lemon juice, garlic, and chilies. Seasonings such as black pepper, ginger, tamarind, and coconut milk are used to add a touch of spice and flavor to the food.

Being the largest exporter of rice, the staple food of Thailand is none other than rice. They have this particular variety of rice, the jasmine variety and is known as Hom Mali rice in their local language. You would be amazed if you came to know that there is actually a rice gene bank in Thailand. An approximate range of 5000 varieties of rice is stored in this bank.

Some of the well known food of Thailand are fried rice served with non-vegetarian dish such as beef, chicken or shrimp, a delicious soup containing a blend of pork and vegetables, coconut custard, fried banana, rice noodles with meat and vegetables and so on. Coconut and tamarind based cuisine are mostly found in the southern region of Thailand.

The food list is actually endless and one can go on and on about the mouth-watering delicacies of Thailand.

Fruits From Thailand

2007-06-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

It is said that Thailand is a real paradise for fruit lovers and one can find an incredible variety of fruits all over Thailand. Thailand is abundant in fruits and it serves as one of the most important revenue generators for the country. A great number of fruits can be easily found at the numerous fruit shops, supermarkets and market places. The fruits that are available here are much cheaper when compared to other countries. Sometimes fruit sellers end up offering tourists fruits to taste for free. This practice is more prevalent on beaches where the tourists spend most of their holidays.

Traditionally, the Thais finish a meal with fruits. Sweeter Thai desserts are kept for snacking in between meals. A Thai breakfast normally comprises of variety of fresh fruits and traditional sweets. Besides being delicious and healthy, eating fresh fruits after a Thai meal is sure way of putting off the burning sensation in the mouth after eating spicy Thai food.

In Thailand, fruits are generally sweet including those which are suppose to be sour. One of the best fruit producing places in Thailand is Phuket Island. It is noted for its pineapple. Pineapples grown here are famous throughout Thailand and are particularly sweet and crunchy. They are also a major export product. Fruits like Rambutan, Bananas, Papaya, Durian, Guava and Mangoes are also grown in Thailand. Recently, several temperate fruits like Apples, Strawberries and Peaches are being grown successfully in the mountain areas of Thailand. The farmers always concentrate on growing more fruits using new methods of cultivation. This ensures that Thailand never faces a shortage of fruits in any season of the year.

How to get around Bangkok

2007-06-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

To start off it is good to understand what kind of transport you can get in Bangkok.
There are numerous different types of public transport, but the usual visitor or resident uses only 7 of these: Meter Taxis, Tuk Tuks, buses, canal boats, river taxis, motorbikes, and Taxis (with no meter).

Lets begin with Tuk Tuks. Aren't they cute, those little three wheeled taxis, colorfully painted and featured so much on anything to do with Thailand.
They are very cute until you get stuck in the traffic, behind the number 36 bus at about 2 in the afternoon and suck down a multitude of fumes in 10 minutes than the average smoker does in a life time... you'll say to the kids, isn't this fun....while your kids bury their heads in their Dad's armpit because it smells fresh compared to the air around them.
Okay Try a Tuku Tuk once, don't go too far and then give them up as a bad idea. Out of Bangkok they're much more fun. Tuk Tuk drivers should be haggled with, the price fixed in advance and generally you'll always get ripped off, take a taxi.

Taxis (with 4 wheels) come in two flavours, metered and no meter, although a few non meters actually have a meter concealed behind a panel in the dash board below the radio.... Taxis are great, sit back in air conditioned luxury and watch the Smiths die of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Tuk Tuk. If the driver of a Taxi objects to use his meter then tell him to take a hike, get out, do not be suckered.

Check where you are standing, if it's outside a nice big hotel , then walk up the road a bit and wave down a taxi. Unlike the US or Europe taxi drivers have to pass NO TESTS to become a taxi driver, within a few days of being inb Bangkok you will know Bangkok better than many Taxi drivers.... again if the driver seems to not know where it is you are going, get out....one other thing, make sure you know where you are going and have a rough idea of the route, else a less honest cabby will take you o a tour of the backroads "the short cuts". If you're going a long way, take the toll way, it costs between 20 and 40 Baht, (you pay) and will save you hours of travel time.

Calling a taxi by phone costs ab extra 20 Baht, Taxis at the airport cost an extra 50 Baht. And yes there is a REGULATED taxi stand at the airport outside the main meeting zone. Don't be suckered by taxi and limo touts.

Oh yes then there are the taxis with no meter.... well if you want to use one feel free....it'll cost about the same as a Tuk Tuk but at least you'll get Air Con....possibly.

Buses, once upon a time there were red buses, blue buses, green buses and Air Con buses, then came micro buses and then came deregulation and now there are so many buses that I really don't know what they all are...anyway if you are going to use a bus GET A BUS MAP. Then always use Air Con buses unless where you are going is not on one of their routes or your on such a tight budget that 8 to 15 Baht per person may cause you to have to go without food.

Other buses vary from 3 Baht up to 20 Baht. Don't bother asking the conductor about where you want to get off, to them you are a lower lifeform (all passengers are) ask another passenger.

A word about getting on and off buses. Do it FAST, buses on occasions don't stop at the bus stop they "slow" in the middle of the road and let off a stream of potential roadkill in the middle of the traffic, okay I exagerate a little but when you get your stop make sure you are already near the door and can sprint for it.

Don't expect the people getting on to make way, that kind of common sense tends to fail people using the buses, their objective is to get on fast and get a seat before anyone else...which brings up seats.... don't be fooled into thinking that being a "gentleman" will get you thanks...oh no, you'll see pregnant ladies standing up while young school brats take up the seats, you'll see old ladies burdened by shopping standing while teen sweathearts hog the seats...it's a first come dog eat dog world on the buses and if you take one of the non air con buses you'll eventually see some poor person pass out....then they get a seat.

Motobikes. Yeah.... want to get somewhere fast, take a motorbike taxi, married with kids...get life insurance and a damn good helmet.
The majority of MB taxi drivers will make it their sole intent to scare you to death, to see if they can squeeze their bike through a gap that is obviously closing up faster than they are moving and to see how fast they can go on an open stretch of road...they have no fear (or sanity).... your life is in their hands and you'll soon wish it wasn't.

It is the law in Thailand that all bike riders MUST wear a crash helmet.... some of the helmets you see wouldn't project a toddler falling off a 3 wheeler.
Thai law says you have to wear a helmet, but as far as the law is concerned...it can be made out of paper.

if you intend to use MB Taxis a lot then get a helmet...I did, it saved my face when the inevitable eventually happened and I slide across the road after beeing side swipped by a pick up truck.
If you can avoid MB taxis, then do. If you are in Bangkok for long enough you may eventually get to learn which MB Taxi Teams (yes they work in teams) are safer than others (or luckier than others).

Check out the bikes they are driving, a scratched up wreck will be a good hint that the driver has kissed the tarmac a few times, a brand new bike , a green horn still waiting for his first brush with death.... if you're on a bike and the driver is driving like a nut, tell him to stop and get off.

I have to admit I have very little experience with boat transport in Bangkok, but from what I am told, if you can take a canal or river taxi, then do, they are fast, generally clean, less polution and of course there are less vehicles to hit. Prices vary depending on how far you are going.
In summary I would suggest that if you plan to travel in Bangkok that you :- get a map, take meter

by: Jonathan Semenick

Planning A Trip To Thailand?

2007-06-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

If you want an exotic trip, why not choose Thailand? Though it might be costlier than heading to southern California or Miami, you’ll have memories (and photographs!) that will wow your friends and family for years to come. As you plan your priceless journey, just remember to keep a few factors in mind:

Thailand Visit Tip #1: Learn about Thai food When you get to Thailand, you’ll no doubt be trying a great deal of Asian cuisine. Thus, it would behoove you to try some of the more common Thai dishes before you set off on your journey. If you live near a large city, you no doubt have access to any number of Thai restaurants. When you go, ask the servers or proprietor(s) about authentic Thai fare. That way, you’ll be able to prepare your palate for your visit. If you’re not able to make it to a Thai eatery, you can always check out a book on Thai cooking from the local library (or purchase one in your Barnes and Noble or Borders bookseller.) This way, you can try your hand at creating some of the culinary delights you’ll be feasting on during your time in Thailand.

Thailand Visit Tip #2: Dress for the temperature and weather conditions Because the Internet affords you the opportunity to find out about weather anywhere in the world, make sure you jump online during the days before you leave for your visit to Thailand. That way, you’ll know exactly what to pack (and what not to wear). Nothing is worse than being in a country where you don’t know the language and are feeling physically uncomfortable because you’re dressed inappropriately.

Thailand Visit Tip #3: Go to your doctor Before traveling overseas, it’s best for you to get a full physical at your doctor. Why? First of all, you really should have an annual appointment, anyway. But secondly, you don’t want to have a health emergency when you’re overseas. Your physician may also prescribe a variety of shots or suggestions for healthy eating regimens while you’re in Thailand. Make sure you bring a notepad and jot down all his or her comments.

Thailand Visit Tip #4: Get your passport in advance Many people traveling to countries such as Thailand forget to order their passports until too late. In all the excitement, this important “to do” is entirely forgotten. Rather than waiting until the last minute, make sure that you get your passport immediately, because it can take some time to receive in the mail. In fact, you might even want to get your passport before you book your flights to and from Thailand, just to be on the safe side. (And your passport will last many years, so even if you have to put off your Thailand trip for a year or two, your passport will still be good.) By taking a few precautions, you can ensure that your time in Thailand will be well-spent and will result in a meaningful vacation that you’ll recall with fondness for the rest of your life.

by: Robert Michael

Hotels In Pattaya

2007-06-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

Hotels In Pattaya, Thailand

You have decided to visit Asia for your next vacation and have decided to go to Pattaya, Thailand. Your flight is booked but you are still looking for a hotel. But, how do you decide which hotel to stay at?Your decision should be based on what you plan to do while you are Pattaya.

Will you be spending most of your time sightseeing, shopping or enjoying the nightlife? Most likely you will be enjoying the nightlife and will want to be located in the heart of it.There are three main areas in Pattaya – North, South, and Central and all three have their plusses and minuses. Getting a hotel in any of the three will boil down to a personal preference.North Pattaya is in the Soi 2 area or even a little further North called Naklua. Most of the tourists here are from Europe and the nightlife is adequate but not spectacular. I rarely go to the Naklua area but I do enjoy the Soi 2 nightlife area.South Pattaya is very good and includes the area around the infamous Walking Street. There are many hotels available from Soi 13 to Walking Street and also along the side streets between 2nd Road and Walking Street. Many are small pubs with a handful of rooms above the bar.To me, Central Pattaya is where to stay. The location is perfect as I can walk or catch a baht bus to anywhere in a matter of minutes. Beach Road, 2nd Road or even down to Soi Buakhao are perfect locations as long as the hotel is between Central Road and Soi 13.Most of the hotels in Pattaya are in the 2 – 4 star range with the occasional 5 star (Marriott) but a 2 – 4 star in Pattaya is definitely a cut above similar hotels in the states.

I prefer the smaller, pub places that have a handful of rooms upstairs. Most are owned by a couple and really do their best to make your stay a great one.Do your research, and look for a discount Pattaya hotel, and enjoy your stay in the Land of Smiles. It won’t be hard to find your Asian hotel in Pattaya at all.

By: Lawrence Westfall

Krabi - Ko Phi Phi

2007-06-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

The stunning sea mountain scenery of Phang-nga Bay extends down to Krabi, reaching south into deeper, crystal clear waters. In contrast to the hushed, green-tinged mystery of the bay, here you will find fine snorkelling, diving and fishing.

Many argue that Krabi's beaches, backed by dense rain forest, are amongst the most beautiful in the world. One of Thailand's best kept secrets, Krabi is undergoing an awakening. First discovered by cruising yachtsmen and backpack travellers – and remaining sleepy for many years – it now hosts bungalow resorts, top international hotels and numerous restaurants. Yet the area retains the flavour traditionalists have always loved – for example, the fabulous beaches to the south of Ao Nang, tucked below towering rock walls, are still accessible by boat only.

South of Krabi, and east of Phuket you discover the Phi Phi Islands – one of the most beautiful island groups anywhere. Spectacular vertical cliffs rising from clear seas, beautiful lagoons enclosed by rock walls and idyllic tropical beaches have rightly made these islands amongst the most famous in the world.

In 1998, the southernmost of the two islands, Phi Phi Le, was chosen as the location for filming ‘The Beach', starring Leonardo Di Caprio.

Sleepy, exotically tropical and remote when you want it to be, Phi Phi can keep you as busy as youlike, too. Clustered around the main town – Ton Sai Bay –resorts, restaurants, pubs and shops jostle for position with strolling vacationers and bicycles. Phi Phi has no cars.

Facilities
KrabiKrabi Town: With provisioning of a similar standard to Phuket available, Krabi Town can be accessed from Phra Nang by longtail boat or dinghy, or by road from Ao Nang.
Ao Nang Beach: Ao Nang is important due to its access to the main road to Krabi Town. Rock walls prevent road access from beaches further south. Resorts, bungalows, shops and restaurants are found along the beachfront road. Telephone, transport, and all the usual amenities of a growing resort town are available.

Krabi airport is to the northwest of Krabi Town, about 40 minutes by road from Ao Nang. There are regular direct flights to Phuket, Bangkok and Singapore.

Ko Phi PhiTon Sai Bay on Phi Phi Don is the place for shopping, provisioning or transport to Phuket, Krabi or neighbouring islands. The village, with its restaurants, hotels and shops is concentrated on the narrow sand isthmus connecting the two lobes of Phi Phi Don, extending along the northeastern side of the bay for well over a kilometre. Most needs of visiting yachts can be catered to here.

Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Scuba diving Thailand

2007-06-19T04:04:00.000-07:00

Scuba diving is Thailand’s most popular water sport and the country boosts some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world – the water is clear, sea life plentiful, transport and accommodation readily available and instruction to a very high standard. Diving in Thailand is comparatively cheap, and once you have achieved your certification in Thailand, you can use it to go scuba-diving all over the world.

Diving is available at all times of the year, although visibility changes according to the season. In the Andaman Sea, the best time to dive is from October to April, and in the Gulf of Thailand from May to September. At recommended dive sites in Thailand the water is so clear that the under-water world is visible from the surface: whale sharks, manta rays, marlin, flying fish, dolphins and coral reefs.

All reputable dive shops are affiliated with PADI or other international dive bodies, and most hold courses in multiple languages. All over Thailand, you can expect modern amenities, international standard boats and professional facilities.

For group or family travelers, all good live aboard operations will take non-divers along at a substantially reduced fee. Friends and family can relax, swim, sunbathe, snorkel and still enjoy the food, trip, scenery and experience of sailing in some of the world’s most beautiful waters.

Underwater experience
Day 1 : Transfer from Phuket Airport to Chalong Bay. Board night boat from the bay to Similan islands.
Day 2 : Arrive Similan. Rest of the day at dive sites around island exploring the reefs of the Similan Archipelago and myriad colours exhibited by countless fish and corals. There are three dive spots scheduled, and one night dive.
Day 3 : Continue your diving odyssey at three locations. Three daytime dives are scheduled at Ko Bon island and Ko Tachai, home to manta rays, whale sharks and colourful coral. There is one dive at Surin Island.
Day 4 : Three dives scheduled at Richelieu Rock, playground of the whale shark.
Day 5 : Dive at three more Similan locations before taking the night boat to Phuket.

Andaman adventure
Day 1 : From Patong Beach, Phuket, sail overnight to the Similan Islands.
Day 2 – 3 : Wake up at a Similan dive site and after breakfast, explore the area. Surroundings Range from delicate sloping reefs to giant boulder drop-offs The variety of marine life here is exceptional, with diverse corals and an enormous huge range of fish. Set sail For the Myanmar Banks in the evening.
Day 4 – 5 : Two days are spent on the Myanmar Banks exploring marine life including many different varieties of shark The area is subject to strong currents and changing underwater visibility visibility so it is strictly for experienced dives.
Day 6 : Dive at Richelieu Rock and Ko Ta-chai. Return to Similan in the evening
Day 7 : The last full day of diving around Similan, visiting several important reefs such as Shark's fin and Elephant's Head. Evening departure for the return passage to Phuket.
Day 8 : Early morning arrival at Patong. Participating divers should be certificated, but there is plenty of action on these tours for non-divers and various entertainments on board the mother ship, plus the chance to explore ashore.

Divers' paradise
Day 1 : Arrive Samui and continue by boat to Ko Tao (Turtle Island). After lunch, enjoy swimming and snorkeling around this tiny island considered to be the best dive site in the Gulf. The marine ecology of Ko Tao is the habitat of several rare species, including spotted rays, giant trigger fish and the occa-sional and harmless whale shark.
Day 2 – 7 : Enjoy diving lessons offered by international-standard diving schools or discovering the beautiful under-water world with experienced divers.
Day 8 : Leave Ko Tao for Chumphon. City tour and visit to the many caves and beautiful beaches. Overnight in Chumpon.

Dive sites
ANDAMAN SEA : Dive sites are found off the coast of Phuket with prime spots such as Shark Point, Red Rock, Ko Yao, Ko Yai, and the twin islands of Ko Racha, extending to the Similan and Surin islands to the west, Krabi and Trang to the east.

GULF OF THAILAND : Sites are around Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao, Ko Nang Yuan, Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park, and Ko Chang in Trat Province near the Combodian border.

EAST COAST : On the east coast of the Gulf, Pattaya offers dive trips out to Ko Larn, Ko Sak, Ko Krok, Ko Rin, Ko Pai and Ko Marn Vichai. There are dozens of dive shops offering courses and tours to any level and in any language.

Misconceptions about learning
IT IS DANGEROUS.v Not true. All the recommended dive companies listed here are PADI certified and have well qualified, experienced staff. As long as divers follow instructions and are prepared, there is less danger than swimming in the sea.IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO LEARN AND IS EXPENSIVEv Not true. All PADI centres offer beginner’s courses in a swimming pool for a half or full day. Becoming PADI certified will take four days in Thailand. Anyone over eight years can do a “Bubble Blowers” course in a pool for free. A Discover Scuba Diving course will cost around 4,000 baht and take one day. A full Open Water PADI course will take four days and cost around 10,000 bahtIT’S DIFFICULT AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY FIT.v Not true. Anyone over the age of 12 can do a PADI certified course. As long as they are in good medical condition and have no history of asthma, heart or breathing problems, a severe cold or problems with your ears, then they are ready to dive.Precautions & preparations
There are some precautions and preparations that should be taken before diving, whether you are experienced or a beginner.

- Never go diving too soon after or before flying. The change in atmospheric pressure can cause “The Bends” either underwater or in the air, so divers should always consult an instructor to time diving and training to flight schedules.

- Never dive after a heavy meal. The blood flows to the stomach to aid digestion and may cause cramp.

- Never consume alcohol before diving (including the night before). The underwater effect of alcohol is multiplied many times, leading to disorientation and lack of judgment.

- If a heavy smoker, cut down before beginning to dive.

- Always follow safety procedures as advised by the instructor.

- Never go diving alone.

- If a diver has experience but has not been diving for a while (six months or more), they should tell the instructor and ask for a quick refresher course on procedures, safety and practices.

- Look for PADI certified dive shops only. Ask around at the resort to see who is recommended. Don’t take the first option or the cheapest (necessarily).

- If sure to dive before leaving on a trip, access the official PADI site at Padi.com and look for PADI certified dive shops at the destination.

- Read as much as possible about the destination. If experienced, a diver should know about the best dive sites before they even get to a resort.

Full Moon Party

2007-06-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Full Moon Party on Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand

Thailand's equivalent of LA's Moontribe, processed with pills and prostitutes

Prostitutes, booze and music. Oh my! It must be a full moon.

So I'm dancing away at this club on the isle of Ko Samui to some admittedly terrible and cheesy eurotrance, but it's nothing several libations didn't distract me of. Soon, I found myself grooving with this really cute Thai girl. After a while, the house lights came up signaling the club's closure.

"Now I'll go back with you to your bungalow," she said out of nowhere.

"Okay!" I replied.

"...and you will pay me," she finished.

Oh no.

My own suggestions of no money being involved left her unconvinced and me alone. I'd like to say something clever like, "She didn't know what she was missing," but that probably isn't true. There was a whole lotta gropin' goin' on at the Green Mango that night.

Ah, Thailand...

Before I, ahem, got things warmed up in Thailand's south, my first stop was Bangkok's Tapas Room (www.tapas-cafe.com), a sweaty little house club appropriately nestled in Patpong- Bangkok's infamous sex district. Opportunities to hear quality house music while clubbing in Asia are rare. Fortunately, Emanuel Skinner, a San Francisco ex-pat and former roommate to Naked Music's Miguel Migs, is a capable man on the decks.

Skinner came to Asia looking for a little adventure. Unlike most travelers, he brought records simply hoping to get a little play and maybe some extra pocket money. With the Tapas Room, Skinner happily got more than he bargained for.

Hired on as resident DJ and promotions director, Skinner fostered the Tapas vibe as he saw fit. The result is west coast house, southeast Asian style. "No one knows there's house music in Bangkok," he says. "We want to put Bangkok on the map."

Effortlessly caressing between filtered disco, samba, tribal, Chicago cool and New York garage, there's little question of Skinner's skills. In San Fran, Skinner was but a number, one of hundreds of talented DJs scrabbling for a chance to play. In Bangkok, he's a hot commodity. He hopes to bring that same degree of distinction to his production work. House music from Thailand, he says, should pique peoples' interest.

Skinner is equally pleased to bring the city's clubbers a musical alternative to Thai MTV's pop saturation and psychedelic trance heard blaring from many nightspots. "Psy trance is the last music I'd want to hear if I was coming down," he says. "Too much of a head trip. I threw up at a buddy's place once because of it."

Now, it was time to head south. The night train to the port of Surrathani gave me an opportunity to catch up on my notes, recover from a sad hangover and rationalize eating a bug I bought from a street vendor-God, was I tanked. Like most things in Thailand, a train's sleeper car is pretty cheap and I recommend it. Having had the misfortune of taking the bus once, train or plane is definitely the way to go.

A train, a bus, a ferry and taxi ride later, I'm on the isle of Ko Samui for a meeting with Warren Burgart, the man behind www.thaisite.com. Burgart's Full Moon Party portion of the site has inadvertently become the voice of the parties. And Burgart, to his bemusement, is now regarded as an authority on the event. Or, rather...

"A Full Moon Party is not an event," he explains. "It's a happening. There are no controlling organizations, no Full Moon committees. Everybody knows, 'I'm going to the beach, I'm going to party.'" While there are many Full Moon fan sites on the net, Burgart's is the only one offering any sort of organized forum. However, being an "authority" has at times proven to be a double-edged sword.

"We get tons of requests from DJs and managers requesting auditions or bookings," he says. "It's an impossibility. There are always DJs showing up with records. Many times, they're left unhappy as they didn't get to play." That, however, doesn't mean the parties haven't attracted their share of talent; German techno giant Sven Väth played a happening this past February. But Burgart stresses, hoping to save hopefuls hassles, Väth made prior arrangements with bar owners and didn't just show up expecting to play.

Any other big DJs ever play a Full Moon Party? Burgart shrugs his shoulders. He's hardly an electronic aficionado. Like Skinner, Burgart left the states for Thailand looking for change. Having been in data processing for 30 years (Burgart is in his '50s), he decided a leave of absence was in order. "I rented a house for a year and had intentions of playing my guitar and learning a bit about the Internet," he says. However, only days after moving in, he and a newfound neighbor hatched plans for thaisite.com. Originally just snapping pics of the Full Moon parties for fun, the work has culminated in the largest, most visited and most updated Full Moon Party website.

What little information Burgart has about the parties' origins is vague. The parties began over 15 years ago, but who to credit with starting the craze is unclear. Equally difficult to ascertain are attendance figures. Burgart has fruitlessly tried counting portions of the beach during parties, but says it's impossible to get exact numbers. Typical estimates are between 4,000 to 8,000 people.

Saying goodbye to Burgart, I met up with a friend and we made our way to a ferry bound for Ko Pha-Ngan's Haad Rinn beach, home to the Full Moon Parties. Even with a couple days until the party, we arrived too late; the bungalows were booked solid. The dregs, far from the main beach, were despicably unkempt and exorbitant at 700 Baht a night-roughly $15 U.S. Very high by Thai standards for such sub-par accommodations.

We resigned ourselves to Mae Haad beach on the island's north tip. Had we been more on the ball, we might have gotten a place at Haad Rinn, though I'm told few of the bungalows accept reservations. Our bungalow complex eventually filled up with would-be-revelers that ran into the same predicament we did. A taxi from one end of the island to the other should only run you about 100 Baht, anyway.

Finally, the Full Moon! Giddy with anticipation, we set out onto the beach in the early evening. Last minute preparations were still underway. Thai boys pounded stakes into the ground to hold down lights and decorations. Older Thai women set up tables that would sell everything from sandwiches to pizza to fried chicken to more traditional Thai cuisine. Glow-in-the-dark paint artists awaited human canvasses. Happening or event, the Full Moon parties represent an obvious routine for the Thai residents. Burgart guesses most of their revenue is generated on or around the party and they coast on those earnings until the next one.

You may not have lived until you've had a bucket of Sang Tip whiskey, Coke and Red Bull on the beaches of Thailand. Maybe, but too many of them and you'll likely feel as though you've died the day after. If it's alcoholic, you'll find it. If it's narcotic, well, you can find that, too. But drugs are illegal in Thailand, and carry hefty fines and imprisonment. While some locals do sell drugs, more of them will be inclined to turn you in should they see a deal going down-something they receive rewards for. Like anything else, be careful, be smart and don't say you weren't warned.

Drunk, the truly international and inspirational event unfolded around me. An Aussie rules football club bellowed, hooted and whistled at girls as they passed. Israeli fire dancers twirled batons for onlookers. Sullen German men brandished fearful looking tattoos. Thai "ladyboys"-you'll know them when you see them-garnered stares and kisses from confused and inebriated foreigners. A sloshed Norwegian attempted to explain the intricacies of life to me. He lost his train of thought every other sentence, but he did remember to order us more beer. A couple of Canadian girls locked lips for my picture of them. Afterwards, they told me they weren't even gay. The Full Moon brings out the best in everyone, I suppose.

Audio warfare sees every bar blaring its own music, so you have to seek out those sweet spots on the beach between clubs where you're getting one consistent sound. While there was a lot of variety-techno, house, psy trance, trance and progressive-the biggest surprise was Drop In Bar, whose music was total shit. But of all the clubs, it had the biggest crowd.

Should you go, take a step back from the festivities on one the beach's rocky promontories or wade knee-deep in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The Full Moon Party is sheer spectacle. The beach looked fantastic at night, illuminated by Christmas lights, bon fires, glow sticks and madness. The warm night was overcast, but when the moon peeked through for the briefest of moments, the entire beach erupted in jubilation. Now that's magic.

by Yuri Wuensch 2007

Shopping in Thailand

2007-06-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

Retail therapy is a welcome addition to any culture, and the shopping options in Thailand give you more to celebrate than ever if you're looking to treat yourself!
From the innumerable street markets to the sleek boutiques and malls, there's a place for you no matter how you like to shop, bartering away with local stall holders or sitting down for coffee laden down with haute couture.There are many shopping experiences that are particular to Thailand, and that will make even making basic purchases all part of the adventure. Where else can you have a fitted suit, made to your own designs, whipped up at record speed and for a fraction of what you might pay elsewhere? And if your lust for designer labels outstretches your budget, then why not cheat a little in the markets of Patpong, where all manner of facsimiles compete for your attention?

No matter where you are in Thailand, there are simple rules to help you enjoy the best of what the country has to offer. Inside department stores, the prices are fixed, but in most other places, especially the markets, bargaining is expected. Go into the bartering with a sense of humour, patience and a smile, and you can enjoy a friendly battle of wills with the stallholder. You can usually expect from ten to forty percent off the price, depending on the shopkeeper and, of course, your own haggling skills. Be polite and friendly and you will come to love this very interactive shopping experience!

As well as Patpong, Bangkok has many famous shopping areas, from the browser's paradise of the Chatuchak Park Weekend Market to the Aladdin's Cave of the gemstones on the Silom-Mahesak-New Road. Silom-Surawong-Patpong is the commercial heart of the city. Outside the capital, there are further plentiful opportunities for stocking up on souvenirs. Famously, Chiang Mai remains the focus of a huge handicraft and fabrics trade, and people flock to pick up anything from traditional hilltribe clothing to fabulous silks, to lacquer accessories and tapestries.

Most towns will have some variation on the famous Thai night bazaar, with food, music and lively buying and selling all making for a memorable experience. Look out for local delicacies and specialties - where your adventure takes you, you'll find something to remember it by.
MUST DO:Chatuchak weekend market Bangkok; Patpong night market; Chiang Mai night market; Visit a tailor; MBK Department Store; Floating market.

Wat Pha Kaeo Temples

2007-06-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

The temple is in the outer section of the Royal Enclosure west of the Grand Palace . It was built on the orders of King Rama I along with the Grand Palace and Rattanakosin Island , and is built as a temple in a Royal compound like Wat Sri Sanphet in Ayutthaya . It has no resident monks.
The Emerald Buddha (Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn or Phra Kaeo Morakot): This is a Buddha image in the meditating position in the style of the Lanna school of the north, dating from the 15th century AD. King Rama I brought it from Vientiane , and it is considered to be the most important Buddha image in the country.

Model of Angkor Wat: King Rama IV had this built by Phra Samphopphai when Cambodia was under Siamese control. The model was recreated in plaster at the behest of King Rama V to celebrate the first centenary of the Royal city.
Prasat Phra Thepidon: This four-square prang originally called "Puttaprang Prasat" was built in the reign of King Rama IV. Inside are statues of Kings Rama I-King Rama VIII, to which the public pay their respects on Chakri Day, April 6, every year.
Mondop:This structure stands behind Prasat Phra Thepidon, and was built in the reign of King Rama I. Inside is a cabinet holding the Buddhist scriptures beautifully decorated in mother-of-pearl.

Balcony: This can be compared to the temple wall. The murals inside tell the Ramayana story in its entirety. On the columns of the balcony are stone inscriptions of the verses describing the murals.

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi: Built in the style of Wat Sri Sanphet in Ayutthaya , this chedi is to the west of the Monhop. Inside is a small chedi with relics of the Lord Buddha.
Phra Atsada Maha Chedi: This group of eight chedis stands in front of the temple. It was built in the reign of King Rama I and dedicated to the heavens. Six of the group are outside the balcony, two are inside. Each has its own name.
Yaksa Tavarnbal (Gate-keeping Giants): Six pairs of mythical ogres stand at each gate of the Balcony. These are the main Giants of the Ramayana.
Hor Phra Khanthan-rat: Standing in the estern corner of the balcony, this is where the Phra Puttakhanthan-rat figure is enshrined. It presides over the Royal rain-making ceremony and the ceremony of the first rice planting. Inside are paintings by the mural artist Khrua In Khong.
Hor Phra Ratcha Karamanusorn: Inside this structure are 34 Buddha images in various positions, built by command of King Rama III and dedicated the kings of Ayutthaya and Thonburi.

Hor Phra Ratcha Pongsanusorn: Built in the reign of King Rama IV, this is the location of the Buddha image of the reigning King of the Rattanakosin Era. Inside are murals of Royal chronicles of Ayutthaya by Khrua In Khong.
Hor Phra Nak: Situated behind the temple, this traditional Thai building roofed with glazed tiles contains the ashes of the Royal family.

Diving On Koh Tao In Thailand

2007-06-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

by Andy Perrin

Scuba diving is by far the biggest attraction on Ko Tao, and it is easy, fun, and you will see a lot of fish, perhaps even turtles, stingrays, barracuda, reef sharks, and even a whale shark if you get lucky You will get good diving weather on Koh Tao apart from November, when the sea is choppy, and visibility is poorer than normal. The visibility can be over 40 metres during the rest of the year. You will find a lot of dive operators on the island, and some of them offer

accommodation. Just beware that when you read the accommodation is free, it’s not really, because they will offer discounts if you stay somewhere else. In 2006 you will pay in the region of 10,000 bht for a PADI open water certificate, and this should include the new PADI training manual, proper professional instruction, rental equipment, boat dives etc. This may include insurance and basic accommodation, but shop around, and remember the methods of instruction may differ enormously. A few hints include avoiding shops that use swimming pools to teach you in. You’ll find it cold, boring, and unhygienic, bearing in mind this is a very popular diving island, and they will have literally hundreds of students . Choose one that will take you to a private beach so you will see fish and coral right away, it is a lot more interesting, and you will probably get more dives!!

It’s also a good idea to find a dive shop that has its own private pier, so you won’t have to climb over other boats at the pier, although you won’t be carrying your dive gear, that should be carried by a Dive Master Trainee. In addition you ought to ask how many students there will be in your group, because there should not be more than a small handful, if they tell you there will be more than ten then look elsewhere. You want personal tuition for something as important as this, and you want your course to be really enjoyable. If you are looking for specific dive shops, this list whilst by no means exhaustive, is at least a starting point.

1. Coral Grand . Located in a much quieter area than the other dive shops, at the far end of the beach, the hotel is more upmarket than most on the island although the 'free' rooms are still basic. Operates 2 dive boats plus a speed boat.

2. Divepoint . Located in Mae Haad on the waterfront. Divepoint has probably the nicest dive boat on the island, big enough that you won't have to carry your gear to and from it. PADI and SSI.

3. Easy Divers. Fantastic Dive Shop with really experienced instructors. Professional and fun with great accommodation. Based right in the heart of Ko Tao.

4. IDC Ko Tao. Instructor development courses (IDC's) run every month by English PADI Course Director Matt Bolton.

5. Phoenix Divers. Right on Sairee Beach, has good boats, new gear and multilingual often western staff.

6. Stingray Divers. Very modern dive resort overlooking Chalok Ban Khao Bay. Hope this information helps you to have great diving experience on Koh Tao.

In Thailand, Keeping...

2007-06-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

In Thailand, Keeping the Festive in Festival

During Phi Ta Khon, residents of Loei Province, near Laos, wear masks and form a procession of spirits.

THE Thai festival calendar begins this week with the New Year soaking of Songkran, a nationwide water fight with roots in traditional Buddhist cleansing ceremonies. In recent years, the celebration has become more like St. Patrick's Day with water guns as Thai and farang (foreign) tourists guzzle alcohol and hose one another down in pursuit of what locals proudly call sanuk, or fun.

But if you can't make it for Songkran, there are other options. The year ahead, 2550 on the Thai calendar, is a candy store of festivals, colorful parades and celebrations that have, for the most part, stayed close to their roots, offering you the opportunity to steep yourself not just in Singha beer, but in local culture and history as well. Expressing core aspects of Thai-ness like Buddhism, animism and agriculture, these festivals and national holidays will expand your mind and up your sum total of sanuk.

On May 10 the annual Royal Plowing Ceremony will be performed on the Sanam Luang parade ground near the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Not unlike our Groundhog Day, the observance centers on a pair of oxen that predict the weather and the country's financial future. In the presence of royalty (lately it's been the crown prince instead of his 79-year-old father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej), the ancient ritual begins at an auspicious time determined by Hindu priests robed in gold and white silk who present the oxen with a choice of seven trays of food and potables. As the animals graze on rice, corn, green beans, water, grass, sesame seeds or whiskey, the priests interpret their selections to predict rainfall, crop success, the economy and foreign trade. Grains foretell a good harvest, water signifies an abundance of meat, green beans portend plentiful fruit, and a slurp of whiskey is good news for the economy.
With the forecast made, onlookers scramble to collect scattered ceremonial rice seeds consecrated by royalty to usher in the planting season. Get there early to get a good viewing spot and “bring snacks, drinking water, hats and sunscreen,” said Lyle Sinrod Walter, a native Washingtonian who has lived in Bangkok for six years.
The second full moon of May (the 31st this year) is Visakha Bucha, the holiest of the Buddhist holidays, celebrating the date Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and entered nirvana. To honor that trifecta of religious achievement, festivities are held all over the country. Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai offer two of the most profound and popular celebrations. The week before the holiday, the Grand Palace in Bangkok is host to a televised flower-strewn procession bearing a Buddha relic into Sanam Luang park where the masses (1.2 million visitors in 2005) pay their respects.
By the shine of the full moon, you'll want to be in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom and home to the temple of Doi Suthep, perched more than a mile above the city. On Visakha Bucha, shortly after sunset, a procession of monks carries lanterns and candles on a seven-and-a-half mile pilgrimage to the top and circumambulates the major stupa three times. The celebration is more spiritual than sanuk, but it's an opportunity to experience one of the country's holiest rites.

A daytime visit to Doi Suthep can be equally inspiring. The views of the city and surrounding countryside make for great pictures. Followers walk the perimeter spinning prayer wheels and sending their wishes into the universe, and you can receive a blessing from one of the many monks at practice. If you're up to it, climb the 300-step Naga staircase to the top, but newly rebuilt cable cars are a less strenuous option.
If Songkran is comparable to St. Patrick's Day and the oxen in Sanam Luang to Punxsutawney Phil, then the late June festival of Phi Ta Khon is Thai Halloween. Locals in the Loei Province near Laos hide under frightening masks made from coconut leaves and rice husks and make mischief in a loud and colorful procession through the small district of Dan Sai. Like Halloween, the Ghost Festival has religious-folkloric origins. Buddhist celebrants honor Vessendara, an incarnation of the Buddha whose return to his hometown, the tale goes, was celebrated by the village spirits and ghosts awakened by the party noise. The belief in village spirits comes from older traditions celebrated by the Isaan minority who make their home in this mountainous province. The festival kicks off the rainmaking celebrations that include the Isaan Rocket Festival in the town of Yasothon, where locals shoot off occasionally dangerous (sometimes even lethal) homemade rockets.
Every October (Oct. 11 to 19 this year) the resort island of Phuket sheds its bikini-blanketed reputation to hold one of the most bizarre and dramatic celebrations on the Thai calendar. On the sixth day of the Vegetarian Festival, tens of thousands of gawkers come to watch a procession of self-impaled celebrants. Spirit mediums meditate to reach a trancelike state so they can pierce their mouths and cheeks with all manner of objects: swords, picks, branches and even unusual household items (a standing fan in the case of one brave young man). Once adorned, they process through the winding streets, occasionally falling into a reverie or stopping at colorful homemade altars to accept offerings. Part of a 10-day strict abstinence from meat eating among Thais of Chinese descent, the self-piercing is said to bring spiritual cleansing and “make merit” with the nine gods invoked during the festival. As if they haven't already proved their mettle, the mediums finish by walking over beds of hot coals.

Thais are proud of their country's long, peaceful history, free of colonization or foreign occupation. But there was a famous blight on that record when, during World War II, as many as 100,000 Asian laborers and 16,000 Allied prisoners of war died building a nearly 260-mile “death railway” through Thailand under force by the Japanese Army. If you've seen “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” you know that the bridge in question was blown up, an event that happened in the northern town of Kanchanaburi (though the film was shot in Sri Lanka, and Allied bombers, not the P.O.W.s, took it out in real life). Though the town is home to a bleak and transfixing museum depicting the war's local atrocities (Jeath War Museum), the commemoration of the tragedy has been transformed into an annual festival.

Usually in the first week of December (the bridge was destroyed in April 1945, but the weather is better in December), the town sets up a large fairground filled with food vendors, amusement park rides, freak shows and carnival games. Next to the bridge that has long stood in the destroyed bridge's wake, there is a nightly dramatic retelling of the Japanese mistreatment of slave labor (in Thai), a light show and fireworks, and a re-enactment of the bridge's destruction, complete with strobe lights, piped-in locomotion sounds and a fake train.
Though the carnival is preceded by more serious tributes, you'll find few Westerners here, in part because it's off the tourist track but also because the festival seems to make light of a tragedy in which many American, British and Australian soldiers lost their lives.
The festival is also a draw for the local disco barges that float along the Kwai. I stayed in one of the kitschy yet spartan floating bungalows during the Bridge festivities and would have been lulled to sleep by the water save for the beats of karaoke pop songs late into the night.

By DAVID G. ALLAN

A Beach Resort ...

2007-06-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

A Beach Resort That’s Quiet Enough for a King

Hua Hin beach, a three-hour train ride from Bangkok, is the oldest beach resort in Thailand

AS the late afternoon sun bathes the horizon in purple and crimson, I wander slowly down the long, curving beach. Though rocks mar part of the five-mile-long stretch, most of the waterfront is covered with white sand. On the southern end of the beachfront, a towering, slim golden Buddha statue peers out over the sea, and I can see small white and yellow shrines cut into the rocks of a nearby mountain fringed with low mist.

When I sit in the surf, I notice young Thai men riding black-and-white spotted horses up and down the beach, offering rides to tourists. Thai families doggy paddle near me, luxuriating in the bath-warm water and searing sunlight. Not one Jet Ski, tour group or powerboat in sight.

There aren't many places left in Thailand where travelers can sit in the surf undisturbed. Over the past decade, it seems that clusters of hotels and condominiums have colonized nearly every strip of beach. So I was surprised, on a trip in March, to find that Hua Hin, the country's oldest beach resort, just a three-hour train ride from Bangkok, had not yet fallen to the wave of building and water sports.
Arriving in Hua Hin, in fact, I quickly notice the mellow atmosphere far different from the blaring beer bars and neon dance shows of other Thai beaches like Pattaya. At Hua Hin's colonial-style train station, all white-and-red columns and mahogany floors, a small group of taxi drivers sleeps in the shade of a jackfruit tree. When I try to rouse them for a ride into town, they nod “no” to my offer and then nod off again.
Friends explain to me there are several reasons for Hua Hin's slow pace of life. Because it sits so close to Bangkok, many foreign tourists skip it for other beach resorts like Phuket; Hua Hin now attracts mostly Thai families. Because Thailand's revered royal family spends much of its time in Hua Hin — in a palace of marble and teak named, aptly, Far From Worries — developers may be reluctant to overbuild, knowing that the king has made sustainable development a centerpiece of his reign.

The laid-back, small-scale life has also made Hua Hin Thailand's pioneer in boutique hotels and spas. (The Hua Hin area set the world record for the largest group massage.) Thirty minutes south of Hua Hin town, I drive to Aleenta, an intimate boutique hotel in the beach village of Pranburi made up of bungalow-style buildings with gleaming white walls and thatched roofs. Aleenta seems to attract Thai artists seeking a private but avant-garde resort — I overhear two Thai men with thin goatees and long ponytails discussing the latest films to hit Bangkok art theaters.

Aleenta's burnt siena walls, curving outdoor staircases and crimson tiles give it the feel of a Mediterranean or Mexican beach resort. A resort at the end of nowhere: in the lap pool adjacent to a swim-up bar, I paddle around without seeing another guest.Aleenta also quickly coddles me with homey touches. My room, the size of a large New York studio and built from natural wood, thatch and smooth tile, looks out onto a lonely longtail fishing boat bobbing in the surf outside. The hotel staff has programmed an iPod in my room, and when I request coffee at bizarre, late-night hours, they laugh and bring Thai java. At the hotel's Frangipani Wing, where cooks teach Thai cuisine in an open kitchen, the chef takes time to demonstrate to me how she makes piquant Thai salads of fresh squid, basil and chopped chilies.
Aleenta has spawned a boutique hotel industry. Along the Pranburi beach road, other developers are building small bungalows and spas with Mediterranean and Moroccan themes, and Hua Hin town now features Let's Sea Hua Hin al Fresco Resort, a cheaper yet still charming 40-room boutique hotel on the water. Near the Aleenta lies the Evason Hideaway, another high-end boutique. Even the bigger hotels have gotten into the act. This spring, the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin will open its own boutique, the Barai, eight suites with their own gardens or plunge pools.
I wander up to Aleenta's spa, which advertises unique detox treatments featuring Thai herbs and tamarind juice and massages with kaffir lime, lemongrass and jasmine flavors. On the roof of the hotel restaurant, it commands a stunning panoramic view of the sea, but I decide to head back into town, where massages will be cheaper.
In central Hua Hin, I stop for a break from the 105-degree heat at the Sofitel Central, a renovated version of the town's classic colonial-era Railway Hotel, famed for its topiary gardens full of bushes shaped like elephants and its wide, curved balconies. Gardeners obsessively trim the bushes with clippers so small they look like nail scissors.
FROM the beginning of the 20th century until the development of other resorts like Phuket, Hua Hin was the place for wealthy Thais to escape Bangkok's heat. The Sofitel's coffee bar, which still serves high tea each afternoon, features aging photographs of that older era, a time when the king and queen were host to royal parties at the hotel, and people gathered around the radio to hear the latest jazz coming from America. (The king is a jazz maven who once played with Benny Goodman.)
From the Sofitel, I can walk right onto the beach. Children play on the boulders jutting out of the water in low tide, and on one end of the beach, families clamber up small hills covered in thick forests with clusters of small monkeys.
I stroll into the quiet town, just a grid of small interlocking alleys. No one grabs my arm or tries to sell me anything, as often happens in Phuket. I stop in the central market, where vendors sell piles of stinky dried shrimp, fresh fish on ice and luscious mangoes topped with coconut custard, to be eaten with glutinous, sweet sticky rice.
I peek into Hua Hin Thai Massage, a small shop near a beach market selling towels and trinkets. The massage parlor truly feels like a family affair. Local women sit in circles massaging one another's feet and gossiping about their clients. When I interrupt them to ask for a foot rubdown, one reluctantly pulls herself away to bathe my feet in warm water and then prod and poke them for an hour, all for only $10.
For many Thai tourists, the greatest attraction of Hua Hin is neither the miles of beach nor the multitude of spa treatments. With fishing boats pulling into Hua Hin pier every day packed with bass, giant prawns, lobster and other delicacies, the town has built a reputation as one of the finest places to try Thai seafood dishes. On recommendations from friends, I stop at Ketsirin restaurant on Naresdamri Road. The back of the dining room sits on a pier moored over the ocean, and crowds of Thais dig into whole steamed fish flavored with chili and lime juice. I order geng som, sour orange soup with vegetables and shellfish. It hits my tongue hard, the fiery spices tempered with a hint of sugar, and I order a platter of giant local shrimp to go with it, the prawns charcoal-grilled over a barbecue and topped with a tangy, delicious garlic-and-lemon sauce.
When dessert arrives, a plate piled with fresh papaya, guava and watermelon, I can barely finish half of it. I sit at Ketsirin for another hour, digesting my feast and watching fishing boats bobbing in the water, their lighted-up masts gleaming in the dark sky like light sabers.

By JOSHUA KURLANTZICK

Langkawi Gets World ...

2007-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Langkawi Gets World Class Scuba And Snorkel
The honeymoon paradise island of Langkawi in Malaysia is recognized by travel insiders as one of the world"s great nature destinations with million year old rainforest, spectacular ancient mountains, and stunning wildlife including hornbills, monitor lizards, monkeys and rare species including the colugo.
The island boasts a modern cable car, a leading international Regatta, a top world bicycle race and a brand new Four Seasons resort that seems certain to become Asia's premiere honeymoon spot.

The exciting news is that Langkawi visitors have just gained access to the nearby Tarutao National park in Thailand which looks like the paradise used for those dreamy Bounty Bar commercials with azure seas, white sand beaches and more. Tarutao is normally only accessible by small boats from Satun Island for six months each year, but a new ferry service from Langkawi will make this marine paradise available to Langkawi visitors year round.
The islands of Ko Lipe, Ko Adang, Ko Tarutao and 50 more that comprise the Tarutao National park in Thailand are know to divers around the world as a dream destination that is difficult to access. They offer kilometers of colorful coral, white powder sand beaches, dozens of world class scuba diving sites and high concentrations of amazing underwater life including dolphins, whale sharks, manta, migrating whales, turtles and more.

This fabulous world class marine playground is now available year round to visitors to Langkawi due to a new ferry service opening 8 June 2005. The ferry service has been made possible through the cooperation of the Thai and Malaysian governments and the opening of a Thai Consulate in Langkawi last month.
Daytrips to the national park from Langkawi will operate three days a week and more frequently during peak season. The daytrips include the one-hour ferry trip, island hopping by speedboat, snorkel gear and a buffet lunch with refreshments.

Special trips include scuba diving trips with 2 dives, game fishing trips (catch & return), and a guided ecotour to explore the island"s corals and forests with a trained naturalist.

by Mohd Nasri

Thailand islands ...

2007-06-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Thailand islands - the Five Reasons that Make Koh Phangan the Perfect Choice

The islands of southern Thailand are widely known as "Island Paradise". Their picturesque beaches, moderate tropical climate and unique, extremely relaxing lifestyle account for this reputation. Travelers from all over the world come to these southern Thailand islands to experience the famous transition to another dimension, as they gradually absorb the overwhelming serenity and ephemeral separation from the dynamic and straining modern life style.
In the eyes of the inexperienced traveler at the very first stages of planning his or her trip to Thailand, all "paradise islands" may look exactly the same: all the islands are tropical (in the classic sense and climate wise), picturesque and serene. But in fact, a more thorough perspective would reveal that each island, just like every individual traveler, has its own set of unique qualities. The cost of stay in some islands can turn out to be a surprisingly expensive experience, while visiting other islands can be quite a bargain; some islands are dramatically peaceful while others are loaded with exciting nightlife activities; some islands provide the perfect conditions for divers while others are ideal for backpackers.
After years of intensive research, and after exploring every dark corner on every island in southern Thailand, my final conclusion is that Koh Phangan is no doubt and by far the perfect choice for the perfect vacation. Koh Phangan is the perfect choice because it has this unique ability to adopt itself to the likes and needs of every individual traveler in the limits of being an island (except from providing the ultimate urban environment. But nobody visits the Thai islands to relive his urban daily lifestyle). Here are the five elements that make Koh Phangan the ultimate vacation choice:

1. The best value for your money. Until recently, Koh Phangan had a strong reputation of a backpackers' island. As a result, the island's costs of living had been adjusted to the target audience. Food and accommodation on the island cost surprisingly low, so that even a backpacker with a budget of 30$ per day can provide himself or herself with a reasonable, almost western life standard on the island, which includes air conditioned rooms and delicious cuisine. During the last several years, when more spoiled tourists discovered this island, local entrepreneurs began to invest in luxury accommodation. Nevertheless, the best quality accommodation in Koh Phangan is still cheaper, on average, compared to the same standard accommodation offered on other islands.

2. The rare opportunity to experience the "old school" island paradise. Even the sworn lovers of Thailand will agree, that the days when the "paradise islands" were the place in which one can sit on a lonely beach and share his or her thoughts with a single coconut tree, are a thing of the past. Still, in Koh Phangan one can find some "reservations" of remote picturesque beaches with only a limited choice of accommodation, such as Haad Thong Reng, Haad Yao and Haad Sadet. Some of these forgotten venues feature about three dozens bungalows hidden in the midst of the jungle. These "old school" beaches make you fell like merging with a "real" paradise, created by true nature and not by wise and experienced tourism industry entrepreneurs.

3. Breathtaking diving sites. The Gulf of Thailand is considered to be an excellent diving area, due to its clear lucid water and the huge variety of underwater life. Until recently, the consensual opinion stated that the only place for "real" scuba divers in the Gulf of Thailand is Koh Tao Island, next to Koh Phangan. Nowadays, more and more divers are choosing Koh Phangan as a launching ground for their preferable diving sites: a small island Koh Ma, connected to Koh Phangan by a sand bar; the neighboring beaches Haad Salad, Haad Yao & Haad Chaophao, offering a hugevariety of tropical fish and coral reefs; and Ang Thong National Marine Park - a group of 42 islands, protected as a National Park.

4. The Full Moon Party. The full moon party, held in Koh Phangan since 1989, attracts thousands of travelers every month coming from all corners of the globe. Even if you are not the classic partygoer - the full moon party could be a unique and unforgettable opportunity to join thousands of joyful, exhilarated people dancing together in the most beautiful place in the world to the sounds of the best music.

5. To experience radically unique travel activities. Koh Phangan is quite a small sized island (about 170 km2), but it offers a widest variety of activities. You can come on a Sunday, as a backpacker to Sunrise Beach, become a professional diver on Monday in Koh Ma and turn into a seasoned partygoer on Tuesday as you take part in the exhilarating full moon party. If you're able to wake up on Wednesday morning, you can meet local people in the fishermen's village Chaloklum learn and experience their traditional way of life. Additionally, you can join forces with your sportsperson alter ego and go trekking on Thursday; and on Friday you'll have the unique opportunity to pretend being a Mowgli riding an elephant's back in Phangan Safari. On Saturday, you can try living as a sheikh in a luxury resort with a spa...and maybe get the chance to write a novel on the seven most unforgettable days of your life.

by Ella Evans

Bangkok Thailand Vacation...

2007-06-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Bangkok Thailand Vacation Hot Spots
BANKOK - SOME FACTS
If you visit any destination in South East Asia, it may be imperative that you pass through Bangkok. Bangkok has a strange nature of evoking extreme sense of likes and dislikes amongst visitors. A few seem to loathe it while many others swear that it is the most wonderful, fascinating and exciting places on earth. Actually, Bangkok tends to be what a particular visitor wants it to be. Bangkok is a picture post-card haven with beautiful pagodas, pagodas and some of the world's finest hotels.

Bangkok's renowned for it's nightlife in the Orient with an opportunity to savor some of world's most unique cuisines. Bangkok is a favorite and best shopping destination in South East Asia.
Bangkok inhabitants are known as Thais and their friendly ways would flatter the snootiest traveler. Bangkok is all in all, a load of fun and games and a great way to enjoy a civilized vacation. Thailand's history emerges from the Bronze Age, whereas Bangkok, the capital is a young city founded in 1782. With a population of around 6 million, 50% of them are under 30. Bangkok lies on the banks of the river "Chao Phraya", a wonderful working waterway full of sampans, wide variety of boats and rice barges.
Bangkok is a beautiful mix of the old and the new, the modern and the ancient evident from its skyline that comprises of Buddhist temples (wats), luxury hotels, high-rise office buildings and shopping malls making it a kaleidoscope. Under the thin veneer of new found Western influence you will find that the Thais are not devoid of traditional values. The sights of ubiquitous street food sellers, monks on morning begging rounds and women stringing jasmine blossoms on thread near wats will display the cultural heritage of Thailand that is not lost in the arc lights of modernity.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN BANKOK
Bangkok is packed with more attractions per square mile than any other city in the world. Despite the crowds, the architecture and the attractions are worth the effort to travel and see. On the top of the list would be Wat Phra Khao and the Grand Palace for sightseeing for half a day. This can include the National Museum and the Wat Pho. Chinatown, Bangkok's major attractions has a unique traditional life untouched by modern civilization and could be fascinating. Historical sites like Rattanakosin Island (central point when Bangkok was founded) are also worth visiting. The main symbolic places of Bangkok are Wat Arun on the Chao Phraya River.
Cross the Chao Phraya to reach Thonburi and you can tour the klongs to appreciate the heritage and culture of the country of Thailand. The Vimanmek Palace, restored by Queen Sirikit, made of golden teak emphasizes the exquisite taste and oriental splendor of ancient Thai royal life.

TOURING AROUND BANKOK
The easier way to explore the country would be put up base in Bangkok and explore the region by using the interesting and unusual daytrips.
Ayutthaya & Bang Pa-In: This probably is the most popular day trip from Bangkok and takes you to visit the Ayutthaya (A-you-ta-ya), the previous and old capital of Thailand, about 50 miles north of Bangkok, the current capital. Ayutthaya has served as the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam for over 400 years. Travellers in the past have described the glittering palaces, temples and Buddhist images depicting it as one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. In an unfortunate event the Burmese burned the glories of this city in 1767. In Ayutthaya, you could hire a tuk tuk along with an English-speaking guide to take you around the celebrated temples (cost could be in the range of 250 bahts). You can also hire a long-tail boat for cruising the 12-mile Chao Phraya River trip that ends at the king's summer palace at Bang Pa-In (300 bahts).
Many such trips are available to be taken. Bangkok never ceases to amaze and so giving an approximate time frame of the trip becomes difficult. You could get there, relax, and see for yourself what Bangkok has to offer. May be you could go back when you have more time, or to see the rest of it. The magnetism of Bangkok is such that despite having been there many a time, travelers tend to come back.

To ensure your vacation recipe is complete, add in that special sprinkle of a Thailand vacation rental. Book Thailand Vacation Rentals matching your criteria. These vacation rentals are presented by their owners or managers.

by Milan Matchev

Staying Vegetarian ...

2007-06-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Thailand is not known for the relative price vegetarian, but to obtain the alimony meatless is the much easiest one here than you could think. In means of the pollo ubiquista, the entrances of the gamberetto of the tiger and the fish are a myriad of occasions vegetarians that attend for uncovered being. In more, the food in Thailand is much adaptable one for different taste, dietetichi sapori and needs. The truth says itself to, the greater part of Thailand is one stone relatively easy to make a step in Asia vegetarian. The spiagge tailandesi, campaign and naturally the relative cities are visited frequently from Westerners that carry they them they diets with Bangkok

particularly are a city much cosmopolita and while western city is not some thing exactly like one, many of the crosspiece of the amenities the cultural barrier. The lotteries of people admit that one since the Thailand is mainly buddhist that the vegetarianism is common between people. However, the Buddhism di Theravada does not forbid or even the consumption of the practical meat except like ascetic voluntary does not discourage. The pollo, the fish and the eggs are all common the main ingredients much in many plates. While it is possible to nearly maintain to a diet vegetarian wherever in Thailand, some restaurants are servizievoli than others. The sure bets for the price vegetarian include Indian and the Chinese restaurants and the tagliatella acquire. The Indian places must maintain the options of the veggie for their Hindu customers, hardly while the Chinese restaurants must satisfy their buddhist customers Chinese. The storees of the tagliatella are particularly good because all it is rendered fresh, so as to you can specify which ingredients to include or to omit from a plate. These restaurants typically have condimenti on the table, comprised the sauce of fish. That leads it to believe that the sauce of fish does not make part of the prescription for the greater part of the plates from the tagliatella. The sauce of the oyster and the fish is common ingredients and condimenti in Thailand and can be difficult to avoid completely. Sure being that eaten these products you cannot invite that in order not to be used. The section of the food of a translation book must have words for many of the alimony that you will meet. The centers of the reunion to avoid include the suppliers of via. These portable restaurants, much putting in work as the sun goes down in the night markets, are not known for theirs pulizia and very rarely they do not make the plates on ordinazione demanded to diners'. the greater part of the suppliers of via really cook the food to a different position and simply they maintain warmth to it in theirs pushcarts or on their portable griglie. While the travellers can obtain close in the greater part of the tailandese and creative situations with the pantomime broken, these tactics of communication leave something being intentional when it more discusses the things complicated which the dietetic limitations. To have a good acquaintance in front of time approximately like asking for for that what you have need it is key to maintain your diet. The greater part of

phrasebooks worthy theirs knows will have them a dedicated section to food and lists a sure sense to ask food without meat. A phrase that works well is pak of tae of the relationships of pom, that it means literally, "I eats only the verdure. „The women say the goddesses chan rather than pom. This phrase usually works very well. While in Thailand recently I could use this phrase very successfully. The little times that I have obtained the looks I am confused, recurrent to the method of the directory to say no reinforce, no gambero, no pollo, etc have transported the message adequately to the wait staff. The confusion comes from tailandese not having a single word that means the vegetarian. Therefore, the tourist guides different will offer the different translations and different people will understand the phrases in the different senses. Nearly all the senses to say that you are a vegetarian will have need of one sure explanation. In more, tailandese has five tones, rendentegi a difficult language affinchè debuttanti uses and in order to understand. An other phrase that works well is to use tae of word, meaning the verdura, after a name of the plate. You could ask tae tailandesi for the relief or the tae of Radna. That is similar to ask the tagliatelle fried verdura in contrast with pollo or the tagliatelle fried gambero in the west. The presupposed one is that the verdure and sometimes tofu sostituiranno all the meat. Affinchè the vegans to maintain their diets would not have to be the much most difficult one than for the lactam-ovo vegetarians. The tailandese baking does not use the latticini. In top to this, it is easy not to ask eggs as it is not to ask meat. Where to never find food vegetarian in some main tourist zones Chiang while the greater part of the restaurants is many servizievoli, some particularly good zones for the vegetarians Never include the zone of the gate of Tha Phae di Chiang. Here you can find, on the external part of the road of Tha Phae the city walled and lengthen all the east of sense to the road of Santiwong and the south to the road of Sri Donchai, an excellent selection of the restaurants specifically that they provision to the vegetarians. Inside of the wall close to Tha Phae great position is one also. The greater part of the guesthouses in Chiang Never moreover is good places to try, altretanto of they survives accommodating Westerners and selling them the package it goes around of, trekking the turns, the travels by day and the similar ones. Therefore they have good graceful contact with all the types of diets and know to provision nearly all the taste. Phuket the island of Phuket, relative of economy employee in great part on peach, is rife with the restaurants of the fruits of sea, so as to look can seem like the thin harvests initially throws one here. However, nearly all the restaurant can make the special meal for you without to include is some of our friends from the deep one. Every year towards the end of september and the beginning of Phuket October has festival a vegetarian, during which the Chinese Buddhists they are abstained from the taken one of the meat. Other cities of zone which Pong Nga and Krabi moreover participate. Thailand of the south has made part of the routes trades them important for the centuries because of the relative proximity to the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. Therefore, the vegetarianism Chinese and Indian it is not new to people and the restaurants. Bangkok Bangkok, one of the largest and greater part travel-through the cities in Southeastern Asia, are crosspiece-cultural a true experience where you can eat nearly any type of every day food and can not eat the peak of your stay and not visit two times the same restaurant. Nearly every block has sure option for the vegetarians. The signs will not be like at the market designate vegetarian to you like in Chiang Never, but simply to go within and asking the food they are rendered to tae or without meat they can make the wonders on the contrary. Terms I feed-relati you important I only eat the pak of tae of the relationships of Pom of the verdure (goddesses chan) No gai of chai Never of the pollo... pla of chai Never of the fish... muu of chai Never of the pig kung of chai Never of the rimp of ...sh... reinforcing the neua of chai Never... pla of the nam of chai Never of the sauce of fish... hoi of the man of the nam of chai Never of the sauce of the oyster... kai of chai Never of eggs

by thaigooglecash

Budget Travel In Thailand

2007-06-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Budget Travel In Thailand: How to Travel in Thailand With Style and Without Bankruptcy

Thailand was my first tourist destination outside Europe and North America. Based on the sage advice of my Thailand-experienced friends, I was sure that this paradise vacation would be carried out on ridiculous costs. However, back home, I have found out too late, that during my little Thailand adventure I have spent almost the same amount of money as one of my regular surges to Europe. If only I knew that carefully planning your trip to Thailand can manifest itself in huge savings. The following list includes some solid advice that can help those novice Thailand visitors to save significant amounts of cash and still enjoy their vacation: 1. Season choice. Traveling in Thailand Islands during the low season can save you up to 25% of the accommodation costs (up to 25$ per bungalow per night if you choose high standard - not luxury - accommodation). Similar to many other world locations that are based operate seasonally; there is a significant price fluctuation across seasons. Not less important is that fact that the weather in Thailand is quite pleasant even during the low season. The temperatures' difference between the "hot season" and the "peak

season" is miniscule, and during the "wet season" one can experience only a mild occasional rain. Therefore, in Thailand one can lower accommodation costs by avoiding the peak season without paying the price of suffering from unbearable cold or coping with endless monsoon.

2. Transportation. Getting from Bangkok to your final destination in one of the Southern Islands by train or bus instead of by plane can save you up to 80$ each way. You can save a bundle if you arrive to Bangkok International Airport in the evening. In this case you save, besides the gap between relatively expensive airfare and train or bus ticket, the first night's accommodation cost as well (40$ - 100$ per bungalow per night in high standard - not luxury - accommodation).

3. Food. In Western style countries, the more you pay for your dinner the better it is, so everyone can make a personal decision about getting an appropriate cost - benefit balance. In Thailand, and especially in the Southern Islands it is much simpler: in most cases, the cheaper the better. Expensive restaurants in Thailand Islands usually specialize on Western food that is neither authentic nor of superior taste; a standard dinner will cost you 10$ - 30$ in a restaurant of this kind. Alternatively, the dinner in a cheap restaurant with plastic chairs will cost you 3$ - 8$ and it is usually both tasty and authentic. My most disappointing Thai dinner was served in a fancy restaurant in Bangkok and had cost 120$ for a couple, whereas my best dinner was served in a cheap family restaurant in Koh Phangan. The owner - young mom named Mam - prepared the meal for us exactly as we wished it would be and charged us with measly 5-6$ per person.

4. Air Conditioning. The presence of air conditioning in your room can make a huge difference in accommodation rates. For example, the same room rates in the same resort can vary from 15$-30$ for a bungalow with a fan to 40$ - 100$ for an air-conditioned bungalow. Although choosing an air-conditioned room during the hot season (such as March - April) is crucial, if you visit Southern Thailand during the rainy season - a bungalow with a fan can both satisfy your needs and cut your expenses in more than a half.

5. Location choice. Similar to the principle held in most places in the world, the accommodation rates in Thailand Islands depend on your location choice. The bungalow in the central beach, close to the airport or seaport full of thriving nightlife will probably be twice as expensive as the same bungalow in a remote quiet beach. However, accessibility is an issue in the Thailand Islands, and the taxi fares and taxi boat fares operate under the same principal as the accommodation rates. So there is a rule you may adopt: if you are looking for social activities and busy nightlife- stay close to the airport or seaport; otherwise make a little effort and move after your arrival to a remote beach. You will save up to 60% on the accommodation rates this way.

6. Communication. It will probably not come as a complete shock, but the use of cellular phone from outside of Thailand could be extremely expensive. To save on communication costs you can either buy a local cellular phone with prepaid SIM card or use the Telephone & Internet centers services. Mind you that the cost of these services may vary. As usual, if you're calling overseas from your resort's office - it will be more expensive than using a call center in the town. The cheapest solution is probably giving your phone number to your friends or relatives overseas since every call center has a phone number that can be used for calling back.

7. Price negotiation. In tourist locations in Thailand negotiation is a necessity or a way of life. Likewise, in the less touristy islands and areas price bargaining is accepted as well. Just try it - in Thailand price negotiation isn't considered an embarrassing behavior, so you have nothing to lose.8. Psychology. Although, in Thailand everything is perceived to be cheaper than in your home country, don't be fooled by the seemingly low prices and control your expenses. Buying an enormous amount of inexpensive things can really add up to a surprisingly large sum of money. During my last visit to Thailand, I followed these guidelines with persistence and I was happy to disclose, that budget travel in Thailand can be more than just an economical issue, it can also be enjoyable. Interestingly enough, in Thailand, the less you spend - the closer you get to the local authentic experience.

by Ella Evans

Kanchanaburi

2007-06-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Kanchanaburi is the one province that has varieties of natural resources in Thailand. Kanchanaburi is Thailand 's third largest province,covers an area approximately 19,473 square kilometers and it far from Bangkok about 129 kilometers. Kanchanaburi has many tourist attractions including the word-famous bridge over The river kwae and several well known waterfalls, caves, forests, rivers and dam. Therefore, tourist can have many kind of activity at Kanchanaburi such as mountain

biking, rafting, fishing, play golf, junkle trekking and living in bamboo raft. Moreover, you will visit the notorious Dead Railway and the Bridge on the River Khwae, one of the famous World War II. Kanchanaburi consist of 13 districts(Amphoe) which Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Bophloi, Amphoe Lao Khwan, Amphoe Phanom Thuan, Amphoe Sai Yok, Amphoe Sangkhla Buri,, Amphoe Si Sawat, Amphoe Tha Maka, Amphoe Tha Muang, Amphoe Thong Pha Phum, Amphoe Dan

Makham Tia, Amphoe Nong Pru, Amphoe Huai Kra Chao. Many kind of transports that you can use to go there one of the most convenience is by car in case of you have a car or hire cars. So start with buy a map from book shop or traveler information at the airport. However, I think most of tourist like to travel by bus. If you prefer t o use bus you can go to Kanchanaburi by take a bus at Southern Bus Terminal, it take you around one and a half hour to arrive there. Air-conditioned buses to Kanchanaburi leave the Southern Bus Terminal twice per hour all day until 9 p.m. return buses run on the same schedule. Sometimes if you would like to learn way of Thais' life and you have a lot of times you can go to Kanchanaburi by trains. Trains to Kanchanaburi leave Thon Buri Station at 7:50 a.m.and 1:40 p.m. daily. Return trains leave Kanchanaburi Station at 7:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. It take about four and a half hour to be there. You can get more information about Trains schedule at www.railway.co.th. There are also tourist minibuses directly to/from Khao San Road, departing Kanchanaburi at 13:30 and 18:30. At Kanchanaburi you can use songthaews (converted pickups) for transportation also taxi, motorbike and tuk-tuks are available.

by kingkana

Road to Chiang Rai

2007-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Many people outside Thailand assume that if you have been to Bangkok you have been to Thailand. In fact, Krung Thep (roughly translating to City of Angels), to use it's Thai name, has been the capital of Thailand, or Siam, only since the very end of the 18th century, succeeding Ayuthaya and Sukothai.
Bangkok (translating as 'village of wild plums') was the original site for the capital city and was located west of the Chao Phraya river (in modern day Thonburi).
In 1782, King Rama I decided to move to a more defensible site and moved across the river to found his new capital, Krung Thep. For whatever reason, foreigners have never since caught up with the name change and the old name of Bangkok has stuck. In recent years, Krung Thep/Bangkok has expanded at such a fast rate that it now sprawls over a huge mass of land on both the sides of the Chao Phraya and has engulfed the once independent Thonburi.
Krung Thep is actually an abbreviated version of the ceremonial full name, which is shown below in a romanized form.
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit
In English this translates, roughly, to: The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.
Perhaps we should stick to Bangkok!
Early August we set off to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. The trip is for business, to attend a gallery opening in Chiang Rai. It's easier to fly but I drive whenever I can. We decided to drive straight to Chiang Mai, break for the night, then move on to Chiang Rai the next day. It takes about seven hours to get to Chiang Mai, depending on traffic, the lunatic Formula 1 aspirations of your driver, and taking the right roads. Addisorn certainly has Formula 1 aspirations, and the only traffic problem we had was running into a funeral, but he can't read a map, so we arrived late.
It's a pleasant though unremarkable route, mostly by expressway. One joy is to see the rice fields. Field upon field stretching endlessly both vertically and horizontally. Rice farmers and their families working the fields. You feel as if you are going back in time to a more peaceful and simple existence, out from the city into the farming heartland of Thailand.
Last year I took the same route with my children but we spent four days getting to Chiang Mai, stopping off at Ayuthaya, Lopburi, Sukothai, Lampang and Phitsanulok to see a variety of sights.
In Europe I would never describe myself as a church freak. I am happy to visit the odd cathedral here and there but that's about it. In Thailand I definitely fall into the category of temple addict. I love the Buddhist culture and the temples, whether extant or in ruins, induce all sorts of strange emotions in me.
Of all the places we visited Ayuthaya is the best known, being close to Bangkok, but Sukothai was for me the most interesting experience. Finding good hotels proved challenging. We stayed in some fairly weird places but I am now beginning to get to grips with the concept of Thai travel lodges. Luxurious they are not but they are clean, often set in very beautiful countryside and they do more for me than the functionalism of a convention type hotel.
This time we got close to Chiang Mai at around six and stopped off for dinner in a small town, beside the market. The markets are the soul of Thai rural society.You eat there, you shop there and you see Thailand there. Exotic smells, wonderfully fresh food, often grown by small families selling off their surplus.
In the outer edges of the bigger cities there are very few non-Thai and I always find myself being observed by young and old alike, as if I am an alien from another planet. I try to speak Thai to them , asking perhaps for some noodle soup or some geng daeng (red curry) and they respond with vacant stares which demonstrate that knowing Thai vocabulary is not even close to being able to speak the language!
As almost everywhere in Thailand the people are unfailingly polite and charming. Eventually we find food I can eat and then I observe the food sellers watching me to see if I can cope with the spice! There are chuckles of delight as I cough violently on som tam and expressions of satisfaction as I ask for more.
We get into Chiang Mai itself around eight. Part of our mission is to find some high quality boutique hotels to recommend to future clients.
It's a nice idea in principle but it can be hell finding these places. We are staying at a place called Baan Singh Kham and we are lost. We call the hotel and the manager tells us to hold on and he will come and find us. After a few minutes he arrives and we follow him to the hotel.
It's dark so it's difficult to assess the hotel properly but the rooms, while eccentric, are fantastic, and we are paying just 2,000 baht for the night. You can see more information about the hotel at http://www.hotelthailand.com/chiangmai/baansinghkham/index.html
The site is not great but don't let that put you off. The hotel is charming, small (I like small), very clean and very beautiful. Take a look at the bathrooms on the site! They are just a lot of fun.
I highly recommend this place. The staff are efficient, polite and they speak good English too. Ok, the place is a little eccentric. The fitness room is a bike on a balcony. New York this ain't! You know, if I wanted New York I would go to New York. This is Thailand and I am content.
We go into Chiang Mai for dinner and find a pretty good Thai restaurant. We then wander off into the nightlife. It's not the same as Bangkok. Yes, there are beer bars and gogo bars and a mass of karaoke bars but it is very laid back. In fact it is fair to say that Chiang Mai is generally a laid back city with its own, very unique charm. The three of us play a little pool, drink a little beer and eventually wander by accident into what is termed a gogo.
I am the only farang. No one speaks a word of English and who ever heard of a gogo bar with no poles? Well, there is a pole but it is at the entrance to the bar rather than in the bar itself. We are "entertained" by girls spitting darts to burst balloons, opening bottles of beer and doing various other weird and wonderful things with (how can I put this subtly) various and unlikely body parts.
Next morning I wake early, read in a chair on the balcony and gently watch the world pass me by. We all have breakfast and then set off for Chiang Rai. It's not far, a little over a 100km but it's through some very hilly terrain with slow, single lane tracks. Yet this is Thailand maybe at it's best -- green and lush, sun reflecting off the rice fields, the air fresh and clean.
Our destination is uncertain, meaning we have no idea where it is! It's a new hotel called Doi Hom Fha. All we really know is that it is accessible by track rather than by road and that we have to take a ferry to reach the hotel itself.
Via many conversations on the phone we do eventually find the track, though "track" is a poor description. It's more a mud trail to nowhere.
Eventually we pass through a small village of open huts and see the horizon of what appears to be a huge lake. We see boys playing in the water, fishing with small sticks. There are men in small, lazy boats fishing in the open water, also amidst the foliage of the shores. The sun lights up a panorama and we are in another world. It's magnificent, isolated, huge and inspiring.
The hotel itself is hard to describe. It's better experienced via pictures. The lobby is like a giant cave. I have never seen anything so big in my life. I sense there should be bats lining the walls and ceiling. The manager is hospitality herself except I mean himself as "she" later turned out to be a "he', wonderfully eccentric, exaggeratedly feminine but fun to know. I could have done without the details of the upcoming "final" operation however.
The rooms are small villas and it's clear we are occupying the only functional ones, functional being a relative term. The hotel is not properly open for business as yet. The grand opening is in January 2007. This is clearly meant to a 5-star resort and it is, but in a Thai way. So the advertised DVD player is found in one room but not in mine. The aircon works but vaguely so. The tap comes off my shower and the wiring looks more dangerous than an unexploded cluster bomb! And outside showers and baths are a wonderful concept except when it is raining!
Yet it really doesn't matter. Everyone is friendly and you sense they probably will get everything fixed by January and the place is just so wonderful that I can manage almost any problem. Aso, we are paying 2,500 baht versus a rack rate of 8,000.
The site address is http://www.doihomfharesort.com/index.html. It is worth taking a look.
We are driven around the resort. It's owned by a Thai who made his fortune in jewelry. You sense this is his fantasy project. Honestly I don't see how the economics can work but feel the love that has gone into the project. The basis of everything is wine. The vineyards were laid down about 10 years ago with shiraz grapes. There is an enormous, I would almost say fantastic, winery with great vats full of wine.
Next we move onto the jewelry factory where gemstones are being polished by about thirty workers. Beside is the tea house where we sample about 10 different types of tea. All around is the most wonderful scenery you will ever see. What a place this is. If I was staying in a tent I would be happy here and I never do tents! If you want to escape into a civilized wilderness, far from anyone, privacy guaranteed, set in the most beautiful surrounds, then this is the place for you. All of us fall in love with the place. All of us will return.
Later we go into Chiang Rai itself for the gallery opening. On our return we discover that the ferryman has fallen asleep on the wrong side of the lake! Our driver is getting increasingly frantic trying to raise him on the radio. I am beginning to think about the merits of 4 of us sleeping in one car. He does eventually wake up and we cross in the darkness, the lake holding its secrets from us like an eclipse of the moon.
My previous time in Chiang Rai I had stayed right beside the Mekong River. We took a boat into the Golden Triangle passing huge Buddhas as we criss-crossed Thailand, Laos and Burma. We also visited the Queen Mother's Summer Palace where there is a feast of flowers that overwhelms the senses.
I also had the misfortune to be conned by my children into an elephant ride across the river. This was not cool. Uncomfortable, often scary, am I the only person who suffers from elephant motion sickness? The Mekong and the areas around the Mekong are the equal of Doi Hom Fha, but much more geared to the tourist. I can only say that I adore the whole of the Chiang Rai region. It's my favorite part of Thailand. I would happily get lost there for weeks on end.
The next day, Sunday, we drove home to Bangkok. It's a 10-12 hour drive. Addisorn managed to lose us a few times, to the point that we started to believe we might end up in Hat Yai if we didn't stay awake to guide him! Oh for the joys of satellite navigation. In Europe I can almost close my eyes on a 500km trip from Geneva to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In Thailand I can get lost going round a corner.
Three days is not nearly enough time to do this trip. We saw almost nothing, yet we also saw everything. I would recommend taking 5-6 days, driving slowly, stopping often, keeping away from the main metropolises, with the exceptions of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It's a wonderful experience and a fun and novel way to experience more of what Thailand is about.

by Adam Bryan-Brown

The Phuket History

2007-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Phuket History The first records in Phuket history originate in the beginning of the 11th century. As far as historians have been able to trace, the first inhabitants of what is now known as Phuket were the sea gypsy's and theNegrito's.
Phuket Negritos The Negritos are considered by historians to be the indigenous inhabitants of South East Asia. The Negritos include tribes from the Malay Peninsula, Andaman tribes, Pilipino tribes and the Semang tribes. The Negritos were small people and were pygmy sized. They are in fact considered to be among the smallest races when looking at population size. Genetic expert consider the DNA of the Negritos to be among the purest of any human race.
Junk Ceylon Junk Ceylon. was the first name of Phuket in its history. Historians have found the original name of Phuket on the maps of Portuguese sea merchant maps. There was an earlier mention of Junk Ceylon in a book written in the year of 157 AD. The book was written by a well known Greek philosopher. Cladius Ptolemy.
The Greek philosopher mentioned that if one was to travel to the Malaysian peninsula, one would have to pass a cape which he called the Junk Ceylon. The Junk Ceylon was given a location between the latitudes of 6 N and 8 N which would be the position of present day Phuket. It seems that the Junk Ceylon was visited by sea merchant from various countries as the bay of Junk Ceylon offered a superb protection against the forces of nature and gave the merchants an opportunity to rest and restock.
Recent Phuket History Phuket become later known as Thalang after the city which still exists in the northern region of Phuket. An important part of Phuket history was during the 15th century when Phuket obtained the reputation as a leading tin mining producer. Due to the local mining industry, Phuket become somewhat of a trading hub.
Due to the large volume of European merchants and traders that were calling port in Thalang, the Thai King during that period decided that Phuket should be administered by a European. Between the period of 1681 and 1685, Thalang was administered by a French missionary named Renee Charbonneau.
Burmese Invasion Another imporrant event in Phuket history was in 1785 when enemy troops from neighboring Burma attempted to invade and rule Phuket. Two Phuket ladies decided to stand up and defend the Island in the name of the King of Thailand. The former governor's widow, Chan, and her loyal sister Muk organized a defense which lasted nearly a month.
The Burmese troops were left with no supplies after they had been unable to get past the defence for over a month. The aggresors had no other option but to withdraw as their suplies had run. The king of Thailand heard of the heroic actions of the two sisters and bestowed upon them the noble titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon. Even in present day Phuket, the two sisters have not been forgotten and are in fact still honored and respected. In 1966 the two sisters were honored by their very own statue which stands at the Tha Ruea Intersection.

by Alexander van Eyk

Spa Resorts and Spa Holiday

2007-06-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Fancy going on a holiday for Spa treatment and detox. There are many beautiful beaches and resorts in Thailand that catering for this.
In many Thailand spa resorts, the well-trained therapists will ease away your stress and tensions with a wide range of treatments and therapies. Pamper yourself everything from traditional Thai massage to various types of exotic massages and treatments with special oils and scrubs imported from many destinations in Asia and in the West.
If you visit Koh Samui and Chiang Mai, there are a lot of Spa and Resort facilities that offer a broad range of spa, health and beauty treatments.
Ask your travel agent to choose for you a Spa holiday packages that includes Rejuvenation, Body Detox, Health Management, Fasting & Weight loss programs. Choose a Spa takes a holistic approach to your health and well-being. Visit to a spa cultivates your inner harmony and promote health and beauty.
Many Spa Resorts in Thailand offers a range of spa treatments, facials and Thai massage, all to the highest standards in town. A spell at the spa will leave you rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to continue your adventure in Thailand city.
In most of the Thailand Spa resorts, you can have your treatments in one of the wooden, Thai-style houses or in a traditional sala at the water's edge. You can choose from a wide range of massages, including Foot, Facial, Aromatic Oil, Herbal Steam, and Classical Thai treatments, or pamper yourself with a body masque. They have also luxurious open air bathroom with Jacuzzi.
Modern Spa use a combination of tradition and modern techniques, such as herbal remedies, steam compresses, natural ingredients and some spa even have the state of the art facilities such as the salt flotation tank to ensure clients satisfaction. Most Spa Resorts in Thailand offers a holistic spa and salon approach, such as: 1. Ayurvedic Aroma Therapy 2. Herbal Steam Room 3. Classic Thai Massage 4. Body Masque 5. Jacuzzi 6. Facial Massage 7. Aroma Oil or Herbal 8. Steam Massage 9. Aroma Therapy 10. Foot Massage 11. And many more treatments. While on holiday, Indulge yourself in sheer indulgence and exquisite pampering. You can choose from a wide selection of spa services: from romantic treatments to comprehensive one-day packages combining hydrotherapy, massotherapy and aromatic body, beauty and skincare treatment. You are certainly spoilt for choices. Relaxation through Spa allows you to focus on harmony between the mind, body and spirit. So after a relaxing spa holidays, you should feel more refresh and more energetic back at work.

by Ito Nakamura

Escape To Kho Tao

2007-06-14T07:26:00.002-07:00

Escape To Kho Tao In The Gulf Of Thailand

Koh Tao which literally means Turtle Island, is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, and is a great place for divers who want to escape from places like Koh Samui, because it is a bit quieter, perhaps because it isn't very easy to reach, in fact your only option is by boat.
The options depend on where you are travelling from:
From the south it will take about three hours by ferry from Surat Thani on the mainland, one and a half hours from Koh Samui, and around an hour from Ko Pha Ngan. You might wish to take an overnight ferry from Surat Thani, it leaves about eleven o' clock at night and arrives early morning, but if you use this option, get there early to grab a good mattress position, and be warned they are old cargo boats, and very basic, so you might feel happier with your own inflatable life jacket!!
If you're coming from the north, Chumphon is the place you will travel from and here you will find agents selling tickets for all kind of boats, some take as little as 90 minutes, but others will take 5 hours, so you choose according to how much you want to spend.
Another way is to get yourself on a day diving charter from Koh Samui, these are high speed boats, and you could make Koh Tao in around an hour.
However if it is comfort you are after, and a choice of departure points, such as Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Chumphon, then the Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran is probably the fastest and most comfortable way to get to Ko Tao. They run twice daily, have online booking, air conditioning, and movies.
When you get to Koh Tao there are some safety issues you need to address
You need to go snorkelling at Shark Bay, see the sunset from the Thipimarn restaurant, and generally walk everywhere, because you will see more and enjoy it more.

by Andy Perrin

Koh Samui

2007-06-14T07:26:00.001-07:00

One of the famous island in Gulf of Thailnd located in Surat Thani province,south of Thailand. Koh samui is the third biggest island in Thailand, 21 kilometers at its width and 25 kilometers length. It is approximately 84 kilometers east of Surat Thani province and about 700 kilometers far from Bangkok. The district is subdivided into 7 tambon. In the past the islanders plant coconut and sell it for income so Koh Samui known as Coconut Island. In fact Tourist arrivals have been increasing steadily in recent years but it still maintain its charm. White sand beach, warm water so if you love to lay on the nature beach do not miss this islands. There are a lot of places to see and things to do at Koh Samui and its neighbor islands. Travel to Koh Samui you will enjoy lay on the beautiful beach and enjoy nightlife along beach which quite easily be found. However, Samui is mostly visited by holiday-traveler and want away from busy city so the main attraction of Koh Samui is its white beach. After read a lot of information you may want to go there. The question is how to get there. The easiest way to visit Samui is by air, you can fly to Samui by Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi Airport. But if you want spend more time on train also you can take train to Surat Thani and follow by ferry transfer to Koh Samui. Another you can take bus to Surat Thani and follow by ferry to Koh Samui. After you arrived at Samui the most popular way to get around is to hide motorcycle and ride it around. Due to road on Samui already developed compare with another island so no need to worry about the road. However, there are plenty of taxi on Koh Samui and songthaews (pick-up trucks) serve as taxi also.
by livegodayday

Book Your Hotel in Thailand

2007-06-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

What's the Best Way to Book Your Hotel in Thailand?
Let's look at the available options:
Online with your airline reservation Online form directly with the hotel Phone call or email to the hotel Your local travel agent Online form with an in-country booking agent
If you book your flight online with a company like Expedia or Travelocity, you will be given the option to add a hotel to your airfare. The prices are usually outrageous and the hotels listed are at the very high end.
Booking directly from the hotel online is a good option if the hotel has an online booking form and it is secure. Check for the little lock at the bottom of your Internet browser.
Phone calls to overseas locations can be expensive and there is no guarantee of an English-speaking receptionist. Even if you make the booking over the phone, there is no guarantee in writing that your room will be waiting for you.
Booking via email can be dangerous if the hotel requires credit card information since your email is not secure.
Your local travel agent may or may not know the current situation or prices in Thailand. Hotels in Thailand have different rates during different times of the year. Prices are greatly reduced during low season and can be much more expensive during high season. There may also be additional fees during Christmas and New Years. Your local agent may not know all of these details.
Booking through an online agent actually located in Thailand is your best bet. They will have access to many more hotels in all price ranges and all locations. They will also be privy to specials and promotions that may not be published outside the country. Also, they will speak both Thai and English, have a secure server for orders, and respond promptly to your enquiries. Their web sites will also publish reviews of the hotels.
Do your homework, check the prices directly at the hotel's web site, and then visit one of the many in-country online hotel-booking sites. Ensure that the site is secure, find a hotel in your price range and vacation spot, and book your room the easy and safe way.

by Larry Westfall

Thailand Water Fight

2007-06-14T07:23:00.002-07:00

Many tourists from all over the world visit Thailand, especially Khao Sarn Road in Bangkok during April to take part in the water festival (Songkran) festivities. To those tourists who have been in action during the friendly yearly water fights, I am sure it was very fun. I thought so too until a few years ago, when I visited Myanmar during dates coinciding with Myanmar's version of Songkran. The Myanmese called the water festival (Thingyan).
In Thailand's version of the Songkran water festival, people loaded up tanks of ice cold water in pick up trucks going around splashing and drenching everyone who is within range all in good fun. Some like the picture above load water guns and ice cold squirt at you you are expected to retaliate with... what else, cold water of course.
Now this festival although coming from the same custom is celebrated differently in Myanmar. It is much more wild and spirited. The Myanmese authorities will build stages after stages called "pandles" on sides of main roads. Some of these stages will have live music bands, dances, gay models and bodybuilders on parade amplified by music blaring loudly from the speakers and PA system, others will be packed chocked full of people armed with wildly colorful hoses splashing tons of water on whoever wants the showers of blessings on them.
The Yangon ( former capital city of Myanmar) hotel I stayed in organized a tour of the city on the back of.....yup, you said it......pick up trucks with refreshment, water guns and large drums of ice cold water ammunition. This is certainly much more fun than the Thai version, especially if you bring your whisky along. The roads were flooded and water was flowing like small rivers.
So if you ever visit Thailand for its Songkran festival, then hop over to Myanmar to open a second water war front. A word of warning though, better book your hotel room or accommodation and air travel tickets early. The hotel rooms are always booked months in advance by fun loving tourists both in Thailand and Myanmar.
The festivities will usually last a few days every April. After hard day at play, do remember that Thailand is famous for its ancient Thai massage. Do get a skillful massuer to soothe those aching muscles after a few days of fun. You can even order a massage service from the hotels.

by Chris Chew

Asia Travel Insurance

2007-06-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

When traveling to Asia it has always recommended that you have travel insurance when you come, this is especially true for Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Trying to find the right travel insurance plan can be a daunting exercise, especially if you seek adventure in your holiday travel diet, like mountain trekking, parachuting, riding 50cc motorcycles, scuba diving, and traveling on small boats. Most holiday travel specific insurance plans will allow some limited adventure activities, like 14 days of scuba diving, but they put restrictions on it, and unless you are an expert, chances are good that you could end up in a loop hole, and be denied coverage.
In the US if you're employed, and you have group insurance through work, the coverage will more often cover the high risk stuff that will not be covered by specialty travel insurance. The group work insurance companies can afford to do it, as the risk is spread over a much larger group, with more people in a class, and most will not be doing fun stuff! So keeping your regular insurance when traveling, if you can, is a good idea. Most employers, if you are on sabbatical, or just on a long vacation, will have a way for your insurance to continue if you pay the premiums. Talk to your human resources department about this, they love to talk about stuff like this. If you lose your job, you may also be able to continue the insurance under the Cobra laws, a very good thing for you to look at closely when you are telling the boss to stick it.
Most people in the dive industry will tell you that DAN Master Insurance or DAN Preferred plan, are the preferred scuba diving specific policies, as they will cover you regardless of the depth. These policies cover evacuations, recompression which can be up to 25thousand USD and DAN knows where the recompression chambers are, and the fastest way to get you there, safely. The DAN Insurance will also cover you while you are on vacation more than 100 miles from home, this includes their evacuation coverage, So you might consider getting it even, if you are not a hard core diver. DAN understands divers needs better than a regular insurance company, as they are a non profit organization dedicated to diver safety and dive research, and a dedicated 24 hour hotline and they can really be a lifesaver when you need the expert help as they have doctors on the end of the line that are used to talking to people in emergencies all over the world, and these DAN policies for the coverage they provide are very cheap for the value you will get. The DAN Insurance is meant as a secondary coverage, so keeping your work insurance valid is a good idea. I have heard of dive companies in the US hiring their instructors as independent contractors, and telling them to get the DAN Insurance, to avoid the costs of Workman's Compensation afforded to workers covered under the Jones Act.
Credit Cards for insurance?
We have seen people refused time and again by the hospitals to accept travel insurance in South East Asia, especially Cambodia, Some of the major hospitals like Bumrangard in Bangkok will accept, but for most it is cash only, and then they will fill out the forms with you to get you reimbursed, by your insurance company, which as you can probably guess, will take a bit of time and who by the way will usually require that you provide the translation as well, so get it done where you are here, rather than bringing it home to a surprise translation bill as well. I suggest that everyone bring a credit card, with lots of limit, and a pin number. Cash is the best thing to have on your side in an emergency and a credit card is the safest way to carry it. Believe me, your best bet in an emergency is to get to Thailand or Singapore, and then back to your home country, or to some place that understands dive medicine, as quickly as possible, and not having enough ready cash can slow you down. Some credit cards have evacuation benefits if you are hurt while traveling, they might also have some legal help as well.
Some high end, and travel specialty credit cards, sometimes will have some coverage as well for other travel related stuff that can be useful, like getting your stuff replaced if it is ripped off, not a bad thing to review or consider when applying for a credit card.
At the end of the day the best insurance is not to get hurt, so please keep your brain switched on, and easy on the booze. A large number of accidents happen while under the influence, make sure that you are not one of them.

by Fred Tittle

The Best Plan Is No Plan

2007-06-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

I can be fairly anal when making plans. In my job, I live by the calendar in Outlook. Meetings, Conferences, Training and the daily routine are all governed by my calendar. I do the same thing when going on vacation.
I know that a vacation is a time to relax and not watch the clock. But, I still like to have some sort of schedule to get the most out of my 2 ½ week holiday. Planning works well for me everywhere except for Pattaya. I haven't quite figured out why - I just know that all my plans get thrown out the window every time I go to Pattaya.
My upcoming trip has already been disrupted and I haven't even left home yet. Me and a couple of buddies go to Thailand every year - usually in the September/October time frame. My son wanted to come along again with us this year but couldn't get time off from his job until December. So, the rest of us changed our plans and we set things up for December.
Well, my son went and got married in August (while I was on my last holiday in Pattaya) and his wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl 3 weeks ago. So, now the proud papa needs to be with his wife and baby and the 3 Musketeers will still go in December.
But, we almost didn't make it. With the price of oil rising and tickets relatively scarce during December, we decided to purchase our tickets a little earlier than usual. We usually get tickets about 4 - 6 weeks prior to flying. So, I called my travel agent and booked 3 tickets on September 18 and the very next morning there was a coup in Thailand.
I followed the news, contacted some friends in Bangkok and Pattaya and got the "inside" info and found that there was nothing to worry about. Martial law was in effect - but it had no impact on tourism. Then a bombshell was dropped. The Command General of the Army in the Pacific banned all travel for Military and Government Civilians to Thailand - period. Great. As government civilians, we all fell into this category.
I couldn't understand the reasoning since the US State Department didn't impose any travel restrictions to Thailand. But, the General is the big boss and his word is law. We sweated this out for approximately one month until October 20th when the good General lifted the travel ban and we breathed a group sigh of relief.
I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Or maybe I should just change my plans to be - Have a great time in the Land of Smiles and not worry about the day-to-day activities. That will certainly make it less stressful but the lack of a schedule may just drive me nuts. Oh well, I will try my best to just have fun and not worry about the minor details.
by Lawrence Westfall

Visiting Koh Samui

2007-06-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

Visiting Koh Samui - Tropical Island in Thailand

Koh Samui Introduction
Koh Samui lies roughly eighty kilometers of the east coast of Thailand. Samui is situated surrounded by other Islands of the Ang Tong group. From the second a traveler arrives on Samui they will fall in love with Samui. Many travelers visiting Samui adore the wonderful atmosphere that can be found on Samui.Beauty of Samui
From nearly every position on Koh Samui, tourists are granted astonishing views of surrounding sea. The Samui airport will definitely be one of the most astonishing airports found any where on the globe. For those tourists arriving by boat to the wonderful Thai holiday Island, the ferry dock will steer them ahead instantly onto the white Samui beaches and its coconut trees.Koh Samui Bungalows and Hotels
Koh Samui offers a remarkable selection and assortment of beachfront bungalows and resorts and is obtainable for virtually every tourist accommodation budget. Travelers will find on Samui a large offering of accommodation that ranges from standard beach bungalows on one of the beaches all the way up till incredible and luxurious Samui hotels and beach resorts.
The great thing about Koh Samui is that almost every voyager can find lodging right on one of the Samui beaches and at the budget available to the visitor.
Inhabitants of Samui
The inhabitants of Koh Samui are made up for the major piece of Thai Buddhists. Previous to the arrival of tourism dollars and the hefty number of tourists, Koh Samui has been living off coconut farming and fishing. Fishing and coconut farming are still an vital part of Samui however the vast mainstream of local residents are at present employed in the Samui hospitality and travel industry. Chaweng Beach
The leading and most trendy Samui beach is of course Chaweng beach. Close runner ups are the Samui beaches at Lamai and the one at Maenam. Many of the beaches on Koh Samui have a huge number of bungalows and resorts however the Samui beaches by no means suffer from busy crows or noise as Koh Samui beaches are normally relatively stretched and spacious. Entertainment on Koh Samui
Koh Samui offers tourists a lot of amusement and entertainment which ranges from the infamous Chaweng nightlife to relaxing trips by boat to deserted and fabulous beaches. Tourists visiting Koh Samui can also get pleasure from a wide choice of watersport options on Koh Samui. Visitors can also go one of the great trips to one of the beautiful waterfalls found all over Samui or go on an elephant ride through the natural rain forest.
Samui Climate
The ideal time of the year to visit Koh Samui is definitively during the dry season. The dry season on Samui starts in February and ends in June. If you stay on Koh Samui from March until October, you will experience temperatures in Samui which can get up to 35 Celsius. The Samui rainy season lasts from early November until late February.

by George Van Eyk

Bangkok on the Cheap

2007-06-14T02:08:00.000-07:00

Bangkok has always been a favorite destination for budget travelers, even today when the baht is doing so well against most currencies, especially the dollar. With Bangkok as a major Asia air travel hub, with a lot of cheap flights into the new Bangkok airport, this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. When it is time to leave Bangkok, there are lots of options for you to chose from to move towards your next destinations in Asia, with night trains running the length of Thailand heading towards Burma, Laos and Malaysia, overland buses to Laos and Cambodia, and commuter type cheap air flights being offered by Air Asia, and other regional carriers to Singapore, Vietnam & Cambodia.
Most folks that are trying to save money and have a great time in Bangkok start off at Koh Shan Rd, which gets you into one of the better neighborhoods for saving money. You can also get good information from fellow travelers on what is hot, and what the scams are to watch out for. The secret for hotels and guesthouses is staying as close to the river as you can. The budgets hotels and guesthouses off of Koh Shan Rd are around the same price as the strip, but they are much nicer usually. Off the strip expect to find larger rooms, with more amenities than you will get on the strip. An added benefit is that you get a way from all of the hustle and bustle of Koh Shan rd; however at night this is a highly recommended world class people watching location, with the nightly spectacle of thousands of backpackers and hippies milling in a kaleidoscope of fashions and colors not seen since the heyday of San Francisco's Height Asbury
When you are looking for places to eat, get off Koh Shan rd and head out into the neighborhoods. Head over towards the university, and you can find some real Thai places, that have real Thai prices, at the sidewalk restaurants. You will usually get larger portions and better quality food this way. Fresh fruit, Smoothies and Pad Thai are very cheap on the strip.
Getting around Bangkok
Getting around Bangkok from Koh Shan Rd on local buses can be a real frustrating excursion; the little bit extra to take a taxi to the sky train is worth it. Most people will tell you to steer clear of the tuk tuks, unless you want to see every scam jeweler and tailor in Bangkok. Most people love traveling down the river on boats, and there are all sorts of interesting things to see on the river, like alligator farms, floating markets and lots of Buddhist temples, and best of all it is cheap and fast. During the middle of the daily traffic jam, by taking the river taxis and the sky train, you can get to Suhkumvitt Rd or Patpong in under an hour. Another favorite thing is to go to the 5 star hotels just off the river and walk around them taking in the interior designs and exquisite artwork, some of the really luxury hotels have their own boats that travel on the river as well, a good rule of thumb the nicer the boat, the nicer the hotel.

by Fred Tittle