travel&resort

Paying For Your Thailand Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:13:00 +0700

Even though a trip to Thailand is relatively inexpensive, you still need money to have a good time. Food and hotel prices are inexpensive but your airfare costs may have gone up 50% from last year.

So, how can you earn some extra money to pay for your dream vacation?

One way is to cut out the little things. Stop buying that cup of Starbucks coffee every morning and that candy bar every afternoon.

Skip the movie theater and the DVD rentals. We all have about 200 channels on TV and missing an occasional movie won't kill you.

Bring lunch from home. Make a couple of sandwiches, and pack a power bar and some fruit. Lunch will be cheaper and healthier.

Have a yard sale. Clean out your closets and sell your unwanted treasures. If you have a lot of good items, sell them on eBay.

If your job allows it, work some overtime. I look for overtime all the time but I don’t get extra money. But I do get extra time off called compensatory time. Time off is worth more than money to me.

If you have a web site, add some AdSense ads or join an affiliate program to make some money from your web visitors. I have more than one web site, and earn $500 - $1000 per month in advertising and affiliate sales.

Cut out the pizza deliveries, and the after work drinks. Frozen pizza and a few beers at home will save you some bucks.

Share a ride. Catch the bus. Ride your bike. Find some alternative means of transportation and save on your gasoline bill. You don’t have to do it every day but the more you use as alternate method, the more you will save.

You can also save some money by doing some daily hunting for the lowest airfares online and with your local travel agent. It may require an extra stop or two, but you may be able to save some cash.

You can also save some money by planning your trip more economically. There are also ways to save money while you are in Thailand.
Book a cheaper hotel. You don’t need to stay at a 5-star hotel to have a good vacation. By the same token, you don’t need to eat at fancy restaurants every day. Thai restaurants and street vendors have great food for super low prices. There are many low cost, smaller boutique hotels at half the price of the "name" hotels.

Don’t sign up for a package deal (air and hotel) – it will cost you more in the long run. Book your own flight and hotel separately. If you plan to take any day trips, do it when you arrive. The prices are cheap and the street tour vendors are cheaper than the ones you see in your hotel lobby.

Don’t book a hotel just because they give you a free breakfast. You may pay ten or twenty dollars more for this privilege and breakfast in Thailand is only a dollar or two.

Take advantage of the duty free store at the airport. You can get booze and cigarettes tax free going and coming.

There are many ways to add $50 - $100 extra every month to your vacation fund. And there are even more ways to save money once you arrive in Thailand. Combining the two will make it a lot easier to plan your dream vacation in Thailand.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Larry Westfall has been traveling to Thailand for over 34 years and when he stays in Pattaya he books his hotel through Pattaya-Resort
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By: lar

Dining In Pattaya Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:12:00 +0700

In Pattaya you will be bombarded with smells and tastes from a wide variety of cuisines. Determining where you will dine for the day may be the biggest decision of the day.

I will list approximate prices in Thai Baht and the exchange rate as I write this is about 33 Baht to 1 US dollar.

Breakfast is cheap in Pattaya. You can get basic fare for about 50 to 80 baht which consists of bacon and eggs, toast, juice and coffee. A better deal is the hotel buffet. The Lek Hotel, Apex and Diana Inn on Second Road all have buffets for about 110 Baht. Lots of food but nothing really spectacular.

I prefer to have a big breakfast but one that also tastes good. My favorite is at the Sportsman on Soi 13. They have a full English breakfast for about 240 Baht. This is served on a platter and comes with bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, beans, bubble and squeak, and fried tomatoes. It is all you can do to finish it.

I usually don’t eat lunch after having the big breakfast but for those who get hungry mid-day, there are many, many places to get something to eat. Everything from fast food to street vendor dishes are all over the city. You won't be able to walk ten feet without someone selling something to eat.

If I am hungry at lunchtime, I usually go to the Royal Garden Shopping Center upstairs to the food court. There you buy a card similar to a credit card and put however much Baht on it as you want. I usually add about 200 Baht and if I have money left over, I can get it refunded.

Then you just walk around to the many vendors and see what you like. Most of the food is Thai and there is everything from soup, to rice dishes to noodles. Beverages and dessert are also available. Most of the meals are in the 30 – 40 Baht range.

For dinner, I usually stop at a street vendor and get some meat and rice. There is a group of street vendors, or an outside food court on Soi Buakhao just north of Soi LK Metro. The northernmost vendor is my favorite. He has boiled chicken, fried pork, and cooked red pork. All dishes come with rice and cost 25-30 Baht. A bottle of water is an additional 10 Baht.

If you get hungry while out on the town in Pattaya, you will be able to get food no matter what time it is. Stationary street vendors and vendors with motorized stalls are everywhere serving soup, bar-b-que, and rice and noodle dishes. You can even get a sampling of Northern Thailand snacks – grasshoppers, silkworms, ants, and beetles.

Eating in Thailand is a way of life and you will find yourself eating 4 to 6 times per day. The meals are small in size and huge in taste. Some of the Thai dishes can be very spicy so be careful with the chili peppers.

And if you only eat pizza, burgers and fries, you can get those dishes all over the city too.

You can even find some of the best steaks and European cuisine in this former fishing village. Seafood is also abundant and you can get lobster or crabs for a small fraction of what you pay at home

I can guarantee that you will not go hungry when you are in Pattaya.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Bangkok - the City of Angels - and books his Bangkok Hotels at Bangkok Accommodations
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By: lar

A Day At Koh Larn

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:10:00 +0700

Visiting Koh Larn, or the coral island is a great change of pace from Pattaya.

My first trip to Koh Larn was a spur of the moment mini-adventure. I was talking with a young lady in a bar and she asked me where I had visited in Thailand. I rattled off a bunch of cities from north to south and then she asked if I had ever been to Koh Larn. I told her no and she said she had never been either.

It was decided then and there that we would take the short trip the next day. We spent the night together and made arrangements for the boat ride and tour at one of the many street vendor tour ladies.

We booked for a 10 AM boat ride and we were told we would be back at about 4 PM. The price was a whopping 10 US dollars each and this included lunch.

We walked down from Second Road to Beach Road and met out small, longboat that would take us out to the bigger boat for the trip to Koh Larn.

But first, we stopped at a square dock and were offered a kite-flying ride for an additional ten dollars. We declined but watched a couple of the others from our boat get the short round the dock ride.

We then boarded a bigger boat and chugged on out to the island. The ride took about 45 minutes and we were met by another small, long boat to get us to shore. This boat had a glass bottom to observe the coral, but the water was too murky to see anything.

We got ashore and since this was a spur of the moment trip, I bought my girl a swimsuit. We staked out a patch of beach and got 2 lounge chairs for about one dollar for the day for both and just kicked back and relaxed.

The water was clean and refreshing and we just splashed about and lay around on the chairs. We were offered a variety of sea activities from underwater walking to banana boat rides. We declined and just took it easy.

We were served lunch with the rest of the group and it was OK but nothing special. Rice, pork, French fries and a cold drink.

There were a handful of vendors trying to sell their wares but they were not pests. They came by once and left with a smile when I declined.

At about 3 PM it was time to head back. We took the small boat to the bigger boat and relaxed and listened to some music on the way back. The boat moved at a snail's pace and there was just enough of a breeze to keep things cool.

We met the small boat and were taken back to Pattaya Beach. I dropped my smart card off at the photo processing place and showered, changed, picked up the photos and went back to her bar.

I gave her a set of the pictures to show her friends and to keep for herself. All in all a very nice day that set me back $20 for the trip and another $10 to get her a bathing suit.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Pattaya and saves money booking his hotel through Pattaya-Accommodations
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By: lar

Shopping in Pattaya

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:07:00 +0700

Normally, I hate shopping. I don’t even like to shop for a loaf of bread. But, in Pattaya, I find myself shopping almost every day.

When I first arrive in Pattaya, I go shopping to fill up my refrigerator. Even though it is fully stocked, I like to stock it with cheaper items from the local 7-11. I have the hotel remove everything except the two free bottles of water and pick up some beer, Pepsi, red bull, and a couple of extra bottles of water I also get some snacks.

Since I travel light, I usually go out the first or second day and pick up some shorts and T-shirts. I will also get a few DVD movies to watch back in the hotel room. I have some preferred local toiletries and pick these up too. Lux is really great shower soap. I usually pick up these few items at Mike's Shopping Mall or over at the Royal Garden Shopping Plaza. Never accept the first price. Always bargain and don’t be afraid to walk away if they don’t meet your price. Walking away may drop the price drastically. If not, walk 10 feet and you will see the same items.

I make it a point to go to the Big C Shopping Mall and to Tuk Com (Com City) to check out the latest in electronics. I may or may not pick up an unlocked, tri-band cell phone that I can use in Thailand and also back in America. I will also take a look at the latest in pirated software and Thai movies. I enjoy Thai music so I will buy some CD's, MP3's and videos.

My favorite place to shop is at the flea market. In Thai, this is called talat naht. It is open on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Located on Soi Buakhao and South Road, it is open at about eight in the morning and I try to get there by nine. If I am early, I will just grab a bite to eat at one of the many street vendors.

You want to arrive early and complete your shopping by about eleven o'clock. Otherwise it will be way too hot. Shopping under all those canvas tarps in close quarters can be extremely hot. Make sure you bring a bottle of water or buy when at the market.

Most of the items are 99 or 199 Baht. This works out to about three US dollars or six US dollars. This is the place I buy most of the clothes I want for me and for my family and friends. You can also find clothes for less than that. I have gotten many outfits for my 1-year old granddaughter for about $1.25 per set.

I also pick up some additional Thai music and videos. The vendors will have stereos and TV's set up so that you can hear and see what they are selling. You can also the items to make sure they work. Prices for videos and music are about 3 dollars per CD.

It seems like you are always buying something just walking around Pattaya. I can be out going to dinner or to a bar, and I will see something that catches my eye and I buy it. Vendors also sell their wares while you are eating or drinking. They can be pests but every once in a while I will see something that I want to buy.

Pattaya seems like it is one giant flea market. Shops are everywhere, vendors are located every 10 feet, and malls are popping up all over the city. Large outlets are also available in Pattaya, but I prefer the smaller places where I can still use my bargaining skills.

So, even if you are like me and absolutely hate shopping, you will find that you will be shopping daily in Pattaya and actually enjoying yourself. Maybe it is because of how cheap all the goodies are.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Bangkok - Pattaya - and Phuket and books his hotels in Thailand through Thailand Accommodations
Submitted by: Free Article Submitter
By: lar

A day at the Tiger Temple.

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:40:00 +0700

A day at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburit, Thailand. That was amazing to see. It took us three hours from HuaHin to go up North West in the country. It was more up in the jungle we came too. The taxi driver had never been here before so we had to stop every now and then. The weather condition at the moment is rainy and heavy storms. So we came in to that kind of weather during our way up. It is hot and humidity outside and in the taxi we hade AC on. It was really cold. Funny but it is true. It felt cold when the thermometer showed +26 degrees in the cab. On our way up we stopped twice for toilet and we bought some snacks as well. At the entrance to the park a lady high lighted that I could not enter with a pink shirt. It was due to the danger to the tigers. It might annoy them. Then I had to buy a black tiger shirt. Maybe it was a sales trick but I did not dare to ask her. I believed the story she told me. After all I am in a foreigner country and prefer to stick to the rules.

We were in a group that walked up to the tigers cave. Arrangements were done for us. We walked in lines, had to stay quiet and were only allowed to approach the tigers from behind or side ways. One by one with a guide that took pictures with our cameras. A magic moment and I am feeling humbled to the experience. It was a huge park with other animals too. I think they were to be food for the tigers. I saw deer's, boars, goats and different birds. The monks could really handle the cats with love and respect. The young ones were playing and lying in their laps. Purring when they have got petted. They are very much a like our cats at home. Just little bit bigger. The only thing I did not like was that one big tiger were a photo shot model and he seemed to be little drugged. Maybe they have to do that to make him lay in the audiences laps. The money was to the park for taking care of the animals and I think that is fair. I also gave donations to them. It always feels good.

Once we greeted the animals and the monks by saying thank you and good bye it was time to go back. In to the air-conditioned car and three hours in front of us. It is easy to get in to deep thoughts about the park. In one hand is it right to keep the animals there and what are the options? Well first of all if they are orphan's or injured what do we do? Heal them and send them to a National Park in another country? The other alternative is to keep them here and give them as much care and pamper as possible. Yes they become a tourist attraction either way but at least here they are as free as they can get without the cages. The monks treat them well. Otherwise the animals were going amok and honestly they looked good and felt pretty happy too.
by MarieLouiseFalk

Living in Bangkok - It's Easy

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:28:00 +0700

Bangkok is probably the easiest city to live in Southeast Asia. I should know; I have been back in Thailand for the last 17 odd years. I was in the US before that.

First and foremost, Bangkok likes visitors from out-of-town. Here, the government truly promotes tourism in a big way; here, you have The Tourism Authority of Thailand. This means big budget for tourism activities.

You can start with the new airport, Suvarnabhumi; it can take on any other airport in the world. Some touch-ups are required, but for the most part, itâ€™s fine.

Next, you can check out some of Bangkokâ€™s finest accommodations, starting from the Oriental Hotel, one of the best in the world. They claim that the hotel staffs will recognize you by your first name after staying there for a few days. Then you have the Four Seasons, a super luxury hotel on Rachadamri Road; itâ€™s not far from Lumpini Park. The room decor here is very comfortable; you need to book early.

For a few weeks or a few months stay, you want to park yourself with the top serviced apartments here, like the Centre Point group, Chin House and the Emporiums. These places could make you feel like home away from home.

For a stay longer than that, you would want to check out some apartments and condos. There are tons of them to choose from in Bangkok, from less than 20,000 baht to over 100,000 baht a month.

Next, we want to hit the Loft at Central Chidlom Department Store, my favorite eatery. There you have Italian food, Thai, Singaporean, Vietnamese, Chinese and some Mexicans. It is set up like a high class cafeteria; you are given a food credit card, you pick up what you like, set yourself down at a table, and a waiter will bring you your freshly cooked order. Once youâ€™re done, you can check out the bill registered on the credit card. I just love their Caesar salad.

Some tourist attractions that you might be interested are Bhuddhist temples. There are many Bhuddhist temples in Bangkok; over 95% of the city dwellers are Bhuddhists. These temples have old Thai style architecture; they are very colorful. The temples are also places of worship, so you must have proper attire and manner while you are there.

Rock concert. Thatâ€™s right, we have rock concert here from time to time. Over 10 years ago I got a chance to see Michael Jackson performs; just before the unfortunate scandal got serious. Michael and his troupe were great. I would never get to see him if I was in the US at the time.

Then last year, I went to see Eric Clapton performance at the Impact Muangtong Tani (something like Madison Square Garden in Manhattan). It was terrific too. At other times, we have the Bolshoi troupe performs at the Cultural Center at Rachadapisek Road. I have not attended that one, but heard rave reviews about it.

Getting around town is pretty easy when you use the SkyTrain or the subway. Using taxi is a little more difficult because of the language barrier, but doable. A hotelâ€™s car service would be a good alternative. A tuk tuk (a tricycle novelty) is something unique when you feel adventurous; you can really feel the wind blowing through you hair when it really takes off.
by Suranart tanvejsilp

Karon beach resort – another popular destination on the island of Phuket

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:14:00 +0700

When it comes to planning a vacation, the options are endless. What makes a good or even perfect vacation destination? The things people look for is what they are interested in: stuff they can do, places they can visit and other things like that. What are your interests?

A popular destination for a relaxing vacation is the island of Phuket. Located in the southern part of Thailand, this island is also called ‘the pearl of the Andaman’ because it comprises all the necessary attractions which appeal to every tourist, no matter their preferences.

Let’s start with the places you can visit. A great tourist attraction is the Phuket zoo. It has a surface that stretches on 10 hectares. Within this vast area there are over 100 types of amphibians and reptiles, 600 bird species and over 45 kinds of mammals.

The Phuket Seashell Museum is home for various rarities. In it you can view the only left-handed Noble Volute ever to be discovered and a very rare golden pearl. Other attractions include giant clams or fossils over 380 million years old.

For people interested in culture, one of the biggest Buddhist Temples, the Wat Chalong, represents a very important attraction in Phuket. One of the reasons may be the enormous half buried Buddha, which has a fascinating history going back ages ago.

There are lots of interesting things you can do as well. The nightlife in Phuket is restless and filled with great and fun activities. Everything you can do or visit in Phuket needs a place where you can rest. This is where the Phuket hotels come in play.

Phuket hotels come in all sizes and comfort standards. Ranging from two stars to five star hotels, you can always find a room which serves your interests the best. Depending on your preferences and budget, the Phuket hotels provide choices for every tourist.

For the tourists that seek sunny beaches for a quiet and relaxing vacation, they should set their eyes upon Karon beach resort. Patong beach, which is located further north, provides the perfect solution for people on the look out for fun and wild nightlife.

The Karon beach resort has a beach approximately 1.5 km long. After the tsunami disaster in 2004, most areas here have been fully recovered, leaving just a few spots which need to be redeveloped. This is the perfect location to spend some time relaxing and watching breathtaking sunsets on the beach.

There are just a few Phuket hotels in Karon beach resort which have direct access to the beach. Even so, you will find whatever you heart desires here and all you need to do to get to the beach is cross the road, which does not have a lot of traffic.

There are also lots of interesting places you can spend your time in Karon beach resort. These include bars or restaurants like H2O Entertainment or Harry’s Restaurant and Pub. All you need to do is get there and the rest will come by itself.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

The destinations of the world are available for you to visit anytime you want, but none of them compare to Phuket. The variety of options to spend time and places to visit make this place unique. Check in the Phuket hotels of Karon beach resort for a relaxing and unforgettable vacation.

ctivity Cruises: In Pursuit Of Play

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:41:00 +0700

You'd be in the minority if you have never fantasized about luxuriating at poolside while you sip an umbrella-festooned drink and your cruise ship glides gracefully through tropical seas o n its way to the next sun-drenched port-of-call.

Millions of cruise enthusiasts, in fact, indulge their fantasies for relaxation and pampering beneath blue tropical skies and atop silvery moonlit seas, and have done so from the days of the great ocean liners of the 20th century. But the cruise industry, with its recent focus on activity cruises, has hit upon a new offering designed to appeal to a more energetic breed of traveler.

An activity cruise is like any other pleasure cruise in that it will get you to your glamorous destination in luxury and style. Where an activity cruise differs from most pleasure cruises is that you can arrange in advance to participate in a variety of onshore activities, with your cruise ship comforts waiting patiently for your return at the end of each fun-filled day.

Types Of Activity Cruises

An activity cruise is ideal for anyone who believes that travel is an opportunity to experience a new part of the world in a personal way. Being on an activity cruise will allow you, for example, to disembark from your cruise ship after breakfast, spend the day scuba diving among brilliant coral reefs or bicycling along the public garden paths of Nassau, or even chartering a boat to go whale watching off the coast of Mexico.

Shopping and of course, golf, are never without their pursuers on activity cruises, and having your greens fees paid and tee-off time arranged in advance can let you relax and enjoy eighteen holes on some of the most spectacular real estate--Phuket's Blue Canyon Club, for instance--in the world.

When you sign up for a cruise designated as an activity cruise, however, do it with the understanding that the activity will not let up once you have returned to your ship after am enervating day in sun or water. The activity director on an activity cruise is responsible for making certain you can fill every waking moment with diversion if you wish. You'll be swamped with decisions to make about onboard cocktail parties, miniature golf, shuffleboard, and slots tournaments, dance and karaoke contests and any other entertainments designed to throw you together with your shipboard companions.

Family Activity Cruises

If you have small children, don't despair. Many cruise ships are fully equipped to provide family activity cruises which will keep your kids happily amused with or without you, under the careful watch of professional child care staff. You can specify with your cruise operator that you want to travel on one of these ships.

Like all cruises, activity cruises are available for discounts if you are willing to spend the time ferreting them out on the Internet. Just be sure you have a clear understanding of which activities are included and which you will have to book and pay for separately.

by David Faulkner

Cha Am Resort&Travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 23:45:00 +0700

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Cha Am
ชะอำ
Statistics
Province:	Phetchaburi
District office:	12°47′59″N, 99°58′1″E
Geocode:	7604
Map

Cha Am (Thai ชะอำ) is a district (Amphoe) in the southern part of Phetchaburi province, central Thailand.

The district was established in 1897 in the name of Na Yang. In 1914 the center of the district was moved to Ban Nong Chok (now in Tha Yang district) and changed the name to Nong Chok district. After World War II, the government moved the office to Tambon Cha Am and also changed the district name to be Cha Am.

Cha Am beach

It is a famous beach resort town in Thailand.

Cha Am houses the only American University in Thailand. Webster University has over 300 students from numerous international countries. Cha Am is also famous for its beach front which is home to many high rise beach resorts.

[edit] Location

Districts to the north are Amphoe Tha Yang, south Amphoe Hua Hin of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, also a beach resort.

[edit] Attractions

Phra Pit-thawan

Wat Neran Chararam (Thai: วัดเนรัญชราราม) − Buddhist Temple (Wat) with the big Statue of the sixarmed Phra Pit-thawan (Thai: พระปิดทวาร)
Rat Charoen Tham Temple
Nong Chaeng Temple
Nong Ta Phot Temple
Cha-am Khiri Temple
Sai Noi Temple
Huai Sai Tai Temple
Maruk Khatayawan Temple

[edit] Phra Ratchawang Maruk Khatayawan

(Thai: พระราชนิเวศน์มฤคทายวัน)

Summer Palace of King Rama VI. build in the year 1923.

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Time for reflection by Tomas Tilver

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 23:42:00 +0700

In our daily lives we tend to take too little time for reflection. It is important to take a time-out every now and then to allow for our spirits to catch up with our hurried bodies.

Our everyday lives are filled with activities, meetings, schedules, deadlines... Hurry from one activity to the next, there is never enough time. A glance at the time to see how much longer we can stay before rushing on to the next appointment. Sometimes we feel we are slaves to time!

This lifestyle is not good for our health!

Take a genuine timeout regularly, just do nothing for a while! Take your time to enjoy the little things in life. Spend some times outdoors just for the fun of it! Go for a walk, play with your kids, call a friend you have not seen for a long time.

I read somewhere that in the oldtime nomadic gatherer-hunter societies, before makind became farmers and settled down in one place, a family needed about three hours each day to gather food, wood, water and whatever needed to survive. The rest of the day was spent playing, relaxing, reflecting etc. Imagine three hours working day!

I am spending two weeks in HuaHin, Thailand, now. Business combined with pleasure! Thailand is a natural place to go to relax. The warm climate, the friendly hospitable people, nice healthy food and beautiful surroundings forces you to relax whether you like it or not! It is easy to get around and the cost of living is agreeable. It is hard not to like this friendly place!

There are lots to see if you like to. Yesterday we took a taxi for the three-hour ride to the Tiger Temple where we could watch, touch and pet real live tigers! Exciting! Otherwise it is nice just to take it easy, spend your days relaxing in the sun, playing cards, reading, talking... doing those things you never seem to have time for at home!

And dont forget to visit the local markets! There are lots of goods to try. Why not dive into the fresh fruit they sell here! It is marvellous, fresh off the branches and rich in taste. The same goes for vegetables and sea-food by the way.

It is always nice to travel. Getting to know new cultures, meeting new people, learning new things about yourself and others. By seeing other cultures and ways-of-living you learn more about your own home environment. In the end you can pick-the-best-and-leave-the-rest from different cultures, making your own mini-culture to enjoy.

The important thing to remember is that there are no rights or wrongs when it comes to different cultures, only different ways of living!

Tomorrow it is time to leave this wonderful place and go back to a cold and dark Sweden. Back to everyday life and business as usual, but with my personal batteries loaded with energy from this nice and relaxing trip!
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Phi Phi Island, Krabi's island group, Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:51:00 +0700

Phi Phi Island General Information

Regarded by travelers from all walks of life as being among the most beautiful tropical islands of the world, Phi Phi Islands have become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. In addition, the islands are famous as the location where the movie "The Beach" featuring Leonardo Di Caprio was shot. The islands, together with the nearby Noppharat Thara Beach, a total area of 390 square kilometers, were recently established as a national park.

Phi Phi Islands are located just 40 kilometers away from both Krabi and Phuket. Thus, despite the fact that both Noppharat Thara Beach and Phi Phi administratively are a part of Krabi Province, most tourists think that Ko Phi Phi is part of Phuket Province.

The islands and the coastal hills are composed mainly of limestone and are an extension of the limestone mountain range in Phang-Nga Province. The main characteristics of these mountains and islands are their steep cliffs, large caves and dwarf trees growing out of the rock crevices, like those in Phang-Nga Bay.

The island group is composed of two rocky, tree-covered islets Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. Phi Phi Don, the larger islet to the north, is well known for its fine beaches and coral formations. Above average tourist facilities and accommodations are available along two beautiful curved bays, namely Ton Sai Bay and Lodalam Bay. Several shops at Ton Sai can arrange diving and snorkeling trips around the island or the nearby islands - Ko Phi Phi Le, Ko Yung and Ko Mai Phai.

About 2 kilometers to the south is Phi Phi Le. Contrary to Phi Phi Don, this islet is uninhabited as there is no beach area as the island descends abruptly into the sea on all sides and it is prohibited by the administrative body. The main attraction is a large cave about 3.2 square kilometers in size known as Viking Cave derived from one of the numerous drawings on the wall which resembles a Viking ship. The cave has a 10 to 15-metre high ceiling which contains many ledges inhabited by thousands of swallows, thus a bird's nest collection demonstration is a regular feature of guided tours.

Ao Maya and Ao Lo Sama - Phi Phi Islands scenic coves are favorite snorkeling places while the sea around the islands, especially the southern part, which are deep and full of coral formations are popular diving spots. With its emerald crystal sea, secluded beaches, mountain cliffs, colorful coral reefs and undersea life, Phi Phi is a paradise in the Andaman Sea. The best time to visit Phi Phi Islands is from November to April, when the sea is calm.

Ko Yung, an island to the north of Ko Phi Phi Don, has a stone beach on the east and small sandy beaches amid valleys. In addition, the island is teeming with diverse colorful coral reefs. Ko Phai, another island to the north of Ko Phi Phi Don and not far from Ko Yung, has spectacular beaches in the north and east of the island. The bank of coral reefs comprised mainly of antler corals stretches from the north to the south of the island.

Getting to Ko Phi Phi

Phi Phi Islands which are equidistant to Phuket and Krabi Provinces can be reached by boat.

From Krabi

Chao Fa Pier: Passenger boats leave Chao Fa Pier twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The trip takes about 2.30 hours.

Ao Nang: There is one express boat trip leaving daily at 9 p.m. taking 40 min.

From Phuket

Many tour companies in Phuket organize one-day trips to Phi Phi Islands. Tickets can be obtained from any hotel.

http://www.phiphiislandtour.com/

Get scuba diving qualified while holidaying in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:50:00 +0700

So, you've finally booked that exotic holiday to Thailand and now you're thinking about doing something really different? Why not get your PADI Open Water certification? It takes just a few days and will open up a whole new underwater world to you.

You'll find PADI is the most widely available certification with just a handful of shops offering NAUI and SSI certifications. There are dive shops all over Thailand, in places like Phuket, Khao Lak, Chumpon, Hua Hin, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangnan, Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Pattaya, Phi Phi, Krabi and more.

Some dive shops are tied to resorts while many are their own businesses. You can do your PADI Open Water paperwork in your home country before you arrive and do your checkout dives in Thailand, or do the whole course in Thailand. You also have the choice of doing your checkout dives by daytrip or from a liveaboard vessel.

Where you go to take your course depends on what your preferences are. Each location has its own attractions and if you plan to spend more time above the water than below it, you might want to choose your destination for its other offerings. Likewise, not all dive shops or instructors are of the same quality.

You'll want to visit several dive shops where you are staying and meet the instructor that you would have if you did your Open Water course there. If English is not your native language, you may find a dive shop with an instructor speaking Dutch, French, Italian, etc. Dive shops in the more popular diving areas provide instruction and exams in several languages.

Equipment standards vary between shops as well. You'll want to make sure that the equipment is not too old and that it has been well maintained and stored, as well as cleaned properly. For instance, regulators go in your mouth and they should be well cleaned between users. Additionally, most people urinate in their wetsuits and these should be cleaned after each dive. All equipment must be cleaned of salt water or the crystallization can damage it.

Poorly maintained regulator, BCDs and dive computers can malfunction and cause a serious accident that may even lead to your death. Likewise, a poorly trained dive instructor or one who does not take his or her job seriously can get you killed too.

One of the most popular places to take PADI courses in Thailand is Koh Tao, known for its cheap diving and abundance of dive shops, and within easy reach of Samui. You'll have plenty of choices here and would be wise to take your time and visit as many shops as possible. Koh Tao is a good place to learn how to dive and to proceed through Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster/Master Scuba Diver, and Instructor courses.

However, this island is not recommended for fun, recreational dives as the visibility and quality of the reefs is relatively poor. Koh Tao is most popular with young backpackers, although there are a few resorts for those who do not enjoy this scene. Phi Phi offers a similar scene on a smaller scale with better diving.

For quality diving, it's best to go to Phuket or Khao Lak, where you have easy access to the Similan Islands. These nine islands are part of Phang Nga province and located within a marine national park. They are pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. The beaches here are some of the most beautiful in the world and the dive spots are some of the best in the world. Colourful reefs and boulder formations are a plus, with a variety of coral and marine life. Visibility is also good, varying from 30 to 50m.

The best way to see the Similans is by liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if you've completed the paper and pool work ashore beforehand, usually with diving courses on Phuket. Note that in mind that the Similans are closed during the low season due to unfavourable boating and diving conditions. Additionally, sites have depths well past the recreational limit of 40m and some may have currents. It's advisable that you take courses past Open Water to become a stronger diver and be permitted to dive to the limit.

There are diving courses on Samui as well, and plenty of dive operators offering all levels of diving courses on Phuket, even a few in Krabi. In fact you'll find scuba courses in Pattaya, Koh Chang and other places, but with less choice of date flexibility.

Andy Burrows writes about Thailand and recommends using the following travel websites:
Phuket for adventurers
Thailand tourist guide

by Andy Burrows

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Pattaya Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:49:00 +0700

Pattaya is one of the largest cities for tourism that can be found in the country of Thailand. Physically, Pattaya is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is Southeast of the country's capital, Bangkok. With wonderful attractions offered, much of this city's economy consists of tourism. If you are interested in visiting Thailand, chances are that you may want to think about visiting the city of Pattaya. This city is known to have a lot to offer to its tourists, which is the reason that it has become such a popular tourist attraction recently. Here, we will take a much closer look at some of the main attractions that Pattaya has to offer to its tourists, in order to help you determine whether or not vacationing in this city may be a decision which you may want to make in the future.

Pattaya Beach is a favorite spot of many tourists, and it is also the most popular beach that Pattaya Thailand has to offer. Since it is located near shopping centers, bars, and hotels, it has become very popular among tourists. Unfortunately, it is often hard for many to get a spot on the sand, due to its popularity. Jomtien Beach is another one of the beaches which Pattaya Thailand has to offer. While it does offer some hotels and restaurants, Jomtien is mainly an area where people own summer homes. It is typically easier to find a spot on the sand at this beach than at Pattaya Beach. Jomtien Beach is especially loved by who enjoy taking part in water sports. It has a large entertainment center which offers water park attractions, a roller coaster, a monorail and fun attractions for children - which has helped with it become a popular area for people who are vacationing as families to want to visit. Of course, the beautiful beaches that Pattaya Thailand has to offer is not the only thing that this city has going for it.

There are many other attractions which Pattaya has to offer that tourists all find to be quite appealing. Some of these attractions include golf courses, places for go-cart racing, the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Pattaya Beach Resort Water Park and Funny Land Amusement Park, a submarine, a crocodile farm, and various museums. There are also various shopping centers and stores which anyone may be interested in visiting while they are in Pattaya. Go go bars and strip clubs occupy the time of many tourists.

As you can see, there are so many different tourist attractions that Pattaya Thailand has to offer. Ranging from its beautiful beaches where you can spend the day relaxing, having fun in the sun, or taking part in water sports to its amusement parks and other entertaining activities that the city of Pattaya has to offer, there is no doubt that Pattaya has gained some much well deserved appeal from tourists. No matter what you are interested in doing while you are visiting Thailand, Pattaya has just about everything that you could possibly be interested in to offer. There is no doubt that Pattaya Thailand is a city which you may definitely want to think about visiting.
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by Robert Rystrom

Pattaya

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:48:00 +0700

Ko Lan

Ko Lan (Thai: เกาะล้าน) is a small island situated 7.5 km west of Pattaya. Ko Lan is accessible by speedboat and ferry. The ferry departs hourly, and is a 45-minute ride costing just 20 baht each way. Speedboats are more expensive, but can reach the island in less than 15 minutes. Ko Lan has several beaches, which are known for their cleanliness, relaxing atmosphere, soft white sand, and crystal-clear water.

[edit] Island groups

Off Pattaya there are two small island groups, the "Near Islands" (Ko Sak, Ko Krok) located close to the northern shores of Pattaya, very near Ko Lan, and the "Far Islands" (Ko Rin, Ko Man Wichai, Ko Hua Chang, and Ko Badan), located offshore directly west of Pattaya. These islands, especially the "Far Islands", are the primary scuba diving destinations in and around Pattaya.

[edit] Transportation

Pattaya is served through U-Tapao International Airport which is 45 minutes drive from the city. Also served by Sukhumvit Road and Motorway 7. Until recently the only transport within town were private songthaews. However, a public bus service has begun in 2006. Intercity transport is usually through one of two bus stations, one for Bangkok and one for other destinations, although busses commonly stop anywhere in Thailand.

Pattaya is only 1 and a half hours by road from the new Bangkok International Airport, Suvarnabhumi, which is the worlds 16th busiest airport, with over 42m passengers / annum.

[edit] Other attractions

Large Buddha statue, Wat Khao Phra Bat

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

Other activities include golfing at the area's many golf courses, and there are 21 golf courses within 1 hour of Pattaya, go-cart racing, visiting the construction site of an elaborate private wooden temple known as Sanctuary of Truth, and different theme parks and zoos such as Mini Siam, and Elephant Village.

The private Sri Racha Tiger Zoo features several hundred tigers and thousands of alligators as well as some other animals. It has often been criticized for the animals' living conditions, and a worker was killed by tigers in 2004^[3]. There was a major bird flu outbreak at the zoo later that year^[4].

The Vimantaitalay tourist submarine takes customers underwater to see corals and marine life just a few kilometers offshore. There are many boat trips from an hour to all day trips available, mostly leaving from Bali Hai Pier, near Walking Street.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is located some 15 kilometers east of Pattaya. The 500-acre site has well maintained botanical gardens and an orchid nursery. Moreover the facility has lively cultural shows in a Thai village setting. In addition trained chimpanzees and elephants are seen at the garden.

Other attractions in Pattaya: The Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm, Elephant Village, Pattaya Park Beach Resort Water Park and Funny Land Amusement Park, Siriporn Orchid Farm, Underwater World Pattaya (world class aquarium), Alankarn cultural show, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Bottle Art Museum, Mini Siam, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, and Walking Street.

Some tourists take daytrips to nearby Rayong for beautiful beaches, as well as Koh Samet island.

[edit] Shopping

Royal Garden Plaza

In front of Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya

In recent years, new shopping malls, outlet stores and jewelry stores have opened up, which has helped in increasing the length of stay of visitors to the city. Among the shopping malls are:

Central Festival, Pattaya Second Road – Indoor mall anchored by a BigC; also has a SF Cinema City branch.
Carrefour, Pattaya Central Road
Mike Shopping Mall , Beach Road
Royal Garden Plaza, Beach Road – Three-story indoor mall with a Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum and an SF Multiplex cinema. Also has a Sizzler restaurant, Au Bon Pain, KFC, McDonald's, Auntie * Anne's Pretzels, ZEN Japanese restaurant, Swensen's, Haagen Daz, Pizza Company, Delice de France, and a large food court. The Marriott Hotel is adjacent.
The Avenue, Second Road (near Royal Garden) is in the midst of a soft opening with the following either open or their spaces being fitted out: a 22 lane Bowling Alley, Au Bon Pain, McDonalds,Thanachart Bank, 8 Major Cineplex theatres, Boots, McDonalds, California Wow! a major gym/fitness spa (open for subscriptions), Shenanigans, Iberry, Pizza Pizza, 20 Nails Spa, Starbucks, Kasikorn Bank, Bank of Ayudhaya, and a 24/7 Villa Market, which carries imported goods difficult to find in other supermarkets.
Tesco Lotus, Pattaya North Road
TukCom, Pattaya Tai (South) Road, boasts a large computer/IT complex offering reasonable prices.
A major outlet mall is next to the tesco selling discount clothing from many european and american brands.

At least one other new large mall is under construction.

Pattaya has many large home improvement stores including Home Mart, HomeWorks, Home Pro, Kanyong and True Value.

The closest department store to Pattaya is Robinson's, located about 30 minutes away in Sri Racha.

There are several large nightly markets in different parts of town.

[edit] Nightlife

Pattaya is renowned for its nightlife. The city has some famous discos, including Tonys and the Marine disco, named after the US marines which still visit Pattaya for R and R. There is a new club called Hammer on walking street, which has live bands. Lucifer is also worth visiting. X-Zyte and Stardice are other places. There is also a hard rock cafe.

The city has literally hundreds of beer bars, go go bars, and night clubs/discotheques. Many of these are venues are for meeting working men or women. The nature of commercial sex varies widely; the standard system of "bar fines" is the most common, but there are many exceptions. Most notably, discos and nightclubs are venues for freelancers, independent sex workers unaffiliated with a commercial establishment. There are also several large massage parlours.

Since the "social order" crackdown of 2004, there are very few sex shows (such as the ping pong shows) although they can sometimes still be found. Depending on the enforcement climate, go go dancers may be seen fully nude, topless or in bikinis on different days or weeks.

Muay Thai (Thai boxing) matches aimed at tourists can be seen at many of the open air beer bar complexes.

Another important, but understated aspect of Pattaya are the foreign restaurants. Often run by expats, most offer quality food at prices far below those found in Bangkok, Samui or Phuket.

The Boyztown, Sunee Plaza, and the Jomtien Complex areas are famous for their many gay nightclubs, cabarets and go-go clubs. Pattaya probably has the largest concentration of establishments catering to the gay community in Thailand. Many specialize in certain types of hosts (slim, muscular, effeminate), while others have a broad range of men available.

Pattaya is known for its cabaret revues featuring kathoeys (male-to-female transsexuals), with Alcazar and Tiffany's being the largest and most elaborate. There are a few kathoey bars around Walking St. and nearby (e.g. Jenny Star Bar)

[edit] Crime

Historically, Pattaya has had comparatively high levels of crime, sometimes attributed to organised crime in, and preying on, the sex industry as well as the easy availability of tourist cash in a country that had a per capita Gross National Income of US$2,750 in 2005. In recent years, Pattaya has served as a hideaway for foreigners with connections to organized crime in their home countries, and dozens of Thais have been murdered in gang-related disputes.^[5] The authorities are also increasingly cracking down on under-age sex workers and their clients and a number of high profile arrests have been made in recent years. It is not unusual for tourists to be robbed, either by room breakins, snatch and runs, or by sex workers. In 1996, a six-member gang was arrested for repeatedly robbing tourists that had been drugged by prostitutes.

Visitors are more likely to encounter petty crime, usually limited to pickpocketing and confidence tricks, particularly in and around major tourist areas such as Jomtien and Pattaya Beaches and on the "baht buses". To help curb this problem, a special Tourist Police division has been established to aid foreign tourists (farang) who are victims of crime.

Pattaya, along with the rest of Thailand, is also known for its abundance of pirated DVD movies, music CDs and software. Such vendors can be found anywhere along main tourist areas, having their own booths or simply approaching customers in bars and restaurants and on the beaches.

[edit] Property

Property is big business in Pattaya, especially property development. Many new buildings have gone up in recent years, and some people think the market might be oversupplied.

Some buildings are put up with little respect for planning permission and a building was recently in dispute due to being too close to the shore line and too close to another condo block.

There is also a market in Villas but its growth is limited due to ownership restrictions on foreigners.

[edit] Health Care

Many foreign tourists come to Pattaya for dental and medical care, for first class treatment at reasonable prices. Large hospitals in the area include Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Pattaya International Hospital, Banglamung Hospital, and Pattaya Memorial Hospital.

[edit] Expat Community

Restaurant catering to Russians in central Pattaya.

Due to the large number of foreign residents, Pattaya boasts several expat clubs which have regular monthly or weekly meetings.

Pattaya has its own masonic lodge, a rotary club, an international school, an english boarding school.

[edit] Media

Pattaya has several foreign language newspapers, most come out weekly. The English newspapers include Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Today, Pattaya People. Additionally, there are French, Norwegian, German, Russian and Japanese publications. There are several English language cable t.v. programs with news and video reports from Pattaya. There are also several tourist magazines, most of them come out monthly. One of the best known of these is the EYE Magazine.

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CHIANGRAI - THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, NORTHERN THAILAND

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:47:00 +0700

The name evokes an impression that illicit drugs are the activity of this area. Yes, it was once a notorious place. However, with strict enforcement by various countries particularly the United States and Thailand playing an important role of eradicating the drug menace by educating the many hill-tribes to have a permanent settlement instead of the slash and burn to grow sustainable crops and the poppy plants. Schools were built to educate their children on the Thai curriculum and welfare. Chiangrai is 785 km north of Bangkok and is in the midst of mountains and hills. Across the great Mekong river is Myanmar and Laos, thus the name "Golden Triangle". All nationalities can cross over to these countries easily by road, boats or air with valid passports and visa. Being the first to establish into a city by King Mengrai of the Lanna Kingdom, it has many ancient ruins. There are many activities you can indulge like visiting the only handcrafted White Temple in Thailand; the ever changing flowers in the most beautiful botanical garden; Hill-tribes; Opium or the National museum; elephant riding; shopping for foodstuff; clothing; jewelries; handicrafts or ride on a long propeller boat on the Mekong river; explore the natural rock formation and caves with spectacular formations e.g. Big Cave, Fish Cave. Please visit www.homestaytravelchiangrai.com for more pictures and information.

Of course, if you are a nature lover freak, go to the mountains. Doi Tung - it has a sacred hilltop Buddhist shrine built in 911 AD and it is believed that the left collar bones of Lord Buddha is enshrined in the twin pagodas. On your way up, enjoy the panoramic view then drop in to visit the Akha and Lahu hill-tribe village famous for their hand woven textiles and silver jewelries. Not satisfied with one mountain? Venture to Thailand's little Switzerland, the Doi Mae Salong, incidentally "doi" means mountain. It sits on an elevation of 6000 feet above sea level. The air is cool and refreshing throughout the year. The settlers are ethnic Chinese descendants of the KMT nationalist army who took refuge in Thailand to escape from the Communist forces of Mainland China more than 50 years ago. The settlement has its own Christian churches, Buddhist temples, schools, locally produced oolong black tea, shops and restaurants.

You are welcome to experience first hand the local foods, way of life and customs of the Northern Thai through a village home stay.

To quote G.K. Chesterton - "The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see".

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by erickok

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travel Condo in Pattaya

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:46:00 +0700

As you all know, Thailand is a country with wonderful beaches that are visited by people not only for sunbathing but they are used for diving as well. Besides in Thailand you can see gorgeous girls dancing traditional Thai dances, wearing colorful costumes and moving their hands and fingers in a fascinating way. Moreover, Thailand is the paradise of tropical fruit and the home of a multitude of mysteries related to the invisible world of the spirits. But nowadays, Thailand in general and Pattaya especially is an opportunity for those who want to purchase a condo. This is a great opportunity especially for foreigners who come to live in Pattaya, because one of the local laws concerning foreigners restricts the right for them to own a land in the area. On the other hand it is beneficial for local people too, to get a condo, because Pattaya is situated not far from Bangkok and people living in the capital can afford to purchase a condo in Pattaya as a weekend or holiday destination.

Pattaya condos are in general located on the beach, which is a great attraction for any solar human being who can imagine that in the morning instead of having a shower in the bathroom rushes into the sea and lets his or her body caressed by friendly or rough waves. Besides Pattaya beach condos are the dream of every surf addict who must not spend a lot of time in order to reach his or her hobby destination. To continue with, luxury condos in Pattaya are destined to people who spend a lot of time in the crowd and pollution of big cities, whom are businessmen, artists or politicians and who want to relax for a weekend far from the crowd. And what can be more comforting for any tired person than to watch the sea and to daydream of its colors and mysteries, listening to the waves' music and getting rid of stress.

Condos in Pattaya can be as well a source of business because you can purchase an old condo and you can invest in its renovation and then you can sell it at a higher price, therefore condos are as well a trading opportunity.

You can find advertisements for condos everywhere, in local newspapers or online and you can take advantages of our services as well, as our professionals can offer you the best advice concerning condo purchasing in Pattaya.

You all know that renovating a house or a condo can be big deal. But it can change into an interesting game if you ask help from our experts, who can offer you the latest information related to interior design, style and comfort.

We can let you know that the most luxurious condos are built according to the latest trends in architecture, using modern materials like glass and stainless steel, and combining them with lights and shadows and unique natural beauties. If you want a higher building you can have it and imagine that you live high up in the sky, but you have the opportunity to admire the sea and the reflection of the sunshine upon its waves. It is just wonderful!
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by Ken Edwards

Travel Wat Mahabut and the legend of Mae Nak

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:46:00 +0700

Wat Mahabut one of the 887 temples in Bangkok, is located in Phra Khanong to the east of the city center. In 1762, five years before the fall of Ayutthaya, a monk visited the villagers in Phra Khanong. As the village didn't have a temple, the villagers invited the monk to stay. They built a temple and named it after him. The monk's name was Phra Mahabut.

A ride on a long tailed canal boat from the pier under the Phra Khanong Bridge in Sukhumvit Road took me along the Phra Khanong Canal. We past tree lined banks with a mix of traditional houses, modern ones and the ever encroaching condominiums.

The area is quiet and laid back, with an idyllic rustic charm. You don't even feel like you're in Bangkok. Here people row boats to visit their neighbors. At Wat Mahabut, I got off at the temple pier.

Unlike the other temples in Bangkok, Wat Mahabut isn't renowned for its historical legacy or its ancient architecture. It's famous for a ghost, a female ghost, the legendary Mae Nak who has virtually become a household name in the community and beyond.

Even the other name for Wat Mahabut is Wat Mae Nak Phra Khanong, Temple of Mother Nak of Phra Khanong.

The legend of Mae Nak

When the legend started is uncertain. The period ranges from the mid 18th century Ayutthaya period to the 19th century Bangkok era. However, this has no bearing on the legend which goes like this.

Mae Nak, a native of Phra Khanong, marries the handsome Mak. When war breaks out, Mak is conscripted for military service and leaves his pregnant wife behind. In the war, Mak is severely wounded. Meanwhile, Mae Nak dies during childbirth with her unborn child and is buried by the neighbors. This is unusual as Buddhist custom calls for the cremation of their dead.

When Mak recovers from his injuries, he returns home to a poignant reunion with his loving wife and baby son, not realizing what has happened. Neighbors who try to warn him meet with a grisly end. Things remained this way until he discovers that he's actually living with the ghost of his wife!

He flees but she pursues him and the romance turns to horror. Mak seeks refuge in Wat Mahabut but Mae Nak follows him there. After several attempts by the terrified villagers, Mae Nak is finally exorcised to return to the other world and leaves Mak alone.

There are several various versions about how this was done. What is memorable is the tearful separation as the ghostly wife finally departs from her husband. The macabre tale ends in heart-rending sorrow.

Dramatizing Mae Nak

Several movies have been made of this legend since the 1950s to thrill the horror movie lovers. The latest remake is as recent as 2005. In the movie versions, the ghost is sometimes known as Nang Nak (Mrs Nak). There's also a TV drama series and even an opera on this legend.

The Mae Nak Shrine

Years ago when I first heard of this story, I thought it was just that, a story, the work of an imaginative writer with an added twist of Thai folklore. For sheer originality, the tragic tale of Nang Nak's unrequited love for a mortal surpasses the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Phantom of the Opera.

I didn't realize then that the belief is so fervent that there's actually a shrine for Mae Nak on the grounds of Wat Mahabut where she finally departed from this world. What's more the community has accepted her as their benefactor. How this fearsome ghost became benevolent is difficult to explain.

The Mae Nak shrine is in a small wooden building by the canal. Her portrait hangs on the wall behind the altar. A draped statue of her pasted with gold leaves is on the altar that's filled with garlands and lit candles. Visitors pray at her shrine for her blessings of good fortune and safety.

Colorful lengths of cloth are coiled round the huge tree in the courtyard where a row of fortune tellers sit. The presence of lottery vendors gives an indication of what many are seeking.

The Phra Khanong community's heritage

The legend of Mae Nak has become a proud heritage of the Phra Khanong community. In 1997 a change in the municipal boundaries placed Wat Mahabut in the neighboring Suan Luang district. This has caused much unhappiness in Phra Khanong.

A municipal councilor is lobbying the Bangkok city authorities to realign the boundaries to bring the temple and the legend back to where they belong, in Phra Khanong.

Folklore and legends all over the world are based on what the people choose to believe. Wat Mahabut is irrevocably linked to the legend of Mae Nak and nothing can change that.

To visit this unusual temple, please see the map to Wat Mahabut.

by Eric Lim

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Travel Ayutthaya (city)

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:45:00 +0700

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Ayutthaya (full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thai: พระนครศรีอยุธยา; also spelled "Ayudhya") city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and became capital of his kingdom. The king came to escape smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri. Often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. Ayutthaya was named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana (Thai, Ramakien). In 1767 the city was destroyed by the Burmese army, and the ruins of the old city now form the Ayutthaya historical park, which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was refounded a few kilometers to the east.

[hide]

[edit] Ayutthaya Town Center

Ruins of Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya Historical Study Center
Chan Kasem Palace
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
St. Joseph's Church
Wang Luang
Wat Chai Watthanaram
Wat Lokaya Sutharam
Wat Mahathat
Wat Na Phra Men
Wat Phanan Choeng
Wat Phra Ram
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phutthaisawan
Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Suwan Dararam
Wat Thammikarat
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

The city is located at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers, and on the main north-south railway linking Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya on the west and south sides, the Pa Sak on the east side and, on the northern side, the Klong Maung canal.

Approximate centre of old city: 14°20′N, 100°34′E

Rounder, corn-cob shaped stupa shows Cambodian (or Khmer) influence and is called a prang.

Sharp-pointed pinnacle atop bell-shape, called a chedi of Ceylonese influence.

Sharp-pointed pinnacle atop square shape, known as a chedi, is a distinct Thai style.

[edit] Media

Video tour of Ayutthaya, Thailand

Short video showing highlights of Ayutthaya, from here.
Problems seeing the videos? See media help.

[edit] In popular culture

A Thailand-themed town named "Ayothaya" appears in the PC MMORPG Ragnarok Online.

[edit] External links

This Ayutthaya Province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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Plan Your Cheap Holiday Underwater Vacation Travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:44:00 +0700

Planning a cheap holiday underwater vacation delight might just take you to Thailand, Phuket, to be exact. This is quickly becoming one of the most spectacular vacation destinations for people with a love of the underwater world. You can take a yacht out to see where they offer you the most adventurous underwater vacation you could ever imagine. Of course, you need some experience before you go to Thailand for an underwater vacation, but it will be well worth the training. You will experience something that is unknown to many.

The waters are considered virgins because there are not many people that explore the world of the unknown. The beautiful deep blue waters invite you jump in and meet the habitant of the underwater world. You will see an array of colors as well as many different species of plants and marine life that you have only seen in pictures. You can get up close and personal with many species, which makes this even more of a treasured cheap holiday vacation. The view around you as you set out on the deep blue water is just breathtaking. You can glaze for miles and see the beauty of the area.

Many of the hotels and airlines work together with the locals to provide some nice packages for underwater explorers. You will find that not only is the day adventurous, but your nights are filled music and dancing or just sitting back and enjoying the Thai culture. The hotels offer many amenities that you will find included in your cheap holiday package. This just adds to the beauty of the vacation.

You can plan your underwater vacation anytime of the year when the weather is just right for underwater exploring. Not many people request this type of vacation, therefore, you can rest assured you will be treated to a special time. View the world that only a few have seen and be the one to tell your friends how exciting the underwater world really is when you get to see the beauty of it. This is one cheap holiday vacation you will not want to pass up.
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by Michael Peterson

PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL Travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:44:00 +0700

Date: 11 Oct 2007 - 19 Oct 2007 Phuket's Vegetarian festival (or jia chai in local Hokkien Chinese dialect) began in 1825, when the govenor of Thalang, Praya Jerm, moved the island's principal town from Ta Reua in Thalang District to Get-Hoe in Kathu District, where were tin mines and Chinese miners. Kathu was then still covered by jungle and fever was rife. It happened that a traveling opera company (called ngiu in Thai or pua-hee in Hokkien dialect) came from China to perform for the miners

When the whole company grew sick from an unnamed malady, they kept to a vegetarian diet to honor two of the emperor gods, Kiew Ong Tai Teh and Yok Ong Sone Teh. The sickness afflicting the opera troupe then disappeared. This greatly interested the people of Kathu, who asked how it was done. The answer came that ritual vegetarianism with its attendant ceremonies had been the cause, with the result that people embraced the faith enthusiastically. Thus the festival began:starting the first evening of the ninth lunar month, it continued until the ninth evening; the aim was to bring good luck to individuals as well as to the community.
It later happened that one familiar with the festival volunteered to return to Kansai, in China, where he invited the sacred Hiao Ho-le or Hiao lan (incense smoke) and Lian Tui (name plaques), which have the status of gods, to come stay in Kathu. He also brought holy writings used in the ceremonies, returning to Phuket on the seventh night of the ninth month. The people, upon hearing of his arrival, went in procession to Bang Niao Pier to bring him and his sacred cargo back. This was the origin of the processions that figure so greatly in the festival.

The afternoon before the festival begins, a great pole at each temple is raised, called the Go Teng pole, with which the gods are invited to descend. At midnight the pole is hung with nine lanterns, signalizing the opening of the fest. Two important gods are also invited down at midnight to preside over ceremonies; these are Yok Ong Hong Tae and Kiew Ong Tai Tae.

Aside from this, there are other ceremonies throughout the fest, notably: invocation of the gods Lam Tao, who keeps track of the living, and Pak Tao, who keeps track of the dead; processions of the gods' images; and feats of the Ma Song-like bathing in hot oil, bladed ladder climbing and fire-walking. The festival ends with merit making ceremonies at each temple (sadoh kroh) and the send-off of the gods on the last night (when fireworks are at their most impressive).

Ma Song, or entranced horses, are devotees whom the gods enter during the fest. They manifest supernatural powers and perform self-tortures in order to shift evil from individuals onto themselves, and to bring the community good luck. Ma Song fall into two categories: those who, having had an intimation of impending doom, want to extend their lives; and people specially chosen by the gods for their moral qualities.

Throughout the festival fireworks and drums are sounded, especially during ceremonies. It is held that the louder they are the better, because the noise drives away evil spirits.

Participants in the fest keep to a strict vegetarian diet for a varying number of days, usually no less than three. This they do to make themselves strong in mind and body; they refrain from all vice, eating animal flesh, and killing animals. The festival thus promotes good hygiene, brightness and inner peace.

Labels: Phuket, PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

posted by Sukson Solution @ 1:05 PM

The most important Phuket festival that is held each year must certainly be the Vegetarian festival.

The Vegetarian festival in Phuket takes place during the first 9 days of the 9th lunar month of the traditional Chinese calendar. The Vegetarian festival normally falls in the last week of September of within the first week of October.

The Phuket vegetarian festival is organized each year to celebrate the start of the Taoist lent. Due to the large number of Phuket residents with Chinese roots, the Taoist lent is celebrated among a large group of the population of Phuket and is a major Phuket activity

The vegetarian festival starts of by devout Chinese religious believers completely abstaining from all dairy and meat products.

The festivities in Phuket that are held during the vegetarian festival can be found at one of the five main Chinese temples on Phuket.

The best Chinese temples to visit are the Bang Niaw Chinese Temple and the Jui Tui Chinese Temple.

The vegetarian festival involves more then only the abstinence of dairy and meat products. Other parts of the Phuket vegetarian festival includes the temple offerings to the Monks, offering of gifts to the nine emperor gods which awake during the vegetarian festival, fireworks and cultural shows but to name a few.

A number of participants to the vegetarian festival on Phuket act as mediums between the 9 deities to earth. These mediums try to achieve a special state of trance. Once this state of trance is reached, their cheeks are pierced by numerous sharp objects such as spears and knifes.

Afterwards these special vegetarian festival mediums all join a large procession which takes them by many shops which have places altars along the street with special offerings.

These mediums pick up the fruits which are offered to them by the shop keepers and they add the offerings to the sharp items which are sticking out of their cheeks. If there is no space available the mediums will give the offerings to bystanders.

It is said to be a sign of good luck and a true blessing if one is to receive a gift from one of the mediums during the vegetarian festival procession.

The atmosphere of the vegetarian festival is certainly unique and should be experienced by every traveler who is staying in Phuket during the event.

If one was to describe the whole event in a few words then the festival could be described as a religious frenzy. Where ever you look you will see spectacular ritual dancing, loud fireworks, blood stained shirt worn by the mediums and ancient religious worshipping activities.

If you ask the Phuket residents with Chinese roots as to the origin of the vegetarian festival then they will tell you a tragic story. They say that a Chinese theatre troupe visited Phuket around one and a half century ago.

The Chinese theatre troupe was struck by tragedy when all members of the Chinese theatre troupe turned seriously ill. The story goes that they had turned ill because they had neglected to offer respects to the nine emperor gods of Taoism.

The only way in which the Chinese troupe members could cure themselves was with a 9 day lent which included solely vegetarian foods, long periods of meditations and acts of self piercing.

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About the Author

James has a passion for Phuket and all its old customs and stories. Read more about Phuket in his Phuket Guide.

Chiang Mai travel&resort

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:43:00 +0700

This article is about the city Chiang Mai. For other uses, see Chiang Mai (disambiguation).

A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall.

Looking south along a moat in Chiang Mai. The section pictured here forms the eastern border of Amphoe Muang. The road visible on the right is Moon Muang, on the left, Chaiya Poon.

Chiang Mai (in Thai เชียงใหม่ (help·info)), also sometimes written as "Chiengmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located at 18°47′20″N, 98°59′00″ECoordinates: 18°47′20″N, 98°59′00″E, some 700 km north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, although it lacks the cosmopolitan gloss of Bangkok. It has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come each year. Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its important strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the modern influx of foreign visitors, the city served as an important centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewelry (particularly silver) and woodcarving.

While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 150,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of almost 700,000 people, nearly half the total of Chiang Mai Province. The city itself is subdivided into 4 wards: Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila. The first three wards are on the west bank, while Kavila is located on the east back of Ping River. Nakhon Ping ward covers the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila cover the west, south, and east side respectively. The central part(old town) is covered mostly by Srivijaya ward and partly by Nakhon Ping and Mengrai wards. See the map of Chiangmai City wards

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From Wikipedia

Chiang Mai travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:42:00 +0700

This article is about the city Chiang Mai. For other uses, see Chiang Mai (disambiguation).

A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall.

Looking south along a moat in Chiang Mai. The section pictured here forms the eastern border of Amphoe Muang. The road visible on the right is Moon Muang, on the left, Chaiya Poon.

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From Wikipedia

Travel Lanta Island - Krabi Thailand so nice.

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:41:00 +0700

http://www.tourthaithai.blogspot.com/2007/06/lanta-island-krabi-thailand-so-nice.html

Ko Lanta lied on the west coast of Andaman Sea in between Krabi and Phi Phi Island . Large Size Island with 6 km wide and over 30 kms long, 9 beaches lie from north to south along the sunset coast. Stunning scenery, fantastic white sandy beaches, coastlines have more than 70 small islands and plenty with forest, coral reefs and under water life. Exposed to the Tsunami hit southern Thailand , Koh Lanta got very little physical affected. She has been quietly recovering with most hotels operating normally. Koh Lanta was very fortunate in that no damage occurred to the natural scenic beauty. All the beaches remain as beautiful as ever. All dive sites did not suffer in the disaster, rather the water is cleaner and clearer than ever.

How to get Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta is easy and inexpensive to reach from Phuket, Bangkok or Malaysia . The island is serviced by passenger ferries from both Krabi & Phi Phi and car ferries from the mainland.

Krabi is the most convenient gateway to Ko Lanta if coming from Bangkok, and if arriving from Phuket passage is via either Phi Phi or Krabi. Trang also serves as a regional transit point for those coming in from the south. Please bear in mind that if your arrival time is late in the day, the local minibus or public passenger ferries scheduled for Ko Lanta may not always be available.

Location of Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta yai ( big ) & Koh Lanta noi ( small ) are located in the

Andaman Sea of South-West-Thailand ( Malayan Peninsula ), about 45 km south of Krabi-town in the Krabi province.

~ 7' 28" north latitude, ~ 99' 4" east longitude.

The islands are only one km away from the mainland and accessible by ferry / car-ferry all year round.

The Koh Lanta district contains 53 islands which mainly are part of the Koh Lanta marine national park.

moutain of ko lanta island

Tourism in Koh Lanta

As mentioned in chapter Development, the develoment of tourism is ongoing for the last 20 years. The real ignition spark came about 6 years ago, when basic infrastructures arrived on the island. Every year since then, tens of new resorts, restaurants, shop etc. start their services along the west coast, right on the beach as well as at nearby mainstreets and hill sites.

Typical tourism "high season" is from November until May, with "paek season" from of December 20th until January 10th. Many businesses are opened all year round with very low prices during "low season", June until October. This time of the year is wonderful, too.

Tourist services of any style & for any budget are offered to the distinguished guest from around the world.

Well, so much information to display about Koh Lanta's tourism - too much for this web-site. Please refer to our Links to Ko Lanta for more details about accommodation, activities, transportation etc.

Here we would like to give you a brief overview of the "Tourist destination Ko Lanta".

The tourist center of Ko Lanta is " Ban Saladan " at the northern tip of Koh Lanta yai. Many shops, supermarkets, travel agents, dive-shops, restaurants and other facilities make it worth to spend some good time there. For most tourist guests on the island, this cosy village is the first and the last place to see, whilst being on the island.

Ferries to/from Krabi, Pee Pee and Phuket are departing and arriving at Ban Saladan pier, only.

All beaches on the west coast, in order from north to south : ( mentioned prices are estimated, average "high/low season" prices )

The first beach, "Klong Dow Beach", next to Ban Saladan, which is known to be the most beautiful beach, about 2 kilometer long, flat and white sanded. There are about 20 resorts on this beach. Prices from 400 - 4500 THB per night.

The second beach, " Phra Ae Beach or Long Beach ", about 5 kilometers long, nice and sandy. There are about 17 resorts on this beach. Prices from 250 - 4500 THB per night.

The third beach, " Klong Khong Beach ", 3 km long with sand and rocks. Great sunsets. There are about 22 resorts on this beach. Prices from 200 - 900 THB per night.

The forth beach, " Klong Tob Beach ", a short strip with sand and rocks. A very quiet beach with only a few bungalows around. Prices from 250 - 1000 THB per night.

The fifth beach, " Klong Nin Beach ", a beautiful 1,5 km long beach with about 10 bungalow resort. The famous "Otto Bar" just moved to there, formerly located at Klong Dow Beach. Prices from 250 - 4800 THB per night.

The sixth beach, " Klong Hin Beach ", with sandy and rocky parts - good for snorkeling. Klong Hin Beach is about 1 km long and has 3 resorts so far. Prices from 250 - 2600 THB per night.

The seventh beach, " Kan Thiang Beach or Bay ", a beautiful, curved sandy beach, 800 meter long. The only 4+ star Resort and Spa "Pimalai" and 3 other resorts are located there. Prices from 250 - 21000 (!) THB per night.

The eighth beach, " Klong Jark Beach, a small and quiet beach, surrounded by tropical jungle. There are 3 resorts on this beach. Prices from 300 - 900 THB per night.

The ninth beach, " Aow Mai Bai or Bamboo Bay " is the last beach outside the national marine park which is next to it. A quiet and private beach with only 2 bungalow resorts. Prices from 250 - 800 THB per night.

And last but not least the tenth and most southern beach, " Ta Noad Beach ", next to the old light-house, the landmark of Ko Lanta. The Lanta marine national park head-quarter is located right at this beach. No resorts or other commercial facilities there.

Ko Lanta is a diver's paradise for beginners and the experienced. There are very few places on the planet where divers can enjoy an underwater world so rich and diverse. And imagine learning to dive in water that's the same temperature as your bath water at home.

Nature in Koh Lanta Ko Lanta island offers tropical nature at it's best..

The tropical paradise off the south-west coast of Thailand has 25 km of beautiful beaches backed by verdant jungle & rain forest.

Here you still find real big trees, many animal species, including rare birds, mammals and reptiles. More then 80% of the island are covered with tropical rain forest, which is mostly protected national-park area.

The mangrove coast in south Thailand, covers sinking limestone ranges, millions of years old. On Koh lanta there are many mangroves, which you can admire while going on a canoe-trip. Mangroves and intertidal mudflats are of great conservation value in Thailand, helping sustain valuable inshore fisheries and protecting the coast from erosion.

If you arrive by car ferry, than watch out for monkeys, which are living here in the mangroves. They are crab-eating macaques and one of the numerous mammal species living in this environment.

Nature for a living, rubber tree and palm tree plantations: On Lanta are hundreds of rubber tree plantations, which are tapped every day before sunrise. The rubber then has to be dried, cleaned, and pressed, before being sold as 1,2 kg mats. Coconut palms and oil palms are common on Koh Lanta as in the whole south of Thailand and they provide a modest income for the local farmers.

Ko Lanta's rich waters offer sandy coves, coral reefs, limestone rock outcrops, rock reefs, seamounts and pinnacles, undersea caverns and tunnels and sunken ships. Water temperature ranges from 27 to 31 degrees - ideal for scuba-diving, corals and tropical fishes. More than 200 hard corals and 108 reef fish species have been catalogues in a study under way, but thousands more organisms around, too. The twin peaks of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are rated in the worlds top 10 list of dive sites.

While tourism has grown quickly in the last few years, Ko Lanta has retained its traditional charm and great natural beauty.

References

Koh Lanta Investments. 2003. About Koh Lanta(ออนไลน์)สืบค้นจากhttp://www.lanta-thailand.com/ เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย.2550 Koh Lanta Island. 2006. Ko Lanta (Island), Krabi, Thailand. - Index Page of Koh Lanta.(ออนไลน์)สืบค้นจาก http://www.lantainfo.com/ เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย.2550

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by darksingha

Chiang Rai resort&travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:40:00 +0700

Chiang Rai is both a city and a province in Thailand. For the province, see Chiang Rai Province.

Mueang Chiang Rai, showing the ancient city walls and more recent gates :

Pratu Nang Ing (ประตูนางอิง)
Pratu Chiang Mai (ประตูเชียงใหม่)
Pratu Wai (ประตูหวาย)
Pratu Pa Daeng (ประตูป่าแดง)
Pratu Pi (ประตูผี)
Pratu Kha Tam (ประตูขะต๊ำ)
Pratu Tha Nak (ประตูท่านาค)
Pratu Tha Sai (ประตูท่าทราย)
Pratu Tho (ประตูท่อ)
Pratu Yang Soeng (ประตูยางเสิ้ง)
Pratu Jao Chai (ประตูเจ้าชาย)
Pratu Sri (ประตูสรี)

Mueang Chiang Rai (Thai: เชียงราย; locally (Kham Muang) Ciang Hai; (Lao) also Xieng Hai) is a city in Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand.

[hide]

[edit] Geography

Geographical location 19°56′N, 99°51′E. Muang Chiang Rai is 200 km northeast of Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Province; 62 km south of Mae Sai and the Myanmar border; 60 km southwest of Chiang Saen on the Mae Khong across from the People's Democratic Republic of Laos; and 90 km north of Nakhon Phayao, Phayao Province.

The Mae Kok River runs along its north side, flowing from west to east and eventually merging with the Mekong River.

[edit] Demographics

Population 62,000.

12.5% of the population belong to the hill tribes, a collective term for the minority ethnic groups in the North of Thailand such as the Karen, Akha, Lisu, Meo and Muser. Many Chinese, particularly from Yunnan Province, have migrated to the area and assimilated with the Thai population to such extent that well over half of the large businesses in northern Thailand are owned by people of Chinese heritage.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Government

Chiang Rai is the capital of Chiang Rai Province.

The Salaklang Changwat 19°54.805′N, 99°49.615′E holds the Provincial Offices.

The Municipal Offices are in the Thesaban 19°54′34″, N°99′49″39.

[edit] History

Sadu Meuang, Omphalos of the City

The city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and became the first capital of the Lannathai kingdom. However, it lost this status soon after to a new city built by Mengrai at Chiang Mai. Subsequently, Chiang Rai was conquered by Burma and remained under Burmese rule for several hundred years. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became Thai territory. It was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.

In 1432 the Phra Kaeo, or Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most revered Buddha figure, was discovered in Chiang Rai when an earthquake split the Chedi at Wat Phra Kaeo. The beautiful jade figure was then seen concealed within.

In 1992 (B.E. 2535) the City Pillar was moved from Wat Klang Wiang to Doi Chom Thong, where it is known as Sadu Meuang (TH: สะดือเมือง), the Navel or Omphalos of the City.

[edit] Buddhist temples

Wat Rong Khun

Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong, 19°54.970′N, 99°49.365′E
Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai, 19°54.704′N, 99°49.647′E
Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai, 19°54.653′N, 99°49.882′E
Wat Doi Khao Khwai, 19°52.892′N, 99°48.582′E
Wat Rong Khun, 19°49.480′N, 99°45.800′E, a modern temple built since 1998 by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat

[edit] Tourist attractions

Princess Mother Hall and Doi Mae Salong Located about 70 km northwest of Chiang Rai accessed by a scenic, and sometimes quite steep, road from Mae Chan. In Mae Salong there is a museum of the Kuo Min Tang and their plight after exiled from China by Mao Tse Tung, and subsequently forced to leave Burma from where they entered Thailand, helping at times to fight the Communists.
Doi Tung Royal Villa is the final residence of the mother of the King of Thailand, known as the Princess Mother. It is located at kilometre 12 on highway 1149, to the west of highway 1. This magnificent villa was built on the mountain overlooking the surrounding hills and valleys in a unique mix of Swiss and Lanna architectural styles. Adjacent to the villa is a large flower-filled garden, and a memorial hall commemorating the Princess Mother.
Doi Tung Zoo
Phucheefah
The Gate of Siam is a location on the border with Laos where one can stand high up on a mountain with Laos directly in front and the mighty Mekong River flowing beneath.

Panoramic view of Phucheefah point

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] High Schools

Samakkhi Wittayakom School 19°54.314′N, 99°49.598′E

[edit] Primary Schools

[edit] Hospitals

Overbrook Hospital (Semi-Private)
Sriburin Hospital (Private, and comparatively better quality)^{[citation needed]}
Chiang Rai Prachanukhro Hospital (Public)

[edit] Transportation

Route 1 runs from Bangkok through Chiang Rai to Mae Sai on the Myanmar border. Chiang Rai is 839 kilometers from Bangkok, about 14 hours by car or by bus. According to official bus schedules, the bus ride to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai takes approximately an hour and 30 minutes, however the 175 km trip most often takes at least two and a half hours.

Several flights are available to and from Bangkok daily. Chiang Rai International Airport flight time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

There is scheduled boat service between Chiang Rai and Thaton in Chiang Mai province daily.

There are currently no rail services to Chiang Rai as the railway line from Bangkok ends at Chiang Mai. There have been talks of extending the rail line to Chiang Rai in the near future,^{[citation needed]} but this is unlikely to happen as the population is well below 1 million and there isn't as many international tourists visiting Chiang Rai as Chiang Mai.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sister Cities

Union City, California, United States.

[edit] External links

Chiang Rai travel guide from Wikitravel

Coordinates: 19°54′34″, N°99′49″39

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Rai"

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | 1262 establishments | Chiang Rai Province | Cities in Thailand

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From Wikipedia

Mae Hong Son travel

noreply@blogger.com (travel&resort) — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 23:40:00 +0700

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Mae Hong Son
แม่ฮ่องสอน
Statistics
Capital:	Mae Hong Son
Area:	12,681.3 km² Ranked 8th
Inhabitants:	210,537 (2000) Ranked 74th
Pop. density:	17 inh./km² Ranked 76th
ISO 3166-2:	TH-58
Governor:	Thongchai Wongrianthong (since October 2007)
Map

Mae Hong Son (Thai แม่ฮ่องสอน) (also Maehongson, Mae Hong Sorn or Maehongsorn) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, and at the same time the westernmost. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Shan State of Myanmar, Chiang Mai and Tak. To the west it borders Kayin State and Kayah State of Myanmar again. It was formerly called Mae Rong Son (also Maerongson, Mae Rong Sorn or Maerongsorn).[1]

[hide]

[edit] Location and boundaries

Mae Hong Son Province is situated in northern and northwestern Thailand at 17° 38′ - 19° 48′ N and 97° 20′ - 98° 39′ E and furthest from Bangkok in the north at a distance of approximately 924 km. It boasts an area of approximately 12,681.259 km² or around 7,925,812.5 rai, which is third largest in Northern Thailand and seventh largest in the country. It is approximately 250 km from north to south and approximately 95 km from east to west.

To the north and west it connects to a total of three states in the Union of Burma, namely the southern portion of Shan State; Kayah State and Kawthoolei State via the West Thanon Thongchai Mountains and the rivers Salween and Moei which serve as natural boundaries between the countries. To the south it connects to the district of Tha Song Yang, Tak via the rivers Yuam and Ngao which serve as a provincial boundary. To the east it connects to the districts of Wiang Haeng, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Mae Chaem, Hot and Omkoi in Chieng Mai Province via the Central and East Thanon Thongchai mountain ranges that serve as a boundary line between the two provinces.

Every district in Mae Hong Son Province shares a common border with the Union of Burma approximately 483 kilometres in total length. Of this, approximately 326 kilometres is land and 157 kilometres are rivers (not counting the Salween, 127 km, and Moei, 30 km).[2]

[edit] Geography

Most of the areas of Mae Hong Son Province are complex mountain ranges and likely still pristine virgin forest. Of the approximately 6,976,650 rai of national forest reserves, 88.02% is thought to be pristine virgin forest. Mountain ranges run unbroken from north to south with important mountain ranges being the Lao-territory mountains located on the northernmost portion of the province that serve as a boundary between Thailand and the Union of Burma and the Thanon Thongchai Mountains which are in fact three adjoining ranges, the East, West and Central Thanon Thongchai mountain ranges respectively; the West Thanon Thongchai Mountains serve as a boundary between Thailand and the Union of Burma. The mountains in the east of the province serves as the boundary between the provinces of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. The tallest point is Mae Ya Peak (ยอดเขาแม่ยะ) of the East Thanon Thongchai Mountains in the Pai District in the province's northeast, at 2005 metres above sea level.[3]

[edit] History

It is believed that the lands of Mae Hong Son had already been settled before the arrival of Lord Kaeo of Ma (เจ้าแก้วเมืองมา; Chao Kaeo Mueang Ma) and his consequent resettlement in the area. However, there is no evidence as to what time or period they arrived, nor of their migrations thereafter. These former inhabitants have left evidence of their activity in the area and are believed to have been Lua, or Lawa, tribespeoples. Evidence to date includes gravesites and discarded housing structures such as those found in the vicinity of the Mae Hong Son Municipal Hall (หอประชุมเทศบาลเมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน), nowadays the Morning Markets (ตลาดโต้รุ่ง) and Dharma School (โรงเรียนปริยัติธรรม), by the Chong Klang (จองกลาง) and Chong Kham (จองคำ) monasterial compound. These first settlers were likely depopulated by either malaria or war, with survivors then dispersing out to safer areas.

The old, pre-Rattanakosin lands of Mae Hong Son was merely a collective of forest settlements without a central government, with Shan peoples who had crossed into the area from beyond the frontier with the Union of Burma in search of a means to find food, working in agroforestry and joint plantations as the seasons permitted. During this period the area was significant only as a passage for Burman troops marching on the capital at Ayutthaya or to the various Siamese capitals of Northern Thailand.

Mae Hong Son historical records state that in the year 1831, which corresponds to the reign of King Nangklao (Rama III) of the Rattanakosin Period, in the mueang of Phing Nakhon (เมืองพิงค์นคร) known today as Chiang Mai, in the lands of the Kingdom of Lannathai, was Phraya Chiang Mai Mahawong (พระยาเชียงใหม่มหาวงศ์), who was later to ascend to the rank of Phra Chao Mahottraprathet Racha Thibodi (พระเจ้ามโหตรประเทศราชาธิบดี), who knew that to the west of Chiang Mai, which meant the lands of today’s Mae Hong Son, was a geography of tall mountains and dense forests inhabited by a myriad of forest creatures of which wild elephants in particular were in great abundance, and thus ordered Lord Kaeo, who was a relative of his and a local military chief and governor, to herd these elephants out into the custody of mahouts, to survey the feasibility of this task on such western frontierlands and to be of further service in the capturing of the elephants so that they might be trained for labour thereafter.

Lord Kaeo assembled his troops, lure-elephants and mahouts and set out from Chiang Mai, bound for a shortcut which entered northeast along a brook leading them to complex mountain ranges. After a short trip they arrived in the hamlet of Wiang Pai (เวียงปาย), or Amphoe Pai as it is known today. Here, Kaeo and his commission stopped awhile before resuming their expedition. They then headed south to find a shortcut along the Pai River, so that they might ascend into the mountains once more.

After travelling for a longer period this time, they then headed back towards the Pai River. On arrival, they found a tiny community living in the area, either Shan or otherwise Tai, with hamlets along the Pai River amid vast areas of thick, virgin forest. Lord Kaeo deemed this location most suitable to build a village, with ample land to extend the scope of the village in the future and abundant saltlicks nearby the houses for boars; all one required in maintaining a successful village.

Lord Kaeo then rehabilitated the various scattered settlements into a single village and had them elect a leader referred to as a heng (เหง); Phakamong (พะก่าหม่อง), a Shan, was thus elected as the village heng. (The village elder, or kamnan, ruled over the village, and it was then named Ban Pong Mu, or Village of the Boar Saltlick (บ้านโป่งหมู). It later became Ban Pang Mu (บ้านปางหมู ), Tambon Pang Mu, Amphoe Pang Mu, Changwat Mae Hong Son. Lord Kaeo, together with Phakamong, then travelled further south with a number of their elephants in tow into the realm of what is today’s Mae Hong Son. Finding it a suitable location with a stream flowing by from east to west into the Pai River and a second brook running further north, he decided it would be most fitting to establish his elephant training camp there along with a residential base for personnel. Subsequently, he constructed an elephant pen on the banks of the stream and the area became another village for the Shan settlers, although with a smaller population than that of Ban Pong Mu. After Lord Kaeo had captured the satisfactory quota of elephants and had trained them as instructed, he decided to head back, and so elected the son-in-law of Phakamong, Saenkom (แสนโกม), as the kang (ก้าง) or village chief to oversee the village and it was then that the village was named Ban Mae Rong Son, or Village of the Elephant Training Camp Bayou (บ้านแม่ร่องสอน); later, the name Mae Rong Son was corrupted to Mae Hong Son, as pronounced in the brogue of the Lannanese (initial r’s are often pronounced as h’s), and the aforementioned second brook that ran north was named Lamnam Pu (ลำน้ำปุ๊) on finding water there splashing up from the earth (lamnam refers to any body of flowing water; pu is the sound produced when throwing a stone or brick into the mud or against a soft substance).

The village of Mae Rong Son flourished and prospered and Shan began migrating there in increased numbers. Aside from this wave, in around the year 1856 there arose much political unrest on the western banks of the Salween River which furthered the influx of peace-loving Shan, and again in 1876 when war broke out between the blood-princes of the principalities of Nai (เมืองนาย) and Mok Mai (เมืองหมอกใหม่) respectively. Prince Kolan (เจ้าฟ้าโกหล่าน) of Mok Mai, unable to sustain the battle, moved his family to live with Saenkom in Mae Rong Son along with his wife Nang Khiao (นางเขียว), their son Khun Long (ขุนโหลง), their grandson Khun Ae (ขุนแอ) and their granddaughters, Chao Nang Nu (เจ้านางนุ) and Chao Nang Mia (เจ้านางเมี๊ยะ).

By 1874, with the village of Mae Rong Son having become a huge community with a constant influx of migrants and so it was agreed that it should change its status to that of a fully fledged mueang. Lord Inthawichayanon, Lord of Chiengmai, thus elected a Shan named Chankale (ชานกะเล) to be its first partasakti (บรรดาศักดิ์; bandasak; somewhere between a count, in non-prerogative terms, and a governor) and bestowed on him the title of Phaya Singhanat Racha, or Sacred Voice of the King of the Singh (พญาสิงหนาทราชา), who would govern the mueang of Mae Hong Son from 1874, corresponding to the Rattanakosin Period of Rama V.

Later, in 1884, after caring for the mueang of Mae Hong Son for a decade, Phaya Singhanat Racha died. The next ruler was Chao Nang Mia, who ruled for seven years, bringing the realm to further great prosperity before passing away in 1891.

The next Lord of Mae Hong Son was Tho (โท้ะ), referred to as Pu Khun Tho or Old Man Tho the Mandarin (ปู่ขุนโท้ะ), who was made partasakti with the title Phaya Phithak Sayam Khet, or Lord Protector of the Fertile Soils of Siam (พญาพิทักษ์สยามเขต). He governed the mueang of Mae Hong Son between 1891 to 1905 before his own passing that year.

The next figure to rule as Lord of Mae Hong Son was Khun Lu (ขุนหลู่), the son of Pu Khun Tho, who reigned in his place as partasakti with the title Phaya Phisan Hong Son Buri, or Lord of the Metropolis of Hong Son Most Vast (พญาพิศาลฮ่องสอนบุรี). He governed over Mae Hong Son between the years 1905 to 1941. To follow was a period of change in government administration and there would be no more such ranks and titles.

In 1890, during the reign of Rama V of Bangkok, Phraya Si Sahathep (พระยาศรีสหเทพ), Plat Thun Chalong (ปลัดทูลฉลอง) of the Ministry of the Interior, completed an inspection tour of the cities in the Northwestern Mandala (see also Mandala (Southeast Asian history) and Mandala for perspective) and consulted with High Commmisioner Phraya Ritsaratchakit (พระยาริศราชกิจ ข้าหลวงใหญ่), who oversaw the Northwestern Mandala, to organise a new order of governance, namely, he would incorporate the partially independent city-states of Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam (เมืองขุนยวม), Yuam (เมืองยวม) (Mae Sariang) and Pai into a single unit of government to be called the Boriwen Chiang Mai Tawantok, or Shire of Western Chiang Mai (บริเวณเชียงใหม่ตะวันตก), and placed the government of the shire (which was now comparable to that of a single mueang) at Khun Yuem by appointing Nai Mot (นายโหมด) as shire reeve (as stated by the Minister for the Interior on July 11, 1901).

In 1903, the seat of government was moved from Khun Yuam to Yuam and the administrative division was renamed from Western Chiang Mai (บริเวณเชียงใหม่ตะวันตก) to Northern Phayap (บริเวณพายัพเหนือ). In 1910, a royal decree saw the merging of Mae Hong Son, Yuam and Pai into a fourfold realm alongside the Mandala of Phayap, and moved the administrative capital to Mae Hong Son with Phraya Sonsurarat (Plueng) (พระยาศรสุรราช (เปลื้อง)) as the first Governor of Mae Hong Son Province. In 1933, governance as a territory was ceased and then reinstated as a constitutional administrative government as per the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand as remains in place today.[4]

[edit] Demographics

63% of the population in the province are members of the hill tribes, among them the Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Lisu, Akha and Karen. Another big ethnic group are the Shan. The province has the lowest population density of all the provinces of Thailand.

[edit] Symbols

The provincial seal, Rup chang nai thong nam (รูปช้างในท้องน้ำ), is a reference to the training of wild elephants to be able to take orders in battle and for various types of animal labour.

The decision behind the selection of Rup chang nai thong nam, meaning Image of an Elephant in a Body of Water, as the provincial seal was because this was the origin of Mae Hong Son's founding, which first began with Lord Kaeo of Ma being sent to capture elephants for the Lord of Chiang Mai (1825-1846). Once in Mae Hong Son, he gathered the scattered Shan settlements to establish two main villages to be ruled over by their elected leaders, the villages of Ban Pang Mu and Ban Mae Hong Son. Indeed, the reason for the name Mae Hong Son or Village of the Elephant Training Camp Bayou was simply because the elephant training camp established there was in an area with a nearby brook.

The provincial tree is Millettia brandisiana, and the provincial flower is the tree marigold.

The official province slogan as promoted by the Thai government is:

Thai: หมอกสามฤดู กองมูเสียดฟ้า ป่าเขียวขจี ผู้คนดี ประเพณีงาม ลือนามถิ่นบัวตอง

RTGS: mok sam ruedu, Kong Mu siat fa, pa khiao khachi, phu khon di, prapheni ngam, lue nam thin bua tong

Mists thoughout the three seasons, the Kong Mu (Monastery) that scrapes the sky, verdant forests, gentle people, beautiful customs; renowned land of sunflowers

[edit] Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided in 7 districts (Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 45 communes (tambon) and 402 villages (muban).

[edit] Further reading

Goodden, Christian. Hinterlands: Sixteen New Do-It-Yourself Jungle Treks in Thailand's Nan & Mae Hong Son Provinces. Halesworth, England: Jungle Books, 2001. ISBN 0952738333

[edit] See also

Nai Soi Community Learning Center

[edit] External links

http://watcharap007blogspotcom.blogoshop.com/
http://www.flixya.com/user/watcharap007

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