Thailand : Land of Smile

2009-10-22T21:54:00.001-07:00

This trip is called by some people as “treasure of the nature” and “healthy tour“. The forest lovers trip to the tropical lowland forest where the Hot Spring and Crystal Pool located. You will visit the nature hot spa about 39 - 42 degree, this stream can heal your muscle tension and sooth your breathing system. In this trip, you'll venture through the jungle-walking trail, which enable you to face with tropical plants and beautiful faunas. Come along and find out WHY by yourself. This national park is protected by government of Thailand and it's home for the Gourney Pitta' s Bird once believed to be extinct from the world.

2009-10-22T21:45:00.001-07:00

Land of Smiles Classic

2009-10-22T11:30:00.001-07:00

The rough-and-tumble winter sport of ice hockey has, ironically, found a home in the balmy Land of Smiles. Twenty-five teams from 15 countries take to the ice at Imperial Samrong Mall 5th Floor in Asia's biggest ice hockey extravaganza. High-flying, hard-hitting action has enthralled spectators in the Thai capital for 15 years. The coolest sport on Earth takes center stage in Bangkok Oct. 28-31 as hundreds of ice hockey players from around the world square off in the "Land of Smiles Classic" tournament.The tournament continues to bring important tourism revenue into the Kingdom, while raising hundreds of thousands of baht for impoverished children.

2009-10-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Visiting Koh Samui, Thailand

2009-10-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

Head to Chaweng for a lively beach scene and ample nightlife or Maenam Beach for a low-key getaway. Rent a car to take in all the quirky sights, including the 80-foot tall gold-tiled Big Buddha at Koh Faan, the wonderful Rocks at Lamai Beach, the Snake Farm and the omnipresent coconut-collecting monkeys.Luxury resorts rub elbows with backpacker accommodations on the Thai island of Ko Samui, a 15-mile-long palm-covered tropical oasis located off the country's east coast.

2009-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Seaside at Koh SaMui

2008-03-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's third largest island, with an area of 228.7 km² and a population of 47,874 (2006).
The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from Malay Peninsula and Southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam. The name Samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui, or it is a corruption of the Chinese word Saboey, meaning "safe haven".

Samui has a population of about forty-five thousand, and lives on a successful tourist industry, as well as exports of coconut and rubber. It even has its own international airport, Samui Airport, with flights daily to Bangkok and other major airports in Southeast Asia. While the island presents an unspoiled image to the public perception, economic growth has brought not only prosperity, but changes to the island's environment and culture, a source of conflict between local residents and migrants from other parts of Thailand and other countries. Reflecting Samui's growth as a tourist destination, the Cunard ship MS Queen Victoria (a 2000-plus passenger ship) will dock at Samui during its 2008 world cruise.

Relax at Sangkhlaburi

2008-03-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Sangkhlaburi

Sangkhlaburi is a small, laid back town in a scenic setting some 225km northwest of Kanchanaburi and a mere 24 km from the Burmese border at Three Pagodas Pass. Set towards the end of one of Thailand's most spectacular roads, Sangkhlaburi is situated on the low hills edging Vajiralongkorn Lake (previously known as Khao Laem Lake) and is surrounded to the north and east by higher, forest covered limestone ranges. The outlying area hosts numerous caves, waterfalls, Karen and Mon villages, the vast Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife reserve and Khao Laem National Park to the south.

While Sangkhlaburi was traditionally a Karen town, the more recent influx of Thais along with numerous Mon and Burmese settlers fleeing the problems over the border, has created a particularly culturally and religiously diverse town -- yet another reason to make sure you fit this lovely town into your itinerary.

Sangkhlaburi is popular with Thai weekenders from Bangkok, but little frequented by western travellers, a pity since it is well worth a visit, a great place to chill out and has enough sights and things to do to keep one occupied for several days if not longer. While having a very remote feel to it, Sangkhlaburi can in fact be reached by bus from Bangkok in around seven hours.
Higher altitude and the presence of the lake can make it very damp during the reainy season and considerably cooler at night-time than say Kanchanaburi.

With the cooler weather, stunning natural beauty, hospitable locals and a range of activities including trekking, rafting and elephant riding, Sangkhlaburi remains one of our favourite destinations in Thailand. Highly recommended.

Shade of Blue at Koh Lan

2008-03-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

Pattaya has a number of islands in its vicinity of which Koh Lan is the largest. The island is somewhat an extension of the mainland activities, featuring water sports such as diving snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing and para-sending. A key attraction is boats sailing around the island for sightseeing purposes. Some of the boats have glass bottoms enabling passengers to see coral and marine life at the bottom of the sea. The island has a number of beaches, the main beach hosting a number of excellent seafood restaurants selling dishes made from freshly caught seafood. The area also features deep sea fishing boats around Koh Lan’s neighbours, Koh Krok and Koh Sak.

Koh Lan is 45 minutes from Pattaya beach by boat or 20 minutes by long-tail boat. Most of the tour boats make anchor to take advantage of the foodshops and stalls along these beaches. Facing Hat Thong Lang are coral ranges. Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats and surface-diving. Hat Samae is located to the southwest while Hat Ta Phan is to the west of the island.

Ferries leave South Pattaya Pier daily from 10:00 to 18.30, the one-way fare being 20 Baht. The return ferry leaves Koh Lan’s Na Ban Beach at 12:00 and 14:00.

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the Flowers Hidden in the Ice at Doi AngKhang

2008-03-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

Doi Angkhang, Fang District is the side of the Royal Agricultural Project, accessible via highway 107, with a left turn at kilometer 137 and then along a steep winding road for another 26 kilometers to the top of the hill. It is here that substitution crops for opium are being grown including fruits, flowers, vegetables and herbs, along with other cash crops grown for the purpose of agricultural development among the hilltribes in the area, including the Luha, Pha-Lhong, Yunnanese and Thai Yai. At Doi Ang Khang visitors can see plants being cultivate in this cooler climate including apricots, peaches, plums, carrots, salad greens and beautiful flowers such as carnations, roses, asters and chrysanthemums.

There is also a packing plant within the Royal Project Cooperative's compound where visitors can buy fresh produce. Another attractive place to visit there is the Bonsai garden with its large collection of miniaturised plants from both tropical and temperate climates.

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Reach for the Stars at PHU SOI DAO

2008-03-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

Phu Soidao has the landscape that is similar to Phu Kradung, that is made up of a vast plain of grassland and pinewood. Its outstanding feature is the fields of flowers blooming in the rainy season and in the early cold season. On the plain of grassland and pinewood there still exists the largely untouched nature with flowers of all kinds and the splendid Saithip waterfal hidden in a thick forest.

The land is made of piled-up hills with the heights between 500 to 2,102 meters above sea level. It stretches to Laos in the east, to Lam Lodsai Creek in the west, to Phu Lookkrad in the north and to Pak Creek in the south. It is cool all year round on the hills. Rains are plenty in the rainy season (roughly May to October) when the weather is fairly cool and wet. In the cold season (October till February) the weather is quite cold, and it could be near freezing on the high peaks.

The rich forests favor the existence of wildlife of various kinds such as serows, bears, wild boars, deer, monkey barking deer and langurs as well as many kinds of birds and other winged creatures.

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paradise at PAI

2008-03-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

Pai is a small community, embraced by rolling mountains and enveloped in natural setting that is fresh and beautiful. The atmosphere is clean, pure, quiet and warmly welcoming. The different ethnic groups, religious beliefs and languages of the people of plains and the people of the mountains have blended together here to form a unique set of cultural traditions.

The citizens of Pai live their lives with a spirit of generosity and a sense of community, always ready to give someone a helping hand. Yet at the same time, the remoteness of the region makes travel to and from Pai difficult. Many people would rather not come and risk their chances in such an isolated place. However, many other people entrust their luck to fate in this very spot, and others dream of having just one chance in their lives to come and experience the summit of the north of Thailand.

Pai can be found to the northwest of Bangkok, 1035 kilometers along the main roads, at19.15 degrees - 19.30 degrees latitude north and at 98.15 degrees – 98.30 degrees longitude east. AT its lowest, Pai is 508 meters from sea level. The highest summit, Doi Jik Jong, which can be seen from Pai, is 1,972 meters from sea level. You can climb this mountain and experience the tropical forest and virgin jungle of the area.