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Posted by admin on September 25th, 2007 filed in UncategorizedComment now »
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A new generation of full mooning
Posted by admin on September 3rd, 2007 filed in Nightlife Thailand, Adventure, Southern Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
by Sarah Duffy
Koh Pha Ngan, a remote island in the Gulf of Thailand, has been the host of the now-legendary Full Moon Party for well over a decade. From its humble beginnings as a marijuana-smoking hippie’s get-together to its current status as a global party, the island is long accustomed to hosting hedonists.
Each month, thousands of revelers descend on the southern tip of the island in expectation of the party of a lifetime. Just a short hop by boat from neighbouring Samui, Koh Pha Ngan is no longer a place for the intrepid only. Getting here couldn’t be easier, with party-goers having to do little other than follow the herds off the boats and into the back of a pick-up truck, the island’s taxi service.
For the uninitiated, the ride to Had Rin from Thong Sala Pier will likely leave you with white knuckles as the taxi takes on hairpin bends at an astonishing rate. The boosted police presence and check-points on the eve of the event may guarantee you a slower ride and a passport check, if you are lucky. Koh Pha Ngan and Thailand guide
Once you arrive and your head stops spinning from the rollercoaster taxi ride, it is time to find accommodation. Booking ahead is not an option for many of the budget choices which prefer (and have no problem) to let their rooms go on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are looking for something a bit more luxurious than a dog-eared mattress in a makeshift bamboo hut, book well ahead or get here a week early.
Most people like to stay on the eastern side of the cape, where all the action is. The quieter and less appealing western side is just a short walk and acts as an overflow for those who get here late. Of course, opting for no accommodation is a popular choice among those who don’t plan on sleeping, but this is only really a viable option if you plan of hopping on a boat to Samui in the early hours. Accomodation on Koh pha Ngan
Many mooners experience a waning in their party spirits or overindulge too early and find themselves looking for a patch of shrubbery in which to take a mid-party cat nap. Even worse, some fall asleep for the whole night and miss their morning ferry ride. After sunrise, there is more than just litter to clear from the beach, with dozens of passed-out mooners strewn across the sand, making any hope of finding a bed in the early hours slim.
Accommodation is however of little concern to dedicated hedonists, who come here to bar hop all night, splash in the water and throw themselves about on the dance floor, most of which are made from sand.
“We come every year”, says Fredrik from Copenhagen. “The women are beautiful and it is the best party atmosphere in Asia”, the 32-year-old graphic designer adds.
While you may not bump into Leonardo De Caprico, the Full Moon Party is Thailand’s biggest rave event attracting top DJs from Bangkok as well as some dubious international turntable wizards.
But many say the party has passed its sell-by date, now attracting hyperactive youths who have overdosed on Red Bull, not to mention the pumped-up police presence that mingle with ravers looking for anyone up to monkey business. While you will still never be a far cry from a day-glow paint vendor or an amateur fire juggler, the clientele is a distinctly new generation of mooners from the party’s first attendees.
“I first came 10 years ago”, says Richard Burch from Brighton, “the party vibe is still kicking, but things are not as laid-back as they used to be”, he adds.
Party-goes have also reported an increase in bungalow break-ins and incidents of pick-pocketing. Women are advised not to walk back to their accommodation alone at night. A warning of a different sort is also becoming common knowledge: don’t cool off in the water. Once the party gets rocking, the Gulf turns into a giant men’s urinal, with the boys preferring its convenience to using the crowded club toilets.
The Glastonbury-meets-Ibiza-on-a-Thai-island party has come a long way from its humble beginnings, with the new generation of mooners just as likely to have stepped off the plane in Armani jeans as opposed to Thai fisherman pants. The partiers may be a generation on, but the essence of having a good time is still alive and kicking.
Khao San road – freak show or festive place?
Posted by admin on September 3rd, 2007 filed in Bangkok, Nightlife Thailand, Adventure, Thailand travelComment now »
By Mark Bentley
Once a quiet residential zone just outside of the Grand Palace area, Khao San road in Bangkok’s Banglampu district, is now an exceedingly well established tourist mecca that attracts backpacking travellers from across the globe.
Those who have not visited invariably know where it is and at least one person who has been there. The global infamy of Khao San road Bangkok perpetuates its appeal as a place to find budget accommodation, cheap local souvenirs, counterfeit merchandise, dreadlocks and like-minded travellers. It wasn’t until 1982, when Bangkok’s bicentennial anniversary celebrations brought large numbers of international visitors to the area, that Bangkok’s Khao San’s potential as a haven for cheap accommodation was realised.
Visitors unable to get rooms in the over-saturated hotel infrastructure were forced to seek refuge at a small price in the homes of local residents. Realising the fiscal benefits of such arrangements, locals set about offering room space on a permanent basis and hence the age of cheap guesthouse accommodation was born. When Lonely Planet decided to include the area as a ‘budget accomodation’ street in its Thailand guide, it’s popularity took off.
Guide to Bangkok.
The rest is pretty much history, with entrepreneur after entrepreneur moving into the area, and its reputation as a backpacker-friendly zone escalating rapidly. Today it bares little resemblance to the real Bangkok or Thailand for that matter, with all its western conveniences and foreign-owned businesses. These amenities however are its greatest appeals for many visitors. Khao San road Bangkok has become a monster as far as others are concerned, and an ugly looking one at that. The distinct lack of Thai culture, flagrant capitalist attitudes of local business owners (tourists are often viewed as ‘walking dollars’) and tendency to attract what might be deemed by many as unsavoury characters has certainly given the road and some of its surrounding area an environment akin to a cheap carnival.
It is easy to be critical of Bangkok’s Khao San road and overlook the fact that it serves a variety of important purposes. Primarily, it benefits those seeking accommodation and travel on a shoestring and in doing so it successfully unites them in their common goal. Secondly, it offers a gentle introduction to the diversity of Thai culture, permitting visitors to sample local food and drink alongside familiar culinary creations in either typically Thai or western-furnished establishments. Guesthouses in Bangkok
Bangkok comes very much from his or her own subcultural leanings. Those favouring vests, beads, Birkenstock sandals and dreadlocked hair are likely to feel right at home, while those of the shirt and tie brigade may well find it all a little bit too bohemian for their liking. However, the area’s reputation is sufficient in that most visitors have a fair idea of what to expect long before they arrive here. In fact, it has a become an attraction in itself, excellent for people watching. Lately upmarket and trendy bars and restaurants have opened and it tends to attract a certain crowd of local Bangkokians wanting to feel cosmopolitan.
Certainly it is one of the city’s most lively areas by night and the main road is closed to traffic, making it a crowded pedestrian thoroughfare. Love it or hate it, the atmosphere of the place is electric. Shops, restaurants, bars and guesthouses, and the street on which they sit, buzz with activity day and night. Things get livelier still when popular Thai holidays such as April’s Songkran festival are taking place. This is the time when guesthouse rooms are scarce, things get a tad crowded and when a little of the famous Thai patience can be useful to ensure peaceful associations with fellow travellers.
Night-times here are busiest, as the daytime heat is often just a touch too intense to make the street a comfortable place to be unless you venture into an air-conditioned environment. After sunset, the bars and restaurants fill up. An initial evaluation of the scene might have you thinking it’s all faux hippies tapping their flip-flopped feet to Bob Marley however it’s plenty more varied than that, with venues playing dance music, rock classics and contemporary pop. Bohemian clothes and accessories might seem to form the bulk of consumer goods for sale on the street however you will also find pretty much everything you need for hitting the backpacker trail. Travel accessories, handy size electronic products, swimwear, cheap t-shirts, shorts and footwear can all be found.
As long as you don’t expect the majority of them to last much longer than the duration of your trip, you’ll be able to kit yourself out for less than half of what a similar array might cost back home. At the end of the day, if you are 18 to 35 years old and are looking for a cheap place to lay your head at night, somewhere to meet other travellers, travel agents at which you can organise your ongoing Southeast Asian travel plans, purchase ethnic souvenirs and cheap holiday clothes, then Bangkok’s Khao San road can indeed offer you all this and a whole lot more.
Forget the absence of Thai culture (that’s waiting for you at your next destination) and enjoy the amiable, lively and inviting atmosphere that the street offers. If you’ve an adversity to backpackers and all the clichés that accompany them, then you’re definitely in the wrong part of town and should probably take the first available bus to Sukhumvit road.
A day sailing from Phuket
Posted by Arda on June 30th, 2007 filed in Activities, Phuket, Watersports, Adventure, Southern Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
By Chantana Jasper
Phuket provides plenty of gorgeous weather for enjoying the coastlines and the Andaman Sea. Water sports are of course plentiful, ranging from banana boat rides and scuba diving to kite-boarding and surfing. However, the most rewarding water activity is sailing.
Phuket is renowned for its excellent sailing, and the marine industry has been flourishing since the government reduction in boat import tax from 200 per cent down to 0 per cent. Sailors have the best of both worlds on Phuket: the deep blue seas and stellar boating conditions in the high season off the west coast, alongside the year-round shelter and unique features of Phang Nga Bay off the east coast.
The west coast of the island is popular for its white, sandy beaches and deep blue seas. More recently, the east coast has started to boom with spectacular high-end developments offering amazing views across Phang Nga Bay.
“The sailing here is incredible,” says Bob Welders, a tourist from Australia, “I spend most of my time on the water and the rest eating the great seafood and partying in Patong – you can’t beat Phuket.”
Marinas are springing up everywhere to accommodate all the new yachts coming here from around the world and those that are moored here as their base. Phuket is shaping itself as a major international marine destination, and you’ll find no shortage of ways to get on a sailboat. More on sailing in Phuket
It’s easy to hire a boat if you’re a seasoned sailor, or you can opt for sailing lessons if you’re a novice. A range of sailing companies provide ASA and RYA certification. There are also plenty of sailing trips lasting from overnight to 10 days.
For those who are just looking to cruise the Andaman for one day, there are lots of great options. Probably the most spectacular place to head for on a daytrip in the high season is the Similan Islands. You’ll cross the most beautiful deep blue waters of the Andaman and head north to this stunning collection of nine islands, technically located in Phang Nga province.
The Similans are located within a marine national park and have retained a pristine appearance that is so stunning you must visit in person to believe it. Above the water, you’ll find the finest, powdery white sands contrasted with lush green forests. Off the shores and into the deep are clear waters filled with amazing tropical marine life and bright corals, perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving.
Visitors should take note that the islands close during the green season (April to October) and if you are visiting Phuket in the high season, you shouldn’t miss out on the unique experience of visiting this beautiful marine park. Be sure to pack drinks and food, as there are no restaurants here!
Any time of year, you can enjoy the sailing off the east coast of Phuket, in Phang Nga Bay, and most daytrips will take you in and around this area as there’s so much to see. Hundreds of islands and karst rock formations jut out of the waters here, providing spectacular scenery unlike anywhere else in the world.
As well as sailing to the tiny uninhabited rocks and beaches, and exploring the ‘haung’ (‘rooms’ open to the sky and surrounded by rock, accessed by walking or wading through a cave entrance), there are some excellent inhabited islands where you can tie up and have a picnic or stay overnight at a resort.
You can sail to Koh Yao Noi and visit The Paradise, where lunch is served in an open-air pavilion on the beach. Koh Yao Yai is the largest island in Phang Nga Bay and it takes roughly an hour to get here by sailboat. Koh Yao Noi is the most developed of the two islands, but it still has a refreshing sleepy fishing-village feel and unspoilt beaches. The nightlife is virtually non-existent and is limited to quiet dining and resort bars.
There’s also Phi Phi Islands, just a few hours sail away. Lined with cute bungalows and more than enough dive shops, Phi Phi Don is the largest island and popular with a younger crowd. The pristine national park beaches of Phi Phi Leh, the location for the filming of the 1990s movie The Beach, have a laid-back and enjoyable atmosphere.
Beyond Phi Phi is Krabi. Reminiscent of a more peaceful Phuket of the 1980s, Krabi is a great destination for families and couples who want to enjoy the beach and relatively untouched nature. The main strip of Ao Nang has all the amenities you require, while Railay Beach is only accessible by boat and is famous for its rock-climbing.
Koh Racha Yai and Noi can be seen from the southern end of Phuket as they lie just 20kms offshore. They are still delightfully undeveloped for the most part, and only Racha Yai offers accommodation. There are two beaches on Racha Yai, one deep and one shallow – but both lovely. Racha Noi has just one tiny beach with the rest of the shoreline being rocky; however, the waters surrounding it are nice enough to be used for diving. Koh Khai is just a 20-minute sail from the eastern shore of Phuket and is a tiny island with coral and white sands. This is a great place for snorkelling on a daytrip.
Where ever you choose to go, you are sure to enjoy a day sailing trip from Phuket.
Activities for kids in Bangkok
Posted by Arda on June 30th, 2007 filed in Leisure, Bangkok, Activities, Central Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
By Pimkarn Kometsopa
Not sure about bringing your little ones to a city of go-go bars and ironically temples a-plenty? Forget cultural treats and visits to the temples. Unless your children have a knack for architecture before they can even spell or are passionate about history, chances are they will be bored to death by the end of the trip.
No matter how much Bangkok’s wondrous cultural sights blow your mind, your kids won’t be oohing and ahhing over the glittering temples or how delicate and refined a bronze statue looks. Cut them some slack, be a cool parent and take them on a fun trip.
Architectural wonders and an array of hedonistic options aside, Bangkok is actually very children-friendly. Oodles of fun-filled, hair-raising, heart-stopping activities can be found at almost every corner in Bangkok.
No child is likely to frown if the word ‘zoo’ is mentioned. Dusit Zoo on Rama V road (tel: +66 2 282 7111 3, ext. 128) was Thailand’s very first zoo, and is home to about 2,000 animals including African and Asian mammals and reptiles as well as a variety of birds. Guide to attractions in Bangkok
Various animal shows will keep children excited here and there’s a huge pond where kids can enjoy a ride in a paddle boat; just keep an eye out for throngs of komodo dragons sunbathing at the edge of the pond. In addition, a large area is dedicated to children’s games and small rides.
If you have some time to spare, another good option is Safari World (www.safariworld.com), located a bit farther from the heart of Bangkok. Drive your own car or hop on a safari-mini coach to explore eight kilometres of rich wilderness where you will spot all kinds of animals from all over the world including African elephants, lions and zebras. Located on the same premise is the Marine Park, offering interesting shows including sea lion performances and polar bear feeding.
When the boys on your trip start playing up, take them to Snake Farm (tel: +66 2 252 0161 4) on Rama IV road, situated in the metropolis of Bangkok. Be fascinated by a number of snakes, such as cobras, vipers and kraits, and there’s even a ‘milking’ show where venom is extracted from the snakes. At the end of the show, you will also get a chance to have a friendly cobra wrapped around your neck for some photo opportunities - something for your kids to brag to their friends about.
Nothing compared to Disneyland, Dream World (www.dreamworld-th.com), the most famous and biggest theme park in Bangkok, will give your kids the ultimate fun all the same. Get on roller coasters for spine-tingling rides, join others in a spooky trip into a haunted mansion or race away on the small go-kart track.
Snow Land, where you can play with artificial snow, slide on a board down the snow-filled slope and observe an igloo, is probably the most visited area for Thais. However, this area requires you to rent the same smelly raincoats and soaking wet boots which have been used by hundreds of people. If you have snow in your country, simply skip this area.
Wonder World Fun Park (www.wonderworldfunpark.com) is the newest addition to Bangkok’s theme parks. Get on the country’s first centre-less Ferris wheel and play on a number of thrilling, adrenaline-pumping machines including Tower Shot, Tower Drop, AS1 Simulator, Tornado Coaster and Sling Shot.
When the weather gets too hot to handle, have a family day out at Siam Park, known as Suan Siam by locals (www.siamparkcity.com). The biggest water park in Bangkok features the 400-metre Super Spiral waterslide and a giant sea pool where you can feel the waves and whirlpools. Siam Park also has an open zoo and a few rides for children.
Avoid visiting at weekends or on public holidays as Thais usually drive from outside Bangkok and flood the whole area. Also, avoid wearing slinky bikinis if you don’t want to be stared at everywhere you go. Full guide to Bangkok
Smaller water parks include Leo Land, located on the rooftop of Central City Bangna shopping mall and minimal water parks at Ngarm Wong-wan and Bangkrapi malls. These parks are nothing to write home about and are only worth visiting if you are in the area to do some shopping.
Another great alternative for cooling off is to head to the newest ice skating rink in Bangkok, Sub Zero Ice Skate Club in Esplanade, Rachada road (tel: +66 2 354 2134). Here you can twirl around, glide gleefully on ice or take skating lessons so that you can master some basic moves. In the evening, the rink is transformed into a bar with live DJs. Off-limits to children; parents might like to know that drinks are served on ice bars.
If you happen to be around Siam Paragon, which you probably will be at some point as it’s the hippest mall in the city at the moment, why not toss your kids to Siam Ocean World on the basement floor of the mall.
One of the largest aquariums in Southeast Asia, here you can find more than 30,000 marine animals displayed in creative tanks including fish in washing machines, cars and fridges. The highlight for kids is probably the huge tank which is home to a number of sharks and other colourful fish species. Shark feeding shows are one of the most popular events. Bangkok maps
The winner among those travelling with older kids in Bangkok is PTT Speed Way and Karting Stadium, the biggest indoor go-kart track in the world at the heart of RCA Plaza on Rachada road (tel: +66 2 203 1205 7). Races last for 10 minutes and are launched five times per hour.
There are separate rounds for advanced drivers and beginners, so no need to worry if you are a newbie to the go-kart racing scene. The race is shown on a huge screen for everyone in the area to see so make sure you are looking your best. The coolest thing about this is that you will get a detailed report of your performance at the end of the race.
Whether you have a grumpy little one or a bunch of cranky tweenies, the city of Bangkok will definitely knock your kids’ socks off with its array of enthralling activities and interesting venues, keeping them chirpy for at least a couple of days.
Post Tsunami: Phi Phi revisited two years on
Posted by Arda on June 29th, 2007 filed in Southern Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
By Andrew Bond
To understand just how brutally efficient the Tsunami was you had to have been to Phi Phi before it was flattened. And when I returned 18 months after December 26th I saw immediately the positive that can result in natural disasters. It may seem disrespectful to the dead and those who lost their livelihoods, but here was an example of the planet reclaiming its natural beauty back from a rampantly developing mankind.
The first time I visited Phi Phi island I was appalled. I should have been awed, afterall, here was an island of such perfect natural design that it seemed man himself had deliberately engineered it for our own leisure purposes. From far off you first see the towering karst that make up the ‘wings’ of this butterfly shaped island, so impossibly shaped that even hiking on them was out of the question – let alone development. And as we stepped off the ferry onto the lovely white sandy beach of Ton Sai bay, I marvelled at how cleverly nature had left a beautiful flat stretch in the middle for us to come and build resorts on, and they seemed pretty enough blending in with the coconut lined beach. From the aerial pictures I knew also that there was an equally pretty beach on the other side, just 500m away.
But that was where the beauty ended. To reach Lo Dalam bay on the other side, the crowds from the boat where funnelled into a bedlam of activity and rampant overdevelopment. Almost everyone simultaneously squeezed themselves into a narrow smelly lane that barely had proper drainage and was lined with a gauntlet of shops and services, offering everything from dive gear and swimwear to last minute convenience items and even internet for those who couldn’t bare to be out of touch on paradise. If we thought we were stepping onto paradise, it appeared to be a bad dream. Music blared from bars, trash from restaurants lay around and the lovely tropical sun of these parts failed to penetrate this poor sandy lane at all. This was the famously beautiful Phi Phi I had heard so much about. Phi Phi in full
It didn’t surprise me, it was afterall, just three weeks before the Tsunami when the peak season was reaching its zenith and everyone wanted a piece of Phi Phi, even just for a day. And everyone who came to Phi Phi, it seemed, wanted their creature comforts. The island was heaving and the locals were cashing in, eager to make the most of the season. I had long suspected this island’s popularity would have done this, and I wasn’t surprised. Fortunately we soon emerged at the other bay, which was equally beautiful. I guess we imagine tropical paradise to be a beach all to ourselves but the reality is there a five billion of us and more and more can afford holidays. A beautiful beach full of people enjoying themselves is still beautiful I guess.
Looking back then, it was unthinkable to imagine what would happen to all these happy crowds if a big wave welled up out of the oceans and wiped everyone out. With the exception of some steps running up to a view point to the North there was nowhere to run. Everyone, perhaps thousands or tens of thousands on that day if you count all the day-trippers, were all squashed onto a small flat area barely above sea level. Of course you don’t imagine such cataclysm in those circumstances. You notice all the great hotels that empty out straight onto the beach, the restaurants that are so close to the sea you can take dip while waiting for your order, and the numerous boats anchored offshore waiting for customers to ride their parasails and banana boats. You see all the contented Europeans sunning themselves on loungers meters from the soft lapping water, the fruit vendors innocently making a few bob and the relaxed lovers contently walking hand in hand along the soft white sand without a worry in the world.
That is all gone now. Everything is gone. Well, almost everything. This I discovered when I returned in May 2005 to see how rebuilding had gone. I write web travel guides and needed to know what the infrastructure was like. ‘What infrastructure?’ I found myself asking as I stepped off the same ferry at Ton Sai bay and went looking for that same disgusting lane that was so etched in my memory as my ‘idea’ of Phi Phi in the twenty-first century. That ‘lane’ was no more. It was a path, a meandering sandy path with beach grass threatening its edges – the sort you take to a deserted beach that has nothing on it. I was flabbergasted. I stood there, halfway down its length and looked all about me. For the first time I realised I could see right through from one seafront to the other. I hadn’t noticed before because I was so gripped by the total lack of buildings, lack of anything really, save for a few surviving coconut palms. I even had difficulty placing ‘that lane’. Gone were the internet cafes, the 7-Eleven, the bikini boutique and the ‘fissst’ sound of diving regulators. Gone were all the people and shop keepers and tanned carefree holiday makers.
Nature had had its revenge. It had reclaimed the natural beauty of Phi Phi. It had shown mankind what this island should look like, the way it looked twenty years ago when few had seen its real identity. There were a few buildings, yes, and a small market area that did have the odd dive shop and internet café. The guesthouses were all tucked away nearer the high ground and one or two proper hotels had re-built. Those luckily enough to get a room in them would be enjoying an exclusive Phi Phi. I wandered through to Lo Dalam bay once more and there was an impromptu café under the big old Banyan tree that still stood at the end of the lane – where I had previously had an upmarket lunch.
Now it was grilled fresh seafood on a makeshift barbecue as I sat on little wooden stools. A few temporary backpacker style A-frames were erected further along the beach, and a few rustic bars played the usual Bob Marley classics. There were people on the beach, much fewer, carrying on as if nothing had happened and seemingly enjoying the less crowded Phi Phi. Certainly the mass of day-tripper boats where not found anchored off-shore but this was the low season.
Over on Phuket, from where I had come, the commercial opportunities were simply too lucrative to ignore. Mankind there had picked itself up and determinedly overcome nature’s wrath. Patong had been rebuilt, mature coconut stems had been imported and replanted – their foliage almost grown back, and the shops rebuilt and very much open for business. But here on Phi Phi little had happened. Sure, all the ugly debris had been cleared away over the past 18 months, but the precious available space had not been snapped up and redeveloped. It was as if the locals had finally appreciated what they had done to this small part of mother earth and decided not to make the same folly twice. Post Tsunami Phuket
There are plenty who are disenfranchised from the Tsunami disaster on Phi Phi, and the local authorities have been dithering on just how to control redevelopment, which explains the lack of infrastructure. Perverted that it may seem for those who made a living here, I hope they continue to dither for ever and ever so that Phi Phi can remain like it was when I visited, for we wouldn’t want to wish for another Tsunami to ‘clean it up’.
Top 10 attractions of Pattaya
Posted by Arda on June 29th, 2007 filed in Pattaya, Nightlife Thailand, Gay Thailand, Activities, Thailand travelComment now »
By Derek Kirk
Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya is one of Thailand’s youngest cities and has become a leader in business and recreation and a notorious player in Thailand’s sex tourism industry. The streets are lined with every manner of entertainment venue, ranging from theme parks and museums to go-go bars. In spite of the city’s burning nightlife, there’s plenty to do during the day, whether its diving, hanging out at theme parks or visiting the zoo. Pattaya also welcomes gay travellers who will find gay Pattaya very welcoming. Pattaya for tourists
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
For those with a taste for the outlandish or out-of-this-world, Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a must-see. Located on level three of the Royal Garden Plaza, the museum houses more than 300 exhibits that display all sorts of bizarre phenomena and weird, unexplained mysteries. The Haunted Adventure is a reenactment of a mystery from the past that took place at the Grimsby and Streaper Casket Company. Other immersive displays include the Infinity Maze and the Motion Master.
Mini Siam
Located on Sukhumvit road at the centre of Pattaya, Mini Siam is a miniature recreation of Thailand’s most well-known historic buildings and popular tourist attractions. This is one of Pattaya’s most touristy destinations and is generally teeming with foreign and local visitors alike. The display is in 1:25 scale and includes a spread of 80 buildings. Some of the miniatures include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Temple of Phimai in Nakorn Ratchisima and Don Muang Airport. In the evening, the exhibits take on new life when they are illuminated for the last round of visitors.
Pattaya Elephant Village
Over the centuries, elephants have served Thailand in a variety of roles, beginning as mammoth super weapons in times of war and transitioning to beasts of burden in the teak wood industry. Today, they serve mainly as entertainers and educators to foreign tourists. Pattaya’s elephant farm is located on Sukhumvit road in the city centre. Here, visitors can take elephant rides, watch them performing their skills in forestry and even catch them playing football. The elephant shows start in the afternoon and are accompanied by an English commentary.
Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Anyone seeking close contact with big, impressive animals should head to the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, located 30 minutes drive north of Pattaya on Route 3241. In addition to tigers, this facility has crocodiles, scorpions and elephants. A few shows are performed each day including the crocodile roundup and the more outlandish woman wrestling a crocodile act. Meanwhile, visitors are given plenty of opportunities to view and interact with the tigers, the facilities main attraction. Guests are allowed to bottle-feed and take photos with some of the cubs.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is a sprawling replica of a Thai village that covers 600 acres. The re-creation is intended to offer foreign tourists a glimpse into the rural and more agricultural heritage of Thailand. A zoo is located on the grounds, as is a recreational lake, cactus garden and an impressive collection of orchids. Several presentations are hosted in the arts and cultural centre including Thai boxing and Thai dance and elephant shows. A shuttle departs from the Nipa Lodge Hotel and accommodation in the grounds of the park itself makes it possible to stay overnight.
Wat Yansangwararam
A few miles south of Pattaya city centre, Yansangawararam Temple was built in 1988 to commemorate King Bhumibol’s ascension to the throne. The temple grounds are large and well-kept, with a pond, Chinese pavilions and a small museum dedicated to artefacts and works of art from China. The temple can be reached via a 299-stair climb to the top of a hill with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Pattaya Beach
The number one draw to Pattaya is its more than two miles of beach that border the city. Some visitors come for the water sports, like jet-skis and banana boats; others come to walk on the tree-lined paths and still others to rent a deckchair and relax on the beach. A string of casual restaurants sell fresh, top-notch seafood that can be eaten in comfortable outdoor settings with views of the ocean. Boats can be chartered to nearby islands for snorkelling and exploring.
Nightlife and Gay Pattaya
In many ways, Pattaya has become synonymous with the country’s infamous sex industry and this aspect of the city can’t be denied. Many tourists come for the go-go bars on Walking street. Beyond the seedy side of Pattaya, there is also a thriving nightlife with no shortage of bars, clubs and restaurants to visit after hours. A couple of English and Irish pubs offer a more laid-back evening in a non-sleazy atmosphere. There’s also a very big gay scene in Pattaya, one of the most tolerant and gay friendly places in Asia. Gay Pattaya centres on Boyztown, a big entertainment complex with all sorts of options for a fun evening.
Amusement parks
There are several amusement parks in the area that capitalise on the strong wave of tourists that stream through Pattaya. The Funny Land Amusement Park includes several rides, a roller coaster and a carousel. A monorail transports visitors all over the park. Underwater World is Asia’s largest and most modern aquarium that features a Plexiglas underwater promenade more than 100 yards long. Located next to the Pattaya Park Hotel, Pattaya Water Park is an enormous facility with whirlpools, water slides and Jacuzzis. The Pattaya Park Resort and Amusement Park owns a secluded stretch of beach and three towering, revolving restaurants that offer panoramic views of the land and seascape. Visitors can also participate in thrill and adventure rides like the Cable Jump slide-line. Pattaya pictures
Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm
Located 15 minutes drive from the city centre, the Million Years Stone Park is housed on 160,000 square meters and contains a wide range of interesting plant and animal specimens. The grounds are well-landscaped, especially the beautiful bonsai garden. An on-site zoo is home to elephants, crocodiles and a rare group of albino bears. The most impressive animal here is the crocodile, of which there are more than 1,000 breeds. Daily shows include crocodile roundups and daily elephant shows.
Visas for living in Chiang Mai
Posted by Arda on June 29th, 2007 filed in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
So, you would like to come and live in Thailand? Chiang Mai is a popular place to retire to or simply come and live in, and many foreigners already live here legally. To do this you need to apply for a non-immigration visa which is the first step towards a permanent or ongoing visa, and it allows you to remain in Thailand for periods of between three months and a year, with the option to renew the visa continuously. Most people find it possible to remain in Thailand, and the authorities aren’t too tough on immigration law enforcement. The local immigration office is used to dealing with applications and there are also several companies in town who can help you cut through the paperwork.
However, there are some specific regulations governing the issuing of visas and although the people of Thailand are quite happy to let foreigners come and live in their country and spend money here, Thailand has some strict immigration laws just like every other country. If you can show sufficient funds to support yourself here, or have a job offer then you can possibly get a retirement visa, business visa or work permit (with residence visa). Thaivisa.com
Firstly you will need to apply for a non-immigration permit, which can only be issued outside of the country. Consulates located in countries bordering Thailand tend to be more strict with the paperwork so you are advised to apply in your home country. There are several types of non-immigrant visas; the ‘OA’ visa is for retirement or spouses of Thai citizens, ‘B’ for business or work and ‘IB’ for investment, among others which include study, missionary work and media representation.
An application form (known as the T.M.7) should be submitted with a 500 baht processing fee and 4 x 6cm photo, along with your passport. The processing usually takes less than a week. You may even mail the documents to your local consulate. The most important criteria for retiring here is that you are over 50 years old and can show a sum of 800,000 baht ($20,000/€16,000/£12,000) in order to support yourself here for 12 months. Alternatively you can show proof of a monthly income of 65,000 baht. Those, of any age, who have married a Thai national can also apply for this visa – with the same financial criteria.
If you are applying for a ‘B’ visa, you will need a letter of intention to employ you, from your prospective employer, and they may ask to see a copy of the company’s registration certificate and tax number. Those interested in starting a business here can also obtain a visa, but there are much higher financial implications than the ‘OA’ visa, and these are co-ordinated by the Thailand Board of Investment which has recently established a onestop service to streamline this procedure (visit www.boi.go.th for more information).
Many of the people who are too young to qualify for a retirement visa get by with a non immigration visa that is issued on the basis of a variety of ‘questionable excuses’ and simply continue to renew them. Over the past few years immigration has been tightening up the enforcement of this practice.
Once you have obtained your non immigration visa you may enter Thailand and remain here for three months maximum, by which time you should have undertaken the necessary paperwork to have this extended for the maximum 12 months (from the date of original entry into Thailand). If you have been issued a multiple re-entry visa it is possible to extend the it for a further three months, after which you must leave and return in order to gain and further three month extension which can be extended locally once more (this effectively makes it possible to remain here for up to a year on one visa.)
If you have the correct documentation then you should report to the Immigration Department to have the full 12 months issued. In the case of a retirement visa this is quite straight-forward and these days can be issued on the spot. You need to show that the 800,000 baht financial security is now in your Thai bank account, or that there is evidence of your minimum 65,000 baht monthly income coming into Thailand. They have been known to accept as little as 400,000, particularly in the case of a spousal visa. Often a medical report is also required to prove you are not a major health risk. A fee of 1,900 baht also applies. The annual renewing of this should be a formality after this, however, every time you wish to leave the country you will need to pay 1000 baht for a re-entry permit, or you can obtain an annual multiple re-entry permit for 3,800 baht.
Unfortunately it’s far less simple if you are trying to secure a work permit – a popular method for those establishing a business here because they are too young for a retirement or other type of visa. The process of applying for a work permit is lengthy and full of red tape. In short the company needs to have at 2 million baht in registered capital and at least four Thai employees for every foreigner employed. There also has to be a good reason to employ you instead of a Thai, and newly established companies often come under more scrutiny and will need to be personally visited by an immigration official. Unbelievably, after all the paperwork is presented and the work permit issued, you will need to repeat the entire paper chase for the immigration department who may check up on the legitimacy of the business before issuing the full 12 month visa to support the work permit. This process can take months and if your visa needs to be extended during this time your work permit will also need an extension, resulting in numerous trips to both departments and plenty of ‘fees’ along the way.
Those who opt for a spousal visa will have to present a copy of the marriage certificate, proof of sufficient funds to support their Thai spouse (regardless of whether the spouse is a wealthy breadwinner – though the procedure and criteria does differ somewhat if you are a woman married to a Thai man), and a fee of 1,900 baht. Usually you will be interviewed too. The stipulations for ‘sufficient funds’ is the same as a retirement visa. Of course, if you are working here they will accept your work permit and contract as proof of a regular income. Thailand facts
The process of getting a visa differs from one case to another and some people find all the red tape very frustrating. The Immigration Department have tried in recent years to make their service more efficient and ‘customer friendly’, however civil servants in Thailand prefer to do everything ‘by the book’ and some individuals have been known to solicit a gratuity or encourage it through deliberately inefficient service. You should exercise plenty of patience and remain polite when dealing with the Immigration Department and expect multiple visits, and requests for further paperwork before finally securing a full visa.
Chiang Mai Immigration Department is located on the road to the airport and opens Monday to Friday 08:00 – 16:00.
Diving courses in Thailand
Posted by Arda on June 29th, 2007 filed in Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Activities, Watersports, Southern Thailand, Adventure, Thailand travelComment now »
By Chantana Jasper
Learning how to scuba dive is possible year round in Thailand and there are many places where you can gain PADI certification. NAUI and SSI certifications are also available but rare.
If you are just starting out, you might want to try the easier diving off the east coast of Thailand, at Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Samet or Koh Chang. More experience divers will want to go to the west coast and head for the Similan Islands, with jumping off points at Phuket and Khao Lak. Fortunately, high seasons for diving at each of the coasts is different, so you can come to Thailand and find good diving all year round.
Koh Tao is probably the most popular place among young backpackers to learn how to scuba dive. PADI Open Water classes are very affordable here, as are subsequent dives. In the past, the dive sites around Koh Tao were well known for whale shark sightings, but these have been fewer each year as the underwater environment has been very poorly monitored, over-fished and over-dived.
With the cheap diving comes some issues that more experienced divers would not be willing to put up with. There is no restriction on the number of dive boats on a dive site, and it is not unusual to find several dive boats on the same site at the same time – some boats releasing as many as 50 Open Water divers into the water simultaneously.
The dive sites surrounding Koh Tao are mostly shallow and without currents, making them suitable for beginners. The low cost of dive courses extends into the higher levels, making this a good place to take PADI Advanced, Rescue Diver, Dive Master, Master Scuba Diver and Instructor courses as well. Some people arrive on Koh Tao to take an Open Water course and end up staying until they become instructors. There are dozens of dive shops on Koh Tao, offering you a range of choices. Guide to Koh Tao
It’s best to choose very carefully to suit your needs and what you can afford. Not all dive instructors are created equally, nor are all shops the same. Inquire into the background of the instructors, check out the quality and maintenance of the rental equipment and ask about the insurance policy of the shop should you have an accident and require treatment in the hyperbaric chamber on the island.
The most popular places to take PADI Open Water courses on the west coast of Thailand are Phuket or Khao Lak. Before the 2004 tsunami, Khao Lak was a concentrated dive community much like Koh Tao. These days, it has built up again and is full of dive shops. It is the closest point to the Similan Islands where you can take dive courses, and therefore quite convenient.
Along with plenty of accommodation, shops, restaurants and entertainment, the selection of dive shops in Khao Lak makes it a great place to take an Open Water course. You can take a speedboat daytrip or a liveaboard of three days or more to get to the best dive sites. It takes a bit longer to get to the Similans from Phuket; however, there is more to see and do in Phuket and unless you are a hardcore diver, you might prefer to stay here. Phuket is also surrounded by many other dive sites for daytrips, although these are mediocre in comparison to the Similans.
Experienced divers will probably only want to dive at the Similan Islands, technically located in Phang Nga province. The nine islands are located within a marine national park and have retained a pristine appearance. Above the water, the islands have the finest, powdery white sands imaginable. Off the shores and into the deep are clear waters filled with amazing tropical marine life and bright corals. Even seasoned divers are impressed by the 40 to 50m visibility. The best way to enjoy the Similans is by liveaboard. Diving companies in Phuket
The most luxurious dive experience can be had on a boat like the Ocean Rover, operated by Fantasea Divers. You’ll barely have to move at all, with a professional crew tending to your dive gear and preparing gourmet meals and snacks. The company offers 8 to 10-day trips with private en-suite cabins to the Similans, Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago.
If you’re on a tighter budget, it can be fun to try operators like Similan Diving Safaris and Sea Dragon Dive Centre, both located in Khao Lak. They both offer less expensive 4-day dive trips.
Most liveaboard dive operators will offer an Open Water dive course on board, with the paperwork done ahead of time; you should book early if you want this option. Keep in mind that many of the dive sites in the Similans are beyond the recreational limit of 40m and some have currents that are not suitable for new divers, so you should be aware of your abilities and dive with a qualified professional. Also note that the islands close during the green season (mid-June to August).
Kanchanaburi’s death railway
Posted by Arda on June 29th, 2007 filed in Central Thailand, Thailand travelComment now »
By Andrew Bond
Imagine if your life as an administrator in the tropical colonial outpost of Singapore was abruptly turned upside down by an invading Imperial army. Imagine being hearded onto cattle trucks and railed more than 2000kms North to a steamy jungle just as the rainy season was setting in. Here you would then become forced labour, expected to work up to 18 hours a day as a screaming Japanese or Korean guard screamed ‘Speedo, speedo’ at you.
Imagine the fatigue of wielding 10 pound hammers as you manually tap and drill stubborn rock to create a near impossible rail cutting. If that isn’t enough, think about the sheer horror of watching your camp mates being beaten to death by ruthless task masters, starving, or worse still, dying a slow cholera death under the helplessness of an ill equipped medical team.
It sounds like a nightmare, but for 60,000 WWII POWs from Britain, Australian, the Netherlands and USA it was a living hell that played itself out in the jungle of Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province and left 12,000 of them dead. These poor souls were joined by nearly 100,000 Asians who came here with the promise of work, only to perish as the Japanese Army attempted the near impossible task of pushing through a 415km rail link from Thailand to Burma. They said it would take six years, but under pressure to bring supplies to their forces in Rangoon, they achieved it in just 16 months, yet a tragic loss of life.
Sixty years later Kanchanburi is a peaceful, lush and popular destination for both foreigners and locals, most of who were born after the Great War and little appreciate the sacrifices and loss that this area has come to symbolise on most tourist maps. The men may not have died in combat or specifically defending Thailand, but their two year drama has left a legacy that has turned the area they must have despised so much into a lucrative tourism magnet for several generations since. Guide to Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a mere two hour drive West of Bangkok, and there are many good reasons to visit even if you have little interest in sombre memorials and cemeteries. There is the fat lazy river upon which disco barges ply their trade on weekend nights, and the soft adventure of trekking in national parks with fantastic waterfalls. You can explore caves and even pose with tigers tamed by monks. But you can’t ignore the story of a railway and bridge which immortalised the River Kwai on the silver screen. This is the real story of Kanchanaburi.
In 1942 construction commenced on a rail plan that had been surveyed previously by the British but abandoned as logistically too challenging. Indeed, to the West of the town lies a low but formidable range of hills that has, for centuries, drawn the border between Siam and Burma. With the Japanese Army occupying Thailand and Burma, their next move was to attack British India, but they found their supply route in the Bay of Bengal cut off, so work begun on the rail link in ernest. As the pressure mounted on them from the American advances in the Pacific, the urgency to finish this route intensified. And as it did life became hell for the prisoners of war and locals who gave their life to achieve this remarkable feat. In late 1943, the two sections, one started in Thanbyuzayat in Burma and another in Nong Pladuk in Thailand, met near the Three Pagodas Pass. It lasted just 20 months before the bridge over the river Kwai was bombed in the closing stages of the War and the full section of this narrow gauge railway was never used again.
Today there are several museums in or near Kanchanaburi that tell the horrifc story of the Death Railway. Parts of the rail do still exist, and you can walk lengths of it, while parts are now submerged by the Khao Laem dam. But the most chilling reminder of the era is the handful of cemeteries that dot the area. Lest we forget, there is one right in the middle of the tourist area of the town, containing several thousand neatly arranged plaques to British and Dutch soldiers who perished from overwork, injury and disease. The Allied War Cemetery is the most visited and accessible, and opposite it is the excellent Thailand Burma Railway Center, which tells the full gruesome story in excellent detail.
A few kilometres outside of town is the more peaceful Chung Kai War Cemetery. Another museum, the JEATH museum, is located on the riverside nearer the new town but is somewhat dated and doesn’t compete with the other big budget foreign museums. But perhaps the most visited attraction in Kanchanaburi is the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, which was the centre piece of the Hollywood movie of the same name. This distinctive steel bridge was one of two that were used, including a wooden temporary bridge further north, and was eventually bombed by Allied air attack in 1945. After the war it was rebuilt and trains, mainly full of tourists, run across the bridge and as far as Nam Tok, with the highlight being a precarious section over an original wooden cliffside support alongside the river at Kra Sae.
If you’ve come specifically to trace this sorry part of recent Southeast Asian history, you should make a trip to Hellfire Pass, which holds some of the worse memories. This particular cutting is the deepest and most impressive of the many points along the line that kept dozens of camps occupied. In 1998 the Thai-Australian Chamber of Commerce opened an excellent memorial museum here for the benefit of relatives and tourists. With an exhaustive headphone commentary, visitors are taken on a drammatic tour of the life and times of those who suffered here. The cutting itself is more than 50 meters long and 20 meters deep, all cut with minimal machinery. The death toll here was particularly cruel – nearly 70 percent of the labour force perished – and a ceremony is held every year on ANZAC day. Among other things, you learn of the conditions they lived in, their relationship with their slave drivers and the awful diseases from the constant wet weather. Hellfire pass website
It’s difficult to visit Kanchanaburi and not come away with a sombre sense of respect and sorrow for the cruelty that took place here for 16 awful months in 1942 and 1943. The stories that are told are heartbreaking, the depth of human incompassion astonishing under the theatre of war, and the atmosphere humbling, as we consider the peaceful times we enjoy with our backpacks or comfy boutique hotels. Kanchanaburi has a remarkable beauty in its lush vegetation, multi-tiered waterfalls, horizons full of mountains and pretty river. But for some they simply couldn’t appreciate it through the hellish times experienced here 60 years earlier.
