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Tour Abroad for Hong Kong and Singapore for enchanting experience

2011-06-06T00:34:00.001+07:00

Tour Abroad for Hong Kong and Singapore for enchanting experience

The culture of Hong Kong and Singapore is something that magnetizes and appeals many people. For this reason tour Hong Kong and tour Singapore are very famous among countless tourists. The two places attract millions of visitors every year and why not? Hong Kong and Singapore beauty is self explicable of its phenomenal tourism industry. Several people while planning for tour abroad get hooked on the beauty of this culture. Exploring this culture can be very exciting but only if you have good travel agent. With Thai Royal Travel, you can plan your vacation really well and every moment will be worth the efforts! While we make efforts to make your tour abroad absolutely exciting, you just need to relax and feel good about your journey!

Hong Kong and Singapore tourism has a lot to offer to its visitors. Whether you are looking forward to shopping, dining, dancing, enjoying their culture and tradition, practicing adventure or may be just relaxing, tour Singapore and Hong Kong will offer you all in just one package. You might be aware of excellent and auspicious culture of feng shui. Well, if you are someone who loves to know about this culture and tradition, then tour Hong Kong and tour Singapore is definitely your cup of coffee. The exceptionally unique local culture can be explored at Hong Kong and Singapore.

Tour Hong Kong and Tour Singapore with Thai Royal Travel can be a perfect way to spend your vacations at the most spectacular views. If you are hard-core romantic, Hong Kong's South China Sea is where you can enjoy the calm and composed romance with your partner. If you are someone who enjoys adventure and something unique, then you must not miss out on floating restaurants of Hong Kong near Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. Well, in all there is something for everyone, no matter what kind of person you are- romantic, adventurous, art loving, party animal or relaxed.

Singapore too offers you a deep insight into its unique culture. River tours, walking tours or even trishaw tours are some of the popular ones for touring Singapore. The Peranaken culture of Singapore is something you must explore with your friends or family. All these things can be made possible with Thai Royal Travel complete packages which involve tour abroad facilities.

Nevertheless, for enjoying a place completely it is very essential to choose the right travel agent. Thai Royal Travel can make your tour abroad exceptionally memorable with its unique services. Spectacular Hong Kong and Singapore views will leave you mesmerized. The horseracing, traditional insight of culture, heritage tour, daylight cruise, harbor views, light shows and much more will leave you speechless.

Singapore Universal Studios, Hong Kong shopping and dining experience as well as Disneyland for kids is something that has everything to offer to all the people, men, women or kids! You can take pleasure in all these places and relax at the same time with serene places. All you need to do to enjoy this tour is contact Thai Royal Travel. So do not wait and get started!

Surasak Kitti-Amporn is the author of this article on Tour Hong Kong. Find more information on Tour Abroad here.

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Mekong Tours, Mekong Tour

2011-05-13T22:12:00.000+07:00

Mekong Tours, Mekong Tour

Mekong tours 1 day

Operation: Daily departure
Duration: 1 day
Tour route: Saigon - My Tho - Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh city tour )
Brief description: Drift down the busy branches of the Mekong and into the peaceful canals. Visit an island orchard, see the daily life of farmers and try exotic seasonal fruits unique to the region. See what life is really like for Mekong locals by exploring a quiet island on foot, take a sampan cruise on small waterway. We call on coconut-candy workshop and visit a bee farm to try some honey with rice wine or tea...More Mekong tour 1 day

Mekong boat trip tour 2 days

Operation: Daily departure
Duration: 2 days / 1 night
Tour route: Saigon -Cai Be - Can Tho - Saigon

Brief description: A boat for a journey through the town's floating market.

See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers.

Cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to island where we stop to enjoy seasonal fruits...More Mekong boat trip...

Saigon Chau Doc Can Tho tours

Duration: 3 days/ 2 night
Operation: Daily
Tour route: Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon
Brief description: This new tour combines cycling and kayaking in Mekong delta, so you can explore some islands where locals have never seen any tourists. Depending on the river tide, our guide will arrange the kayak route. Therefore, we can not have a fixed program (see below a draft itinerary). The water color is light brown, as it originates high in Tibet, flowing 4500km through China, Myanmar - Laos - Thai border and through Cambodia and Vietnam, passing many volcanic red soil plateaus. Swimming in Mekong river? No problem, local people swim in the river everyday!...

Mekong cruise tours

Operation: Daily departure
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Tour route: Saigon - My tho - Can Tho - Thot Lot - Chau Doc
Brief description: Can Tho, Chau Doc, Saigon and My Tho - Take boat and cruise on Mekong and Rach Ngong Rivers observing the local life and natural beauty of countryside. Visit floating markets, fruit orchards and fish-breeding villages on the course.
Other major sightseeing spots include Vinh Trang Pagoda, Sam Mountain, Lady Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple... Mekong cruise tours

Impress Travel Company Limited Mekong tours

Phone: 844 - 3734 6777, Fax: 844 - 3232 1106, Hotline: 8912 225 694, Email: info@impresstravel.vn, Address: No.10, Lane 8, Lieu Giai str., Hanoi, Vietnam

Impress Travel Vietnam - Mekong tours | Ho Chi Minh city Travel | Ho Chi Minh city tour

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China Vacations Information - Thai Restaurants In Beijing

2011-02-28T11:48:00.001+07:00

China Vacations Information - Thai Restaurants In Beijing

This article is about the China vacations and Beijing travel. You can find some useful information in it if you are planning your Beijing travel now.

The Thai food is lots of people's favourite food and you can find many good Thai restaurants in Beijing. If you are not very familiar with the menus in Thai restaurants, you can try the house specails. They are the dishes recommended by the Thai chef and you will not be disappointed with them.

1. Red Basil Thai Restaurant:
Address: 8 Xinyuanli Nanxiaojiejia Street, Beijing.
How to get here: Take the Line 403, 302 or 300 city bus to the station named "Niuwangmiao".
Capacity: 100 people.
House specials: Thai fried prawn cutlets (60 rmb), Thai hot and sour soup (40 rmb), Thai fried fish cutlets (60 rmb), Thai ginger flavor chicken soup ( 40 rmb ).
Some comments: One of my friends said that the Red Basil Thai Restaurant is the best Thai restaurant in Beijing. In my point of view, this restaurant is not a bad choice for a Thai food fan but it is a little bit expensive. This restaurant has been in good business for a long time now. It is close to the Nanyin Mansion and Yansha Mansion. The good location helps it to attracts more and more customers.

2. Water Lily (Hehua) Thai Restaurant:
Address: Guomao Center West SB124A, Beijing.
Tel: 65055386.
Capacity: 50 people.
House specials: Curry dishes (48 rmb), Thai hot and sour shrimp soup (66 rmb).
Some comments: You can find the native Thai food here and the delivery service is also available here (with reasonable price).

3. Saigon Inn:
Address: Gloria Plaza Hotel, Chaoyang districe, Beijing.
Capacity: 108 people.
House specials: Red Lion-head with Single Narial Bouquet (48 rmb), The peacock spreads its tail feathers (298 rmb), Sixiwanzi (98 rmb).

4. Asian Star Restaurant:
Address: 26 Dongsanhuanbeilu Street, Chaoyang district, Beijing.
Capacity: 150 people.
House specials: Kashao Tofu (28 rmb), Indian Ka Chicken (35 rmb), Masalaka (35 rmb).Â ( more info about the China vacations, Beijing flights and Lhasa travel at Travel2ChinaInfo Dot COM )

5. Panqumei Thai Restaurant (South-east Asian Dishes, sea food):
Address: 25 Xiaoyunlu Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
How to get here: Take the Line 300 city bus to the station named "Jingxin Mansion".
Capacity: 40 - 50 people.

6. Changtaiyuan Thai Restaurant (South-east Asian Dishes):
Address: 8 Fangzhuanglu Street, Fengtai District, Beijing.
How to get here: Take the Line 63, 12, 112, 52 to the station named "Fangzhuang".
Capacity: 120 people.
House specials: Curry Chicken (30 rmb for the small dish and 40 rmb for the big dish), Xianglanye Fried Chicken (38 - 48 rmb), Hot and sour shrimp soup (68 - 88 rmb), Thaizhishadie (39 - 45 rmb).
Comments: The food here is the native Thai food and all the spices are from Thailand. The chef here is one of the top 10 Thai food chefs in Thailand. This place is your good choice if you wanna have some real Thai food in Beijing. ( Useful info for your China vacations if you are a Thai food fan.Â :-)Â )

Copyright belongs to Travel2ChinaInfo Dot COM .Â You can find more information about lhasa travel,beijing flights and china vacations from our web site.
NOTE: Permission is granted by the copyright owner to disseminate this article in whole or in part provided credit is given to the author (with a link to the article's source URL Travel2ChinaInfo Dot COM ) and this NOTE is not removed.

About the author:Shane Lee.More flights,airfares info at:cheap flights,non-stop flights,direct flights,china travel.And:airlines with non-stop flights san diego to florida.And:cheapest flights from san diego to minneapolis may 14.

About the author:Shane Lee.More flights,airfares info at:cheap flights,non-stop flights,direct flights,china travel.And:cheap flight tickets from bwi to las.And:deal from phoenix to jfk.

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Travel To Thailand More Than 90 Days? New Visa Rules From October 1, 2006

2011-02-24T23:33:00.001+07:00

Travel To Thailand More Than 90 Days? New Visa Rules From October 1, 2006

Have you been in Thailand before? Thailand has many of the best beaches and islands in the world. The culture is unique and people are friendly. Many of foreigners are relocating to Thailand for several reasons.

In the town, Bangkok, has all the civilize and technology. Convenient transportation by Bus, Sky train and underground transportation. There is also boat transportation for the river, Chao Praya River, which is in the center of capital city.

Night life in Bangkok is very crowd of people. There is pub and bar for straights and gays on the same road in Silom and many areas.

Before October 1, 2006, get Thailand visa is very easy. Many countries can have visa on arrival for 30 days. Then just leave at any border and get in again you will get another 30 days waive visa stamp.

Now all change!

"On October 1 the Kingdom of Thailand introduced a new visa policy to restrict the number of times a foreigner can enter the country during a certain period of time.

The policy states that one can only stay in Thailand for 90 days in a period of six months, after which one must leave the country and stay outside for another 90 days before they can re-enter."

This mean you will still get 30 days visa on arrival and if it going to expire, you just leave at the border and get in again you will get another 30 days. If you already stay in Thailand for 90 days, you need to leave the country or stay outside for another 90 days!

If you apply for visa at any Thailand Embassy, you will get 60 days single entry visa and then you can extend only another 30 days for 1,900 Baht. ($ US 50)

Vsa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity.

The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.

More information, please call
Thai Immigration, Bangkok. Head office: +66 2287-3101 to 10
website: www.immigration.go.th

Travel Network is a travel resource website. We offers the latest resource for traveler for Asia travel, Cruise Travel and much more.

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Medical Tourism, Medical Treatment and Travel in Thailand

2011-02-24T00:38:00.000+07:00

Medical Tourism, Medical Treatment and Travel in Thailand

Medical tourism continues to show strong growth around the world as costs of healthcare, and often waiting times, in developed countries also continue to rise. Potential health care recipients are turning outside their own countries, in ever increasing numbers, and Thailand is one of the main countries to benefit from this trend.Â Thailand, considered by many to be the global leader in providing healthcare for medical tourists, has seen robust growth in this market over the last ten years.Â Widely used estimates suggest that the number of medical tourists has risen from 500,000 in 2001 to over 1.4 million in 2009.Â Most of this increase was achieved in the last five years and is currently generating an income to Thailand of around billion.Â The most important markets for the industry in Thailand are the Middle East and Europe.Â With The Middle East accounting for over 50% of this total, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is currently involved in setting up several initiatives to further develop this market.

The number of hospitals and clinics to choose from in Thailand, along with treatments provided, is extensive.Â Further, patients can choose to undergo their surgeries from any one of the hospitals located in the world class destinations of; Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.Â Some of the most popular procedures include; cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, cosmetic surgery and dental care.Â The actual cost savings on these procedures can be huge.Â For example, the cost of a heart bypass or valve replacement, can typical cost between 0,000 to 0,000 in a developed country.Â In contrast, the same surgery, performed to the same standard, would cost around ,000 in Thailand.

Thailand has long been a favorite medical tourist destination for a number of reasons.Â Firstly, the actual facilities and equipment available is world class.Â Historically, Thailand was the first nation in the region to receive ISO 9001 accreditation for one of its hospitals, and with significant investments made by the medical industry; many other hospitals have now achieved similar status.Â Equally as important, the training of the medical staff is commonly to the same standard as the West.Â Thai doctors not only undergo a first class education within their won country, but additionally, often undertake specialist training, usually either in the United States or Europe.Â Of course, along with state of the art facilities, well trained staff, and huge discounts available compared to their native countries, medical tourists are also attracted to Thailand for its many attractions as a world class tourist destination.

Thailand has long remained one of the top holiday destinations worldwide and for a recuperating patient has potentially much to offer.Â There are beautiful exotic beaches, large areas of National Park, splendid historical and cultural attractions, excellent cuisine and equally first rate shopping.Â Another lure for potential visitors are the many wonderful spas available throughout the country, which provide the perfect way to relax and recover, before returning home. Additionally to this, if staying in Bangkok, a visitor can enjoy the excitement and international facilities of a city, again voted World's Best City by Travel and Leisure magazine.Â Regardless of the what medical treatment is required, itâs easy to see why ever increasing numbers are attracted to Thailand, as a way of reducing medical costs, whilst receiving world class treatment, combined with being able to enjoy the many attractions Thailand has to offer.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand has now proudly launched its new medical portal website www.ThailandMedTourism.com to provide useful, legitimate and up-to-date advice about medical tourism and medical providers in Thailand for international patients who are interested in getting world class healthcare in the kingdom from plastic surgery to treatments for more life threatening illnesses.

Mark Alexander is the Senior SEO and area manager of SEO2Marketing.com and SEO2Marketing.co.uk. Bangkok SEO services and Internet Marketing Serving International Companies in Thailand and The UK, search engine optimization and Internet marketing.

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Vietnam Classic Tour

2011-02-10T00:04:00.001+07:00

Vietnam Classic Tour

Vietnam Classic Tour

Code: VN01 Routes: Saigon - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang -Da Nang - Hoi An - Hue - Hai phong -Ha Long - Hanoi Duration: 11 Days

Itinerary in brief
Day 1:Â Saigon - Arrival
Day 2 : Saigon
Day 3 : Saigon - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang
Day 4:Â Nha Trang
Day 5 : Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An
Day 6 : Hoi An - Hue
Day 7:Â Hue
Day 8:Â Hue - Hanoi
Day 9 : Hanoi - Halong
Day 10 : Halong - Hanoi
Day 11:Â Hanoi - Departure

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Detail Itinerary

Day 1:Â Saigon - Arrival
On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafÃ©s. ( If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life.Overnight in Saigon.

Day 2 : Saigon [ B]
Sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown)8 hrs
Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, with the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new bars. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is District 5, the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cholon, which means 'Big Market'.NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL: built between 1877 and 1883 and set in the heart of Saigon's government quarter. It has a neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped with iron spires. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary.CENTRAL POST OFFICE: a French-style building with a glass canopy and iron frame, situated next to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The structure was built between 1886 and 1891 and is by far the largest post office in Vietnam.CITY HALL: completed in 1908, also known as âHotel de Villeâ, and located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard. With its ornate gingerbread faÃ§ade, it looks like the town hall of a French town. (May be viewed from the outside only).OPERA HOUSE: built around the turn of the century and first renovated in the 1940s, the building housed the lower division of the National Assembly. Today it is a Municipal Theatre and also known as the Saigon Concert Hall. (May be viewed from the outside only).JADE EMPEROR PAGODA: was a key meeting place for Chinese secret societies. It has very colorful and mysterious ambience.
REUNIFICATION PALACE: this was the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by tanks on 30 April 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state.WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM: collections of weapons and photographs from two Indochina wars are exhibited along with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century.
BEN THANH MARKET: the central market of Saigon, its surrounding streets make up one of the city's liveliest areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average resident of Saigon is available here.GIAC LAM PAGODA: the oldest pagoda in Saigon, built at the end of the 17th century. Because the last reconstruction here was in 1900, the architecture, layout and ornamentation remain almost unaltered by the modernist renovations that have transformed so many other religious structures in Vietnam. Ten monks live in this pagoda, which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism.
BINH TAY MARKET: Cholon's main marketplace, much of the business conducted here is wholesale.THIEN HAU PAGODA: built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases.Overnight in Saigon

Day 3 : Saigon - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang [ B]
By vehicle from Saigon to Phan Thiet
Located in Binh Thuan province, Phan Thiet is 198 km from Saigon and it lies south of Cam Ranh bay on the southernmost stretch of Central Vietnam.Phan Thiet is best known for its nuoc man (fish sauce) and fishing industry.The population includes descendents of the Chams, who controlled this area until 1962. Mui Ne Beach is famous for its enormous sand dunes and is located twenty-two kilometers east of Phan Thiet, near a fishing village at the tip of the Mui Ne Peninsula. Journey north along the coast and Highway 1 past Phan Rang, Lam and Dien Khanh. Ninh Tuan Province, where Phan Rang is located, is home to tens of thousands of descendents of the Cham people.PO KLONG GARAI CHAM TOWERS: the four brick towers constructed at the end of the 13th century, during the reign of the Cham monarch Jaya Simhavarman III, were built as Hindu temples and stand on the top of a crumbly granite hill.Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 4:Â Nha Trang [ B]
Excursion by boat to various islands and the seawater aquarium
EBONY ISLAND: just south east of Bamboo Island, it is known for snorkeling.
HON TAM: southwest of Bamboo Island, Hon Tam is similar to the nearby Ebony Island.SEAWATER AQUARIUM: Mieu Island has an important fish-breeding farm where over forty species of fish, crustaceans and other marine life are raised in three separate compartments.Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 5 : Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An [ B]
Transfer from Nha Trang to Cam Ranh Airport
Flight from Nha Trang to Danang
Sightseeing in Danang, China Beach and the Marble Mountains
Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.CHAM MUSEUM: founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham sculpture is the finest in the world. Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking.CHINA BEACH: made famous in the American TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers north and south of the Marble Mountains. During the war, American soldiers were airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'.MARBLE MOUNTAINS: five stone hillocks, once islands, made of marble. Each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. When the Champas ruled this area, these same caves were used as Hindu shrines.Journey south past the Marble Mountains and small villages.Sightseeing Hoi An by cyclo Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It is best to visit some of the following sites of Hoi An by walking around and/or by cyclo.QUAN CONG TEMPLE: founded in 1653, the main altar is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilded statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Stone plaques on the walls list contributors to the contruction and repair of the temple. The temple was open to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau â" itâs a small chinese style temple with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary.PHUOC KIEN PAGODA: Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area. The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen).
JAPANESE COVERED BRIDGE: the first bridge on this site was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. The bridge was provided with a roof so it could be used as a shelter from rain and sun.TRAN FAMILY CHAPEL: this house for worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from the family members. The Tran family traces its origins to China and moved to Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building reflects the influence of Chinese and Japanese styles.SA HUYNH MUSEUM: located near the Japanese covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history.PHUNG HUNG HOUSE: one family has been living here for already 8 generations. The house is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style.Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6 : Hoi An - Hue [ B]
By vehicle from Hoi An to Hue
Journey north along Highway 1 past Danang, Lang Co and the Hai Van Pass.
HAI VAN PASS: the pass crosses over a spur of the Truong Son Mountain Range that juts into the South China Sea. It is an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views. LANG CO: a pretty, island-like stretch of palm-shaded sand with a crystal-clear lagoon on one side and many kilometers of beachfront facing the South China Sea.IMPERIAL CITY: located in the Citadel, it was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum.NGO MON GATE: the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure, facing the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as was the bridge across the lotus pond. THAI HOA PALACE: built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns.HALLS OF THE MANDARINS: these buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies held in the Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in 1977.NINE DYNASTIC URNS: these were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiseled into the sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign. FORBIDDEN PURPLE CITY: this was reserved for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to the royal concubines. (Today the site is in ruins).Overnight in Hue.

Day 7:Â Hue [ B]
Sightseeing Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang with boat trip
THIEN MU PAGODA: just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.TOMB OF EMPEROR MINH MANG: a complex built in 1840 by King Minh Mang, known for its magnificent architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs.
TU DUC TOMB: once the Royal Palace of Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, this tomb consists of pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious life.DONG BA MARKET: a local market near the Imperial City.Overnight in Hue.

Day 8:Â Hue - Hanoi [ B]
Flight from Hue to Hanoi
Visit Old Quarters by cyclo
OLD QUARTERS: they have well over a thousand years of history and remain one of Vietnam's most lively and unusual places, where one can buy anything from a gravestone to silk pyjamas. Exploring the maze of back streets is fascinating and there are endless things to buy wool clothes, cosmetics, gold and silver jewellery, silk clothes and herbal medicines. WATER PUPPET SHOW: a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water Puppet Theater is located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9 : Hanoi - HalongÂ [ B]
Sightseeing in Hanoi (half day)
Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks, is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia.
ONE PILLAR PAGODA: built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood on a single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom. TEMPLE OF LITERATURE: founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who dedicated it to Confucius in order to honor scholars and men of literary accomplishment. HOAN KIEM LAKE: right in the heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped with a red star. HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM: in the tradition of Lenin and Stalin before him and Mao after him, the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a site of pilgrimage. (Closed Mondays and Fridays).
OPERA HOUSE: a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the outside only).
Visit Chua But Thap Pagoda
By vehicle from Hanoi to Halong Bay
Journey east along Highway 5 across Hai Hung Province and around Halong Bay.
Overnight in Halong.

Day 10 : Halong - Hanoi [ B, L]
Boat trip Halong Bay (4 hours)
This four-hour boat ride explores Halong Bay, passing the islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates). Stop at one of the islands and visit of one of the following caves.HANG DAU GO: a huge, three-chambered cave, which is reached via 90 steps. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used by Trang Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes used against the Mongol invaders. BO NAU: the "Pelican" caves. THIEN CUNG: "Heaven Palace."
By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi
Journey around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west along Highway 5, across Hai Hung Province.

Day 11:Â Hanoi - Departure [ B]
today we have free time until transfer to airport for your flight to your home .

www.greentrail-indochina.com www.greentrailtourism.com

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Explore Hill Tribes By Bike Tour

2011-02-09T20:58:00.001+07:00

Explore Hill Tribes By Bike Tour

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Bac Can
Day 3: Bac Can - Ba Be National Park
Day 4: Ba Be - Bac Me
Day 5: Bac Me - Ha Giang
Day 6: Ha Giang - Heaven gate pass - Hoang Su Phi
Day 7: Hoang Su Phi - Xin Man - Bac Ha
Day 8: Bac Ha - Sapa
Day 9: Sapa - Than Uyen
Day 10: Than Uyen - Tu Le
Day 11: Tu Le - Nghia Lo
Day 12: Nghia Lo - Yen Bai
Day 13: Yen Bai - Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi - Departure

Detail Itinerary
Day1: Hanoi Arrival
we are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ?s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits Â we embark on a cyclo for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi

Day 2: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Bac Can. (B, L, D, ~80km)
We take bus transfer to Thai Nguyen. Bike ride to Bac Can. First day easy ride up and down hill, scenery of palm trees with village of Tay and Nung a long the way. O/N Bac Can.

Day 3: Bac Can - Ba Be National Park. (B, L, D, ~78km)
Morning ride 20 km outside Bac Can and up hill, turn off highway 3 to a quiet road, great view small village of Tay and Thai on the opposite of the river. Later afternoon we take our boat cruise on Ba Be lakes and walk around Pac Ngoi village. O/N Ba Be national park.

Day 4: Ba Be - Bac Me. (B, L, D, ~ 80km )
Morning boat cruise with our bike to waterfalls, then we start a cycling adventure on a small trail to Bac Me (no jeep support). O/N Bac Me.

Day 5: Bac Me - Ha Giang. (B, L, D, ~ 63km )
Good paved road along Gam river. O/N Ha Giang.

Day 6: Ha Giang - Heaven gate pass - Hoang Su Phi. (B, L, D, ~106km)
Easy ride 45km down highway 2 to Tan Quang where we turn left and up hill to the mountain again. Best mountain view today, chalenge climb through the Heaven gate pass to Hoang Su Phi town. O/N Hoang Su Phi.

Day 7: Hoang Su Phi - Xin Man - Bac Ha. (B, L, D, ~70km)
Some part of the road is bad, but great view along Chay river. This is totally a new road - built on the former trail of the flower H'Mong tribes. O/N Bac Ha.

Day 8: Bac Ha - Sapa (B, L, D, ~ 80km)
A relaxing day promenade around Bac Ha Sunday market, see a market day for all tribes: Tay, Nung, Dao, Flower H?Mong, Giay, and Phu La etc? Afternoon we ride bike around H'Mong village. O/N Sapa.

Day 9: Sapa - Than Uyen. (B, L, D, ~ 95km)
From Sapa we start the dayâs ride with a 15kms climb to the top of the Tram Ton Pass, stopping on route to visit the âsilver waterfallâ. Then itâs a 26kms plunge down to Binh Lu junction. From here we continue along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, there are a number of hard climbs but the magnificent landscape makes the hardship all worthwhile. We finish with a 20kms descent to Than Uyen.

Day 10: Than Uyen - Tu Le (B, L, D, ~ 88km)
We follow the valley out of Than Uyen until the road begins to wind up into the hills. This rugged terrain of dense vegetation brings us into contact with the Black Hmong and the mysterious White Tay people who are famed for their folk music, poems and songs. We end the day at Tu Le.

Day 11: Tu Le - Nghia Lo (B, L, D, ~ 65km)
Today we pass large white limestone mountains as we explore the âreal Vietnamâ. We will cycle through meandering roads before we finally end the day in Nghia Lo. It sits on a mountain ridge overlooking the Red and Black River and is home to the Thai, Nung, Hâmong, La Ha and Ma peoples.

Day 12: Nghia Lo - Yen Bai (B, L, D, ~ 74km)
The route today day takes us on the back roads to Yen Bai. A spectacular road through undulating terrain of tea plantations, lush forests, rice fields and gum trees.

Day 13: Yen Bai -Hanoi (B, L, D, ~ 38km)
Our last day in the saddle takes us back to paved roads through the rolling terrain of tea plantations lush forests, rice fields and gum trees used for paper production. We finish cycling early in the afternoon, then transfer back to Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi - Departure (B)
There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure

ATT

Green Trail Tours â¦ Taking the Paths Less Travelled International Travel License No.0595/TCDL - GPLHQT Add: Suite #1016 - B4 Building - Tran Dang Ninh Street - Cau Giay district - Hanoi - Vietnam Telex: + (844 ) 37 54 52 68 # 103 Fax: + (844) 37 54 52 77 Website: http://www.greentrail-indochina.com / http://www.greentrailtourism.com / http://www.asiantrailtours.com Email: greentrailtours@fpt.vn / info@greentrail-indochina.com / tours@greentrailtourism.com

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Make The Most Of Luxury Travel - Understanding Local Customs And Etiquette At Your Destination

2011-02-09T20:55:00.001+07:00

Make The Most Of Luxury Travel - Understanding Local Customs And Etiquette At Your Destination

Until recently not many would've thought of luxury travel as an agent of world peace and understanding. Even now this aspect of travel hasn't quite rung a bell, generally speaking. Are tourists responsible for more than their luggage when they travel? Yes, of course, a whole range of things from toddlers to passports. But, world peace? Surely you can't hold them responsible for something so intangible and more at home in the realm of political diplomacy, especially when all they want is to leave responsibilities behind and have some unrestrained fun. Well, luxury travellers are certainly not expected to transit in the Middle East and start negotiations before they continue to the warm tropics to work on a tan. The point here is that an understanding of the people and the culture you would be interacting with at your luxury travel destination is a great way to enhance the trip.

These are the days when luxury travel to exotic foreign locales is a matter of routine for most people. Oddly enough the search for the exotic often takes one to far flung corners of third world cultures totally alien to the visitor in terms of language, customs, and etiquette. Some take it in their stride and blend in effortlessly with an open mind and have the time of their lives. They are eager to learn more about the host culture and come away enriched and enlightened in more ways than one; go native, as it were. There might even be an invaluable exchange where the host steps out from behind their cultural curtain and greets you with a hand shake as you bow with a wai greeting. Worlds meet and a relationship is born. It might not be a momentous occasion marked by clashing cymbals and trumpet calls. But from the perspective of luxury travel this may easily be considered an achievement that bodes well for us human beings who sojourn in troubled times.

People are different. What makes them different is not colour or creed, but customs and culture. This is indeed a difference to be celebrated. How horribly boring would it be if the whole world had toast for breakfast and wore black suits? It is the unique customs and culture of a people that gives them an identity and sets them apart. It is an understanding of these mutual differences that bring people together. The easiest way to achieve this would be to wise up on local customs and etiquette while browsing for top attractions and things to do at your luxury travel destination. It can be quite a revelation.

Differences in culture and customs become more pronounced as your luxury travel presses eastwards. With the changing landscapes come strange etiquettes which will certainly throw the first timer. For instance, in Thailand and in most Southeast Asian countries which are popular luxury travel destinations, it is considered awfully rude to touch anyone on the top of the head. Even brushing against a head by accident entails profuse apologizing. Same applies to pointing your foot at anyone while seated. It is an insult; plain and simple. Thais shake hands as greeting, but it would be a loose, limpid clasp rather than a warm grasp. Any form of aggressive hand shake is considered extremely rude; think arm-wrestling. So think twice before you grab hold of a Thai hand and pump enthusiastically.

Travel broadens the mind as well as your circle of friendships. Chances are high that while on vacation at your luxury travel destination, you might come across some individual or family who went out of their way to help you, befriend you, or save you from dire straits. It is only natural that you want to show appreciation by presenting a gift. An expensive watch, perhaps, or a bottle of wine? An exquisite leather handicraft should do nicely to convey warm appreciation. Think again. You do not gift clocks, watches, or any time pieces to Chinese people; it's supposed to bring bad luck. You do not gift wine to Muslims; they do not imbibe. You do not gift leather to Hindus; the cow is sacred to them. Well, there's always chocolates!

Often luxury travel isolates tourists from local culture or presents them with a highly sanitised or anglicized version that might lack authenticity. This can only be considered a huge loss as far as cultural enlightenment is concerned. You have been fed a bite-sized version of what could've been a delightful gourmet experience. The chance to learn and understand various cultures and why they do what they do is invaluable and to be grasped with both hands when available. It is a chance to lay down prejudices and see with new eyes. For beneath the various skin tones, we're indeed driven by the same needs, foremost among which would be the need to be understood.

Justine has been a journalist for 20 years and is a contributor to Just The Planet, the online luxury travel magazine for independent travellers. Read more articles about peace through tourism and discover more luxury getaways here.

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Songkran - Traditional Thai New Year

2011-01-25T10:11:00.001+07:00

Songkran - Traditional Thai New Year

No sooner than New Year & Chinese New Year are over, and another one, Songkran in Thailand, is almost upon us!

The Thai New Year, Songkran, is celebrated from 13th. April to 15th. every year, except if you are in Pattaya, where the main festival day is on 19th. April, which is also the last official day of Songkran in the city. This is because the Songkran festival floats that have been traveling around the other main cities of Chonburi province arrive on the 19th. So, Songkran in Pattaya is probably from the 13th. April to the 19th., although nobody is really too sure about that!

As Songkran this year falls on Monday through to Wednesday this year, I expect most business will be closed for the week.

Songkran, which is often called the Water Festival, is probably the most important holiday period in Thailand, and is a time to visit family and pay respect to elders, including family and friends.

Traditionally, Songkran was a religious purification event, with the actual ceremony being scented water poured over the palms of the hands in order to wash away bad thoughts and actions of the previous year. The scented water is also poured over the shoulders. Generally, these actions are carried out by children and younger people to show respect to their elders.

Whilst the traditional pouring of water still happens throughout Thailand in homes, hotels, and offices, nowadays, it has evolved into drenching people with copious amounts of water.

Various methods are used to soak people. One popular way is climb into the back of a pick-up loaded up with at least one large barrel of iced-water and throwing buckets of water on passers-by. Another is to stand on street corners and shooting water at the passers-by, and the pick-up riders, with high pressure plastic water guns and hose pipes.

In addition to a good dowsing, you can also expect to have a chalk-based paste smeared on your face and neck. Again, this has traditional roots, and the intentions are to help protect you from evil spirits.

Whilst many farangs, foreigners in the Thai language, may not always see the funny side of this of all of this, to the Thai, especially youngsters, it is all about having sanook, or fun. And, given that April is generally the hottest month of the year in Thailand, with temperatures often over 40 degrees centigrade, it can be a great way to cool down!

As I already mentioned, it is a time to visit family, and with Songkran being a national holiday, Bangkok is almost deserted. This means that it is an excellent time to explore Bangkok without sitting for hours in traffic jams.

If you plan to go to the provinces during Songkran do take care on the roads. Over the holiday period the number of fatal road accidents dramatically increases, with several hundred people dying each year.

I still very much enjoy Songkran, and whilst I no longer partake in the Bangkok water parties in Patpong, NEP and Soi Cowboy, it is a great time to wander around your local area and, literally, soak up the fun and games. So go on, put on your shorts and T-shirt, wrap your wallet in a plastic bag, and, importantly, leave the mobile phone at home!!

If you want to go a little further, try out Wat Po, well known for the Reclining Buddha and its Tradition Thai Massage Centre. You will find Wat Po on Maharat Rod., and, being near the Chaophya River, you can get there by river boat if you stop at the Tha Tien pier. From the 10th. April to the 15th., you will find some great Thai food and traditional cultural entertainment.

So yet again, sawadee pi mai, or happy new year! Or, if want to try an alternative version in Thai, suksan wan Songkran! And if you want to send a few free Songkran e-cards go to www.songkran.net/en/online_5.php

And finally, and as usual, a big hello to all my friends at the Thailand Web Zone, www.thailandwebzone.com, which is a new Thai social networking and Thailand community site. Share information in Thai forums and Thailand articles, meet people, share photos, music and video, find & submit information on Thailand travel. Make new friends from all over the world! For those readers who have not visited TWZ, go have a look now!

asean_al

Allan. C. Batten, CRM Asia Solutions, Thailand Web Zone

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Pu Luong Biking Tour

2011-01-14T14:51:00.001+07:00

Pu Luong Biking Tour

Detail Itinerary
The Pu Luong Nature Reserve is an area of outstanding beauty, cultural interest and biodiversity. Stretching from Mai Chau in the northwest and to Cuc Phuong National Park in the southeast. The region is blessed with rich forest, limestone mountains, magnificent rice terraces and breathtaking scenery. Biking in Pu Luong is one of the best ways to discover the natural beauty of the region and exotic culture of minority groups. On this biking tour we will ride on the first part of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and spend 3 nights in villages of Thai people.

Day 1: Overland to Mai Chau/Biking to Pu Luong (Hang Village)
Leave Hanoi at 8 am. We drive southwest to Ma Chau, the gateway to the impressive mountainous area of northern Vietnam. The drive is very nice with stunning view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies. We would have a stop en route for refreshment. Upon arrival in Mai Chau we have a lunch stop in Pom Coong, a village of Thai ethnic minority. We will have lunch in a local house. After lunch we embark on a biking on village road to Hin, a village of Thai minority group which is located within Pu Luong Nature Reserve. We will first bike on beautiful tar road through Mai Chau valley before jumping into undulating dirt paths. We reach Hang Village around 5 pm. We will have dinner and overnight in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family.

Summary
Biking: Â Â 40km - unpaved bumpy road - Moderate grade
Meals:Â Â Â Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:Â Home stay

Day 2: Climbing mountain slopes to Hin Village
Today is a tough day with long climb on mix of dirt paths and village roads. In the morning we climb mainly. In the afternoon we enjoy easier ride slightly downhill to Hin, a village of Thai minority. Great mountain view and scenic villages. Lunch in local house en route. Dinner and overnight in Hin village.

Summary
Biking: Â Â 30km - unpaved bumpy road - Challenging grade
Meals:Â Â Â Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:Â Home stay

Day 3: Downhill ride to Canh Nang Town/Transfer to Mai Chau
After breakfast we say good bye to the villagers and ride toward Ma River passing expansive maize fields. Near the river we would see many water wheels which used by the local to water their farms. We cross the river on bridge and have lunch in Canh Nang town. After lunch we can continue biking along Ma River or take the bus back to Mai Chau. Dinner and overnight in Pom Coong Village.

Summary
Biking: Â Â 25km - unpaved bumpy road - Moderate grade
Meals:Â Â Â Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:Â Home stay

Day 4: Drive back Hanoi
Breakfast at the home-stay and drive back to Hanoi. We reach Hanoi around noon time. Trip concludes.

Summary
Transfer: Â Â 2 hrs
Meals:Â Â Â Breakfast

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Cycling The Ho Chi Minh Trail Tour,Biking in Ho Chi Minh Trail

2011-01-04T06:14:00.001+07:00

Cycling The Ho Chi Minh Trail Tour,Biking in Ho Chi Minh Trail

Cycling in Ho Chi Minh Trail Tour

Code: VNBKTD18 Duration: 14 & 15 Days
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi - Phu Yen.
Day 3: Phu Yen - Mai Chau.
Day 4: Mai Chau - Tan Ky.
Day 5: Tan Ky - Phong Nha.
Day 6: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi.
Day 7: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh.
Day 8: Khe Sanh - Hue.
Day 9: Hue - Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An - Kon Tum.
Day 12: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 13: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang.
Day 14: Nha Trang. Farewell lunch.
Day 15: Departure

Detail Itinerary

OPTION: 01

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Arriving in Hanoi, you will clear customs and immigration. Leaving the airport, you will be met by your guide, holding a sign with your name on it. He will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of day is free to wash up and rest.Â Â
In the evening we will attend the famous Water Puppet Show, with its introduction to Vietnamese history and mythology.Â At night, you will have a welcome dinner with local delights. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Phu Yen
Ride to Phu Yen on country road with a stop in Son Tay. On November 20-21, 1970, a joint force composed of USAF Special Operations and rescue personnel and U.S. Army Special Forces, supported by U.S. Navy Carrier Task Force 77, made a daring raid on the Son Tay prison camp located less than 50 miles from Hanoi. The objective was to rescue as many as 100 U.S. captives thought to be held there. The assault troops, in six ARRS helicopters accompanied by two C-130 aircraft, flew 640km to Son Tay from bases in Thailand. U.S. Navy pilots made a diversionary raid while 116 USAF and Navy aircraft from seven air bases and three aircraft carriers flew refueling, surface-to-air missile suppression, fighter cover, close air support, early warning, communications support and reconnaissance missions. There was no prisoners found in camp.
After lunch, ride on the winding mountain road to Phu Yen to take in some of the best mountain views in Northwest Vietnam and overnight in Hoang Gia Hotel.(L, D)
Cycling : 80km

Day 3: Phu Yen - Mai Chau
There are many small roads that lead into the mountains around Mai Chau so we'll take the chance to ride out to isolated H'mong, Dao and Thai villages. We will take on the challenge of an old road built by the French army and spend the afternoon exploring nearby villages. Overnight in a Thai ethnicity stilt house in Mai Chau. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 80km

Day 4: Mai Chau - Tan Ky
Ride on a small, spectacular and paved trail along the Ma river until Cam Thuy town where we stop for lunch. Hit the Ho Chi Minh trail (now a newly built highway) all the way to Tan Ky town where we spend the night in a hotel. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 90km

Day 5: Tan Ky - Phong Nha
Ride on Ho Chi Minh Highway until Pho Chau where we stop to visit the HCM Trail victory monument which is in fact the real starting point of our HCM Trail ride.

Ride all the way to Phong Nha - Ke Bang, the biggest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina and is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the park's karst landscape is extremely complex with many geographic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 80km

Day 6: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi
Boating and exploring World Heritage site of Phong Nha where local civilians and military sheltered from incessant bombing during wartime. Then we drive down to the coastal town of Dong Hoi, which was heavily shelled by US warships during the war. At a hotel over looking the beach, we can take in some sunbathing by the beach. Overnight in Dong Hoi. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 60km

Day 7: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh
We strike south through foothills which were once sprayed heavily by Agent Orange towards the former DMZ. There is still much evidence of bombing on the mountain sides and from time to time we will see remnants of the original Trail. We take in the Vinh Moc tunnel, the famous Hien Luong Bridge (former demarcation line between North and South Vietnam, the Truong Son Cemetery and finally Khe Sanh (former US Marine base). Overnight in Khe Sanh. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 90km

Day 8: Khe Sanh - Hue
In the morning we head south over the Da Krong Bridge (built by the Cubans in 1973) into the infamous A Shau valley, an area of intense wartime activity. Passing Hamburger Hill and mountains still barren due to the extended effects of Agent Orange, we arrive at A Luoi, where there are many Bru Van hill tribe people. Then, cruising through green back country down the steep Me Oi Pass, we continue on to the beautiful city of Hue which lies along the banks of the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 80km

Day 9: Hue - Hoi An
See the Forbidden Citadel in the morning. Join the National Highway 1 and head up the Hai Van Pass (Cloudy Pass) before the World Heritage site of Hoi An, a major trading centre in SE Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries. Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L, D)
Cycling: 80km

Day 10: Hoi An
Whole morning exploring the old town of Hoi An. Afternoon at the Cua Dai beach, about 6km from the old town.

The former harbour town of the Champa people at the estuary of the Thu Bon river was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled down. During this period of the China trade, the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. During the French colonial period (1883 - 1945), it was called Faifo. Originally Hai Pho was a divided town, because across the "Japanese Bridge", it used to be the Japanese settlement (16th - 17th century). The bridge (Chua Cau) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.

The town is known to the French and Spanish as Faifo, and by similar names in Portuguese and Dutch. A number of theories have been put forth as to the origin of this name. Some scholars have suggested that it comes from the word "Hai pho" meaning "sea town", while others have said that it seems more likely to simply be a shortening of Hoi An pho, "the town of Hoi An", to "Hoi pho" which became "Faifo".

In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, whose buildings display a unique blend of local and foreign influences.

Today, Hoi An is still a small city, but it attracts a fair number of tourists, also being a well established place on the backpacker trail. Many visit for the numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who produce made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the western price. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Hoi An - Kon Tum
We strike back up to the mountains, rejoining the Trail at Phuoc Son (also known as Kham Duc). From there we head up the towering Lo So Pass, passing through remote areas thinly populated by peoples of the Ba Na ethnicity. Edging close to the border with Laos, where a number of Trail arteries crossed over in Laos, we continue on to Kon Tum.Overnight in Kon Tum.
Cycling: 80km

Day 12: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot
In the morning we head south through the Central Highlands, passing Pleiku and the Ia Drang valley battlefield, before continuing onto Buon Ma Thuot (also known as Buon Me Thuot), the city where northern forces launched their final assault on the then Saigon. Buon Ma Thuot produces most and best coffee products in Vietnam.Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Cycling: 80km

Day 13: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang
We take an easy drive back down off the Tay Son highlands towards the coast, arriving at Highway 1 some 30 km north of Nha Trang. Taking in this scenic coastal stretch past turquoise waters and scarlet fishing boats, we arrive in the bright lights of Nha Trang and its relaxing holiday options.Overnight in Nha Trang.
Cycling: 80km

Day 14: Nha Trang (relax)
A free day by the beach before gathering for a seafood feast to recount our adventure and toast the Ho Chi Minh Trail. There are two options: Return to Hanoi on train or by air or go down South on your own.

Day 15:Â Departure
Free until time to be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

OPTION: 02

Day1: Hanoi Arrival
Arriving in Hanoi, you will clear customs and immigration. Leaving the airport, you will be met by your guide, holding a sign with your name on it. He will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of day is free to wash up and rest.Â Â
In the evening we will attend the famous Water Puppet Show, with its introduction to Vietnamese history and mythology.Â At night, you will have a welcome dinner with local delights. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Biking to Pu Luong (Hang Village)
Leave Hanoi at 8 am. We drive southwest to Ma Chau, the gateway to the impressive mountainous area of northern Vietnam. The drive is very nice with stunning view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies. We would have a stop en route for refreshment. Upon arrival in Mai Chau we have a lunch stop in Pom Coong, a village of Thai ethnic minority. We will have lunch in a local house. After lunch we embark on a biking on village road to Hin, a village of Thai minority group which is located within Pu Luong Nature Reserve. We will first bike on beautiful tar road through Mai Chau valley before jumping into undulating dirt paths. We reach Hang Village around 5 pm. We will have dinner and overnight in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family. (B, L, D)
Biking:40km - unpaved bumpy road - Moderate grade

Day 3: Climbing mountain slopes to Hin Village
Today is a tough day with long climb on mix of dirt paths and village roads. In the morning we climb mainly. In the afternoon we enjoy easier ride slightly downhill to Hin, a village of Thai minority. Great mountain view and scenic villages. Lunch in local house en route. Dinner and overnight in Hin village. (B, L, D)
Biking:30km - unpaved bumpy road - Challenging grade

Day 4: Downhill ride to Canh Nang Town - Ngoc Lac
After breakfast we say good bye to the villagers and ride toward Ma River passing expansive maize fields. Near the river we would see many water wheels which used by the local to water their farms. We cross the river on bridge and have lunch in Canh Nang town. After lunch we can continue biking along Ma River with the road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Ngoc Lac with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way, but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. Overnight in local hotel Ngoc Lac. (B, L, D)
Biking: 80km - unpaved bumpy road - Moderate grade

Day5: Ngoc Lac - Thai Hoa
Ride for the first time on the newly built two lanes Ho Chi Minh Highway. It hardly warrants two lanes as there is no traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, and for those who prefer there is always the old highway dirt and gravel - that weaves around the new highway allowing for plenty of exploring possibilities along the way.Â
Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of River Song Chu. On the outskirts of this small town are the famous Kan Linh historical relics - a pagoda where the first king of the Ly dynasty, Le Thai To, ruled, in 1428. Continue riding on the trail to Yen Cat. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the back-up vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight Thai Hoa guesthouse. (B, L, D)
Biking: 80km - Moderate grade

Day6: Thai Hoa - Nghe An
Continue riding the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail. Have lunch in Lat town. In Kim Lien visit the famousmuseum and birthplace of Ho Chi Minh in 1890. This province has a reputation for producing charismatic revolutionary leaders; not only Ho Chi Minh but also Phan Boi Chau â" another fervent anti colonialist -was born here. Overnight in Nghe An Town (B, L, D)
Biking: 80km - Moderate grade

Day7: Nghe An - Khuong Khe
After a relaxing breakfast continues riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The trail is still a dream to ride on. Again there is virtually no traffic. Transfer if tired in the afternoon to Huong Khe for overnight in a local guesthouse. (B, L, D)
Biking: 80km - Moderate grade

Day8: Huong Khe - Phong Nha National Park
From Huong Khe the mountains rise and the road winds up, down and along the hillsides. The scenery is spectacular, the road tranquil. Ride up to 80km then transfer the last few km to Phong Nha National Park. The park contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam; it is a true speleological wonder. Visit the cave by boat then wander through the cavern, past the foundations of ancient Cham ruins. Pause to admire the incredible formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Formed approximately 250 million years ago and during the American war, the North Vietnam army had used Phong Nha cave as a hospital and ammunition depot. The entrance still showing evidence of fighter aircraft attacks. There are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna International and it may be possible to visit village initiatives and learn more about the forests of the National Park. Overnight at the National Park. (B, L, D)
Biking: 55km - Moderate grade

Day9: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi
Boating and exploring World Heritage site of Phong Nha where local civilians and military sheltered from incessant bombing during wartime. Then we drive down to the coastal town of Dong Hoi, which was heavily shelled by US warships during the war. At a hotel over looking the beach, we can take in some sunbathing by the beach. Overnight in Dong Hoi. (B, L, D)
Biking: 50km - Moderate grade

Day 10: Dong HoiÂ - Dong Ha -Vinh MocÂ - Dong Ha
Today we continue south along Highway 1 using both our bicycles and our support vehicle. We reach the town of Dong Ha where we stay for the night. In reaching Dong Ha we pass through the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), scene of some of the bitterest fighting during the American War. Here we will visit Vinh Moc tunnels to see at first hand how the Viet Cong fought. The stretch of tunnels runs for nearly 3km and have not been altered for the tourists benefit.Â (B, L, D)
Biking: 63km - Moderate grade

Day 11: Dong HaÂ - Hue
Today we drive to the former Imperial capital and cultural centre of Vietnam, Hue. After all check-in formalities are done, we set out our bike and explore this ancient city.Â (B, L, D)
Biking: 78km - Moderate grade

Day 12: Hue - Hoi An
Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty of emperors from 1802 till 1945. In the morning cycle to the elaborate mausoleums of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh along the banks of the Perfume River . Leave Hue in the afternoon for the ancient trading port of Hoi An 120km to the south via the spectacular Pass of Ocean Clouds . Arrive in Hoi An late afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L, D)
Biking: 70km - Moderate grade

Day 13: Hoi An
Leave Hoi An after breakfast and cycle to the sacred Marble Mountains where caves contain dozens of Buddhist shrines. Stop off at Da Nang to visit the famous China Beach , once a 'rest and recreation' resort for American servicemen. Return to Hoi An for lunch and spend the afternoon discovering the delights of Hoi An's historic town centre or perhaps cycle to Cua Dai Beach 5km away. Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L, D)
Biking: 30km - Moderate grade

Day14: Hoi An Departure
today we have free time until transfer to airport for your departure . (B)

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Travel To Thailand More Than 90 Days? New Visa Rules From October 1, 2006

2009-12-22T09:21:00.001+07:00

In the town, Bangkok, has all the civilize and technology. Convenient transportation by Bus, Sky train and underground transportation. There is also boat transportation for the river, Chao Praya River, which is in the center of capital city.

Night life in Bangkok is very crowd of people. There is pub and bar for straights and gays on the same road in Silom and many areas.

Before October 1, 2006, get Thailand visa is very easy. Many countries can have visa on arrival for 30 days. Then just leave at any border and get in again you will get another 30 days waive visa stamp.

Now all change!

“On October 1 the Kingdom of Thailand introduced a new visa policy to restrict the number of times a foreigner can enter the country during a certain period of time.

The policy states that one can only stay in Thailand for 90 days in a period of six months, after which one must leave the country and stay outside for another 90 days before they can re-enter.”

This mean you will still get 30 days visa on arrival and if it going to expire, you just leave at the border and get in again you will get another 30 days. If you already stay in Thailand for 90 days, you need to leave the country or stay outside for another 90 days!

If you apply for visa at any Thailand Embassy, you will get 60 days single entry visa and then you can extend only another 30 days for 1,900 Baht. ($US 50)

Vsa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity.

The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.

More information, please call
Thai Immigration, Bangkok. Head office: +66 2287-3101 to 10
website: www.immigration.go.th

Travel To Krabi And Phi Phi Islands - Amazing Thailand Attractions

2009-12-22T09:19:00.001+07:00

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.

You can read more about Krabi and Phi Phi Islands at my web blog @ http://travel-krabi.blogspot.com

Thai Girls And Thailand Travel In 5 Easy Steps

2009-12-22T09:16:00.001+07:00

If you've hit an age where meeting attractive younger (than you) girls or women seems to be a wicked challenge, maybe it's time to consider opening your mind to new horizons. Yes I'm talking about Thai girls and Thai women here. And doing it from a guy who has lived in Thailand for the best part of four years.

But before we meet the perfect Thai girl, why Thailand? Maybe it's the attention. It's hard not to be taken by people who seem to be always smiling, welcoming and friendly. And with a great 'not too serious about anything much' attitude and the Thai Buddhist qualities, well, it's all quite compelling.

Anyway, Thailand is a world in itself, so be prepared to be amazed and have all your normal 'logical' thinking replaced with ongoing illogical and strange behavior. In other words, Thailand is a completely weird place. Just remember that when you travel to a foreign country, after you get there, you become the foreigner...

Amongst all its differences, the pleasures are true and fascinating. There's no doubt Thailand is a crazy world. But strangely enough, it seems to hang together well. And the proof is in the pudding... having thrown myself into this lifestyle, I now feel somewhat 'apprehensive' about having to travel to a Western country and meet Western people. Why would I feel that way?

Maybe because I've been immersed in smiling, polite Thai people who always welcomed me and wanted to know about me. Maybe because I've been surrounded by Thai food that is always so important everywhere you go. Food that... "shows how we delicately care about feelings of people." And then there's the Thai girls...

Let's talk about Thai girls and the Thai world through these 5 simple steps:

Step one: Go to http://yourthaigirl.com and read the downloadable ebook, (and while you're there sign up to the Thai Girl, Thai Life newsletter). In this ebook you'll learn all about Thai culture, lifestyle, and of course, Thai girls.

You get savvy on what to do, what not to do, when to do it, and where to go and do it. You'll know what it all means, and the ebook will give you the 'inside picture' to the world of Thailand.

Step two: Book your ticket to Thailand as soon as you can. When you arrive, prepare for the slam... the heat... an invisible hammer that hits you with its mighty force... rushes to greet you with the power of a thousand simmering angels...

And yet, before you know it, you'll be slipping down the long passageways inside the cool air conditioned airport. Get your bags, your bearings, your Thai girl book and prepare for your biggest journey. (Hey, Thailand is not as hot as you think :-)

Step three: Get out and meet and greet people. Prepare your name card, your few words of Thai, a nice hotel or resort with a funny name, and your best clothes. In this country, it pays to look good. Thai's like to be clean, fresh, and attractive. No kidding.

Step four: Just be you. Expect lots of questions. The Thai's want to learn English... speak English with you. You'll have a great, precious, remarkable time. Be adventurous. Be a tourist. Learn new things. Travel on the sky train.

Step five: That's it, all done. Remember though to keep light-hearted. The Thai's like to have fun, not be 'too serious' and will appreciate it if you show respect to the things that are important to them. The key word is enjoyment. Have fun.

Actually, there's really nothing to it. It's so easy (once you're here!) The main thing is to keep your calm, appreciate the beauty of Thai girls, seek out quality relationships, and let me know how it all goes, okay.

Compare Water Festival In Thailand and Burma

2009-11-23T01:09:00.000+07:00

Many tourists from all over the apple appointment thailand, abnormally Khao Sarn Road in Bangkok during April to yield allotment in the baptize anniversary (Songkran) festivities. To those tourists who accept been in activity during the affable annual baptize fights, I am abiding it was actual fun. I anticipation so too until a few years ago, if I visited Myanmar(Burma) during dates ancillary with Myanmar's adaptation of Songkran. The Myanmese (Burmese) alleged the baptize anniversary (Thingyan).
In thailand's adaptation of the Songkran baptize festival, humans loaded up tanks of ice algid baptize in aces up trucks traveling about aqueous and bath anybody who is aural ambit all in acceptable fun. Some like the account aloft amount baptize accoutrements and ice algid eject at you you are accepted to retaliate with.. what else, algid baptize of course.
Now this anniversary although advancing from the aforementioned custom is acclaimed abnormally in Myanmar. It is abundant added agrarian and spirited. The Myanmese authorities will body stages afterwards stages alleged "pandles" on abandon of basic roads. Some of these stages will accept reside music bands, dances, gay models and bodybuilders on array amplified by music arrant audibly from the speakers and PA system, others will be arranged chocked abounding of humans armed with berserk bright hoses aqueous bags of baptize on whoever wants the showers of blessings on them.
The Yangon (former basic city-limits of Myanmar/Burma) auberge I backward in organized a bout of the city-limits on the aback of..yup, you said it..pick up trucks with refreshment, baptize accoutrements and ample drums of ice algid baptize ammunition. This is absolutely abundant added fun than the Thai version, abnormally if you accompany your whisky along. The anchorage were abounding and baptize was abounding like baby rivers.
So if you anytime appointment thailand for its Songkran festival, again hop over to Myanmar to accessible a additional baptize war front. A chat of admonishing though, bigger book your auberge allowance or adaptation and air biking tickets early. The auberge apartment are consistently appointed months in beforehand by fun admiring tourists both in thailand and Myanmar.
The anniversary will usually endure a few canicule every April. Afterwards harder day at play, do bethink that thailand is acclaimed for its age-old Thai massage. Do get a accomplished massuer to allay those aching anatomy afterwards a few canicule of fun. You can even adjustment a beating account from the hotels.

Travel Destination Pattaya Thailand

2009-11-22T01:04:00.001+07:00

Pattaya is one of the better cities for tourism that can be begin in the country of thailand. Physically, Pattaya is amid in the Gulf of thailand and is Southeast of the country's capital, Bangkok. With admirable attractions offered, abundant of this city's abridgement consists of tourism. If you are absorbed in visiting thailand, affairs are that you may wish to anticipate about visiting the city-limits of Pattaya. This city-limits is accepted to accept a lot to action to its tourists, which is the acumen that it has become such a accepted day-tripper allure recently. Here, we will yield a abundant afterpiece attending at some of the capital attractions that Pattaya has to action to its tourists, in adjustment to advice you actuate whether or not vacationing in this city-limits may be a accommodation which you may wish to accomplish in the future.
Pattaya Bank is a admired atom of abounding tourists, and it is aswell the a lot of accepted bank that Pattaya thailand has to offer. Since it is amid abreast arcade centers, bars, and hotels, it has become actual accepted a allotment of tourists. Unfortunately, it is generally harder for abounding to get a atom on the sand, due to its popularity. Jomtien Bank is addition one of the beaches which Pattaya thailand has to offer. While it does action some hotels and restaurants, Jomtien is mainly an breadth breadth humans own summer homes. It is about easier to acquisition a atom on the bank at this bank than at Pattaya Beach. Jomtien Bank is abnormally admired by who adore demography allotment in baptize sports. It has a ample ball centermost which offers baptize esplanade attractions, a roller coaster, a monorail and fun attractions for accouchement - which has helped with it become a accepted breadth for humans who are vacationing as families to wish to visit.
Of course, the admirable beaches that Pattaya thailand has to action is not the alone affair that this city-limits has traveling for it. There are abounding added attractions which Pattaya has to action that tourists all acquisition to be absolutely appealing. Some of these attractions cover golf courses, places for auto racing, the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Pattaya Bank Resort Baptize Esplanade and Funny Land Action Park, a submarine, a crocodile farm, and assorted museums. There are aswell assorted arcade centers and food which anyone may be absorbed in visiting while they are in Pattaya. Go go confined and band clubs absorb the time of abounding tourists.
As you can see, there are so abounding altered day-tripper attractions that Pattaya thailand has to offer. Ranging from its admirable beaches breadth you can absorb the day relaxing, accepting fun in the sun, or demography allotment in baptize sports to its action parks and added absorbing activities that the city-limits of Pattaya has to offer, there is no agnosticism that Pattaya has acquired some abundant able-bodied adapted address from tourists. No amount what you are absorbed in accomplishing while you are visiting thailand, Pattaya has just about aggregate that you could possibly be absorbed in to offer. There is no agnosticism that Pattaya thailand is a city-limits which you may absolutely wish to anticipate about visiting.

Backpacking In Thailand

2009-09-06T20:10:00.000+07:00

Planning a cruise to Thailand appeals to travelers of all shapes, sizes and budgets because it is absolutely simple to cross about the altered cities and capital attractions. The biking is aswell inexpensive, abrogation you with added money to analyze the booming cottony industry, as able-bodied as the adorable cuisine. Thai aliment melds a aggregate of mind, physique and body into their ambrosial and candied counterbalanced meals, alms some of the best dishes in the world.

Why Thailand is So Popular

When planning a backpacking cruise to Thailand, you may accept heard of what attracts tourists to the assorted areas about the country. In the North, biking through the mountains is absolutely popular. Added than 300 temples can be amid in the admirable accustomed ambience of Chiang Mai. Top-notch superior and bargain stays can be begin at every corner, alms aged aliment and absorbing arcade outlets.

As a backpacker, you will acquisition an affluence of places to break at in the area, including Julie's Guesthouse. At this establishment, you will be able to assurance up for a brace of canicule biking through the boscage that appearance admirable angle and a contiguous attending at how the locals thrive. To abstain accepting hit by the cloudburst rains, plan an chance for this breadth amid the months of October and April.

Central Thailand brings the attraction of Bangkok, which overflows with shopping, accepted cuisine, palaces and temples. The Chao Phraya River provides a abundant arena to explore. Capital attractions to accede cover the Royal Palace, the Wats and Chinatown, as able-bodied as the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Notable festivals can be accomplished in Ayuthaya, breadth breathtaking bank breadth anticipate in Sukhothai. The amaranthine possibilities for analysis are mind-boggling. The islands of Southern Thailand accompany you afterpiece to white bank and balmy waters. The better of the agglomeration is alleged Phuket, breadth added notable selections cover the Phi Phi Islands and the waterfalls of Krabi.

Nightlife

Many tourists adore the all-embracing aspect of Thailand nightlife. This is one of the capital affidavit a ample bulk of travelers haversack throughout the country: nature, culture, aliment and fun. If it's a acceptable time you're searching for, try the abounding acquainted and beer confined in Pattaya, as able-bodied as Chaweng Bank Ko samui that parties into the wee hours of the night. Koh Phangan is the website breadth bags of locals and tourists accumulate to bless by the ablaze of the abounding moon. It's a apple acclaimed bank affair that never seems to end, offered already every month. It is one of the best places to acquaintance the food, alcohol and ball of Thailand island activity in an accident that actually rocks the senses.

The law of the acreage states that confined and nightclubs abutting at 2 in the morning if visiting Bangkok, but there is consistently about to go, whether it's just a adorable restaurant tucked abroad on a ancillary street. The better breadth to analyze is alleged Patpong, which provides three streets to explore. For added advice on the ins and outs of Thailand, analysis out the latest advice acquaint on www.jeng-thailand.com.

Thailand Land of Smiles

2009-09-05T20:02:00.000+07:00

The country s name was Siam until June 24th 1939 afresh again in 1945 until 11th May 1949. The chat thai agency abandon in the thai language.

thai battle muay thai is the civic action in thailand there are two venues in Bangkok for this action Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumphini Stadium. The muay thai convention was founded in 1997. However affiliation football has taken over muay thai position as a lot of broadly beheld and admired action in thailand.

thai cuisine blends 5 axiological tastes ambrosial acerb candied acrid and bitter. Some accepted capacity acclimated in thai cuisine are auto grass garlic adhesive abstract angle booze and chillies. The basic aliment in thailand is rice which is included in abounding meals. thai is the better rice exporter of rice in the apple over 5000 varieties of rice from thailand are stored in rice gene banks.

There are abundant thai Chinese and English newspapers in apportionment and thailand is the better bi-weekly brand in South East Asia.

thailand has added visitors than any added country in South East Asia.It has abounding temples and charcoal of age-old kingdoms, amazing adorableness and able-bodied cuisine. thailand is apperceive as the acreage of smiles alms something for every travellers and is a beholder paradise.

Nakhon Pathom is admired as the oldest city-limits in thailand and is home to the tallest Buddhist cairn in the world. In the south you will ascertain waterfalls lakes limestone cliffs caves and lots of wildlife.

Bangkok Bangkok is disconnected by the Chao Phraya River and is one of the better cities in the world. Bangkok has the bright nightlife and colourful markets. Explore the city-limits by visiting the Grand Palace.

Bangkok has a avant-garde monorail alleged the sky alternation and an underground system. The civic carriage for thais is the tuk-tuk. There is aswell continued appendage boats for island hopping. Trains and coaches hotlink Bangkok with added capital cities.

thailand accept monsoons in July and endure until backward November (rainy season). They can be uncomfortably and sticky.

Next is the dry air-conditioned time from November until February afresh comes the college temperature from March until June. The best time to appointment is February to March. If you appointment in the low division the ante are cheaper and the apartment cheap. thai bill is the Baht.

The capital accent is thai but English is frequently used. A acceptance is not bare if your break is for 30 canicule but your authorization have to be accurate for at atomic 6 months.

The Healing Benefits of Traditional Thai Massage

2009-09-04T19:57:00.001+07:00

thai massage, aswell accepted as Nuad Phaen Boran, is an age-old beating that involves not alone abysmal beef massage, but stretching, elements of shiatsu, yoga, and acupressure as well. Nuad Phaen Boran in fact translates into “ancient massage” or “traditional massage.”

Traditional thai beating has been practised for over 2,500 years. It not alone relaxes the body, but the apperception as well. It in fact began in India. The Buddhist monks practised both beating and added healing arts. This advance to families and as Buddhism advance to Asia, the acceptable thai beating became a allotment of both the religious and healing allotment of the religion. It is believed that acceptable thai beating fabricated it to thailand about the 3rd or 2nd aeon BC. Abounding times, abbey temples were congenital abreast medical schools so the art of beating was accomplished a part of both monks and medical students.

Traditional thai beating focuses on the acquaintance of the accomplished body. It works on the above activity lines, accepted as ‘Sen’. These Sen run throughout the body. By alleviation blockages, the beating will advice accord the physique and compensate any deficiencies of the activity lines. Just as Chinese anesthetic uses acupuncture to advice animate health, acceptable thai beating uses a agnate arrangement of burden credibility to advice alleviate and abate stress. The Prana, or activity energy, is allows to advisedly broadcast through the body.

Traditional thai beating has abounding benefits. Whether you are the receiver of the beating or the giver of the massage, you can feel joy, ease, and comfort. The beating will accessible up your chakras, acceptance you to accept a added peaceful apperception as able-bodied as benefiting your health.

The giver of the acceptable thai beating aswell will accept generosity, compassion, equanimity, the activity of oneness, the activity of admiring kindness, and the pride that can alone be acquainted by a healer. The receiver will feel the joy of accepting as able-bodied as a calmness of blow and a active spirit. Physically, the receiver feels a accepted access in activity due to the aperture of Sen and added blocked areas in the body. They will aswell feel abatement from affliction and beef tension, claret and lymph apportionment is improved, and the afraid arrangement is balanced. An access in adaptability is aswell possible.

Traditional thai beating is a attic massage. The receiver usually is asked to lay on a pad or ablaze mattress. By lying on the floor, the practitioner can calmly dispense the limbs of the receiver. Massages are accustomed in silence, so the practitioner can bigger accept what the receiver needs are while the receiver can apply on acquirements about himself and his body. Practitioners alpha at the anxiety and moves against the receiver’s head, authoritative the physique feel alone and stretched. A beating can endure amid two and three hours. Sometimes it combines techniques acclimated in western concrete therapies such as Neuromuscular therapy, Myofascial Release Techniques, and Remedial massage.

Acceptable thai beating is abundant for athletes as it keeps them adjustable and helps anticipate and amusement injuries. It aswell helps advance the adaptability and advancement of the handicapped.

Finding Cheap Hotel Rates

2009-08-30T19:33:00.000+07:00

The canicule of assuming up at a auberge and paying whatever amount is acquaint are over artlessly because it is so simple to acquisition bargain and discounted auberge ante online. Some humans still alarm up a auberge to accomplish anxiety and pay whatever the amount is, about humans are wising up to the abounding bargain auberge ante to be begin online and back extenuative money is consistently a affective agency abounding humans are arcade and booking online and as a aftereffect are accepting bargain auberge ante for the aforementioned allowance in the aforementioned auberge for the aforementioned dates.
What you may not apperceive is there are abounding websites online that focus alone on accouterment you with abatement hotels, flights, affliction rentals and the like. So, award bargain auberge ante is as simple as analytic online. To acquisition bargain auberge ante you aboriginal charge to get on the Internet. Once there, you should go to a seek engine to seek for bargain auberge rates. Be specific if application the seek engine, however, because you will wish to acquisition as abundant specific advice on bargain auberge ante as accessible while weeding out added information. Keep in apperception as able-bodied that if you do not acquisition the bargain auberge ante you are searching for on one seek engine you can consistently try another. However, you will acquisition the best bargain auberge advice on some of the beyond seek engines.
Once you accept your bargain auberge after-effects all that is larboard to do is alpha researching the websites. While abounding websites will accept agnate abatement rates, some will be added big-ticket while others will accept the everyman bargain auberge rates. This requires a little bit of research, but if it comes down to extenuative a lot of money and bargain auberge ante it is account it.
Enter the auberge advice or the accepted area area you are absorbed in staying, and again seek for bargain auberge rates. You will be afraid at the aberration if you already alleged to appeal ante from the aforementioned hotels.
Once you accept begin the bargain auberge ante that accommodated your needs, artlessly book online and consistently address down your acceptance amount so you will accept your bargain auberge rates.

Where To Stay In Bangkok? Which Bangkok Hotel To Choose?

2009-08-30T19:30:00.000+07:00

Going to Bangkok? Feeling afflicted with choices? Well, don't be.
Here are some abundant Bangkok hotels we acclaim based on your budget:
1. 8,000-9,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- THE ORIENTAL HOTEL - One of the world's arch hotels. The oldest auberge in Bangkok on the coffer of Chao Phraya River. Nice colonial-style architecture. Not in the city-limits centermost though.
2. 7,000-8,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- THE PENINSULA BANGKOK HOTEL - High reviews, apple awards. On the coffer of the Chao Phraya River, but on the further island. Chargeless hotel's shuttle baiter account takes you to BTS skytrain.
- SUKOTHAI HOTEL - Admirable abreast Thai architectonics in admirable landscaped garden. A bit far from arcade areas but account the beauty.
- FOUR SEASONS HOTEL BANGKOK - Appropriate in foreground of BTS skytrain. The name guarantees the luxury. Abutting to a lot of arcade malls.
3. 6,000-7,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- GRAND HYATT ERAWAN - Stunning garden spa. Very abutting to BTS skytrain. High-end arcade appropriate beneath the auberge and just beyond the street.
- THE BANYAN TREE BANGKOK - One of the newest hotels in Bangkok. The tallest auberge architecture in Bangkok. Exceptional spa and massage.
4. 5,000-6,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- SHERATON GRANDE SUKUMVIT - Admirable Thai/Bali appearance pond basin garden with abatement underwater music. Appropriate at BTS skytrain.
- SHANGRI-LA HOTEL - On the coffer of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. Nice pool, nice view. But don't try the hotel's Angelini Italian restaurant though.
5. 4,000-5,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- CONRAD HOTEL BANGKOK - Abreast auberge for avant-garde lifestyle. A bit of walking to do to get to BTS skytrain. Traffic is consistently abhorrent appropriate in foreground of the hotel.
- PLAZA ATHENEE HOTEL - Nice and abutting to BTS skytrain. But the hotel's name ability could cause accentuation botheration amid you and bounded auto driver. Bring the hotel's business agenda and the alley name in Thai with you.
6. 3,000-4,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- MARRIOTT RESORT AND SPA - Appropriate on the coffer of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. Very abundant like a abandoned and adequate resort. Not in the city-limits center, but chargeless shuttle baiter to BTS base makes it all fine.
- NAI LERT PARK, RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL HOTEL - Lush garden with peaceful atmosphere. Within walking ambit from BTS skytrain and arcade malls.
- TRIPLE TWO SILOM HOTEL - Nice bazaar auberge with abreast Asian design. At night, adore Silom Road's artery market.
7. 2,000-3,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- PATUMWAN PRINCESS HOTEL - Abundant location, but consistently beneath renovation. Appropriate central MBK Arcade Center. Try the hotel's Japanese+Korean cafe cafeteria at Konju restaurant, alone $25/person.
- SOFITEL SILOM - Cozy bazaar auberge in Bangkok. Few accomplish off the night bazaar on Silom road. Near BTS skytrain.
8. 1,000-2,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- BUDDY LODGE KHAO SAN ROAD - Nice auberge in the world-famous Khao San Alley area. Good for backpacker with added budget. Ask for a quiet room. Khao San could get blatant at night.
9. 500-1,000 BAHT A NIGHT:
- ROYAL RIVER HOTEL - On the coffer of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. Quite difficult to get into the city. Big allowance for baby price. You aswell get chargeless breakfast buffet.
At the time of this writing, US$1 = 40 Thai Baht. You can analysis today's bill advocate at http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Hotel Market - Looking Toward the End of 2007

2009-08-30T13:34:00.001+07:00

Total day-tripper arrivals to Thailand added by alone 2.3% in the aboriginal eight months of 2007, compared to the aboriginal eight months of 2006. The resort auberge markets performed well, but Bangkok suffered with lower control rates, according to the latest CB Richard Ellis’ Thai auberge report. Added hotels are getting congenital in both Bangkok and the resort markets. Investors and all-embracing auberge operators abide absolute about the connected appellation affairs for the Thai tourism bazaar admitting contempo weaker performance.

The amount of day-tripper arrivals added to 9.59 actor in the aboriginal eight months of 2007 up from 9.37 actor during the aforementioned aeon of time in 2006. European arrivals grew by 14.3% in the aboriginal six months of 2007. East Asian arrivals were down by 3.9% and South Asian added by 10.5% during the aforementioned aeon endure year.

Thailand has been acknowledged in alluring visitors from some new markets. The amount of visitors from Russia added to 139,000 in the aboriginal six months, a 51% access year-on-year. India is now a growing bazaar with about 265,000 visitors in the aboriginal six months, an access of 14% from the aforementioned aeon endure year. Average East arrivals were aswell up 20% on a year-on-year basis.

There were weaknesses in added markets. Visitors from Malaysia alone by 12%, Japan by 7%, and China by 18%. China is one of Asia’s fastest growing markets with 37 actor Chinese accepted to biking across this year. In the aboriginal six months, Thailand alone admiring about 2% of the absolute Chinese across travellers.

“We apprehend that all-embracing control ante for Bangkok’s four and 5 brilliant hotels will alone be 70% in 2007 compared to 75% in 2006,” said Mr. Navaphol Viriyakunkit, arch of Research Services at CB Richard Ellis Thailand. The affidavit for low control ante accept been political uncertainties, the New Year’s Eve bombings and a anemic economy.

The boilerplate allowance amount for four and 5 brilliant hotels in Bangkok has added hardly in Baht agreement by 2% year-on-year, but the acknowledgment of Thai Baht adjoin the US dollar has added the amount in US dollar agreement by added than 10% from endure year. It is acceptable that amount will hit $170 per night at the end of 2007 compared to about $158 at present. Some auberge operators are traveling to change their arrangement ante from dollars into baht because of the affectionate currency. A archetypal auberge in the affluence (five to six star) class will accept an boilerplate circadian allowance amount (ADR) of over THB5,500 a night, while ADRs of capital (four star) hotels ranged THB4,500-5,500.

CB Richard Ellis projects that added than 2,000 new four and 5 brilliant auberge apartment will be completed in Bangkok in 2008, adopting the accumulation by 24% from 2007. Major auberge developments that are due next year cover Centara Grand at CentralWorld, The Regent Bangkok and Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok. Antagonism is accepted to access throughout 2008.

In Bangkok, serviced apartments are aswell aggressive with hotels and abounding action circadian rates. The absolute accumulation of serviced apartments is accepted to top 10,000 units at the end of 2007, and beat 12,000 units in 2008. The access in accumulation will beggarly that added serviced apartments attending for circadian guests, accretion the antagonism with hotels.

International auberge operators wish to authorize their brands in Thailand not alone in Bangkok but aswell in resort locations such as Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga and Samui. Starwood has appear that they will accomplish a St. Regis auberge in Bangkok and W hotels in Bangkok and Koh Samui.

CB Richard Ellis believes that advance in all-embracing auberge operators will be absolute for Thailand by both adopting the superior of the absolute auberge supply, and harnessing the business ability of the all-embracing operators to allure visitors to Thailand.

There will abide to be ascent antagonism in the Asian day-tripper markets. India and Vietnam are new competitors alluring ascent numbers of visitors. Thailand has had connected success in Europe and new markets such as Russia, India and the average east, but has suffered set backs in the East Asian markets, decidedly the fast growing Chinese market.

A tourists guide to Thai massage

2009-08-30T13:30:00.001+07:00

The age-old art of ameliorative beating was aboriginal developed in India some 2,500 years ago and brought to Thailand by Buddhist monks about 1,800 years back. Well accepted for its healing properties, Thai acceptable beating is developing into a all-around brand.

More and added westerners appear actuality to be accomplished in this abrasion art, with Wat Pho in Bangkok apparently the a lot of acclaimed abode for accepting instruction. Chiang Mai in the arctic aswell offers a abundance of added or beneath accepted schools, teaching a softer arctic appearance beating technique. There are courses about in Phuket, Pattaya and Samui.

Tourists and visitors to Thailand anon beam that the convenance of alternate rubdowns is an accustomed custom accomplished aboveboard and after embarrassment. Mothers abrasion babies, adolescence their grandparents, vendors and motorcycle auto drivers their colleagues’ annoyed amateur or even simple chairs on the pavement alms burning bottom massages for weary pedestrians. Thailand biking and day-tripper information

Then there is in-flight beating account on the civic carrier and the automated beating chairs in airports or arcade malls. Put in a 10 baht bread and get three account of all-a-quiver aback beating – just accomplish abiding you don’t abatement comatose mid-massage.

But possibly the oddest abode for a greenhorn to be offered a beating is while continuing in foreground of the urinal at an upmarket bistro or restaurant. The toilet accessory will sneakily access you from abaft to abode a hot anhydrate on your close and again alpha abrading your shoulders.

Traditional Thai beating is for the a lot of allotment accomplished by women, but is aswell an important job for the blind. “Women can beating any audience behindhand of age or gender, but macho masseurs who can see may accidentally be absorbed by their beheld perception,” says Aree Sanyaluck, beating abecedary in Chiang Mai. “Unsighted masseurs are able to apply bigger and accept purer intentions.”

Anyone who tells of their Thai beating acquaintance to those who aren't accustomed with this art will acceptable get nudge-nudge quips about ‘special’ services. It is important to analyze amid beating with clothes on and with clothes off. Sadly, Thailand is bigger accepted for the latter, abnormally in some locations of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. But this is a misrepresentation.

Both kinds are amusing added than alone occasions with assemblage chatting to anniversary added through the administration or even to the masseuse who welcomes any aberration to abate her arid routine. Visits to the blatant palaces alms added animal pleasures as allotment of the beating accepted are aswell usually done in groups, generally to annular off an black of bubbler and eating.

But aback to the absolute attitude Thai massage, this is offered by accomplished beating bodies in all day-tripper areas, such as Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Samui and Pattaya. They are actual bargain and a two hour analysis will awning all 104 capital activity credibility in the physique application a kneading, yoga blazon positions, addition and added techniques. Again there is the abatement oil beating and of advance bottom massage, which is agnate to reflexology. Guide to beating in Phuket

Lately there has been a bang in the spa industry in Thailand, abnormally in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket, area beating is axial to abounding of the treatments on action and although apparently added big-ticket they are a actual adequate and accommodating experience.

Chiang Mai

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Often referred to as the ‘Rose of the North’, Chiang Mai is the economic and cultural centre of Northern Thailand and the focus of tourism within the region. Located about 700 kilometres from Bangkok, it is one of Thailand’s better known and most visited provinces. Originally the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom created by King Mengrai in 1296, the province has a played a major part in the development of the country. Situated on the Mae Ping River and around 310 metres above sea level, Chiang Mai is one of the kingdom’s most beautiful provinces, featuring mountain ranges and hills amidst lush greenery and jungle. Climate conditions in the area can create swirls of mist and fog in winter – an unusual sight in a tropical country. The province’s numerous national parks are extremely fertile, have an abundance of flowers, and support a broad range of wildlife (the area is particularly associated with elephants). The province is also famed as being a home to numerous tribal peoples and visits to tribal villages are a key component of the area’s tourism. Some of the main attractions in the area include Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Doi Intanon – Thailand’s biggest mountain.

Pattaya

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Pattaya Beach is at the centre of the half moon crescent that makes up the Pattaya coastline with Nakula Beach to the north and Jomtien Beach to the south. This part of Pattaya is famous (infamous?) for its nightlife. Very much a hedonist’s paradise, Pattaya Beach is littered with go-go bars and swamped with people employed in the sex industry; both genders (and some of nondescript gender!) and a variety of nationalities including Russians and others from former Eastern Bloc countries. Although this is the part of Pattaya that has most accommodation available, the nature of the nightlife can put families off. In the last few years though there has been a drive to make Pattaya more appealing to families by restricting some of the less salubrious activities. This has been successful to an extent but the area still maintains its go-go, discos and nightclubs. By day the area is somewhat different – the water is packed with jet-skiers, water skiers, powerboats and the sky is full of parasails! It is also a centre for scuba divers. Although as a dive site it might not meet the excellence of other places in Thailand, Pattaya is convenient for Bangkok and those with limited time who want to experience diving might well benefit from taking a course at one of Pattaya’s numerous and inexpensive dive shops. Ko Lan, Ko Sak, Ko Krok, Ko Man Wichai, and Ko Rin are all in easy reach of Pattaya as is a major shipwreck where more advanced divers visit. Pattaya Beach itself has its appeal, but the numerous hawkers walking up and down the beach make it a difficult place to just sit and relax – you are offered everything from food to high technology with annoying regularity. There’s no doubt Pattaya Beach is a fun destination, but one that needs some consideration before a visit. Pattaya has its appeal, but perhaps it might not appeal to you or your situation.

How to get there: Pattaya Beach is on the Songtaew route and getting there is 20 Baht from anywhere in Pattaya.

Phuket Thailand

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Phuket is an island province and Thailand’s largest island – roughly the size of Singapore. Located 862 kilometres away from Bangkok, Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea and recognised as one of the kingdom’s chief attractions for visitors. The island has a history of tin mining and rubber production, deriving substantial wealth from being on the ‘Silk Route’ between China and India. Phuket’s most famous historical figures are Thao Thepkasattri and Thao Sisunthon who led islanders in defending Phuket from a Burmese invasion in 1785. A tribute to these heroines is one of the island’s main attractions. Clearly, Phukets beaches, coves and bays are a principal draw for many visitors. The island has accommodation enough to cater for the entire range of visitor, from the budget traveller to the well-healed. Of course Phuket’s seafood is world renown as is the local slant on Thai cuisine. Phuket features a range of leisure activities from treks and walks to snorkelling and diving, all set against a lush tropical backdrop. Among Phuket’s major attractions include Karon, Kamala and Kalim beaches, as well as Patong beach and Promthep Cape.

Koh Samui

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Koh Samui The 247-square-kilometre Samui island is Surat Thani's major tourist attraction. Located 258 nautical miles south of BangKohk, and some 84 kilometres east of the provincial capital, Koh Samui measures some 21 kilometres at its widest point, and 25 kilometres at its longest. A 51-kilometre ring and largely coastal road encircles the island, which has numerous lovely beaches and bays, and is almost literally an island of coconuts and forested hills.

Samui's best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts, the most popular being Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, where generally attractive accommodation can be found. Other beaches include Hat Choeng Mon, Hat Mae Nam in the north and Hat Na Thon, the island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated. At the southern end of Lamai Bay are phallic rock formations called Hin Ta Hin Yai. A path connects the three waterfalls, called Namtok Hin Lat, Namtok Lat Wanon, and Namtok Na Muang, from west to south. The waterfalls are best visited during rainy season. Elephant riding is an interesting activity at the Na Muang waterfall. There are some Buddhist monuments and temples on the island: Phra Yai is a massive seated Buddha image at Fan isle; Phrathat Hin Ngu is a stupa containing the Buddha’s relics and Chedi Laem So, a golden stupa on the western coast; and Wat Khunaram houses the dead body of Luang Pho Daeng which does not decay.

Bangkok Thailand

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For many, Bangkok, Thailand is the ultimate travel destination. A heady blend of modernity and tradition, Bangkok has something to offer everyone. Modern Bangkok is a large, bustling city of some 6 million people. The capital of Thailand, it is the administrative centre and the heart of the country. It is a city where skyscrapers and modern buildings jostle for space against the Bangkok skyline. It is also very much a city of entertainment and fun. Above all, Bangkok is a city of extremes.

Despite its modern trappings, Bangkok is firmly embedded in tradition. All aspects of Thai culture are revered here, as they are in any rural or less urban part of the country. Rituals are carried out on a daily basis. Like elsewhere in the country, Monks accept their daily alms and people of all ages pray and make merit at one of countless temples. In Bangkok you can at one moment be in the 21st century, the next walking through antiquity.

Thailand’s capital has everything the modern traveller enjoys. The city has a wide range of world-class accommodation, from ‘6-star’ hotels, to moderately priced guesthouses for those on a more limited budget. Bangkok also offers some of the best food on the planet – authentic Thai cuisine alongside the very best dishes from almost every part of the world. Of course, Bangkok’s nightlife is legendary and offers an unparalleled range of entertainment - bars and go-go, shows, concerts, and cinema – almost everything you could possibly want is available here.

As Thailand is a regional hub, Bangkok has become one of the most important cities in the region. As with the rest of the country, banking services are efficient and reliable, and telecommunications services are equally good. An international standard telephone network and high speed Internet facilities help you keep in touch, whether you are here on holiday or in Bangkok on business. With the introduction of the BTS ‘Sky Train’ elevated railway (and the more recent introduction of the MRT ‘Subway’ underground railway) alongside development of expressways and elevated toll ways, travelling around Bangkok is now as convenient as travelling in any major city.

Bangkok is not just a city to visit briefly on your way to somewhere else. It is a place so rich in experience you will want to visit it time and time again. To help you get the most out of your trip to Bangkok, ThailTravelInfo gives you the information you need to have the best time you can!

13-15 February 2009 Underwater Wedding Ceremony

2009-02-13T16:05:00.004+07:00

Now in its 13th year, Trang’s underwater wedding ceremony, 13 to 14 February, must be one of the most unusual ways to tie the knot.
This unique event is right at the top in the creative wedding category and has defied critics over the years to emerge as a firm favourite for those who want to make their Valentine day wedding extraordinary.
In 2000, it was declared the largest underwater wedding ceremony by the Guinness Book of Records, while more recently it opened the ceremony to physically challenged couples.

Its rise in popularity was not without obstacles, starting with the obvious objection that not everyone has the ability, or the desire, to stand on a sandy sea bed and utter their vows.

Created by Thai Airways International to draw attention to its daily flight to Trang town, the event has certainly put this southernmost stretch of Andaman Sea coastline on the map.
This attractive region lies 870 km from Bangkok and slightly more than 300 km south of Phuket. The town is served by a twice daily rail service direct from Bangkok. The trip takes 15 hours. A daily service on Nok Air, a sister company partly owned by THAI, completes the flight in one hour.

Trang is blessed with an amazing variety of unspoilt beaches and islands perfect for getaway honeymoons and even more perfect if they happen to love diving.

The ceremony is quite straightforward once the couple understand the basic scuba diving techniques and are certified by Naui or Padi, two internationally recognised dive training organisations.
In the presence of a witness, couples descend in clear blue waters to the sandy seabed to make legally binding vows using divers’ sign language. To ensure relatives and friends can share in the fun the wedding ceremonies are part of celebrations that cover three days on dry land.

Town residents come out in droves to make it a memorable and fun event. Hosted by the Trang Chamber of Commerce, in association with the municipality, provincial authorities and THAI the national airline, wedding fever is fired up with a lavish parade, led by over 100 couples, through the town’s centre to a street party venue. The town’s best cooks are there presenting an amazing display of Thai food dishes and fresh seafood barbecued made all the more delectable by the variety of spicy southern sauces.

Dressed in white wedding gowns, or national dress, brides are presented to their grooms at the wedding venue on Pak Meng beach, 15 km from the Trang town. Here the traditional Thai ceremony gets underway, 14 February, in the presence of friends and relatives before a fleet of boats transfer the couples to an idyllic Kradan Island, where they dive to the seabed for the official registration of their vows.
Looking back on this carefully managed scene, the happy couple will declare “it was unforgettable,” a conclusion helped along by a beautiful resort that incredibly still warrants the title “unseen Thailand” for most of the year.
Happy couples return for an anniversary, some even renew their vows at the same underwater spot. A few even return with small children and point proudly at the distant island, where mum and dad played out their romantic fantasies.

Supported by the community Tourism Authority of Thailand and the national airline, this single event has given Trang the right to claim a niche and secure many happy returns to its glorious beaches.

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2009-02-13T15:34:00.002+07:00