North thailand Overview

The North is a mountainous region comprising natural forests, ridges and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys.
A mountainous area where winter temperatures are cool enough to allow the cultivation of temperate fruits such as apples, strawberries and peaches, the North offers the tourist a pleasing alternative to the bright lights of Bangkok and the beaches of the south and the Gulf of Thailand.
It occupies an approximate area of 170,000 square kilometers, bordering on the territories of Laos and Myanmar.


Chiang Mai is the major city of the North. Also called “Rose of the North”, Chiang Mai is the focal point of local farming communities with a thriving market. It is also a popular tourist destination with both Thai and overseas visitors who enjoy the city’s slow pace of life, its many ancient temples, and its various cottage industries which are generally concentrated in villages on the city outskirts. Umbrellas, silverware, nielloware, woodcarving and silk are just some of the best known Chiang Mai products.
In the northern forests, visitors can see elephant training camps (these huge beasts are still used in the teak forests) as well as the colorful nomadic tribes that still roam this corner of Thailand. There are also opportunities for rafting and trekking.


The north, for centuries an independent kingdom and center of culture and religion, is dotted with many ancient historical sites and monuments, among them the Sukhothai Historical Park, the Doi Suthep Shrine in Chiang Mai, and the Phra Buddha Chinarat image in Phitsanulok. Northerners celebrate such festivals as Songkran [the traditional Thai New Year] and Phao Thien Len Fai, to name but two.
The north is also home to a patchwork of hill tribes-the Musers,Yao, Meo, E-kaw, and Karen-who each possess their own distinctive culture and way of life.
The lowland northerners are note as a gentle and hospitable people. In addition the region abounds with many natural attractions such as mountain scenery, caves waterfalls, and lakes. Other attractions include bargain hunting for local and tribal handicrafts in the bazaars and markets, while in the major towns Western-style night entertainment is widely available.
In the northern forests, visitors can see elephant training camps [these huge beasts are still used in the teak forests] as well as the colorful nomadic tribes that still roam this corner of Thailand. There are also opportunities for rafting, trekking or golfing.

In addition, the northern region is the home to Thailand's many colorful hill tribes such as the Lahu of Tak and the Yao, Akha, Karen, Hmong, and Lisu tribes of the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai mountain regions. The north is also noted for its rich cultural traditions. Many tourists from the surrounding provinces flock to Chiang Mai for the annual Songkran Festival and to Sukhothai for Loi Krathong.

Kanchanaburi Destination Guide

The Bridge over the River Kwai   Death Railway

The Safari Park

The Safari Park is located approximately 40 kilometers from town along the Kanchanaburi-Bo Phloi route. It is home to numerous African and Asian mammals, including giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers and bears that dwell in beautifully landscaped environs. Visitors can drive their private car to explore the park or use the bus service provided by the park. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee is 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children. Call 0 3453 1888, 0 3453 1999, 0 3450 0089 or fax. 0 3450 0088 for further information.


Ban Kao National Museum

A small Tambon (sub-district) located on the bank of the Kwai Noi River approximately 35 kilometers from the city is a site where some ancient Stone Age tools were found. In addition, a Neolithic burial site was discovered by the Dutch Allied POW, Dr. Van Hickderen who was forced to build the Death Railway. The consequences of findings revealed that tambon Ban Kao was once a dwelling of prehistoric men. Some critical discoveries included skeletons of prehistoric men, tools made from gravel stone and axes. The Ban Kao Museum houses skeletal remains, pots, axe heads, jewelry made from animal bones, and other artifacts dating from that period.

The museum is open from Wednesday through Friday with the exception of public holidays from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Admission is 30 baht. Call 0 3465 4058 for more information.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (known locally as the Don-Rak War Cemetery) is the main Prisoner of War (POW) cemetery associated with victims of the Burma Railway. It is located on the main road (Saeng Chuto Road) through the town of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, adjacent to an older Chinese cemetery. 

It was designed by Colin St Clair Oakes and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are 6,982 former POWs buried there, mostly Australian, British and Dutch. It contains the remains of prisoners buried beside the south section of the railway from Bangkok to Nieke apart from those identified as Americans, whose remains were repatriated.

There are 1,896 Dutch war graves, the rest being from Britain and the Commonwealth. Two graves contain the ashes of 300 men who were cremated. The Kanchanaburi Memorial gives the names of 11 from India who are buried in Muslim cemeteries.

Wat thawonwararam

Wat Thawonwararam (a little tongue twister) is proof for a big Chinese influence in Kanchanaburi town. 

The architecture and signage is Chinese, Inside the temple is Phra Buddha Sathapornmongkol or Luang Phor To, a beautiful late U-thong period image. 

The temple sits quietly along the famous river Kwai. 

Well, not so quiet because of the dogs. The temples of the town are a nice alternative to visit after all the River Kwai attention.

The JEATH War Museum is one of two war museums in Thailand about the Death Railway built from 1942 to 1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of the Japanese, a part of the famous Thai-Burma railways.
Founding

The museum was founded in 1977 by the chief abbot of Wat Chaichumpol Venerable Phra Theppanyasuthee. It is located on the grounds of a temple at the junction of the Khwae Yai and Khwae Noi rivers in Kanchanaburi and it is a part of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai[1] saga.

The acronym JEATH stands for the primary nationalities involved in the construction of the railway: Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and Holland,[2] whereas the Thai name is Phíphítháphan Songkhram Wát Tâi (Wat Tai War Museum).
The museum is divided into two sections, depicting the construction of the Death Railway is meant to recreate the quarters used by Allied POWs, the reconstructed bamboo huts contain such items as paintings, drawing and photos of and by the prisoners, weapons, tools, maps and so forth.[4] It includes a prehistoric view on the province as well as the Miss Thailand contest room.

Tourist photos are not permitted in the museum.

Had Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park

The Royal forest department had surveyed and established the 75 million-year shell cemetery (Susan Hoi), Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi and near-by islands in Nong Thale sub district, Ao Nang sub district, SaiThai sub district and Pak Nam sub district of Amphoe Muang Krabi, 243,725 rais, as the 47th National Park of Thailand so called "Had Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park". There after, it had been expanded to cover the shell cemetery and near-by islands, 12.68 Rais., to have totally area of 243,737 rais. After that the area of Nong Thale sub district, Amphoe Muang Krabi, Krabi province which is the area of the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Palace area has been excluded from this national park and left only 242,437 rais.

Topography
Consists of the land area on the coast of the island such as Oaw Maow mountain area, Oaw Nang-Hang Nak forest and other islands. The geological form of this area is the high mountain laid along the northwest-southeast direction. Coast area is the high mountain while the western side has deeper slope than the eastern side. Geological form of sea coast area and islands in Andaman sea would be affected by the line of earth layer movement so called "Indosenia Teotonic Movement". At the area of mangrove forest of Hang Nang mountain you would find the Klom mountain canal on the coast rim which get the drained water from a big pond, so called "Nong Tale" (Sea Pond) and originates the mangrove forest and low plain area of the Samed forest in the area of national park office namely "Klong Hang" (Dry canal)(Nhoparatanatara Beach).

Climate
"Nopharatanatara - PhiPhi Beach National Park are influenced by tropical monsoon wind. During November-October would has the southeastern-monsoon wind drives through and induces to have two seasons of weather here; the first is raining season starts from May till December and the hot season starts from January till April. Average temperature here is about 17 - 37 degrees celsius. Average rainfall per year is about 2,231 milimeters which would be highest in July and lowest in February.

Flora and Fauna
Vegetations in the national park area could be classified into 3 groups as follows :

Primary rainforest could be found in the high steep mountain. According to these are the limestone mountains which have a thin layer of soil and are frequently impacted with strong wind, lets the rainforests in this area are not naturally fertile. Most of plants are iron wood, rubber and shorea, and the low level trees such as chanpha, rattans, banyans and many kinds of vines.
Mangrove forest could be found in dry canal and Yan Saba canal. Found plants are red mangroves, samae, peninsular, withe beans, black beans, etc.
Phru forest is the society of dominant plants which found the dense samet trees in the Nhoparatanatara beach. Other found plants are shorea, jambolan plum, cogon grass, etc.

Wildlife
Animals int the Nhoparatanataral-Phi Phi Islands National Park can be classified as follows : mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and other aquatic animals which no spine, such as sea slug. The important one in this group is coral such as a thorn coral, cub surface coral, leaf coral, tree coral, ect.

SUVARNABHUMI: BANGKOK’S NEW AIRPORT

A fter more than 40 years in the planning, a chequered and sometimes controversial history and pessimistic cries of doom from many in the country, Thailand's glamorous new Suvarnabhumi Airport opened on 29 September with a distinctly unglamorous pre-dawn cargo flight from Germany.
The simple fact of the opening without drama was cause for celebration indeed for the thousands of stakeholders in the new project that replaces the creaking Don Muang.

No one doubts the new facility is needed and overdue. The Bangkok International Airport at Don Muang had been running two million passengers over capacity in recent years but, it seems airport capacity is set to remain on the agenda for some time to come.

Suvarnabhumi went on that first day to record more than 100,000 passengers. There were glitches and some frustrated passengers over baggage delays but hardly the meltdown some had predicted.

The airport has made steady progress in dealing with an array of problems – most importantly baggage handling.

With the goal that any flight should not be delayed for more than 15 minutes, the airport averaged about 50 percent on those targets in the first few days of opening, although flight punctuality improved dramatically during October.

Tourists themselves seem to like the airport's airy, futuristic design by German architect Helmut Jahn. There is no doubt that it is a great landmark for the industry and the country and presents to Thailand some significant opportunities.

By now the facts are well known – the world's largest terminal building under one continuous roof at more than 560,000 square metres, and the tallest control tower in the world at 132 metres.

For Thailand, the new airport will open up possibilities of developing the often neglected intra-regional tourist market and create a major hub as one of Asia's busiest airports. With a boost in tourist arrivals, and extra capacity to handle eight million more passengers than at Don Muang airport, this raises issues.

No sooner had the opening glitches been addressed than there were calls for the airport's expansion to accommodate an expected jump in traffic over the next five years.

Chaisak Angsuwan, Department of Civil Aviation Director-General, led the calls saying that with more tourists visiting Thailand and new airlines expected to want slots, arrivals could quickly reach 40 million.

While the airport was designed to initially handle 45 million passengers a year, it can be expanded to serve up to 120 million.

Some plans are already in train. The airport already plans to build a 600-million-baht terminal to cater to budget carriers within 16 months.

Suvarnabhumi operator Airports of Thailand says that the new facility will be able to handle the increasing arrivals for about five years. But with that deadline, decisions must be taken now if the mistakes of the past are to be avoided.

The fate of Don Muang is still to be determined. Although it remains open to charter flights and as a maintenance facility, pleas by budget carriers to be allowed to use the facility have so far been rejected.

Civil Aviation Department Director-General Chaisak Angsuwan has asked the Ministry of Transport and Airports of Thailand to speed up the feasibility study for the new low-cost passenger terminal, as domestic flights operated by low-cost carriers have grown 40 percent annually over recent years.

That may not be enough to satisfy them.

While tourists have an increasingly positive view of Thailand's new gateway, there are some voices of concern now being heard, particularly from low-cost carriers. They say their proposed move back to Bangkok's old airport is because of the increased costs at Suvarnabhumi, as much as the airport reaching capacity.


In a sign that the authorities may yet be prepared to discuss a move they have previously rejected, Chaisak said his department would listen to their reasons but so far have not started official discussions on this issue. He questions whether Suvarnabhumi costs will rise further from here.

In the end, any decision would come down to economic value to the country, he said, with a balance that needed to be struck between the need to service a growing tourism industry against the costs of operating two separate airports.

The issue of expanding Suvarnabhumi is yet another item on the agenda for the new government that took charge shortly after the airport opened. That has led to changes already, with the 14 directors of Airports of Thailand, including Khun Chaisak, resigning less than a month after the airport's opening.

Khun Chaisak said this was simply "good manners… to pave way for the new leaders to appoint a new set of people to work with." A new board is expected to be appointed before the end of the year and it is in the entire country's interests that this board be strong and act quickly on the new challenges ahead.

Suvarnabhumi has been a success so far. It provides fantastic opportunities for Thailand and the tourism industry going forward.

The new government has said that completion of facilities at the existing Savarnabhumi terminals is a priority and that must take precedence over any expansion. With many shops and offices at the new airport still building sites, that is fair enough.

In the future, the industry must work with the government. We must try to avoid those delays and problems that marred the ambitious project for so long before its opening.

A TRIP TO THE CITY OF LIONS

Only a couple of hours from Bangkok, Muang Singh Historical Park in Sai Yok district offers a chance to explore the westernmost outpost of the Angkor-based Khmer empire


Located in the mountainous terrain of Central Thailand, Kanchanaburi is a delightful province with a little of everything to offer visitors. A good starting point for history buffs is Muang Singh Historical Park in Sai Yok district. A prosperous outpost of the Khmer Kingdom once thrived here, encircled by limestone hills on the banks of the Sai Yok river. After a look at a stone tablet detailing the city plan, we learned the ancient city covering around 641 rai was almost square-shaped and was guarded by moats, ramparts and laterite walls as high as 880 metres, with gates on all four sides. The south side of the wall winds along the river; there are earth embankments along each of the other three sides. On close observation, we found that the outer sides of the wall are enclosed with moats and ramparts which are believed to have been constructed at least partly for the city's water system.


Inside the city gates, broad parks with well-pruned gardens and towering trees act as a perfect backdrop for Muang Singh (City of Lions), which was abandoned until the reign of King Rama I when it was rebuilt as a border town in Kanchanaburi province.


According to records, the Muang Singh compound was the westernmost outpost of the Angkor-based Khmer empire. Artifacts, including temple carvings, religious statuary and pottery signify that the city must have been occupied from approximately the 12th to 14th centuries, although human remains dating back some 2,000 years have been unearthed. The complex is predominantly comprised of laterite blocks decorated with stucco reliefs.


We counted a total of six ponds within the city perimeter which are believed to have been used for both religious and irrigation purposes. There are four monuments inside the city walls, of which the most prominent is Prasat Muang Singh, the first stop on the tour. A distinct Khmer architectural influence can still be seen in the tower-like ruins of the religious structure which stands at the centre of the enclosed city. A separate nearby building encompassed by a laterite gallery has a much-revered Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara statute.

Of the three remaining monuments, one consists of three tower-like structures oriented along a north-south axis just a stone's throw away from Prasat Muang Singh. Brick and laterite walls mark the location of another ancient monument, while all that remains of a fourth is the base.




At a nearby museum numerous stucco decorations, pottery, Buddha images and other religious objects are on display in a spacious rectangular room. Still in relatively good condition are sculptures which have the classic Bayon Buddha characteristics - a calm facial expression, with eyes closed and mouth parted, and a reserved smile. Another display that grabs the attention are images of Buddha seated under muti-headed naga which were excavated around the monuments. Buddhist texts mention this particular type of Buddha image in a mythological story which sums up the period after Lord Buddha found nirvana. According to the story, the Mucalinda naga protected Lord Buddha from a storm while he was meditating near a pond. It is believed that the image of the Buddha in meditative form under the multi-headed naga was highly popular with Khmer Buddhists at the time.

After exploring the historical park we paid a visit to the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum - built in memory of the suffering of Allied prisoners of war who were forced by the Japanese to build the Thai-Burma Railway during World War Two. The museum, only 250 metres from the "Death Railway", was officially opened on April 24, 1996, and houses exhibits detailing the true story behind the building of the railway. The memorial site was first dedicated by the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce on April 25, 1987, following a request by former Australian POWs.

Hellfire Pass, or Chong Khao Khart as it is called in Thai, is a must-visit reminder of the horrors of war.

The complex is 80km north of Kanchanaburi on land under the control of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Agricultural and Cooperative Division Development Command. A staircase has been built near the museum to make it more convenient for guests to tour the area where the POWs worked near the Konyu Cutting, arguably the most difficult section of the entire railway.

The Konyu Cutting was nicknamed Hellfire Pass by POWs because of the eerie illumination of the oil-fired bamboo torches on the quartz formations. Prisoners worked around the clock to finish excavation of the 17m deep, 110m long cutting through solid limestone and quartz in only 12 weeks.


A universe - but only a short distance - away we took time to pamper ourselves at the Rock Valley Hot Spring before returning to Bangkok. The side trip offered the opportunity for small tilapia fish, which thrive near mineral-rich hot springs, to nip away on the dead skin covering our bodies, thought to stimulate blood circulation. The experience, however, needs getting used to, as it can be very ticklish when an entire school of fish nibbles your skin all at once.

North : TAK Province

ThiLoSu Waterfall

 Doi Maeramueng

General Information
On traveling to Tak Province, expect to discover a place with long history, where natural wonders are magnificently enhanced by ethnic diversity.

Mostly forested and mountainous, Tak is a northern province peacefully situated on the Maenam Ping basin. The province covers an area of 16,406 square kilometers and is 426 kilometers north of Bangkok. As Tak shares natural border with Myanmar, it is highly regarded as a western gateway to Myanmar, and a northern doorway to Thailand’s major cities such as Lampang and Chiang Mai.

The Past
A province with a long history, Tak was earlier called Mueang Rahang. Historians believe it was built prior to the Sukhothai era and was treated as the western frontier of the Kingdom. Tak was also associated with Thailand’s former Great Kings, from King Ramkamhaeng the Great, King Naresuan the Great, King Narai the Great to King Taksin the Great. These four Kings usually called their troop assemblies in Tak. That is why the seal of the province depicts King Naresuan the Great on the royal elephant, pouring sacred water on the ground. This is a symbolic representation of the declaration of the independence of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya during the war with Burma in 1584. Tak was considered the first district to be liberated from the power of the Burmese Kingdom.

The Present
Today, Tak is no longer a strategic military frontier between two great nations. It is however a trading gateway to Myanmar at Amphoe Mae Sot, where lots of economic activities take place daily along the border. In addition, the province has the Asian Highway that runs from Thailand’s western border towards the northeastern region at Chong Mek (Mae Sot – Sukhothai – Phitsanulok – Ubon Ratchathani - Laos).

Apart from Tak’s military and economic importance the province is also an environmental and cultural center with magnificent forests, spectacular waterfalls and caves and fascinating hill tribes such as Karen, Lisu, Musoe (Lahu), Akha, Yao and Hmong.

How to get there
By Car:
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin) and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri and Chai Nat Provinces, then take Highway No. 1 again and proceed to Tak via Kamphaeng Phet Province. The total distance is 426 kilometers.

By Bus:
From Bangkok: Air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal)to Tak between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day. The journey takes 6 hours. Call 0 2936 2852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th for updated schedules. Daily bus services to Tak are also available. They are operated by private bus companies such as Thanchit Tour (Tel: 0 2551 1307), Choet Chai Tour (Tel: 0 2551 1054).

By Train:
From Bangkok: There are no trains going directly to Tak. The nearest train transfer station is Phitsanulok. From there, tourists can take a local bus to Tak. Contact Bangkok Railway Station Tel. 1690, 0223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th for more information.

By Air:
From Bangkok: Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Mae Sot, a district which is 86 kilometers from the City of Tak. For more updated information, call 0 2628 2000 (24-hour reservation center) or visit www.thaiairways.com. Air Andaman also flies to Mae Sot and to Chiang Mai every day except Saturday. Visit www.airandaman.com/Infomation.html or call 0 2229 9500 for updated information.

From Bangkok via Pitsanulok Province: and then transfer to the Pitsanulok-Tak shuttle. The flights are scheduled to run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Call 02 628-2000 (24-hour reservation center) or visit www.thaiairways.com for more information.

From Bangkok to Umphang, Take air-conditioned buses, as well as flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot, and then, take the local bus to Umphang. There is now a charter flight operated by Siam GA Co., Ltd. The fare is approximately 9,000 bahts to fly directly to Umphang either on Monday, Wendesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. For more information, call 02 5043320 ext. 197.

Travel from Tak to other Cities
Tourists who want to travel from Tak to Bangkok or any other city may choose to go by air or land. Car rental service in the City of Tak is also available.

By Air: The Thai Airways offers a wide range of trips from Tak and Mae Sot to other provinces, including Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok. For more information, call 0 2628 2000 (24-hour reservation center)

By Bus: Many governmental and private bus companies have regular and air-conditioned bus services to nearby provinces. For more information, call Transportation Authority of Tak, tel.

Festivals
Loi Krathong Sai
Loi Krathong Sai ,Thailand’s lovely annual “Festival of Lights” on the full moon night in November, is celebrated in a unique manner in Tak. Local people thread together their krathongs which are launched simultaneously and appear as lighted necklaces on the Ping River.

Taksin Maharachanuson Fair
Taksin Maharachanuson Fair Celebrated annually from December 28-January 3 at the Taksin Shrine and provincial sports field, the fair features religious ceremonial and processions, displays and nightly folk entertainment.

kanchanaburi-hotels Reservation

Railay Beach : Krabi

                                                   

Railay Beach, a small peninsula located between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang

Railay Beach (Thai: อ่าวไร่เลย์) is a small peninsula located between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang in Thailand. Accessible only by boat due to the highlimestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the area is also popular due to its beautiful beaches and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Accommodation ranges from inexpensive bungalows popular with backpackers and climbers, to the renowned jet-set resort of Rayavadee. The four main areas of Railay consist of Pranang, West Railay, East Railay and Tonsai, with Tonsai catering more to climbers.

If, you talk about the private and extraordinary beach in Krabi , Thailand . Everybody has to think of “ Railay Beach ” the beach is situated South

If, you talk about the private and extraordinary beach in Krabi , Thailand .
Everybody has to think of “ Railay Beach ” the beach is situated South of Ao-Nang. No road, No car here.
Railay beach where you are able to access by longtail boat only . Railay beach, Trere are 4 beaches around this area; Tonsai Beach, Railay West, Railay East and Phranang Beach (opposited Phranang Cave ). White sand beach, Crystal clear water, View Points,

Cave and Lagoon where you will explore in this beautiful beach. Railay West, East and Phranang Cave Beaches are connected by narrow footpaths winding around the base of the cliffs Railay West, provides you perfectly soft sand beach. And the largest swimming pool made by natural. Dinning at Sun Set restaurant and seeing the Sun set.


Hotel staff at Railay beach trust that your perfect holiday and vacation to Thailand and Railay Beach will make you feel like, you are in a paradise and a unique oasis of natural tranquility and warm hospitality. “The tide at Railay Beach , weather high or low, will affect the manner in which you depart the boat.
If the tide is low at the time of your arrival, the boat will not be able to dock at the pier.
 You may find that in order to arrive at the resort, you will be walking across a very shallow sea area which possesses dead corral.
This will be entirely safe: however suggest that you consider wear some short, utilizing a deck shoe or sport shoe to facilitate a comfortable walk.
When the tide is high, your boat will arrive at the pier, In this case any type of shoe will suffice. Both of these together.”

Phra Nang Beach

Phra Nang Beach was one of our favorite beaches in Thailand! The walk from the hotel was amazing. A natural trail that lead to a super paradise beach! There is so much to do on the beach once you get there. Lots of action! Rock climbers, sales of hand made jewelry, monkeys (you can feed and hold), food and food..

Phra Nang Beach was one of our favorite beaches in Thailand!

The walk from the hotel was amazing. A natural trail that lead to a super paradise beach! There is so much to do on the beach once you get there. Lots of action! Rock climbers, sales of hand made jewelry, monkeys (you can feed and hold), food and food boats (floating on along the shore), massages and great scenery.

The beach has an area with action and an area with seclusion. We chose to walk to the farthest part of the beach and spend the day in a secluded area with huge mountains and coves. There was a boat floating that was selling food to anyone who walked up. Anything from grilled corn, pad thai, fresh fruit shakes, fried rice, spring rolls and beer. The cost was anywhere from 20-60 baht and the food was prepared fresh to order right in the boat! You can also buy beer, soda and water from the vendors on the beach if you chose.

There were locals climbing rocks and a huge penis shrine in the action packed corner of the beach. The shrine symbolizes fertility hence the penis' all around it. If you like you can swim to a private beach on the farthest side (secluded side) or hike around the mountain on the busy side and see another part of the beach.

It's easy to spend the entire day there. The water is calm and the long tail boats aren't piled up along the beach. Along the walk to the beach, you can climb a small trail (uphill) to a private lagoon that sits on an upper part of the mountain. There is access to a bathroom and shower (for a small fee) and there are long tail boats available to take you off the beach to anywhere if you don't feel like walking.

I loved this beach because of the scenery and the mountains that sit around and in front of the beach. It has a rough wilderness feeling to it.

I highly recommend this beach, instead of the west side of the island (lots of long tail boats along the coast so it's hard to swim around them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Things to Bring on a Camping Trip

The enjoyment that can be had from a camping trip largely depends on the camping gear that people bring to camp. When people bring all the right gear at camp and make use of them then the trip becomes a relaxing and fun experience for everyone. Missing essential gear and supplies can result in frustrations at the camp site, ruining the whole experience for everyone.

Below is a list of the things that you should bring to camp to ensure the safety of the campers and to enhance the enjoyment at camp.

Bring a good-sized tent to camp. The tent will protect you from the sun, wind and other harsh elements outdoors. There are a lot of camping tents in the market so it shouldn't be too hard to find a good tent that will fit your budget and meet your needs. The camp will serve as your temporary home at camp so make sure you have enough space for everyone joining the trip.

Bring food and cooking equipment. Food is the most essential item to bring to camp. Make sure you bring enough food to last the whole trip and bring food that won't easily spoil. You will also need some basic cooking equipment such as a camping stove or a camping grill. To keep your food from spoiling and to enjoy cold drinks at camp, you should also bring a good-sized cooler.

For the ultimate comfort in camp, don't forget to bring portable beds. Portable beds are much more comfortable to use than traditional sleeping bags. Sleeping on a portable bed will allow you to have a good night's rest so that you will get enough energy to enjoy all the activities at camp the following day. Having a portable cot will also help campers stay warm during cold nights and cool during warm nights because they will be a few feet above ground instead of sleeping directly on the ground. Portable beds can also be used during the day when you want to take a short nap or rest after a tiring activity at camp.

For safety at camp, you should bring a first aid kit that contains aspirin, bandages, gauze, pads, insect-repellant, and other health and safety supplies. The first aid kit will help you treat minor injuries at camp. For your safety, you should also bring other safety supplies such as ropes, a Swiss knife and other emergency gear. You should also bring a good flashlight or other possible sources of light.

Bring a supply of water. There is no assurance that the tap water at camp will be safe to drink. Make sure you bring a supply of water to use for drinking and cooking. Water is heavy so you probably won't be able to bring a lot but you should at least bring enough for drinking.

There are also some non-essential things that you can bring to camp that will help keep the people at camp entertained such as board games, a camera, binoculars and other items.

For more tips and information about portable beds, check out http://www.myportablebeds.com/airbed.html.


by: Daniel Green

River cruise in Bangkok – sightseeing on the Chao Phraya River

A river cruise in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River gives the visitor an overview of the legacies on this river of kings. The historical monuments, grand palaces, temples and various communities on the riverbanks present a historical insight into the city and also a picture of stark contrasts.

It needn’t have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses. Plan the river cruise yourself for a more meaningful Bangkok sightseeing tour from the Chao Phraya River.

At 370 km, the Chao Phraya River is the longest river in Thailand. It's headwaters start in Nakhon Sawan, more than 200 km north of Bangkok. The river continues past Bangkok to Samut Prakan and flows into the Gulf of Thailand to the south.

Chao Phraya is also the highest title in ancient Thai nobility, similar to the Duke in British nobility. The title is no longer in use.

Attractions, landmarks and views in a river cruise in Bangkok

Start the river cruise from the Sathorn Pier near the Taksin Bridge; five minutes walk from the Taksin Bridge skytrain station, the terminal station for trains from the city center.

Proceed northwards passing the scenic water front hotels like the old Oriental Bangkok where famous writers like Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham left their mark.

The first recommended stopover, in a river cruise in Bangkok, is the Ratchawong Pier, which leads to Yaowarat Chinatown, Soi Sampheng where Chinatown started and Soi Sun Yat Sen named after Dr Sun Yat Sen, the father of the Chinese Revolution.

The Memorial Bridge, the next stop, is dedicated to King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok. His monument, near the bridge, depicts King Rama I on a throne gazing at the bustling city he founded more than 220 years ago. Pahurat, the Indian community in Bangkok is further inland.

One of the most attractive periods is to visit is during the

Loy Krathong Festival, when the Chao Phraya is transformed into a river of lights by floral floats lit with candles.

Historical aspects of the Chao Phraya

Further upriver on the Thonburi bank, near the mouth of the Bangkok Yai Canal, the white ramparts of Fort Vichai Prasit come into view. This was an old Ayutthaya fort built in 1688. King Taksin’s Palace was in this complex that’s now the Royal Thai Navy HQ.

Next to this old citadel, stands the glittering Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn, a temple built in the Ayutthaya era.

The Bangkok Yai Canal and the Bangkok Noi Canal, further upriver, used to be the original course of the Chao Phraya River.

A canal was built in 1542 to straighten out this long meander and shorten the sailing time to Ayutthaya, the old capital. The new canal subsequently became the present course of the Chao Phraya River.

The river cruise in Bangkok will now pass the most majestic sight along the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in old Rattanakosin, the historical center, which is the origin of modern Bangkok.

The Thonburi bank, across from the Grand Palace, is where old communities have lived long before Bangkok was established as the capital. The Bangkok Noi Museum, further inland, preserves the history of these communities.

The Royal Barge Museum, where the famous barges for the Royal Barge Procession are displayed, is located in the Bangkok Noi Canal near the Phra Pin Klao Bridge.

The river cruise in Bangkok next passes Fort Phra Sumen, built in 1783 to fortify the old city. Located near the mouth of the Banglampoo Canal, the second protective canal ring, it’s one of the two remaining forts left from the Bangkok era.

River life and scenes on the Chao Phraya

On the banks, rickety old wooden houses on stilts can be seen in stark contrast to the spanking new houses and condominiums. The noodle vendor in a boat sells her food from house to house as restaurants provide riverside dining near the some of the piers.

The most spectacular bridge across the Chao Phraya River encountered in a river cruise in Bangkok is the King Rama VIII Bridge, a suspension bridge that stands out like a giant harp over the water. Bang Khun Phrom Palace, which houses the Bank of Thailand Museum, is nearby.

Bridges across the Chao Phraya River serve as useful landmarks in a river cruise in Bangkok. Some piers, located near these bridges, are named after them. You’ll pass under eight bridges in the entire river cruise.

Further upriver life gets less touristy and more rustic, particularly on the Thonburi bank. Many piers are named after wats (temples) located nearby, around which community life is built. Some of these temples, though less well known, are equally beautiful as their city counterparts.

Chao Phraya boat services for a river cruise of Bangkok

Chao Phraya River boats ply along the river during the day stopping at regular piers. These boats are an inexpensive and convenient way for a Bangkok sightseeing tour of the river.

A Chao Phraya River tourist boat service is also available for a day tour of selected historical areas and piers. Boat rental services are also available for groups of 20 or more.

A total of 34 Chao Phraya River piers are located along this 25 km winding stretch of river. You don’t have to go all the way though, just take your pick and get on and off where you wish.

Chao Phraya River ferries provide point-to-point crossings at various piers to help you get to the other side.

A river cruise in Bangkok provides a very different perspective of life in the city on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, an aspect you can’t get from the usual Bangkok city tour.

Bangkok Attractions - Places And Activities You Musn't Miss

Going to Bangkok for your holidays? Here are 10 must see Bangkok attractions and must do activities in the city of of angels.

1. Get on a river taxi and see the beauty of the Chao Praya River.

A very different view of Bangkok I’ve got to say. If you’re the adventurer, you can just jump on one at any of its terminals. Just be fast enough as the boats ( water taxis ) hardly stop. Otherwise, book a tour from one of the hotels by the river such as The Royal Orchid Sheraton, Shangri la or The Peninsula.

2. Rub elbows with the locals and tourists at the Weekend market, Chatuchak/Jatujak

It can get very hot in here but it’s an excellent place to see the wares of Thailand. You might even find a good buy along the way. Thai ( and not so Thai ) goods available from antique furniture to fake jeans.

3.See the wonders of the Grand Palace

All hail the Queen of England, but her Buckingham Palace is nothing compared to this glorious work of art in the middle of Bangkok.

4.Have a Thai massage in Wat Po and if you have the time, take the 10-day Thai Massage course

If you don’t get a Thai massage in Thailand then you haven’t been to Thailand at all. Experience this somewhat bone breaking yet de-stressing technique right from where it originated. Or if that’s a bit too much, go for the foot massage instead.

5.Have A Relaxing Spa At The Banyan

A relaxing spa retreat right in the middle of the city. You can choose from a 1 hour facial treatment or if you have time to spare, have a 7 hour Banyan package and spoil yourself mad.

6.Visit the Floating Market

It may just be another commercial avenue for tourists to spend their dollars, but if you go to the floating market early in the morning when the “river-folk” are actually buying and selling goods mindless of the tourists, then it’s a very good cultural experience.

7.Haggle at the night markets

Sure many goods are over-priced but if you know how to haggle and how much you’re willing to pay for what you’re buying, this can be very fun. If you go very early, just when the shops are opening, you might even get the prices real low ( first buyers luck!)

8.Shop Till You Drop

Shopping is the Thai’s national past time and wherever you are in Bangkok, you will never run out of shops to explore. You’ll find practically everything in this City Of Angels and at very reasonable prices to boot. For reasonable priced clothes, go to Pratunum Market; for little trinkets, go to Yaowarat in Chinatown; for bargain software, go to Panthip plaza, and for designer clothes, try Central Plaza or The Emporium Shopping Center.

9.Try Thai cuisine

You’ve had Thai food in your country and I’m sure it’s good; but Thai food cooked in Thailand, is in my opinion, just heavenly! Just be sure to know the words, Mai Pet ( My Pet ). This means not spicy in Thai, but you’ll probably be wondering how hot the spicy dishes are after you’ve bit into your first chilli!

10.See An Elephant Show

I know they should be in the wild and all that…but if I were an elephant, this humiliation of dancing in front of amused humans is much better than the alternative which is walking on the hot streets of Bangkok waiting for tourists to buy me a piece of sugar cane for food. And I have to say, this is one show I enjoy. Watch out for the baby elephants! They’re a real treat!


by: Aimee C. Barnard

Camping Safety Tips: Food, Water, Ticks

Camping out in the woods can be one of the most gratifying experiences available for those who stress over the hustle and bustle of daily life in or near a city. The dangers of contemporary lifestyles and environments can themselves drive people to the slow pace of the woods. Crime, careless drivers, pollution, identify theft. Who needs it!

While seeking a safe haven from the pitfalls of "civilization", the camper must also bear in mind that the great outdoors is fraught with its own set of dangers. Let's consider a few and how you can counter the risks.

In part 1 of this two-part series, we'll look at food safety, ensuring you have clean water to drink, and avoiding ticks.

FOOD SAFETY

Bacteria can invade many types of food, especially those high in protein and moisture, such as milk, milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, cream pies, custards and potato salad. After preparation, these foods must be kept either hot (above 140 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (below 45 degrees Fahrenheit). Between the two temperature ranges lurks the danger.

A camper who does not have the means of sustaining food that can easily spoil outside of those thermometer readings should not bring them on the trip at all. It would be much safer to bring canned food and garden goodies.

Exposed food should be prepared prior to the trip and protected in plastic prior to icing them since ice can trap harmful bacteria. For example, though ice pulled from a frozen stream in winter can help to keep food cold, it should never be permitted to touch the food itself.

And whether eating meals from a picnic table or sitting on the ground, always cover the eating area with something clean, like a plastic table cloth.

Any food that you suspect may be spoiled should be disposed of rather than eaten. The risk is just too high.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER

When you are thirsty, there is nothing like a cold, clear glass of water to satisfy. At home, our tap water is normally relatively safe, though many people opt to filter it through one means or another to improve the odds of safe drinking.

Aside from water that is purified for us, however, it has been estimated that the vast majority of surface water in the US fails to meet government standards for intake safety.

When you are camping without your own water (or a sufficient supply) and are not at a camp ground that has purified running water available, you will need to take additional measures to protect yourself from water contaminated by bacteria and viruses.

There are fundamentally four options for accomplishing this. The first you can do at the camp site. The other three require preparation prior to heading out to the camp site.

* Boil the water - Heat suspect water to a boil, and let it continue to do so for several minutes. After cooling off, it should be consumable.

* Iodine liquid or tablets - Instructions that come with the iodine will explain how many drops to use for a specific amount of water, and for what time period.

* Filtering - Most microorganisms can be filtered out depending upon the materials used in the filter and the filtering design of the unit. When purchased, be sure the instructions clearly state what will and will not be filtered out.

* Purification - Purifying will remove or kill all dangerous water-born bacteria. Using this method, the water should be run through the purifier at least a couple of times to ensure drinking safety.

AVOIDING TICKS

Ticks look innocuous on the surface. But tiny as they are, they still have the potency to make a person very ill with Lyme Disease. They can dig their way into a person's skin very easily without notice when he rests up against a tree or walks in brush. Once on the skin, ticks will burrow their way in and are not easily removed.

Before you head into the woods, you will need to minimize opportunities that these blood suckers have to find their way to your skin through an opening in your clothing. Tuck in whatever clothing you can: shirt into pants, pant legs into socks, shirt sleeve over top of gloves (if the weather is cool enough for gloves).

Additionally, spray on your clothing a good insect repellent that has a high percentage of. The repellent can be located at any sporting goods store and most general retail outlets.

Upon return to your camp site or turning into your tent for the night, check your body visually and with your hands looking for any small bumps that may be indicative of a tick that has landed on or embedded itself into your skin. Have someone else look carefully through your hair (running their fingers through it) and scan anywhere else that you cannot easily see, such as your back.

If you find that a tick has dug itself into your skin, immediately (but very carefully) remove it with tweezers. Grab it as close to its legs as possible, making sure to extract its entire body. If you are unable to do so, it would be better to leave the camp site for a time to visit a doctor than to risk infection.

In part 2 of this brief series, we will continue our consideration of camping safety tips, focusing specifically on camp fires, wild animals, and dangerous activities in the woods.




By: Mike Foster

Suvannabhumi Airport Bangkok:Hotel Reservation

Applying for Thai retirement visa

1: Requirements for retirees getting a Non-Immigrant “O” Visa from outside Thailand at a Thai embassy:

1. 50 years old of age or older
2. Passport (at least 1 year remaining before expiration)
3. Holding the nationality or permanent residence of country of application.
4. Police records check
5. Certificate of Health
6. Proof of meeting financial requirement
7. Bank letter showing funds or pension statement

2 : Documents required for One-year retirement visa in Thailand.

1. Passport - copies of every page. Each copy must be signed by applicant.
2. Non-Immigrant Visa
3. Departure Card TM.6
4. Proof of meeting financial requirement
5. Thailand Bank book (original)
6. Letter from applicant’s Thai Bank
7. Medical Certificate (health exam administered by doctor at first class hospital)
8. Three up-to-date neat photos, 4x5cm

* Financial requirement
1. A bank account with at least 800,000 baht
2. A monthly income of at least 65,000 baht
3. Combination of both bank and income of at least 800,000

Signing for new Retirement Visa
When the visa is approved, only the passport holder can pick it up in person. Even though this visa is valid for one year, the visa holder must report to immigration every 90 days to verify his address. This can also be done by mail.

3 : Bringing household items to Thailand

Household items must be brought into Thailand within the first 6 months of issuance of the visa. Visa-holders are not taxed. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the items are due to arrive in Thailand after that time, it is advised to explain the matter with an officer-in-charge.

4 : Getting a re-entry permit

The retirement visa is only valid for a single stay in Thailand. If the visa-holder wishes to leave and return to the Kingdom within the one year, he must obtain a re-entry permit, either a single re-entry or a multiple. This can easily be acquired, for a fee, at the immigration office where the visa was issued. In event the visa-holder does not obtain this, his retirement visa will become invalid.

5: Renewing the retirement visa

Just before the visa and valid entry stay (same date) expires, the visa-holder is required to apply for a new visa. He just has to follow the steps as in the first process. New visas though, are usually less time consuming.

Reporting to immigration every 90 days

This is usually done at the same immigration office as where the visa was issued. The visa-holder simply has to arrive at the office and sign a piece of paper which reads something like “I still reside at the same address”. If the visa-holder changes address in the meantime, he must inform immigration as soon as possible. This can also be done via post, but the visa-holder must ask his immigration officer beforehand.

5. Cost of Living in Thailand

Accommodation

The cost of accommodation in Thailand varies enormously depending on location, and especially in Bangkok.

Bangkok: Most accommodation in downtown Bangkok for example is fully furnished and serviced, a condo or apartment like this costs 1,700USD+ a month. On the other hand however, a non air-con basically furnished apartment, condo or even house on the outskirts of Bangkok costs in the region of 100 – 200USD a month – a huge difference.

Phuket: The cost of accommodation there has shot up quite a bit over the past decade, however there is very little in the way of the astronomical prices seen in downtown Bangkok. Near the sea, most of the long-term accommodation and situated away from the beach and so the prices aren’t so high. A decent enough house or basically furnished apartment can be got for around 300USD a month.

For all other destinations in Thailand including Pattaya and Krabi etc. the cost is about half than that of Phuket’s.

Food & Beverage

Besides up-market restaurants and hotels, the cost of eating and drinking in Thailand is real cheap. A plentiful meal for two, including non-alcoholic beverages at say an open-air food market costs between 2 – 10USD depending on what is ordered. A Western or Chinese meal for two at a posh restaurant in Bangkok or another tourist area costs around 50 – 100USD – another huge difference. From a local convenience store, soft drinks and water are around 30 cents per bottle and a large bottle of locally made beer is about 1.50USD. At an upcountry restaurant and bar the prices aren’t too different to the convenience store.

A Night on the town

For a night out in Bangkok or another tourist destination, the cost is far more than upcountry, but it is still not too much. Excluding buying drinks for friends or company, the cost of a decent night out should be around 50USD.

Thailand Overview Informations

Thailand as a magnet

Since Thailand has held its hand out to foreign retirees contemplating a life in the country, the amount of people retiring to Thailand has escalated. As of 2008, Thailand is now right up there in the footsteps of Singapore as one of the best ranked countries in Asia for expatriates. There are numerous reasons why retirees choose Thailand to settle down.

- For some they spend their days away from it all in some remote rural village, while others enjoy all the latest mods, cons and treats which the country has to offer.

- For others Thailand is bargain for money, a really affordable place to live the good times at only a fraction of the cost one would pay in a developed Western country.

- Some folk retire in Thailand and enjoy the simple Thai-Thai way of life, mingling only with the locals and dining on traditional Thai food and fruits. For others however, they prefer to continue in the company of fellow country men while just enjoying the courtesy and smiles of the Thais – immersing totally in a foreign culture, is of course, not everyone’s cup-of-tea.



The Thai Way of Life



One doesn’t have to be anywhere near a millionaire to enjoy a considerably decent standard of living in Thailand; the cost of living is extremely reasonable yet the standards are high. Many foreigners coming to Thailand very much appreciate the laid-back way of life and the easy-going nature of the people. The country’s quiet areas are quite idyllic for a non-stressful, contented and peaceful life.

Thai Food

The international popularity of Thai food has escalated over the past few years and has risen to the rank of one of the world’s most favourite cuisines. The food is made up of a combination of extra ordinary but wonderful flavours: spicy, sweet, savoury, sour, tangy, salty and bitter. Unlike the world outside of Thailand, Thai food can be enjoyed on every kind of budget, whether it be at a luxurious 5 star hotel or a street hawker stall. As for the latter, a handsome meal for two consisting of even seafood and meat should cost no more than ten US dollars. For vegetarians or vegans in Thailand wishing to ‘eat out’, it is advised that they learn some basic Thai language so being able to explain clearly to the vendor in charge.

Other Food in Thailand: It is absolutely no problem to find typical Western fast food joints in the major cities. Popular ones with Thais and foreigners alike include KFC, Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut and Burger King. If such places aren’t to ones taste, there are a plentitude of Western restaurants in the country’s tourist areas. The major cities are also packed with Chinese, Japanese, Korean and even Indian restaurants.


Thai People

The Thais are a friendly, laid-back, non-aggressive and non-confrontational people who are known world wide for their impressive smiles – even to complete strangers.

Thailand is 90% Buddhist with most others made up of Muslims. It is the deep south of Thailand, with its Malay and Indonesian influence which is predominantly Islamic. The Thai-Chinese make up the majority of the country’s urban folk while the original Thai-Thais prefer their more traditional rural roots. The northern Thais are Lanna in origin and their ancient roots lie in Burma, Tibet and southern China. The north-east of Thailand has a close relationship with the neighbouring country of Laos and the ‘Isaan folk’ still cling to much of the original Thai-Lao way of life, and especially the Lao language.


Thai Currency

The currency of Thailand is the Baht, and as of April 2008 1 Euro = 50 baht, 1USD = 31 baht and 1GBP = 62 baht.

Thai Coins

There are 100 satang to the Baht but they are used less and less frequently these days (only in supermarkets/convenience stores and buses)
Thai coins used are:

- 25 Satang
- 50 Satang
- 1 Baht
- 2 Baht
- 5 Baht
- 10 Baht
Thai banknotes are:
- 10 Baht (now rare) - Brown
- 20 Baht - Green
- 50 Baht - Blue
- 100 Baht – Red
- 500 Baht – Violet
- 1,000 Baht – Grey

For currency exchange in Thailand, main banks are open 9:30am – 3:30pm Mon – Friday with some smaller branches (in store) operational at the weekends too. Otherwise, currency can also be exchanged at major hotels at a slightly lower rate. Travelers’ cheques are widely popular and offer the best exchange rate, it is advised though that they ought to be carried in only major currencies such as the Euro, USD and GBP.
Debit and credit cards, like Master Card, Visa and American Express card are widely accepted in Thailand.

There are no restrictions in Thailand to the amount of foreign currency brought into the country, but there are however, regulations concerning the import and export of the Baht. Currently, no more than 50,000 baht per person can be imported or exported at any one time. For anyone intent on importing or exporting anything around 50,000+ baht it is advised to speak to an officer in the know beforehand.

Thailand’s Airports

Suvarnabhumi International Airport: Suvarnabhumi airport is a legend in itself, first thought of in the 1970s – it took a record breaking 30+ years before it was finally completed. The airport, opened in September 2006, is now one of the largest and busiest airports in Asia accommodating approximately 58 million passengers in 2008. Even though the airport is known as Bangkok International Airport, Suvarnabhumi is located just outside of the capital in Samut Prakan province. The airport can however be easily and conveniently accessed from Bangkok at any time of the day.

Don Mueang International Airport: Don Mueang, built in 1914, was until the opening of Suvarnabhumi, Thailand’s major airport. The airport was first shut down after the opening of Suvarnbhumi, however, due to the enormous amount of traffic coming in and out of Suvarnabhumi, it was decided to re-open Don Mueang for some non-connecting domestic commercial flights. The airport is situated in northern Bangkok and is easily accessible.

Chiang Mai International Airport: This airport is the gateway to the north, accommodating approximately 2 million passengers a year. It currently serves 10 different airlines.

Hat Yai International Airport: This airport is located in the southern province of Songkhla in Hat Yai city. It is a major hub airport in the south of Thailand serving more than 800,000 passengers per year.

Phuket International Airport: Phuket airport situated on the island of Phuket is a major destination for tourists visiting this tropical island. In terms of the amount of passengers, this airport is second only to Suvarnabhumi.

Chiang Rai International Airport: Even though it is officially called an international airport, this airport located in the very north of Thailand has yet to accommodate any international flights. It serves around half a million passengers a year.

Islands & Beaches

Thailand is home to undoubtedly some of the most stunning islands and beaches in the world; evidenced by the innumerable amount of Western movies which have been shot there. Many, especially in the south of Thailand, are ideal for snorkeling, rock climbing, sunbathing and all kinds of water sports. Some of the most popular Islands in Thailand include:
- Ko Phi Phi (Maya Bay)
- Ko Phang-ngan (Hat Rin Beach)
- Phuket (Patong Beach)
- Ko Samet

- Ko Samui (Chaweng Beach)






- Ko Similan






- Ko Chang

The Wild Roses of Doi Inthanon (Doi Inthanon Peak)

Doi Inthanon National Park

Besides its fame of being the location for the peak of Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, the Wild Rose is also an important bird-watching site. Many beautiful mountain birds roam the area, flying boldly for tourists to see. Some of the birds around the Yod Doi Coffeehouse cannot be photographed, even with a 300 mm. long lens. This doesn’t mean that the birds are too far away, it is actually that the birds are so close up, only a wide angle lens can be used if you want to capture them on film.

Also, the Wild Rose is a great place to admire the many flora and fauna of the Hill evergreen forest, where the massive trees are blanketed by fuzzy green moss. In the right season, like between January and March, you may find various species of wild flowers in bloom: wild roses, red and white. You may find these especially at tourist view points, such as Ang Ka Luang and Kew Mae Paan. The most intriguing of spots, however, is the area of the peak called Pa Ngam, where wild roses and a staggering cliff come together to form a beautiful and breathtaking view.

For this trip to Doi Inthanon, a sleek black five-door Chevrolet Optra was our vehicle of choice. With its gorgeous look and 1,600 piston benzene engine with an automatic transmission, when we rolled in to change the air in its tires to nitrogen (its favourite), it had the owner of the car service station patting her hood and saying, "She’s a beauty."

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, cruising fast and furious on the highway, it turns out that the fuel-guzzling rate of the car, which can run on gasohol or benzene 91, is normal. She does not use up more fuel than any other car out on the market. Her one unique feature that her company makes a point of advertising is her steady and strong nature. When you combine that with the newly changed nitrogen-filled tires, whenever we hit a speed bump or potholes, we barely ever felt it. I tried putting a blindfold on my female colleague like in the commercial and when I finally took it off, the little lady said, "Oh my gosh, what are we doing around here? It’s too isolated."

And so, the luxurious Chevy Optra got us to Chiang Mai in about 7 hours. We checked into the Baan Sing Kham, near the Sing Kham Palace. It is located right along the Ping River and is an attractive little boutique resort, designed in a Lanna style motif. However, the accommodation was not a large traditional Lanna bungalow, but an actual house where the old people of Chiang Mai used to live.
 The bathroom inside the cottage is worthy of notice because it is always ready to be converted into a spa, it is truly wonderful - but you cannot just take my word for it, you must go see for yourself!

The next morning, we woke up at the crack of dawn and tested out the car by driving the Optra up Thailand’s highest mountain or Doi. The ride was so quiet and peaceful, coupled with the comfort provided by the car seats, that time just flew and before I knew it, we were at the Office of the National Park on Kilometre 31. This ride felt so much shorter and faster than any of the others I had taken up here before. I don’t know if it was actually faster or if it was just my imagination, but it sure was fast.

Doi Inthanon 

The Doi Inthanon National Park covers approximately 482.5 square kilometers (or 301,500 rai) of land. Within the grounds is Doi Inthanon Peak, which is 2,565 metres above sea level and is the highest mountain peak in all of Thailand. The park is communal ground for all kinds of plants and animals. For the plants portion, there are 3 different types of forest found at different heights of the mountain: the Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest located at the foot, the Mixed Deciduous Rain Forest around the middle, and the Dry Evergreen Forest at the mountain top. Many interesting wild orchids and wild flowers can be found here and some cannot be found anywhere else in Thailand.

For the animal portion, there are not that many types of animals found here because of the tribal and mountain people living off the land. However, some of the interesting animals that do live in the area are various types of birds, the Big-headed turtle, salamanders, and the most exciting animal find here; the Goral, an animal that was assumed extinct from this mountain, but nevertheless has returned to its habitat.

We drove the Chevy Optra onward to pick up our guide at the meeting point and then took her up to the highest point on the mountain with ease. It was a pity we had to leave the air conditioner on. We tried to let in the fresh mountain breeze but black smoke and burnt brake smells coming from other generic brand cars was preventing us from doing so. We practically couldn’t roll the windows up fast enough.

At the top of Doi Inthanon were many tourists but none of them were taking the same road as we were. The six of us cut through small walk lanes beside garbage cans, giving off the scent of urine. The Park ought to have put up some signs to give directions. Instead, they put a garbage can with an appalling odor in the middle of the pathway. However, this did not discourage our group. We pinched our noses and walked past the offending odor and down, around the radar tower, until we reached the large hollow Rubber tree, a direction marker which guided us to the right and down the mountain. After 30 minutes of walking, the guide told us to keep going downhill which indicated for a very challenging walk back to our car later on.

Finally, we reached Pa Ngam, after trekking downhill for over an hour. The first sight we saw was a white wild orchid proudly displaying itself on a tree branch. Next, we saw many R. Arboreum Smith bushes and then quickly spotted their vibrant red roses that were the size of the palm of my hand. The beautiful flowers were spread all along the edge of the cliff and on the base of the flowers were little green tassels that flew with the breeze, making the scene of the red roses by the cliff even more precious.

The R. Arboreum Smith roses belong in the Rhododrendron family. The bush is very tall while its stalk is large. The flowers or roses are red and they bloom in February, all the way to the start of March. These flowers are a source of nectar for various birds, therefore these bushes are a place where they love to congregate, especially birds that are in the Nectariniidae family. The tassels of the flower are a kind of lichen - they are a moustache-like fringe, usually green or brown in colour, and they cling to tree branches and blow and fly with the wind.

It was truly beautiful. The beauty of that scene just cannot be described as clearly with words than with the pictures posted on this month’s column. After having witnessed the splendor that is the red roses of Pa Ngam, we almost forgot everything with only the thought of documenting the exquisiteness of the location left in our minds.

When we looked at the image of Pa Ngam through the View Finder, we found that the problem with the picture was that the sky was a rather murky colour, with clouds rolling around the cliff. There is still thick fog around the area but it does not make for too bad a photograph - just be sure to never point the camera towards the sky.

And so we waited for the sky to turn blue. While waiting, we took other photographs, trying hard to not get too much of the sky in the background, anticipating the moment when nature would cooperate with us and we could all snap away, the sound of our cameras going off loud and quick like multiple bullets cutting through air. We waited and waited until half the day had gone by and the sky was still a shadowy grey. We waited some more until we finally lost hope and, sulking, we made our way out of Pa Ngam. The walk to the cliff took only an hour but the way back was an uphill hike so instead of an hour of travel, it took us three hours to get back to our car.

Once we got back to the top of the mountain, to the parking lot, we were all looking rather weary and worn out. The tourists that just came into the parking lot, about to make their way to Ang Ka Luang, all stared at us, probably wondering, "What the heck did these people do to look like that?"

On the way down from Doi Inthanon’s peak, the Chevrolet Optra ran so smoothly and gracefully that many of our tired selves drifted off to sleep without having to wear blindfolds to block out the sun. En route to the Office of the National Park, I asked Mr. A, our chauffeur, if we should pull over and stop to take a break, to rest for a while. He said, "Nah… We’ve been driving downhill a long time now and we haven’t taken a brake yet. I wonder if it’s the car or the driver that’s so great."

Once we got back to Chiang Mai, Mr. A got some sleep and I took the wheel to drive us back to Bangkok that evening. At Karmpangpetch, Mr. A woke up and the first words out of his mouth were, "The seats in this car really are comfortable. The design is kind of flat and plane, I thought they were going to be hard but, it turns out, they are really comfortable to nap on. You drive on to Bangkok, I’m going to get some shut eye." And in a flash, once his back hit the backrest, he was snoozing away, snoring for all in the car to hear.

As for me, I brought my trusty Chevy Optra back to BKK, safe and sound, at around three a.m.

Tourism Information
Doi Inthanon National Park

To travel by car from Chiang Mai to the Doi Inthanon National Park, starting at the Chiang Mai Airport Junction, take route 108 past the district or Umphur of Hangdong-SaanPatong. Near the Kilometer 57 marker, before arriving at Umphur Chomthong, there will be a right exit - route 1008. After driving on for about 8 kilometres, you will find another junction. Here, turn right towards Check Point 1 of the Doi Inthanon National Park.

The Park provides a housing service and has different types of accommodations to choose from, depending on the number of people taking up residence, whether it is two or ten people. Cost of accommodation ranges from 1,000 to 2,500 baht. Also, there is also a tent renting service, as well as space for pitching tents. The fee for tent rentals is no more than 100 baht.

To contact the Doi Inthanon National Park, call 0 5331 1608

Doi Inthanon Attraction, Chiangmai

Doi Inthanon National Park

If you are travelling to Chiang Mai and have the urge to get in touch with the pristine unspoiled nature, take a visit to Doi Inthanon National Park, only about an hour west of Chiang Mai. Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, 2,599 metres above sea level, is a part of the Himalayas, which ranges across Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and ends at Northern Thailand. There you will find clean air, cool weather, beautiful waterfalls. And the highlight is, of course, the amazing view on top of Thailand’s highest peak.

Getting There: Travel 58 kilometres west of Chiang Mai via Highway No. 107 to Chom Thong, then turn right into Highway No. 1009 and continue a further distance of 48 kilometres along Highway No. 1009 to the summit. A good asphalt road takes visitors up but is rather steep, thus the vehicle must be in a good condition.
Accommodation, restaurants, and camping sites are available at the park headquarters at Km. 31. Tel: 0 5335 5728, Bangkok Tel: 0 2562 0760 or www.dnp.go.th

Attractions in Doi Inthanon National Park
Namtok Mae Ya is one of the most beautiful cascades in Chiang Mai. Water flows from a 280-metre steep cliff onto different rock formations in a lower basin like drapes. The well-managed waterfall is teeming with verdant forests and is best for recreation. It is located 1 kilometre from Highway No. 1009 junction.

Tham Bori Chinda is a large cave located near Namtok Mae Klang at Km. 8.5 of Highway No. 1009. The road sign to Tham Bori Chinda will be seen at the junction on the right. The deep cave has stalactite and stalagmite formations, Buddha images and a rocky stream. The surface of the water glitters like diamonds flake when light reflects the stream. Sunlight in the cave allows visitors to see the entire cave.

Namtok Wachirathan

Namtok Wachirathan is a large waterfall which plummets over the edge of a high cliff into a deep pool below. When there is a large amount of water, there are large splashes in the basin, creating a cool and refreshing environment. The delightful ambience can be felt by walking on a slippery bridge that leads to the waterfall. To get there, turn right off Highway No.1009 at Km. 21.

Namtok Siriphum is a splendid waterfall that falls from a steep cliff in two lines and can be seen en route to Doi Inthanon. The attractive waterfall is located at Km. 31 of Highway No. 1009, take a right turn for 2 kilometres and is approachable only on foot from the base of the waterfall.

Doi Inthanon Royal Project is in Khun Klang village close to the park headquarters. The project was initiated in 1979 to help the hill tribes to cultivate cash crops other than opium and train them on modern agricultural practices. Flower plantations, a plant breeding research lab and flower plantations of hill tribes (Hmong) are open to visitors.

Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Phumisiri , twin pagodas located at Km. 41.5, were built to commemorate the fifth cycle birthdays of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. The pagodas enshrine Lord Buddha’s ashes and Buddha images, and overlook the magnificent scenery of Doi Inthanon.

View west from Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon Peak (ยอดดอยอินทนนท์) has a cool climate all year round. The Air Force Radar Station and King Inthawichayanon’s stupa located on the mountaintop. King Inthawichayanon, the last king of Chiang Mai, was concerned about the importance of forests and wanted to preserve the forests for future generations. He was so familia with Doi Inthanon that he asked that part of his ashes be kept here.

Namtok Mae Pan (น้ำตกแม่ปาน) is the longest waterfall in Chiang Mai, which flows from a 100-metre cliff. Its charm can be enjoyed by standing some distance from the falls. From afar, the white water and the green forests around the falls make a beautiful picture.

Natural Study trek on Doi Inthanon
Kiu Mae Pan starts from Km. 42. This short trail, winding through pristine forest for about 2.5 kilometres, a 3-hour walk, allows the hiker to experience the natural beauty of the forest at first hand. The Rhododendrons, commonly found in the Himalayas, are found along the trail and they are in full bloom during December-February.

Trekkers on this route should seek permission from the park headquarters at Km. 31 for safety reasons. A group of not more than 15 people is recommended. Food consumption is not allowed while trekking. This nature trail is closed for reforestation from June 1 to October 30 annually.

Birdwatching on Doi Inthanon
Inthanon Birdwatching Information Centre (Uncle Daeng’s Shop) is located at Km. 31. This is a bird information exchange centre among birdwatchers, nature students and the general public. It also provides the Doi Inthanon Birdwatching Diary, bird sketches by various bird watching experts, birdwatching trails, bird pictures, and slides.

Winter is the best time for birdwatching when indigenous and migrant birds are found including Eurasian Woodcock, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Forest Wagtail, Chestnut Thrush, Scarlet Finch, Little Bunting, and Crested Bunting.

                       Doi Inthanon (Thai: ดอยอินทนนท์ (Pronunciation)) is the highest mountain in Thailand.

It is located in Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province.
This mountain is an ultra prominent peak and was also known in the past as Doi Luang (meaning big mountain) or Doi Ang Ka, meaning the crow's pond top. Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered.
 The name Doi Inthanon was given in honour of the king Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north and tried to preserve them. He ordered that after his death his remains shall be placed at Doi Luang, which was then renamed.
Today, the summit of Doi Inthanon is a popular tourist destination for both foreign and Thai tourists, with a peak of 12,000+ visitors visiting the summit on New Year's Day. In addition to a range of tourist facilities on the summit, there is also a Royal Thai Air Force weather radar antenna on the summit.