A Brief History Of Phuket Thailand

 

in the 17th century, the Dutch, the English, and from the 1680s the French, competed with each other for trade with the island of Phuket (the island was named Junk Ceylon at that time), which was valued as a very rich source of tin. In September 1680, a ship from the French East India Company visited Phuket and left with a full cargo of tin. In 1681 or 1682, the Siamese king Narai, who was seeking to reduce Dutch and English influence, named Governor of Phuket the French medical missionary Brother René Charbonneau, a member of the Siam mission of the Société des Missions Etrangères. Charbonneau held the position of Governor until 1685.   

 

In 1685, king Narai confirmed the French tin monopoly in Phuket to a French ambassador, the Chevalier de Chaumont. Chaumont's former maître d'hôtel Sieur de Billy was named governor of the island. The French were expelled from Siam in 1688 however, following the 1688 Siamese revolution. On April 10, 1689, the French general Desfarges led an expedition to re-capture the island of Phuket in an attempt to restore some sort of French control in Siam. The occupation of the island led nowhere, and Desfarges returned to Pondicherry in January 1690.

 

The Burmese attacked Phuket in 1785. Captain Francis Light, a British East India Company captain passing by the island, sent word to the local administration that he had observed Burmese forces preparing to attack. Than Phu Ying Chan, the wife of the recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook(คุณมุก) then assembled what forces they could. After a month-long siege, the Burmese were forced to retreat March 13, 1785. The two women became local heroines, receiving the honorary titles Thao Thep Krasatri and Thao Si Sunthon from King Rama I. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn(Rama V), Phuket became the administrative center of the tin-producing southern provinces. In 1933 Monthon Phuket (มณฑลภูเก็จ)was dissolved and Phuket became a province by itself. Old names of the island include Ko Thalang.  ( Wikipedia.org )

 

 

Traditional Thai Farming

 

In the past, the number of water buffalo a farmer had was an indication of wealth and the water buffalo was considered a farmer's best friend. Large numbers of them could be seen wallowing in the mud at the edge of paddy fields. But with the invention of diesel plows and tractors, uses for the animal have been on the decline -- until now. 

Water buffaloes cost about $400-$500 each, and are a cheap alternative to diesel ploughs. But both farmers and water buffaloes are out of practice. 

Young farmers like Supat Langboon have little experience using farm animals in the fields and the farm animals themselves are confused as to why they are in a rice field attached to a plough. 

But even though water buffalo are more difficult to control than tractors, Supat is not giving up. 

[Supat Langboon, Farmer]:

"I would like to try to use a water buffalo to pull the plough because petrol is very expensive." 

Supat's uncle, 73-year-old farmer Tawan Panyaharn, is teaching both man and beast to work together and progress is slow. 

[Tawan Panyaharn, Farmer]:

"My relatives do not know how to train a buffalo how to plough. Sometimes, I have to step in and train them myself. I can get the buffalo to pull the plough within a few days." 

Rice production is the main source of income for rural families in the northeast. Thailand is one of the world's biggest rice producers and exporters. Some 10 million hectares of rice is grown in the country. Half of that is located in the country's northeast.  

 

( www.youtube.com ) 

 

The Thai wedding ceremony

 

The Thai Wedding Day

 

The Thai wedding ceremony is unique. It used to be more complex with lots of steps. Presently, it has been modified to be more modern and less complex.

Usually, we will have a Monk Blessing as is the Buddhism custom at the house of the bride or the bridegroom (which will be the place for the event) in the morning. After that, there will be marriage registration. Then, we have lunch together. Many couples do not have this part of the day of the monk blessing and registration at home. They may go to register at the county office the day before or after the wedding.

In the afternoon, the traditional wedding customs will be followed. It is called ROD-NAM-SANG, and is the main event where both the bride and the bridegroom's family get together. They witness this important event. Both the bridge and the bridegroom will sit close together on the floor (or small stage) with their hands held in WAI style (like the way we pay respect to the Lord Buddha). A flower chain connects the hands. The most senior person will act as the leader of the event. He or she will start to soak the couple's hands in water and wish them good luck. The water is contained in a conch shell container (ROD is soak, NAM is water, and SANG is conch shell). Then, the parents and others will do the same. Usually, only selected people like close friends and close relatives will be invited to the ROD-NAM-SANG event. If you are the immediate supervisor of the bride or bridegroom, you may be invited to join the ceremony. Accept it, it's a great honour. Please do not dress in BLACK colours (Dress and necktie). For Thais, the black colour is reserved for a sad event like a funeral. I have heard many Thais complained about foreigners wearing black dress to a wedding ceremony and it is a sign of bad luck to the bride and the bridegroom.

On the same night, there will be a wedding party. The number of invited guests is around 100 - 300. People like to organise the function in the hotel since the facilities are easier to set up. It could be arranged in different ways i.e. Cocktail style, Buffet Thai food, Chinese food, or sit down dinner. Whatever the style, the wedding party usually follows the same steps:

• The dinner party starts around 6 pm; the bride and the bridegroom with their parents will stand in front of the function room greeting and welcoming the guests. 

• Guests arrive.

• Guests go to register the name at reception area. Guest will sign the guest-book wishing good luck for the couple. Guests will present the gift at the registration area. It could be gift or gift cheque. If you present gift cheque, value varies according your position and the position of the bride and the bridegroom. Check with your secretary or colleague on the proper amount. If you give less than expected you will get a reputation as a stingy boss!

• Guests take photograps with the bride and the bridegroom.

• Around 7 pm, the dinner starts.

• Around 7.45 pm, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) starts the formal ceremony. Typically, the MC is one of the close friends of either the bride or bridegroom.

• The MC invites both the bride and the bridegroom to the floor. A wedding Flower is presented to them by the parent of the bridegroom.

• The MC calls for the guest of honour. Usually, the guest of honour is the person who is well respected by the community. The person could be the immediate supervisor of either the bride or the bridegroom, or could be one of the relatives. Generally, only one person is enough. Sometimes there could be 2 guests of honour, one from each side. Usually, the guest of honour is aware of their role before the event.

• The guest of honour will give the speech. I have seen many Western guests of honour give a good speech. The speech should be wish them a good luck and also add some tips for marriage. Some good tips include;

• Marriage is like chop sticks, you need both parties in order to get things done. Teamwork!

• A spouse likes tong and teeth. They are needed by each other. However, sometime they crash. Do not be surprised when they clash. It's part of the marriage package.

• Be calm and cool in marriage. You need both characteristics a lot.

• Forgiveness is the thing that you must practice in marriage. Etc…

• A speech should only take 2 to 3 minutes. Do not talk for over 5 minutes, it will annoy other guests.

• After the speech, the guest of honour will asked all the guests to stand up and toast the bride and bride groom. All the guests will end the toast by saying CHAI-YO (Cheers) 3 times.

• The guest of honour will step down from the floor. The MC might make a playful speech and interview the bride and bridegroom on how they met, how they fell in love, and tell some other fun stories about their love (if the MC learns it before the event). This part is optional. It's depends on how good the MC is in his job.

• Next, the bride and bridegroom will cut the wedding cake and serve some guests. Usually, they will serve the parents, senior relatives and the guest of honour.

• After that, the bride and bride groom will walk around for pictures or movies with all the guests. Typically, the friends of the bridegroom will use this opportunity to individual salute the bridegroom by offering a toast. "They will drink bottoms up" their own drink. If the bridegroom has 50 friends, it means that he has to drink 50 glasses of whiskey. So, that first night, he may not be able to perform the role of good husband. Because, he is too drunk!

• The party finishes around 10-11 pm.

Then, they live in happiness together. It's a happy ending story!

By  Kriengsak  Niratpattanasai 

 

( www.apmforum.com )  

Cooking Thai Food

 

Wanna know how to cook Thai food ?  watch this !

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Pad Thai (or Phad Thai, Thai: ผัดไทย,  "Thai style frying") is a dish of stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, (Thai น้ำปลา), tamarind juice, red chilli pepper, plus any combination of bean sprouts, shrimp, chicken, or tofu, garnished with crushed peanuts and coriander. It is normally served with a piece of lime, the juice of which can be added along with Thai condiments. In Thailand, it is also served with a piece of banana flower.

 

Two different styles of Pad Thai have evolved: the version most often found in the streets of Thailand, which is relatively dry and light, and the version that seems dominant in many restaurants in the West, which is heavier and may be covered in red oil.

 

Though the dish had been known in various forms for centuries – it is thought to have been brought to the ancient Thai capital of Ayuthaya by Vietnamese traders – it was first made popular as a national dish by Luang Phibunsongkhram when he was prime minister during the 1930s and 1940s, partly as an element of his campaign for Thai nationalism and centralization, and partly for a campaign to reduce rice consumption in Thailand. The Thai economy at this time was heavily dependent on rice exports; Phibunsongkhram hoped to increase the amount of it available for export by launching a campaign to educate the poor in the production of rice noodles, as well as in the preparation of these noodles with other ingredients to sell in small cafes and from street carts.

 

In fact, its name literally means "Thai-style stir-fried noodles," and for a dish to be so named in its own country clearly suggests an origin that isn't Thai. Indeed, noodle cookery in most Southeast Asian countries was introduced by the wave of immigrants from southern China settling in the region the past century. They brought with them rice noodles and their ways of cooking them. During the recession following World War II, the post-war government of Field Marshall Pibul, desperate in its efforts to revive the Thai economy, looked for ways to stem the massive tide of unemployment. Among the occupations the government aggressively promoted to give the populace a way to earn a living was the production of rice noodles and the operation of noodle shops. Detailed instructions on how to make the noodles and recipes were printed and distributed all around the country. From these efforts, rice noodles became firmly rooted in the country and have since become a widespread staple food.

 

Outside of Thailand, Pad Thai is one of the best-known Thai dishes, and is very popular in Thai restaurants in the United States and Australia.

(Wikipedia.org)

 

A Foreigner in a Thai Prison

 

A Canadian gets 3 1/2 years in a Thai jail for murdering her

 

From: NTDTV

Added: March 21, 2008  

 

A Canadian woman has been sentenced to 3-½ years in a Thai jail today for killing her American partner. The deceased man claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and was facing fraud...    

-----------------------------     

A Foreigner in a Thai Prison 

 

Written by Jay   

 

Friday, 02 November 2007 

 

 

 

 

I was arrested at the airport which is the same for most, if not all foreigners, who for various reasons find themselves in the Samut Prakan Central Prison.  I was first detained and questioned in a small police station inside the airport.  Then I was cuffed and driven in the backseat of a pick up truck to the nearby police station for holding and further questioning.  I stayed here in a small holding cell for two nights and one full day.  On my third day since the arrest I was taken to the nearby court that I originally thought was the prison but at about 4:30pm I realized we were being transported to the actual prison miles away. 

Inside this large holding cell at the court nearly fifty people waited to be called up to the small window where they would then be given a chance to speak with a Judge.  Everyone who had come to the court from the prison was wearing shackles, which sent an immediate fear into me above all the other fears I already felt.  Luckily I learned that the shackles were only on for the day of someone’s court date to prevent a prisoner from trying to run for freedom and are removed on the night they returned. 

Once we were put in a single file, after being counted, we were ordered into the Paddy Wagon or Prison Bus.  People get a last chance speak with their loved ones here as they yell to them for the last time before being visited behind bars. The prisoners are inside the bus and the friends or family ten feet away, behind a fence.  This is where I waved goodbye to my loved one.  We were truly jammed into the bus and had little room to breathe or move at all, it was horrible. 

Once at the prison I was able to check my valuables in at a desk and signed for them to be held.  I only had a few hundred baht as I wasn't planning on staying as long as I did.  We were then given clothes to change into and fed a green curry that night.  We left our own clothes and whatever else we had in a box and I was honestly surprised and relieved to get my bag of stuff back the next day as I had already not been allowed to retrieve my sandals from the prison bus, on arriving at the prison.  That night all of the new prisoners who had come that day slept in the head Trustees cell before being assigned new cells the following day. 

The next mourning all of the new people had to stick together and go through a small orientation process, filling out personal information and learning the rules and regulations.  In the afternoon we were given our own clothes and were released into the prison to go our separate ways if we wanted to.  I walked around confused and in disbelief and sat to try and read my book.  I was immediately befriended by other foreign prisoners who also shared the same experience as I described coming from the airport. 

I bonded with a lot of people in the prison both foreigners and Thai alike. This is obviously where I met Gor and was befriended by him as well.  I was never physically assaulted or felt threatened inside the prison.  I was terrified of horrible things possibly taking place but instead found all the opposite.  I guess everyone had realized that we were already in a bad position and there was no need to make matters wore for others.  I'm not saying I'm naive to the fact that bad things can and do happen inside Klong Don, or any other prisons for that matter.  I'm just saying nothing horrible happened to me.  The food also was obviously not exquisite but it was also much better that I had anticipated. 

Perhaps these semi decent descriptions I've described are because this prison is fairly new and because things have changed in the past ten years in Thailand in contrary to the books I have read about other peoples experiences in Thai prisons.  Klong Don is also not a maximum security prison and most of the people there find themselves charged with minor sentences compared to life or ten plus years.  This is what I was led to believe at least and think it’s the case, at least in the area of the prison I was in.  My biggest problem in the first few days was the fact that I found it really hard to fall asleep in the cramped room right next to another prisoner and with florescent light bulbs above our heads.  I adapted to this difficulty as well and found myself able to sleep once absolutely exhausted.

If you have a loved one inside the prison know that I am sorry as I was once in their same position.  Send them letters and love and don't give up on them.  They will survive.  There most difficult pain is the fact that they can't communicate with you or that you might not even know where they are.  (thaiprisonlife.com)   

LOY KRATHONG

Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong Festival, Chiang Mai

Beautiful thousands of floating lanterns for Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai


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Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.


"Loi" means "to float". "Krathong" is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions use specially made bread 'flowers' and may use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. Governmental offices, corporations and other organizations also build much bigger and more elaborate rafts, and these are often judged in contests. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival.


The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Deepavali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year. According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as "Noppamas Queen Contests". According to legend, Noppamas was a consort of theSukothai king Loethai (14th century) and she was the first to float decorated krathongs. The Loi Krathong festival is also associated with the start ofvegetable carving.

The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthayabeing particularly well known.

In Chiang Mai Loi Kratong is also known as "Yi Peng". Every year thousands of people assemble to float the banana-leaf krathong onto the waterways of the city, honouring the Goddess of Water. A multitude of Lanna-style hot-air lanterns (khom fai) are also launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the skies. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.

Kelantan also has the same celebration, especially in the Tumpat area. The ministry in charge of tourism in Malaysia recognises it as an attraction for tourist. Many people visit the celebration each year. ( Wikipedia.org )

Grand Palace in Bangkok at night

THAILAND WINS 2007 DANISH TRAVEL AWARDS FOR BEST TOURIST COUNTRY 

 

Thailand was once again voted ‘Best Tourist Country’ at the 12th Danish Travel Awards in 2007, making this the second time that Thailand has received the award.

Thai Airways International, the national carrier, ranked second in the ‘Best International Airlines’ award category.

His Excellency Ambassador of Thailand to Copenhagen, Mr Chaisiri Anaman, Mr Manit Boonchim — Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm office and Mr Preecha Nawongse – Manager of the Thai Airways International office in Copenhagen accepted the awards on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The award presentation ceremony, attended by some 500 Danish travel executives, was held on 11 October 2007, at Vilhelm Lauritzens Allé, Kastrup, the convention facility at Denmark’s Copenhagen Airport.

The annual Danish Travel Awards are organized by Stand By Scandinavian travel trade journal, one of the leading travel publications read by Scandinavian travellers. The selection of winners is based on total scores allocated by individual Danish travellers and members of the Danish travel industry.

In 2006, the Kingdom of Thailand welcomed 128,039 Danish visitors — an increase of 23.37 per cent over the 2005 and 6.5 billion baht in tourism revenue generated. For 2007, TAT Stockholm forecasts a 12 per cent increase in visitor arrivals from Denmark and a 15 per cent increase in total tourism revenue generated.

Stand By
Web site: www.standby.dk

 

(http://www.tatnews.org/tat_inter/3536.asp)  

 

Travel to Wat Phra Kaew,Bangkok Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew  the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the adjoining Grand Palace together form perhaps the greatest spectacle for the visitor to Bangkok. Despite the fact that the whole compound is so full of tourists you spend half the time trying to avoid getting in people's photos, it's still a pretty amazing place to visit.

It consists of over 100 brightly colored buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics, and dates back to 1782, when Bangkok was founded. When you enter the compound, you first of all see Wat Phra Kaew and the nearby attractions, and then move on to the Grand Palace afterwards.

Wat Phra Kaew itself, generally known to the Thais as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is perhaps the main attraction. This is Thailand's most important and sacred temple, so you're expected to act with due respect inside it. It houses the tiny (between 60 and 75 cm) Emerald Buddha, which is located high above the heads of the worshippers and tourists. Not much is known for certain about the statue, except that it isn't actually made of emerald but rather of green jade or jasper. Getting a good look at it is difficult as photography is forbidden inside the temple, and it's perched so high up inside it's glass box that it's difficult to really see.

It's thought to have been made in the 15th century and was the cause of several wars before ending up for good in Bangkok in 1782. The image is considered a talisman and holds tremendous significance for Thailand and the Thais. The 'robe' that it wears is changed 3 times each year by the King himself, at the start of each season: A diamond encrusted gold robe during the hot season, a solid gold robe in the cool season and a gilded monk's robe in the rainy season.There are also many other Buddha images inside the temple.

Round the interior walls are murals depicting the jataka stories. These are located according to the typical Thai conventions inside temples. The ones facing the altar depict the victory of the Buddha over the evil demon Mara, as he subdues her and achieves enlightenment. As is normal for Thai temples, shoes must be taken off before entering into the temple.

Despite it's national importance, Wat Phra Kaew is the only temple in Thailand that doesn't have any resident monks, and so is not a seat of Buddhist learning in the same way as the likes of Wat Pho and Wat Mahathat.

A cloister surrounds the temple, and depicted along here is an extensive mural of the Ramakian, the Thai version of the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. In total there are 178 sections, and although they date from the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV 1825-1850) they have since been restored on numerous occasions. The explanatory texts across from each were devised by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).

Also in the compound is:

- A miniature model of the famous Cambodian temple complex Angkor Wat, made during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) when the Thai empire extended over Cambodia.

- Two libraries, built to protect copies of important Buddhist literature. The Phra Mondop library is impressive, but almost always closed to the public. If not, it's well worth looking at.

- The impressive golden Phra Si Rattana Chedi, which it's claimed (somewhat improbably) houses ashes of the Buddha.

- The Royal Pantheon, with full size statues of the first seven kings of the reigning Chakri dynasty (Rama I - Rama VII). Only open on April 6th, the anniversary of the founding of this dynasty. Surrounding this are large statues of mythical guardians (pictured right), such as the kinaree, half human-half bird and the Hindu garuda bird. It contains the scared Buddhist scriptures, the Tripitaka.

After exiting Wat Phra Kaew, you enter the adjoining Grand Palace.

 

(www.into-asia.com)

 

 

Travel to Mae Sai,Chiang Rai Thailand

Mae Sai is a typical (and not very pretty) small Thai town and would normally be completely unremarkable. Nevertheless, it is one of the most exciting places in the kingdom, and that is because it is the most northern spot of the country and across a small river lies the Burmese town Tachilek. Every day, a steady stream of commuters crosses the bridge that marks the borders and Thai consumer goods into Northern Burma (and also carries back Burmese specialties like heroin, smuggled rubies, and so on, but that is a different story). Day visa for Tachilek can (at the moment at least) easily be obtained if you have brought your passport; the cost is 250 Baht. Get the visa at the border checkpoint walk across the bridge and you are in Burma. 

 

It is a matter of just 2 minutes but in these 2 minutes you enter an entirely different world. The atmosphere is remarkably different from the one in Thailand. Hire a Burmese rickshaw driver to take you around Tachilek and inspect the temples and markets. There are lots of shops that offer Burmese specialties like longyis (sarong-like skirts), Cheroots (Burmese cigars) or acquerware - unfortunately also things like tiger claws and other animal parts. Don't buy these as you will get plenty of trouble with the custom's office in your home country if you try to import them.

After you return from Tachilek to Mae Sai you can continue shopping there, some of the souvenirs, especially lacquer ware, are quite pretty, others you should avoid, in particular glass tones in various colours that are sold as gemstones. Mae Sai is also a center of jade trading and if you are interested you can visit some of the workshops to see the jade in its raw state and the methods that are used to process it.

(www.inm-asiaguides.com)  

 

Wat Rong Khun,Chiang Rai Thailand

Wat Rong Khun is also known as the White Temple. Whereas most temples visited by tourists have a history going back many centuries, this magnificent place of worship was built only recently. It is the realization of a dream for Thailands noted artist, Mr Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed and is supervising the construction of this beautiful white temple and its many statues of figures based on religious beliefs. The construction started in 1998 and is expected to be completed in 2008. In addition, there is a gallery nearby exhibiting his paintings. To get there from the city of Chiang Rai, drive north along Asia Highway. 

 (www.tourismthailand.org)  

Travel to Phu Chi Fa,Chiang Rai

Phu Chi Fa,Chiang Rai

Travel to Phu Chi Fa,Chiang Rai Thailand

Phu Chi Fa is approximately 25 kilometers to the south of Doi Pha Tang in Thoeng District. The cool climate produces colorful flowering shrubs and the large meadow on the top provides breathtaking views of Laos. In addition, spectacular scenery can be seen from the sheer cliff of Phu Chi Fa, especially the sea of mist at sunrise. Visitors can stay overnight at Ban Rom Fa Thong and Ban Rom Fa Thai.

(www.tourismthailand.org)

 

Tour Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai,Thailand

Erawan Waterfalls, Kanchanaburi Thailand

Erawan Waterfalls are the focal point of the Erawan National Park. This is an exquisite park, very pretty, and very popular with locals and foreigners alike. The waterfalls are equally exquisite. There are seven tiers of waterfalls, each feeding lovely, freshwater pools that you can swim in. A series of tracks lead you to the various falls across wooden footbridges - quite an experience in their own right! The waterfalls can get a bit crowded as they are so popular, so if you are looking for a more solitary experience, you should perhaps look elsewhere. A number of stalls provide staples like grilled chicken and rice along the way, and there is often very much of a carnival atmosphere about the place, especially in April during the Songkran Festival. A visit here will take the day – you should bear this in mind if you have limited time.

Details: Entrance to the park is 200 baht and it is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00.

 
How to get there: Buses leave Kanchanaburi on a regular basis for the waterfalls, but as you will need the whole day there, you will need to catch the early morning bus (currently 08:00).

 

(www.discoverythailand.com) 

 

Thi Lo Su Waterfall,Tak Thailand

Namtok Thi Lo Su This large waterfall is on a limestone mountain, 900 m above sea level. It originates from Klo Tho Creek cascading along a steep cliff. It ranks among the world’s six most beautiful waterfalls.

Namtok Thi Lo Su  is in Tak,Thailand 

Transportation

Tak is a key communication and transportation center of the North, with three Asian highways passing through the province. AH1 enters through the Myanmar-Thai border at Amphoe Mae Sot    AH2 passes through the province from north to south. Also AH16 terminates at Tak. Tak is located 426 km from Bangkok. Daily flights were also between Bangkok and Mae Sot by Phuket Air but now the service has been stopped. The flight takes one and a half hour.  

( www.wikipedia.org ) 

 

Fern Resort, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Nestled in a lush valley outside the town of Mae Hong Son, in the mountains of Northern Thailand, you find this beautiful place for nature lovers! The sounds of running water and the peaceful jungle setting is pure relaxation. We are the place for the perfect hide-away!

30 wooden bungalows are built in the local Shan Style and are comfortable and tastefully decorated. Experience the sights and sounds of unspoiled nature! Our friendly and warm staff will make you feel at home right away! ( fernresort.info )

 

Mae Hong Son,Thailand

The remote North Western town and provincial capital name Mae Hong Son is little more than a large village or small town. Mae Hong Son province borders Chiang Mai. The inhabitants, not even ethnic Thai’s, comprise of different tribal influences from the west. Amongst the most famous of the cities attractions are the Long-Necked ladies who sport a curious fashion of heavy brass rings around the neck.

They can be reached by boat. The whole region comes alive during February with brightly coloured sunflowers completely blanketing the mountain side. The city itself has exquisite Burmese style pagoda’s which blend perfectly into the slow moving capital. Nearby settlement of various mixed tribal groups adorn the hill sand valley and the venerable cave where giant catfish swim freely with the blessing of the local spirits.

The town is know as city of the three mists as the low-laying clouds envelope the sleepy municipality.(thaifocus.com)

 

Travel to Similan Islands,Thailand

Koh Similan Islands lie approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. In 1982, this 128 square kilometres area was declared a marine national park, and in recent years this group of nine small islands (Similan is derived from the Malay sembilan, and means nine) has become one of the leading attractions for visitors to Southern Thailand.

Ko Similan Islands have never been inhabited and for many generations, the only human visitors were the so-called Sea Gypsies who came to fish on the teeming reefs.

They were followed by dynamite fishermen who destroyed hundreds of years of coral growth with one bomb, collecting the dead and stunned fish before moving to new grounds. Commercial trawlers also came to wreak havoc with corals and fish populations alike.

With the establishment of stations by the Royal Forestry Department on Koh Miang and Koh Similan, fishing within the national park boundaries was banned and the unwanted visitors were substituted by tourists, especially after 1987, when leisure boats and dive operators started coming out on a regular basis.

Today, Koh Similan Islands and all reefs have recovered from earlier disturbances. Boats entering the Similan Islands National Park have to follow strict rules imposed and controlled by the national park officials, have to use the moorings prepared by the national park and use closed waste water systems to avoid any pollution.

The Similan Islands receive a high number of repeating tourists, especially divers, giving a clear sign to others for the popularity and the quality of the protected waters and the diversified underwater world. (www.andaman-island-hopping.com) 

Get in

Roads

• Highway No. 4 is the main route that connects all districts in Phang-Nga (except Kapong and Koh Yao). 

• Highway No. 401 connects Phang-Nga to Surat Thani. 

• Highway No. 402 connects Phang-Nga to Phuket Province. 

• Highway No. 4090 connects Muang to Kapong district.

Rail systems There is no rail system in Phang-Nga Province. The nearest railway station is at Phunphin district, Nakhorn Sithammarat.

Bus There are both non air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses to Bangkok and other provinces. There are also non air-condition inter-provincial buses.

Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle) The public passenger pick-up vehicle is the most popular mode of public transportation in Phang-nga.

Motorbike-taxi These are found mainly in the town areas and are used mainly for very short distances. The charges differ according to the distance travelled through the Motorbike-taxi.

Airport There is no airport in Phang-Nga Province. The nearest airport is Phuket International Airport. (Wikipedia.org) 

 

Sukhothai Historical Park,Thailand

The Sukhothai Historical Park covers the ruins of Sukhothai, capital of the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, in what is now the north of Thailand. It is located near the modern city of Sukhothai, capital of the province with the same name.

The city walls form a rectangle about 2 km east-west by 1.6 km north-south. There is a gate in the centre of each wall. Inside are the remains of the royal palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat Mahathat. The park is maintained by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand with help from UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site. The park sees thousands of visitors each year, who marvel at the ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings and ruined temples. The park is easily toured by bicycle or even on foot. 

The protection of the area was first announced in Volume 92, Part 112 of the Royal Gazette on August 2, 1961. In 1976 the restoration project was approved, and in July 1988 the park was officially opened. On December 12, 1991, it was declared a World Heritage site, together with the associated historic parks in Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai.

Transportation

Sukothai only has a small bus station, but the city can be easily reached from the North, South, East and West.

From Mae Sot: Minibuses run regularly from the station behind the market. The journey takes about 3 hours, passing through Tak on the way. 130 baht.

From Phitsanulok: Frequent buses operate from the main bus terminal and take about 1 hour for the 58 km trip.

From Bangkok: There are direct buses from Bangkok, but to avoid a long uncomfortable ride, take the (express) train (8 hours) to Phitsanulok and go by bus from there (1 hour).

From Chiang Mai: Buses from the main bus terminal take about 4 hours. The cheaper local buses make many stops and take about 5 hours. ( Wikipedia.org )

 

 

Travel to Rai Leh Beach, krabi Thailand

Rai Leh Beach, Thailand 

Rai Leh , also commonly known as Railay, is a tourist area located on the Andaman Coast of Thailand, in Krabi Province. Rai Leh is primarily known as a rock climbing hot spot, attracting climbers from all over the world to its superb towering limestone.

Get in

Ordinary passport holders of most countries, including the United States, Canada, European Union countries, Russia, Japan and Australia, do not need a visa if their purpose of visit is tourism and if their stay does not exceed 30 days. Thai immigration requires visitors' passports to have a minimum of 6 months validity and at least one completely blank visa page remaining. Visa-on-arrival is available at certain entry points for passport holders of 20 other nations, including India and China. Check the latest scoop from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . By law, you must carry your passport with you at all times

Proof of onward transit, long happily ignored by Thai immigration, has for unknown reasons been zealously enforced again since 2007. (Airlines, who have to pay for your return flight if immigration doesn't let you in, also check this.) A print-out of an e-ticket on a budget airline is sufficient to convince the enforcers, but those planning on continuing by land may have to get a little creative. Buying a fully refundable ticket and getting it refunded once in Thailand is also an option.

Overstaying in Thailand is dodgy. If you make it to Immigration and are less than 10 days over, you'll probably be allowed out with a fine of 500 baht per day. However, if for any reason you're busted overstaying by regular cops — and drug raids etc are fairly common — you'll be carted off to the notoriously unpleasant illegal immigrant holding pens and may be blacklisted from Thailand entirely. For most people it's not worth the risk: get a legal extension or do a visa run to the nearest border instead.

By plane

Bangkok is one of Asia's largest hubs; practically every airline that flies to Asia also flies to Bangkok, meaning competition is stiff and prices are low.

There are also international flights directly to/from Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Ko Samui, Phuket, and Pattaya.

The national carrier is the well-regarded THAI Airways , with Bangkok Airways  filling in some gaps in the nearby region. Bangkok Airways offers free internet access while you wait for boarding to start at your gate.

Many low-cost carriers serve Thailand - see Discount airlines in Asia for an up to date list.

For a full at-a-glance list of all Thai-based carriers, see the Thai airlines .

Eat

Rai Leh has a variety of restaurants to choose from, although none are remarkable (for Thailand at least) in character or quality. In general however, the food is what you would expect for southern Thailand - tasty and inexpensive.

Rai Leh West has four restaurants: one for each of the three hotels on the beach, and a smaller restaurant near CoCo's bar. All offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner along the beach with a lovely view of the surroundings.

Rai Leh East has more restaurants and the variety is much greater, though none offer the scenery of the west beach (restaurants near Diamond Cave may be an exception where they offer an impressive view of the bay from their position higher up the hill).

 

Sleep

Rai Leh primarly caters to two groups: honeymooners/families and rock climbing backpackers. Fortunately, there is accommodation to suit both ranging from bamboo bungalows to concrete three story hotels. Prices typically double during high season (November-April inclusive)

 

Budget

Most Rai Leh budget accommodation is found on the east side of Rai Leh. For the best variety of budget accommodation (wooden bungalows) try neighbouring Ton Sai Beach - a ten minute walk or one minute long-tail ride - where rooms can be had for a few hundred baht/night.

                      Railay Cabana Bungalows — The cheapest accommodation on Railay are a collection of bamboo bungalows, found behind Diamond Cave on Rai Leh East. Prices can be as low as 100 baht in the low season, July/August. Reaching 700Baht in high season. The savings does come with a price, expect a 10-15 uphill walk from the beach.          

 Mid-range

     Rai Leh West has several beach front hotels/bungalow operators located on the west side of Rai Leh. While the prices vary greatly depending on room type, they're all priced a cut above your average budget operation.

                     Railay Village Hotel  has a collection of concrete bunglows, each with private bathroom and fan or air con, set back off the beach among a garden setting. High season rates 500-2000 baht for double occupancy.                   

                      Sand Sea Hotel  is similar to Railay Village Hotel in that it is a collection of concrete bunglows, private bathroom, choice of fan or air con and quietly set back off the beach among a garden setting; Although the included breakfast buffet is nothing special for Thailand, the rooms have marginally nicer decor, and has a nice swimming pool -- which attracts a more family oriented clientèle. High season rates 1950-2500 baht for double occupancy.                

                    Rai Lay Bay Resort & Spa Hotel  is the largest and offers a combination of concrete bungalows and two-storey deluxe hotel rooms with marginally nicer decor. The hotel rooms are slightly closer to the beach, while the bungalows almost stretch right across the peninsula through their gardens, and there's a nice swimming pool. High season rates 2500-9900 baht for double occupancy, including a good buffet breakfast.                

                     Rai Lei Beach Club  rents private houses. The homes are located on the western side of Rai Leh, adjacent to CoCo's, and vary in size and quality. None have air conditioning or hot water but include daily maid service. High season rates begin at 3500 baht for a single room home and range up to 13,000 baht for a three bedroom home that sleeps twelve.                    

      Rai Leh East has no beach front hotels/bungalows; accommodation is either set back from the water or up on the hills. Many of the hotels offer fine views of the bay and surrounding mountains.

                   Sunrise Tropical Resort & Spa, 39 Moo 2 Aonang, Muang, Krabi 81000, 27 rooms: 2000-6500 baht            

                     Diamond Cave Resort  is at the far end of Rai Leh east, with steps from near the beach leading up to well maintained gardens with a pool, surrounded by a variety of concrete bungalows, several of them nestled into the jungle marking the edge of town. High season rates 2000-3400 baht.                    

                    Diamond Private Resort  is situated on the landscape over looking the andaman sea and limestone of Rai Lay Bay on the east in Krabi province - Address 36 Mu 1, Tambon Ao Nang,Ampur Muang, Krabi 81000 Tel.66 75 621 729.                     

                    Anyavee Railay Resort, 390 Moo 2, Ao Nang Beach, Muang  Krabi 81000, rooms: 1800-7200 baht 

                    Yaya Resort  is situated on the landscape over looking the andaman sea and limestone of Rai Lay Bay on the east in Krabi province - Address 1 Mu 2, Tambon Ao Nang,Ampur Muang, Krabi 81000.

                       Railay Viewpoint Resort  is a perfect Resort set in beautiful natural surroundings boasting unbeatable views of Railay Beach and the hanging limestone crags beyond. over the mountain through the natural forest, then back down to West Beach for the 30 minute sunset to the sandy white beaches of Railay.

                        Railay Princess is a new hotel located on the east side Rai Leh, near YaYa's Bungalows. It is a three story hotel style building that is set inland from the beach. While it lacks any beach front, it is quiet, and features a lagoon and pool with views of the surrounding mountains. High season rates start at 3000 baht, including breakfast.

  ( Wikipedia.org )