Guru-Travel Thailand | Thailand travel blog information hotels accommodation

Sri Nakarin National Park

2009-07-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Sri Nakarin National Park is situated in Amphoe Sai Yok, Amphoe Si Sawat and Amphoe Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi province. Beautiful natural features abound including waterfalls, hot springs, caves and an island studded reservoir. The park was designated in 1981, and has a total area of 1,532 km².

The limestone mountains are covered in evergreen and deciduous forests, the origin of Kwae Yai river. Abundant wildlife includes leopard cat, slow loris, civets, squirrels and bats. Birds found in the park include parakeets, kingfishers, beeaters, orioles and barbets. The north side of the reservoir is an important fishing area for local people.

Tourist attractions

The breathtaking Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall gives nature lovers everything what they need. Close to the park there are also 2 hot springs located.

Admission fee: 400 Baht per person

Death Railway

2009-07-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

The Burma Railway, also known also as the Death Railway, the Thailand-Burma Railway and similar names, is a 415 km (258 mile) railway between Bangkok, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar), built by the Empire of Japan during World War II, to support its forces in the Burma campaign. Forced labour was used in its construction. About 60,000 Asian labourers and 100,000 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) worked on the railway. Of these, around 9,000 Asian labourers and 16,000 Allied POWs died as a direct result of the project. The dead POWs included 6,318 and some British personnel, 2,815 Australians, 2,490 Dutch, about 356 AmericansCanadians.

A railway route between Thailand and Burma had been surveyed at the beginning of the 20th century, by the British government of Burma, but the proposed course of the line — through hilly jungle terrain divided by many rivers — was considered too difficult to complete.

In 1942, Japanese forces invaded Burma from Thailand and conquered it from Britain. To maintain their forces in Burma, the Japanese had to bring supplies and troops to Burma by sea, through the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea. This route was vulnerable to attack by Allied submarines, and a different means of transport was needed. The obvious alternative was a railway. The Japanese started the project in June 1942.

They intended to connect Ban Pong with Thanbyuzayat, through the Three Pagodas Pass. Construction started at the Thai end on 22 June 1942 and in Burma at roughly the same time. Most of the construction materials for the line, including tracks and sleepers, were brought from dismantled branches of the Federated States of Malaya Railways network and from the Netherlands East Indies.

On 17 October 1943, the two sections of the line met about 18 km south of the Three Pagodas Pass at Konkuita (Kaeng Khoi Tha), Sangkhla Buri district, Kanchanaburi Province). Most of the POWs were then transferred to Japan. Those left to maintain the line still suffered from the appalling living conditions as well as Allied air raids.

The most famous portion of the railway is probably Bridge 277 over the Khwae Yai River (Thai แควใหญ่, English "big tributary"). (The river was originally known as the Mae Klong and was renamed Khwae Yai in 1960.) It was immortalized by Pierre Boulle in his book and the film based on it: The Bridge on the River Kwai. However, there are many who say that the movie is utterly unrealistic and does not show what the conditions and treatment of prisoners was really like.[1] The first wooden bridge over the Khwae Noi (Thai แควน้อย, English "small tributary") was finished in February 1943, followed by a concrete and steel bridge in June 1943. The Allies made several attempts to destroy the bridges, but succeeded only in damaging them in their first attempts. On 2 April 1945, AZON bomber crews from the U.S. 458th Heavy Bombardment Group destroyed Bridge 277. After the war, two squarish central sections were made in Japan to repair the bridge, and were donated to Thailand.

Post-war

After the war the railway was in too poor a state to be used for the civil Thai railway system, and needed heavy reconstruction. On 24 June 1949, the first part from Kanchanaburi to Nong Pladuk (Thai หนองปลาดุก) was finished; on 1 April 1952, the next section up to Wang Pho (Wangpo); and finally on 1 July 1958, up to Nam Tok (Thai น้ำตก, English "waterfalls".) The portion of the railway still in use measures about 130 km. Beyond Nam Tok, the line has been abandoned. Steel rails have been removed for reuse in expanding the Bangsue railway yard, reinforcing the BKK-Banphachi double track, rehabilitating the track from Thung Song to Trang, and constructing both the Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi and Ban Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom branch lines. Parts of it have been converted into a walking trail.

Since the 1990s there have been plans to rebuild the complete railway, but these plans have not yet come to fruition.

Khwae Yai River

2009-07-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Khwae Yai River (Thai: แม่น้ำแควใหญ่), also known as the Si Sawat (แม่น้ำศรีสวัสดิ์), is a river in western Thailand. It flows for about 380 kilometres through Sangkhla Buri, Si Sawat, and Mueang Districts of Kanchanaburi Province, where it merges with the Khwae Noi to form the Mae Klong River at Pak Phraek subdistrict.

The famous bridge of the Burma Railway crosses the river at Tha Makham Subdistrict of the Mueang District. The construction of the bridge is depicted in The Bridge over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle and in its film adaptation.

Up until the 1960s, the River was considered part of the Mae Klong itself.

Ko Tao

2009-07-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ko Tao (also often Koh Tao, Thai: เกาะเต่า, lit. "Turtle Island") is an island in Thailand located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 km². Administratively it forms a tambon within the district (Amphoe) Ko Pha Ngan of Surat Thani Province. As of 2006 it's official population number in 1382^[1]. The main settlement is Ban Mae Hat.The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered around tourism, especially scuba diving.Ko Tao was named by its first settlers for the island's turtle-like geographic shape. Coincidentally, the island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. Development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds but a breeding program organised in 2004 by the Royal Thai Navy and KT-DOC, a coalition of local scuba diving centres has reintroduced hundreds of juvenile turtles to the island's ecosystem.

The island is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, and also offers some hiking. The most popular place for tourists is Sairee on the West coast, which has a white sandy beach of 1.7 km interrupted only by a few huge boulders and a scattering of medium budget resorts and restaurants. A multitude of beautiful granite boulders, which nestle both in the forests and on the beaches of Koh Tao, attract a growing number of climbers who visit each year to enjoy the adventurous aspect of there sport. There is a web site for climbers: www.zengecko.com
Ko Tao is less developed than Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20's backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification.
As of December 2005, Ko Tao had about 150 resorts offering accommodation and approximately 50 bars/clubs. Most of the resorts are still bungalow-style, not hotel/resort style. As of 2007 there is a trend to more upmarket resorts which do not concentrate singularly on diving. Free WIFI is provided in increasing numbers and even the first sailing charter company on Ko Tao has opened.
Diving conditions have deteriorated tremendously over time because of large crowds of divers and the uncontrolled environmental development of the island.
Koh Tao is increasingly becoming a mecca for game fishermen on a budget. Species targeted include marlin, sailfish, king mackerel, cobia, baracuda, trevally and snapper.
Koh Tao is also turning its hand to the environmental side of the equation. With a large number of dive schools and an ever increasing number of tourist traffic a few local operators are looking to change the environmental consciousness of locals and travellers alike.

Bhira Interanational Circuit Race Course

2009-07-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

Bhira Interanational Circuit Race Course is an international car and motorcycle race course. It is situated on State Highway 36 (Pattaya-Rayong) about 15 kilometers from Pattaya City. Races take place regularly on Saturdays and Sundays.
Additional information may be obtained by calling (01) 323-0616.

Miniature Racetrack (The Pattaya Cart Speedway) situated on Thepprasit Road, which links Sukhumvit Highway and Pattaya-Na Jomtien Road, approximately 5 kilometers to the South o Patlaya. Separate tracks have been allotted for professional and amateur drivers. Open daily from 10a.rn.-7p.rn Tel: (038) 422044.

Erawan Waterfall

2009-07-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

The largest and most beautiful waterfall in the western region, Erawan Waterfall is on the bank of Kwai Yai River in Khao Salop (Erawan) National Park. It is about 2,000 metres tall divided into 7 levels. The atmosphere in this always-verdant national park is serene, peaceful and rich with innumerable plant and flower species, perfectly conducive to sight-seeing and relaxation.
Erawan Waterfalls are the focal point of the Erawan National Park. This is an exquisite park, very pretty, and very popular with locals and foreigners alike. The waterfalls are equally exquisite. There are seven tiers of waterfalls, each feeding lovely, freshwater pools that you can swim in. A series of tracks lead you to the various falls across wooden footbridges - quite an experience in their own right! The waterfalls can get a bit crowded as they are so popular, so if you are looking for a more solitary experience, you should perhaps look elsewhere. A number of stalls provide staples like grilled chicken and rice along the way, and there is often very much of a carnival atmosphere about the place, especially in April during the Songkran Festival. A visit here will take the day – you should bear this in mind if you have limited time.
There are two entrances to the park. On the west, a road comes from Sai Yok National Park. On the south,highway 323 comes from Kanjanaburi.

Tiger Temple

2009-07-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Tiger Temple, or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, is a Buddhist temple in Western Thailand which keeps numerous animals, among them several tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by visitors.

The Theravada Buddhist temple is located in the Saiyok district of Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, not far from the border with Myanmar, some 38 km north-west of Kanchanaburi along the 323 highway. It was founded in 1994 as a forest temple and sanctuary for numerous wild animals. In 1995 it received the Golden Jubilee Buddha Image, made of 80 kilograms of gold.
According to the abbot and others associated with the temple, in 1999 the temple received the first tiger cub, it had been found by villagers and died soon after. The story goes that several tiger cubs were later given to the temple over time, typically when the mothers had been killed by poachers, others who wanted to get rid of their tiger "pets" or those were under pressure to do so as laws and policies surrounding the keeping of cites protected species became more strict. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs.
The subspecies of these tigers is unknown as none of them have been DNA tested, but it is thought that they are Indochinese Tigers, except Mek (a Bengal Tiger). There is also a possibility that there may be some of the newly discovered Malayan Tigers and it is likely that many are cross breeds or hybrids.
They spend most of the time in cages, being fed with cooked chicken, beef and dry cat food. The meat is boiled to avoid giving the tigers a taste for blood and also to kill the bird flu that may be present in raw fowl. According to the temple website the dry cat food replaces nutrients, such as taurine, that are lost when the meat is cooked.
They are washed and handled by Thai monks, as well as local staff, and international volunteers. Once a day they are walked on leashes to a nearby quarry. Originally they would roam around freely in this area but now, with the increase in visitors and the amount of tigers who sit in the canyon, are chained. The staff closely guide visitors as they greet, sit with, and pet the cats. The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. Nervous tourists may also observe this from about 10 metres away. The temple collects donations for feeding and upkeep, and to fund the building of a larger tiger sanctuary which would allow the animals to live in an almost natural environment all day long.
The Tiger Temple practices a different conservation philosophy than in the west. In western zoos and parks the emphasis is on providing a natural environment for the animals. In the temple, at least until the sanctuary is completed, the animals seem to be treated more as family members. Although it may be possible for the offspring of the current generation to return to the wild, their parents will live out a life within the temple grounds. Their conservation philosophy seems to be working, while projects elsewhere often need to resort to artificial insemination over 10 cubs have been born at the temple in the last three years despite having no breeding program whatsoever.
The temple opens daily for visitors at about 1pm, and the tigers are walked back to their enclosures at around 4pm. Due to the pressing need for income, the temple now charges 300 Baht admission. The most common way of visiting the temple is to go on a tour from nearby Kanchanaburi for 300 Baht per head, or to hire your own Songthaew from the bus station for a group for less than 1000 Baht. Day trips are also available from Bangkok. Prices current as of July 2006 and do not include temple entrance fee. The temple now receives 300 to 600 visitors a day. There are donations boxes in various locations around the temple for those who wish to support the sanctuary. To get photos with the tigers, visitors are asked to give a donation.

Khao Lam National Park

2009-06-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Khao Laem national park covers 1497 square kilometers of fertile forest surrounding Khao Laem reservoir in Sangklaburi and Thong Pha Phum districts of western Kanchanaburi province. Steep limestone mountains run on north-south axis. It is the water source of Kwai Noi and other important rivers. The park consists of mixed deciduous, hill evergreen and dry evergreen forest, which are the wildlife habitats. Animals believed living in the park include bear, tiger, guar, elephant, sambar deer, barking deer, wild pig and many species of birds.

Tourist attractions

Some attractions are the Dai Chong Thong Waterfall and the Kreng Kravia Waterfall with its Kreng Kravia Cave.

Admission fee: free

Huay Mae Khamin Waterfalls

2009-06-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Huay Mae Khamin Waterfalls are located near the Sri Nakharin lakeside about 110 km from Kanchanaburi and 50 km from the Erawan Falls.

You can go there by boat from Ban Tha Kradan or 4-wheel drive.

Admission fee: 400 Baht >> Sri Nakarin National Park
How to go there: own vehicle, boat

Wat Wang Wiwekaram

2009-05-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

This temple is situated on the hill side in Sangkhlaburi. Its pagoda was built in the style similar to Pha Phutta Khaya in India and its temple is housed with huge Buddha image made of marble. The monastery abbot Luang Pho Uttama is highly respected among Thai people, hill tribes and Burmese.

Admission fee: free
How to go there: own vehicle, bus, travel agency

Don-Rak War Cemetery

2009-05-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

This War Cemetery is also known as the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. It is located opposite Kanchanaburi's Railway Station on Saengchootoe Road. It contains the remains of 6,982 Australian, Dutch and British war prisoners who lost their lives during the construction of the Death Railway.

Admission fee: free

Chonk-Kai War Cemetery

The second War Cemetery is about 2 km south of town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River and occupies the former Conk-Kai Prisoner of War Camp. This cemetery is more peaceful, attractively landscaped and contains 1,740 remains (by countries: 1,379 British, 313 Netherlands, 42 Malayan and 6 Indian). It was the site of a base camp, a hospital and a church built by the prisoners themselves. The great majority of 1,740 casualties buried in this war cemetery, which is the original burial ground started by the prisoners, are men who died in the hospital nearby.

Admission fee: free

Chalerm Rattana Kosin National Park

2009-05-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park is with its 59 km² area the smallest park in Kanchanaburi province. Its main features are fertile forests, steep limestone mountains, waterfalls and mysterious caves. The park was designated in February 1980 as Thailand's 17th national park. The forested, limestone mountains of the park are the watershed of Mae Klong river. The highest peak in the park is Kam Paeng Mountain which reaches 1260 meters.

The park is mostly covered by dry evergreen forest, deciduous forest with some areas of bamboo forest. There are many kinds of animal in the park, such as leopard, deer, white-handed gibbons and other monkeys. Over 60 species of bird have been recorded in the park, including Oriental Pied Hornbills, Francolin, Tickell's Blue and Red-Flycatchers and Coppersmith Barbets. A special type of animal is the water dog or also called the barking tree frog, a rare frog with a croak that is remarkably similar to a dog's bark.

Tourist attractions

The two Tham Than Lot Caves are the main attraction of this national park. It is a 2.5 km walk trail which leads from the smaller Tham Than Lot Noi cave to the bigger Tham Than Lot Yai cave on top of the mountain. The trail follows the course of the 3-tired Trai Trueng Waterfalls.

Admission fee: 400 Baht per person

Lawa Cave

2009-05-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

About 50 meters from the riverside of Kwai Noi River and 75 km away from provincial town is the Lawa Cave. It is the biggest cave of this area and the stalactites and stalagmites inside are very nice. Boat trips can be hired from Pak Saeng Pier or go there by road across the bridge at Ban Kaeng Ra Boed. Going there overland is a bit tricky. You have to cross the bridge a little bit southwards and find the dirt road to the cave. Admission fee: free
How to go there: own vehicle, boat

2009-05-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

REJUVENATING TEE-OFF

By: PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT

Published: 7/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Horizons

Millennium Resort, Patong, Phuket

A two-night package priced at 16,265 baht for two persons comes with deluxe accommodation in the Lakeside Wing, buffet breakfast, two rounds of golf at Red Mountain or Loch Palm golf course for one person, two spa treatments for both persons (an hour of rejuvenating massage for women and athlete's massage for men), round-trip transfer between the hotel and airport/golf course, 30 per cent discount on laundry, 25 per cent discount at all F&B outlets (except the Pool Bar), an hour of yoga lessons for women, 25 per cent discount on all massage.

The offer is valid until October 31.

For more information, call 076-601-999 or visit its web site at http://www.millenniumpatong.com

Marriott Resort & Spa, Pattaya

More info : http://www.bangkokpost.com

Hellfire Pass

2008-06-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Konyu Cutting (Hellfire Pass) was once part of the Death Railway during World War II. It is a 73 m long and 25 m high rock cutting done by hand from Australian and British POWs. They started in April 1943 and finished the cutting 3 month later. Another cutting was 450 m long and 8 m depth. The POWs were forced to work up to 18 hours a day. At night the cuttings were lit by carbide lamps, bamboo bonfires and torches filled with diesoline. The eerie light and the shadows of the gaunt POWs playing on the cutting walls suggested the name the site would later be given - Hellfire Pass.
A few machines were available to help but the bulk of the work at Hellfire was carried out by 3.5 kg hammer and tap men, using steel drills and hammers. In July 1943 the cutting was completed. At least 63 men were beaten to death during the construction of the pass and many more died from starvation, dysentery and cholera. More than 70 % of the POWs died while the construction of the Death Railway. Admission fee: free
How to go there: own vehicle, bus, travel agency

Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
The Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum is located some 80 km north-west to Kanchanaburi on Highway 323. It is maintained by the Australian Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the museum is to honor the Allied POWs and Asian conscripts who died while the construction of the Death Railway. It shows impressive how and why POWs worked at the nearby Hellfire Pass during WW II. A 4-5 hours walking trail leads you along the way of the Death Railway. Admission fee: free
How to go there: own vehicle, bus, travel agency

Sai Yok Noi Waterfall

2008-06-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

This waterfall is located about 2 km from Nam Tok Train Station and about 60 km from Kanchanaburi on highway 323 to Sangkhlaburi. Its landscape is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand where once the Death Railway was passing Sai Yok Noi. The locals use that waterfall for having a picknick and a rest.

Best time to visit: during rainy season (July - October)

Admission fee: free
How to go there: own vehicle, bus, travel agency

Sai Yok Yai Waterfall

2008-06-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sai Yok Yai Waterfall is part of Sai Yok National Park. The falls are about 100 km from Kanchanaburi on highway 323. It is famous for its idyllic beauty which was once visited by King Rama V. The falls are widely celebrated in Thai poetry and songs. The falls flows from cliffs into Kwai Noi River. The park entrance is about 38 km north of Sai Yok Noi Falls, but the falls are hidden 3 km off the main road. You can go there by motorbike or bus. Bus travellers should get off at the national park sign, then flag down a passing car or face a long and dusty walk. Motorcycle taxis may be available. Admission fee: 400 Baht >> Sai Yok National Park
How to go there: own vehicle, bus, travel agency

Wat Sala Thong, Nakhon Ratchasima

2008-06-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Wat Sala Thong is in Tambon Hua Thale, about 1 kilometre southeast of the city. This is temple of the Dhamayuti sect. The area around the temple was originally a dense forest where a large sitting stone Buddha image in the Pa Lelai posture was located out in the open. A convocation hall was later built to cover it. The temple has a large pagoda that was built over a smaller one that encased the holy relics of Lord Buddha that were taken from Myanmar’s Chiang Tung.

Bangkok A Cultural and Literary History

2008-06-24T03:01:00.000-07:00

Bangkok stands out as a place of extraordinary allure. Beginning as a floating city in a lush tropical setting, it was known to foreigners as the "Venice of the East". Centuries later, its majestic Grand Palace and glittering Buddhist temples would compete for the horizon with western chimneystacks. Chinese immigration and investment and Indian commerce have also visibly marked the cityscape, where great ethnic diversity is represented in the world-famous Thai cuisine.

The capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, founded and shaped by Chakri monarchs, was altered by nationalistic monuments in new public spaces after the 1932 coup ended absolute rule. Development plans of the 1960s and arriviste money of the 1980s gave rise to a jungle of skyscrapers on its alluvial plain.Serious urban challenges now beset this Asian Tiger that hovers between First World and Third. Fascinating pockets of traditional indigenous life percolate under a surface of modernity, while fragments of intense beauty and sensation abound in the labyrinthine lanes and alleys that replaced canals. Bangkok bears the longest city name in the world: forty-three syllables.Locals have shortened it to Krung Thep which means City of Angels. Maryvelma O’Neil explores their city - rich in art, history, royal ceremony and tradition.

More Information: www.signalbooks.co.uk

Petrified Wood Museum

2008-06-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

Located on Mittraphap – Nong Pling Road, Ban Krok Duean Ha, Mu 7, Tambon Suranari, Amphoe Mueang, it is the first museum of its kind in Thailand and Southeast Asia which has the most diverse and perfect showcase of fossils presenting with multimedia technology. The 32-acre museum comprises the followings:

- Petrified Wood Museum which exhibits gigantic ancient plants which have been aged for 800,000 years – 720 million years old as well as exhibition on ancient beliefs and folk wisdom about the petrified wood. Visitors are allowed to touch some real petrified wood.

- Ancient Elephant Museum which takes visitors through the tunnel that brings ones back to the ancient time during tthe Neolithic around 3,000 years up to 10 million years, the age of the 4- ivory elephants. Visitors can learn the ancient world from VDO presentation on a translucent screen. The skeleton and model of the 4-ivory elephant indigenous to Nakhon Ratchasima and other fossils are on exhibit there.

- Dinosaur Museum which showcases the moving multimedia presentation of fighting dinosaurs on the 360-degree wall screen as well as dinosaur fossils which were excavated in Nakhon Ratchasima such as Iguanodon, Siammotyrannus, etc.

There are also exhibitions on other geological phenomenon of the Northeastern region, the development of natural resources, the evolution of volcano, the impact of the comet that hit the planet which led to the extinction of dinosaurs and ancient elephants.

To get there, take highway 304 (Nakhon Ratchasima – Pak Thong Chai) for 19 kilometres. Turn right at KM 121 and drive another two kilometers, then turn left into Mittraphap – Nong Pling Road for one kilometre.
Remark – The museum is not yet officially open but if interested, the Research Center have staff on duty and free copy of documents every day from 8.30 – 16.30. For more information, call 0 4425 4000 ext 1202.

Surat Thani Province

2008-06-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Surat Thani (often in short Surat, Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี) is the largest of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani me

ans City of Good People, the title given to the city by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI).

Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thamma

rat, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong.

Geographically the center of the province is the coastal plain of the Tapi river, mostly grassland interchanged with rubber tree and coconut plantings. In the west are limestone mountains of the Phuket range mostly covered with forests. The Khao Sok National Park is located in these mountains. To the east the hills of the Nakhon Si Thammarat (or Bantat) mountai n range start to rise, protected in the Tai Rom Yen National Park. Many islands in the Gulf of Thailand belong to the district, including the tourist islands Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao, as well as the Ko Ang Thong marine national park. The main rivers of the Surat Thani province are Tapi River and Phum Duang River, which join at the town Tha Kham shortly before they drain into the Bandon Bay. The delta of these rivers, locallyknown as Nai Bang (ในบาง), is located directly north of the city Surat Thani. It consists of several channels with small islands mos tly covered by mangrove or orchards.Further protected areas in the province are the Khlong Phanom and Kaeng Krung national park, Than Sadet-Ko Pha-Ngan marine national park, the non-hunting areas Khao Tha Phet andNong Thung Thong and the wildlife sanctuaries Khlong Phraya, Khlong Saeng and Khlong Yan. The HatKhanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai, which will contain a few small island south of Ko Samui, is currently in process of creation.

Nation park

Ko Ang Thong marine national park***
Khao Sok national park***
Khlong Phanom national park
Kaeng Krung national park
Than Sadet-Ko Pha-Ngan marine national park
Tai Rom Yen National Park

Transportation

The province is crossed by the southern railway, with the main railway station located at Phunphin about 25 km from downtown. A branch line to the west ends in Khiri Rat Nikhom, originally planned to run till the coast next to the island Phuket, but construction ended in 1956.

Parallel to the railway in north-south direction runs the Asian Highway 2 (Thailand Route 41). The major road in east-west direction is Route 401 connecting Takua Pa with Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Route 44 in southwestern direction from Kanchanadit to Krabi. Route 44 was built as part of the landbridge project connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. Unlike other highways there are no crossing inter sections, the wide space between the two lanes is reserved for pipeline and railway.

Two regional airports are located in the province - Surat Thani International Airport in Phunphin and Samui Airport on Ko Samui. The Surat Thani International Airport is served by three airlines: Thai Airways International Thai AirAsia One-Two-Go Airlines from Don Mueang International Airport The Samui Airport is served by Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Penang

The islands Ko Samui und Ko Phan Ngan are connected with the mainland by ferries, which mostly start at Don Sak, while the ferries to Ko Tao start at Surat Thani or Ko Samui.

Festivals

Festivals .When Buddha return to earth from heaven and was greeted by crowd.Chak Phra annually take place immediately after the end of 3 month rain

retreat about October.It is celebrate in many south but in Surat Thani is the biggest.It is Chak Phra Festivals on land and on the Tapi River.Before Chak Phra Day ,on the night there are build the screen of Buddha's story around the city and celebrate its all day all night.On land,the splendidly adorned floats are pulled across the town by the participants.At the same time,on watera float decorated in colorful Thai design of a float made to carry the Buddha image.Chak Phra Festivals then concludes with and exciting boat race and treaditional game.

Rambutan and Thai Fruits Festivals The rambutan trees were first planted in Su rat Thani in 1926 by the Chinese Malay Mr. K. Vong in Ban Na San. An annual rambutan fair is held in beginning of August. Surat thani's Rambutan is the best in thailand.Festiva l (Southern Treditional) It is held on the full moon of the 10th month in traditional calender (about August). Many people will go to the temple and remember for the ancestor.Friend and relations will come back home and go to temple altogether.Treditional people can made sweetmeat for this festival.

Surat thani Songkran festival, Thai New Year (water festival) @Surat Thani is celebrated every year on 13 April at Bandon bay street and aroun d the town and Ko Samui is celebrated on 13-15 April at chaweng beach lamai beach and around the island street.

Surat Thani Loy Krathong Festival on the Tapi River.It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a raft like this on a river.

Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2008

2008-06-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

Note: Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, Thailand's annual 3 months shopping extravaganza from 1 June until 31 August 2008, offers world-class shopping, a diverse selection of quality products and services, special discounts of up to 70 percent and promotional offers being extended by participating department stores and retail outlets along designated 'Shopping Streets' in Bangkok and the popular tourist destinations of Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Hat Yai.The Shopping Streets provide a convenient opportunity to spot great buys in an exotic range of unique crafts and cottage industry products, including exquisitely hand-crafted decorative items for home and living and fashion accessories, available in the traditional as well as contemporary design.

Besides discount offers, our proud partners, Visa International offer special gift for visitors who shop using their Visa cards for 3,500 baht or more *get free natural soap at shops at Suvarnabhumi Airport and King Power downtown Duty Free Mall.

So, What else would be better than visiting Thailand during this time? Apart from great value shopping; Why not spare yourself some time to enjoy more of Thaialnd's beautiful nature, and explore her culture as well as people's way of life? With a vast array of Royal Orchid Holidays' flexible programme menu to major touris destinations in Thailand, your vacation planning in this special period will never be easier.

* Terms & Conditions may apply.

Thailand International Dog Show 2008

2008-06-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

(26 - 29 June, 2008: Hall 5-6, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center )

Note: Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel. Thailand International Dog Show 2008 will be bigger and better with more exhibitors, more activities and more fun for you, your family and your beloved dogs. This show is a special gathering place where you can find all the goods and services for your dogs in one place. You will also enjoy a host of exciting and entertaining activities, competitions, shows, clinics, seminars and workshops during the show. If you are a dog owner or dog lover, Thailand International Dog Show 2008 is a show that you cannot afford to miss out on. Entrance Fee: 15 Baht for Adult, Kids and Dogs/Pets enter for FREE **Fees will be donated to abandoned dog charities/associations**

3rd Laguna Phuket International Marathon

2008-06-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

(15 June 2008:Laguna Phuket Resort)
The 3rd Laguna Phuket International Marathon will take place on 15 June 2008. After the huge success of the 2007 event with well over 3,000 participants, organizers expect more than 4,500 participants including 2,000 international runners from more than 45 countries.
Races:Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 Km Fun Run, 5 Km Walk, 2 Km Kids Run

Location:Phuket, Thailand

Start & Finish:Laguna Phuket Resort

Time Limits:Marathon 7 Hours
Half Marathon 4 Hours
10 Km Fun Run 2 1/2 Hours
5 Km Walk 2 hours

Course:The marathon course is an out and back course with a loop for the last 7 km. The course is flat for the first 11 km with some rolling hills between Km 11 and Km 15 and again between Km 23 and Km 28 and Km 35 and Km 37. The half marathon follows the marathon course and turns at Km 9 of the marathon course. It then follows the marathon course back to the finish line. The course is flat except for some rolling hills between KM 14 and 16. The 10.5 Km Run and 5 Km Walk are flat loop courses looping around Laguna Phuket. See the course map here.

Awards:There will be trophies for the top three of every age group and for overall winners.

Medals: Every finisher will receive a commemorative medal.

Registrations:For race only registrations.

Online registration will open on 1 October 2007 and close on 2 June 2008. Early bird entry fees will apply until 31 March 2008. Accommodation packages will also be available for booking. For more information, visit Phuket Marathon 2008

Khao Kalok

2008-05-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Some 40km south of Hua Hin is the peaceful bay of Khao Kalok. To reach this beach, you need to follow the main highway south to Pranburi, turn left to Pak Nam Pran and take the second major turn on the right. Follow this road for around 10km and take another right at the T-junction and follow the signs. A taxi should know the way and it'll take you approximately 40 mins to get there. The return price for a taxi should be in the region of 500-600 baht.

Once you arrive, you'll find numerous restaurants set on the beach road overlooking the beach itself. Pick the one that takes your fancy and relax for a few hours getting cooled by sea breezes over some delicious food and drinks. You will find prices here considerably less expensive than Hua Hin and the locals are friendly and always happy to see new faces.

Again, Khao Kalok can get busy at weekends, so bear this in mind. During the week, you can almost have the place to yourselves. Khao Kalok means "skull mountain" in English and the bay is long and wide. There is an interestingly formed cave on the south side with a hole through its middle. Swimming is reasonble at high tide and quad bikes are available for hire to explore the beach further. Alternatively, of course, you can just relax in the restaurant or on the beach. Khao Kalok makes for a good away-day from Hua Hin.

Bangsaen Beach

2008-05-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Bangsaen Beach is a famous beach that has enjoyed lasting popularity. Approximately 13 kilometers from the city of Chon Buri, it branches off to the right-hand side from Sukhumvit Highway, at kilometers 104, for a distance of 3 kilometers. Stretching along the beachfront, is a 2.5 kilometer Road.
Along the beach, one finds vendors offering drinks and seafood snacks such as squid, mussels and spicy steamed-fish-cakes for sale. One can rent deck chairs and rubber rings for swimming. Fresh water bathing facilities are also available. The many restaurants that line the beach have recently been improved to become more neat and orderly.

Bang Saen is ideal for visitors with limited time who wish to relax with their family and friends. It also offers several hotels and bungalows for overnight lodging.

Khao Takiab

2008-05-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

This fast developing town is situated only some 7 kms from Hua Hin and is quickly becoming a fully self-contained holiday destination with amenities ranging from accommodation, beaches, activities, restaurants and bars.It would not have been that many years ago that the town was little visited, but now it can support package tours and independent travellers for any length of time. Things have changed and the town is certainly worth a visit for a day, or even longer.Meaning literally "chopstick hill" Khao Takiab is dominated by a 272 m high headland that juts out into the sea. It is clearly visible at the southern end of Hua Hin beach. If you approach the hill this way, you are rewarded with the sight of a 20m tall Lord Buddha statue and there are other religious figures, both Thai and Chinese, at the summit, together with a statue of King Rama V. The hill is also know as "Monkey Mountain" due to large numbers of monkeys (macaques) that are resident there. Whilst not really fierce, care should be taken when they are around as they have a habit of grabbing and making off with anything that takes their fancy, especially handbags and cameras. It is probably better not to feed them as the larger males can sometimes become aggressive if the bananas have run out.
There are two good beaches either side of "chopstick hill" and both are less busy than Hua Hin's, offering quiet places to relax and enjoy good food from the many nearby beach restaurants. Note: the area can get busy at weekends and public holidays with visiting Thais and important Buddhist holidays are generally marked by hundreds of devotees flocking to the temples to give offerings to the monks and thereby making merit.

Accommodation is springing up all over town and you can now find a full range, from 5 star resorts and spas to mid range hotels and guesthouses. (See Khao Takiab accommodation for further options).

railway station

2008-05-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hua Hin train station
Hua Hin's popularity began to increase in the 1920's as the railway line from Bangkok was constructed and King Rama VI built Klai Kangwon Palace as a summer retreat.Hua Hin's station is one of the oldest in Thailand and its main feature is The Royal Waiting Room that used to welcome King and his court when they were visiting the town.Originally, it was situated at Sanamchan Palace in Nakom Pathom and was known as Plub Pla Sanamchan. Eventually, the room was tranported to Hua Hin.It is designed in the same style as Maruekkhathayawan Palace and is an attraction not to be missed if you are staying in Hua Hin.

The train station is located at the top (west end) of Damnoern Kasem Road.

Khao Tao

2008-05-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Khao Tao is a charming village best known for a wonderful secluded beach, which is seperately named Hat Sai Noi. Do not confuse it with the diving island of Koh Tao which is some way south of Hua Hin and off Chumphon.
You will find this idyllic location some 20 km south of Hua Hin, not too far off the main highway to Pranburi. Simply follow the signs to Khao Tao and then Sai Noi beach. The road goes around a reservoir and is easy to find. Although small - probably no more than 1km long - the beach is generally quiet, except on weekends and public holidays. There are a number of beach restaurants that serve up delicious local food, seafood and drinks and they all have sun loungers and umbrellas. As opposed to Hua Hin and Khao Takiab beaches, Had Sai Noi drops-off quickly, making it ideal for swimming. You will have to keep a close watch on any children though.

Had Sai Noi development 2007
We are sad to hear the news that Had Sai Noi will soon be lost to a housing development called Turtle Hill. The housing estate is right up on the beach so this quiet bay will be subject to building noise for many months before the properties are complete. Then it will simply become another walled village with its associated environmental impacts, we suggest getting down to Had Sai Noi as soon as possible to enjoy it while it lasts.
During 2008, the above development was halted and so this pristine beach remains unspoilt, but for how long remains an open question.

Khao Tao temple

Whilst here, it is worth seeing the large temple complex in Khao Tao. Contained within it are several caves with a multitude of Buddha statues and shrines. There are also a couple of impressive look-out points, a fishing village and freshwater lake.
It's possible to get there by motorcycle, but it'll be far safer to book a taxi. A round trip should cost about 400 baht and it's perfectly acceptable to tell the driver to come back to collect you at a predetermined time (rather then have him wait) and pay upon your return to Hua Hin. Khao Tao and Sai Noi beach make for a great day away from Hua Hin, but try to go during the week.

Blooming Krachiao Flower Festival

2008-05-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

(June 1 - July 31, 2008:The Siam Tulip Festival of Chaiyaphum, Pa Hin Ngam National Park)

Note: Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

The Siam Tulip Festival of Chaiyaphum
The unique geographical landscape of Chaiyaphum Province in the northeast of Thailand gives rise to a range of natural attractions of exceptional beauty. Of these, the fields of pinkish-purple Siam Tulip, or "Dok Krachiao", come in to full bloom in the early part of the rainy season from June to August.
Also commonly called 'patumma', 'bua sawan' (heaven lotus), or 'bua bok' (the land lotus), the Siam Tulip is a member of the ginger genera - Curcuma or Zingiberaceae.
The unusual form, bright colour and long-lasting quality of the Siam Tulip has made it an increasingly popular choice for floral decorations. It is in high demand and is currently being cultivated in the form of cuttings or ornamental plants for local consumption as well as for export overseas, predominantly to Japan and the Netherlands.

The Pa Hin Ngam Rock Garden
The extraordinary 'rock-garden' of Pa Hin Ngam (forests of beautiful rock), located within a forested area in the Amphoe Thep Sathit sub-district is another place of interest.
Pa Hin Ngam consists of 10 sq. kilometres of impressive natural sandstone sculpture. Weathered by sun, wind and rain over thousands of years, the sandstone is worn into curious shapes, the names of which refect its form such as Nail Rock, Castle Rock, Elephant Rock and even Laser Rock.
In addition to this unusual rock formation, Chaiyaphum Province also has its share of spectacular waterfalls such as the Tat Ton and Pha Eang Waterfalls and the Tum Kaew Caves, and other breathtaking sights and vantage points.

Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival

2008-05-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

(6 - 11 May 2008 :Yasothon Municipal Office and Yasothon Provincial Office)

Note: Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

The sprightly "Bun Bang Fai" Rocket Festival, the most celebrated of Isan's merit-making rituals, has been strictly observed by the residents of Isan for generations. It is essentially an annual ritual to ensure that the seasonal rains fall at the appropriate time in the planting cycle. In this process, Buddhist merit-making traditions are also observed and reinforced. The festival which is held over a period of three days strengthens community spirit. The first day known as "Wan Sook Dib" features lively processions as rocket teams transport the rockets in a procession and perform a ritual to pay homage to Chao Pu, the spirit of the city pillar. Each is escorted by a colourful dance troupe. The second day is the rocket procession day. Modern-day rockets are mounted on vehicles or traditional carts to be drawn in the parade. The "Bang Fai" rockets come in different sizes. For example, the Bang Fai Kilo is packed with one kilogram of nitrate, while the Bang Fai Meun - 12 kilograms, and the Bang Fai Saen - 120 kilograms of nitrate. The rocket-making technicians play a vital role in deciding the right amount of nitrate to be mixed with the charcoal. With the wrong formula, a rocket could blow up prematurely before it is launched high into the sky. The rocket cylinders are usually made from the bottom half of the bamboo.

It is also a day for the ordination of novices with festive celebrations follows merit-making rituals. Dance, music, song and revelry are integral elements of the processions as the parade of beautifully decorated rockets wind their way through the village on their way to the temple offering an opportunity for the residents and visitors to admire the impressive works of art.

The rockets are finally launched on the third day in which various rocket contests are held. With the launch of the rockets, predictions are made with regard to the fortunes of the coming harvest. The Rocket Festival in Yasothon Province is spectacular and provides a tremendous opportunity to experience Isan-style festive fun.

The Rocket Festival stems from the belief that when this merit-making ceremony is held, gods and spirits will reciprocate with seasonal rain and a bountiful harvest.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony

2008-05-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

(May 11, 2008:Sanam Luang, Bangkok)

Note: Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient Brahminical rite dating back to the Sukhothai period (1257 - 1350 A.D.) The ceremony, which heralds the start of the new rice-growing season, was undertaken to assure a successful planting season and an abundance of the nation's crops. Festivities were held to boost the farmers' morale urging them to strive for an abundant harvest for consumption and to ensure sufficient reserves for times of war and for export overseas.The practice faded out towards the end of the reign of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) but was later revived by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1960 (B.E. 2503). Since then, it has been observed annually.

Today, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony consists of two ceremonies - a Cultivating Ceremony known as "Phraraj Pithi Peuj Mongkol" and the Ploughing Ceremony, "Phraraj Pithi Jarod Phranangkal Raek Na Kwan". Both royal ceremonies are state events with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives assuming the role of the Lord of the Harvest or Phraya Raek Na, while four single female officials of the Ministry holding positions of second rank and above in the civil service undertake the role of the Celestial Maidens or Nang Thepi, assistants to the Lord of the Harvest.

The Cultivating Ceremony is a Buddhist ritual performed one day before the Ploughing Ceremony. Paddy and the seeds of forty other crops and ceremonial items to be used in the Ploughing Ceremony are blessed. His Majesty the King (or a representative) presides over the religious rites which are performed in the Royal Chapel of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha within the compounds of the Grand Palace. With lustral water poured over his hands and his forehead anointed by His Majesty the King, the Lord of the Harvest receives the royal blessing. The four Celestial Maidens also receive similar blessing. The Lord of the Harvest then receives the ceremonial ring and sword to be used in the Ploughing Ceremony from His Majesty the King.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony which is held the next morning at Sanam Luang - The Royal Ground - begins with the Lord of the Harvest performing a rite to predict the amount of rainfall in the coming season. This is done by selecting one of three pieces of cloth of varying lengths. At the auspicious time following the arrival of His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family, the Lord of the Harvest begins to plough the field and sows the rice seeds from the baskets carried by the Celestial Maidens. At the end of the ploughing ceremony, the ceremonial bulls are led to troughs, each containing one of seven different offerings of food or drink namely, paddy, green beans, maize, hay, sesame seed, water and liquor. Predictions regarding the success of the harvest and the abundance of particular crops in the coming season are determined by the items selected by the bulls. Then as the barricades are removed, hundreds rush into the field hoping to gather a few sacred rice grains scattered by the Lord of Harvest. These are either mixed with the farmer's own rice stock to ensure a good crop in the coming year, or simply kept as a token of good luck.

Thai Fruit Festival

2008-05-20T00:54:00.000-07:00

Since May is the season of fruit harvesting in Thailand and the month of a long school vacation, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, thus, initiates a travel campaign to agricultural areas so as to promote the agricultural products nationwide

Koh Singto

2008-05-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

This small island is situated just off the coast of Khao Takiab and its name literally means "Lion Island" as the shape resembles a crouching lion.

It's a worthwhile spot to visit and boat trips out to it can be arranged in the fishing village of Khao Takiab. The island has decent rock formations and is good for underwater exploration, particularly while snorkelling. Fishing and sailing can also be enjoyed around the island.

Some operators will organise day trips to Koh Singto, Koh Tao and Koh Nok, then heading for the beach at Haad Sai Noi. Fishing tackle, bait, deckchairs and umbrellas for the beach, a picnic lunch, soft drinks and transfers to your hotel, if necessary, are included in the price. The duration of the trip is approximately 5 hours.

Singto Island day trip

We can now offer a day trip to Singto Island

Trip itinery as follows:

Time	Activity
10.00	Depart from Takiab beach for Singto Island.
10.35 - 13.30	Relax in the sun, explore the island, swim and go snorkelling and free diving.
13.30 - 14.30	Boat trip around Lion Island taking in the views of nearby islands Koh Tao and Koh Nok. Head to Haad Sai Noi beach in Khao Tao.
15.00	Return to Takiab beach.
PRICE	850 baht per person

Talu Island

2008-05-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

This privately owned island sits a 30 min boat ride away off the coast of the increasingly popular town of Bangsaphan which is a 2-3 hour journey by car, bus or train, south of Hua Hin.
Half-day trips to the island can be arranged from a local ticket office and the price is 300 Baht per person.
Excursions depart Bangsaphan at 9.00am and return at 1.00pm. Try to avoid weekends when things can get really busy. Alternatively, you can charter your own boat and 2,000 Baht should be enough for you to find your own "private location".
You can also book trips to Koh Talu direct from Hua Hin however there is around 3 hours travelling each way invloved.
Inland, tropical evergreen rainforest covers the island and trekking is possible. Other activities include kayaking and sailing but most of these are arranged by the sole resort on the island.

Koh Talu scuba diving and snorkelling

Koh Talu has lovely palm fringed beaches and a shallow reef that is ideal for snorkelling.
Fish life is thriving and you'll see parrotfish, wrasse, seargent major fish and a good variety of hard coral.
It is the closest place to Hua Hin that you can go scuba diving, depths are around 14 meters max and visibility ranges from 5 to 15 meters. It is ideal for beginners as currents are slight and there is some good coral formations a little deeper and surrounding the smaller islands off Koh Talu.

Kaeng Krachan National Park

2008-05-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Kaeng Krachan was established as a National Park in 1981 and is the largest in Thailand, covering an area of 2,915 sq kms. Located about 1.5 hrs northwest of Hua Hin, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty that is well worth visiting during your stay.
It straddles the two provinces of Petchaburi and Prachuab Kirikhan and is one of the most important areas in Thailand for flora and fauna. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has always taken a keen interest in Kaeng Krachan and this has helped conservation in the area enormously.
Contained within its borders are numerous caves, a reservoir, waterfalls, mountains and stunning scenery. It is covered throughout with evergreen forest that supports many important plants and animals - including wild elephants.
Mountains rise to a height of 1,200 meters and are mostly granite, although some are limestone. Importantly, the park is the source of The Petchaburi and Pranburi rivers. In the rainy season from August to October, some areas are closed to visitors for their saftey and to allow the forest to recover.
Kaeng Krachan is found on the eastern slopes of the Tenasserim mountains on the border with Burma (Myanmar). About half of the watershed here flows into the Petchaburi river which goes on to Kaeng Krachan dam and then to the provincial capital of Petchaburi. The other half flows to Pranburi dam and onto Pranburi town. Getting around the park can be difficult as the terrain is very mountainous and rugged. There are only two roads through it, one that leads eventually to Pala-U waterfall and the other that starts some 20 kms from the headquarters and extends 35 kms westward into the heart of the park.
Humidity is always high and it can get cool from November to March with heavy rain at other times of the year, the wettest month being October. Temperatures range from 10-40 degrees celcius (probably even cooler on the tops of some mountains).
Because of its location on at the juncture of continental Asia and peninsular Malaysia, Kaeng Krachan's forest is particularly diverse with large numbers of continental trees including oaks, maples and chestnuts as well as peninsular palms and fruiting trees. In addition to these, you will see many types of hanging lianas, orchids and aerial ferns.
Over 400 spieces of bird and 57 mammals have been recorded within Kaeng Krachan's borders. Of the larger mammals, there are chances to see elephant, guar, sambar, banteng, serow, bear, tiger, leopard, barking deer, tapir, gibbon, langur, wild dog, wild pig and otters. Importants bird life includes hornbill, red junglefowl, peacock-pheasants, stork, black eagles, songbirds and woodpeckers.
Visitors to Kaeng Krachan can choose to relax at headquarters or take a boat trip on the reservoir. For the more adventurous, permission can be obtained to trek for a few days up the Khao Panoen Thung road. Permits must be obtained at headquarters for this and guides will be necessary for any treking off the road. Note also that treking will not be possible during the rainy season when the trails are slippery and dangerous and the road may be impassable. Several bungalows are available for rent and there are camping sites, a restaurant and grocery shops available as well.Overall, Kaeng Krachan is one of the most important ecological areas in Thailand and a visit here is a must, both for those who want some exciting treking and others who want a more relaxing time.

National Park fees

These fees were yet again amended on December 1st 2007. There are now four categories of National Park. The first and most expensive will cost a foreign adult THB 400 and a foreign child 200, whereas a Thai adult gains entry for THB 80 and a Thai child 40. These parks are mainly found in southern Thailand around Phuket and the north.
Category 2 will cost THB 200/100/40/20 repectively.
Category 3 will cost THB 100/50/20/10 respectively.
Category 4 are free for all.
In the past, foreigners holding Permanent Residency, a Work Permit, a Thai driving licence or on foreign exchange student status were able to gain entry at Thai prices. If you have one of the above, it will be worth while discussing it with the rangers.
If you visit more than one National Park in a day, there is no additional charge unless any are more expensive than the first, in which case you will pay the difference..

Kaeng Krachan National Park & boat tour

For this trip we will be using a safari car, leaving Hua Hin early morning. We cross the open country side, passing plenty of Thai farms along the way including pineapple plantations, mango, and papaya before entering the Kaeng Krachan reservoir. The reservoir covers an area of 46.5 sq km and has a capacity of 710 million cubic meters. It was built using soil, which stopped the flow of the Petchburi River. The lake has many islands, the largest of which is approximately 75 sq km.
We enter the jungle by a road, which was built in 1988 especially for tourists convenience. This road runs through primary forest and offers spectacular mountain
views and wildlife, rugged mountain ranges covered in deep green forest all year round. Along the road we observe primates, birds and other wildlife, as well as stunning scenery. Lunch is at Ban Krang station and then a trek along the jungle track, back to Kaeng Krachan reservoir the afternoon is spent sailing on the lake and enjoying the fantastic views.
Includes: Entrance fees, English speaking guide, transport, lunch, accident insurance, drinking water along the way.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

2008-05-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

On 28th June 1996, Khao Sam Roi Yot was established as the first coastal National Park in Thailand. Literally meaning "the mountain with 300 peaks", it is only a 45 minute drive south of Hua Hin and east of Pranburi.

The whole area is of prime ecological importance for Thailand. Limestone mountains rise up to 605 meters from the coastal marshes making it a topographical wonder.

Bird-life is vibrant and there have been over 300 species recorded, many of which migrate from China, Siberia and Northern Europe. The best times to see them is between November and May as they firstly fly southwards and then back north as the park is on the main Asian-Australian flyway of birds. If you are a keen ornithologist, Khao Sam Roi Yot is one of the best places to be at the above times of year. Even for those with no particular "bird-watching enthusiasm", the park will delight you with these natural migratory patterns.

But that's not all that is offered by Khao Sam Roi Yot. The forested sections support a wide variety of wild life and a trek through them can reward you with sightings of Serow and blackish goat antelope, dusky or spectacled langur, crab-eating or long tailed macaque, barking deer, porcupine and a whole host of others.

You can make your way up to caves of spectacular sizes through forest trails, rest on fine white sandy beaches, take boat excusions to outlying islands, enjoy the food that is on offer throughout the park and maybe, just maybe you might be lucky enough to see the pods of dolphins that inhabit the bay.

If you are interested in nature and want a relaxing day, or more, away from Hua Hin, Khao Sam Roi Yot will not disappoint you.

National Park fees

Pala-U waterfall

2008-05-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

This cascade is found on the south side of Kaeng Krachan National Park, some 60kms west of Hua Hin. The park is one of the largest in Thailand and sits right next to the Burmese (Myanmar) border.
It is a beautiful spot to visit. You will pass through stunning countryside and hills on your drive there that will only take 1.5 hours or so.

The waterfall has 16 steps, making it one of the highest in Thailand and those who make it to the top will be rewarded by superb views over Thailand and towards Burma. It should be noted, however, that progressing further than the third stage will be arduous and should only be attempted by those fit enough to do so.

The third stage itself has a large, deep pool and most visitors will be happy to spend their time here. The water is always cool and refreshing and there are plenty of large fish swimming in it that are friendly, but please don't try to catch them - you are in a National Park and this is forbidden.

The surrounding forest is over 1,000 years old and there is a good chance of seeing wildlife, particularly gibbons (which will certainly be heard, if not seen) and many rare species of bird-life.

The falls can be visited at any time of the year, but will be in their prime during and just after the rainy season, between July-November. At all times of year, it is wise to be careful of slippery stones, although the path to the third level is well taken care of and relatively safe. Higher up can get dangerous.

National Park fees

These fees were yet again amended on December 1st 2007. There are now four categories of National Park. The first and most expensive will cost a foreign adult THB 400 and a foreign child 200, whereas a Thai adult gains entry for THB 80 and a Thai child 40. These parks are mainly found in southern Thailand around Phuket and the north.

Category 2 will cost THB 200/100/40/20 repectively.
Category 3 will cost THB 100/50/20/10 respectively.
Category 4 are free for all.
In the past, foreigners holding Permanent Residency, a Work Permit, a Thai driving licence or on foreign exchange student status were able to gain entry at Thai prices. If you have one of the above, it will be worth while discussing it with the rangers.
If you visit more than one National Park in a day, there is no additional charge unless any are more expensive than the first, in which case you will pay the difference.

Pala-U trip

We can offer a tour to the waterfall, details as follows:

Our trip starts in the morning, we drive west through pineapple plantations towards the mountains, near the Burmese border. We continue with a trek through unspoiled rainforest to Pala-U waterfall where we

trek up to the 3rd level, there is a natural pool with filled with fish, you will experience the

beautiful waterfall and jungle surroundings where wild monkeys and birds can be heard and often spotted.

The trip includes a visit to a nearby village called "Kareng" which was settled in around 200 years ago by people of Burmese origin. Today the villagers continue a lifestyle immersed in ancient tradition, they also have their own language.
Includes: Entrance fees, English speaking guide, transport, lunch,soft drinks, accident
insurance.

Hua Hin trips and tours

2008-05-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

As has been explained in other sections, Hua Hin contains almost everything you will need during your stay - accommodation, great food, entertainment, beaches and sporting activities. This can mean that it is easy to come here for a few weeks and never venture outside of the town's limits.

However, this would be a shame as there are plenty of attractions around the area that you should try to see whilst here. Most are only an hour or so's drive from Hua Hin and they will give you the chance to explore the local terrain and experience more of a rustic lifestyle than you will find within Hua Hin itself.

Other places worth visiting are slightly further afield, but still only up to a three or four hour drive away from Hua Hin and some of you may want to combine a night in these locations to get a real feel for them. We give further details later on in another section for those who want to explore a bit more.

Most major hotels will offer day trips to these attractions and they can be good value. However, it is easy to arrange your own transport and bearing in mind the fact that you can stop off wherever you want and tailor a trip to suit yourself, these tours offer a good alternative to the "package-style" luxury busses. However you decide to explore the neighbouring areas, you're sure to find that taking a couple of day trips or tours will add to the overall enjoyment of your visit to Thailand and Hua Hin.

Seeing at Hua Hin

2008-05-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Khao Takiab is one of the highest area in Hua Hin, by going up this mountain by driving you will see the whole Hua Hin and also nice beach. This is another good place to wait for the sunset as well. Also the food on Khao Takiab is very delicious too.

Beaches - there is only one beach, which runs from one side of Hua Hin to the other. Basically it's one long beach. At the south end of town, Khao Takiab interrupts the beach. On the other side (technically not Hua Hin anymore) is a lovely swimming beach with a view of Khao Takiab's South face. Just a little further on, Suan Son beach is owned by the thai army, but open to the public. Notable for the tropical sea pines lining the shore. A little south of the Marriott, watch for tiny sand crabs digging industriously, leaving odd patterns of tiny sand clods around their beachfront property.

Parts of the beach closer to the town may have greenish water, in this case continue walking down the beach where the water appears cleaner. There is ample supply of deck chairs along the beach, however many places will charge for their hire (100 baht is common). Deck chairs that are part of a beachside cafe may be free (in the assumption you will buy food or drink).

Hua Hin

2008-05-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hua Hin (Thai หัวหิน) is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts (Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Hua Hin Town (เทศบาลเมืองหัวหิน) is on the coast of Hua Hin District. With an area around 86.36 km², the town has 50,169 inhabitants. It is a popular beach resort getaway for Bangkok residents. The Railway H otel, now more generally known as The Sofitel Hotel, is a famous old building which was used as The Hotel Pnom Phen in the film "The Killing Fields".

Hua Hin, Cha-Am and Pranburi are located only a short distance from Bangkok, and are ideal locations for a short respite from the rigours of the Thai capital or even a full-fledged holiday in the tropical sun. It’s been a fashionable weekend retreat for Royalty and high society since the 1920s, and the same appeal it had back then is still evident today.

Beaches, water sports, historical sites, golf courses, shopping opportunities and much more await visitors to this trio of tropical resorts. Less hectic and more laid-back than Pattaya, they are ideal for families and travellers who want to take life easy while enjoying a never-to-be forgotten holiday in the tropics. Its scenery is inspiring, dining experiences will delight your taste buds, and the hospitality of locals will charm you…

The Beach

Well-known for its spectacular sunrises, Hua Hin’s main beach is a 4km white, sandy strip that fringe the Gulf of Thailand, and stretches from the town centre to Khao Takiap. As a result it is never over-crowded, and lots of family-friendly activities are on offer – the likes of pony rides, banana boat rides, or rent deckchairs and umbrellas for a few lazy hours of sun-worshipping in between testing the water with your big toe. The town’s name – meaning ‘stone head’ – is derived from the rock formations that can be seen towards the end of the main beach. Other than that it is a sandy beach with a sandy sea bed, making it ideal for swimming.

One of the most popular pastimes on the beach is to take a long stroll – or even a jog, if you’re so inclined – along the seashore. Further south, behind Khao Takiap, lies Suan Son Beach, named after the many pine trees found along the beach. It’s even more isolated than Hua Hin Beach, mostly frequented by guests staying at nearby hotels and some locals. The main emphasis at Hua Hin’s beaches is on rest and relaxation, and they do not have the crowds often found on Thailand’s popular beaches. Water-skiing, jet ski, windsurfing and parasailing are other popular beach activities, but in no way disrupt the overall peace and tranquility of these beaches. And since you’re in Thailand, chances are good that you’ll find an ‘al fresco’ massage shop somewhere on a beach.

Visakha Buddha Bucha Festival

2008-05-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Visakha Buddha Bucha Festival

Duration 15 – 19 May 2008
VENUE Sanam Luang, Phranakhon District, Bangkok

ACTIVITIES
Decorated processions on Visakha Bucha Day of government and private working units and exhibition about Visakha Bucha Day, contest of flower bush Trays, Contest of Soraphanya Reciting

For more information, please contact
Bangkok Tourism Division Tel. 0 2225 7612-4

Credit:www.tourismthailand.org

World’s Durian Festival

2008-05-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Duration May – June 2008

VENUE
Mueang District, Chanthaburi

ACTIVITIES
Decorations of fruits trays of government and private sectors, Trade Fair of Housewives, Local OTOP Food Fair, Fruit Decoration Caravan, Fruit and Processed Products Contest, Good Quality Jewelry/Accessories Fair
For more information, please contact

Office of Administration, Chanthaburi Tel. 0 3931 1001
TAT Central Part Office: Region 4 (Rayong) Tel. 0 3865 5420-1

credit : www.Tourismthailand.org

Krabi

2008-05-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

Krabi is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the shore of the Andaman Sea. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga, Surat Thani (Koh Samui) , Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang. The Phuket province to the west is also neighboring, but without any land boundary.

The province is located at the shore to the Andaman Sea. Most notable are the solitary limestone hills, both on the land and in the sea as islands. Rock climbers from all over the world travel to Railay Beach to climb. Of about 130 islands belonging to the province, Koh Phi Phi Ley is perhaps the most famous, as it was the set of the movie The Beach. Other islands include: Koh Phi Phi Don, part of the Phi Phi Islands.

Phuket

2008-05-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket, Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South's wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.

Shopping

2008-05-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Thailand is a shopper's paradise and many visitors to Bangkok in particular end up spending much of their time in the countless markets and malls. Particularly good buys are clothing, both cheap locally produced streetwear and fancy Thai silk, and all sorts of handicraf

ts. Electronics and computer gear are also widely available, but prices are slightly higher than in Singapore, Hong Kong andKuala Lumpur.

A Thai speciality are the night markets found in almost every town, the largest

and best-known of which include Suan Lum Night Bazaar inBangkok and the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. Here a variety of vendors from designers to handicraft sellers have stalls selling goods which cannot normally be found in malls and day markets. Most night markets also have large open air food courts attached.
You can also find marvelously tacky modern clothing accessories. Witness pink sandals with clear plastic platform heels filled with fake flowers. Night markets along the main roads and Bangkok's Mahboonkrong (MBK) Mall, near the Siam skytrain stop, are particularly good sources.

Haggling is the norm and Thais will try to charge you as much as they think you can afford to pay. It's not uncommon to buy something, walk outside, and find somebody who bought the same item for half or one third what you paid (or even less). Try to figure out the item's rough value first — government-run fixed price shops and even hotel gift shops are a good starting point — and you'll find that prices drop drastically when the seller realizes you have some idea of what it costs.

Way to Thailand

2008-05-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

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

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

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

By plane

Bangkok is one of Asia's largest hubs; practically every airline that flies to Asia also flies to Bangkok, meaning competition is stiff and prices are low.
There are also international flights directly to/from Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Ko Samui, Phuket, and Pattaya.

The national carrier is the well-regarded THAI Airways, with Bangkok Airways filling in some gaps in the nearby region. Bangkok Airways offers free internet access while you wait for boarding to start at your gate.
Many low-cost carriers serve Thailand - see Discount airlines in Asia for an up to date list.
For a full at-a-glance list of all Thai-based carriers, see the Thai airlines section (below).

By road

Cambodia - six international border crossings. The highway from Siem Reap and the temples ofAngkor via Poipet to Aranyaprathet, once the stuff of nightmares, is now merely bad and can usually be covered in less than 3 hours.

Laos - the busiest border crossing is at the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong between Nong Khai and the Lao capital Vientiane. It's also possible to cross the Mekong at Chiang Khong /Huay Xai, Nakhon Phanom / Tha Khaek, Mukdahan / Savannakhet, and elsewhere.

Vientiane / Udon Thani - A bus service runs from the Morning Market bus station in Vientianeto the bus station in Udon Thani. The cost is 80 Baht or 22,000 Kip and the journey takes two hours. The Udon Thani airport is 30 minutes by Tuk Tuk from the bus station and is served by Thai Airways, Nok Air and Air Asia.

Malaysia and Singapore - driving up is entirely possible, although not with a rented vehicle. Main crossings (with name of town on Malaysian side in brackets) between Thailand and Malaysia are Padang Besar (Padang Besar) and Sadao (Bukit Kayu Hitam) in Songkhlaprovince, Betong (Pengkalan Hulu) in Yala province, and Sungai Kolok (Rantau Panjang) inNarathiwat province. There are regular buses across the border, mostly to the southern hub of Hat Yai.

Myanmar:
Mae Sai / Tachileik - foreigners can access this crossing from either side, and enter and/or exit either country here; no onward travel restrictions; to get to Tachileik or Kengtung from the rest of Myanmar, a domestic flight must be taken (eg from Heho).
Mae Sot / Myawaddy - foreigners can only access this crossing from the Thai side; neither onward travel into Myanmar (ie beyond the border town) nor overnight stays are possible. No visa needed; instead there's an entry stamp fee - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.
Three Pagodas Pass (Sangkhlaburi / Payathonzu) - foreigners can only access this crossing from the Thai side; onward travel into Myanmar (ie beyond the border town) is not possible; entry/exit stamps are NOT issued here, and foreigners passports are held at the Myanmar checkpoint, where a fee is levied - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.
Ranong / Kawthoung - foreigners can access this crossing from either side, and enter and/or exit either country here; no onward travel restrictions (other than those that apply to everyone, no matter how they enter); access to/from Kawthoung is by sea (Mergui/Dawei &Yangon) and air (Mergui & Yangon). If entering without a visa, maximum stay is 3 days / 2 nights, travel beyond Kawthoung is not permitted, and there's an entry stamp fee - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.

By train

Thailand's sole international train service links to Butterworth (near Penang) and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, continuing all the way to Singapore. Tickets are cheap even in first class sleepers, but it can be a slow ride; the 2-hour flight to Singapore will take you close to 48 hours by rail, as you have to change trains twice. The luxury option is to take the Eastern & Oriental Express , a refurbished super-luxury train that runs along the same route once per week, with gourmet dining, personal butler service and every other colonial perk you can think of. However, at around US$1000 one-way just from Bangkok to Butterworth, this is approximately 30 times more expensive than an ordinary first-class sleeper!
While you can't get to Laos or Cambodia by train, you can get very close, with railheads just across the border at Nong Khai (across the river from Vientiane) and Aranyaprathet (forPoipet, on the road to Siem Reap). There are plans to connect to both countries someday, but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
There are no rail services to Myanmar, but the Thai part of the infamous Burma Death Railway is still operating near Kanchanaburi.

By ferry

Ferries cross from Satun in southern Thailand to the Malaysian island of Langkawi, while over in Narathiwat province, a vehicular ferry shuttles between Tak Bai and Pengkalan Kubur, nearKota Bharu in Malaysia's Kelantan state.
There are also occasional cruises from Malaysia and Singapore to Phuket and Bangkok, the main operator being Star Cruises [4], but no scheduled services.

Get around Thailand

By plane

Thailand is a large country, and if sitting in a bus for 11 hours is not your idea of a fun time, you may well want to consider domestic flights. Never terribly expensive to begin with (at least by Western standards), the deregulation of the industry has brought in a crop of new operators: with a little research, it's possible to fly pretty much anywhere in the country for less than 2000 baht. Note that various taxes and (often hefty) surcharges are invariably added to "advertised" prices.

Thai airlines

Bangkok Airways promotes itself as "Asia's Boutique Airline", and has a monopoly on flights to its own airports at Ko Samui, Sukhothai and Trat. Their Discovery Airpass with fixed per segment rates can be good value, especially if used to fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia) or Luang Prabang (Laos). Note that the Discovery Airpass can now only be purchased from abroad.
SGA Airline Now joint with Nok Air, is currently the only passenger carrier offering daily flights to/from Hua Hin Airport. New routes also between Chiang Mai-Pai, Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Sorn.
Nok Air took to the skies in 2004 sporting a lurid purple paint scheme with a bird's beak painted on the nose. Owned mostly by Thai Airways, they compete with Air Asia on price and, with a fairly comprehensive domestic network, are a pretty good choice overall.

One-Two-Go (part of Orient Thai Airlines) is a low-cost brand with 1-3 flights daily to a handful of domestic destinations. Their punctuality record is notoriously bad; the 747-100s they use are flying museum pieces (but mean there's usually room to spare); and their ticketing counters can be chronically congested (one-hour queues are not unusual, but if you just want to hop on the next flight, you can head to the express ticketing counter at check-in not less than 40 minutes before departure). One of their planes crashed in 2007, killing over 60 people.
PB Air flies domestically to Lampang, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Buriram, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and also to Danang (Vietnam).

Thai AirAsia is a budget airline offering discounted tickets if booked well in advance, but prices rise steadily as planes fill up. They fly from Bangkok to a number of places domestically, as well as Cambodia, China and Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. Keep in mind the price displayed in your search results is only the base fare, additional "taxes and fees" mean the true price will be appreciably higher. On-line booking is straightforward but must be done at least twenty-four hours in advance; ticket sales at the check-in desk close one hour before the departure time.

Thai Airways is the most reliable and frequent Thai airline, but also the most expensive. Unusually, little to no discount is given for flying return. Travel agents can usually sell only THAI Airways tickets; you can also book on-line.

By train

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has a 4000-km network covering most of the country, fromChiang Mai in the north all the way to (and beyond) the Malaysian border in the south. Compared to buses, most trains are relatively slow, but safer. Point-to-point fares depend on the type (speed) of the train and the class of the carriage. There are three main classes:

First class (chan neung) 2-berth sleeping compartments with individually regulated air conditioning are available on some trains, but prices are sometimes matched by budget airfares.

Second class (chan song) is a good compromise, costing about the same as 1st class buses and with a comparable level of comfort. Some 2nd class trains are air-con, others aren't; air-con costs a little more. Second class sleeper berths are comfortable and good value, with the narrower upper bunks costing a little less than the wider lower bunks. Food and WCs are basic. 2nd class Express Railcar trains have reclining seats and refreshments are included in the fare; unlike all other Thai passenger trains, they can match buses for speed, but cannot carry bicycles.

Third class (chan saam) is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand, with virtually nominal fares, and can be great fun. Sometimes packed with tuk-tuk drivers heading home with a sack of rice and a bottle of cheap whisky for company, as a farang (foreigner of European ancestry) you're guaranteed to be the center of attention - quite enjoyable in small doses, but 10 hours of this might be a bit much. Some 3rd class trains have wooden seats, others are upholstered; some services can be pre-booked, others cannot; refreshments are available from hawkers who roam the aisles.

Pre-booking is recommended, especially for sleeper berths. Many travel agencies will spare you the trouble of travelling to the station to buy tickets for a service fee (often 100 baht/ticket), or you can reserve with SRT directly by e-mail atpassenger-ser@railway.co.th for a 200 baht/booking surcharge.

By road

Thailand's roads are head and shoulders above its neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, but driving habits are still quite dangerous. Drunk driving, speeding and reckless passing are depressingly common, and bus and taxi drivers (especially for private companies) work inhuman shifts and often take drugs to keep themselves awake, with predictable and tragic results. It's common for motorbikes — even police! — to drive close to the curb on the wrong side of the road. Death tolls sky-rocket around major holidays, especially Songkhran, when bystanders often throw water on passing cars and bikes. Many drivers don't use headlights at night, multiplying risks, and it is wise to avoid or minimize overnight travel by road.
Note that unlike in its neighbours (except Malaysia), traffic moves on the left side of the road in Thailand and Thai cars are generally right-hand drive. All official road directional signs are written in both Thai and English.

Bus

Buses travel throughout the country and the government's bus company BKS (บขส Baw Kaw Saw), known in English simply as the Transport Company, has a terminal in every town of any size.
Generally speaking, BKS buses are the best option for both price and comfort. There are also many private bus companies, who mainly compete on price and are less reliable in terms of amenities, schedules and safety. In particular, beware of non-government "VIP" buses, which may be nothing of the sort. A special subclass are the cheap Khao San Road buses, targeted at backpackers. These are the slimiest of the lot and you may find that your supposed VIP bus is in fact a cramped minivan - after paying in advance, that is.
The basic bus types are:

Local - relatively slow, can be cramped when full (nevertheless there's always room for one more), and stop at every village and cowshed along the way. Many are of larger songthaewflavour. Not suitable for long-distance travel, but may be the only cheap way to get around locally.

Express (rot duan) - skip some stops, but no other frills. Identifiable by their orange colour. Size varies, with the largest having around 65 seats (five seats per row) as well as an open space across the width of the bus by the back door for you to sling your rice / chickens / bicycle / backpack.
Second class (chan song) - skip more stops, but often take a less direct route than 1st class / VIP / S-VIP. Blue and white with an orange stripe, usually 45-48 seats per bus, air conditioned (some provide blankets, some do not), and most have no on-board toilet (however the frequent stops mean this isn't a problem).
First class (chan neung) - generally take the most direct routes and make very few stops. Blue and white in colour, air conditioned, blanket usually provided, fewer (larger, longer pitch) seats (typically 40, but some double-decker types seat 60+), snack and drinking water included. Most have a toilet on board (only very short haul services sometimes do not).
"VIP" - as per 1st class, but with only 32-34 seats, which have more leg room and recline further. Basic meal included and freshly laundered shrink-wrapped blanket provided. Also blue and white (or sometimes blue and silver) but usually signed "VIP".
"S-VIP" - Super-VIP is very similar to VIP, except there are only 24 seats, which are wider - the aisle is offset, each row having a pair of seats on the right and only a single seat on the left. Primarily used on overnight services.

Some buses may have TVs and sound systems blaring, so earplugs are well worth having, just in case.
On long-haul buses, if your ticket allocates you a front seat, you may have to switch seats if a monk boards.

VIP? Very Inferior Product
Travel agencies, particularly those on Bangkok's Khao San Road, are keen to sell you VIP bus tickets. These are more often than not cramped minibuses that will do their best to arrive late, often by breaking down right next to a conveniently located restaurant, and sell you to the guesthouse that gives them the highest commissions. Theft, particularly on routes to the south, is also a major problem. Thais never use them, opting for public BKS buses instead - and you should too.

Songthaew

A songthaew is a truck-based vehicle with a pair of bench seats in the back, one on either side. By far the most common type is based on a pick-up truck and has a roof and open sides. Larger types start life as small lorries, and may have windows, and an additional central bench; smaller types are converted micro-vans, with a front bench facing backwards and a rear bench facing forwards.
Songthaews are operated extensively as local buses (generally the most economical way to travel shorter distances) and also as taxis; sometimes the same vehicle will be used for both. Be careful if asking a songthaew to take you to someplace if there is nobody in the back, the driver might charge you the taxi price. In this case, check the price of the ride before embarking.

Tuk-tuk

The name tuk-tuk is used to describe a wide variety of small/lightweight vehicles. The vast majority have three wheels; some are entirely purpose-built (eg the ubiquitous Bangkok tuk-tuk), others are partially based on motorcycle components (primarily engines, steering, front suspension, fuel tank, drivers seat). A relatively recent development is the four wheeled tuk-tuk (basically a microvan-songthaew) as found inPhuket.

Taxi

Metered taxis are ubiquitous in Bangkok, but rare elsewhere in the country (although somewhat common in Chiang Mai). When available, they are an excellent means of transport - insist on the meter. Beware of taxis which idle around touristy areas and wait for people. They are looking for a tourist who will take their taxi without using a meter. Always use the meter!

Motorbike

As is the case throughout virtually all of Asia, motorcycles (motosai) are the most common form of transport overall; the most popular type are the 100cc-125cc step-through models. These are very widely used as taxis, with fares starting from as low as 5 baht.
Motorcycles can be rented without difficulty in many locations. Rates start at around 150 baht/day for recent 100-125cc semi-automatic (foot operated gearchange, automatic clutch) step-through models, 200 baht/day for fully automatic scooters; larger capacity models can also easily be found, although the rates reflect the risks - up to around 2500 baht/day for the very latest model high capacity sport bikes, such as the Honda CBR1000RR. In all cases, lower prices will apply if paying upfront for more than a week or so; in some cases, long-distance travel may be prohibited. Motorcycle rentals do not include insurance, and both motorcycling accidents and motorbike thefts are common.

Many places will rent to you without requiring a license, but legally speaking you must have a valid Thai license or International Driver's Permit. Often a deposit will be required; sometimes a passport photocopy, or even the passport itself (don't do this- bargain to leave some baht instead), will be requested. Helmets are normally included, but are usually ultra-basic models with very flimsy chin-strap fasteners - if you're intending to travel by motorcycle and have a good quality helmet at home, then bring it with you. If supplied a helmet with a chin-cup (many cheap rental helmets are), slide the cup up the strap out of the way and securely fasten the bare strap directly under the jaw, as this is much safer.

Insurance is usually not included (or even available), so try to ensure in advance that the insurance you leave home with is going to cover you; alternatively, arrange cover with an insurance broker locally in Thailand. If you rent a vehicle without insurance and it's damaged or stolen, the bottom line is that you will be required to pay in full the cost of repairing or replacing it. Furthermore, some travel insurance policies will only provide medical cover in the event of an accident if you hold a motorcycle license in your home country.

Motorcyclists (including passengers) are required to wear crash helmets and to keep their headlights switched on at all times. Enforcement varies widely, but in tourist areas spot checks for helmets and/or licences are commonplace. While the fines are light (typically 200 baht) the inconvenience can be considerable as offender's vehicle is impounded until the fine is paid, and the queue at the police station can be lengthy.

Some (but not all) border crossings allow motorcycles through. At those which do, documentation including proof of ownership must be produced (with the possible exception of day visits to Payathonzu, Myanmar via Three Pagodas Pass).

Rental car

Driving your own car in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted, and many rental companies can supply drivers at a very reasonable price. Prices without insurance for a self-driven car start from around 800 baht/day for small cars, and from as little as 600 baht/day for open-top jeeps; cars with insurance start at just under 1000 baht/day, and come down to around 5600 baht/week or 18000 baht/month.

Driving is (usually, but not always!) on the left hand side of the road. As of September 2007, fuel at large petrol stations is 27-30 baht/litre. Small kerbside vendors who pump by hand from drums and/or pour from bottles charge a few baht more.
Cars can be rented without difficulty in many locations. It's worth paying a little more than the absolute minimum in order to use one of the international franchises (eg Avis, Budget, Hertz) to minimize the risk of hassles, and to ensure that any included insurance is actually worth something.

More reputable agencies require that valid licences be produced: foreigners who do not have a Thai driving licence must carry a valid International Driving Permit. Even if you manage to rent a car without an IDP, not having one will invalidate the insurance and count against you in the event of an accident.

A common rental scam involves the owner taking a deposit, and then later refusing to refund it in full on the basis that the customer is responsible for previous damage; the Tourist Police (dial 1155) may be able to help. Another common scam involves the owner having someone follow the rented vehicle and later "steal" it, using a set of spare keys. Always report thefts: a "stolen" vehicle may mysteriously turn up as soon as the police become involved.

By boat

One of the Thais' many names for themselves is jao naam, the Water Lords, and from the river expresses of Bangkok to the fishing trawlers of Phuket, boats remain an indispensable way of getting around many parts of the country.
Perhaps the most identifiably Thai boat is the long-tail boat (reua hang yao), a long, thin wooden boat with the propeller at the end of a long 'tail' stretching from the boat. This makes them supremely manouverable even in shallow waters, but they're a little underpowered for longer trips and you'll get wet if it's even a little choppy. Long-tails usually act as taxis that can be chartered, although prices vary widely - figure on 300-400 baht for a few hours' rental, or up to 1500 for a full day. In some locations like Krabi, long-tails run along set routes and charge fixed prices per passenger.

Modern, air-conditioned speedboat services as well as slower, sometimes overnight ferries also run from the mainland to popular islands like Ko Samui and the Phi Phi Islands. Truly long-distance services (eg. Bangkok to any other major city) have, however, effectively ceased to exist as buses, planes and even trains are faster. Safety measures are rudimentary and ferries and speedboats do sink occasionally, so avoid overloaded ships in poor weather, and scope out the nearest life jackets when on board.

Holidays

2008-05-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

Thailand has a lot of holidays, mostly related to Buddhism and the monarchy. Nobody celebrates all of them, except for banks, which seem to be closed a lot.

Makha Bucha (มาฆบูชา) - falls on the full moon in of the fourth Lunar month, which usually falls in February or March, and commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 people before the Buddha, which led to their ordination and subsequent enlightenment. At temples in Bangkok and throughout Thailand, Buddhists carry candles and walk around the main shrine three times in a clockwise direction.

During Chinese New Year (ตรุษจีน), Chinese Thais, who are numerous in Bangkok, celebrate by cleaning their houses and offering food to their ancestors. This is, mainly, a time where feasts are abound. Visit Bangkok's Chinatown or Yaowarat to fully embrace the festivity.

Songkran (สงกรานต์) - undoubtedly the most fun holiday - is the celebration of the Thai New Year, sometime in April (officially April 13th to 15th, but the date varies in some locations). What started off as polite ritual to wash away the sins of the prior year has evolved into the world's largest water fight, which lasts for three full days. Water pistols and Super Soakers are advised and are on sale everywhere. The best places to participate are Chiang Mai, the Khao San Road area in Bangkok and holiday resorts like Pattaya, Ko Samui and Phuket. Be advised that you will get very wet, this is not a spectator sport. In recent years, the water-throwing has been getting more and more unpleasant as people have started splashing iced water onto each other. It is advisable to wear dark clothing, as light colors may become transparent when wet.

Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) falls on the first full moon day in the twelveth month in Luna calendar, usually on November, when people head to rivers, lakes and even hotel swimming pools to float flower and candle-laden banana-leaf (or, these days, styrofoam) floats called krathong (กระทง). The krathong is meant as a thank you offering to the river goddess who gives life to the people. Thais also believe that this is a good time to float away your bad luck and many will place a few strand of hair or finger nail clippings in the krathong. According to tradition, if you make a wish when you set down your krathong and it floats out of sight before the candle burns out, your wish will come true. Some provinces have their own version of Loy Krathong, such as Sukhothai where a spectacular show takes place. To the North, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, have their own unique tradition of floating Kom or lit lanterns balloon. This sight can be breath-taking as the sky is suddenly filled with lights, rivaling the full moon.

Coronation Day (May 5) commemorates the crowning of the current King in 1950 (although his reign actually began on June 9 1946 - making him not only the longest-serving monarch in Thai history, but also the world's longest-serving current Head of State).

The King's Birthday (December 5) is the country's National Day and also celebrated as Father's Day, when Thais pay respect to and show their love for His Majesty the King. Buildings and homes are decorated with the King's flag (yellow with his insignia in the middle) and his portrait. Government buildings, as well as commercial buildings, are decorated with lights. In Old Bangkok (Rattanakosin) in particular, around the Royal Palace, you will see lavish light displays on trees, buildings, and the roads. The Queen's Birthday (August 12) is Mother's Day, and is celebrated similarly if with a little less pomp.

Culture

2008-05-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

Mainland Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism. However, unlike the Buddhist countries of East Asia, Thailand's Buddhists follow the Therevada school, which is arguably closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism. Thai temples known as wats, resplendent with gold and easily identifiable thanks to their ornate, multicolored, pointy roofs are ubiquitous and becoming an orange-robed monk for a short period, typically the three-month rainy season, is a common rite of passage for young Thai boys and men.

One pre-Buddhist tradition that still survives is the spirit house (ศาลพระภูมิ saan phraphuum), usually found at the corner of any house or business, which houses spirits so they don't enter the house and cause trouble. The grander the building, the larger the spirit house, and buildings placed in particularly unlucky spots may have very large ones. Perhaps the most famous spirit house in Thailand is the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, which protects the Erawan Hotel (now the Grand Hyatt Erawan) - built in 1956 on a former execution ground - and is now one of the busiest and most popular shrines in the city.

Some traditional arts popular in Thailand include traditional Thai dancing and music, based on religious rituals and court entertainment. Famously brutal Thai boxing (muay Thai), derived from the military training of Thai warriors, is undoubtedly the country's best known indigenous sport.

In addition to the mainland Thai culture, there are many other cultures in Thailand including those of the "hill tribes" in the northern mountainous regions of Thailand (e.g., Hmong, Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Akha), the southern Muslims, and indigenous island peoples of the Andaman Sea.

National Parks

2008-05-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

There are 48 national parks in Thailand, many of which are easily accessible to the visitor. Usually there is somewhere to stay but the choice of accommodation can be limited. Most parks charge an entrance fee of about 400 Baht.

Khao Yai National Park

This is the oldest national park in Thailand and one of the best in the world. Khao Yai has large areas of rain forest, an abundance of wild life, and over 500 km of hiking trails. The park is located in the north-east205km from Bangkok and can be reached by bus or train. Accommodation can be arranged with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Erawan national Park

Main features are its waterfall and the spectacular Phrathat cave. Buses run daily from Kanchanaburi. Try to avoid visiting on weekends or public holidays when it will be very busy.

Sai Yao National Park

Located between Erawan and the Burmese border. Take the bus from Kanchanaburi along highway 323 and get off at the park entrance.

Doi Inthanon National Park

This is Thailand's highest mountain (2565 metres) and has many trails worth exploring, plus several impressive waterfalls. Tours are available from Chiang Mai.

Lansang National Park

This small park is located 18km along the road from Tak to Mae Sot.There are several trails leading to waterfalls and a large hill tribe centre on the west side.

Nam Nao National Park

From Sukhothai take the road to Chum Phae. The park is 55km after passing through Lom Sak.

Thaleban National Park

Located 90km south of Had Yai almost on the border with Malaysia. The parks beautiful unspoiled forests support a great variety of wildlife.

Phetra National Park

The park encompasses a group of islands off the south-west coast and offers beaches, coral reefs and rain forests. Turatao island has an outdoor museum and an aquarium. The visitors centre is located at Pak Bara.

Hat Nai Yank National Park

The park HQ is 1½km from Phuket airport. Turtles nest in this marine park from November to February.

Phang Nga Bay National Park

Probable one of the most photographed spots in Thailand, Phangnga Bay was made famous by the James Bond movie "Man with a Golden Gun". Forested limestone pillars rise out of the sea like inverted mountains, while Tham Lot Caves provide plenty of scope for adventure.

The offshore islands of Koh Thalu and Koh Tapu are major attractions, where small boats pass under magnifiscent natural rock formations.

The park is located 96km by road from Phuket Town and can be reach by tour bus or boat. Most hotels will be able to arrange day trips. Accomodation is also available for overnight stays.

Koh Chang National Park

Located about 240km south of Pattaya, Koh Chang is Thailand's second largest island. It has dense tropical forests, white sandy beaches and spectacular waterfalls. If you want unspoilt natural beauty this is a good place to stay, but don't expect to find disco's and fast food.

Koh Samet National Park

Day trips to this group of islands can be booked from Pattaya or Rayong. There are many places to stay on the main island of Samet which is a little more developed than Koh Chang.

And more...

Islands & beaches

2008-05-09T05:53:00.000-07:00

Ko Chang - once quiet island undergoing major tourism development

Ko Kradan - Kradan Island Resort : http://www.kradanisland.com/
Ko Lanta - sleepy island near Krabi
Ko Pha Ngan - site of the famous Full Moon Party with miles of quiet coastline
Ko Phi Phi - backpacker favorite where The Beach was filmed
Ko Samet - the nearest island beach escape from Bangkok
Ko Samui - hippie mecca gone upmarket
Ko Tao - where the world learns to scuba dive
Phuket - the original Thai paradise island
Rai Leh - stunning beach by the limestone cliffs of Krabi

Popular cities in Thailand

2008-05-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

Bangkok - Thailand's bustling, frenetic capital
Ayutthaya - a historical city, world heritage site and old capital of Thailand
Chiang Mai - the capital of the North and the heart of Lanna culture
Chiang Rai - gateway to the Golden Triangle
Hat Yai - largest city in the Southern region
Kanchanaburi - home of the Bridge over the River Kwai
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) - main city in the Isaan region
Pattaya - one of the main tourist destinations
Sukhothai - Thailand's first capital

Bangkok

2008-05-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

Bangkok is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

North of Thailand

2008-05-06T02:12:00.000-07:00

North (Thailand)

The Northern Thailand region shares borders with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as
Central Thailand and Isaan (North-East Thailand).

Provinces

The 17 provinces of Northern Thailand

1 - Chiang Mai
2 - Chiang Rai
3 - Kamphaeng Phet
4 - Lampang
5 - Lamphun
6 - Mae Hong Son
7 - Nakhon Sawan
8 - Nan
9 - Phayao
10 - Phetchabun
11 - Phichit
12 - Phitsanulok
13 - Phrae
14 - Sukhothai
15 - Tak
16 - Uthai Thani
17 - Uttaradit

Cities

Chiang Mai - the largest city in the north, well known for its temples
Chiang Rai - the usual access point for the Golden Triangle, where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar
Mae Hong Son - a small town in the north-west surrounded by wonderful landscape, and one of the major starting points for trekking, especially to the different "hill-tribes"
Mae Sai - northernmost city in Thailand and border crossing town to Myanmar
Nakhon Sawan
Nan - former capital of a small kingdom, filled with history and temples and surrounded by mountains
Pai - small village and nice overnight stop between Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai, with a laid-back backpacker/traveller atmosphere and a good starting point for trekking tours
Phitsanulok - a good overnight stop between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and a gateway to the Sukhothai historical park
Sukhothai - Thailand's original capital

Other destinations

Chiang Dao - known for its caves, and next to Chiang Dao National Park
Chiang Khong - gateway to Laos
Mae Salong - a very interesting place to stop on the way to Chiang Mai
Thaton - hang out on the border with Myanmar, and take the boat to Chiang Rai
The many national parks in this mountainous region make it a popular destination for trekking

Thailand

2008-05-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Asia : Southeast Asia : Thailand
Thailand is a country in South-East Asia with coasts on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. It borders Myanmar (Burma) to the north-west, Laos to the north-east, Cambodia to the south-east and Malaysia to the south.
With great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture and great beaches, Thailand is a magnet for travellers the world over.

Capital : Bangkok
Government : Constitutional Monarchy
Currency : Thai baht (THB)
Area total: 514,000 km2
water: 2,230 km2
land: 511,770 km2
Population : 63,038,247 (December 2007 est.)
Language : Thai (official), ethnic and regional dialects
Religion : Buddhist 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christian 0.5%, Hindu 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Electricity : 220V/50Hz (American and/or European plug)
Calling Code : +66
Internet TLD : .th
Time Zone : UTC +7

Thailands 76 provinces can be conveniently divided into five geographic and cultural regions.
+North - Chiang Mai, hill tribes, and the Golden Triangle
+Isaan - the great undeveloped north-east - get off the beaten track and discover backcountry Thailand and some magnificent Khmer ruins
+Central - Bangkok, lowlands and historic Thailand
+East - beaches and islands within easy reach of Bangkok, and Pattaya
+South - hundreds of kilometers of coastline and countless islands on both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, plus Phuket, Krabi, Ko Samui, Ko Tao and many more of Thailand's famous beach spots

Understand

Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in South-East Asia, and for a reason. You can find almost anything here: thick jungle as green as can be, crystal blue beaches that feel more like a warm bath than a swim in the ocean and food that can curl your nose hairs while tap dancing across your taste buds. Exotic, yet safe; cheap, yet equipped with every modern amenity you need, there is something for every interest and every price bracket, from beach front backpacker bungalows to some of the best luxury hotels in the world. And despite the heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential Thainess, with a culture and history all its own and a carefree people famed for their smiles and their fun-seeking sanuk lifestyle. Many travelers come to Thailand and extend their stay well beyond their original plans and others never find a reason to leave. Whatever your cup of tea is, they know how to make it in Thailand.
This is not to say that Thailand doesn't have its downsides, including the considerable growing pains of an economy where an agricultural laborer is lucky to earn 100 baht per day while the nouveau riche cruise past in their BMWs, and a highly visible sex tourism industry. Bangkok, the capital, is notorious for its traffic jams and rampant development has wrecked much of once-beautiful Pattaya and Phuket. In heavily touristed areas, some lowlifes have made scamming tourists into an art form.

History

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only South-East Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power, and fiercely proud of the fact. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. After a string of military dictatorships and quickly toppled civilian Prime Minister, Thailand finally stabilized into a fair approximation of a democracy and the economy, hobbled by the 1997 Asian economic crisis, is booming once again. Above it all presides the King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the world's longest-reigning monarch and a deeply loved and respected figure of near-mythic proportions.
In September 2006, a swift and bloodless military coup overthrew the previous democratically elected but widely criticized government, promising elections in late 2007. Although martial law still applies and political gatherings are restricted, there has been no violence, no curfews are in effect, there is no longer any significant military presence in public places, and all services are functioning normally.

Climate

Thailand is largely tropical, so it's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range (82-95°F), a degree of relief provided only in the mountains in the far north of Thailand. The careful observer will, however, note three seasons:

Cool: From November to the end of February, it doesn't rain much and temperatures are at their lowest, although you will barely notice the difference in the south and will only need to pack a sweater if hiking in the northern mountains, where temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This is the most popular time to visit and, especially around Christmas and New Year's, finding flights and accommodation can be expensive and difficult.
Hot: From March to June, Thailand swelters in temperatures as high as 40°C (104°F). Pleasant enough when sitting on the beach with a drink in hand, but not the best time of year to go temple-tramping in Bangkok.
Rainy: From July to October, although it only really gets underway in September, tropical monsoons hit most of the country. This doesn't mean it rains non-stop, but when it does it pours and flooding is not uncommon.

There are local deviations to these general patterns. In particular, the south-east coast of Thailand (including Ko Samui) has the rains reversed, with the peak season being May-October and the rainy off season in November-February.

People

Thailand's people are largely Thais, although there are significant minorities of Chinese and assimilated Thai-Chinese throughout the country, Muslims in the south near the Malaysian border and hill tribes such as the Karen and the Hmong in the north of the country. The overwhelmingly dominant religion (95%) is Theraveda Buddhism, although Confucianism, Islam, Christianity and animist faiths also jostle for position.

Calendar

In addition to the Gregorian calendar, Thailand also uses the Thai solar calendar, which is 543 years ahead. Thus, Thai year 2550 corresponds to the Western year 2007. Thai dates in English are often written as B.E., short for "Buddhist Era".
Some Thai holidays are still calculated with the older Thai lunar calendar, so their dates change every year.

Tourism

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Thailand's a big enough country that you can find a place to practice almost any outdoor sport. Some selections:
Golf - see the separate Golf in Thailand article
Rock climbing - the cliffs of Rai Leh in Krabi are arguably among the best in the world
Scuba diving - easily accessible Ko Tao (near Samui) draws the crowds, but also possible in Pattaya and Krabi, and the Similan Islands are worth the journey
Trekking - very popular up north around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Liveaboard Diving[5]

Talk

The official language of Thailand is Thai. There are dozens of small language groups in the tribal areas of the north, and a small number of places where Thai speakers are few and far between. Thai is a tonal language (think about the difference in your voice when saying "yes." versus "yes?" - that's tonal) which can make it tricky for Westerners to learn quickly, but despite this, everyone will appreciate any attempt you do make so pick up a phrase book and give it a go. In the Muslim-dominated south, dialects of Malay that may be somewhat incomprehensible to speakers of standard Malay or Bahasa Indonesia are spoken.
Public signage is generally bilingual, written in both Thai and English. There is also some prevalance of Japanese and Chinese signs. Where there is English, it is usually be fairly phonetic - for example "Sawatdee" (meaning hello) is pronounced just as it reads: sa-wat-dee. There is no universal agreement on how to transcribe Thai letters that don't have an English equivalent, so Khao San Road for example is also commonly spelt Kao Sarn, Kao Sahn, Khao San, Koh Saan, Khaosan, and many other variations. Maps with names in both Thai and English make it easier for locals to try and help you.
Most "front desk" people in the travel industry speak at least enough English to communicate, and many are relatively fluent; some also speak one or more other languages popular with their clientele, such as Chinese, Japanese, German, etc.
Many Thais have trouble pronouncing the consonant clusters of the English language. Common confusion comes from the fact that Thais often pronounce "twenty" as "TEH-wen-ty", making it sound like they're saying "seventy". Therefore it is a good idea to make use of the calculators that street vendors may offer you in order to avoid confusion about prices offered when buying goods.

Buy

The currency of Thailand is the baht (THB, ฿), written in Thai as บาท or บ. There are six coins and six notes:
25 and 50 satang (cent, copper colour) coins - nearly worthless and only readily accepted (and handed out) by supermarkets and 7-11s
1, 2 and 5 (silver colour) and 10 baht (silver/gold) coins
10 (brown - now very rare), 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1000 (grey-brown) baht notes
The most useful bills tend to be 20s and 100s, as many small shops and stalls don't carry much change. Taxi drivers also like to pull the "no change" trick; if caught, hop into the nearest convenience store and make a small purchase (or ask them for exchange).
ATMs can be found in all cities and large towns, and international withdrawals are not a problem. When using a debit card, an ATM will typically provide a much better exchange rate than a money exchange counter, and this is especially the case if you have a card that does not charge a transaction fee for overseas withdrawals (becoming common in countries such as Australia). ATMs are available at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK) after collecting your bag and clearing customs, and while it is advisable to arrive with a small amount of baht if possible, you may want to obtain most of your cash from an ATM after landing.
More remote areas (including smaller islands) don't have banks or ATMs, so cash or traveller's checks are essential. Many hotels and guest houses will change money for guests, but hefty commissions and poor rates may apply. US dollars in small bills (1s, 5s, and 20s) are invaluable for onward travel to neighbouring countries other than Malaysia, but are only useful in Thailand for exceptional purchases (eg paying visa fees for Cambodia).
Credit cards are widely accepted in the tourist industry, restaurant and shopping mall or widely used in Bangkok and major cities.

Weighty bahts
Is your new girlfriend asking for a one-baht gold ring? Watch out, as this isn't the cheap trinket it sounds like: for jewellers and goldsmiths, the baht is also a measure of weight, or 15.244 grams (around 0.5 oz) to be exact. At 2006 gold prices, one baht of gold would thus cost you well north of 10,000 baht in cash!

Costs

In a word, Thailand is cheap, and excellent value to boot: the combination of a weak currency, low labor costs and plenty of visitors means that everything a tourist could possibly want is both available and affordable. 800 baht will get a backpacker a dorm bed or cheap room, three square meals a day and leave enough for transport and sightseeing. Doubling that budget will let you stay in decent 3-star hotels, and if you're willing to fork out 4000 baht per day or more you can live like a king. Bangkok requires a more generous budget than upcountry destinations, but also offers by far the most competitive prices for shoppers who shop around. The most popular tourism islands such as Phuket and Ko Samui tend to have higher prices in general.

Sleep

Thailand has a plethora of accommodation in every price bracket. Always take a look at the room (or better still several rooms) before agreeing a price.
Guesthouses are usually the cheapest option, costing under 200 baht per night (or less for a dorm bed). This gets you a room with a fan, a squat toilet (often shared) and not much else.
Thai hotels start around 200 baht and go up to around 800 baht. The upper end of this range will be air-conditioned, the lower end will not. The primary difference is that with a hotel room, your bathroom should be private, bed linen and towels should be provided, and there may be a hot shower.
Tourist hotels are generally around 1000 baht and offer the basics for a beach vacation: swimming pool, room service and colour TV.
Business and luxury hotels, 4000 baht and up, offer every modern amenity you can think of and are largely indistinguishable from hotels anywhere else in the world. Some, notably Bangkok's The Oriental and The Peninsula are among the world's best hotels. The most luxurious resorts also fall in this price category, with some of the very best and most private adding a zero to the price.