Visit Thailand Guide

Where to stay in Bangkok?

2008-12-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

What are the best areas of Bangkok to rent? What facilities and services can I expect from a Bangkok serviced apartment? What are the best and worst serviced apartments in Bangkok? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and much more in my simple and easy guide to renting a serviced apartment in Bangkok for both expats and travelers.

Bangkok is the Center of Southeast AsiaAs the commercial center of Thailand and the hub of business and leisure travel within Southeast Asia, Bangkok has exceptional hotels of all kinds catering to the business elite and casual traveler.

Recently, a new kind of accommodation has gained favor with business executives on short stays in Bangkok--the luxury serviced apartment. With increased commercial expansion over the past several years, serviced apartments are quickly becoming the favorite choice of living style for their affordable luxury.

What is a Serviced Apartment?
The serviced part of the equation usually refers to the daily or twice weekly cleaning of your room, the furniture, kitchen amenities and so on that normal apartments do not include. Some service apartments also function as hotels, and these are called Aparthotels.

What's So Special About Bangkok Serviced Apartments?Real estate and relocation agents believe Bangkok has the most number of sophisticated apartments the world has to offer. There are not just one or two luxurious apartments, but close to 50. This is because skilled labor is cheap in thailand, and the city itself is a major business hub for the southeast asia region.

Renting a serviced apartment in bangkok can be a daunting task for several reasons--the primary one being there are so many 'fine print' and extra costs involved when signing a weekly, monthly or yearly contract.

I have been living in Bangkok for a few years now, and have gone through several serviced apartments, learning on the way which 'services' are included and what to expect from your stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok's City Plan
The Bangkok Jungle has several meanings, one of them being that the city was never built with a city plan or urban design in mind. The city is a sprawling landscape, a montage of residential and commercial buildings juxtaposing one another. It is home to 10 to 15 million people, depending on who is arriving from the rural country and abroad. The people as well, from poor to affluent, live side by side.The city itself is lopsided; if you look down any major road in bangkok, you will see that both sides of the road arent balanced, building heights are different, and there is an overall lack of symmetry. This is what makes Bangkok unique and charming. And what makes it a jungle.

The Best Areas To Live In Bangkok
Bangkok contains inexpensive to exclusive apartments, but the best ones are found in the following regions of Bangkok:* Sukhumvit, the main road or artery of Bangkok* Asok, one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to live* Thong Lo, the chic and fashionable street,* Sathorn, the business district of Bangkok* Silom, another business and red light district* Ploenchit, business district* Chit Lom, business district

The areas listed above are all within easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment, trains, skytrains, and expressways. If you choose to live in one of these areas, you will experience life in the center of Bangkok's thriving business and shopping centres while indulging in an ultra private serviced apartment in Bangkok. I personally recommend Asok and Chit Lom, as they are the classiest areas of Bangkok, but if you are looking to be close to the night markets Silom is perfect, and Sukhumvit is always a colorful experience.

Facilities and Services of Typical Bangkok Serviced Apartments
These vary between the different types of apartments and condos, but a standard of excellence has been establlished from the increasing competition among serviced apartments. Facilities and services are upgraded regularly to keep up with rival residences. However, before investing in a serviced apartment, be sure to check if these services and facilities are available.5 Services That Should Be Included Free of Charge:* Room Cleaning* Water/Utilities* Internet Usage* 24 Hour Security* Room Service/Errand Boy4 Facilities That Should Be Included* Restaurant* Gym* Pool* Convenience Store

The Loopholes: Length of Stay, Deposits and Electricity
If you are staying for a month or year, the serviced apartment may charge you for electricity. Make sure that you negotiate this price to 6.5 Baht/Unit. A lot of times the apartment owners will charge 8 Baht/Unit for more profit. They only pay 3 or 4 Baht/Unit.Be careful when signing leases; most require a 2 month deposit, and if you move out before your contract is finished you forfeit this deposit.

Make sure the serviced apartment has a laundry service, either in house or out of house. Most serviced apartments have coin operated laundry rooms as well as pick up services. More deluxe suites will have washing machine in the room. Note that most places do not have dryers.How much Should I Pay?

This is a difficult question to answer, but the more facilities a serviced apartment has, the more it will cost. If a serviced apartment has a pool, gym and also functions as a 24 hour hotel, then the monthly price will be above 30,000 Baht.Location also has a large part to do with cost of a bangkok serviced apartment. If you are staying in an area not close to skytrain or subway access, your price will be much lower. Conversely, staying in the business districts of Silom or trendy spots like Ekkamai or Thonglor will raise your monthly rent.

Which Serviced Apartment Should I Choose?
The serviced apartment market in Bangkok is lead by three groups, The President Group, The Ascott Group, and Centre Point. Most of them offer first class accomodation and have a decent system of serving their customers. However, there are numerous independent serviced apartments to choose from.

The 2 Worst Serviced Apartments in Bangkok*
Ascott Bangkok Sathorn
There have been several articles written in trade journals about the decline in service at the once famous and most prestigious serviced apartment in Bangkok. Once known for attention to customer relations, their lack of it is now glaringly obvious to everyone who stays there. This place is an example of a chain serviced apartment becoming too much like a corporation with no human touch of service.* LebuaRumor is their staff is very untrustworthy. Read the trade journals and 'google' the residence for reviews.

Top 2 Most Luxurious Bangkok Serviced Apartments*
Siri Sathorn ApartmentsSiri Sathorn is a five-star luxury `boutique` property which epitomises private and elegant living in a residential setting. It is a concept of the perfect home which appeals to international traveller. This place caters to Japanese clientelle but of course is open to everyone.*
Fraser Place Urbana Langusan
They have an exclusive 45-metre driveway leading from the main road to the serviced residence for great privacy. They also have some of the best services and customer relations I have ever experienced, pampered is the only word that comes to mindBest Value Bangkok Serviced Apartments* Silom Convent Garden

Newly built in November 2006, this chic serviced apartment is located in the Silom-Sathorn area but has some of the cheapest rates for this business and night market district. For 36,000 Baht/$1000 a month you can have a 38 square meter, 1 bedroom, fully furnished luxurious apartment complete with full kitchen, washer machine, flat screen tv, and rain shower. The only drawback is the place doesn't have a pool or gym, but thats the reason the price is so low and why its one of the best values in Bangkok.

If you are still undecided whether to have a stay in Bangkok on your next trip, it was just recently announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to make Bangkok a "paradise" city. The article from the Bangkok Post states the BMA will establish a fund to address trash, pollution and traffic problems. Now is the time to take your next vacation or business trip to Bangkok, as life couldn't get any better in the City of Angels!

Koh Samui Private and Resort Villas - Which one?

2008-11-13T03:31:00.000-08:00

When staying on Koh Samui, what are the main differences between booking a resort-owned villa or a privately owned villa?

Socialising: On a resort you are not isolated from other people as you are when staying at a private villa. On resorts you get to meet other relaxing holidaymakers with whom you can have a chat and share your experiences. On a resort there is always somebody up and about and a simple ‘Good Morning’ may make their day as well as your own.

Privacy: Yet on a resort, and inside your villa, you can still have complete privacy to do your own individual thing, whether you want to party every night, read and relax or just sit back and watch TV or go on the Internet. In a private villa (provided the villa is not overlooked by neighbours) you can sunbathe naked if you wish whereas at a resort this would definitely be frowned upon.

Staff: Normally at a resort there are full-time staffs on hand daily – whose job is to change the linen and keep your villa tidy and spotless as well as clean around the resort generally. This service can be arranged at a private villa but it is not automatically included.

Security: Just like a private villa, with a resort villa you will have your own set of keys so that you can come and go whenever you like. On a resort you will normally see security staff patrolling the grounds, especially at nighttime whereas with a private villa this is very hard to come by. Normally, in a private-owned villa, you are on your own on this issue.

Pools: Some private villas don’t have a swimming pool at all but where there is, it’s obviously for your private use only. Resorts on the other hand always have one or sometimes two communal swimming pools, and for those families with youngsters it’s nice to know that other guests (and staff) are around to make sure they are safe. Also the swimming pools at a resort are cleaned daily, sometimes twice a day, whereas with a private pool you will be lucky if it’s cleaned once a week.

Catering: Most private villas are self-catering – but with upmarket villas the owner sometimes can arrange for food to be prepared by a chef – although this is not cheap. If a resort has its own restaurant you can eat there if you wish – sometimes a meal is included in your booking. Or you can eat out at local restaurants or have cooked food delivered to your villa. Or you can buy produce and supplies locally and cook the food yourself inside your own villa. Please note; not all resorts have villas with cooking facilities – so double check this aspect before you book.

Cost: A resort-owned villa should work out at less cost because of the larger economy of scale where more guests or small parties and groups can be catered for. On the other hand some upmarket resorts can be very expensive owing to their location, exclusivity and furnishings. Go for low-cost *** villa resorts if possible.

Private Villa or Resort Villa?
As they say on Samui – it’s up to you!

Smoking and drinking in Thailand

2008-10-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

If you arrive as a tourist in Bangkok, you may initially be puzzled as to where to find cigarettes or tobacco. The reason is that tobacco wares are not allowed to be displayed in public and no advertising is allowed.

Smaller shops will usually sell cigarettes (which are not expensive, even the imported ones). Most convenient places to buy tobacco are the 7-Eleven convenience stores scattered around Bangkok. The cigarettes are located just behind the counter, but as I mentioned, you will not actually see them displayed and must aks for them.

Not quite sure why anyone would want to smoke cigarettes, but for the more serious smokers you will find tobacco wares (cigars, pipe tobacco) at Siam Paragon and Emporium. The shops that sell tobacco are called Bangkok Wine Cellar (they mostly sell wine and spirits). There is one located on the 5th floor (next to the Gourmet Market) at Emporium Shopping Center, and another one (a bit larger, maybe somewhat more choice) in the corridor left of Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon (located at the basement level floor). The pipe tobacco and cigars are not openly visible, so you have to ask to see the wares.

Most five star hotels will have a small shop where you can buy tobacco wares. I noticed that these shops are allowed to display tobacco for sale.

Smoking is prohibited in restaurants and public places in Bangkok. Smoking is allowed outside buildings. For example, if you are a smoker and visit a Starbucks for your morning coffee, you may want to select one that has an outdoors section.

When you visit bars, well you will see the reason why smoking has been banned in most places, and gets such a bad press. The bars are filled with smoke, and any visit may have you coughing for the next few days. In our opinion, if smokers would have been more self-restraining, things would not have developed as far as they have now, with smokers being treated almost as bad as plain criminals.

Update : As of February 2008, there is a smoking ban in airconditioned bars and night clubs. Up to then, bars and nightlife entertainment venues had been exempted. A grace period has been granted, and full implementation of the new law will probably occur around May 2008.

Drinking and Buying Alcohol
Drinking alcohol is still allowed in Thailand. However, you can not buy alcohol at all times of day. Shops like supermarkets and 7-Elevens are not allowed to sell alcohol between 2.00-5.00 P.M. and after midnight. Sometime in the morning (the time escapes me) sales are permitted again. As far as we know, you can drink alcohol all day though in restaurants and bars.

On some days (religious and national holidays, election days) alcohol sales are banned altogether, and drinks can not be served even in restaurants and bars (which usually close on these days anyway).

Wines are invariably priced high. Even table wines that would be sold at less than 100 baht a bottle in Europe, cost 400 baht and upwards.

Stronger drinks like whisk(e)y, gin, vodka are quite cheap altogether. A bottle of good whisky such as Grant's or Ballantines can be had at around 550 baht a bottle (about 15 US $).

Most supermarkets will sell wines and spirits. Beers and mostly local brand alcohol is available at 7-Elevens (prices are about 20% higher than at supermarkets though). By the way, Thai brandy (sometimes called whisky or rum) is actually quite tasty and very cheap.

Drunk driving is a major problem in Thailand, and thousands of people are killed each year because of it. Most victims (and perpetrators) are 'low-class' motorcycle drivers, and little is done to enforce existing laws, and/or to improve drivers' conduct. Invariably, each year around New Year and with Songkran (the Thai New Year) there will be temporary campaigns to limit the number of road deaths. Unfortunately, the value of life in Thailand is rather low, and therefore little is done to preserve it.

Thailand Tourism Recovery Plan

2008-09-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has embarked on an immediate tourism recovery plan and is working closely with the Thai tourism industry to restore confidence in the destination. TAT has been conducting random interviews with individual tourists at various popular tourism sites around Bangkok, such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Khao San Road, Chatuchak Market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Siam Square and CentralWorld at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Foreign tourists were asked how they felt about their stay in Thailand over the past week and early this week. All of the individuals responded positively and indicated that the situation has not in any way affected his/her visit to Thailand.

Videos of these interviews from September 6 onwards have been posted on community web sites such as YouTube.com, DailyMotion.com and Sharkle.com, as well as on the TAT’s main web site and under “Situation Updates” on the Home Page of the TAT News Room web site – TAT has also participated in several online travel forums such as Tripadvisor.com, Lonely planet.com and VirtualTourist.com .

Thousands stranded after Thai airports close

2008-08-31T03:38:00.000-07:00

Bangkok: Thousands of tourists were stranded in Thailand on Saturday, a day after anti-government protests forced airports to close. Phuket and Krabi airports became targets of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) after thousands of its supporters clashed with riot police on Friday.

Hundreds of PAD supporters invaded runways or blocked roads at the two airports and another at Hat Yai in the south. The latter reopened early on Saturday.

A Phuket airport official said she expected the terminal to remain closed at least until dawn on Sunday. Sixteen flights heading for Phuket were diverted to Bangkok and other airports on Friday and another 40 or more domestic and international flights were affected on Saturday.

Best time to visit Thailand

2008-08-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November (the 'rainy season'). They can be uncomfortably, unpredictably sticky. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June.

By far the best time to visit is from February to March when the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.

The peak seasons are August, November, December, February and March, with secondary peak months in January and July.

If your main objective is to avoid crowds and to take advantage of discounted rooms and low-season rates, you should consider traveling during the least crowded months (April, May, June, September and October).

On the other hand it's not difficult to leave the crowds behind, even during peak months, if you simply avoid some of the most popular destinations (e.g., Chiang Mai, islands and beaches). This is also the prime time for diving in terms of visibility and accessibility.

Learn speaking Thai today

2008-07-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you that want or need to speak the language of love in Thai here’s a small dictionary of Thai love phrases that are sure to impress and excite your new Thai girlfriend. I guarantee she will be amazed and impressed. If you’re having trouble with pronunciation you can ask her for help too which will help to make your relationship more concrete.

Beginning Your Relationship
I am single. (pom yung sot)
You are very beautiful. (koon suay mak mak)
You are very cute. (koon na-ruk mak mak)
I like your smile. (pom chorp roi yim kong koon)
Can I see you tomorrow? (proong nee jer gun dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
Are you free tonight? (keun nee koon wang mai) - For yes the reply is “wang” and for no the reply is “mai wang”
Do you like me? (koon chorp pom reu blao) - For yes the reply is “chorp” and for no the reply is “mai chorp”
Can you go out with me? (bai tee-o gup pom dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? (koon mee faen reu yung) - For yes the reply is “me” and for no the reply is “yung mai mee”
What kind of men do you like? (koon chorp poo-chai bap nai)
Can you tell me your phone number please? (kor ber tor koon dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
Do you want to go and eat with me? (bai gin kao gub pom mai) - For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai”
Do you want to go to watch a movie? (bai doo nung gup pom mai) - For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai”
Your eyes are so beautiful. (duang dtar kong koon suay mak)
Can I hold your hand? (pom kor jub meu koon dai mai?)
Have a nice dream. (fun dee na)
Take care of yourself. (do lae dtua eng duay na)

Taking it to the Next Level
Love at first sight. (ruk raek pop)
I still remember the first moment we met. (pom yung jum krang-raek tee row pob gun dai)
I want you to be happy. (pom dtong gan hai koon mee kwarm sook)
You make me happy. (koon tam hai pom mee kwarm sook)
I miss you. (pom kit teung koon)
I miss you all the time. (pom kit-teung koon dta-lod way-la)
Can you be my girlfriend? (ben faen gub pom dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
You are my girlfriend. (koon ben fan kong pom)
You are my sweetheart. (koon keu yot -ruk kong pom)
You are the one I have been waiting for. (koon bpen kon dieow tee pom ror koi)
I am serious about you. (pom jing jai gup koon)
I think about you all night. (pom kit teung koon tung keun)
I want to meet you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak pop koon)
I want to hug you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak got koon)
Can I kiss you? (pom kor joop koon dai mai)
I want to be with you. (pom yaak yoo gup koon)
Do you miss me? (koon kit teung pom baang mai)
I won’t forget you. (pom ja mai leum koon)
When do you want me to come back? (koon dtong gan hai pom glup ma muea rai)

When You’re Ready to Marry Your Thai Girlfriend
I think I have fallen in love with you. (pom kit wa pom long ruk koon) / (pom kit wa pom dtok loom ruk koon)
My heart is yours. (hua jai kong pom ben kong koon)
You are my angel. (koon keu nung fa kong pom)
I love you. (pom ruk koon)
I will be faithful to you. (pom ja seu-sut dtor/gub koon)
I don’t want to let you go. (pom mai dtong-gan hai koon bai)
Can I meet your parents? (pom ja bai pob por gub mae kong koon dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
I want to see your face every day. (pom yaak hen na koon took wan)
I want to marry you. (pom dtong-gan dtang ngan gub koon)
I can’t live without you. (pom yoo mai dai ta mai mee koon)

If There’s Trouble
I hope I can see you again. (pom wang wa ja dai pob koon eek-krang)
Can you give me one more chance? (hai aow-gat pom eek-krang dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
I will never cheat on you (pom ja mai nork jai koon)
Your love is very important to me. (kwarm ruk kong koon sam kun dtor/sam-rap pom mak)
Please speak to me. (dai brot poot gup pom)
You hurt me so much. (koon tam pom jep-bpuat mak)
Please trust me. (brot chuea jai pom)
I want you to trust me. (pom dtong gan hai koon chuea jai pom)
I never lied to you. (pom mai koie gor hok koon)
Don’t leave me. (ya ting pom)
I will always be on your side. (pom ja yoo kiang-kang koon sa-mer)

Go-go Bar Scam in Thailand

2008-07-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

You are walking along Patpong Road and some pathetic looking tout invites you to an a go-go bar upstairs performing ping-pong, darts and horny snake shows. You are told a beer is a 100 baht, but when you get the bill it is for 1,500 (tout downstairs forgot to tell you there was a huge cover charge).

The scammers in there are violently dangerous, don’t get into a fight (a Japanese guy was murdered a few years ago in one of those bars). Tell them politely that you need a receipt to get your money back from the company (entertainment expenses).

Act dumb and play it nice, like it’s not your money they are ripping off. Outside, go straight to the tourist cops, there is a good chance you will get your money back.

Anyway, if you do want to see such a sinful show (or any a go-go bar that is) only go into one that is managed by King’s Group Co. Ltd.

All there bars have a huge plaque outside saying so. King’s Group upstairs a go-gos are the only non-scams on Patpong. Their downstairs a go-go are also by far and away the best.

Phrae, Thailand

2008-07-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

General Information An old and important community of Northern Thailand, Phrae was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom. With one of the largest reserves of teak forests in the country, it is located on the banks of the Yom River, 555 kilometres from Bangkok.

Covering an area about 6,538 square kilometres and surrounded on all sides by mountains with level plains in the middle, Phrae is administratively divided into the following districts: Mueang, Sung Men, Den Chai, Long, Wang Chin, Song, Rong Kwang and Nong Muang Khai.

How to get there
Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 11 to Phrae via Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit.

Bus
Transport Co. Ltd. operates regular buses to Phrae at 10 a.m. and 10.30 p.m.. The buses leave Mochit 2 Bus Terminal everyday. For more information, call 0 2936 2852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th. Private bus companies are such as Choet Chai Tour; Tel: 0 2936 0199, Phrae Tour, Tel: 0 2936 3720, Sombat Tour, Tel: 0 2936 2496.

Air
Thai Airways flies directly from Bangkok to Phrae on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and also operates Bangkok-Phitsanulok-Phra-Nan flights on other days. Call 1566 or visit www.thaiairways.com for more information.

Festivals
Kin Salak Fair
The Kin Salak Fair is an old Buddhist merit-making event. Villagers prepare offerings and carry them in procession to present to the monks. The fair is held around September yearly.

Phra That Cho Hae Fair
The Phra That Cho Hae Fair, held in around March, involves a procession to carry robes to cover the Chedi. The procession follows the Lanna style. All participants are decked out in traditional Lanna attires.

Free wifi in Bangkok, Thailand

2008-06-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

As of Thursday, half a million Bangkok-ians will have access to 15,000 access points throughout the Bangkok metropolitan area. The municipal administration are attempting to alleviate some of the strains caused by rising fuel prices by allowing people to conduct business and transactions over the internet. This pilot program will run 1 year and each access point will allow people to connect to a blazing 64kbps pipe.

Though slightly better than dial up, one has to wonder how much bandwidth anyone will actually get. Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction and should give WiMax a run for its money since this service is being offer for free. Next time Bernice is in Bangkok, I'm sure she'll have a pleasant surprise :).

Anyone living in range of one of these hotspots? Please do let me know how it works out for you. The Bangkok administration has been handing out access cards at most shopping malls and public places.

Use taxi in Bangkok, Thailand

2008-06-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the easiest and most comfortable way to get around, if not always the quickest, is by the aircon taxi. These come in quite a few different colours though the green-yellow and red-blue ones are the most common.

Bangkok has thousands of taxis, and finding one at any time is never a problem. The occasional exception to this is during a monsoon season downpour. By international standards they're very cheap too, the flagfall rate is 35B (0.85 US$ approx) including the first 2km and it's 5B/km after that.

This means that even relatively long journeys, such as from Sukhumvit to the Grand Palace often aren't above 100B (2.5 US$). A surcharge is applied in traffic jams (1.25B/m when moving under 6km/h), meaning at night when there's not much traffic they're definitely the best way of getting around.

There's no exams that have to be passed to become a taxi driver in Bangkok, and so many have a less than encyclopedic knowledge of the city. Communication can be a problem with the majority of Bangkok's taxi drivers too. It's worth bearing in mind that many taxi (and tuk tuk) drivers are from Thailand's poor Isaan (northeast) region, are likely to be fairly uneducated and many speak little English.

Even the ones that can will probably not be able to read a map that's written only in English. Although there are a large number Thai words that have been taken straight from English, they often come out with a distinctly Thai pronunciation that can be markedly different from the original.

The two tone green and yellow taxis are generally reckoned to be the best ones. These are driven by the owner, while all others are rented out by the day. Of course, everything really depends on the driver rather than the color of the car, and there's not really any major difference between any of them.

All licensed taxis have yellow and black number plates. Tipping of taxi drivers is not really a Thai practice, though rounding the fare up to the nearest 5B or 10B is fairly common. Any more is not expected and not really necessary.

If you're unlucky, the driver will sometimes claim to have no change to try and force you to leave a 30% tip or thereabouts - getting out to change money at a nearby store will often lead to him remembering where his change is kept. If you aren't near any taxis, you can phone 1661 and order one to pick you up. This costs the meter fee + 20B.

Visa to Thailand

2008-06-07T21:15:00.001-07:00

Who needs to apply for a visa to go to Thailand?

- Passport holders of countries that do not appear on the list below will require a visa before entering Thailand.

- Travelers entering Thailand for purposes other than tourism need a visa of specific type, i.e. non-immigrant visa.

List of countries NOT requiring visa: (Last updated on October 27,2007)
Passport holders of the following countries may enter and stay in Thailand without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days for purpose of tourism only:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, *Brazil, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chili, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Qatar, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel,. Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Lao, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Monaco (effective 26 Oct 07), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, U.A.E., U.K., U.S.A., Vietnam.

List of countries whose nationals are exempted from visa fees:

Rep.of Korea, Malaysia, *Philippines, Singapore, Tunisia.

List of countries whose nations may apply for visa at the Immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days (Visa on Arrival)

Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, *Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.
If you are not a passport holder of the above countries or you are going to go Thailand for other purposes than tourism, you need a visa. Click here to see what type of visas should you apply for.

What type of visas should you apply?

Transit visa

These types of visas are issued to persons who wish to enter Thailand for the following purposes to travel in transit through the Thailand.

The person in charge or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station or area in the Thailand.

Tourist visa

This visa is issued to persons who wish to enter Thailand for tourism purpose only and wish to stay up to 60 days.

Non-immigrant visas

These visas are issued for applicants who wish to enter Thailand for the following purposes:
Non immigrant visa-B For the purpose of attending a conference / conducting business / working in Thailand.

Non immigrant visa-ED For the purpose of studying / coming on a work study tour or observation tour / participating in projects or seminars / attending training course / studying as a foreign Buddhist monk in Thailand.

Non immigrant visa-O-A For applicants aged 50 years or above wishing to go to Thailand for “Long Stay” at least for the period of 1 year.

Non immigrant visa-F For official purposes.

Non immigrant visa-O For other purposes, visiting family in Thailand, pension, etc.

A non-immigrant visa is the only type of visa that permits non-residents (other than embassy staff, consular staff or official visitors) to be gainfully employed in Thailand.

In addition, any person who holds a non-immigrant visa and wishes to work needs to apply for a work permit.

Visa application forms for this category need to be completely filled out, stating reasons for employment, and must include a letter of certificate from the company where the applicant is to work. A company profile should be also attached to the application.

Please note that a Consular Officer may deny an application if the reasons given are not fully supported. At present, a visa may be issued in the form of a sticker or stamp in the applicant’s passport. The visa will include details of the type and class. Each visa will show issue and expiry dates.

10 To Do in Thailand

2008-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

It’s not hard to understand why Thailand has become such a hot name when tourism is the topic of discussion. After all, Thailand is very rich in terms of its culture as manifested by its various museums and temples. At the same time, Thailand has a lot to brag about with its natural resources. These are two large factors which bring tourists from all over the world into Thailand.

1. Bangkok’s Canals

Bangkok, Thailand is known for its open canals. This is used for various open water activities, and you can find floating houses here, which will certainly make you wonder how do these houses remain floating? At the same time, you can also shop in Thailand’s open canals, indeed a very bright and original way to do your shopping.

2. Tarutao Marine National Park

Thailand makes an effort to preserve its wildlife resources and its animal and plant species. While being ardent in protecting them, you can enjoy and relish their company through the Tarutao Marine National Park. You must not forget to visit here while you’re in Thailand.

3. Temple of Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

There are 400 Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand, but Wat Arun is one of those temples which are most notable. This is because of its modern architectural design, and at the same time, its unique distinction from others. A portion of the temple contains images of Buddha’s life.

4. Statue of Buddha in Ko Samui, Thailand

In the Island of Ko Samui, Thailand lays a world-famous statue of Buddha. This statue stands 12 m or 29 feet tall and is most notable for the bright colors with which it is portrayed. You must visit this religious place situated in an island not far from Thailand’s capital.

5. Grand Palace, Bangkok

A world famous site is the Grand Palace, Bangkok. The Grand Palace is a complex of royal buildings where royalty in Thailand lives; however, only one complex, the Wat Phra Kaeo, is open to tourists. The Grand Palace is a place you must visit in Thailand.

6. Thai Boxing

As the people in Thai call the sport, “Muay Thai,” it is something you definitely should not miss - whether by actual experience or by watching. Thai boxing is actually a very historic sport throughout the history of Thailand, even having royal and religious roots. Thai boxing in Thailand can never be the same as in other places.

7. Thailand’s Theater and Arts

There are a variety of unique theater experiences you can have in Thailand. Two such examples are Khon and Nang Yai. Khon is a dramatization of Thailand’s myths and ancient tales, while Nang Yai, on the other hand, is portrayed through puppets of shadows.

8. Suan Pakkad Palace

The palace is the perfect place for you to go if you want to have a look at traditional houses in Thailand. Also, in Suan Pakkad Palace, there are art collections which you might want to go to. This is a tourist destination that will suit an art lover’s taste.

9. Vimameck Mansion

This mansion-turned-museum is graced for being the largest teakwood mansion in the world. What Thailand did was to turn Vimameck Mansion into a museum as well. Because of this, you not only get to see the mansion but you also get to see artifacts exhibited in the museum.

10. National Museum in Bangkok

A visit to Bangkok shall not be complete without going to the National Museum. Chronicled in the National Museum is practically the history of Bangkok presented through artifacts from before up to the modern pieces of contemporary art. You will surely get to have the feel of Thailand through the National Museum.

Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok

2008-06-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

Business and leisure travellers have picked the newly-opened Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok as one of the region's top hotels for delivering the highest levels of customer service. The property opened earlier this year and is the first Park Plaza hotel in Thailand.

Following research carried out by the hotel through Medallia, a globally-recognised customer feedback management system, Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok was ranked as one of the region's best for its exceptional service.

The 95-room hotel is just a 100-metre walk from the BTS skytrain and MRT subway stations at the Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection in Bangkok. In-room amenities include free wireless high-speed internet, 32-inch LCD televisions with laptop connections and DVD players.

Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok is also the closest international hotel to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. It is a short walk from the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the numerous dining, shopping and entertainment areas along Sukhumvit Road.

Activities in Phuket, Thailand

2008-06-03T02:47:00.000-07:00

Phuket Thailand has many attractions one can discover either on day trips or longer. The Beaches are by far the biggest attraction to Phuket because it has many beaches for one to explore.

You can keep yourself busy all year round with the many attractions in Phuket other than just the beaches however. Taking day trips can be a lot of fun.

It's not hard to find a long tail boat as even many of the beaches have them lined up just off shore. A day trip is very inexpensive and will remind you of a time when life was simple and uncomplicated.

Rubber tree plantations are plentiful on the island and watching and learning how locals make latex from the rubber trees is educational as well as interesting. This age old tradition can also be viewed at night where the Thais find it cooler to work at night or work it as a secondary or night job to supplement their income.

Taking a sea canoe off the eastern part of Phukets calm waters to go cave exploring can be a fun way to get a little extra sun as well as a good workout. There are many little islands, coves and caves to explore with a canoe off Phuket's east coast and water is tranquil and turquoise blue.

The island offers many shows also like monkey shows and snake shows. Many bus tours will take you to the caves in Phang Ngn bay and to visit James Bond Island. Another famous day trip is a boat ride out to Phi Phi Island for the day.

If you enjoy Thai boxing, there are several places you can go and watch Thai boxing and even train with the young men. The action is real, not staged and the hype is almost as good as wrestling on TV. There is Thai boxing in almost every small town in Phuket.

For those who enjoy the nightlife in Phuket there is none better then that found in Patong Beach. The town has many discos and a nightlife like no place else in the world. Patong has been voted the number one nightlife spot my several men's magazines. The many beer bars and night spots can be fun to explore is a relaxed and laid back attitude one would expect to find in the islands of the Andaman Sea.

If you find you want to get away from the average tourist hangouts, Phuket town can offer some interesting shows and live entertainment. It even has some great festivals like vegetarian festival and Chinese New Year's.

Best kept secret Koh Tao, Thailand

2008-05-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

The most famous southern province in the Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani has several world famous islands under its territory; namely Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ang Thong archipelagos, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The last two are best known among intrepid travellers as the best dive site in the gulf of Thailand.

Located around 120 kilometres from the Surat Thani coast, Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan, occupy an area of almost 18 square kilometers. With mountains and rocky cliffs accounting for 70% of its land area, the island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its coast. The island’s half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the beaches are found.

Dotted in and around Koh Tao’s 11 bays and 10 rocky headlands are many, picturesque beaches: some long and sandy like Had Sai Ree, Had Mai Had, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay; others with smaller, rockier beaches.

Acclaimed to be the best dive location in the Gulf of Thailand, tourists tend to make diving their first priority as soon as they arrive on Koh Tao. It’s not surprising therefore that each year Koh Tao’s dive school turns out a number of proficient divers from around the world.

If you are looking for an alternative to diving, you might enjoy exploring the island, and swimming from its many beaches, or kayaking, or climbing hills to check out the vistas from numerous viewpoints. Alternatively, you can take a tour to its nearby islands of Nang Yuan, which is only 15 minute away by local boats.

Getting to Koh Tao

Despite being part of Surat Thani Province, it’s more convenient and faster to go to Koh Tao from Chumphon Province. The island is only one hour ride on a high-speed catamaran from Ao Makham Noi Pier in Chumphon - a speed boat from Koh Samui takes you around 3 hours to get to Koh Tao. Nowadays, more travelers choose Chumphon as their starting-off point.

Beaches on Koh Tao

Western Beaches
Koh Tao’s west coast is the focal point for transportation, the site of the main port of Had Mae Had, and where to find accommodation, restaurants, shops, bars, access to the Internet, and road links to all other parts of the island. This is the jumping-off point to visit all the other beaches on Koh Tao.

West coast beaches are the most popular among visitors, especially Had Sai Ree and Had Mae Had where there is greater activity than on the other, smaller and quieter western beaches; however all are great vantage points from which to watch spectacular sunsets.

There is a choice of different styles of accommodation on the west coat of Koh Tao, ranging from inexpensive cottages to fully furnished lodging houses, along the beachfront and on hillsides.

Mae Had Beach (Had Mae Had)
Situated on the western side of Koh Tao, Had Mae Had is the first point of contact on the island, and Koh Tao’s “front gate”. The beach area is the center of transportation for traveling around the entire island offering taxi-buses, rental cars, speedboats and motor launches for diving, fishing or crossing to the neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan.

As the island’s focal point, Had Mae Had has all the facilities sought by tourists including variously priced accommodation, restaurants, shops, banks, Internet service, pubs, bars, and gas stations.

Although a port, Had Mae Had is still a fair spot for swimming, with its one-kilometer beach of yellowy-red sand. But with much of the area covered in resorts and restaurants, beach space is at a premium. At the southern end of the beach, there is a strange looking pile of rocks from where visitors can walk to Ao Ta Saeng.

This beach is a favorite spot with tourists who stroll around till sunset and then explore the shops and bars and absorb the lively, nighttime atmosphere. There is ample accommodation lined up from the port to the southern end of the beach.

Sai Ree Beach (Had Sai Ree)
Sai Ree Beach or Had Sai Ree is on the west coast, north of Had Mae Had. At two kilometers in length, Had Sai Ree is Koh Tao’s longest beach, separated from Had Mae Had by a rocky escarpment. Its red-brown sandy beach, which enjoys shaded spots from coconut trees and pine trees, is suitable and safe for swimming and sunbathing. Although this long beach attracts more visitors than others, there is no sense of overcrowding.

The hills behind Had Sai Ree contain a number of interesting viewing points. The hills aren’t steep, but visitors should take along a skilful and experienced driver.

Tourists can go by motorcycle or catch a taxi-bus from Had Mae Had to Had Sai Ree, which is about two kilometers away after a left turn to go north, at Had Mae Had junction. Visitors who rent motorcycles should take the beach route to Had Sai Ree to absorb the nature and beautiful scenery.

Yai Nee Cape (Laem Yai Nee)
Located on the northwest coast north of Had Sai Ree, Laem Yai Nee is an excellent location from which to view sunsets because the sun goes down right between the sandbars joining the three islets that make up Koh Nang Yuan. For the most spectacular results, go there between March and April.

On the way to Laem Yai Nee there’s a small beach called Ao Ta Sak where visitors can walk on the beach or take a swim. Nearby Ao Ta Ten does not have a beach and is accessible only by boat.

Chan Som Bay (Ao Chan Som)
Ao Chan Som is on the western side of Koh Tao, south of Had Mae Had. It is a small bay accessible only on foot or by boat. It’s possible to catch a glimpse of many species of wild animals along the path leading to the seaside, at the end of which is a white, sandy beach suitable for swimming and snorkeling. There are also excellent viewpoints looking over the whole bay.

Jutting out into the sea is a raft-house built by the owners of the a cottage resort for guests to relax or sunbathe, with a restaurant and drinks stand on the beach. Non-guests of the cottage are welcome to use this private beach by purchasing a 100-baht coupon for snacks, drinks and a sun bed.

Ma Muang Bay (Ao Ma Muang)
Accessible by motorboat only, Ao Ma Muang is on the north coast of Koh Tao. It is the most popular spot of the north of the island even though it is difficult to reach. The coral reefs at this spot are worthy of attention, so it’s not surprising that boatloads of divers congregate at that beach everyday.

More than just coral reefs, Ao Ma Muang has an excellent sandy beach with long stretches suitable for swimming and sunbathing. Tourists can also get across to Laem Nam Tok (waterfall cape) on the northwestern tip of Koh Tao close to the neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan, to see the stream of water that runs from the hills down to the sea.

Hin Wong Bay (Ao Hin Wong)
The scenic bay on the east of Koh Tao. Ao Hin Wong has a rocky beach with a headland at the southern end protecting a picturesque cove. Tourists are drawn to this beach by the colorful coral reefs, second only to those at Ao Ma Muang. It’s also a place where giant clams are found. The hill to the north of the beach is an excellent viewing point to take in the entire beach and to watch the sun rise in the east.

Most accommodations on this bay are dotted along the hillside, so guests are among wonderful scenery the whole of the time.

Thai culture that you need to know

2008-05-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

If you're planning to come and visit Thailand, it's good to come with the knowledge of what's culturally acceptable or not.

Generally, the Thais are very polite. If you offend them in any way, they won't tell you and but instead say, "Mai pen rai' or it's okay even if they're already offended.

Here's a compilation of the things you can do and must not do during your stay or visit.

1) Show your respect towards the Royal Family.
The Royal Family is very well respected in this country, therefore as much as possible, don't comment anything may it be good or bad about them. Don't ask controversial issues about them from the local people. It'll greatly offend them and neither talk to you about it.

2) Treat the Thai Baht money ( bill and coins) with 'respect' too.
This means, you can't step on the Thai coins with your foot, in case it falls down. The reason? The King's portrait is on the coins as well as the bill, that's why it must be treated with respect. For Filipinos like me, we're used to hand the money, using our right or left hand..but here you'd notice they only give the money using their right hand as they believe that the left hand is for using somewhere else. Their bills here are very clean and no creases, while back home it's not that clean with "wanted penpal/ phone pal' messages all over it and folded 100 times over.

3) It's polite to 'wai' back when people 'wai' at you.
Wyeing is a sign of respect. It's the folding of arms together like in a prayer gesture and bowing the head slightly.

4) Don't touch anyone's head, specially people older than you.
The head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body so, it offends them when you touch their head.

5) Don't point your foot on people.
Like when your sitting with your legs crossed, your foot must not point to a person. Just as they consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body, the feet are considered to be the lowest.

6) Don't go out with your hair wet, this is also considered impolite.

Boat cruise at Ayutthaya, Thailand

2008-05-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Boat trips to enjoy the beautiful scenery and Thai lifestyle along the Chao Phraya River, the Pa Sak River and around the town island of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya are available. A long-tailed boat can be chartered at the pier in front of Chanthara Kasem National Museum, Pom Phet Pier, and Wat Phananchoeng Pier. The fare depends on the route and duration. There are also boat tours provided by:

1. Ruean Raprong Restaurant Providing a river tour around Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Starting from the restaurant, there are 3 routes available: 1. Around the town of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya; 2. To Bang Pa-In Palace, and 3. To Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre. The boats are in service during 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m. daily. Service charge inclusive of food and beverage for a tour around the town of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is 320 Baht/person for a group of 10 – 30 persons and 300 Baht/person for a group of more than 30 persons. A boat of 8 seats may also be chartered at 1,200 Baht exclusive of food and beverage. For more details, please call Tel. 0 3521 1036, 08 1994 1565.

2. Nawa Nakhon Providing old style boats decorated to be harmonious with the ambience of the ancient capital for a one-hour tour around the town of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya via several places of interest such as Phra Tamnak Siriyalai, Wat Chai Watthanaram, and many other temples. The boats have two sizes: the small ones for 8 persons and the large ones for 10 persons. They are available at 800 Baht, during 8.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. Contact Khun Chinnathon at Tel. 08 1928 2887 or Khun Wilai at Tel. 08 1658 9148.

3. Ayutthaya Boat & Travel Providing boat and bicycle tours around the province. There are 4 routes available: 1. Ayutthaya day tour by cycling, traditional Thai massage, cruising tour, and dinner; 2. Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-in tour by cycling, palace tour, long-tailed boat cruise; 3. cycling tour to visit Ayutthaya's highlights and Ban Lat Chado the country small peaceful village, cruising trip, overnight stay at homestay; 4. dinner cruise to discover some magnificent spots of the ancient city on the river banks, observing the timeless day-to-day activities of the people living along the river banks. For more details, please call Tel. 0 2746 1414, 08 1456 9862, 08 9456 3700, 08 1733 5687.

4. Pradit Boat Travel Providing a motor boat tour around the island town of Ayutthaya, starting from Wat Phananchoeng Pier. Tel. 08 6123 1669. There is also dinner on the boat provided by several other restaurants.

Anantara Resort Phuket, Thailand

2008-05-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

Anantara Resort Phuket opens in November at Mai Kao Beach, 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport.

The resort will be Anantara’s flagship property. Each of the 83 Pool Villas will feature traditional a Thai style, a private pool and a terrazzo tub for two. The Anantara Royal Suite offers two bathrooms and an open-air living sala.

Facilities include an infinity-edge swimming pool, three tennis courts with night-playing technology, a fitness centre and health club, and the Kids’ Club. A range of cultural activities and Thai cooking class are available.

More more infor, check put the website

Finding hotel in Bangkok, Thailand

2008-05-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Finding a Thailand hotel is super easy these days. Do a search at google, and you’ll have some pretty good idea of where you want to stay. Plus, you can just go ahead and book for a Bangkok Thailand hotel right online.

If you plan to find a Bangkok hotel, you have tons of choices. Stay at Kaosan road if you’re a backpacker. If you’re not one, then stay close to the skytrain if you love shopping. If you’re into good atmosphere and don’t care much about getting around the city, then stay close to the Chao Phraya river, which is the main river of Bangkok.

If you want to stay at Kaosan road, you don’t even need to book in advance. You can just walk around to see the guesthouse you like, and then just walk in. They always have a vacancy.

If you prefer to stay in the city center in order to get around easily for shopping, (and let me tell you, Bangkok is shoppers’ paradise — Hong Kong isn’t cheap… but Bangkok is) then I suggest you check out Patumwan Princess hotel Bangkok. It’s right in the MBK shopping center (fake jeans, watches and bags) and also right at the Siam Square skytrain station. Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel Bangkok, Le Meridien and the Four Seasons hotel Bangkok are more luxurious. They’re right at the intersection where you can see Zen and Isetan shopping malls right across the street. The Siam Square (where they sell funky clothing) and the Chidlom (Central shopping mall) skytrain stations are within minutes away.

A lot of tourists like to stay at the Asia hotel Bangkok, which is right at a Rajdevi skytrain station (one station away from MBK shopping center). It may be cheap, but it’s kind of old. Well, very old actually. I don’t recommend it. But it’s totally up to you.

If you don’t care much about shopping in Bangkok, then I’d really suggest you stay at the Sukothai hotel Bangkok. It’s a classy and luxurious Thai-styled hotel –but you’ll have to take a taxi if you want to go anywhere. Or even better, stay by the Chao Phraya river if you can. It will give you a different feel of Bangkok, especially at night. It’s rather expensive though, especially if you want to stay at the world-renowned Oriental hotel Bangkok or the Peninsula hotel Bangkok. If these two are too expensive for you, try Shangri-la hotel Bangkok. It may be a little bit cheaper. And don’t forget to book a Bangkok river cruise dinner at your hotel. The Chao Praya river is glamorous at night — with a view of well-lit Wat Arun.

Jet Airways has launched daily direct flights between Mumbai and Bangkok

2008-05-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI: Private air-carrier Jet Airways has launched daily direct flights between Mumbai and Bangkok with effect from Wednesday.

This will be its third service to Bangkok from the country.The air-carrier already operates daily services to Bangkok from Delhi and Kolkata respectively.Its Mumbai-Bangkok flight (9W 62) will depart Mumbai at 0110 hrs and arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport at 0650 hrs.On the return leg, its flight (9W 61) will depart Bangkok at 0840 hrs and arrive in Mumbai at 1145 hrs.

The air-carrier is offering Economy Class return airfares beginning Rs 15,320, exclusive of taxes and Premier fares from Rs 35,115, exclusive of taxes.

Shopping in Phuket, Thailand

2008-04-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

Explored a new shopping mall, Jungceylon, which was the name of Phuket back in 1511AD. Very modern architecture, displaying captivating junks which is their mascot and mall logo. The basement level offers a large array of local souvenirs, food stuff and massage services.

Hit Phuket Square instead. Now THIS is a place for the locals. It would be useful to know a few words in Thai like "how much" or "cheaper" to start bargaining for rock bottom prices for star buys.

Phuket Square was a compendium of hundreds of stalls of sorts, from clothes to shoes to bags to souvenirs. It was a shopper's haven, especially girls. It was a maze of streets, fully air-conditioned, spacious and comfortable. Only disadvantage: They don't speak much English.

Thailand is now top budget travel

2008-04-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Thailand is set to top the budget destination charts this year, with South Africa and Egypt in hot pursuit.

According to research by the Post Office, the cost of trips in the eurozone is increasing having been overtaken by the US which has become the seventh cheapest destination on the list of 16. Helen Warburton, Post Office head of travel claims that holidays "further afield will get excellent value for money".

She explained: "Elsewhere, sterling is up over eight per cent against the rand, making South Africa a good choice for UK tourists, and booming sales of Egyptian and Thai currency indicate that holidaymakers are already opting for trips where their pounds will stretch further.

"Thailand's appearance on the list will no doubt come as music to the ears of many backpacking travelers with whom the destination has become synonymous.

The Asian country held its new year Songkran celebrations earlier this month. The tourist resort of Patong on Phuket even upheld an alcohol sale ban to combat road accidents.

Pai Mae, Thailand - Peacefull

2008-04-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

Pai district is situated about halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Sorn, the misty town on the Burmese border. At about 600 meters above sea level, surrounded by high mountains. Pai offers one of the most fertile and beautiful nature in the North of Thailand, clean air and no pollution. People from many different tribes live here peacefully together and still maintain their traditional way of living.

The serene Pai river runs from the northern border with Burma through Pai town and along virgin jungle to Mae Hong Sorn. Hardy adventurers use this route for exciting rafting.

How to get to Pai?
Start from the main tourist hub: From Chiang Mai on route 1095 towards Pai it is 132 kilometer. The bus from Chiang Mai Arcade bus station takes about 4 hours.
Buses from Chiang Mai to Pai:
7.00, 8.30, 10.30, 12.30, 16.00
Buses from Pai to Chiang Mai:
7.00, 8.30, 11.00, 12.30, 16.30
From Mae Hong Sorn town: Along this route pine trees and wild vegetation line both sides of the gently rising road passing nice scenery along the way. In Mae Hong Sorn are motorbikes and jeep available for rent.
Population of Pai
Mainly Thai Yai (from Burmas Shane state) and hill tribes (Lisu, Lahu, Karen). In town mainly Thai, Thai-Chinese, some Thai-Muslim and some foreign residents.
Occupation in Pai
Agriculture - mainly garlic, rice, fruits, lychee, cotton
Climate in Pai
Cool season: 12? C - 28? C from November - March
Hot season: 24? C - 35? C from April - June
Rainy season: 24? C - 32? C from July - September
Tourist Attractions in Pai and around
Old temples:
* Wat Nam Hu
* Wat Phra That Mae Yen (mountain temple)
* Wat Klang and Wat Luang (temples where Thai Yai / Burmese architecture is preserved)
Wonders of nature:
* Ta Pai hot spring
* Pong Duad hot spring
* Mo Paeng waterfall (near Lahu village)
* Mae Yen waterfall
* Lod caves (these are beautiful and ancient caves on a large area where graves of prehistoric civilization was found. The area is a national park with lots of different birds.

Activities in Pai
* padelling rubber boat along Pai river
* adventure rafting and canoe along Pai river
* explore caves or go mountain trekking
* elephant riding through jungle
* mountain bike cycling or motorbike-trekking (Nop's bike shop offers 2 - 3 - 4 days motorbike trekking with 250 ccm trail bikes around northern part of Mae Hong Sorn province. Guide available or on your own. Also available Honda Dream, good maps and other information.)
* jungle-treks: Pai is well known as a base camp for trekks to hill tribes. Walk through green jungle and spend the night in a hill tribe village to experience their traditional way of life. In Pai there are local or hill tribe guides and porters available.
* Herbal Sauna and Thai Traditional Massage as well as herbal medicine or Burmese Massage
* Reading (Nop's book shop)
* Thai cooking course at Peter's and Wandee's Hut in Mae Yen

Culture in Pai
Both local Thais and hilltribes still keep their traditions alive by their traditional dressing, house style, food and entertainment.
Here are some of the highlight festivals:
* Loy Kratong (full moon night in November)
* fireworks competition at Wat Luang (beginning of November)
* Kin Wo (hill tribes New Year, February)
* Thai New Year (13 - 15 April)
* bamboo throwing festival (to ask for rain, May)

Facilities in Pai
Pai is a small town but can offer enough facilities such as a post office, hospital, long distance call and fax service. Accommodations and food are good and cheap. Most of the guest houses are in town and the scenic most beautiful ones are along the river. Local restaurants and western style restaurants are available (e. g. Chez Swan Restaurant, Thai Yai Restaurant) with home made brown bread.

Ladyboy of Thailand

2008-02-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

There are many kathoy (‘lady boys’) in Thailand. Here is how to determine if that beautiful woman is actually a man:

1. Look for any of the following signs that may indicated the person is actually a male:
- Adam's apple. This is no longer full proof as many now remove their adam's apple surgically.
- Height (anything above 5.8 is a little suspicious).
- Modified facial features - usually men's faces are more angular.
- Too large feet.
- Too big shoulders.

2. Listen to the voice. Ladyboys speak softly to mask their deeper voice, compared to genetical girls.

3. Look at the way she/he walks. Swishy, flirtatious walking is a ladyboy "tell".

4. Check the shape of the wrist. Men's wrists are usually straight. Women's slant inwards toward the hand. Supposedly this is why it is more comfortable for women to wear bracelets.

5. Large bulge halfway between head and foot when facing the person.