Holiday In Thailand

Thailand means “the land of the free” lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world and one can only experience the exotic beauty of the place when you get there. The fresh air kissing your face when you walk on the beach, the mouth watering dishes and the rush and madness in the market is something you will perhaps not get to see anywhere else.

Thailand’s geographical region is divided into four parts:

The mountains and forests are in the north. You can find fascinating handicrafts and multicolored orchids.

The central part where you will find paddy field, farms and all kinds of fruits.
The northeast plateau is famous for its rich archaeological and anthropological heritage.
You will find tropical islands in the southern peninsula. The people on this place are involved in fishing, rubber cultivation and tin mining.

The people of Thailand are very friendly and hospitable. This place is rich in monumental heritage and famous for its beaches. Thailand is an ideal holiday destination for all, from those who are looking for a romantic holiday, to shoppers to the food lovers as you get to taste varieties of sea food, down in the street to the most expensive restaurants. It offers something to every traveler.

Many travelers also come here for adventurous holiday. As this place offer all kinds of sport for all ages like scuba diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing and water-skiing .After all these activities you can simply relax by lounging on the beautiful beach sipping your favorite drink with a good company.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.Bankok means “city of angels”, it is a small Thailand in itself. It is the centre of commercial, industrial and cultural activities. If you are looking for peace and simplicity you can visit the Buddhist temples and the amazing part is it stands by side by side with nightclubs and cafés. You can see monks walking in their red robes all over the place and one can only wonder how they can attain such peacefulness in this rush and hectic world.

Another main attraction in Thailand is Phuket known for its exotic island. The nightlife there is lively with its multicuisine restaurants and bars always filled with tourists. But of course if are looking for a quite meal you can do that by going to the right place.

Chiang Mai is another place which is a combination of modern city life and the old village charm. There are elaborate temples and cultural relics some of which are very old close to 700 years. On the top of the mountain is Doi Suthep monastery which overlooks the fertile valley embracing Chiang Mai.The local night bazaar is the favorite shopping place for tourists where you can get hand made local stuff, tribal wears and also latest modern junks for a good bargain.

You will have no problem communicating as most of the hotels, restaurants and tourist places speak English and other European languages. There are various modes of transportation. You can either hire a taxi to go around the city, or take the city bus .There is also something called Tuk-Tuk, a three wheeler. You would definitely enjoy the open air ride on this three wheeler and for longer destinations there are trains always running to all the places.

Thailand is blessed with three seasons-summers from February to May, Rainy season from June to October with plenty of sunshine and the cold season from November to January. A lot of people go for holidays in Thailand during December and January as it is the perfect season to relax and party. Thailand becomes a mini world as people from all over the world come here for holidays during this season.

Surely now you know what your next holiday destination is -God’s very own creation Thailand!!!

Tags: Holiday, Thailand

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Enjoying Your Phuket Thailand Vacations

Phuket is a dream destination for travelers especially for those who are beach enthusiasts. If you are planning on your Phuket Thailand vacations, it is necessary to know the different exciting beaches where you can have the most enjoyable time ever. Beaches in Phuket are famous around the world.

Travelers from the world over have their Phuket Thailand vacations because of these beautiful beaches. Most of these beaches can be seen just along the coast of Phuket as well as on the island. If you want to experience an exciting nightlife, Patong is the best place to be. Patong is known for its fantastic nightlife as well as different activities whether during the day or night.

For people who want more solitude, the beach to go to is the Nai Thon beach, which has fascinating views. Nai Thon does not have the crowds compared to other beaches so you can enjoy the serenity it provides. Its unspoiled nature is perfect for every tourist's Phuket Thailand vacations.

If you are in Phuket, you should visit the Wat Chalong or known as the Chalong Temple, which is full of Phuket culture and history. There was a legend that Wat Chaitararam was a place where miracles were performed and that the Wat had healing powers. You can see the world-famous Buddhist statues including Pho Than Jao Nonsi as well as the temples of Luang Pho Gleum and Luang Poh Chuang. A splinter of Lord Buddha's bone is located at the Grand Pagoda that dominates the temple. As you walk through the area, you can see the paintings that hang all over the walls depicting the life of the Buddha.

Thailand is known for Thai boxing sport and you should not miss watching a Muay Thai match, especially if you are into boxing. Muay Thai originated in Thailand and it is one of the most popular sports in the place. You can go to the boxing stadium located in Phuket town every Friday night to experience Muay Thai boxing with rituals and accompanied by music.

Tourists can take a leisure walk along Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, which is one of Phuket's virgin rainforest. It was transformed into a national park where travelers can enjoy the beauty of nature. Trekkers can go for an eight kilometers trek to the park that leads to the magnificent Tonsai waterfall.

You can visit the old Phuket where you can find the streets full of one hundred year old shops that were renovated into small beautiful hotels, shops and restaurants. The town gives you a different feel of Phuket with its old attractions.

Your perfect Phuket Thailand vacations will never be complete with your comfortable stay in luxurious hotels, holiday homes and villas. Different types of villas are located anywhere in the area. Choose from service apartments, luxury beachfront villas to hilltop villas that offer you with breathtaking views of the ocean. All these accommodations are available whether you intend to stay just for the weekend or even for the whole month.

To know more about Phuket Thailand vacations, it is necessary to check different websites to get the best deals of hotel accommodations, trips and vacation packages.

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Thailand as a Tour Destination

Thinking of Thailand as a tour destination? Think exotic, oriental, majestic and more!

Thailand’s boundaries stretch to neighboring regions of Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean. The exciting Eastern city of Thailand offers immense scope for sea, air and road travel, the holiday plan usually dependent on a tourist’s budget. Its four main regions, namely North, Central Plain or the Chao Phraya River Basin, North East (Korat Plateau) and South Peninsula live up to the true meaning of ‘thai,’ literally meaning free and denoting the same in its multicultural diversity that happily coexists with its diverse inhabitants.

Agriculturally rich, with paddy fields dotted landscape that make room for heritage palaces and famous temples alike, modern Thailand comes as a pleasant surprise for the global traveler: natural beauty of many beaches and islands, innumerable shopping bargains and vibrant festivities of carnivals and shopping centers that offer wide variety in local foods and gourmet cuisine, exotic hill - tribe villages and ancient ruins all contribute to Thailand’s cosmopolitan air as a tour destination.

Thailand as a tour destination: its many exciting activities and pleasures.

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand with the King of Thailand revered as the supreme monarch and also the patron of all religions embraced by the people. Thus, Thailand has religious tolerance woven into its social fabric and respects people of all races. This multiculturalism makes Thailand a hot favorite as a tour destination for the global traveler with add-on visits to nearby cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and other major southern Thai towns being part of an avid tourist’s list. Places of tourist interest in Thailand include Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and Koh Samet while provinces like Krabi, Koh Libong, Koh Hai provides great photographic memoirs of Thailand as a tour destination.

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Travel To Krabi And Phi Phi Islands - Amazing Thailand Attractions

Krabi is a province of Thailand located in the southern area and has fantastic beaches along the shore plus many wonderful islands that you just can’t imagine how beautiful they are. Phi Phi Islands is one of the very famous spots in Krabi that travelers can’t miss.

About the weather in Krabi province, there are only two seasons in this region, which is different from other parts of Thailand. The summer season lasts from January to April, and the rainy season lasts from May to December. The temperature is between 16.9 and 37.3 degree Celsius throughout the year.

You can get to Krabi by car or by plane. If you drive there from Bangkok, you go along the highway number 4 through many provinces. The overall distance is approximately 946 kilometers. If you go to Krabi from Phuket, you can use highway number 402 connected to highway number 4 through Pangnga province and Krabi province. The total distance is approximately 185 kilometers. Also, the public transportation companies provide air-conditioned buses for people everyday from Bangkok and Phuket. If you decide to go there by plane from Bangkok airport, it takes about 1 hour and a half to Krabi province.

Diving at Krabi Sea is a very exciting activity that you can’t miss. Scuba diving is very popular there. Many diving service companies provide the travelers boat services from Phuket and Phi Phi Don Island. Some famous diving spots are around Phi Phi Islands and King Cruiser shipwreck. Around Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le Islands, there are many diving spots such as Nui beach, Maya beach, and sea caves. You may rent a small boat called Rue Hang Yao from Phi Phi Don Island to these spots. Bidah Islands and Ha Islands (Ha means five) are also popular diving spots.

Phi Phi Islands is one of the famous islands in Thailand located in Krabi province. The word “Phi Phi” comes from a tree named “Pi-a-pee.” In 1983, the government of Thailand announced that Phi Phi Islands became a member of Nopparatthara - Phi Phi Islands national park. This park includes six islands which are Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, Bidah Nok, Bidah Nai, Yung and Phai Islands. The distance between Krabi beach and Phi Phi Islands is approximately 42 kilometers.

Lanta Islands is one of the most amazing spots in Krabi. It is located in the far south of the province. In the past, villagers called this islands “Poo-Lao-Sa-Tak” which means the islands with long beaches. Some famous islands are Lanta Yai Islands, Ngai Island, Rok Nai Island and Rok Nok Island. There are a lot of resorts and hotels on the islands. You can go to Lanta Islands from Krabi beach or Phi Phi Islands.

Ao Nang is a place that has wonderful scenario with beautiful beaches such as Rai Le Beach, Tam Pra Nang Beach and Nam Mao Beach. These three beaches cannot be reached by car because they are surrounded by mountains. You can go there by boat from Ao Nang.

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What are the Famous Festivals in Thailand?

Songkran Festival in mid April

In Thailand, as also in the Dai People communities of Southern China [ where the Tai originated from ], the Tai Lao in Laos,and the Buddhist communities in Cambodia and Myanmar, the Calender New Year is occassioned between 13 and 15 April each year. The Thai use a lunisolar calendar [ both the Sun rotation and the moon phase rotation ] and the date was fixed on a solar calculation. The word '' Songkran '' is derived from the Indian sancript word '' Sankanta '' which means '' a change or move ''. The dates are now fixed arbitarily but originally would move with the move of the sun on the vernal equinox. This occured as a consequence of '' precession '' and the tilt of the earth and the effect of its orbit. Over the past the dates have changed but are now fixed irrespective of the original rationale and what would otherwise be the astrological calculation. From a natural perspective the dates also signal the end of the dry season.

Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated in all of Thailand in November. Loy Krathong celebrates the end of the rainy season which is also the full moon of the 12 th month of the Thai Lunar Calendar. Loy or Loi means to float and Krathong or Kratong means a raft the sive of ones open hand. The point of the festival is to prepare and then float at full moon down a stream, river or other water water, an elaborately prepared offering on the raft to be released and float away by water to release with it as a symbolic gester, ones bad feelings, anger, stress and grievances.

The festival has its beginnings in the Indianisation process of South East Asia and an original Brahmanical festival from Northern India. Many Thais also accept natural forces as spirits or '' gods '' and the floating of the Krathong is symbolic gesture to the Goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The Thais proclaim the festival originated in Thailand at Sukhothai at the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom, but here then also Indian and Brahmanical influences with powerful.

Bai Sri

The Bai Sri is a blessing ceremony performed to bestow happiness and prosperity to a person or place. The ceremony features a beautifully-shaped ornament called a khrueng bai sri ton, made of elaborately-folded banana leaves. A container is beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and banana leaves, It is often used during auspicious ceremonies. The popular forms of the Bai Sri offerings are the Bai Sri Pak Cham and Bai Sri Yai.

Bai Sri Pak Cham is small and looks like a bowl. A section of banana trunk can be used to make this form of Bai Sri, which is often used in a ceremony to worship deities and in a ceremony to pay homage to teachers. Bai Sri Yai is generally used in significant events, such as a royal ceremony to strengthen the royal Khwan. According to ancient traditions, a nine-tier Bai Sri is for the King and the Queen, a seven-tier Bai Sri is for a prince or a princess, a five-tier Bai Sri is for the royal guest with the status of a president, a three-tier Bai Sri is for a minister or for use in the wedding of a royal grandchild.

Bai Sri rituals are often performed in Chiang Mai. Thai people preserve this rite as a legacy for future generations. You will find different kinds of Bai Sri Pak Cham at Tom Lamyai Flower Market, Vichayanun rd, Chiang Mai.

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Thailand (heart of Asia) Holidays

HEART OF ASIA
One of the world's most popular cuisines. beautiful beaches & islands. Friendly, charming people. Warm weather all year round. Cheap prices for most things. Colourful, enchanting temples. An exotic culture preserved through the ages in a country that has never been colonised. Where are they talking about? Thailand, of coursework!

WHY THAILAND
You can travel to Thailand, if you require to experience lovely smiles & gentleness of Thai people & scenic & cultural treasures of Thai land. Thailand certainly is the “land of smiles,” which can make you smirk, too. It’s really is enamoring & exotic country, known for its inviting people, culture, scenery, cuisine, & overall lifestyle.

VACATIONS, MADE MEMORABLE ONES
Arguably the most exotic location in South East Asia, Thailand offers travelers & holidaymakers a huge range of holiday possibilities. It doesn't matter whether you're a budget traveler wanting to explore a foreign land on a tight budget, or a well-heeled traveler who wants to be pampered & experience the best, Thailand has something for you.It is still possible to find a pristine stretch of beautiful white sand beach that you can have all to yourself. Lazing away the days on a hammock under a palm tree on a mile long beach, without someone else in sight,swaying in the breeze under a cloudless sky as the waves gently break against the soft white sand.Such an experience can still be had. Welcome to Thailand!

A FREQUENT CHOICE IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Located in the heart of Asia, Thailand has been captivating foreign visitors for decades. Previous visitors return year after year & as the word spreads, first-time visitors come flooding in. The number of foreign visitors to Thailand continues to increase & year after year, records are broken as international visitors flock to this fascinating country.

Bangkok
Phuket
Ko Samui
Ko Samet
Pattaya
Hua Hin
Isaan
Historic Places
Ko Chang

MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
This page could largely be separated into one separate sections. The first part gives general information about travelling in Thailand while the second part goes into detail about a number of the places to visit & a number of my feelings about them & experiences there.

LANDING IN THAILAND
Most people arriving in Thailand fly into Suwannaphum international airport in Bangkok. Your first time in Thailand, which may be your first time in Asia, can be over a little confusing. you are over likely jumping off the plane after a lengthy trip & probably require to get to your hotel as shortly as possible.

LEGAL LENGTH FOR YOUR STAY IN THAILAND
Visitors from most Western countries to Thailand get 30 days permission to enter Thailand upon arrival. This is not a visa per se. If you really like Thailand you can exit the country & re-enter immediately thus getting another 30 days. You cannot do this indefinitely & after spending 90 days in Thailand in a 180 day period you cannot return for 90 days, unless you apply for a visa at a Thai embassy or consulate outside of the country first. (There is more on the whole visa issue in the living & working section.) Holders of South Korean, Brazilian & Peruvian passports get 90 days permission. A lot of developing countries get permission to enter for a shorter period of time & visitors from some countries may have to apply in advance for a visa.You can apply in advance for a one month tourist visa which can actually be extended in the country for another 30 days at any Immigration office. The extension costs 1,900 baht.I believe that you may be able to get a multiple entry tourist visa although I personally believe that strictly for tourism purposes, five months is plenty.

ACCOMMODATION
No matter what your budget, you can find something to suit. Thailand & indeed Bangkok has a huge range of places to stay. Whether you require the opulence of the Oriental Hotel, the filth of a Khao Sarn Road backpacker hole or somewhere in between, you will be able to find it in Bangkok. & right throughout Thailand, you will be able to find something to suit your needs, at least most of the time in most places.Bangkok's top end hotels continue to rate highly. The Oriental Hotel, The Dusit Thani, The Peninsula & The Shangri-La are often mentioned when you hear the top hotels in the world being talked about. These are five star hotels in every sense & should suit the most demanding of travelers Throughout Thailand, you have all of the big international hotel chains like Marriot, Sheraton, Regent, Hyatt represented. You also have some nice Thai hotel chains like Amari. & then you have got a lot of stand alone hotels. At the lower end of the range you have guesthouses. I gather that camping grounds are available in some places but having seen one snake show too lots of, I think I'll give that one a miss, thank you.Of the beaches & islands in Thailand, the most popular spots like Pattaya, Phuket & Ko Samui are oozing with a variety of accommodation options. But this is not always the case at a number of the more off the beaten track type places. It should come as no surprise that the further off the beaten track you get, generally the harder it is to find quality accommodation. Even in a number of the islands the quality of accommodation is not always that nice - & sometimes the prices, while cheap by international standards, can be pricey by local Thai standards. Places like Ko Samet & Ko Chang are classic examples where, in my personal opinion, accommodation prices really are higher than they should be.

Khao San Road
If you're travelling on a budget then Khao San Road is actually well located for someone visiting Bangkok as it is walking distance to the river & the most interesting & historically significant parts of the city. The must see Grand Palace is about a mile or s away, easily walk able, even in Bangkok's oppressive heat. Thailand is not an pricey country to travel through & if you are on a real budget, you can do fine. Let's look at the cost of accommodation in Bangkok first. A room in the top end hotels tends to go for 5,000 baht or more a night. The best spots, like the Oriental may even go for one times this. As I mentioned earlier, hotels in Bangkok really are excellent & the top end places are fabulous. My pick is the Sukhothai which has a wonderful combination of Thai style with modern convenience. it is worth going for a wander through as it really is that nice! As Bangkok can be difficult to get around due to the terrible traffic conditions & the fact that the skytrain & underground only cover a small part of the city, one needs to think carefully about the area where one chooses to stay. The most popular areas are Sukhumvit Road, Silom Road, the Siam Square / Pratunam area, Banglampoo & the river The prices of ccommodation in Phuket & Ko Samui are much the same as in Bangkok. These are now big international beach resorts with lots of fabulous places to stay & as such the prices reflect what people are prepared to pay for them. On the other hand, Pattaya & Chiang Mai both have high quality accommodation available at prices which simply do not exist - at least what you get for that money - in Bangkok. This is one reason to visit Pattaya & Chiang Mai - you get nice value for money on your accommodation.

GETTING AROUND THAILAND

TRAVEL BY AIR
Thai Airways is the main domestic airline & airfares for flights within Thailand are reasonably priced, the schedules are nice with lots of flights to the most popular destinations. Further, the planes are generally in nice condition. Thai Airways flies to most parts of the country, but not all. The notable exception of where Thai does not fly is the tropical paradise of Ko Samui. there is only one airline which flies between Ko Samui & Bangkok & that is Bangkok Airways who I believe own the airport at Samui. The fare to fly from Bangkok to Ko Samui on Bangkok Airways is more pricey than the fare on Thai to fly from Bangkok to Phuket, something which lots of people query, with some feeling that Bangkok Airways really stings you when you fly between Bangkok & Ko Samui. Bangkok Airways also flies to some neighbouring countries as well as operating domestic flights within Thailand, but it is the route to Ko Samui for which they are most famous. Bangkok Airways has tried to reposition themselves & now markets themselves as Asia's boutique carrier. .

TRAVEL BY CAR
Hiring cars or even a big bicycle is one way to get around Thailand. The quality of the roads in Thailand is generally lovely. automobile rental is cheap in Thailand which is a little surprising given that the cost of buying a automobile in Thailand is much dearer than in the West. Generally, driving in provincial Thailand is easy, the drivers are less aggressive, there is much less traffic - & the further you get from Bangkok, the less traffic & congestion you find. However, wherever you go, signs are generally in Thai only. In a few places, & Pattaya is one exception, some road signs are in Thai. Fortunately street signs are in both Thai & English nationwide, something which I have been impressed with. Petrol in Thailand is reasonably priced & as at March 2007, the price is around 26 baht a litre for the highest grade, 95 octane petrol.

HIGH-LOW SEASONS, THERE’S NONE SO SERIOUS DIVISIONS:
The tourist high season runs from around late November through to mid April. At certain times, Christmas, New Year, the Chinese New Year & Songkran the most popular beaches & islands can be busy to the point that getting accommodation can become a bit of a problem. Hotels & even some guesthouses hike their prices - & people are willing to pay it. So if you are travelling over any of these periods it pays to book well in advance. The Songkran period really marks the end of the tourism high season for the year. there's a quantity of other holidays throughout the year & on a number of these holidays nightlife areas & bars & discos can be closed - & the sale of alcohol is outlawed. Some bars slip the boys in brown a bit of money so they can remain open. Generally speaking it is the Buddhist holidays & December 5th, the birthday of HM The King.

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